Meet Josie Balka: a Canadian author, media personality, and voice-over artist who describes herself as the happiest sad girl you’ll ever meet. With a talent for bringing people together, Josie’s poetry resonates deeply by exploring shared human experiences. Though she has been creating content for years, it was her embrace of vulnerability that allowed her to connect more meaningfully with her audience. Through her work, Josie offers a heartfelt exploration of life’s complexities and the beauty of connection.

Nick Gross is the founder of Gross Labs, his family office, incubation, and investment firm founded in 2019. He is also the active CEO and founder of Find Your Grind, a student-led learning and self discovery software in K12.

The Gross Labs ecosystem includes the K12 learning technology company Find Your Grind; an investment portfolio of over 50 companies, including X Games, 100 Thieves, Breakaway Music Festival, Beatbox Beverages, and more; a music division with John "Feldy" Feldmann with artists including Mod Sun, The Used, and The Veronicas; and minority stakes in DC Pickleball Club and Liga MX Club Necaxa. Gross also built Los Angeles recording studio and content facility The Noise Nest.

Gross has had an extensive music career as the drummer for Sony Epic and MTV recording artist Open Air Stereo, and more recently, girlfriends, a pop-punk duo with Apple Music & MTV host Travis Mills. Girlfriends has recently toured in 2023 with Avril Lavingne and Machine Gun Kelly. He has parlayed this experience in the music industry into a career as an entrepreneur within both the music and entertainment industries.

In 2018, Gross launched Find Your Grind- a software in schools that helps students discover who they are and where they want to go. Find Your Grind started hosting nation-wide speaking tours in high schools and major college campuses w/ partners Amazon Prime Student, TikTok, Twitch and more.

In addition to his business ventures, Gross is the Executive Director of the Find Your Grind Foundation- a non profit focused on enriching the lives of the next generation through sports, education and music. In addition to the Find Your Grind Foundation, Gross sits on the board of The Gross Family Foundation.

Nick is on the advisory board of Breakaway Music Festival.

Ron began his career in 1982 with the Price Company in the Phoenix, Arizona market. Ron held several management positions in operations before being promoted to Warehouse Manager in Colorado in 1992. After 7 years as a Warehouse Manager in both Colorado and Arizona, Ron was promoted to Vice President of Operations in the San Diego Region in 1999. In 2010, Ron moved to Washington where he was promoted to Senior Vice President of the Northwest Region. August 2015, Ron started in the Real Estate department, working on International and Domestic New Markets and Expansion. Shortly after, Ron became the Executive Vice President of merchandising in July 2016. In February 2022, Costco’s Board of Directors appointed Ron to the position of President and Chief Operating Officer. He was also elected to the Board of Directors. In January 2024, Ron became the third Chief Executive Officer of Costco Wholesale.

Maria Alejandra Albarracín is a dynamic and bilingual Project Manager and Publicist at Mr.305 Records, bringing a wealth of experience in public relations, social media, and journalism. Her professional journey includes impactful roles at Nevarez Communications, NBCUniversal Telemundo, and Academica, where she honed her skills in crafting compelling narratives and driving engagement across diverse platforms.

As the Assistant Vice Chair of Membership for the Miami Chapter of WomenInMusic, Maria has demonstrated exceptional leadership and a steadfast commitment to empowering women within the music industry. Passionate and creative, she aspires to leave a lasting impact in the field of publicity, continuing to elevate artists and brands with her innovative approach and dedication to excellence.

Gary Gutierrez, owner of Houdini Car Wraps, is a creative entrepreneur with a passion for custom vehicle design. Starting with a love for cars, Gary turned his talent for customization into a thriving business known for bold, high-quality auto wraps, from sleek color changes to commercial fleet graphics.

In this Edutainment Learning interview, Gary will give students a behind-the-scenes look at the exciting world of auto wrapping, sharing how designs are created, wraps are applied, and technology shapes the industry. His journey from hobbyist to successful business owner offers inspiration for students to turn their passions into future careers.

Frank Amato a Board Certified Cognitive Specialist and Admissions Director at Brain Balance of Southern Nevada! After 20 years in the corporate world, he relocated from the East Coast to pursue his passion in coaching and applying the science of brain-body connectivity. 

Scott Rosenzweig is President and CEO of Make-A-Wish Nevada. He joined the organization in 2018 as Director of Mission Delivery, overseeing the Wish granting team and volunteers, ensuring that every eligible child diagnosed with a life-threatening illness in Southern Nevada received a wish. He was promoted to President and CEO in 2021.

Prior to joining Make-A-Wish, Rosenzweig served as Director of Service Operations for Caesars Interactive Entertainment, Inc. He was a member of the team that launched real money gambling in Nevada and New Jersey with brands such as World Series of Poker and HarrahsCasino.com. Tasked to oversee and execute day-to-day operations, customer service, risk and fraud, and Responsible Gaming, Rosenzweig has always been the first to raise his hand when an opportunity presented itself.

Rosenzweig began his career in show business and acknowledges his path to CEO was nontraditional and different than most. As a performer, director and choreographer for 30 years, working for prestigious and diverse organizations - from Virginia Opera to Disneyland – he also taught performance for competitive ice skaters at the University of Delaware alongside Olympic medalist, Ron Ludington. He also served as the official blogger for Project Runway Season 3 for BravoTV.com, demonstrating his diverse and unique skill set.

Through a connection from his Disneyland days, Rosenzweig directed the opening of Madame Tussaud’s in Las Vegas at The Venetian with a list of notable celebrities in 1999. He then joined corporate America, overseeing entertainment, and eventually training and development for 1500 employees at 17 locations nationwide for the arcade/restaurant concept, GameWorks, created by Steen Spielberg, Universal Studios and SEGA.

Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Rosenzweig grew up in Scottsdale, Arizona and has lived in several states along the way. He and his husband, Michael, have called Las Vegas home since 1999.

Michael Franzese grew up as the son of the notorious Underboss of the feared Colombo crime family. Mr. Franzese would serve as a caporegime for the Colombo crime family. At his most affluent time, he generated 5-8 million dollars per week from legal and illegal businesses. However, it all came to a halt when Mr. Franzese served a 9 years sentence and was ordered to pay $3 million in restitution. He has since renounced and denounced the life of organized crime. He is the author of seven books, co-founder of a national pizza franchises Slices Pizza, has appeared in many movies and television shows, and is a motivational speaker.

Nick Bodine serves as the Church Location Pastor of Central Henderson. He grew up in Albuquerque, NM and moved to the Las Vegas area in 2000. He graduated from Foothill High School and started his career in management at Target, followed by Starbucks, and joined the Central team in 2007. He now has a Biblical Studies Certificate through Liberty University. He and his wife, Laura, live in the Las Vegas area with their three daughters, Avery, Quinn, and Cosette, along with their dogs Zoe & Olive.

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.