Janelle is a high-achieving, intent change leader with successes driving revenue, profit, and share growth in CEO and CMO roles. She has 20+ years of leading and executing business and brand strategies, customer experience, and transformational capabilities for Fortune 500 companies and start-ups. Janelle is a change catalyst and an accomplished strategist, marketer, and leader, delivering meaningful results in CPG, F&B, wine, and travel businesses. She is known as the “C-Suite decathlete.”

As CEO of Fresh Vine Wine, Janelle led a high-growth wine company, authoring vision, implementing business plans, and overseeing P&L decisions. In 2021, she led VINE’s IPO, raising $22.5MM and launching VINE on the NYSE, where it was one of the 6% of women-led companies. She immediately executed the business plan, accelerating quarterly growth by 675% Y v. Y, 43%, and sequentially.

Before FVW, Janelle was CMO of Global Marketing, Customer Experience, and Digital Officer at American Airlines. In this role, she led American’s global marketing efforts, including developing and implementing brand and marketing strategies across the entire travel journey, with responsibilities for media, partnerships, and sponsorships. She led the Premium customer service strategy and design, including Admiral Clubs and award-winning Flagship Lounges. She also led the global digital team to design the app and .com revenue streams. Janelle built American’s first marketing mix model, delivering impressive returns ROAS and ROI.

Janelle spent 15 years at PepsiCo, rising to VP of Shopper Marketing across all PEP divisions for the top-tier retail partners. She delivered transformational change by bringing the first successful team cross-divisional shopper marketing team together for Frito-Lay, Pepsi Beverages, and Quaker. Authoring the reorganization, sales integration, and new digital capability, the team exceeded the plan by $105MM. Her team catapulted to the top-ranked US Shopper Marketing team within a year in Kantar. Janelle led multiple $1B+ brands while at PEP, focused on building marketing strategies, brand visioning, and positioning, and excelled in developing winning strategies, sports marketing partnerships, and activations.

Janelle began her career in General Electric’s Leadership Development Program, rising to become Master Black Belt in the Six Sigma program.

She holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business with Distinction and a Bachelor of Arts, Business Administration from the University of St. Thomas, graduating Summa Cum Laude. Additionally, she earned 2x Academic All-American Honors while swim team captain.

Matt Anderson is a partner in the technology/intellectual property law group of Munck Wilson Mandala LLP.  Matt represents clients in intellectual property procurement, licensing, and enforcement, technology transactions, privacy issues, and other technology-focused areas.  Matt earned his degree in computer engineering at SMU and graduated from the Baylor University School of Law with a dual concentration in commercial and civil litigation.

Eric Blackwell is the Chief Operating Officer/Divisional President at American Trailer World Bain Capital Portfolio Company.

He is an accomplished P&L executive with a demonstrated history of driving sales, operations excellence, and profitability with industry-leading manufacturing companies. He has over 30 years of experience in both public and private equity owned companies. He is known for building strong teams that deliver significant results quickly.

Michael Considine is a founding Partner of the Dallas office of Kirkland & Ellis, which opened in 2018.  The office is currently over 120 attorneys and represents clients in corporate matters, litigation and complex situations.  Michael’s legal practice is focused on mergers and acquisitions, representing clients in significant corporate events. 

While Michael represents clients in a variety of industries, he has extensive experience in sports investments.  He has represented clients in connection with investments in, and management of, teams in the NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, NWSL, MLS, Formula One, NASCAR and many others.  He works closely with family offices and institutional capital throughout the equity stack of these teams and organizations.

Michael has been recognized as a “Super Lawyer” in Texas Super Lawyers, a “Best Lawyer in Dallas” in D Magazine, and a “40 Under 40 Emerging Leader” in The M&A Advisor, among others.  He is active in his community and in addition to his position as a Director of the American Red Cross – North Texas Chapter, he is a Director and Chair of The IRISI Foundation.  Prior to his legal career, Michael founded a technology consulting company, and was a national manager of Verio/NTT, focusing on datacenters and digital infrastructure solutions.

Kim serves as the Senior Vice President of Human Resources and Employee Experience, overseeing employee relations, DEI initiatives, enterprise well-being, and employee engagement strategy. In her role, she shapes and strengthens Children's Health system's culture throughout the employee life cycle, working towards a robust employee value proposition. Kim previously held the position of SVP for HR, Talent, and Workforce Planning in the Dallas Market. 

