Meet The Presenters
Troy Sandidge | Keynote Speaker
Troy Sandidge is an award-winning growth strategist, author, serial entrepreneur, 4x agency builder, keynote speaker, Webby-nominated podcaster, startup advisor, and angel investor who has launched over 35 brands and generated over $175 million in revenue for clients worldwide.
Known as the Strategy Hacker®, Troy specializes in building strategies, systems, and solutions for world-class brands to become more sustainable, scalable, and profitable. He is the author of Strategize Up, the founder of Strategy Hackers, and the host of the iDigress Podcast, which has amassed over half a million downloads and is a Top 0.5% ranked podcast. The podcast is part of the HubSpot Podcast Network and has achieved a multitude of awards. Multiple media outlets named him a Top 100 Marketing Business Leader, and he’s listed in Los Angeles Wire’s 2020 30 Under 30.
An international speaker at over 600 events on five continents, Troy has shared stages featuring Oprah Winfrey, President Barack Obama, Viola Davis, Daymond John, Emma Grede, Russel Brunson, and Gary Vaynerchuk, to name a few.
Maria Elena Duron | Featured Speaker
Returning for the second time, Maria Elena Duron brings her expertise in all things Google! A nationally recognized speaker, she brings her expertise in Google Training to MarkeTech 2024!
Maria Elena Duron is a digital marketing professional with over 18 years of experience. She works to ensure that businesses understand their ideal customer and how to succeed online. Maria helps both small and large businesses recognize where their customers spend time, how they make decisions, and how to identify best practices for customer conversions. She has over a dozen years of experience in international eCommerce, and has been highly recognized by the state of Texas and by the Grow with Google Program.
Brent Pohlman of Midwest Laboratories
Brent Pohlman is CEO of Midwest Laboratories. Brent took over at Midwest Laboratories solely when his father, Ken Pohlman retired at the age of 80 in 2020. Brent’s main goal is to continue to build on Midwest Laboratories’ rich analysis history. Under Brent’s leadership, the company continues to be in full growth mode in the analysis areas of Human Health, Animal Health, and Agriculture/Environmental Industries. Brent gives credit to his excellent team of 278 full-time Midwest Labs Employees that continue to live by the company’s core values of “people first” and mission statement to be a positive influence at work and in the community. Brent has a passion for self-care and understands how important it is with respect to bringing his “A” game to work every single day. As part of his routine, Brent regularly prays for his teams at home and at work and continues to pray and connect with others because of his faith. Brent is releasing his first book “Leaders Look Within” – in May 2023 Brent attributes much of his success to his wife, Michele, and their five children. Michele has always stood by me with her prayers and support with work, family, and home. Michele and Brent are entering a whole new world as grandparents. Family is a wonderful gift and blessing and one that we both thoroughly enjoy.
Mike Young of GIX Logistics, INC.
Mike Young is the Vice President of GIX Logistics, Inc. He has over 17 years of experience in the transportation industry. He’s been a part of GIX’s considerable growth from being ranked in the bottom 25% of all transportation brokers to being one of the top 75 brokerages in the country. He serves on the Goodwill Industries board and is involved in multiple mentoring and professional development initiatives in the Grand Island area where he lives with his wife and four children.
Adam Di Frisco of Atigro
Adam is a Senior Digital Marketing Strategist at the agency Atigro, with a degree from West Virginia University and a wealth of experience in inbound marketing.
Adam’s career started in China where he was a part-time tour guide and spent the rest of his time in the office organically growing the number of leads through SEO, content strategies, email marketing, web design, and social media management both in Mandarin Chinese and English. After returning to the US, he worked in marketing roles with other organizations in the travel and consulting industries and took countless articles and resources to the top of organic search rankings. At Atigro, Adam specializes in technical SEO, Local SEO, and SEO Strategy to grow businesses across many industries.
Adam is a regular contributor on industry forums, SEO blogs, Google help communities, marketing podcasts, and is often cited for breaking Baidu search news.
Abby Jordan of eCreamery Ice Cream
Abby understands the unique challenges faced by entrepreneurs. She was actively involved in the rapid rise and evolution of the e-commerce industry, beginning her own journey at Borsheims & Hayneedle before venturing into her own entrepreneurial path. In 2007, she co-founded eCreamery Ice Cream, which recently marked its impressive 16th anniversary.
Complementing her success in the ice cream industry, Abby has ventured into the world of consulting with ‘No Substitutes.’ This consulting business specializes in small businesses, e-commerce, and operations with a special focus on food. Drawing from her own successful journey in the ice cream industry, Abby brings invaluable expertise to help businesses optimize their websites, discover new sales channels and streamline operations.
Danelle Schlegelmilch of Passport Public Relations
Danelle Schlegelmilch has been in PR & marketing for 20+ years and has award-winning experience in journalism, public relations, crisis communications, advertising, and event planning. In 2012, she helped create the vintage festival Junkstock and has promoted it to grow into the nationally recognized event it is today. Danelle founded Passport Public Relations in 2016 after 14 years in the industry at ad agencies, nonprofits, and corporations. From Fortune 500’s to international nonprofits, start-ups, and viral sensations, Danelle has proven experience telling stories and securing top-tier media coverage in Forbes, GMA, and more. Her latest venture Maven Media Collaborative, that she co-founded in 2023, is all about connecting passionate creatives to exchange ideas, master techniques, and elevate their craft. A globetrotter in her free time, this mother of two also can be found supporting her husband’s indie-rock band, Names Without Numbers.
