Speakers

Josh Brooks

The business brain behind Fete in New York and the TLC Television Show, “Wedded to Perfection”, Josh has a background in both finance and general management. He previously worked as an investment banker in Madrid and New York as well as on the management team of technology companies. Josh holds a BS from Georgetown University and an MBA from the Wharton School of Business. He is a native of Massachusetts.

Fête’s philosophy is that great parties do not happen by themselves – there is an art to entertaining. Fête events highly reflect their client’s sensibility so there is a strong identity and purpose behind them.

Design, filled with unique and unexpected details, creates an aura of adventure and discovery. Alluring design then must work in harmony with incredible food, service and music. The event is then masterfully orchestrated so that the energy is always building and the environment feels dynamic.

Tom Haibeck

Tom Haibeck is the author of the bestselling book, “Wedding Toasts Made Easy!” and “The Wedding MC: A Complete Guide to Success for the Master of Ceremonies”, now on its seventh edition. He has helped plan and emcee hundreds of weddings, special events, meetings and receptions.

He began his career in the communications industry as a radio newscaster and reporter after completing a broadcast journalism program at Mount Royal College in Calgary, Alberta. At that time, Tom also took the Dale Carnegie Course in Public Speaking and Human Relations, where at the tender age of 19 he won First Prize for Best Speech and finished the course with the Highest Award for Achievement. A few years later, he graduated from Simon Fraser University’s School of Communications in Vancouver, British Columbia and worked for several large advertising and public relations agencies before launching his own firm in 1988. Since that time, The Haibeck Communications Group Inc. has worked with some of Western Canada’s leading corporations and was named “one of the city’s most effective marketing and public relations firms” by The Vancouver Sun.

Tom will be sharing his knowledge of Wedding Advertising and Public relations with us.

Mary Dann-McNamee

As one of the most sought-after event coordinators in Southern California, Mary Dann-McNamee and her team of wedding and party coordinators have been responsible for detailed event planning and creative party consultation to many corporations and families throughout the country since 1991. They are known for their commitment to surpass their clients' expectations and have created intimate weddings and extravagant upscale affairs for a long list of clients, including many of Hollywood's elite. Mary's passion for the industry has led her down many paths, including becoming a contributing writer for "Inside Weddings" magazine, “Ceremony” magazine and an on-air talent for many nationally syndicated television shows. These shows are Style Network’s "Whose Wedding Is It Anyway," and “Married Away”, and WE Network’s “Platinum Wedding” and a special segments of “Top Ten Wedding Destinations”.

Coupling her therapy degree and extensive experience in the wedding industry, Mary offers advice and guidance to wedding planners throughout the country through career counseling and a 3-day mentorship program (a chance to shadow Mary as she produces a fabulous celebration). In January 2008 Mary launched gifts and stationery on her website which includes The Mary Dann Collection: Gratitude Notes and her custom created "Wedding Wands". These items can be purchased on her website along with her inspirational DVD’s: "The Path of the Wedding Planner" and the "The Balanced Planner". Mary recently published her first book “Wedding Wisdom” filled with tips, insights, forms and photographs for planning a perfect wedding for yourself or clients. She presents educational seminars to wedding planners across the country, and inspiring tips for brides.

Jung Lee

After graduating from NYU, Jung Lee launched high-end food stores in NYC. She later developed residential real estate outside the city. It was her passion for design, construction and project management that attracted her to events. Jung was born in South Korea and grew up in New York City.

First seen on "Whose wedding is it anyway?" then her own show, "Wedded to Perfection" Jung Lee is one of the Top of the Top Wedding Planners. Based in New York she heads up Fete with her husband Josh Brooks www.feteny.com

Fête’s philosophy is that great parties do not happen by themselves – there is an art to entertaining. Fête events highly reflect their client’s sensibility so there is a strong identity and purpose behind them.

Design, filled with unique and unexpected details, creates an aura of adventure and discovery. Alluring design then must work in harmony with incredible food, service and music. The event is then masterfully orchestrated so that the energy is always building and the environment feels dynamic.

Sonny Ganguly

Sonny leads WeddingWire's marketing strategy, customer acquisition, and business development. Prior to joining WeddingWire, Sonny was in a management program at Wal-Mart where he led marketing, sales, and retail strategy development. Before this experience, Sonny spent four years at Kraft Foods where he managed numerous consumer brands, including the JELL-O business with P&L responsibility for over $800 Million. During his tenure, his brands' reached record volume, revenue, and profitability levels. Sonny has structured partnerships with companies such as NBC, MTV, Conde Nast (Modern Bride and Brides magazines), Mattel, Universal, Dole, Reynolds, Costco, and Safeway.

Peter Merry

Author of “The Best Wedding Reception... EVER”, Peter Merry is an International Wedding Marketing Speaker and has delivered over 130 seminars worldwide with topics such as “Make it Grand”, “The Starbucks Effect”, “The 6 Pillars of Wedding Marketing”, “Being What You’re Worth”, etc.

Peter Merry will inspire you to re-evaluate and personalize your business to attract the right client for you.

Colin Cowie

Respected around the world as an arbiter of style, Colin Cowie is widely known for designing and producing the most spectacular celebrations across the globe. With an international clientele that reads like the guest list at the Academy Awards, Colin Cowie Lifestyle has designed and produced celebrations for Oprah Winfrey, Jerry Seinfeld, Eddie Murphy, Elton John, John Travolta, Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony, Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, Quincy Jones, Jennifer Aniston, Bruce Willis, Demi Moore, Jenny McCarthy, Sela Ward, Don Henley, Kelsey Grammer, Kenny G., Lisa Kudrow, Charlie Sheen, Sugar Ray Leonard, Paula Abdul, Michael Jordan, Hugh Hefner, HRH Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, Audemars Piguet, Davidoff of Geneva, Warner Bros, CBS, The Whitney Museum, Architectural Digest, Kerzner International, Cosmopolitan Magazineand InStyle Magazine.

Colin Cowie is also the author of eight best-selling books including five wedding books (Colin Cowie Weddings, For The Bride, For The Groom, Extraordinary Weddings, Colin Cowie Wedding Chic), two entertaining cookbooks (Effortless Elegance and Dinner After Dark) and a book on living with style (Colin Cowie Chic).

Colin also appears as a much-in-demand television personality and host of the daily show, Get Married, airing on Lifetime TV.

Keynote Speaker

Vinincia Strachan

Having worked in various capacities for the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism for the past 18 years, Vinincia brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her job as the Guru of romance for the Islands Of The Bahamas. Adding her experience, having worked for The Bahamas in the United States (Philadelphia, Chicago and Ft. Lauderdale) Vinincia held responsibilities for the marketing the Bahamas' diverse options for destinations weddings and honeymoons throughout North America.

Vinincia has been instrumental in the development of the Bahamas weddings and honeymoon website specifically for the Canadian consumer, as well as several high-value consumer promotions on the site. She is also responsible for a number of national advertising campaigns, partnering with well known brands such as Sposabella, Weddingbells, Laura Secord and CityTV - to name a few. Vinincia believes these initiatives, coupled with participation in consumer events and development of other quality promotional strategies will place The Islands Of The Bahamas at the forefront of the weddings and honeymoon industry.