With over 28 years in HR leadership roles, Kim has played pivotal roles in fostering employee engagement at companies like BNSF Railway, BELO Broadcasting, Burger King Corporation, Dell, and Target Corporation. Recognized as a thought leader in Diversity & Inclusion, she has received various community service and business awards, including the "“HR Professional of the Year” designation by Ogletree Deakins Law Firm and the Dallas Chamber of Commerce, DiversityFIRST™ Award, Top women in Healthcare recognition from the National Diversity Council, Texas Most Powerful Business Women by Texas Diversity Magazine and the SWJC Audrey Kaplan Inspiring Women Southwest award.

Currently EVP and Chief Credit Officer at Cornerstone Capital Bank – a new bank chartered in 2022 with the highest starting capital base of any bank ever started in Texas.  Previously in executive credit and risk management roles at Texas Capital Bank and Veritex Community Bank.  MBA from SMU, LLM from School of Law at Washington University in St. Louis, Graduate of Southwestern Graduate School of Banking at SMU, BBA from Abilene Christian University.  Currently on the board of Wesley-Rankin Community Center. Formerly on the board of The Hills Church in Fort Worth, Risk Management Association Texas Chapter, and Women’s Haven of Tarrant County. 

Jody Hawn is a self-made man. Following an automobile accident, he opted to discontinue his studies at the University of Texas and embarked on a career in real estate. He went to work for a developer doing small stuff and learning. Within a few years, he ventured into entrepreneurship, founding his own apartment management enterprise. In a remarkably short time, Jody’s company flourished to become the third-largest management entity in the nation, overseeing properties spanning from Pompano Beach, Florida to Oakland, California. Extensive travels ensued, often distancing him from home, until he elected to divest the company and transition into developing shopping centers across three states.

Three years ago, Jody retired from his final shopping center endeavor. Simultaneously, he has devoted over 26 years to guiding the Hawn Foundation, building its impact from a $16 million entity to approximately $50 million. Concurrently, he has lent his expertise to various boards and initiatives, including the Senior Source in Dallas and serving as Chairman of the President’s Research Council at UTSW for two years. Notably, he initiated what has evolved into the nationally recognized Urban Young Life in Dallas.

Jody and his wife of 56 years, Sarah, make their home in Dallas with their dog, Lenny.  He is also the proud parent to two daughters and a grandparent to four.

Brian Kenjarski, MD, MBA, FACEP, is board-certified in both emergency medicine and clinical informatics, and earned his MD and MBA from the State University of New York at Buffalo in June 2002. Currently, as Senior Vice President, Chief Medical Informatics Officer at Methodist Health System in Dallas, TX, he optimizes healthcare delivery by reducing clinical care variation and implementing transformative electronic health record technologies. He also leads Methodist’s System Emergency Preparedness programs.

Dr. Kenjarski fosters collaboration between clinical and operational leaders, leads system clinical data governance initiatives, advocates for data-driven decision making, and pioneers digital innovations that optimize patient care. Trusted by clinicians, he achieves health system strategic goals, and his leadership style together with high-performing clinical informatics and data analytics teams drive successful clinical quality improvement for patients and elevate clinician engagement at Methodist.

Prior to joining Methodist, Dr. Kenjarski served as Executive Vice President and Regional Medical Director at EmCare West Division (now Envision Physician Services), where he managed emergency physician practices in Texas, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Florida. He started out as a practicing emergency physician and Medical Director at Richardson Regional Medical Center (now Methodist Richardson Medical Center) where his passion for clinical informatics and data transformation began and continue to this day.

Alka Khanna is a retired CPA.  She is part of her family business of various operational and investment portfolios. She was born and brought up in Canada, but immigrated to USA 27 years ago. She is ethnically East Indian. She has been a board member with the Collin County women’s shelter, Hopes Door, She served two terms with their Finance committee.  She also participates in several activities in the Plano Metro Rotary Club alongside her husband. Apart from being an active member of the USA India Chamber of Commerce and its womens committee. She completed the Plano Leadership Program class of 25.  She also volunteers at religious events as well. A mother of three and Grandmother of two, she resides in the West Plano area.

Laura Klempay is Divisional Senior Vice President, Enterprise Plan & Texas General Counsel at Health Care Service Corporation. 

Health Care Service Corporation is the largest customer-owned health insurer in the United States, providing access to health care nationwide through its Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans in Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Illinois, and Montana. Before joining HCSC in 2011, Laura practiced complex commercial litigation at Winston & Strawn LLP.  She earned both her Bachelor of Science and Juris Doctor, cum laude, at the University of Michigan.

