2023 keynote speaker: DANE COHEN

FOUNDER AND CEO

SAVVY SHOPKEEPER

 Kathy has turned her passion for independent retail into a top rated podcast and online education platform to help brick-and-mortar store owners work smarter, profit more and grow. When she’s not helping others build their retail empires, you may find her at the home decor store she co-owns with her sister, sipping coffee, spending time with family and friends, traveling, enjoying a beach or working out. 

PRINCIPAL CONSULTANT

CLARKSTON CONSULTING

Dave’s career in retail spans nearly 20 years with roles in both consulting and corporate

environments. His corporate experience includes time at fashion retailers such as Chico’s FAS and L Brands where his work focused on assortment building, store planning and inventory management. As a consultant, Dave and the Clarkston team focus on solving a variety of challenges for retailers

and wholesalers worldwide. Dave and his family live in Fort Myers, Florida where they enjoy all that

coastal living has to offer.

OWNER

RETAIL REHAB  

With 30 years of experience in various retail capacities, Michael Hale and his team make retail spaces more functional and productive. Retail Rehab clients include Inis, Princess Cruises, Lowes Resorts and Sheraton Hotels. Retail Rehab designed the new Inis retail store in Huntington Beach, California, which opened in March 2022. The Inis showroom immerses guests in the scents and sensations of the sea, with 1,200 square feet of space and floor-to-ceiling windows with views of palm trees and the Pacific Ocean. 

FOUNDER/EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

HEART ON MAIN STREET 

Patrick Keiser starting a role with the wholesale sales and marketing company OneCoast in 2016. At OneCoast, Patrick found his home working with an organization that services independent retailers around the country. He was able to combine his passions of learning and educating to help others better serve their communities. In 2021, he conceptualized the idea of bringing together the efforts of companies and organizations that relied on Main Street businesses to provide more tools, resources, and education to retailers across the country. Heart on Main Street was born in 2022. 

RETAIL CONSULTANT

RETAIL TRAINING TOOLS

 With over 30 years of experience in the retail industry, Cathy is a seasoned professional specializing in the training and coaching of retail professionals and managing multiple store operations. Cathy has created RetailTrainingTools.com, and as a WhizBang Training Certified Retail Coach, she works with other retail organizations to train them on best practices within the industry. Through intensive online or in person sessions, Cathy endlessly works to ensure that her clients understand just how to perform most effectively and efficiently in a retail environment.

OWNER

CRYSTAL MEDIA

  Crystal is a world-class social media expert and powerful speaker who helps retailers shine online and bring their unique brilliance to the local and global masses. Fueling retailers with confidence to grow their visibility and results, Crystal is on a mission to help Main Street businesses thrive. She founded Crystal Media in 2012, where she’s worked with thousands of retailers to increase traffic, sales and profits using social media. She’s shared the stage with industry giants like Martha Stewart, Gary Vaynerchuk, Bethenny Frankel, and Jim Kwik, and hosts the show "Rooted in Retail.

OWNER

PAULINE'S GIFTS

  Pauline has owned Pauline’s Gifts in Gloucester, Massachusetts for nearly 25 years. Her involvement in the community over the years includes, serving served as chairwoman on city of Gloucester’s tourism 

commission, a member of the Board of Directors of the Gloucester Destination Marketing Organization, and volunteering at the City of Gloucester, Massachusetts Visitor Center. She has received many awards in recognition for her community service including, a Starfish Award from Seaside Retailer for the Women to Women Donation Drive she began 6 years ago.

OWNER

THE ISLANDER  

Anita is a native Floridian, growing up in Fort Myers. Her professional career began in 1985 when she began working with her parents at The Pier Peddler. In 2003 Anita opened her second store, Local Color and in 2017 she opened The Islander. All 3 stores were lost in hurricane Ian. The Islander will hopefully be reopened by the end of 2023. 

Anita is also very involved with her community. In 1995 Anita became the first mayor of the Town of Fort Myers Beach when it incorporated. Anita has served several terms as Mayor, most recently in 2020. She currently serves as chairperson of the Planning and zoning committee for the town. 

