Jay Kiew, MBA, PMP, Prosci, DTM
Innovation Strategist, Citizencentric
Proudest Moment: In November 2025, we welcomed our second daughter. It’s been such a blessing to raise our two daughters while balancing running a consulting firm and speaking full-time. my proudest moment lies not in the success of our businesses, but in the success of how my wife and I have protected our family time (nights and weekends) to enjoy the outdoors, teach our 3-year old to scooter and hit up the parks.
Takeaways: The transformation that audiences experience following my signature keynotes are as follows: Understand how to navigate uncertainty and complexity with confidence, simplify the agentic AI ecosystem, pinpointing the areas of greatest opportunity to reimagine work, develop the change fluency necessary to drive disruption at work come Monday.
Need to Know: If you’re looking for your next keynote speaker, you may appreciate that I operate under the following guiding principles: Smooth as butter. I see my job as making it frictionless to work with me. Throwaway presentations. I only make each presentation once, customizing deeply for your audience based on their needs, the state of their industry and what’s most top of mind. Lightning-fast responsive. I pride myself on getting back to you within the day, so that you have all the information you need to make an informed decision.
James Spellos
President, Meeting U.
Proudest Moment: It would have to be addressing my health issues which had led up to my having an ischemic stroke. Changing my diet and lifestyle is something I understand is very difficult for most people, but my wife and I knew it had to be done, and we’ve flourished since making the changes.
Takeaways: I focus my talks to provide tangible tools that the attendees can leave right away and implement. Additionally, I want them to feel that the technology is a bit less mystifying then they did when the came in. Also, I want them to enjoy the session…adding some humor into a tech presentation is never a bad thing.
Need to Know: I try to be very easy to work with. Of course, with a tech-based session, we need to make sure the Wi-Fi is working and the tech is ready to go (I’ll always be ready for very early tech checks with my clients). And don’t forget to ask me about doing a second session while I’m at your event…always love to provide deeper dives for the attendees.
Peter Pilarski
Founder and President, CIPR Communications Inc.
Agency: Tourism AI Network
Proudest Moment: The proudest moment of my life was unquestionably the birth of my twin boys, Bartek and Jacub. Not only was becoming a father incredibly profound, but what followed truly tested my resilience, determination and the strength of my partnership with my wife. During this period, we were running our small business, a demanding responsibility at any time but magnified dramatically under these circumstances.
The twins arrived prematurely and spent over a week in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Navigating those days was profoundly challenging—filled with anxiety, intense emotion, and near-complete exhaustion. However, it was precisely in this demanding moment that I discovered an inner resolve and clarity of purpose like never before.
What made me proudest wasn’t just surviving the experience; it was the realization of our extraordinary capability as humans to persevere through adversity by focusing purely on the immediate tasks at hand—doing what needed to be done, day by day, moment by moment. Despite the stress, sleepless nights and immense pressures both personally and professionally, we kept moving forward, driven by sheer determination and commitment.
Reflecting back, that experience has become my benchmark for resilience and focus. Whenever life presents new challenges, I recall those early days with Bartek and Jacub, and suddenly any obstacle seems manageable. That moment reaffirmed my belief in human potential, including my own, proving undeniably that with determination and focus, I am capable of accomplishing anything.
Takeaways: Generative AI explained—minus the mystery: Attendees will leave with a clear grasp of what generative AI is (and isn’t) and why it can transform every corner of a tourism business, from marketing to on‑site guest experience.
A step‑by‑step adoption framework: They’ll learn a practical, repeatable process for spotting high‑impact use cases, piloting solutions, testing, and scaling—turning AI into a genuine super‑power rather than a passing experiment.
Hands‑on confidence, not just theory: Each session is workshop‑style (prompt, build, iterate, share), so participants go home having created at least one real automation and with templates and prompts they can use the next day.
Mindful, responsible innovation: We emphasize transparency, risk checks, and human‑in‑the‑loop governance so the industry avoids the “social‑media hangover” effect and captures long‑term value instead.
Need to Know: When working with me, planners should know that energy, enthusiasm and inspiration are at the heart of everything I deliver. My greatest strength as a speaker and workshop facilitator is my ability to lift the energy in any room, leaving audiences motivated, energized, and eager to act.
As an Enneagram Type 7—the Enthusiast—and an “iD” style on the DISC profile, I naturally harness positivity, influence, and dynamic engagement to inspire meaningful change. I bring infectious enthusiasm to every interaction, ensuring participants feel excited about the possibilities ahead and are encouraged to think differently about their challenges and opportunities.
