PATTI CARPENTER Patti Carpenter principal of carpenter + company and trend team member of the Pantone Color Institute Consulting team, is an award winning Creative Director in globally sourced home accents, personal accessories and gifts with extensive experience in product design and development, merchandising, and color + trend forecasting. As a Micro-Enterprise specialist with U.S. presidential recognition for domestic and international expertise in artisan development, small producer and entrepreneur training, and economic development, Patti has been successful in international sourcing and creating innovative products for her eponymous home textiles brand, Carpenter + Company, which is sold internationally. Additionally, Carpenter has designed, sourced and created strong private label collections that add revenue and enhance the image of brands. Her client roster includes Bloomingdales, Sferra, Neiman Marcus, Crate & Barrel, The Phillips Collection, ABC Carpet and Home, Donna Karan Urban Zen and Ralph Lauren. She has traveled and worked in fifty-four countries and has spoken and written on Color + Trend and Design around the globe. In addition to her other roles involving her international expertise in Color + Trend forecasting, Patti is The Global Design Trend Specialist for the AmericasMart in Atlanta and The Global Trend Ambassador for Maison & Objet in America and Paris.

BOB HOYLER Bob Hoyler is a Research Associate at Euromonitor International, the world leader in strategic research for consumer markets. Bob provides insights on trends, retail developments, and company activity shaping the consumer appliances, consumer electronics, home care, home and garden, and tissue and hygiene industries. Bob is currently based out of Euromonitor International’s Chicago office, and he holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin - Madison.

KIM FLOTTUM Kim Flottum has been the Editor of Bee Culture magazine, published by the A. I. Root Company, for just over 30 years. Before that he spent several years conducting honey bee research for the USDA. During his tenure as Editor, Bee Culture has become the leading voice for beekeeping in the United States and much of the world. He has written four books, some with several editions, on beginning, intermediate and advanced beekeeping skills, plus a tome on plants that produce honey and the honeys they produce, and another of the history of the A. I. Root Company. He works with his wife Kathy on the magazine, and together they manage about a dozen honey bee colonies, a garden, large yard and 15 chickens.

AMY MARKS MCGEE Amy Marks-McGee is the founder of Trendincite LLC, a consulting firm that helps clients cull through, distill and translate pertinent trend information into tangible product directions. The company specializes in identifying and analyzing trends and recognizing patterns across a variety of industries. This approach enables and empowers its clients to be proactive, rather than reactive to changing consumer needs and trends. Trendincite adds value by gathering and concisely synthesizing market information to generate new product ideas. The company’s core values are to engage all five senses, capture inspiration from unexpected places and make the creative process enjoyable. In addition, Amy serves as the President of Women in Flavor & Fragrance Commerce and is an active member of Cosmetic Executive Women.

JAYE ANNA MIZE Jaye Anna Mize is the Home Interiors Director for the trend-forecasting agency, Fashion Snoops. With a passion for trend psychology, technology and design, Jaye has a branched across fashion into home interiors through her development in trend forecasting over the past 11 years. Working with major brands world wide, Jaye spends her time covering international events and analyzing key cultural influencers within the home & interior markets to produce macro and micro projections.

MARILYN SHERMAN Ms. Sherman is a graduate of Washington State University and after working for Chrysler First Financial Services, she was a contract speaker for one of the top seminar companies in the United States and Canada. She officially received road warrior status after delivering six-hour professional development seminars up to 5 cities a week up to three weeks a month for five years! In 1998, she went out on her own starting UpFront Presentations, a speaking and training company. She has served on the boards for the National Speakers Association Las Vegas and San Diego chapters. She also held national positions as the chair of the Motivational Speaker Professional Expert Group and headed up four labs that were conducted across the country. In addition to being a popular motivational keynote speaker, Marilyn is also the author of three motivational books including Whose Comfort Zone Are You In, Why Settle for the Balcony, How to Get a Front-Row Seat in Life and Front-Row Service.

JACLYN WILSON Jaclyn is a trend analyst and brand advisor with 10 years of experience in design, product development and trend forecasting. She has served some of the world’s most recognizable brands in both fashion and lifestyle. Jaclyn specializes in creating a comprehensive analysis that combines a creative vision with actionable takeaways that will drive product sales at the right time.