Shelley Roden is an award-winning Foley Artist working at Skywalker Sound in Northern CA.  She has created and performed foley sound effects for over two hundred fifty live-action films, animated films, and series.  Recent projects include Universal Pictures’ Jurassic World:  Rebirth and How to Train Your Dragon, Warner Bros. Pictures' F1: The Movie, Pixar's Inside Out 2, David Fincher's The Killer and the Tony Gilroy series Andor.  

With a background in athletics, music, and theatre, Roden's creative process is rooted in exploratory improvisation, experimentation and discovery.  She conceives foley sound effects as carefully orchestrated, nuanced, and perfectly executed musical notes that are more felt than heard, concealed within the fabric of a feature film soundtrack.  

Roden is a dedicated mentor to aspiring sound artists, filmmakers, and children with special needs.  Artist visits include The Savannah College of Art and Design, Drexel University, Ithaca College, Sonic College in Denmark, annual visits with Virginia Commonwealth University's department of Kinetic Imaging where she is an affiliate faculty member, and Hillsides and Vista del Mar residential facilities in Los Angeles.  

Roden is in the process of writing a book that will feature personal interviews with veteran foley artists and sound designers.  She recently wrote the first chapter during a two-week artist residency at the Ingmar Bergman estate on Fårö. 

Fight Capital Gym owner Skipper Kelp began his journey in combat sports as a child with black belts in Taekwondo and Japanese Karate. Kelp began boxing at the age of 12 and won several nation championships including the 1987 Olympic Sports Festival, 1987 and 1988 National Golden Gloves and had the privilege of representing the U.S. in several international competitions. Kelp turned pro in 1991 and had an entertaining career with "Tuesday Night Fights" Fight of the Year honors and retired 24-4-1 with 16 Ko's. After boxing Kelp formed the UNLV boxing team and produced over 20 National Collegiate Champions. In 2006 Kelp led the UNLV boxing team to a National Collegiate Title becoming the first non military academy in over 20 years to accomplish that feat. Kelp now devotes his time and energy to the amazing members of the Fight Capital Gym and the Fight Capital Youth Foundation.

Amber Ciminise is a finance professional and Juris Doctor candidate at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Boyd School of Law (Class of 2026), with more than fifteen years of progressive experience in hospitality finance, accounting, and operations. Her career spans senior roles at world-class resorts and hotels, including Waldorf Astoria, Virgin Hotels, MGM Resorts International, and Hilton Hotels, where she developed extensive expertise in budgeting, financial planning, forensic accounting, and collective bargaining agreement management.

Before pursuing a legal career, Amber served as Assistant Director of Finance at Virgin Hotels and Senior Financial Accountant at MGM Resorts’ Aria Resort and Casino, where she directed audits, ensured compliance with federal and state regulatory requirements, and advised executives on financial performance and operational strategy. She began her career in hospitality leadership and held roles such as General Manager of Restaurants at Mandalay Bay, overseeing multiple outlets and a team of more than seventy employees.

Transitioning into law, Amber brings her financial acumen to legal practice. As a legal intern with the Clark County District Attorney’s Office, she gained hands-on experience in litigation support, including legal research, drafting motions and briefs, organizing discovery, and assisting with trial preparation. This unique combination of financial and legal expertise positions her to address complex issues at the intersection of law, business, and financial accountability.

In addition to her professional and academic accomplishments, Amber is an active leader within the Boyd School of Law community. She served as Vice President of Part-Time Students for the Student Bar Association and previously held the role of 2L Part-Time Representative. She is also a member of the Criminal Law Society, the National Society of Leadership and Success, Golden Key International Honour Society, and Phi Theta Kappa.

Amber holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where she graduated cum laude. She is certified in IC3 Digital Literacy and as a Certified Beer Server through the Cicerone Program.

With a strong foundation in both finance and law, Amber is building a career dedicated to supporting organizations in navigating financial, regulatory, and legal challenges with integrity and precision.

Chris D’Orso enters his 37th season with the Orlando Magic and serves as executive vice president of sales and operations. His responsibilities include overseeing the day-to-day operations of sales for the Kia Center including season, premium, suites, hospitality, partial, group and tourism sales as well as retail, and ticket operations for both the Orlando Magic and Kia Center.

