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

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!”

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 The Why, When and How of Fast Interaction with Brian Walter, CSP, CPAE, Cavett

9:40am Break

10:20am - Unlocking Engagement: Proven Practices Leaders Can Apply Now with Josh Craver

11:10am - TBD

12:00pm - Lunch

1:00pm - You’re More Important Than You Think.... Yes, You Are! by Mark Hunter, CSP

1:50pm - The Engagement Triangle by Rebecca P. Murray

2:40pm - Break

3:20pm - TBD

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 Transform Stress Into Strength One Laugh at a Time 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 Best Team Ever to Every Team: Building a Relationship-Centered Culture with Ed Cohen

12:00pm Lunch

1:00pm Getting The Shot - Adam Bacher

1:50pm Don't Be THAT Speaker With Your AV Team - Adam Tiegs

2:40pm Break

3:20pm How To Be The Most Engaging Virtual Emcee 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 TBD

11:10am - Leading with LinkedIn with Richard and Lia Bliss

12:00pm Lunch

1:00pm TBD

1:50pm - TBD

2:40pm Break

3:20pm - Super Engaging Panel

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!

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

Could your organization use a boost in morale?

If your workforce is stressed, divided, and unmotivated, you’re not alone, but you are in the right place. Today employees need help navigating:

• How to overcome interpersonal conflict.
• Being overwhelmed at work.
• Setbacks and adversity.

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

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!

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.