Marcus Sheridan is a globally recognized communication expert, bestselling author, and captivating keynote speaker specializing in Transformational Communication. With over two decades of industry experience, Marcus has mastered the art of connecting, engaging, and influencing individuals and organizations.

His expertise spans the topics of sales, leadership, marketing, AI, personal development, and trust. Starting his journey after college, he is an entrepreneurial success story.

Marcus founded a business that grew into the world's most-trafficked swimming pool company, revolutionizing effective communication in the business landscape. He ignited the They Ask, You Answer movement, empowering businesses to embrace transparency in their marketing and communications.

His bestselling book, They Ask, You Answer, has sold over 100,000 copies, and has been translated into several languages.

As a dynamic speaker, Marcus engages audiences worldwide, and is known for his real-time interactions that transcend norms, resulting in memorable presentations every time.

Featured in renowned media outlets such as The New York Times and Forbes, Marcus solidifies his role as a trailblazer in communication. His clients include recognizable brands such as Whirlpool, Discover, Bass Pro Shops, Cisco, Microsoft, and many more.

A leader in the laundromat industry for 32 years, Coin Laundry Association’s President/CEO Brian Wallace is a popular presenter, author and advocate for laundromat owners in the U.S. and around the world.

Brian is also a passionate supporter and co-founder of the LaundryCares Foundation and serves as its Executive Director. The foundation focuses on supporting families at the laundromat with early childhood development and literacy resources – including mini-library spaces and free books for kids among other initiatives.

Brian has been a constant presence on the laundromat trail attending hundreds of local chapter meetings, distributor and manufacturer events, international trade shows and laundromat store visits. He enjoys connecting with laundromat owners and listening to their keys to success in an effort to synthesize and share the best advice through seminars, webinars, articles and other outlets for reaching laundromat professionals.

James W. Keyes is known internationally as a business and social change agent. Currently spearheading several initiatives in the tech, art, and education space, his career has included serving as Chief Executive Officer of two Fortune 500 companies, 7-Eleven, Inc. and Blockbuster, Inc., and serving on numerous civic boards. Now, a best-selling author, Keyes has written Education is Freedom: The Future is In Your Hands.

Coming from humble beginnings in the small town of Grafton, Massachusetts, Jim’s father taught him “the absolute key to freedom is to learn as much as you can, every day of your life”. Keyes majored in political science at College of the Holy Cross, and graduated cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa. He earned a MBA degree from Columbia University in New York, and went on to establish himself in corporate America.

On his quest of lifelong learning, and passionate about aerospace and aviation, Keyes has been a pilot for over 40 years. He is “single-pilot” certified in Textron C525 series Citation Jets, and is also certified to fly helicopters and floatplanes. He is a skilled sculptor, painter, musician, and composer. He enjoys playing a variety of sports including baseball, golf, polo, tennis, and skiing.

Keyes is the chairman of Key Development, LLC, an investment group that promotes growth and expansion in diverse business areas, and is involved in a variety of tech initiatives and new space startups, as well as cutting-edge AI and AR projects. He co-founded Back to Space, which promotes STEM education and enrichment, and serves as an advisor for Xenesis, a company producing nearly indestructible optical hardware designed for use in satellites. Keyes also serves on the board of HStar Space Transport, a start-up working toward the future of heavy space transportation services.

Through his lifelong commitment to education, Keyes is the founding director of the Dallas Education Foundation and is the founder of the nonprofit foundation Education is Freedom, a nationally recognized college, career and life-readiness provider. To date, Education is Freedom has raised $450 million for its fellowships, scholarships, and other programs to “pay it forward” to hardworking students. He wrote the book Education is Freedom: The Future is in Your Hands to emphasize the ​​importance of education for all mankind, the power of education to change our world, and the wisdom to unlock our personal freedom while reserving our democracy.

Keyes has had an enduring impact with service on the boards of: The American Red Cross, Dallas Symphony Orchestra (former Chairman), The University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, SMU Cox School of Business, The Cooper Institute, Dallas Performing Arts Center, Columbia Business School, and College of the Holy Cross.

Steve Brinks embarked on a journey fueled by curiosity and a knack for pushing boundaries. From an early age, he found himself drawn to dismantling objects to understand their limitations and construction, a habit that blossomed into a passion for engineering analysis. Over his impressive 38-year career, Steve has honed his craft, specializing in designing structures that withstand the test of time.

