2023 Speakers

Keynote Speaker

Andrew Davis
Keynote Speaker & Best-Selling Author, Monumental Shift

Andrew Davis is a bestselling author and internationally acclaimed keynote speaker. Before building and selling a thriving digital marketing agency, Andrew produced for NBC’s Today Show, worked for The Muppets in New York and wrote for Charles Kuralt. He's appeared in the New York Times, Forbes, the Wall Street Journal, and on NBC and the BBC. Davis has crafted documentary films and award-winning content for tiny start-ups and Fortune 500 brands. Recognized as one of the industry's "Jaw-Dropping Marketing Speakers," Andrew is a mainstay on global marketing influencer lists. Wherever he goes, Andrew Davis puts his infectious enthusiasm and magnetic speaking style to good use teaching business leaders how to grow their businesses, transform their cities, and leave their legacy.

Breakout Session Presenters

Danny R. Aguilar
Assistant General Manager & Director of Marketing, Delaware State Fair

A resident of Delaware since 1986, Danny Aguilar began his career in the Marketing and Communication industry with the International Organization Up With People in 1991.  Danny travelled to over 28 different countries performing as a student and working as a European Promotions Director.  After returning back to Delaware, Danny continued to work in the field of communications as the Education and Public Relations Director for the Delaware Solid Waste Authority.  Aguilar was hired in 2007 as the Assistant General Manager & Director of Marketing for the Delaware State Fair in Harrington, Delaware.  He is actively involved with several community and nonprofit Boards. He holds dual degrees in Communication Arts and Elementary Education and is always up for the challenge presented by this ever changing world of digital and social media marketing.  
Jessica Bell
Chief Marketing Officer, Hook PR & Marketing

Jessica is Hook’s digital marketing and social media expert, leading the development of clients' digital strategies for optimal results. She previously ran her own marketing consulting firm and led communications for the Delaware Alliance for Nonprofit Advancement and McConnell Johnson Real Estate. With more than a decade of experience in web, graphic design and social media marketing, Jess tackles all projects with great optimism and a genuine care for clients.
Ali Bishop & Tessa MacDonald
Co-Owners, On the Rise Creative Co.

Ali Bishop & Tessa MacDonald of On the Rise Creative Co. are social media experts who love tackling difficult topics to bring more clarity to common misconceptions in marketing. Clients and colleagues alike can appreciate their direct, informal, and practical approach when sharing. Their core values include attention to detail, a whole lot of heart, and a dedication to their community through all things creative. With over ten years of experience, they are passionate about guiding you towards a stronger brand, and helping to elevate your social media.
Sarah DeGeorge
Digital Marketing Specialist

Sarah is a digital marketing specialist who works in paid and organic marketing, public relations, and social media marketing and management to help small businesses find their authentic voice for their audience through a holistic marketing approach. When Sarah is not working on digital marketing strategy, you will find her on a walk at a local park, reading, or working in animal rescue and rehabilitation.
Dawn Mosley, Ed.D.
Senior Associate Vice President of Marketing and Communications, Delaware State University

Dawn Mosley is the senior associate vice president of Marketing and Communications for Delaware State University. She is an accomplished and highly dedicated executive with over 25 years of professional experience in marketing and communications, public relations, market planning, social media, and high-level management forging new initiatives, building brand identities, and leading transformation. Dawn is an expert in generating and managing digital content influencing consumers through diverse media platforms. With added 20 years of filmmaking and cross-functional team-leading experience, she has a proven track record as an executive leader. Dawn also serves on the Executive Committee for Delaware ACE Women’s Network (DAWN) and owns IAM Enterprises, a film production and marketing company, and is the founder and executive director of Productions For Purpose (PFP). This non-profit organization creates films, documentaries, commercials, and other visual content for various non-profit organizations. Dawn received her doctorate in Higher Education Leadership from Delaware State University. She also has an MS in Marketing and Leadership and BS in Video and Motion Graphics from Wilmington University. Dawn is the proud mother of three children and a Delaware native.
Courtney Hastings
Social Media and Communications Coordinator, Burris Logistics

Courtney Hastings is the Social Media and Communications Coordinator for Burris Logistics and the instructor for the Social Media Certificate Program at Delaware Tech.  She first started working in social media as an intern in college and has managed over 75 social media accounts in her career.  Courtney 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, and internal communications/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.  In 2015, Courtney was the Mar-Del Watermelon Queen, serving as a spokesperson for the Mar-Del Watermelon Association and the watermelon industry. When she is not at work, Courtney love’s spending time with her family and friends, running, crafting, and traveling. 
Nicole Gensoli
Social Media Specialist, SoDel Concepts

Nicole was born and raised in Easton, Pennsylvania, but now resides in Rehoboth Beach with her husband, Joe. While attending school at Bloomsburg University she worked at an events venue in Bloomsburg with the catering team. Nicole graduated with her Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications and a minor in management.
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Nicole moved to Rehoboth Beach in 2018 after she graduated to take a position as the assistant manager and social media specialist at South Moon Under. Nicole was happy to accept a position with SoDel in 2019 for the great company culture. She is currently the Social Media Specialist on the marketing team and oversees the SoDel brand.  She is responsible for all social media channels for the company, all advertisement graphic design and managing all company communications. 
Jami Jackson
Owner, gingham + grace clothing
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Jami Jackson was born and raised in Delaware. She received a Bachelor of Science in Fashion Merchandising from McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Her fashion career has provided her opportunities to work for Betsey Johnson in her New York City corporate office, and then learned the back end of the industry working at the Atlanta Apparel Mart in Atlanta, GA. Jami married and found her way back to the first state where she worked at the corporate office of South Moon Under in Berlin, MD as the editorial fashion stylist.  

