Theme: What's Next?

Eighteen international, US, and local speakers share their unique ideas and perspectives to spread throughout our Youngstown community and the world. Last years event sold out, and no one left their seats!

DeYor Performing Arts Center - Ford Family Recital Hall
260 West Federal Street
Youngstown, Ohio, 44503
United States

Ann Shippy

Medical Doctor

Dr. Ann Shippy is on a mission to help create extraordinary wellness by using cutting-edge science and the latest genetic research to find and treat root causes –not just the symptoms– of illness. After a decade of working as an IBM engineer, Dr. Shippy was challenged with her own health ailments that traditional medicine couldn’t resolve, so after doing her own research, she resolved to pioneer a new kind of medical practice. She left engineering to attend University of Texas Medical School. She is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and certified in Functional Medicine. She creates custom blueprints and real-world health solutions for those suffering from any combination of physical, environmental, or genetic health concerns. She is the author of two books and has been serving patients for over 15 years in her thriving practice based in Austin, Texas.

Chandler Bolt

Founder of Self Publishing School

Chandler Bolt is the host of the Self Publishing School podcast & the author of 6 bestselling books including his most recent book titled “Published.”. He’s also the founder & CEO of Self-Publishing School, the #1 online resource for writing your first book. Self Publishing School made the INC 5000 in 2018 (#2,699) as one of the 5,000 fastest-growing private companies in the US. Through his books, podcast, training videos, and Self-Publishing School, he’s helped thousands of people on their journey to writing their first book.

Chrissy Profera

Substance Use Admission Coordinator

Chrissy Profera is a sophomore at Youngstown State University majoring in social work. But that doesn’t stop her from becoming a moving force in the field of alcohol and addiction where she is sought after in Eastern Ohio. Chrissy overcame her addictions herself and well understands the demise and destruction of lives due to this deadly disease. Miss Profera’s passion is best demonstrated in the creation of patient therapies utilizing fun and interactive interventions. This one of a kind therapeutic tool goes beyond conventional dependency treatment. The focus on her method involves dual diagnosis issues often over looked in many traditional recovery programs. Miss Profera presently works in the chemical dependency community at New Day Recovery. Upon graduation she will utilize her groundbreaking practices in a way that will help you become the hero of your own life story

Daniel Teadt

Voice Expert, Professional Speaker, and Singer

Believing the human voice to be one of our greatest natural resources Daniel Teadt strives to make communication a sustainable and authentic experience that reveals the intimate vocal lines connecting us all. His decades long work as an internationally acclaimed vocal artist led him to guide others toward a more profound understanding of the voice and its extraordinary potential. As an Assistant Teaching Professor of Voice at Carnegie Mellon University Daniel mentors young singers and experienced executives alike to discover their authentic sound and become Voice Leaders in their fields. Daniel’s work as a highly sought after Voice and Performance Coach spans four continents with clientele including Fortune 500 companies, internationally regarded classical singers and anyone wishing to communicate authentically, credibly and with authority. In addition he is a Voice Consultant for the Swartz Entrepreneurial Center, Tepper School of Business Executive Education Program.

Derrick McDowell

Founder of The Youngstown Flea

Derrick McDowell is a passionate creative, activist & entrepreneur. He takes his love for life, people, and his artistic abilities into everything he does. From developing the movement known as "We Are A Generation” a collective "call to action” for communities to his efforts as the Founder of The Youngstown Flea an outdoor "Market for Makers” which has the focus of building out a micro-incubator, ecosystem and an economic sustainable platform for side hustles, small business owners and successful brands alike. Derrick constantly looks for ways to provide as much value as possible to everyone he encounters. Derrick is much less focused on motivating & inspiring as he is with actual change that leads to measurable outcomes that achieve dreams and goals. His personal motto is "Action Over Everything.”

Joe Moss II, MS

Fitness Lifestyle Coach and Exercise Scientist

Joe Moss II is an Exercise Scientist and fitness lifestyle coach. He has spent over 15 years engineering and creating training programs. Joe specializes in long term fitness success. He is the owner of BlessBody Fit, Youngstown Ohio’s most exclusive group personal fitness studio. Joe earned a bachelor degree in Communications and Master’s Degree in Exercise Science (Exercise and Wellness Promotion) from Slippery Rock University (SRU). He holds certifications as a Certified Natural Trainer (MBG), Certified Personal Trainer (ACE), Youth Fitness Specialist (IYCA), and Youth Nutrition Specialist (IYCA). Other Accomplishments: NPC Men’s Physique Master’s National Champion and Mr. Slippery Rock University Men’s Physique Alumni Champion. Joe is most passionate about his work promoting physical activity and long term fitness development. He provides Champion mindset development training to help build self esteem, strength, coordination, endurance and motivation.

Johannes Ippen

Designer and Author

Johannes Ippen is a designer and author from Berlin. He is currently running Human Deluxe, an Experience Design Studio & consultancy focusing on Human-Brand relations. Prior to that, he was responsible for the Product Marketing at mobile games developer Wooga, creator of hit games such as Jelly Splash, Pearl’s Peril and Diamond Dash. As founder of the Thanksalot Design Collective, he has created and launched several successful products like the Aside Magazine, MagazineGrid and Graphical Cooking. Johannes has written four bestselling books about digital product design and development, published at Rheinwerk Verlag. He teaches UX design and information architecture at Design Akademie Berlin, where he also graduated in 2009. The native Berliner likes French punk rock, well-designed infographics (preferably about food) and really strong espresso.

