Speakers

We search for the best and brightest minds in our industry. We are bringing them together at GO WEST 25 for you to learn from and connect with. Our speaker lineup is strategically curated to provide you with the greatest value. Our speakers are committed to immersing themselves in and being prevalent throughout the 3 days. This is your opportunity to engage directly with industry thought-leaders.

Avery Swartz - Toronto, Ontario
Founder & CEO, Camp Tech

Avery is the founder and CEO of Camp Tech, and author of the best-selling book See You on the Internet: Building Your Small Business with Digital Marketing. Avery is the resident tech contributor on CTV Your Morning and is regularly heard on CBC Radio.  Avery was ranked number 5 on Search Engine Journal's Top 50 Women in Marketing list and hosted the AI Meets World podcast from Microsoft and The Globe and Mail Content Studio.

Brandee Gaar - Winter Garden, Florida
Owner, The Wedding Pro CEO

Brandee is a luxury Event Planner, Wedding Industry Thought Leader, Educational Speaker and Host of The Wedding Pro CEO Podcast.  She’s on a mission to help wedding business owners scale to 7 figures without the burnout.

Through online courses, strategic coaching, in-person summits, and dynamic social media content, Brandee is leading a movement of wedding business owners ready to embrace their role as CEO and build the profitable businesses they’ve always envisioned.

Caitlin McElhone - Edmonton, Alberta
Owner & Lead Planner, CM Events Inc.

Caitlin is the visionary force behind CM Events Inc., recognized for her dynamic leadership, creativity, and meticulous organizational skills. 

From her beginnings in Marketing and Clothing & Textile Design at the University of Alberta, Caitlin worked as a lead planner with ComLinks Events for six years, contributing to projects locally and globally. Since founding CM Events in 2011, Caitlin has curated exceptional experiences, notably the award-winning CASA Gala which she earned distinction as an Esprit Award finalist for Best Gala Décor and Production in 2023.

Recognized as Planner of the Year by MPI Edmonton and a consecutive winner at the Edmonton Event Awards, Caitlin is not only an influential event professional but a dedicated educator and leader, contributing to the NAIT Event Management program for over 8 years and participating as an active board member on ILEA for almost a decade. 

A true advocate for Edmonton and passionate about urban living, she actively supports local businesses, markets, and festivals. Caitlin resides in downtown Edmonton with her husband and two sons.

Hannah Whittaker - Edmonton, Alberta
Event Lead, NAIT (Northern Alberta Institute of Technology)

With a BA in Design for Theatre and Television, and a certified Event Accessibility Strategist, Hannah has been working in the events and theatre industries both locally and internationally for almost 20 years.

Most recently Hannah was the Events Specialist at Edmonton Public Library where she was responsible for the award-winning Grand Opening of the revitalized Stanley A. Milner Library. She also acted at the Program Lead for the Holy Mass at Commonwealth Stadium during the Pope's 2022 historic visit.

Hannah is currently an Event Lead with NAIT, has served on the Board of the Edmonton Chapter of the International Live Events Association, and is a member of the Event Safety Alliance Canada.

Jody Paulson - Edmonton, Alberta
National Chair, ILEA Canada

Jody is a highly skilled event professional with an impressive 30 years of experience in the planning, management, and development of high-quality events. With a diverse background encompassing both not-for-profit and for-profit sectors, Jody possesses a comprehensive understanding of the intricacies involved in orchestrating successful events of various sizes, ranging from intimate gatherings to large-scale productions hosting up to 2,000 participants.

Jody has been instrumental in managing Centennial celebrations for four faculties at the prestigious University of Alberta. Jody joined Athabasca University in 2019 as they prepared to celebrate 50 years.

Jody's dedication to professional development is evident in her attainment of the Certified Special Events Professional (CSEP) designation in 2014. She has been an active member of the International Live Events Association (ILEA) since achieving her certification, holding various leadership positions including two terms as ILEA Edmonton Chapter President. She is currently serving as the Chair for ILEA Canada.

Margo Buckley, CFRE - Edmonton, Alberta
Fund Development Consultant, Good 4 U Consulting Inc.

Margo has been a fundraiser for over 12 years & founded Good 4 U Consulting Inc. in 2020. With experience in every corner of fund development, Margo specializes in creating & executing annual campaigns, grant writing, fundraising events & helping non-profits create functional fundraising & stewardship plans. 

Margo has worked with over 12 different non-profits in a consulting capacity and in the last 2 years secured over $1 million in grant funds for several non-profits. As a consultant, her focus and approach are based on mindset before money – how understanding the power of gratitude and stewardship can inform every part of a fund development plan and prepare non-profits to receive and care for the donor before the ask is made.

Michael Hoffman - Chicago, Illinois
Co-Founder & CEO, Gather Voices

Michael is the co-founder and CEO of Gather Voices, a technology company that makes it simple for event professionals to capture video from attendees, speakers and sponsors. He is also the founder of See3 Communications, a digital marketing agency in Chicago. Hoffman taught marketing at the University of Chicago and is an internationally sought-after speaker and trainer who is a trusted advisor to business and event leaders on engagement strategy.

Scott Frankel - Baldwin, New York
President, Animatic Media

Scott is an industry leader in event production and sought-after speaker at industry events. Animatic is a full-service video and event production company founded with the idea of offering agency-style service without the agency price tag. Since 1996, Scott and his team have produced events for clients of all sizes, from Fortune 100 conferences with thousands of attendees to smaller road shows and events. 

Scott is an innovator in the event technology space and insists on perfection and flawless execution for all events. Scott has received recognition from many industry leaders such as a Connect/BizBash “15 over 50”, Eventex “Most Influential People in the Events Industry, Smart Meetings Catalyst Award and more. In 2020 Animatic Media relaunched their on-demand web service as Conference-On-Demand +LIVE. COD +LIVE is a full-service virtual/hybrid event platform for fully “produced” virtual and hybrid events.

In August of 2024 Scott and Animatic launched a groundbreaking and innovative Augmented Reality offering built for the live events industry called Intelligent Content℠.