Jami’s dream has always been to open a boutique and after many years of planning, reflecting, praying, dreaming and an interesting life-altering situation to our family, she decided to make her dream a reality in 2018 and opened gingham + grace clothing, an online fashion retail experience and pop-up shop. In January 2021, gingham + grace clothing moved to a brick and mortar.

Jami has worn many hats as a small business owner by planning her financials, social media schedules, purchasing and receiving inventory, and packing orders to ship.  It is no wonder that she was nominated and selected as one of Delaware’s Top 40 Innovators & Achievers under 40 in September, 2021. Then, in 2022, she was the Leukemia & Lymphoma Social Woman of the Year Nominee. 
Janelle Mazur
Senior Integrated Communications Manager, Dogfish Head 

Janelle is the Sr. Integrated Communications Manager at Dogfish Head, responsible for developing and executing digital and social media strategy across all areas of the company – everything from the brewery to the distillery, two Rehoboth restaurants and their inn located in downtown Lewes. A graduate of West Virginia University, Janelle has been helping to spread the off-centered story of Dogfish since 2011. With one of the largest social followings in the craft beer industry, Dogfish continues to push digital boundaries in an authentic and relevant way, making them the most talked about craft brewery across all social media platforms.
Chris Rausch
Owner and Publisher, Cape Gazette

Chris Rausch, owner and publisher of Cape Gazette, has spent over 20 years in communications specializing in assisting small and medium size businesses develop their marketing plans including social media, digital, print and beyond. 
Patricia Rivera
CEO and Founder, Hook PR & Marketing

Patricia is Hook’s leader and visionary, providing high-level counsel to organizations throughout the mid-Atlantic – building their brands with strategic stories and content across multiple channels and in multiple languages. She founded Hook in 2007 after an award-winning career in journalism, working for The New York Times, The Dallas Morning News, and The News Journal. Patricia received the Entrepreneurial Woman of the Year Award from New Castle County Chamber of Commerce and the Delaware Minority-Owned Business of the Year Award from the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Dru Tevis
Corporate Pastry Chef, SoDel Concepts

Dru, a native of Westminster, MD, spent many summers vacationing in Rehoboth in his childhood and now lives in Lewes with his husband, Chase, and their dogs.  He began his restaurant career at a young age.  He attended College at New York University, studied abroad and found his passion of baking while traveling in Florence. His plans upon graduation were to attend graduate film school, but Dru decided to enroll in the French Culinary Institute, which is now known as The International Culinary Center in Manhattan.  Dru received a Grand Diploma in Professional Pastry Arts and graduates as a class valedictorian.  Dru had the pleasure of working under two prestigious pastry chefs, Kierin Baldwin of The Dutch, and Christina Tosi, while in New York. 

Dru moved back to Rehoboth in 2012 and worked with many great chefs in the Rehoboth area. In 2018 he took a year to concentrate on food, travel and continuing education throughout the U.S., taking seminars and classes at many prestigious institutions and working in various kitchens. Continuing education in his field has been very important to Dru and he has taken classes and seminars at the following: The French Pastry School, Chicago; Chocolate Academy, Chicago; Le Cordon Bleu, Paris, France; Good Taste of Tuscany, Signa, Italy; Leith’s School of Food & Wine, London, England. Of being a Pastry Chef Dru said, “There is nothing more special to me than watching a customer enthusiastically react to food that I created.  That look of delight is the ultimate reward.”

​In the fall of 2018, he took a position as the Corporate Pastry Chef for SoDel Concepts. Dru has now built a pastry team of ten to oversee the pastry program for all the SoDel Concepts restaurants.  In 2022, Dru was featured on Food Network’s, Holiday Baking Championship and prevailed as the winner of Season 9.  
Courtney Thomas
Senior Social Media Account Supervisor, Aloysius Butler & Clark (AB&C)

Courtney manages social media accounts for companies and organizations in a variety of industries, including healthcare, pharma, finance and food service. She is well-versed in all aspects of social media strategy and management, including overall channel selection and direction, content creation, community management and paid social media advertising. Since joining AB&C, she has led social media strategy for clients across verticals, such as AtlantiCare, the Delaware Cancer Consortium, and Agora Cyber Charter School.
Ryan Walker
TikTok Influencer

Ryan Walker is a high school senior at Caesar Rodney High School in Delaware.  Like many of his peers, he spends a lot of time on social media – a habit that only increased during the early days of the pandemic.  What started as a curiosity about posting on TikTok has led him to a career path based on creating quality online content in various formats, growing a following, and monetizing his accounts.  Ryan has over 1.3 million followers, two e-commerce businesses and more projects in development.  Between participating in discords and weekly creator meetings, taking on-line courses in social media marketing, and educating himself on the long-standing principles of marketing and business, he makes time for daily content creation.  His goal is to build a business showing others how to leverage social media to reach the Gen-Z audience.   ​
Marcus Watkins
Digital Marketing and Engagement Manager

Marcus Watkins is the digital marketing and engagement manager for United Way of Delaware, where he manages social media, website, and digital communications. Prior to United Way, his marketing helped propel his hip hop group, the 49ers, to the top of the Itunes charts in Japan where they sold millions of copies. ​