Morning Keynote
A legendary presence behind one of America’s most beloved television shows, Lindsay Shookus is a seven-time Emmy award-winning producer who, for 20 years, worked as a veteran producer for Saturday Night Live. During her tenure, as both producer and head of the talent department, Shookus helped engineer the show’s success from booking and managing celebrity hosts and musical guests, to scouting rising stars to join the show’s ranks. She played a pivotal role in launching the careers of household names, including Kristin Wiig and Kate McKinnon — cementing her reputation for having a sharp eye for talent within the entertainment industry. Shookus speaks to her own experiences to lead an on-stage masterclass on personal transformation, building connections, and embracing life’s obstacles on the road to overcoming them.
She is also the executive producer of the HBO documentary Alex vs. A-Rod. Previously, Shookus was the executive producer for Miley Cyrus’ New Year’s Eve Party, was an associate producer on the critically acclaimed show 30 Rock, and produced NBC’s Adele: Live in New York City special. Her remarkable work has been recognized with seven Emmy awards and two Peabody awards. Previously, she was named one of The Hollywood Reporter’s “Rising Executives 35 and Under” and has appeared on Billboard’s “Women in Music” list three times. Beyond her work, Shookus is passionate about supporting the causes close to her heart. She is the co-founder of Women Work F#cking Hard, a women’s community focused on empowering female founders and helping businesswomen develop their careers and advocate for one another. She is also a member of the 2022 Class of Henry Crown Fellows with Aspen Global Leadership Network at the Aspen Institute.
Exclusively represented by Leading Authorities speakers bureau, Shookus takes audiences behind the scenes of Saturday Night Live as she shares thoroughly entertaining and never-before-heard stories from two decades as one of the show’s key figures. She masterfully weaves in thought-provoking lessons and actionable takeaways for becoming the best version of yourself, building lasting relationships, and becoming a great problem solver, while keeping the audience hooked as she reflects on unforgettable moments from her career featuring star-studded, up close and personal interactions with the likes of Kanye West, Jason Sudeikis, Betty White, and more. She’s unafraid of being vulnerable and opening up about her own experiences overcoming failure and adversity in her career as a means of demonstrating to groups how they can focus on solving tough challenges and navigating through the obstacles of their own professional and personal endeavors. Shookus brings a unique blend of inspirational insight and authenticity to share relatable stories with messages that will spark action and remain with audience members for the long term.
A master at winning audiences over and connecting with them from the jump, Shookus has been described as a speaker who can “light up a room” and whose talks are “powerful, electric, and memorable."
She is also the executive producer of the HBO documentary Alex vs. A-Rod. Previously, Shookus was the executive producer for Miley Cyrus’ New Year’s Eve Party, was an associate producer on the critically acclaimed show 30 Rock, and produced NBC’s Adele: Live in New York City special. Her remarkable work has been recognized with seven Emmy awards and two Peabody awards. Previously, she was named one of The Hollywood Reporter’s “Rising Executives 35 and Under” and has appeared on Billboard’s “Women in Music” list three times. Beyond her work, Shookus is passionate about supporting the causes close to her heart. She is the co-founder of Women Work F#cking Hard, a women’s community focused on empowering female founders and helping businesswomen develop their careers and advocate for one another. She is also a member of the 2022 Class of Henry Crown Fellows with Aspen Global Leadership Network at the Aspen Institute.
Exclusively represented by Leading Authorities speakers bureau, Shookus takes audiences behind the scenes of Saturday Night Live as she shares thoroughly entertaining and never-before-heard stories from two decades as one of the show’s key figures. She masterfully weaves in thought-provoking lessons and actionable takeaways for becoming the best version of yourself, building lasting relationships, and becoming a great problem solver, while keeping the audience hooked as she reflects on unforgettable moments from her career featuring star-studded, up close and personal interactions with the likes of Kanye West, Jason Sudeikis, Betty White, and more. She’s unafraid of being vulnerable and opening up about her own experiences overcoming failure and adversity in her career as a means of demonstrating to groups how they can focus on solving tough challenges and navigating through the obstacles of their own professional and personal endeavors. Shookus brings a unique blend of inspirational insight and authenticity to share relatable stories with messages that will spark action and remain with audience members for the long term.
A master at winning audiences over and connecting with them from the jump, Shookus has been described as a speaker who can “light up a room” and whose talks are “powerful, electric, and memorable."
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Keynote Speaker Session Sponsored by:
Breakout Session Speakers
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Julie Brown
Julie Brown is a powerhouse speaker, networking guru, and unapologetic champion for women carving out their space in male-dominated industries. As a networking expert, business strategist, and the no-BS author of This Sh!t Works: A No-Nonsense Guide to Networking Your Way to More Friends, More Adventures, and More Success, Julie breaks down the barriers to building genuine connections. She's also the host of the This Sh!t Works podcast, where she mixes humor, straight talk, and expert advice. |
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Lara Hamilton
Lara Hamilton is the Director of IT Services at HelpDeskRealty, a division of Tectonic, where she leads a high-impact team supporting over 1,400 property management users across platforms like Yardi, RealPage, and AMSI. With over 15 years of deep industry expertise, Lara specializes in bridging the gap between complex software and the people who use it. Known for her human-centered approach to technology, she helps mid-sized multifamily and affordable housing organizations scale their infrastructure securely while navigating the practical implications of cybersecurity and AI. |
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Virginia Love
Virginia Love began her multifamily career over 30 years ago as a leasing consultant and quickly discovered her passion for the industry. She advanced through training, marketing, and operations roles with Summit, Watermarke, and ING Clarion, later spending 12 years as Vice President of Leasing & Marketing at Waterton. In 2019, she joined Entrata as Industry Principal, driving innovation across marketing, product, and sales. A graduate of NAA Lyceum and past Chair of the Atlanta and Georgia Apartment Associations, she has earned honors including GlobeSt Woman of Influence, Connect CRE Woman in Real Estate, Apartment All-Star, and induction into the Georgia Apartment Association Hall of Fame (2025). |
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Tori Stevens
In a world quick to outsource intelligence, Tori Stevens is a keynote speaker and former leader at Bank of America who helps organizations resource individual innovation from within. Known for bold ideas, fast buy-in, and strong discernment, Tori equips audiences with clear language, real examples, and practical insight that can be applied immediately. Her work brings innovation out of theory and into day-to-day decisions by clarifying how people think, talk, and walk their work forward within the Innovation Ecosystem framework. Tori speaks to organizations navigating change and growth. Her keynotes and workshops position innovation as a repeatable way of working strengthening ownership, accelerating decision-making, and creating accountability at every level, regardless of title. |
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Sonnie Sullivan
Sonnie Sullivan is a multifamily industry leader and speaker with nearly two decades of experience across operations, leadership, and portfolio management. Based in Texas, she has worked with properties and teams throughout Texas, Arizona, Nevada, and the Carolinas, supporting a wide range of asset types, ownership structures, and market conditions. Sonnie currently serves in a senior regional leadership role, where she partners closely with onsite teams, corporate leaders, and ownership groups to drive performance, strengthen culture, and navigate change. Her experience includes lease-ups, stabilized assets, operational turnarounds, ownership transitions, and high-pressure market shifts. |
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Joni Woods
Joni Woods is a Human Connection & Culture Specialist with nearly two decades of experience guiding individuals, teams, and organizations toward healthier, more emotionally intelligent relationships. Through her coaching practice, leadership development work, and speaking engagements, she empowers professionals to build confidence, set strong boundaries, and foster cultures of safety, trust, and personal ownership. |