John Lawrence is a partner at global law firm Baker Botts L.L.P., where tries complex commercial cases in courts across the country. His practice focuses on defending companies and their officers and directors in securities and shareholder actions, M&A challenges, and other high-stakes business disputes. He also advises boards of directors, board committees, and significant shareholders on governance issues and fiduciary duty matters.  John is heavily involved in the Dallas community.  He serves on the Executive Committee of the Advisory Board of the Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, and on the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of Girls Inc. of Metropolitan Dallas, and is a member of the United Way Tocqueville Society.

Isreal Martinez is recognized as a leader in boardroom Governance, Cyber Risk, Strategy and Innovation by the U.S. Secret Service; the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD); the Wall Street Journal MarketWatch, and the Forbes Technology Council. He has served as a director or board advisor across major industries including healthcare and international boards. As a boardroom educator, he has recently briefed and/or trained 190+ Fortune 500 board members and/or genarals counsel including Google; Interl; GE; Walt Disney; Microsoft; Ford; Walmart; Comcast; Bank of America; Humana; 7-Eleven and American and Hispanic Bar Association Fellows.

His current responsibilities include the American Red Cross as a board member for the North Texas Region; NACD as a Board Leadership Fellow; an NACD Top 100 Director nominee; nominated by the U.S. Secret Service Office of Strategic Intelligence, DHS, serving as an Industry Advisor to CISA; HMG Strategy as the Conference Chair in a network of 300k technology executives. American University Kogod Cyber Governance Center as a Founding Member; the Global Directors & Officers ISAQ, as a Co-Chairman and Founder, and Axon Global Services as CEO and Global CTO. As CEO of Axon, his leadership team services F500 companies, and the United States Government – Axon is one of three U.S. private sector companies chosen to brief The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) IAP regarding Supply Chain Risk in Hyper-Connected networks. Axon also services U.S. allies such as Japanese current industry leaders of METI as well as those governing cyber risk and strategy for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Martinez is recognized by the Wall Street Journal as, “(One of) the most influential, forward-thinking and successful IT Leaders”;  HITEC, where he is listed along with others, such as facebook’s CIO, as a Top 100 technology influencer & innovator; and the Forbes Technology Council as a contributing editor. He is also the recipient of the U.S. Senatorial Medal of Freedom. “the highest award Republican members of the U.S. Senate can bestow (NRSC)”. For over 20 years he’s also been a bipartisan, bicameral advisor in cyber counter-terrorism and defense to Congress; Several Presidential Administrations as a cyber risk advisor; The Association for Corporate Growth (ACG), office of the CEO; the Global Manufacturing ISAO (Obama administration); the Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute (CHLI); the Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility for Fortune 500 Directors (HACR); and the Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA).

His public discourses include, Business Insider; the Huffington Post; American University KCGC in Washington, D.C.; the White House Office of Science, Technology and Policy; PBS-KERA television; The American Bar Association (ABA); Washington & Lee University (CLAC conference); the Federal Reserve; Government Security News; the U.S. and U.K. intelligence community; CSO Magazine; Forbes CEO conferences; InfoWorld Magazine; Sync Magazine; The Big Shift in IT Leadership; Globes in Tel Aviv Israel; The University of Texas in San Antonio, where he received a B.B.A. in Accounting 7 Information Systems; and CIO-CISO conference across major cities in the U.S. and internationally.

He's a passionate seeker of knowledge recently completing; DHS Cyber Counter Terrorism & Defense certification; business strategy CLE at Harvard; FINTECH block chain certification at MIT; KPMG’s Audit Committee Institute program; and the NACD Master’s Program – achieving the highest level of credentialing for corporate governance professionals.

Dan Micciche is partner emeritus at the law firm of Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld. He has lived in Dallas since 1981, and has been a resident of Dallas ISD District 3 for over 25 years. He was first elected to the Dallas ISD Board of Trustees in 2012. He served as President of the Dallas ISD Board Trustees from 2016 to 2018, and has also served multiple terms as 1st Vice President and Secretary. Dan is a frequent speaker at school board events, neighborhood and community meetings.

Dan started and chaired his firm’s School Partnership Program with James W. Fannin Elementary School in Dallas from 2005 to 2012. The program won the State Board of Education’s gold level award for community partnerships in 2011.

Dan has received a number of recognitions for his work in public education, including the “No Kid Hungry” Award from Share Our Strength; “The Closing the Gap” Award from Leadership ISD; the “Voice of Children Award” from Children at Risk; as well as awards from the Texas State Teacher’s Association and the Ferguson Road Initiative in appreciation of his service to Dallas ISD.

