The Engaging Retreat 2025

Experience the future of inclusive collaboration at The Engaging Conference 2025. Dive into a transformative space where ideas from all backgrounds, abilities, and identities converge.

Learn how to design & deliver engagement at your in-person, hybrid and virtual events.

Learn from the world's experts in Engagement.

What do you get with an IN-PERSON ticket?

• Over 18 top speakers on engagement
• 5-Minutes on stage with 4-camera footage
• 3 Meals a day including alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages
• Expert speaker coaching
• Exclusive networking

Speakers Include:

• Brian Walter, Cavett Award Winner, the highest award in National Speakers Association
• Tim Gard, CSP, CPAE, Hall of Famer Humorist
• Blair LaCorte, 4x CEO
• Ed Cohen, 2x Training Magazine #1 Top 150 Training Companies
• Frank Kitchen, CSP, leader of the National Speakers Association Certified Speaking Professional program
• Mark Hunter, CSP, the Sales Hunter
• Lia Bliss, Top LinkedIn Experts
• Josh Craver, 4x Chief Talent Officer
• Rebecca P. Murray, Showcase Your Shine
• Ariel Hazi, Founder of Neurosteer
• Adib Shadid, CEO of Gatherly.io
• Vaibhav "Happy" Nahata, CEO of Speaker Videos
• Luam Werson, Owner of Award Winning Mojitos Restaurant
• JO Welch, Accessibility Expert and Virtual Emcee
• Adam Bacher, Award Winning Photographer
• Adam Tiegs, Award Winning AV Expert and DJ
• John Chen, CSP, #1 Amazon Author of Engaging Virtual Meetings and your host

From captivating panel discussions to interactive sessions, we're breaking barriers to ensure everyone's voice finds a platform and feels engaged. Using the most advanced and engaging hybrid setup, you will have the best seat in the house no matter if you attend in-person or virtually.

Join industry pioneers who value diversity as strength, and equip yourself with insights that redefine the norm.

With dedicated accessibility options and content tailored to a myriad of perspectives, this conference transcends the ordinary.

2024 Attendee Karin Crinella said, “This conference has given me so much more than I could have ever imagined. I feel lighter. I feel more confident. I have a new way forward because of you!”

NEW for 2025 - The first 50 IN-PERSON attendees get a 5-minute 4-camera fully edited video!

Engage, empower, and evolve together. Your unique story is our collective strength.

🌍♿️🏳️‍🌈Note: Accessible formats & captioning are readily available.

Attend virtually!

Attend in-person!

Attend what a PhD called, "The Best HYBRID E.V.E.R!"

Click "FOLLOW" for speaker announcements and agenda updates! See speaker videos below.

Tuesday 10/28/2025

7:30am Doors Open, hosted by Virtual Emcee JO Welch

8:00am The Engaging Conference Opening Ceremony hosted by John Chen, CSP

8:50am GAME ON: How to Design & Deliver Interactive Game Shows with Brian Walter, CSP, CPAE, Cavett

9:40am Break

10:20am - The Engagement Triangle by Rebecca P. Murray

11:10am - Best Team Ever to Every Team: Building a Relationship-Centered Culture with Ed Cohen

12:00pm - Lunch

1:00pm - Unlocking Engagement: Proven Practices Leaders Can Apply Now with Josh Craver

1:50pm - Engagement Through Luxury Wines - Gary Agajanian

2:40pm - Break

3:20pm - From Dishwasher To Restauranter with Luam Werson

4:10pm - The Engaging Debrief by John Chen, CSP

5:00 pm Dinner/Networking, end of virtual (In-Person Only)

7:00 pm Optional Evening Activity (In-Person Only)

Wednesday 10/29/2025

7:30am Doors Open, hosted by Virtual Emcee JO Welch

8:00am How To Make Your Next Keynote More Engaging With No Additional Technology by John Chen, CSP

8:50am Laugh, Connect, Repeat: The Art of Engagement with Props and Punchlines with Tim Gard, CSP, CPAE

9:40am Break

10:20am Cook Up a Keynote Learning Experience Your Audience Will Crave - And Remember with Frank Kitchen, CSP

11:10am - You’re More Important Than You Think.... Yes, You Are! by Mark Hunter, CSP

