Keynote speaker: Kathy cruz

OWNER

RETAIL MAVENS 

  As the founder of RETAILMavens and host of The Richer Retailer podcast, Cathy Donovan Wagner leads a mission to help store owners become million-dollar retailers with lives they love. The Richer Retailer work is built around 5 core systems and a belief that when retail store owners understand the numbers and the power of clear goals, they change their businesses — and their lives — becoming richer in every way.

CEO / FOUNDER / CREATIVE DIRECTOR

RETAIL REHAB    

Michael Hale is a retail design executive specializing in experiential store design, strategic space planning, and impactful visual merchandising across travel, hospitality, and specialty retail environments. 

As CEO of Retail REHAB, he transforms brand vision into immersive, high-performing retail spaces – integrating sales analytics, operational flow, and fixture design to create environments that engage guests and drive results. With a career spanning cruise, airport, resort, and specialty retail, he brings a proven ability to align design, display, and business strategy from concept through completion. 

OWNER

THE CONFIDENT ENTREPRENEUR  

  Jennifer Johnson is the creator of The Confident Entrepreneur, a proven framework helping small business owners grow profitable companies without sacrificing their well-being. A sought-after coach, she is the author of the Amazon bestseller Grace & Grit: Becoming a Confident Entrepreneur and host of the award-winning The Confident Entrepreneur podcast, ranked among the top 100 female-hosted shows nationwide. With more than 25 years of entrepreneurial experience, Jennifer is also the founder of True Fashionistas, Florida’s largest lifestyle resale store, where she built a thriving retail brand from the ground up. 

FOUNDER / EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

HEART ON MAIN STREET 

Patrick Keiser started his 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.

CO-FOUNDER

BLUE BUTTERFLY

 Patricia Norins is a retail strategist and co-founder of Blue Butterfly, a consultancy helping retailers and property owners drive growth through innovative concepts, store optimization and leasing strategies. With more than 30 years of experience, she is also a partner at IndERA, supporting brands with digital marketing, social media and community-driven education. A fourth-generation retailer, Patricia founded two leading trade publications, authored Ultimate Guide to Specialty Retail and launched SPREE, the world’s largest specialty retail conference. A global speaker and former Small Business Saturday spokesperson, she specializes in storytelling-driven marketing that builds loyal, engaged customers. 

OWNER

ONE AMAZING FIND / GIFTED

  Casey Smith operates two retail locations in Tarpon Springs, Florida, One Amazing Find and Gifted. After building her career in healthcare technology, she transitioned to small business ownership in 2016, purchased an existing shop in 2019, and expanded to a second location in 2024. Hurricane Helene hit the area just three weeks after opening Gifted and Casey had to shut down her store for seven weeks. Casey serves on the TSDD Main Street board working to reorganize as a Florida Main Street while pursuing her next venture: a boutique hotel in downtown Tarpon Springs. She is currently studying tourism and hospitality management at St. Petersburg College.

FOUNDER

INVENTORY GENUIS

   Ciara Stockeland is the founder of Inventory Genius, a consulting program helping inventory-based business owners increase profitability and cash flow with clarity and confidence. A sought-after speaker and author of Inventory Genius and Profit Genius, she equips retailers and wholesalers with practical financial strategies that drive measurable results. A serial entrepreneur, Ciara built, franchised and sold multiple businesses, including a first-to-market wholesale subscription box. She has testified before two U.S. Senate Committees and represented small businesses at White House economic summits. A 4x Ironman, she brings endurance and discipline to every stage and strategy. 

 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 fifth 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.