2025 Speakers

Morning Keynote Speaker

Kerriann Otaño
Vice President of Engagement, OperaDelaware

Kerriann Otaño joined OperaDelaware as vice president of engagement in July 2022, where she rapidly developed a presence as one of Delaware's leading social media influencers, using her platform to become the "Opera Hype Girl" and change perceptions around classical music. After a 10-year career as a spinto soprano in leading opera houses including Washington National Opera, Opera San Jose, Wolf Trap Opera, and the Metropolitan Opera, Otaño began transitioning into artistic administration in 2019 with a focus on artist advocacy, IDEA initiatives, and mental healthcare for singers. Otaño holds a bachelor’s degree in vocal performance from Indiana University and a master’s degree from Mannes the New School for Music. In addition to her extensive knowledge of operatic repertoire and her enthusiasm for reaching new audiences, Otaño brings an artist-centered approach to her work, focusing on cultivating long-term relationships through deeply rooted community collaboration, innovation, and robust artist-led initiatives in Delaware and nationally.

2025 Sphinx LEAD Fellow (National cohort)
2024 Delaware Business Times 40 Under 40
2023 Leadership Delaware Fellow 
2023 TEDx Speaker
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Afternoon Keynote Speaker

Alexis Grainger
Founder, Simpli Solutions LLC and First State Destinations

Alexis Grainger, the visionary founder of Simpli Solutions LLC and the creative mind behind First State Destinations, specializes in digital/social media marketing, business development & strategy, and market research. Her work connects brands with their audiences in authentic, innovative ways that drive both online engagement and meaningful offline results. She has led transformative campaigns for nonprofits, academic institutions, global brands, and small businesses – always with a focus on equity, accessibility, and lasting community impact. 

Breakout Session Presenters

Jessica Bell 
Digital Marketing and Social Media, Hook PR & Marketing 

As Hook PR’s digital marketing and social media expert, Jessica Bell leads the development of smart, results-driven strategies for clients. She holds an Advanced Social Media Marketing for Business certification from the University of Delaware and brings over a decade of experience in web, graphic design, and digital communications. Before joining Hook, Bell ran her own marketing consulting firm and led communications for the Delaware Alliance for Nonprofit Advancement and McConnell Johnson Real Estate. Known for her optimism and genuine care for clients, Bell approaches every project with purpose and heart.
Stephen Cooper 
Founder, 302 Life and OCMD Life 

Steve Cooper is the founder of 302 Life and OCMD Life, which celebrate the beach lifestyle on social media with landscape photography and features of local businesses and events. After relocating to Delaware full-time in 2003 and working in healthcare marketing, Steve launched Lewes Life with his wife, Alex, in 2020 to sell locally-inspired apparel. A Facebook page that began as a way to promote the apparel brand has expanded to a combined total of over 200,000 followers on Facebook and Instagram with over 300 posts per month. The apparel company continues to sell online and in local stores. Through growing his own companies’ social media presence, Steve has developed knowledge of the content creator monetization program, brand messaging, photography, and organic growth strategies. His pages reach a wide audience of both locals and visitors to the Delaware Beaches. Many of these photos are taken with his five young children in tow, who inspire their family-friendly content.
Sarah DeGeorge 
Digital Marketing Specialist 

Sarah DeGeorge is a Philadelphia digital marketing specialist who helps growing businesses find their authentic voice for their audience through data analytics overviews, digital strategy creation, and bespoke marketing services. When DeGeorge is not working on digital strategy, you will find her at a local coffee shop, reading, or working in animal rescue and rehabilitation.
Marisa Flanigan
Social Media Specialist, Dogfish Head Craft Brewery

Marisa Flanigan is a social media specialist at Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, where she brings the brand’s off-centered world to life through content creation, storytelling, and digital strategy. From social media to newsletters, blogs, and website management, she wears many hats—usually with a camera in one hand and a SeaQuench Ale in the other.
 