12:00pm Lunch

1:00pm Better Engagement Through Curiosity and Wonder – Becoming a Perspective Seeker - Adam Bacher

1:50pm The 7 D's: Navigating Dynamics as a DJ - Adam Tiegs

2:40pm Break

3:20pm Unleash the C.O.P.I.L.O.T. Emcee Framework with JO Welch

4:10pm - The Engaging Debrief by John Chen, CSP

5:00 pm Dinner/Networking, end of virtual (In-Peson Only)

7:00 pm Optional Evening Activity (In-Person Only)

Thursday 10/30/2025

7:30am Doors Open, hosted by Virtual Emcee JO Welch

8:00am The Hybrid Advantage for Speakers with John Chen, CSP

8:50am - Engaging With Your Health with Blair LaCorte

9:40am Break

10:20am The Brain Science of Engagement with Ariel Hazi

11:10am - Leading with LinkedIn with Lia Bliss

12:00pm Lunch

1:00pm Engagement Through Data Analytics - Scot Duffield

1:50pm - Engaging with Video with Vaibhav "Happy" Nahata

2:40pm Break

3:20pm - Super Engaging Panel moderated by John Chen, CSP

4:10pm The Engaging Retreat Closing Ceremony with John Chen, CSP

5:00 pm End of Virtual, Dinner/Networking (In-Person Only)

7:00 pm Celebration (In-Person Only)

In-Person Hotel Suggestions

McMenamins Anderson School

18607 Bothell Way NE, Bothell, WA 98011

To book by phone -

Call 425-398-0122

To book online -

Visit https://reserve.mcmenamins.com/mcmenamins/availability.asp

Comfort Inn & Suites Bothell - Seattle North

1414 228th St SE, Bothell, WA 98021

(425) 402-0900

Your Speakers:

John Chen, CSP

He’s the author of the #1 Amazon Hot New Book Release, Engaging Virtual Meetings. He’s been meeting virtually for over 38 years. He has produced over 4,000 virtual meetings including an EIGHT language meeting and the only 100% LIVE virtual conference in the training industry. He’s 1 of only 400 Certified Speaking Professionals designated by the National Speakers Association. Let’s WELCOME your speaker, John Chen, CSP!

GAME ON: How to Design & Deliver Interactive Game Shows

Game shows are a powerful way to prepare learners for a topic you’re about to cover or to lock in content you’ve already covered. That is . . . unless the games are complicated, hokey, no-fun, too easy, too long, or boring. (Yikes!) In this Engaging Retreat session, you’ll discover exactly how not to do that.

APPLICATION

- Use a variety of concepts and rules to make games that are instantly playable

- Leverage bold graphics and embedded audio to create a game show look and feel

- Incorporate fast pacing and purposely quirky question and answer copy to deliver a truly fun game experience

Brian Walter, CSP, CPAE, Cavett

Seattle-based Extreme® Emcee Brian Walter is the co-founder of Extreme Meetings Inc – providing customized infotainment to make meetings memorable. For over 25 years, he has specialized in transforming meetings from boring to exciting.

He can explain your brand to employees at All Hands meetings, test your sales peoples’ product knowledge with a custom game show, facilitate Extreme® Panels, interview execs, and produce videos that even your millennial employees will be impressed with.

Building on a degree in Communications from UCLA, Brian has been an advertising director, award-winning television and radio commercial producer, management trainer, consulting firm marketing director, freelance video producer, copywriter, speaker, internal communications director, and adjunct college professor at Seattle Pacific University

Tim Gard

Laugh, Connect, Repeat: The Art of Engagement with Props and Punchlines

Whether you're in a ballroom or a Zoom room, one truth remains: connection matters more than content alone. In this high-energy, laugh-filled session, Hall of Fame speaker Tim Gard, CSP, CPAE, reveals the secrets to making audience engagement unforgettable—live or virtual.

With over 28 years of experience captivating crowds from Texas to Tasmania, Tim shares how to use humor, props, and storytelling to connect in meaningful, memorable ways. This isn’t about gimmicks—it’s about purposefully creating moments that stick.

