2013 Speakers

Third Annual Women's Leadership Conference Speakers

‌Melody Breeden

Melody Breeden, a Myrtle Beach native, is an attorney certified as a Specialist in Estate Planning and Probate Law and as a Civil Court Mediator.

Michael F. Clayton

Michael F. Clayton is the leader of Morgan Lewis's international Trademark and Copyright Practice, resident in the Washington, D.C. office. Recognized as one of the top intellectual property attorneys in the nation, Michael Clayton is a partner in the international law firm Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP. He leads the International Trademark and Copyright Practice in the firm's Washington D.C. office.

Allison Black Cornelius

Allison Black Cornelius, founder of Blackfish, trains non-profit and government groups on effective board engagement, strategy, and leadership development, and speaks around the world.

Alexis Glick

Alexis Glick is CEO of the GENYOUth Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to fighting childhood obesity.

Janet Graham

Janet Graham serves as the Area Manager for both Horry and Georgetown counties of the Myrtle Beach Area Small Business Development Center (SBDC) located at Coastal Carolina University.

Mercedes Ramirez Johnson

Mercedes Ramirez Johnson is one of only four survivors of the crash of American Airlines Flight 965.Today she inspires audiences to find their core values and use the principles of Return on Investment Living™ to solve the human side of problems.

Colleen Johnston

Colleen Johnston is currently group head, finance, and chief financial officer of TD Bank Group. Among her many honors, she was inducted into Canada's Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Hall of Fame in 2007.

Michael Jordan

As social media director for The Brandon Agency in Myrtle Beach, Jordan is responsible for helping to direct, manage and grow the agency’s social media and online media relations services for clients.

John Keyser

John Keyser is the founder and CEO of Common Sense Leadership. He works with senior executives as a leadership consultant and coach.

Ewa Mataya Laurance

Ewa Mataya Laurance--the Striking Viking--is one of the most visible superstars in the history of pocket billiards. Among her numerous titles, she is the International Trick Shot Champion, and is known as the world’s premier female trick shot artist

Christie MacConnell

The director of the South Carolina Women’s Business Center (SCWBC) in Charleston, Christie MacConnell has more than 15 years of business counseling and economic development experience.

Stella Mercado

Stella Mercado is chief executive officer and president of the Board of Directors for Mercom Corporation, an information technology business headquartered in Pawleys Island, South Carolina, and one of country's fastest growing companies.

Joe Moglia

Joe Moglia is Chairman of the Board at TD Ameritrade, a position he has held since 2008, and the Head Football Coach of Coastal Carolina University.

Eileen O'Connor

Eileen O’Connor is the Senior Director of Communications and Public Diplomacy in the office of the Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, managing strategic communications and public diplomacy programs in those countries.

Muriel O'Tuel

For more than a decade, Muriel O’Tuel, Ph.D., has motivated a variety of audiences including school, college, business, church and civic organizations throughout the United States. A former educator, she devotes her time to her speaking career.

Brian Peters

Brian Peters is the Agency Owner of First Data Independent Sales of South Carolina. In this position Brian Is responsible for managing operations for the agency from Wilmington, N.C. through Charleston, S.C.

Terrie Smith

Terrie Smith , Ph.D., holds the Julian T. Buxton Professor of Business Administration Endowed Chair at the University of South Carolina Sumter and serves as a consultant with Organizational Strategies, LLC in New York, N.Y.

Eileen Soisson

Eileen Soisson leads Coastal Carolina University's Feel the Teal customer service initiative as well as various training programs for staff and faculty. She is also the president and owner of The Meeting Institute.

Donna Tyson

Donna Tyson is a nationally acclaimed motivational speaker known for her ability to touch hearts and inspire people to reach their highest potential.

Heidi Vukov

Heidi Vukov is the owner of Croissants Bistro and Bakery located in Myrtle Beach. A favorite among locals and tourists alike, Croissants opened in March 1995 and has received numerous awards.

Susan Walvius

Susan Walvius is the co-founder of SHEEX, Inc. She has been named one of the “Most Powerful Women Entrepreneurs” by Fortune magazine and American Express and the winner of the 2012 Ernst and Young Entrepreneurial Winning Women Program.