Steve's mantra has always been to understand how something breaks to create designs that won't. This philosophy has earned him admiration from both clients and employers. However, he quickly learned that achieving perfection often requires navigating a delicate balance between cost, weight, and durability. Whether it's ensuring aircraft remain lightweight yet robust or constructing buildings resilient to the elements, Steve's expertise lies in finding innovative solutions to complex engineering challenges.

His journey has taken him across various sectors, including aircraft manufacturing, building design, construction, and demolition. Notably, his service in the U.S. Coast Guard's Naval Engineering Branch provided him with a unique perspective, where he seamlessly integrated structural analysis with fluid dynamics to tackle issues like propeller and shaft failure.

Together with his wife, Sharon, Steve has ventured into entrepreneurship, establishing two laundromats, both operating under the esteemed banner of "The Laundry Station" in Wichita, KS.

Their laundromats, one a ground-up build and the other a conversion from a veterinary clinic, have presented Steve with a fresh set of challenges and opportunities. As a licensed professional engineer, Steve brings invaluable insights into laundromat design, empowering operators with a deeper understanding of their operational capacities and engineering challenges.

Starting in the laundry business in 2014, Ross and his husband Russel closed escrow on their first laundry after nearly a year-long search, and the laundry burned down five days later. Fast forward to a 2-year rebuild and purchasing a second laundry, they became operators on January 1, 2017. With two laundries now open, it seemed like a great time to expand and start pickup and delivery in April 2017 partnering with Wash Club Trak and licensing and branding Wash Club LA.

They initially operated out of their first location in Hollywood. Still, they began to outgrow that in late 2018 and began remodeling a closed-down laundry to open a dedicated private pickup and delivery processing facility in mid-2019.

They have continued to grow their self-serve laundry locations and, as of today, have 13 locations all over greater Los Angeles. During COVID-19, they saw considerable increases in the pickup and delivery business and quickly began to outgrow the facility they had just built in 2019.

They completed a nearly 1-year build of a new 6,000 sq ft facility dedicated to their pickup and delivery business with Wash Club LA, which opened in July 2023. This facility will more than triple the wash capacity they currently have and add an Ozone system. This will also become corporate headquarters as the team has dramatically increased over the last year.

Looking at 2024, Ross and the team have sites set on finalizing current buildout projects purchased last year and maybe even acquiring a few more!

Cody has been in laundry all his life. He is a third-generation member of the Milch family. His grandfather founded LaundryLux over 65 years ago, and he continues this legacy. Since graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Cody has worked in all aspects of the business, beginning as VP of OPL Sales and as President from 2016 to 2022. As of 2023, Cody has taken an operational role in managing his family's assets at the Milch Family Office. He focuses on capital allocation and real estate investment.

In the summer of 2023, Cody formed the LaundryLux Real Estate Advisory (LRE), a national retail advisory service and tenant representative vertically integrated within LaundryLux. Cody will share his expertise at the intersection of commercial laundry operations and real estate. In today's competitive landscape, where prime locations are increasingly scarce, Cody and the LRE team help laundromat investors identify and underwrite attractive real estate opportunities across the United States.

For 20 years, Alaa Elbanna has been transforming the laundromat experience in the NY/NJ area. Alongside his father, they've built and operated 11 successful locations, strategically selling 7 to focus on continuous growth.

Alaa is passionate about the industry's evolution, particularly the rise of community outreach programs. He ensures each laundromat is not just clean and convenient, but also a comfortable space that fosters community connections.

Excited about the future, Alaa looks forward to staying at the forefront of the laundromat industry as it continues to innovate and serve local communities.

John and Stephanie Fry are accomplished professionals with over 20 years of sales and leadership experience in the fields of technology and healthcare. John has spent the bulk of his career working with privately held technology companies while Stephanie has worked with two of Fortune 500’s top-10 healthcare companies. Both proud alumni of the University of Massachusetts, they live in sunny Tampa, FL with their three energetic boys and Italian water dog, Rocky.

Throughout their careers, they have consistently demonstrated a commitment to providing innovative solutions tailored to meet the needs of their clients. Now, they are poised to bring their experience to the laundry service industry, recognizing its potential for transformation and improvement.

Their entrepreneurial journey into the laundry business started in 2022, opening their first store in Tampa. They set out to build a successful business that positively contributes to their community while creating a company culture that attracts and retains top talent.

Driven by a passion for excellence, John and Stephanie are dedicated to delivering a 5-star customer experience, setting their business apart in a competitive market.