You’ll discover:

• How to select props that enhance your message (not distract from it)
• Simple, practical techniques to instantly boost audience interaction
• Humor hacks that work for all personality types—even in corporate settings
• Why intention + laughter = deeper connection and retention

Tim will demonstrate how ordinary items (yes, even rubber chickens) become extraordinary tools for cutting through digital noise and human resistance. You’ll learn to build rapport faster, reduce tension, and keep audiences engaged from start to finish.

Whether you're a leader, speaker, educator, or trainer, this program arms you with ready-to-use strategies for creating stronger human connections—while making people laugh along the way.

Laugh. Connect. Repeat. It's not just a title—it's a technique. And once you learn it, your audiences will never forget you.

Funny Keynote Speaker

Tim Gard is a Hall of Fame speaker who transforms his audiences through humor for happier workplaces, renewed motivation, and greater profits. Tim is one of the funniest speakers on the planet, but he is not a comedian. He doesn’t make light of serious situations, instead, he shines a light on unseen possibilities.

If we look, we can find humor everywhere, especially when things get tough. Tim shows us how we can shift our perspective and change how we respond to these stressful circumstances. He calls this approach Comic Vision which helps audiences navigate how to turn negatives into positives through humor.

Frank Kitchen, CSP

Yes, Frank's last name really is Kitchen!

Certified Speaking Professional (CSP), Frank Kitchen is the Executive Chef of Transformation—a Results-Driven Leadership Expert who works with leaders and organizations tired of feeling stuck. He equips them with the mindset and strategies to consistently cook up the results they—and their people—are hungry for in their career, business, or organization.

As a keynote speaker, Frank blends research-backed strategies with real-world experience and his signature culinary-themed storytelling. His high-energy presentations don’t just motivate—they empower audiences to flip their mindset, break through barriers, and transform their loftiest aspirations into tasty, tangible results.

Frank’s journey to the stage began in 2015, sparked by a life-changing setback—being fired on Father’s Day weekend while supporting a pregnant wife and toddler. Rather than letting that moment define him, Frank made a bold decision to pursue his dream of becoming a full-time professional speaker. Since then, he has captivated audiences worldwide with his powerful story of resilience, transformation, and mindset mastery.

You’re More Important Than You Think.... Yes, You Are!

Breaking through in today’s world is more than having great ideas or an entertaining approach. Breaking through requires you to be the real you... This means creating a one-to-one relationship with your audience and your audience doing the same with everyone else.

Passion, emotion, body language, stories are the tools of a great presenter. Making the message stick occurs not by what is said, it’s by how it’s said and the level of engagement by the audience.

In this session you’ll learn how to use “you” in ways you never imagined to allow your audiences to leave your events having learned more and...remembering more than ever.

Bio:

Mark Hunter, CSP, “The Sales Hunter”

Mark Hunter, CSP, “The Sales Hunter,” is recognized as one of the top 50 most influential sales and marketing leaders in the world. He is author of multiple sales books, including A Mind for Sales and host of two podcasts, Sales Logic and The Sales Hunter Podcast.

Mark is known for the passionate style he brings to every engagement. His personality is engaging and yes, infectious making him a speaker companies and associations have back year after year. Audiences love how he brings stories to life and has audiences leaving with a renewed sense of purpose. This is the style he’s used to speak in 29 different countries and regardless of the language his message breaks through proving it’s far more than just the words being spoken.

The most amazing fact is how Mark began his career. It’s a story not yet worthy of a Netflix documentary but maybe with your help this will change. In the meantime, if you want to learn more you can visit his website: TheSalesHunter.com

Why Choose Ed Cohen as your CLO Coach?

As a CLO Coach, Ed Cohen helps you gain traction and momentum as you garner senior leader support, build learning and leadership strategies and position learning as a strategic anchor for your organization.

• Transition Coaching (for new CLO’s)
• Strategic Alignment and Learning Strategies
• Measuring and Communicating the Impact of Learning & Development
• Developing a Brand Plan
• Internal and External Communication Strategies
• Competency Development & Alignment
• Career Development for Learning Professionals

Ed has led two companies to the top spot in world for learning and development:

• Booz Allen Hamilton achieved the number one rank on both the ASTD BEST Award list and Training Magazine’s Top 125.
• Satyam Computer Services was the first company outside the United States to be ranked number one on the ASTD BEST Award list.