Mindy Oman of KSO CPAs + Advisors
Mindy Oman has been with the firm since 2001 and is a shareholder and head of personnel at KSO. She loves to work with clients and get involved in helping them be successful. Her specialties include individual and small business tax, governmental and not-for-profit auditing. Mindy graduated with honors from the University of Nebraska Kearney with degrees in Accounting and Management Information Systems. Mindy credits the puzzles and riddles she loved as a child for developing her analytical thinking that has made her so good with numbers!
Mindy is a wish granter for Make-A-Wish Nebraska, her favorite movie is Pure Country, and when she grew up she wanted to be the first woman President of the United States. Mindy and her husband share their home with their two beautiful daughters.
Brenda Leisy of Scotts Bluff County Tourism
Brenda Leisy received her Bachelor of Arts with emphasis in Marketing from Chadron State College, where she was also named Marketing student of the year in 2006. She started her professional career at Nebraska Northwest Development Corporation in Chadron, during which time she graduated from the Heartland Economic Development Course. In 2012, Brenda transitioned to become the Scotts Bluff County Tourism Director, where she remains responsible for promoting tourism in Western Nebraska. Brenda is involved with several volunteer tourism organizations both locally and statewide, including Western Nebraska Tourism Coalition and the Nebraska Tourism Association. Scottsbluff Star-Herald honored Brenda as Citizen of the Year in 2015-2016 for her work with Old West Balloon Fest. Brenda enjoys traveling throughout Nebraska and, most importantly, spending time with family and friends.
Madison Johnson of Nebraska Tourism Commission
Madison Johnson serves as the Passport Program Coordinator where she focuses on participation, program development and implementation, as well as training and educating selected program applicants regarding the benefits of the program. She compiles and analyzes data to prepare reports in regards to program statistics, impact, and participation. Madison also builds partnerships with state and local officials, visitor bureau staff and managers, civic and tourism industry leaders. Madison received her bachelor’s degree in Hospitality, Restaurant, and Tourism Management with minors in Business, Leadership and Entrepreneurship from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Originally from Fairbury, Nebraska, Madison grew up on an acreage outside of town and has a passion for Nebraska and rural communities.
Ben Jones of Nebraska Tourism Commission
Ben Jones is Marketing Content Specialist for Visit Nebraska and oversees the delivery of information to travelers and Nebraska tourism members via email, social media, travel guides and VisitNebraska.com. He also assists with media relations, helps arrange and conduct press trips and coordinates in the creation of the agency’s marketing publications. A native Nebraskan, Ben has a bachelor’s degree in Journalism from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a master’s degree in Professional Communication from Southern Utah University. He previously worked as a journalist and as a marketing communications specialist for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.
Coy Clark of Jacobsen, Orr, Lindstrom & Holbrook, P.C., L.L.O.
Coy is an attorney with Jacobsen, Orr, Lindstrom & Holbrook, P.C., L.L.O., in Kearney, Nebraska. His practice focuses on general litigation, real estate, and business and employment law, among other areas. He graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Law in 2020 and, since then, has gained practical experiencing working with business formation, buy-sell negotiations and business litigation. Coy is an Executive Board Member of the Business Law section of the Nebraska State Bar Association, serves on multiple non-profit boards, and is a Fellow of the Nebraska State Bar Association’s Leadership Academy.
Brian Blakely of Stonebridge Insurance & Wealth Management
Brian has been in the insurance industry since 2005. In 2012, he opened his own independent insurance agency in Kearney, and in 2015, joined the team at Stonebridge Insurance and Wealth Management. Brian works with clients to help protect not only their personal assets, but also helps educate his clients about the different aspects of protection for their business needs.
Zoe Terry of GROW Nebraska
Haley Roberts of Ag Valley
CharDale Barnes of Stable Grey
Stephen Munro of BMO
Josefina Loza of CEO of Lozafina
Josefina Loza is a serial entrepreneur, and founder and CEO of Lozafina, a Latina-owned branding, marketing, and public relations firm rooted in Omaha, Nebraska. The firm offers a wide range of services, including communication strategy, brand messaging, media relations, social media marketing, and multimedia storytelling. Lozafina prides itself on the ability to connect brands with people, help businesses and organizations tell their unique stories and reach their target audiences effectively.
A journalist with more than 20 years of experience, Loza worked for the Omaha World-Herald, Associated Press, Colorado Springs Gazette, Omaha Magazine, Huffington Post, National Association of Hispanic Journalists and Momaha.com, a parenting site operated by the World-Herald. She was recently honored as the Midlands Business Journal’s 40 Under 40, the Omaha Jaycees Ten Outstanding Young Omahans, and named one of Omaha’s most influential Latinas in Media gracing the cover of the 2020 Directorio.
She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Public Relations Society of American – Nebraska Chapter and is the founding board member of the Midlands African Chamber which leads in economic equity and business development in black and brown communities, the Vice President of Marketing and Communications for TAWI Development Organization, Fitucate Foundation and CuraVida nonprofits.
Stacy Leners of Blur Parties
Wesley Gizel of Hometown Industries
Wesley has been working on Amazon for 6+ years. Along with his partner, they have built a business of managing the Amazon account of over 30 businesses. His background is in economics & accounting and is from the great city of Lincoln, NE.