FOUNDER & CEO

DUNE JEWELRY 

  Holly is a kitchen table entrepreneur who has propelled her business, Dune Jewelry & Co., from a passion project to a worldwide brand over the past twelve years. She is a talented designer focused on capturing memories to create tangible reminders of life’s most cherished moments, which symbolizes Dune’s line of handcrafted Experiential Jewelry, which is sold in hundreds of beach, coastal and nautical stores and two Dune Boutiques in Harwich Port, Massachusetts, and Ketchikan, Alaska, that provide unique retail experiences for customers. In summer 2023, she opened her first gift boutique in Norwood, Massachusetts.

DIRECTOR OF RETAIL

ZOOTAMPA AT LOWRY PARK

 Elie has been working at ZooTampa at Lowry Park since 2015 in various roles throughout the retail department. Currently, she is buying and managing for 6 retail locations throughout the zoo. Throughout her years at ZooTampa, she has added multiple locations and more

 than tripled retail sales.

Elie recently joined the ZAG 

board (Zoo, Aquarium and Gardens independent buyers' group), where she has gained valuable connections with her peers. 

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

SUNSHINE ACE HARDWARE

 Scott has been with Sunshine Ace Hardware since 2016 and is responsible for store operations, merchandising, and marketing divisions, across its 12 stores, including two Crowder's Gifts and Gadgets. Scott’s team develops a unique portfolio of top-shelf products, provides exceptional customer service, and communicates the company’s value proposition to consistently exceed customers’ expectations. In 2022, the stores received the Gulfshore Business award for Best Place to Work for its people first culture.

RETAIL STORE MANAGER

MARGARITAVILLE RESORT ORLANDO 

William has done a complete overhaul of the 1,700-square-foot gift store since he began with the Margaritaville Resort Orlando in June 2022. He brings 15 years of retail management experience to his new role and is taking the store to the next level of upscale resort retail, which includes a robust onboarding program for staff. As the island-inspired resort continues to grow, the retail store is shifting its mix to keep guests and residents in the “5 O’clock” spirit with an engaging store staff to help inspire purchases.

DIRECTOR OF SHOP SHENANIGANS

FLIP FLOP SHOPS

Steve's vast career in footwear spans 49 years, and covers everything from Blue Light Specials to Toes in the Sand. He spent over 20 years with Meldisco, which became the over 2,400 locations of K-Mart, and another 20 years with Famous Footwear. Steve now handles the operations of Flip Flop Shops. He's been integral in the new shop design, visual look, POS system and marketing direction of the stores. Under his direction, he has helped franchise owners open 49 shops in the U.S. in just three years and recently signed locations in Canada, Dominican Republic and Antigua.

OWNER

LADY GRYPHON'S COASTAL COLLECTIONS

As CEO and sole shareholder of an award- winning equipment lease and finance firm since 1997, Kim is a longstanding woman-owned business and certified diversity supplier, who understands the importance of giving equal opportunities in the marketplace.    

In 2020, she and her team launched an online shop committed to working with diversity and small business vendors. Most recently, she  opened Lady Gryphon’s Coastal Collections Shop in Tarpon Springs, Florida, developing her reach with more product vendors in the diversity community.

PUBLISHER;

CONFERENCE CO-DIRECTOR

BREAKWALL PUBLISHING 

As conference co-director and publisher of Seaside Retailer magazine and Souvenirs, Gifts & Novelties magazine, Karen helps connect top beach, coastal and nautical brands with their core audience of retailers. Her over 25 years of experience with award-winning business publications helps guide the direction of both magazines and she has won numerous journalism and design awards. Now in it’s fourth year of publication, Seaside Retailer continues to be a leading source for beach, coastal and nautical retailers across the continental U.S., Hawaii and the Caribbean.

EXECUTIVE EDITOR; CONFERENCE DIRECTOR

BREAKWALL PUBLISHING

  As conference director and executive editor of Seaside Retailer magazine and Souvenirs, Gifts & Novelties magazine, Kristin has a pulse on the beach, coastal and nautical retail community. She brings more than 20 years of award-winning business-to-business media experience to her roles, which include managing the editorial direction and staff for large B2B media company publications and a trade association along with planning leading industry conferences. She attends various trade shows throughout the year and reports on events, products and companies that influence seaside retailers.