Creative problem solver, leading global teams and driving cross functional initiatives from conception to completion. Highly organized and driven to constantly iterate and innovate. Over 20 years of experience in leadership roles working within Technology, Entertainment and Sports industries. Coach organizations and teammates to work cohesively as a team, make tasks easier and maximize efficiency, while exceeding customer expectations.
Director of Oak City Indie Games & Triangle Interactive Arts Collective. QA and CS experience that led to Indiedev Community building, sprinkle in years of convention hopping and here we are at Oak City Indie Games.
Michael Mato is an independent game developer from Durham, NC. He has developed and released four games under his tiny indie studio, Too Much Tomato. Michael's work as a game designer combines deep systems and whimsical art styles.
Karen Stritzinger is an award-winning creative technologist, environmental justice activist, speaker, educator and Founder of Old Hara Studios with over a decade of experience building immersive product and storytelling experiences. She has worked as a technical artist at SF Bay Area tech companies, most recently as a prototyper for the Oculus system software at Meta.
Creighton P. Blackwell is an accomplished, award-winning and dynamic executive and community advocate, with over 25 years of experience on a local as well as national level. He currently serves as the Chief Community & Public Affairs Officer (CCIO) at Coastal Credit Union after successfully holding the position of Vice President of Retail Banking as well as Vice President of Corporate Affairs and Community Engagement.
Susan Caldwell is the creator of Lunchbox Heroes. With over 15 years of innovative experience in the food and hospitality industry, she has created a unique blend of storytelling and culinary expertise in the culinary education industry. Susan's mission is to transform cooking into an immersive adventure, intertwining food with captivating narratives that resonate across cultures.
Brandon is an attorney focused on representing technology and media clients in business, intellectual property, content clearance, privacy, commercial contracts, employment and internet regulatory matters. Why? Because of a passion for creativity and technology.
Latoya Peterson lives at the intersection of emerging technology and culture. Named one of Forbes Magazine's 30 Under 30 rising stars in media, she is best known for the award winning blog Racialicious.com - the intersection of race and pop culture. She is currently an Expert Narrative Designer at Elsewhere Entertainment, an Activision studio working on a new IP.
Durham Native, Greg Boone, is a technology and marketing expert and CEO of Walk West, known for transforming digital experiences for Fortune 500 companies and leading innovation in GenAI, technology, and digital strategy.
American entrepreneur and creator of the first award-winning black female lead shonen manga series, CLOCK STRIKER, Frederick L. Jones was born in Durham, North Carolina, and graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a BA in Communication Studies.
Heather became the first woman in the United States to both own and pilot a flying car. She went on to launch The Soar Tour, organizing flying car demonstrations across the country to introduce the public to personal electric aviation.
Omar has more than 30 years experience developing software and leading engineering teams. Omar has developed and published games with Ubisoft, 2K, East Side Games, Playstudios, and Playable Worlds, among others.
Gordon serves as the president / CEO of the Gay Gaming Professionals and on the Board of Directors of TheWaveVR and has served as Executive Director of both the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences and the International Game Developers Association.
Elias Toufexis is widely recognized for his prominent television roles in The Expanse and as a major villain in Star Trek: Discovery, he has also anchored dozens of blockbuster gaming franchises, including Deus Ex, Assassin’s Creed, and Call of Duty.
Tanya DePass is the founder of I Need Diverse Games and a leading figure in the push for industry-wide inclusion, recognized as a 2022 Gayming Awards Icon and a member of the BAFTA US.
Dr. Toiya Kristen Finley is a Nashville-based game designer, writer, and editor with over 20 years of experience and a PhD in literature and creative writing. she has contributed to a wide spectrum of projects ranging from AAA titles like Destiny 2 to indie visual novels and mobile games.
Ed Fleming has spent over twenty years proving that video games are the ultimate classroom. As the founder of VideoGame.Net and Metaversal Learning, he moves past the idea of kids just "playing" and shows them how to build, code, and lead inside worlds like Minecraft and Fortnite.