John Mattes

Executive Health Coach

John Mattes has spent the last 18 years as a traveling Cyber Security sales professional routinely flying over 100k miles a year. The constant travel and stress of flying professionally nearly ended his life in 2015. Since then John lost an amazing 190 pounds, turning around his life while maintaining his hectic travel schedule. John has committed himself to educating other professionals on how to maintain health on the road through executive health coaching that focus on stress reduction, building strong health habits, and optimizing sleep.

Lolita Walker

Author, Life & Executive Coach, Change Champion

Lolita E. Walker is the founder of Walker & Walker Enterprises, a personal and professional coaching and change management consultancy and the author of "The Intersection of You and Change." An Engineer and MBA by trade, she uniquely fuses her expertise to shift your mindset and cultivate a renewed and transformed you. Lolita is in the business of helping you journey the "three terrains of change," to propel you beyond where you are today, no matter the circumstance.

Manav Khanna

Self-awareness enthusiast, Technologist

Manav is a technologist with a passion for developing self awareness and wellbeing in an increasingly complex world. He has spent over a decade researching and gaining hands-on experience in self awareness practices from multiple traditions and systems all over the world. Manav integrates these into practical tools and shares them freely with children, adolescents and adults to help them cultivate habits of healing in order to live a happy, fulfilled life.

Mariangela Abeo

Advocate, Photographer, Producer

Everyone is connected to suicide and mental illness if you dig deep enough. Mariangela Abeo is the photographer and creator of the Faces of Fortitude movement. She travels the country to capture portraits of those affected by suicide in any way and to educate people as a mental health advocate and suicide survivor. As a self trained photographer and producer, her goal is to capture images of not just sadness but also hope and fortitude, in the Faces she highlights. She is creating a movement of Faces, all showing the different stages of strength and courage when faced with trauma. In just over a year her project has grown exponentially, photographing over 140 Faces and counting, hosting two exhibits of her work, has a rapidly growing social media fan base and has a book of her images in the works.

Mo Barrett

Anecdotist

Lessons hide among events in our everyday life and our next speaker prides herself on finding them. An under-achieving high schooler turned Air Force Academy graduate turned Air Force pilot turned retired Colonel; Mo has navigated a life of failing successfully. Mo views the world through lenses of humor, optimism and perspective which have guided her through challenges (some self-induced) of life. She is on a constant fight for the centerlines of her life and offers insight for those also fighting for alignment at home, work or in their communities. She leverages a quirky and unorthodox approach to bring laughter and positivity to those around her. Her captivating energy and irreverent style will make you laugh, learn and think.

Molly Grubb

CEO and Dynasty Builder

We all desire greatness but few take the journey and achieve it. That is what our speaker has dedicated her life in taking those willing to build their dynasty and guide them through their journey to help them actually achieve it. She influences business owners all across the country with her speaking, Build Your Dynasty book and through her company, Grubb Wealth. Molly was groomed at the young age of 5 to be an entrepreneur and to help fellow entrepreneurs be even more successful via her family’s business and further developing her skill set as a recovering actuary. Seeing a gap in the marketplace of business owners not being served in a way that allowed them to truly be an owner so they can build their dynasty, she founded Grubb Wealth.

Polo Reo Tate

Author, Actress, Artist, Athlete, Speaker.

Growing up, Tate earned an appointment to the US. Air Force Academy where she played Division I volleyball. Tate left during her second year. Her harrowing journey can now be found in her honest and dynamic memoir, DEEP DARK BLUE. After leaving USAFA, Tate played Volleyball for the University of Notre Dame, and graduated in Film, Television, and Theatre. Tate is now an actor, author, artist, and comedian, performing in NYC & LA. She is a passionate public speaker, with a mission for all to see, feel and understand their own self-worth, empowerment, and value. Polo Tate is a modern-day renaissance woman. Her talent is enormous; her energy, boundless. She loves people, lives every moment to the fullest, lets no one take her joy, and avidly practices the belief that you can do anything upon which you set your mind, heart, and spirit.

Tom Ruggieri

Director of Bands, Boardman High School

A band director for 30 years, Tom has taught at East High, Liberty, and Boardman High Schools all in or around Youngstown, Ohio. This will be his 20th year at Boardman where went to school and was an award-winning band and jazz student. He was nominated for the first GRAMMY Music Educator Award and three times since. Each time, he advanced to the Quarterfinalist stage. He is presently waiting for news about the 2020 award. Tom is one of the most active drummer/percussionists in the Youngstown, Ohio area playing regularly with Backbeat, The John Reese Project, Music at Madison, The Packard Band, and The Big Band Sound of Packard. He can be heard on recordings with Steinway Artist Joe Augustine, and bassist Bambo Kino. Tom and wife Patti live in Boardman. Daughter Rachel will soon be getting married and moving out. Son Nico is a senior Music Business major at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. Besides family and music, Tom enjoys home improvement projects and bass fishing.