Her path to marketing wasn’t linear (or planned). With a master’s degree in environmental science, Flanigan began her career in the nonprofit and environmental world, where she often took on communications as a side gig that gradually became the main event. Along the way, she discovered a love for storytelling and brands with real & fun personalities, which eventually led her to Dogfish Head, where she now gets to channel her own off-centeredness to help grow the brand’s digital presence as unique as the beer itself.
Courtney Hastings
Social Media and Communications Coordinator, Honor Foods, Burris Logistics Company, and instructor for the Delaware Tech social media certificate program

Courtney Hastings is the social media and communications coordinator for Honor Foods, Burris Logistics Company, and the instructor for the Social Media Certificate Program at Delaware Tech. She first started working in social media as an intern in college over a decade ago and has managed over 100 social media accounts in her career.

Hastings enjoys working in all areas of the communications field, and in addition to social media, has extensive experience in public and community relations, event planning, photography, videography, blog and newsletter writing, internal communications, and employee engagement.

She loves using social media as a way to tell a company and brand story to connect with customers, team members, and partners, and enjoys teaching small business owners how to use social media to grow and connect to their community. When she is not at work, Courtney loves spending time with her family and friends, running, crafting, and traveling.
Ethan Holland
Vice President, Draper Digital Media

Ethan Holland is vice president of Draper Digital Media, where he is responsible for digital sales, content, audience, technology, and agency services for five television stations and six radio stations. Previously, he was the senior director of digital marketing at American Eagle Outfitters. Holland has spent his career digitally transforming legacy businesses, including catalogs, home shopping networks, retailers, and television stations. He has been recognized in The New York Times and delivered the keynote address at Adobe’s Worldwide Sales Conference. Holland has partnered on product launches with Google, YouTube, Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, and Twitter. He grew up in Milford, Delaware, and graduated from Swarthmore College with a degree in English literature. When not spending time with family, he enjoys researching emerging technology. Every week, Holland categorizes over 500 articles about artificial intelligence into 40 distinct categories and shares them on his blog at ethanbholland.com
Jenna Jackson 
Assistant Director of Admissions, Ursuline Academy 

For over 11 years, Jenna Jackson has played a vital role in shaping the Ursuline Academy community as a member of the admissions department. As the current assistant director of admissions, Jackson is dedicated to connecting prospective early childhood through 12th grade families with the school’s mission.

​An “Ursuline girl” through and through, Jackson’s time at UA expands beyond her role in admissions. As an alumna, a current parent of two lower school children, and a former coach, Jackson guides families through the admissions process with warmth, expertise, and a deep commitment to Ursuline values.
 
Additionally, Jackson manages Ursuline’s School Store, The Raider Closet, and supports the director of marketing and communications. These responsibilities enable her to engage with students and faculty, sharing the Ursuline story and brand through various social media platforms. Jackson particularly enjoys creating content for reels and stories on Instagram.
 
Off campus, Jackson is an avid reader. She recently combined her love of books and social media with the launch of a bookstagram account with her twin sister. Together, they enjoy creating content, sharing online book reviews and recommendations, and engaging with other readers and authors. If you’re a fellow book lover, she invites you to @read_betwin_thelines and follow along.
Brittany Keller 
Director of Marketing and Communications, Ursuline Academy