John and Stephanie Fry are accomplished professionals with over 20 years of sales and leadership experience in the fields of technology and healthcare. John has spent the bulk of his career working with privately held technology companies while Stephanie has worked with two of Fortune 500’s top-10 healthcare companies. Both proud alumni of the University of Massachusetts, they live in sunny Tampa, FL with their three energetic boys and Italian water dog, Rocky.

Throughout their careers, they have consistently demonstrated a commitment to providing innovative solutions tailored to meet the needs of their clients. Now, they are poised to bring their experience to the laundry service industry, recognizing its potential for transformation and improvement.

Their entrepreneurial journey into the laundry business started in 2022, opening their first store in Tampa. They set out to build a successful business that positively contributes to their community while creating a company culture that attracts and retains top talent.

Driven by a passion for excellence, John and Stephanie are dedicated to delivering a 5-star customer experience, setting their business apart in a competitive market.

Don Ward is the Founder/CEO of Laundris Corporation, which leverages precision technology (IoT+AI/ML) to track assets and inventory for large enterprise customers in the hospitality and healthcare verticals. The Laundris Platform Transforms (initially Textiles) operations by connecting Properties, Facilities, and the Supply Chain—powered by AI/ML for smarter automation, streamlined processes, and unparalleled customer experiences.

Prior to founding Laundris, Don’s experience covered two decades of enterprise sales in roles such at Microsoft, IBM, VMWare and McAfee. It was his background in Cloud Computing + Data/Analytics that led Don to become the Founder of the world's first integrated supply chain solution that provides full turnkey - Physical to Digital transformation for brands such as Hyatt, CitizenM, and others. 

Don has been recognized by Google as one of the top 30 black founders to watch in America, along with being a recipient of the inaugural Google for Black Founders fund. In 2022, Don was a recipient of the American Business Awards on behalf HCL Technologies sponsored by the Stevie Awards. Along with that, Don was recognized by the Austin Business Journal as one of the top 21 startups to watch in 2021 and the Austin Black Business Journals most influential technologist for 2022. 

Don has raised more than $5 million to support Laundris' growth and market adoption. He is a proud graduate of the University of North Texas and member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. 

Oscar Garcia is a sought-after consultant, coach, and speaker specializing in online marketing, host of the highly rated podcast, "The OMG! Show," and author of the upcoming release "Thrive: How To Turn Your Knowledge Into Passive Income, Attract Sales Automatically, & Create Massive Impact."

After pulling out his 401K and diving head first into muddy waters, he quickly built a six figure business in only 8 months. Over the past few years, he's dedicated himself to growing businesses through proven systems and sound strategies that produce conversion rates of 70%+ and ROI's of 200% or more. He's pretty much a problem-solving junkie that gets a high whenever he help you make breakthroughs in your business.

As an esteemed alum of Purdue University and the Co-Founder/CEO of Presso, Nishant Jain has embarked on an entrepreneurial journey driven by a deep observation of both the history and the current state of garment care in the United States.

After emigrating from India a decade ago, Nishant noticed a significant disparity in garment care practices between the two countries. His upbringing in India emphasized meticulous garment care, while outdated laundry practices prevailed in the U.S., revealing a fundamental gap.

This disconnect inspired Presso's inception. Nishant recognized that clothing is more than fabric; it's an emotional connection that influences confidence and identity. With a technical background in electrical engineering, computer science, and entrepreneurship, Nishant envisioned Presso as a modernizing force in an industry ripe for innovation. Presso is not just a laundry service; it's a commitment to positive change.

Through cutting-edge technologies, Presso aims to redefine the laundry experience, respecting the emotional value people place on their garments. Nishant's dedication reflects his profound commitment to innovation, enhancing the quality of everyday life for individuals globally.

Trish Lindo is a Jamaican/American personal branding architect with an extensive background in media and tech. She is a sought after professional for her ability to consistently deliver results in an ever-changing industry. She has several years of digital media and tech experience from LinkedIn, BuzzFeed/Tasty, Yahoo!, CNN, and Oprah.com. Trish utilizes her expertise to teach executives and entrepreneurs how to build their personal and professional brand across social media including LinkedIn and Instagram to name a few.

Trish is the creator, executive producer, and host of Too AMBITIOUS, a weekly Live series that celebrates Black women and women of color founders who are innovators, disruptors, and yes very Ambitious.

Trish is an advocate for entrepreneurs and small business owners who are seeking to cultivate their personal and professional brand to build community and scale their businesses. Trish has utilized her skills as a writer, producer, community manager, moderator, and on-camera host as a presenter at EY’s Growth Strategic Forum, Digital Undivided, ColorComm, Lesbians Who Tech, LinkedIn InFused, and Penguin Random House to name a few.