A mainstay in the organization since the team’s inception, D’Orso joined the Magic in 1989 as the promotions/publicity coordinator. After two seasons in that capacity, he moved into the sponsorship sales department as a corporate account manager for the next three years. In 1994, D’Orso was promoted to the assistant director of marketing position, and in 1998 was promoted to director of marketing. He served as director of ticket sales and marketing from 1999 and was promoted to vice president of marketing and sales in 2002, a position he held for seven years. In 2012, he was named senior vice president of sales and operations and most recently was promoted to executive vice president of sales and operations in 2023.

D’Orso graduated in 1988 from Fairfield University with a bachelor’s degree in communications. He is currently on the board for both the Central Florida YMCA and the Make a Wish Foundation of Central Florida.

D’Orso and his wife, Christine, reside in Windermere, Fla., and have two sons, Harrison and Alex.

A native Mainer, Daniel Bernard is a Founding Partner and Operations Director at Madco3d, where he focuses on technology advancement and operational strategy. His career, which began in 1990, has centered on the commercialization of sustainable systems and green products. Bernard first gained national attention in the early 1990s—notably earning coverage from the Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and National Geographic—for launching an ecological catalog company that introduced items for sustainable living, including an electric/solar sports car and electric car conversion kits. This pioneering work led to collaborations with major firms like Coca-Cola and Hoechst-Celanese, as well as organizations such as the United Nations, Disney, and TED Talks. Today, Bernard leverages this deep background to helm Madco3d's operations in New Hampshire and its mission to automate construction and help solve the housing crisis. Under his direction, the company has expanded its manufacturing and research footprint, establishing two locations in New Hampshire, including a facility in a historic mill in Rochester and a second location at the University of New Hampshire, which houses a 60-foot track-based robot to boost production capability. A key achievement in his operational tenure has been overseeing the production of the first 3D-printed home in New England using 3d-printed sustainable concrete components, a project set to be unveiled in New Hampshire fall 2025. Beyond construction, Bernard continues his dedication to environmental innovation, collaborating with carbon reduction scientists, bioprinting experts, and academia on projects like repopulating the coral reefs. He is also an experienced professional narrator.

Senior Vice President, Post Production — Universal Television / NBC

Richard Winnie is a media production executive with more than 25 years of experience in television, film, and post-production. At NBC/Universal, he oversees large-scale post production workflows, creative editorial teams, and project delivery for network and streaming content.

Throughout his career, Richard has led high-profile series, collaborative cross-department initiatives, and complex post pipelines, working with editors, visual effects teams, and producers to bring stories to life. He’s passionate about mentoring emerging talent, pushing creative boundaries, and building efficient, high-quality workflows in a fast-paced industry.

When he’s not working, Richard loves exploring new storytelling formats, staying current on editing and post-tech trends, and sharing insights with students and professionals.

Dr. Quinton is an Associate Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. He is also a board-certified forensic pathologist and a medical examiner for the Southern Minnesota Regional Medical Examiner's Office. Prior to 2019, he was the Deputy Chief Medical Examiner and Director of Forensic Pathology fellowship training program for the Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences in Dallas, Texas. Dr. Quinton has published and lectured extensively in the field of forensic pathology, with a focus on child fatality and forensic pathology education. He is currently a member of the Executive Committee of the National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME) and Chair of the NAME Educational Activities Committee.

Jedidiah Collins, a former NFL player turned Certified Financial Planner, faced financial challenges in his sports career, leading him to pursue financial education. He founded Money Vehicle, an education technology company, with a mission to provide engaging financial literacy curriculum, empowering individuals, including professional athletes and young professionals.

Glenn Jacobs is currently serving his second term as Mayor of Knox County, TN. Prior to becoming Mayor in 2018, Jacobs enjoyed a successful career in World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE)—most notably under the stage name “Kane”—culminating in his induction into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2020. A staunch fiscal conservative and fierce advocate for limited government, during his first term, Jacobs delivered on his campaign promise of no tax hikes as well as pushed back against government overreach during the COVID-19 pandemic. In his second term, he is prioritizing workforce and economic development to make East Tennessee even more competitive in a rapidly evolving innovation-based global economy. Glenn and his wife, Crystal, have two daughters and two grandchildren.