Theme: 2020 Vision

The theme for the event will be 2020 Vision. Visions for the future are the foundation for meaningful change and purpose in our expanding world. Futurist Joel A. Barker states, "Vision without action is merely a dream. Action without vision just passes the time. Vision with action can change the world." How will you create a 20/20 vision?

Janikies Theater
1150 Douglas Pike
Smithfield, Rhode Island, 02917
United States

Alyssa Dver

Chief Confidence Officer of the American Confidence Institute

Alyssa is the CEO and co-founder of American Confidence Institute, serving as the Chief Confidence Officer. Every day she strives to give real, sustainable confidence to as many people as possible by using basic brain & social science to explain how confidence works inside our brains and impacts our behaviors. Her journey has included being a Chief Marketing Officer, entrepreneur, and consultant. Her inspiration sparked through her son's diagnostic of a lifelong neurological disability. She found maternal fearlessness to ask cross-disciplinary questions and seek non-traditional medical solutions that not only cured her son, but proved to dramatically boost anyone's confidence.

Carlos Meltz

Student

Carlos started his college education in Puerto Rico, where his university went on strike against the local government, resulting in multiple riots and injuries on the island's citizens. While these events happened, instead of waiting for the riots to settle down he dropped his studies that year to travel to Colombia to give English classes to impoverished children, teens, and adults. After backpacking, traveling, and giving back to the community, he returned home in hopes to pursue my bachelor's but was struck by a category 4 Hurricane Maria. It was at this moment he decided to move to the United States to finish his education with the quality he knew he deserved. He developed an algorithm on the Foreign Exchange Market, currently getting certified to be a Social Media Marketing Agent, and is completing his Finance Degree at Bryant University.

Don Wilson

Alum

Don graduated from Bryant in 1992 with his bachelors degree and in 1994 with his masters degree in marketing. He currently serves as the marketing director for Province Mortgage Associates, Inc. and is a public speaker. He tries to live his life by making strangers smile every day while doing whatever it takes to help others succeed. His prior experience as a full-time musician taught him about adversity, preparing him for his 20+ year career as a sales professional, educator, and public speaker. Even though he has the heart of a performer, it’s his humility and sincerity that drive him to learn from people who do things better than him, so he can share it with those who choose to embrace change to improve.

Jennifer Sahady

Alum

Jen is a Bryant Alum of 2005. Her background is a combination of financial and educational experiences that have taken her across the world.She is passionate about demystifying the concept of money and the roles it plays in marriage couples. She loves helping people to create a successful future.

Lauren Friedrich

Alum

Lauren graduated from Bryant in 2007. She is currently pursuing a doctorate in clinical psychology. She is incredibly passionate about traveling, mentoring young professionals, sports and family & friends. She thrives off change which has led her to be a technology evangelist and change agent across several industries. She aspires to be a positive legacy in her work.

Leah DeCesare

Author, Writer, Event Planner

Leah DeCesare is the award-winning author of Forks, Knives, and Spoons, her debut novel, and the Naked Parenting series. Her writing has been featured in The Huffington post, Eligible Magazine, Simply Woman, The International Doula, and The Key, among others. She was the 2017 Story Circle Network LifeWriting first place winner. Leah is the cofounder of the nonprofit, Doulas of Rhode Island, and she led the fundraising efforts to build a medical center in Uganda.

Michael Biskupic

Student

Michael is a junior at Bryant with a major in Applied Economics. In the fall 2019 semester, he completed an internship with the U.S. Department of State in Frankfurt, Germany. Michael's academic and practical experience, along with his vested interest in foreign affairs and international strategy, have driven him to explore America's international future.

Samantha Iacone

Student

Sam is a senior at Bryant University who has always had a passion to give back to the community and simply help others. When she was younger, she had a disability, which sparked her TEDx talk. She has overcome the negative connotations of being different. Through her philanthropic work with Special Olympics Rhode Island, she has been inspired to create a more unified world among those who are different and hope to push this out to the greater community around us.