Josh helps leaders and organizations develop their businesses. He has over 25 years of global experience working with leaders in the management consulting, financial services, education and technology sectors. Josh has been the Head of Talent & Learning functions for established companies like Booz Allen Hamilton and HSBC and also high growth technology organizations like FIS & Guild Education.He has enabled 3 companies to become the #1 ranked organization for Talent by the Association for Talent Development and is a sought-after speaker on talent and leadership topics by both corporations and conferences. In addition, he has lived and worked in India, Mexico & Argentina and conducted business in over 30 countries.

You can learn more about Josh’s background, publications, awards and more by visiting his LinkedIn page https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-craver-6961711/.

The Engagement Triangle: How to Captivate Your Audience with Rebecca B. Murray

National Speakers Association Northwest Member of the Year 2025

Most presentations fade from memory—but yours doesn’t have to.
In this interactive session, Rebecca P. Murray reveals the Engagement Triangle—a framework built on interaction, entertainment, and audio-visual storytelling. You’ll learn to design presentations that keep audiences involved and boost retention from 5% to 50%.

Using her unique Engagements-Per-Minute (EPM) method, grounded in adult learning theory, Rebecca will demonstrate in real-time how to infuse, track, and raise engagement—so that true learning and connection can take place.

BIO:

Rebecca P. Murray is a dynamic communication expert and vocal influence strategist, empowering women in construction, technology, and manufacturing to speak with confidence, lead with clarity, and show up with authority.

As the founder of Showcase Your Shine, she blends expertise in applied behavior science, technology, and theater to help professionals elevate their presence—whether on the job site, shop floor, or in the boardroom.

Rebecca has inspired audiences at Master Builders, AGC, NAWIC, Professional Women in Building, Women in Manufacturing, and more. Whether on stage or on-site, she helps badass women harness their voice as a powerful tool for leadership and career growth

Better Engagement Through Curiosity and Wonder – Becoming a Perspective Seeker with Adam Bacher

For 30 years Adam Bacher has worked as a professional photographer, trained to see what others miss: hidden angles, overlooked details, and unexpected stories.

Today he transforms that mastery of vision into unforgettable keynote experiences, challenging leaders, teams, and individuals to seek out new perspectives by embracing a mindset of curiosity and wonder

“Too often,” he says, “our worldview is based on limited perspectives and incomplete information. When we open ourselves to become perspective seekers everything changes — how we connect, how we create, and how we engage.”

Through striking visuals and powerful storytelling Adam challenges audiences to adopt the strategy of perspective seeking, through an “I wonder” mindset. When we do this, we unlock creativity, innovation, performance, and authentic engagement.

Adam Bacher

is a professional photographer with over twenty-five years of experience, and feels blessed that his work is also his passion. Most of the places seen in the wonders of nature photography collections are accessible only by hiking deep into the wilderness. Adam’s goal is to capture the landscapes he sees, as true and perfect as the experience, taking you to a time and place far removed from the pressures of everyday life.

In the wilderness, immersed in the natural world, he is inspired by the authenticity of a universe virtually untouched by humanity. A place where life unfolds moment by moment, and he becomes a participant in the vast spectacle around him.

Beautiful, simple, primitive and real: the mountains are like the soul of the earth. When light touches the earth, water, and sky in just the right way, the views are spectacular, the colors are dazzling, and the feelings are indescribable.

Adam Tiegs

has been a professional DJ for more than 20 years. Since 2014, he has grown his technical skillsets and worked as a freelancer in all aspects of running Audio, Wireless and Video elements at events. From auctions to Ted Talks, corporate retreats to trade shows with general sessions and break outs, Adam and his team of freelancers and partners have done it all. Adam also loves creating voice overs, producing and remixing music, editing videos and audio mastering, in the studio!

Unleash the C.O.P.I.L.O.T. Emcee Framework to stop leading meetings alone and transform your audience into active participants by ensuring engagement is accessible to everyone, strategically creating energy, and guaranteeing a powerful final recap with JO Welch.