Dan received his B.A. with highest honors from Stony Brook University, where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. He received his J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School. He also received a master’s degree in Education Policy & Analysis from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Dan has been recognized by clients and peers in The Best Lawyers in America for 16 consecutive years; in Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business for 20 consecutive years; in Texas Super Lawyers for 17 consecutive years; and as one of the best lawyers in Dallas by D Magazine for 11 consecutive years.

Dan’s civic and charitable activities include serving on the Board of Directors of the American Red Cross Dallas, the Greater East Dallas Chamber of Commerce, and Workforce Solutions Greater Dallas. He also served on the Mayor’s Task Force on Ethics Reform, which drafted and recommended a sweeping ethics reform proposal that was adopted unanimously by the Dallas City Council.

Dan was also the former vice chair of Texas C-BAR (Community Building through Attorney Resources), a pro bono organization. In addition, he previously served on the School Finance Task Force of the Greater Dallas Chamber; the Board of Directors of the State Bar of Texas; and Comptroller’s Tax Advisory Group under three different Comptrollers.

Dan is a 1999 graduate of the Greater Dallas Chamber’s Leadership Dallas Program and a 1998 graduate of the Leadership Arts Program of the Dallas Business Committee for the Arts.

Dan served on his firm’s associate and counsel compensation committees for over ten years and also coordinated the associate and counsel evaluation process for many years. He also served as the hiring partner for the firm’s Dallas office for many years. He was the recipient of the firm’s first Partner Recognition Award for his mentoring of counsel and associates and the firm’s Pro Bono Partner of the Year Award. He was the 11th lawyer inducted into Akin Gump’s “Pro Bono and Public Service Hall of Fame” based on his contributions to pro bono and community service throughout his legal career.

Dr. Joseph (Joe) Seabrooks brings over 30 years of distinguished experience in higher education, marked by his dynamic leadership and transformative student-centered initiatives. Renowned for his adeptness in fostering connections and stimulating growth, he has served as a catalyst for change throughout his career in the higher education sector.

Currently leading as President of Dallas College Cedar Valley Campus, Dr. Seabrooks is recognized for his visionary approach to workforce and economic development. Under his guidance, the college has experienced rapid enrollment growth, now boasting over 10,000 credit students. Notably, he spearheaded innovative projects such as the reimagining of workforce development centers and the launch of the Lab on the Go!  A mobile workforce training unit.

Affectionately known as "Uncle Joe," he excels in mentoring and nurturing the next generation of leaders in higher education.   Dr. Seabrooks is guided by his purpose in life, which is to help people discover the tools, the fortitude, and the belief to find their pathway to prosperity. 

With a background spanning from his early roles at the University of Missouri-Kansas City to his presidency at Metropolitan Community College, Dr. Seabrooks has consistently demonstrated his dedication to advancing education and empowering communities. He holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology, as well as Master's and Educational Specialist degrees in Higher Education Administration, and an Interdisciplinary Ph.D. in Urban Leadership, Policy Studies, and Education Administration, all earned from the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Originally from Atlanta, Georgia, Dr. Seabrooks is the proud husband of Leslie and father of two sons, Joe Tre and Jackson, whom he considers his greatest accomplishments.

Shamoun Siddiqui is the Vice President and Global Chief Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Officer at The Upbound Group located in Dallas, Texas.  He has been a leader in the information technology and information security space for the past 20 years. He recently served as the Vice President and CISO at Neiman Marcus Group. Prior to that, he served in cybersecurity leadership roles at Nationstar/Mr Cooper, Sabre, CVS and Hitachi/Ricoh. He has several engineering and information security publications to his name.  Dr. Siddiqui holds a bachelor’s and a master’s in mechanical engineering and a doctorate in aerospace engineering from the University of Texas at Austin.

Ted Stafford is a Partner in the Investigations, Disputes & Advisory practice at AlixPartners, and is based in Dallas. Ted advises boards of directors, executives, attorneys, and regulators to help resolve complex accounting, transactional, regulatory, and dispute-related issues.

Ted has over 16 years of experience as an accounting expert, business advisor, diligence professional, and forensic accountant. He routinely supports clients in resolving M&A-related disputes, serving as an expert, diligence advisor, and independent accountant. 

A member of the AICPA’s Forensic and Litigation Services Committee, Ted is also a certified public account, certified in financial forensics, and a certified fraud examiner.

Ted has a MPA in Accounting from the University of Texas’s McCombs School of Business and a BA in Economics from Grinnell College.