Trish has a Bachelor of Science in Broadcast Journalism from Florida A&M University and believes in using her influence to shape a diverse and inclusive future of work. She also gives back to organizations such as EmpowHer, Made by DWC in LA, Kids & Art, and the Urban League of San Francisco Bay area.

Meet Saichelle McNeill, the brains and heart behind The WashRoom Laundry Service—a Charlotte sensation! A true North Carolina gal and proud HBCU alum, she's armed with a BS in Biology/Chemistry and an MBA in Management and Marketing. With over a decade of engineering expertise in big-name companies like Kraft and Unilever, Saichelle is a powerhouse of efficiency! She's certified in Six Sigma and practically breathes Lean and Kaizen.

But wait, there's more! When she's not blazing the business world, you'll find Saichelle supporting fellow entrepreneurs as the Chair of the Charlotte Chapter of Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO) Accelerator. She's also serves on The Center for Community Transitions (CCT) board as secretary.

Now, let's delve into her off-duty adventures. Saichelle's a family gal through and through, spending time with her awesome kiddos, diving into podcasts, or whipping up culinary masterpieces for her crew. And when it's time to relax? She's all about doing absolutely nothing—because even superstars need downtime!

Brian entered the laundry industry in July of 2021 and in under than 2-years his first Laundry Genius location was in the top 5% of laundromats in the United States. This didn’t happen by accident - Brian is relentlessly curious about learning from other operators to find more ways to empower great teams, deliver great customer experience and leverage data to drive growth.    

Prior to starting Laundry Genius, Brian spent 25 years at Microsoft in marketing, PR and sales operations leadership roles, working side-by-side with C-suite executives to launch new products and turn strategy into execution on a global scale. 

As he continues to search for Laundry Genius expansion opportunities, he maintains a thriving consulting practice working with C-suite executives in fast-moving environments to turn strategy into execution.   In his spare time Brian is a high-school and junior college basketball official and has found that frustrated coaches and upset laundromat customers have a lot in common - unrealistic expectations and the need to raise their voice!

Over 22 years of business valuation experience with Big 4 firms. Manage the development and completion of valuation analyses for privately-held businesses and other assets and liabilities including corporate debt, preferred and common equity securities for financial reporting (ASC 820 and ASC 718) and tax reporting (IRC 409A) purposes.

Managed, developed and completed valuation analyses for businesses, intangible assets, tangible assets, and other assets and liabilities for acquisitions, divestitures, financial reporting purposes including ASC 805, ASC 350, ASC 718, tax reporting purposes including IRC 409A and IRC 280G, and other transactions for entities within the technology and pharmaceutical /life sciences sectors and other industries.

Jason is a brand and content strategist, entrepreneur, and founder of SHFT.

Before social media even existed, he was creating content that drove revenue and positioned brands as the premium choice in their industry.

Fast forward 20 years and Jason's strategies have turned previously unknown businesses into worldwide, category-dominating brands.

When he's not leading the team at SHFT, he can be found hiking, traveling, brushing up on hi Czech language skills, or ripping apart bad sales and marketing tactics as #sassyjason.

Mitchell York is passionate about helping leaders run their businesses, drive growth, and live a balanced life.

He has conducted over 400 full-day sessions with leadership teams of entrepreneurial companies.

Mitch has been a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) for entrepreneurs and business owners for 22 years.

He’s a former president of LendingTree Inc. and senior VP/division head of Ziff Davis Media, the leading technology media company.

He also founded the Internet division of CMP Media, another leading tech media firm that was sold for $1 billion. The business he created was valued at $350 million at the time of the company's sale.

Mitch is a graduate of Northwestern University and Columbia University Graduate School of Management.

Waleed Cope is a second-generation Laundry CEO and the Co-Founder of The Soap Box, a Brooklyn-based firm offering premium garment and sneaker care services. He's also the editor of Wash Weekly, an independent newsletter that provides a fresh perspective on business development in the garment care industry.

With a background in social science and political science, Waleed juggles multiple roles, including serving as the chief of staff for his family's security agency. His passion for innovation and client service is evident in his work, and he's always eager to share his knowledge with fellow professionals and aspiring entrepreneurs.

In addition to his other roles, Waleed is the host of the podcast Laundry CEO: Leadership Conversations, where laundry entrepreneurs share their stories and insights on building successful businesses. He's also the Co-Founder of the Laundry CEO™️ Forum, a gathering of industry professionals aimed at driving economic growth in the laundry sector.