Speakers 2026

Laura Green

Conference emcee, gameshow host

Laura Green is a comedic content creator who aims to get runners and the running industry to have a good laugh at themselves. The ultimate goal is to make the viewer feel more connected to the running world by letting them all in on the inside jokes of being a runner. Because even something as boring as putting one foot in front of the other can be entertaining when we all stop taking ourselves so seriously.

Alex Vander Hoeven

Co-CDO, ASICS Organization and CEO of ASICS Apps

About the Speaker

Alex started his career in Deloitte’s consulting practice as a systems analyst gaining expertise in helping companies organize their sales and procurement data to optimize business processes. After completing his MBA, Alex teamed up with a group of high school friends to organize the Rock the Road 10K, which led to the founding of Race Roster. Alex is an avid golfer who loves gadgets and technology.

Steve Finley

Bandit Running, Director of Community and Partnerships

About the Speaker

Steve Finley is a runner, coach, and community leader whose career spans professional competition, athlete development, and brand strategy. A former professional athlete with the Nike Oregon Track Club Elite, he competed collegiately for the University of Virginia and the University of Oregon, where he was an NCAA All-American, PAC-10 Champion, and U.S. Outdoor Nationals finalist in the 3000m steeplechase.

After his professional career, Steve transitioned into coaching and community building, working with Nike Running and Nike NYC from 2015 to 2020 to lead large-scale training and engagement programs across New York City. During this time, he also co-founded Brooklyn Track Club, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, growing it into one of the largest and most competitive running communities in the city. Under his leadership, BKTC developed professional-level coaching, annual training journeys, and strategic partnerships that continue to support both local and national level athletes.

Following Nike, Steve served as Global Community Lead at Tracksmith before joining Bandit Running in 2021 as employee #1 and Director of Community and Partnerships. At Bandit, he launched the Bandit Membership program, spearheaded wholesale strategy, and built community partnerships while also driving brand marketing initiatives such as The Unsponsored Project and the Bandit Grand Prix. Across his career, Steve has combined his experience as an elite athlete with his expertise in community strategy to help brands and athletes connect, grow, and perform at the highest levels.

Sean Brock

Chef, Writer, TV Host, 45 RPM DJ, Dad

About the Speaker

Raised in the Coalfields of rural Virginia, Sean Brock has been intensely dedicated to the repatriation of the Southern pantry and its cuisine for the past 25 years. In 2010, Brock won the James Beard Award for Best Chef and is also a four-time finalist for the James Beard Outstanding Chef award, as well as a three-time finalist for the James Beard Rising Star Chef award. His first cookbook, Heritage, is a New York Times Bestseller and winner of the 2015 James Beard Award for American Cooking. Chef Sean hosted season 2 of the television show Mind of a Chef, alongside Anthony Bourdain, winning the EMMY for Outstanding Culinary Program in 2014. For his role in the show, Sean was nominated for an EMMY Award in the category of Outstanding Culinary Host. Sean is featured on season 6 of the popular Netflix show, Chef’s Table. He released his second cookbook, SOUTH, in 2019, quickly making it a New York Times Bestseller and securing a James Beard Award nomination.

Chef Brock has created, founded and operated some of the South’s most celebrated restaurants, including Husk, McCrady’s, The Continental, Audrey, Joyland and June. In 2025, Sean opened two ambitious new projects. The first is Sho, a pizzeria in East Nashville inspired by his obsession with Tokyo Napoli pizza. In the Summer of 2025 Sean opened his first restaurant outside of the American South. Darling, set to open in Los Angeles, is a restaurant inspired by Chef Brock’s profound love for HiFI audio and rare vinyl records. Darling explores the indigenous ingredients of Southern California with a Southern accent.

Jared Orton

President, Savannah Bananas

About the Speaker

Jared has been the President of the Savannah Bananas since day one of the franchise.

He regularly speaks to organizations and business leaders around the country to help them create their own Fans First Experiences. Jared currently lives in Savannah with his wife, Kelsey, and their daughter. He originally began working with Fans First Entertainment during the early days of the organization in Gastonia, NC before moving on to a minor league baseball team for two seasons. Jared learned the ropes of the sports and entertainment industry in those early years where it became clear that a relentless focus on the fan experience could bring an organization to new heights.

Building on that experience, Jared took on the challenge of leading the resurgence of baseball in Savannah, Georgia beginning in 2015 where a new team at a historic ballpark would become the Savannah Bananas. What now seems like an overnight success is over 10 years in the making. The Savannah Bananas packed out Historic Grayson Stadium in Savannah for 5 straight seasons. In 2021, the team embarked on a One City World Tour to Mobile, Alabama with their brand new game – Banana Ball – the fastest and most entertaining game in sports. Now, in 2025, the Bananas, along with new Banana Ball rivals – the Party Animals, Firefighters, and Texas Tailgaters will play in front of two million people across the country.

Jared and the Bananas believe this is due to staying true to many of their foundational principles such as being Fanatical about the Fans, Playing the Long Game, Entertaining Always, Plussing the Experience, and more.

Joe Pace

VP, ASICS Ventures

About the Speaker

Joe Pace is VP at ASICS Ventures, the innovation arm of ASICS Corporation, where he leads new product strategy across emerging digital platforms — from Web3 and VR to AI-powered consumer experiences. A two-time startup founder with two exits, Joe brings a builder’s instincts to one of sport’s most storied global brands.