SMART BY DEDEMAN

Once upon a time in 2016, Matt Levy, founder of Covert Cocktail Club, hosted a secret speakeasy as an intimate place for strangers to gather in his home. The only way to find out about it was via word of mouth. No address was given, the only clue being a sign placed in the window, “Cocktails Here”. A lot of people thought it was pretty cool, even before The New York Times wrote about it. But that was all pre-pandemic, and this is a new era. Liberated from the confines of a single location, Covert Cocktail Club now brings the speakeasy right to your door—be it at your home, office, bar mitzvah, dinner party, bachelor/ette party or anywhere you choose!

Strayboots designs and delivers engaging group experiences for corporate events around the world. We operate in 300+ cities globally, supporting programs for 50 to 50,000 participants—from leadership offsites and conferences to large outdoor activations and multi-day programs. Our portfolio includes team-building experiences, CSR initiatives, conference engagement, offsite programming, and outdoor group activities, all built to fit seamlessly into meetings, incentives, retreats, and company-wide events. Programs can be indoor, outdoor, on-property, or city-based. Strayboots manages the full experience—from planning and customization to technology, staffing, and on-site execution—making it easy for planners and DMCs to deliver smooth, high-impact events anywhere in the world. We’re proud to be recognized as a Cvent Top Vendor, trusted by event professionals for our global reach, flexibility, and reliable execution.

Our mission is to provide one-of-a-kind culinary experiences that leave you and your guests with lasting memories and satiated palates. Every detail is meticulously thought out, and our commitment to hospitality, with over 40 years of experience working in some of the world's most acclaimed restaurants, brings a level of excellence rarely found in the catering industry.

We are the original and best conference headshot experience in the industry having appeared at hundreds of meetings over the past 10 years after first premiering at PCMA. No one can photograph more people, in less time and with higher quality than can the hand-selected and trained-by-Chuck photographers of Chuck Fazio’s Headshot Experience: THE OG! We’d love to talk to you about how The Experience can create outstanding member engagement and much needed sponsor revenue for your organization.

EPEAK Studio is a global 360 agency specializing in events, digital solutions, and content creation. We leverage cutting-edge technology to deliver comprehensive services, from planning to execution. Our commitment to innovation drives us to develop proprietary solutions that push the industry forward, ensuring each project exceeds client expectations. By blending creativity with the latest tech, we provide tailored solutions that set us apart in the industry.

Educational and entertaining keynote that blends cybersecurity with mentalism. Gary S. Chan is a performing mentalist known for blending keen insight, psychology, and a touch of mystery into unforgettable experiences for his audiences. Gary's presentation explores the intersection of deception, intuition, and the human mind. Whether in intimate gatherings or larger venues, his style emphasizes connection, wonder, and the deeper mysteries behind what it means to think and believe. Testimonials: • “Gary performed as a keynote for a conference I help organize and he was awesome! The audience loved him and his presentation was wonderful. He was also really easy to work with and an amazing professional.” – Alex W. • “In addition to his phenomenal stage performance, Gary was great to work with behind the scenes as we discussed the finer details around planning the event. His show is well-designed and planned to perfection, and he comes ready with everything needed to deliver a high-value performance.” - Jodi S. • “Gary was a keynote speaker at the annual Gateway to Innovation conference in St. Louis. Gary was very easy to work with prior to the conference. He was very responsive on all communication and questions. Gary delivered a great keynote with mind-boggling exercises that engaged the entire audience of 1,500 attendees. The audience participation, exercises, and messaging all worked very well together in delivering an awesome presentation.” - David K. • “Gary recently performed a mentalist act at our company meeting with over 500 people in attendance and had everyone laughing and at the edge of their seat! Fabulous 5 star performance, very creative, highly recommended!” – Jamie B. Speech Summary: Another day, another phish. With the advancement of research in psychological behavior and tools like ChatGPT, it is increasingly difficult for organizations to protect themselves from their weakest link — their employees. What happens when one moves beyond phishing emails to predictive analytics? Find out with acclaimed mentalist Gary S. Chan, a mind-reader who will show you that it's possible to predict human behavior under real-world conditions and influence people to "freely" make the choices you want. This is social engineering on a completely different level. This is . . . Extreme Social Engineering. https://gschan2000.com Learning Objectives: • Increased awareness and appreciation for the breadth and effectiveness of social engineering • Importance of being observant and skeptical Trailer (with audio): https://gschan2000.com/trailer Sample video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBKSgSyvubk Past reviews: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Gary+the+Mentalist/@38.6731679,-90.4346444,17z/data=!4m7!3m6!1s0x8adf5b5e31f7d53b:0x1abdd10387defa8e!8m2!3d38.6731679!4d-90.4346444!9m1!1b1 Bio: Gary S. Chan is a security mentalist, an intellectual who uses game theory and math to predict and influence people. As a highly sought after speaker, Gary’s unique approach blends cybersecurity with the magic of mentalism to help audiences around the world learn to be more observant of how criminals use predictable human behavior to exploit others for gain. Gary is trained in behavioral profiling, conflict management, negotiation, interrogation, and mediation. He is currently System VP and CISO at a large US-based healthcare system, has architected anti-fraud systems for state agencies, has led the information security teams for a large-cap technology company, and was an evaluator and mentor for cybersecurity start-ups as part of a venture capital fund. He served as President of the FBI St. Louis Citizens Academy Alumni Association and Technology Officer for the Greater St. Louis Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. He holds four security certifications and a degree in Electrical Engineering & Computer Science from MIT. Washington University article about Gary: https://commonreader.wustl.edu/how-to-become-a-mentalist/ Insured by Specialty Insurance Agency as a mentalist, emcee, and public speaker while in the US. Proof of insurance available.

Plannernet is the largest, most experienced provider of freelance meeting and event talent. We serve organizations of all sizes and industries through our powerful technology platform and grade-A service. We enable companies and talent to work together in a seamless, compliant and cost-effective manner that creates economic opportunity for all. Our Network of over 3,500 highly-specialized and vetted professionals, in over 70 countries, supports more than 200,000 hours of work annually. Plannernet’s model continues to be the optimal solution for companies looking to increase agility, scale effectively, consistently meet demand and create extraordinary event experiences.

If you want show stopping, head turning technology for your event. Let The Machine Company's interactive tech boost your footprint.

Versatile and experienced suppliers of scalable and customizable entertainment solutions. Specializing in corporate and private events of all shapes and sizes worldwide.

We offer entertainment for corporate events, charities, balls, holiday events, jazz clubs, house parties, Gatsby events, weddings and more with contemporary pop, Jazz, Broadway, Swing, Blues, Motown, Top 40 hits. Other offerings include ticketed or private 90 minute Jazz Cabaret Concerts with Broadway Song, Comedy, Costumes, and Story.