Instructors

Amanda Fergusson

Amanda Fergusson, Chief Executive Officer of UK Greeting Card Association Amanda has worked in the UK greeting card industry for over 30 years, and was appointed as Chief Executive of the UK Greeting Card Association in December 2018. A role that provided the opportunity for Amanda to give something back to an industry that she is passionate about. Previously Amanda was Sales and Marketing Director at Caroline Gardner, making an instrumental contribution to a period of exciting growth in an innovative design-led card and gift company supplying leading national and independent retailers in the UK and across the world. Prior to that Amanda held senior roles at Hallmark Cards UK. In the early part of her career Amanda had her own business importing and distributing products, and latterly as a business consultant and mentor. She has served as a non-executive director for a manufacturing business and as a committee member with both the Giftware Association and previously the Greeting Card Association. Outside the business world Amanda works voluntarily at an all female penitentiary as a member of the Independent Monitoring Board at Her Majesty's Prison Bronzefield.

Ari Lowenstein

As Chief Strategy Officer for Brandwise, Ari Lowenstein uses his unique experience and extensive network within the industry to guide Brandwise’s strategy in a new era of growth for the Brandwise Ecosystem. Ari has a broad background, including owning an Italian gift company, acting as an Intergalactic Business Development Manager, co-owning Canopy and serving as a current board member of Gift for Life and Past President of the Gift Sales Managers Association.

Shannon Cohen

Shannon Cohen is founder and CEO of Shannon Cohen, Inc. - a boutique firm with a mighty imprint and reputation for excellence. Her clients include: The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, Helen Devos Children’s Hospital, United Way, American Heart Association, Blue Cross, Blue Shield of Michigan, The University of Michigan, The University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, and Steelcase, Inc. Using a head+heart approach, Shannon excels in engaging change agents in transparent conversations about the unspoken truths of leadership. Shannon doesn’t just ‘speak’ to leaders; she speaks ‘into’ the lives of leaders.

Shannon is an author, podcaster, and owner of a greeting card and inspiration product line called Tough Skin, Soft Heart. Her Tough Skin, Soft Heart products are available at a host of retailers nationwide. Her Tough Skin, Soft Heart podcast reaches subscribers nationally and globally with weekly grab-and-go encouragement for difference makers. Her 2nd book, “It’s Normal to Shake as You Soar” was released in September 2020.

Shannon is respected and renowned for empowering organizations to integrate innovation, research, emerging trends, and creativity to cultivate continuous improvement and spur ongoing learning. Shannon is the 2020 YWCA Tribute Award recipient and was named one of the 2020 and 2018 50 Most Influential Women in West Michigan by the Grand Rapids Business Journal. Shannon is an alumnus of the prestigious W.K. Kellogg Foundation Community Leadership Network Fellowship and a former Encore Innovation Fellow.

Steve Monteith

Steve Monteith is the newly promoted Chief Customer and Marketing Officer of the US Postal Service.

Todd Litzman

As the Co-Founder and CEO of Brandwise, Todd has spent the last 24 years as an impassioned advocate of the Gift and Home industries. Todd spent 5 years on the GHTA Board including serving as President 2013-2014. Todd actively engages with the Brandwise client community and guides the company’s vision in everything from product development to sales. Together with his wife Jannetta, Co-Founder and CFO of Brandwise, they have built a reputation as trusted partners to thousands of professionals in the Gift and Home segment.

Wendell Brown Sr

Wendell L. Brown Sr. is a Ball State University graduate and Hall of Famer. He obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in 2008 in Criminal Justice and has worked as a lawyer’s assistant in the Michigan Law Firm Plunkett Cooney. Wendell applied his education and knowledge in Criminal Justice to serve at risk youth as a treatment specialist at Don Bosco Hall in Detroit, Michigan. He is also the founder of Brown Elite Youth Elevation Foundation, a youth and community empowerment organization. Wendell began playing multiple sports as an adolescent but his sports career includes playing professional football in America, Canada, Austria and other European countries. He also has experience coaching youth, high school and collegiate football in North America, Europe and Asia. The Detroit native uses his work ethic, his athletic and education background, along with his passion for community service and love for uplifting and growing others, as his driving force for success. Wendell is currently mentoring and training Detroit’s inner-city youth through the Sound Mind Sound Body Football Academy, along with coaching high school football, at his Alma Mater Detroit Martin L. King Jr. Senior High School.

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