KEYNOTE SPEAKER
REBECCA MINKOFF
Rebecca Minkoff is an industry leader in luxury handbags, accessories, footwear, and apparel, all featuring modern bohemian designs. After developing an affinity for design while in the costume department in high school, Minkoff moved to New York City at age 18 to pursue her dream of becoming a fashion designer. In 2001, she developed a version of the “I Love New York” t-shirt as part of a five-piece capsule collection, which appeared on the Tonight Show and became an overnight sensation. In 2005, Minkoff designed her first handbag, which she dubbed the “Morning After Bag.” This iconic bag ignited her career as a handbag designer and inspired the brand’s expansion into a lifestyle brand in the years to come.
In 2009, Minkoff returned to her roots of apparel design and introduced her first, ready-to-wear collection in 2009. In 2018, she launched a podcast, Superwomen with Rebecca Minkoff, which focuses on the stories of resilience, failure, and success by luminaries such as Katie Couric, Bozoma St. John, and Jessica Alba. Later that year, she established the Female Founder Collective—a network of businesses led by women who invest in women’s financial power across a socio-economic spectrum by enabling and empowering female-owned businesses. Companies in the collective have gone on to raise over $15 million in seed funding and taken their companies to higher levels of success.
MOTIVATION SPEAKER
TAMI EVANS
With focus on a variety of topics around leadership, employee engagement, client connection and culture strategy with a direct link back to retention, productivity and profitability, Tami’s presentations are content-rich, interactive and filled with her relatable and relevant humor. She believes if they are laughing, they are listening, and if they are listening, they are learning.
Engaging, entertaining and energizing, Tami Evans creates an unforgettable experience for audiences. Her “use it now” content has helped ignite positive workplaces for exceptional organizations including Microsoft, Raytheon, Dun & Bradstreet, Dove Chocolate, The New York Times, Nissan, The Gap, Kellogg’s, Coldwell Banker and The American Heart Association.
Formerly the president of the National Speakers Association of NYC, Evans has also worked as a corporate manager, university professor, communications specialist, as well as such diverse career experience as a fashion designer and professional actress. She also holds a Masters of Fine Arts, and BAA degrees in Broadcasting Communications and Theatre.
Evans celebrates and motivates participants, engages and empowers employees, creates communication cohesion, boosts confidence, and busts stress. Her popular presentations enhance leadership skills, communication, empowerment, and how to have a lot more fun doing it all.
DR. DOROTHY MARTIN-NEVILLE
Dr. Dorothy’s 25+ years of combined experiences as a psychologist and a coach have certainly created a solid foundation for understanding the inner-most workings of her clients and their teams.
An international speaker, Dr. Dorothy Martin-Neville has brought her message through keynote events, TEDx, radio, and TV into nine countries. Her messages of leadership, transformation, change management, and the need for risk and growth, inspire, motivate, and drive her audiences to action.
As the founder of 4 companies Dr. Dorothy, with a PhD in Psychology, brings experience, wisdom, and humor as only someone who has walked the walk can do. In addition, she offers pragmatic tools for change, problem solving, and growth leaving her audiences laughing, inspired, and ready to create change within themselves and their company as soon as they leave the auditorium.
Her experiences growing-up in the housing projects of South Boston, combined with a powerful spirituality from her years as a Catholic nun, and the sophistication from her years of global travel as an international airline stewardess, have created a personality uniquely hers.
After the business awareness from decades of founding and running 4 companies, fueled with the love and compassion from being a Mom and a Nana, it is only natural that her highly successful clients readily re-up to work with her year after year.
YOUR HOST
RENEE DININO
Renee DiNino is the Director of Community Affairs & On-Air Programming for iHeartMedia in Connecticut, the midday host on The River 105.9, and host of an hour-long syndicated talk show on all 10 CT iHeartRadio stations.
As a mid-day host on The River 105.9, her show entertains listeners through the workday with lifestyle and Hollywood celebrity updates and interviews. Daily features include The Healthy Tip of The Day, Adoptable Pet Picks, Recipe of the Day, Community Spotlight, The Artist Spotlight, and Trending Headlines. Additionally, she hosts Acoustic Sunday Mornings on The River 105.9 from 7 am to noon.
Renee has received many accolades for her community service and has been awarded numerous Humanitarian Awards. Some awards she’s extremely proud of are:
- Celebrity Ambassador for Campaign for Bully-Free Communities 2016 – present
- Connecticut Education Association’s Media Person of the Year 2020
- Person Of the Year 2019, St Patrick’s Day Parade – Hartford
- The Animal Advocacy Award 2019, The Gertrude O’ Lewis Humanitarian award from the Connecticut Humane Society
- 2018 Unsung Hero & Presidents Award for Special Olympics Connecticut
- Channel 3 Kids Camp Woman of The Year 2016
- Mental Health Advocate of the Year 2017 for The Jordan Porco Foundation.
She serves on multiple boards and committees including; End Hunger CT, Kenway’s Cause, Inc, March Of Dimes, FoodShare, Operation Fuel, Special Olympics Connecticut, and Autism Speaks, amongst others.
Her most recent pet projects have included working with Connecticut Legislatures on the passing of an animal advocacy bill, working with Campaign for Bully-Free Communities as an Ambassador, Children’s Causes and Literacy, and Military/Veterans’ centered nonprofits. One major issue in Connecticut she is passionate about is working with Animal Control Officers to educate the public on the over-population of animals and the proper surrender of them.
In addition, you will see her weekly on WFSB Channel 3’s Better Connecticut with her Better Weekend report & blog and the Lost & Pound Pet segment. She is also a journalist for Season’s Magazines and CT Voice where you can read her quarterly Pet column.
Renee is married to her very handsome husband, Sal and they have a furry child, the love of their life, a 100lb black shepherd rescued from the streets of Hartford, Luciano. When not at the station or at one of her many community events, she enjoys cooking, gardening, and playing music.