Brittany Keller has served as Ursuline’s director of marketing and communications since 2018, implementing a comprehensive and strategic marketing plan across the Academy for internal and external audiences. Her marketing efforts support both the needs of the school and help achieve admissions and advancement goals. She also plays a key role in the design of campus construction and renovation projects, ensuring that Ursuline's brand and identity are thoughtfully represented throughout the school. Additionally, Keller owns a local social media business called Socially, founded in 2017, which offers social media management and marketing services to local businesses.
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Over the course of her career, Keller has managed all aspects of marketing, communications, and public relations. Her experience includes working on digital marketing campaigns for multiple Fortune 500 companies, as well as local organizations and universities, including Viamark Delaware, University of Delaware, Villanova University, and Faithful Friends Animal Society.
Inspired by the way Ursuline empowers young women to become trailblazers, change makers, and global leaders, Brittany coaches both cross country and track & field in the high school. She is also a current and founding board member of the Spur Impact Association. In her free time, she enjoys running, traveling, and spending time at Lewes Beach with family.
Chase Marvil 
Owner, Marvil Marketing
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Chase Marvil is a seasoned social media strategist with over a decade of experience and the owner of Marvil Marketing, a firm dedicated to helping local businesses thrive in today’s fast-paced digital landscape. Driven by a passion for empowering entrepreneurs, Marvil specializes in leveraging the latest techniques in social media marketing, branding, and artificial intelligence to elevate brands and amplify their voices. He has successfully guided countless businesses in building authentic connections with their audiences, creating strategies that foster engagement and drive sustainable growth. With a focus on community-driven success, Marvil not only helps businesses increase their online presence but also cultivates meaningful relationships that translate to real-world impact. A dynamic leader in the marketing space, he is committed to delivering innovative, results-oriented strategies that are as impactful as they are practical — all designed to make you log in smarter, connect deeper, and grow stronger.
Mike Pfeifer 
Founder, 1440 Film Co.

Mike Pfeifer is the Founder of 1440 Film Co., a full service video production company that specializes in commercial, documentary, and branded content. Pfeifer has been in the video production industry for over a decade and has extensive experience working for agencies, Fortune 500s, and local non-profits alike.
 
His career has afforded him the opportunity to work everywhere from Iceland to California, but at the end of the day Mike loves calling Delaware home. He is a firm believer in real, honest-to-goodness storytelling and loves making anything that makes you laugh, ugly cry, any emotion in between. When not on set, Mike and his wife Alina spend their time doing their best to keep up with Mia (age 7) and Finn (age 4).
Nick Rendo
Organic Social Media Marketing Expert

Nick Rendo is a social media marketing expert who has built three successful businesses over the past decade—each in a different niche—entirely through organic social media strategies.

For the last three years, Rendo has helped local businesses in Delaware go viral, generate millions of views, increase leads, and grow brand awareness without spending a single dollar on ads.

He specializes in crafting fun, high-converting content and writing scroll-stopping scripts that not only entertain but also drive real business results.

Rendo’s mission is to show business owners how to dominate their niche organically and become the go-to authority in their space—proving that you don’t need a single dollar on paid ads to make a big impact.
Patricia Rivera
Founder, Hook PR & Marketing

Patricia Rivera is the founder of Hook PR & Marketing and a former journalist who knows the impact of a well-told story. As a messaging strategist and StoryBrand Certified Coach, she helps brands communicate clearly and build lasting trust.​
Courtney Thomas 
Associate Managing Director of Social Media, Aloysius Butler & Clark

Courtney Thomas is the associate managing director of social media at Aloysius Butler & Clark, where she oversees the social media department at one of the largest independent full-service marketing communications agencies on the East Coast. In her role, she is responsible for the development and implementation of social media strategy for companies and organizations in a variety of industries, including public health, government, healthcare, pharma, finance, B2C, and B2B. She is well-versed in all aspects of social media strategy and management, including overall channel selection and direction, content creation, community management and influencer relations.
Marcus Watkins
Digital Marketing and Engagement Manager, United Way of Delaware

Marcus Watkins is the digital marketing and engagement manager at United Way of Delaware, with over ten years of experience in digital strategy, brand engagement, and creative problem-solving. He is a graduate of United Way Worldwide's L.E.A.D. Program, which recognizes emerging leaders across the global network.

Watkins is known for his ability to turn ideas into impactful campaigns that resonate with diverse audiences. With a background in entertainment and independent music marketing, he brings a unique perspective to his work, blending creativity with strategic thinking. He currently lives in Newark, Delaware.