Matthew Beaudin
Corporate Director of Innovation, The SSA Group
linkedin.com/in/matthew-beaudin-83424b14
Proudest Moment: One of the proudest moments in my career was recently when I led a culinary sustainability mission to Vietnam, working directly with local farmers and seafood producers to bridge the gap between regenerative practices and global market opportunities. Bringing together chefs, suppliers, and environmental advocates, we created a platform that celebrated the power of food to connect cultures, protect resources, and inspire change. Seeing firsthand the ripple effect of our work—from the farms in Vietnam to the plates in the U.S.—remains one of the most meaningful highlights of my professional journey.
Takeaways: I hope my audience leaves with a deep understanding of the power we each hold—individually and collectively—to shape a better world. I want them to realize that even the smallest decisions, when rooted in intention and compassion, can create real change. My hope is to ignite a sense of agency in everyone who listens, reminding them that together our choices can transform industries, protect resources and build communities that thrive. Ultimately, I want each person to walk away knowing that they are the catalyst for progress.
Need to Know: Give Me the Scoop: Tell me about your audience—who’s in the room, what’s on their mind, and how they want to feel when they leave. I love crafting a talk that speaks right to their hearts.
Let’s Dream Big: I’m not afraid of getting a little wild with ideas—interactive moments, unique visuals or culinary surprises? Let’s cook up something unforgettable!
I’m All In: From the prep to the final applause, I’m fully invested in making your event shine. Count on me to bring energy, warmth, and a touch of mischief.
Good Vibes Only: Let’s keep the conversation flowing and the creativity alive.
Together, We Wow: My goal? To leave your audience inspired and talking about the event long after the last slide clicks off.
Tim Altbaum, CMP, CMM
CEO, Vario Productions
Proudest Moment: One of my proudest moments came when I realized our team at Vario Productions had successfully navigated the massive industry shift from in-person to virtual and back following the pandemic. Not only did we retain our core team, but we also grew stronger and more agile—delivering some of the most technically complex and emotionally impactful events of my career. Leading a team through uncertainty and emerging as a trusted partner to global brands wasn’t just a business win—it was a moment of clarity about the power of resilience, innovation and people-first leadership.
Takeaways: I want audiences to walk away feeling empowered to embrace technology, not fear it. Whether I’m speaking about the future of AI, the evolution of experiential events, or the intersection of creativity and tech, my goal is to simplify the complex and make innovation accessible. I hope they leave with three things: A fresh mindset around how technology can elevate human connection, practical tools they can apply immediately in their events or organizations, the confidence to experiment, iterate and lead with bold ideas.
Need to Know: I bring the same energy to the planning process that I bring to the stage—thoughtful, adaptable and fully collaborative. Planners should know I am a team player. I work seamlessly with technical crews, producers, and internal stakeholders to ensure everything from AV to audience engagement is dialed in and I do my homework. Every presentation is customized to the audience, industry and objectives. You’ll never get a canned talk. I’m low-maintenance, high-impact. Just point me to the brief, share your goals, and I’ll do the rest—with intention, polish and a bit of humor when it fits.
Troy Peters, CTS
Chief Experience Officer, SEAS Productions
Proudest Moment: It’s easy to target a half-dozen career milestones such as a complete mid-career shift into a different industry, or building a company from the ground up, but the most proud moment is the time I brought my 9-year old daughter to see what I do at work and she fell in love with it. She even got hands-on and helped set some uplights for a reception event we were getting ready for. Now, at the grand old age of 11 she continues to engage in conversations about what sort of event I’m doing and why I might be designing it the way that I am and most recently has asked if she could run my company one day. So proud.
Takeaways: I try my best to be transparent about the goals we’re all heading toward during any of my talks so in one sense the audience has an idea of what the outcome will be. From there, I take the audience on a journey of a-ha moments that they can discover in themselves or by engaging within my presentation. Nothing makes me happier than having a line of audience members sharing that “they never saw it from that perspective” or “they had no idea it could be that easy.” It’s as though they find the answer within themselves and hopefully they take the answer, or this new knowledge, with them.
Need to Know: Having been in leadership on both sides of the client / vendor relationship, I have an innate understanding of what it takes to design complete audience experiences interlaced with the demands of the event life cycle and the necessity of being accountable to key stakeholders, boards of directors, and ultimately the audience member. During my talks, I take special care to represent both of these viewpoints so the takeaways will maximize relationships.
