If you dream of inspiring cult-like customer loyalty—the kind that involves mile-long queues and even permanent tattoos—Johnny Cupcakes is for you. The founder of the world-renowned, food-themed tee-shirt brand Johnny Cupcakes, Johnny’s known for helping other people create blueprints for The Unexpected Sprinkles — giving people more than what they’re expecting.

This recipe helps build brand loyalty, create memorable experiences, and inspire innovation.

With global bakery-themed T-shirt pop-up shop openings, thousands of customers with his logo tattooed on themselves, people who camp out for his products, and high-profile collaborations with giants such as The Simpsons, Power Rangers, and Nickelodeon, Johnny was named America’s #1 Young Entrepreneur by Business Week, Top Innovator in Retail by The Boston Globe, and featured in INC magazine as the CEO of one of the world’s fastest growing independent businesses.

More information coming soon!

Wine can make or break an event—and most event professionals know it. What they don’t always have is the language, the strategy, or the confidence to do something about it.

In this 30-minute masterclass, wine entrepreneur and Shall We Wine founder Regine Rousseau, cuts through the intimidation and delivers exactly what event planners, producers, and caterers need to know. You’ll walk away with three proven strategies for working with donors to secure wines that will elevate your event, clear guidelines for directing your caterer to the right fit for your needs, and a curated reference list of ten accessible, crowd-pleasing wines you can rely on—at any budget.

Whether you’re producing a nonprofit gala, a corporate event, or a private celebration, this session gives you the tools to speak about wine with authority—and make choices that leave a lasting impression on your clients and their guests.

Attendees will also receive an exclusive one-pager: a practical cheat sheet with ready-to-use language, key strategies, and go-to wine recommendations you can put to work at your very next event.

This masterclass is designed to elevate every event professional’s security awareness. In this focused power session, attendees will learn how to spot vulnerabilities, strengthen on-site protocols, and collaborate effectively with venue and security partners. This session delivers practical, immediately applicable strategies for keeping guests, staff, and properties safe, without compromising attendee experience.

Ask Frank is an unscripted, high‑impact masterclass where attendees get direct access to one of the most respected icons in the wedding and event industry. With more than 34 years of experience, Frank brings hard‑won wisdom, candid insights, and practical guidance to every question. This is your chance to tap into a legendary career—ask what you’ve always wanted to know, get honest answers, and walk away with clarity, confidence, and industry‑shaping perspective in just 30 minutes.

In today’s crowded and fast-moving marketplace, having a great business isn’t enough—you need a story that cuts through the noise and positions you as the go-to expert.

PR and media veteran Michelle Mekky shares a practical PR and storytelling framework designed to help business owners and event professionals clarify their message, elevate their brand and gain meaningful visibility. Drawing from real-world media experience and proven publicity strategies, attendees will learn how to define their unique narrative, craft a compelling elevator pitch and confidently share their story across media, social platforms and live interactions.

Participants will learn how to position themselves with clarity and confidence, and have the opportunity to participate in live storytelling, pitch exercises and role playing, with real-time

feedback. Attendees will leave with actionable tools they can immediately apply to grow their brand presence and attract new opportunities.

Join The Neu Project for a session focused on putting empathy and knowledge into practice. We’re diving into how we can intentionally craft environments, schedules, and conversations where everyone can fully engage and belong.

Expect this session to be part education and part interaction. We’ll break down the basics of neuroinclusive design, tackle a few fun, hands-on design challenges together, and chat openly about our own experiences and ideas. No stuffy lectures here—just good vibes and great dialogue.

What We’ll Chat About:

• The Big Picture: What neurodiversity actually means for live events and why cognitive comfort changes the game for your attendees.

• Real-World Tweaks: Simple, scalable ideas that you can start using at your very next event.

• Crowdsourced Ideas: A chance to swap stories, ask questions, and brainstorm alongside your ILEA peers.

Dana Kadwell reveals the journey of rediscovering passion and vision in your business, guiding entrepreneurs who feel stuck in the daily grind to reconnect with their journey to success and growth from her personal experience. She highlights the red flags of burnout, the importance of creative problem-solving, and practical methods for reclaiming the time and energy needed to dream big again, like you did when you started your business. Dana shares her insights on cultivating a fresh perspective, structuring time for visionary thinking, and the influential role of connecting with mentors and peers.

In a world where change is constant and expectations evolve overnight, leaders must do more than keep up; they must look ahead, think differently, and lead with intention. This session explores the mindset shifts required to thrive in a rapidly transforming environment. Participants will learn how to innovate with purpose, anticipate emerging trends before they disrupt the landscape, and elevate their leadership approach to meet the demands of a future‑focused world.

Events today have the opportunity to do more than deliver content; they can create meaningful impact.

In this workshop, Seth Weiner, Your Rocktioneer®, shares how event professionals can integrate fundraising and corporate social responsibility into conferences, trade shows, and corporate experiences in a way that enhances not interrupts the attendee journey. Drawing from proven strategies used in nonprofit galas, this session explores how purpose-driven moments can increase engagement, elevate sponsor value, and unlock new revenue opportunities.

Attendees will learn how to incorporate fundraising elements across the full event lifecycle from trade show floor activations and sponsor integrations to featured moments within general sessions and closing celebrations. The focus is on creating authentic, well-placed opportunities that align with event goals and audience expectations.

Whether supporting an internal foundation or partnering with a local cause, participants will leave with practical, scalable ideas to design events that not only connect people, but also create lasting impact.

In a rapidly evolving events landscape, the most transformative ideas rarely come from individual brilliance—they emerge when diverse minds, disciplines, and technologies collide. This session explores how strategic partnerships, cross-functional creativity, and intentional co-creation unlock new levels of impact, efficiency, and imagination.

This session reframes collaboration as a catalyst for innovation, showing attendees how to build ecosystems—not silos—that accelerate problem solving, elevate attendee experiences, and future-proof their organizations. Participants will examine real-world models, experiment with collaborative frameworks, and leave equipped to activate innovation through people, process, and purpose.

In an era defined by rapid technological change, cultural evolution, sustainability imperatives, and global mobility, the decisions we make as event professionals ripple far beyond the ballroom. Where we gather. How we design. Who we partner with. It all matters.

Global Voices, Shared Futures brings powerhouse perspectives to one stage for a bold, forward-facing conversation about how cross-sector collaboration is actively creating futures for our industry. This isn’t a trends report. It’s a reality check — and a roadmap.

From airlift strategy and international expansion to cultural intelligence, community impact, and next-gen attendee   expectations, this dynamic panel will explore how the global ecosystem behind events influences economic growth, brand perception, sustainability outcomes, and human connection.

Because when we gather with intention, we don’t just plan events. We design momentum, shape industries, and create futures.

Get ready to hustle, Chicago!

Join us on August 25th, 2026 from 7–10 PM for a SEARCH Foundation event that’s truly decades in the making. We’re teaming up with SEARCH to raise critical funds for event professionals in crisis, and we’re doing it in full retro style.

Step into the groove at Good Night John Boy Chicago, where the vibes are vintage, the beats are funky, and the mission is powerful.