"Listen to me! Are you here today because you know in your gut that your virtual events are falling flat? You're throwing everything you've got at the screen—the speakers, the graphics, the polls—and what do you get? A bunch of little black boxes! Black boxes with people who are multitasking, checking their email, and thinking about what's for dinner! IS THAT ENGAGEMENT? NO!

"That's not engagement, that's just a broadcast. You're a broadcaster, not a HOST! And the biggest problem, the TRUTH is, you're not just losing their attention... you're losing their POTENTIAL!

"You're here because you want to know how to stop the bleed! You want to know how to take a simple virtual event and make it a TRANSFORMATIONAL EXPERIENCE!

"Here's the secret... The secret is to stop focusing on what YOU'RE saying and start focusing on what they're FEELING! Because the virtual emcee isn't a master of ceremonies; they're a MASTER OF ENERGY!

1. Stop Confusing 'Audience' with 'Participants': You have to stop treating your audience like a crowd and start treating them like individuals. We're going to tear down the walls of the virtual space and make it a community! I'm going to show you the ONE THING that will shift their mindset from "What is she talking about?" to "How can I apply this to my life RIGHT NOW?!"

2. Accessibility is the Ultimate Power Move: The biggest opportunity you're missing is the ability to reach EVERYONE! Don't tell me you can't reach people with different needs—that's a limiting belief! We're not just going to add captions; we're going to use language and tools that BREAK THROUGH the screen and reach the person on the other side, no matter who they are or what their situation is. This isn't about being nice; this is about being STRATEGIC and POWERFUL!

3. The Emcee as an 'Emotional Architect': Your job is not just to introduce the next speaker. Your job is to manage the energy in the room! We'll talk about the three emotional states of an audience and how a virtual emcee can build a bridge from frustration to fascination, and from apathy to action! We're not just hosting an event; we are building an emotional journey that leads to a breakthrough!

JO Welch

Her vision is to empower and inspire coaches and leaders from diverse backgrounds to achieve financial success and create positive change in their communities through a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. By promoting cultural diversity and equality, we aim to create a lasting legacy that uplifts and empowers individuals to achieve their full potential and make a positive impact, ultimately creating a better world for all.

A dishwasher turned restaurant owner (and Ethiopian refugee turned steward of Latin American flavors).

Luam Werson runs Mojito’s tiny dining room with the back-clapping warmth of a guy who always knew he wanted to go into hospitality. Today he’s the face of Lake City Way’s much-loved Latin and Cuban restaurant, but nothing about Werson’s personal history suggested he might one day oversee a handsome rum list and an exacting menu of twice-fried plantains (aka tostones), bowls of sancocho, and pabellon, the Venezuelan dish of shredded beef.

Luam is the featured chef for The Engaging Retreat 2025.

https://komonews.com/news/erics-heroes/mojito-restaurant-refugee-luam-wersom-food-journey-to-america-africa-eritrea-greece-family-community-charity-boss - with video

https://www.seattlemet.com/eat-and-drink/2024/02/mojitos-owner-luam-werson

Hooked to Booked: 7 videos every speaker NEEDS to get booked by Meeting Planners

Getting on stage today starts with getting on screen. 90% meeting planners make decisions based on speakers video assets! For speakers, video is no longer optional, it’s the difference between them being booked or not.  But it’s overwhelming! Do I need a demo video? Shall I get videos on my social media? Should I make custom videos! It’s just too much to swallow!Based on Happy’s experience of generating 100M+ views for speakers, he’ll share specific video strategies that will work for you

Learning Outcomes:

• 7 specific videos that are a MUST for every speaker!
• The Secret  to Spectacular Speaker Demo Videos
• Post Like a Pro – Timing, frequency & strategies to work with the algorithm.
• Content Styles That Work – 7 proven formats that generated 100M+ views.
• Live Audit – Real-time feedback on your videos.

No fluff—just real-world transformations you can use right away.

Vaibhav “Happy” Nahata is the Managing Director of Speakervideos, a video marketing company that has helped speakers generate 100M+ views and hundreds of engagements. A TV show presenter and motivational speaker, he has spoken to audiences in 54+ countries and built his own speaking business through content and video. Known for his trademark “JEEZ Syndrome” (Joyful Energy and Excitement Zest), he brings contagious energy, sparks conversations, and helps speakers worldwide grow with content.