Presenters
After spending 90+ days rowing across oceans, covering 5,800 nautical miles, battling 60-foot waves, and overcoming extreme adversity, Anna has mastered what it takes to achieve the impossible and turn dreams into a reality.
Anna McLean Joynson is a 3x Guinness World Record holder, business consultant, and dynamic motivational speaker. As a former athlete, record-breaker and avid fundraiser, she has learned firsthand the power of perseverance, resilience, and pushing beyond limits - qualities essential for both leaders and entrepreneurs.
Passionate about helping others unlock their full potential, Anna is committed to inspiring aspiring entrepreneurs, business professionals and students. Her journey is a testament to turning visions into action, and she aims to ignite motivation and share lessons in how your dreams can become a successful reality.
Chris is the founder and CPO at Public Products, where he drives innovation across his ventures Utilasoft, Dusted, Kaloop, CareerDomains, and HomeHutch. An entrepreneur at heart, Chris combines his passion for technology and business to create impactful solutions that empower small business owners. He leads a dedicated team of 7 full-time and 4 part-time local employees, along with 18 full-time employees in two overseas offices. Chris also co-hosts the podcast "Business and Belly Laughs" with his wife. Learn more about their shenanigans at www.publicproducts.com.
Chris grew up in Naples, Florida, and graduated from the Virginia Military Institute with a degree in Electrical Engineering. He began his journey in software development at the age of 14 and continued to hone his skills throughout his career. After serving in the Army and exiting as a Captain in 2004, Chris held various CTO and Product roles at both national and local levels. Over the years, he has successfully deployed more than 30 platforms, with four achieving significant sales in the tens of millions. With two decades of experience in product development, Chris has also explored physical products, toys, and most recently, the food industry.
Now residing in downtown Sarasota with his wife, Becky, and their French bulldog, Chris enjoys summer weekends at their lake house in the middle of the state. You can often spot Chris, Becky, and their dog bouncing between bars and restaurants in their blue golf cart, affectionately named Birdie. An avid hunter and water sports enthusiast, Chris loves to unwind by soaking up the sun and enjoying the great outdoors.
Bill is the Co-Founder and President of Relofant, a project management firm helping commercial real estate users through a seamless relocation experience. The company offers construction management, move management, site decommissioning, and feasibility studies, enabling clients to avail of personalized consulting services.
Previously, Bill held an executive position with Mortgage Contracting Services, a Mortgage Default Servicing company, where one of his many responsibilities through his 8 year tenure included managing a vast network of 800 + national vendors. Bill also has several years of construction management experience where he was consistently recognized for on time delivery and exceptional levels of production.
Bill is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and is a member of the Project Management Institute Tampa Chapter. He has earned his Associate degree in Business Management from Community College of Allegheny County and a Bachelor of Technical Management with a focus on Project Management at DeVry University. Bill serves on the Board of Directors at Real Estate Lives and on the Board of Directors at Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County.
From a young age Allison knew she was destined for a career in communications and trained under the same speaking and performance coach as Paul Rudd and Jason Sudeikis.
While still in college, she landed her dream job with the Kansas City Royals (combining her love of sports and strategic messaging.)
Soon after graduating from the University of Kansas, she travelled, living in the Virgin Islands, San Diego, New Orleans, Lake Tahoe, Colorado….finally making her way to Sarasota in 2004.
For more than a decade she pursued a career with the number one media company in the country, iHeart Media.
In April of 2017 Allison purchased Grapevine Communications. Now in its 22nd year, Grapevine takes great pride in being a resource for businesses and nonprofits in this community and beyond.
Allison and her husband, David, are parents to two brilliant children, Rip and Ryan. She is a leader, cancer survivor and Fantasy Football champion!
Esther Marshall is Senior Vice President and Community Impact Territory Manager at Fifth Third Bank for the Southeast, leading teams in Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, and the Carolinas with direct responsibility for the Florida and Georgia markets. She oversees the Bank’s regional compliance with the Community Reinvestment Act, cultivates and leads community partnerships, drives community development strategies, and leads charitable giving. She is focused on key programs and initiatives supporting economic mobility, small business development, affordable housing, financial accessibility, workforce development and efforts to improve the well-being of individuals and families in underserved communities.
Esther leads the implementation of Fifth Third’s Empowering Black Futures program in East Tampa and Grove Park in Atlanta – two of nine neighborhoods receiving $20 million each in lending, investments and philanthropy to create equitable growth and economic mobility. This comprehensive program is part of Fifth Third’s $2.8 billion commitment to accelerate racial equity, equality and inclusion.
Esther has more than 25 years of experience in the financial services industry. She joined Fifth Third in 2000 and served in the commercial bank division before transitioning into community impact.
Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Esther received her bachelor’s degree in finance from Davenport University and her master’s degree in public administration from the University of Michigan.
Karen Rankin-Magee, President of Self Employment Specialists, Inc. since 2005, excels in transforming entrepreneurial challenges into successes through her strategic acumen and uncompromising care for her clients. Renowned for fostering resilience and instilling confidence, Karen equips business owners to thrive in complex environments, contributing significantly to their personal and professional growth. Her deep commitment to her clients has made her a trusted leader in business consulting.
With a diverse background across various industries, Karen has owned several retail stores, led the Small Business Development Center at State College of Florida, and was President of Magee Sign Service, which won the Manatee Chamber’s Small Business of the Year Award. Her extensive experience in entrepreneur training spans over twenty years, including creating customized programs for entrepreneur agencies in Florida and authoring the business planning workbook, BizAbility™.
Her consulting work has varied greatly, aiding companies across North America with annual revenues ranging from just $15,000 to over $300 million. Karen previously served on an SBA loan approval committee and is an expert witness for the Department of Education on self-employment funding cases.
Karen holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Central Florida, where she graduated Cum Laude. Beyond her professional endeavors, she enjoys family time and exploring the world on land and underwater.