Keynote and Featured Speakers

Join us on Wednesday and Thursday for our General Sessions.

Wednesday, October 21, 2025

KEYNOTE SPEAKER:

Charting What’s Next: The Courage to Rethink What’s Possible.

General Session
9:15 a.m – 10:15 a.m.

An inspiring look at challenging assumptions, embracing change and creating the future rather than waiting for it.

keynote speaker

Kyle Scheele


Kyle Scheele is a nationally recognized speaker on creativity and innovation who has delivered more than 700 keynotes around the world. Fast-paced, funny, and practical, Kyle challenges audiences to think differently about where great ideas come from and how to turn them into action.

FEATURED PANEL:

The Modern Angler: Know Who’s Fishing

General Session
10:30 a.m. 11:30 a.m.

Data, demographics, behavior and the forces reshaping the marketplace

SPEAKERS

Ben Scuderi

Co-Founder and Principal
Sorini, Samet & Associates

Stephanie Vatalaro

Stephanie Vatalaro
Founder & Principal Consultant, Wave Maker Strategies

Don Unser

President Thought Leadership, Circana

Ben Scuderi

Stephanie Vatalaro
Founder & Principal Consultant
Wave Maker Strategies

Stephanie Vatalaro is Founder & Principal Consultant of Wave Maker Strategies and an award-winning marketing and communications executive with nearly 20 years of experience in the recreational fishing and boating industry. Born into a boating and fishing family, she has spent her career sharing her passion for the outdoors by helping more people discover fishing and boating. Most recently, she served as Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice President of Marketing & Communications for the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation, where she led the nationally recognized Take Me Fishing™ and Vamos A Pescar™ campaigns. A longtime advocate for conservation and participation in the outdoors, Vatalaro continues to help organizations grow the sport through strategic marketing, communications, and industry leadership.

Don Unser
President Thought Leadership
Circana

Don Unser leads Circana’s thought leadership for executive audiences. Unser’s expertise in consumer and retail trends spans the portfolio of Circana’s covered industries, making him a trusted advisor to some of today’s most successful brands and retailers. He is a frequent guest in the C-suites of companies such as Target, Apple, Best Buy, Newell, Kroger, and many others. They rely on him for insight into industry and category performance, the state of retail, and winning strategies of best-in-class companies. Unser also serves on the board of directors at the Retail Industry Leaders Association and on the Federal Economic Statistics Advisory Committee.

Prior to joining Circana, Unser was a 20-year veteran at Hewlett-Packard and held a variety of positions with the company, including Vice President of Retail Sales. Unser holds an MBA from the University of Tampa and a BSBA/Finance from University of Central Florida, where he sits on the Deans’ Advisory Board.

Thursday, October 22, 2025

Navigating the New Washington

General Session
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Chris Stirewalt is one of the country’s most engaging political analysts and commentators. Known for his candid, witty approach, Chris brings more than two decades of experience covering American politics and will offer a timely look at what’s happening in Washington — and what it could mean in the months ahead.

keynote speaker

Chris Stirewalt

Senior Fellow, American Enterprise Institute

Chris Stirewalt is one of the country’s most engaging political analysts and commentators. Known for his candid, witty approach, Chris brings more than two decades of experience covering American politics and will offer a timely look at what’s happening in Washington — and what it could mean in the months ahead.

The Modern Angler: Reaching Who’s Next

General Session
2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Turning insight into strategies for recruitment, engagement and retention

FACILITATOR

Mary Beth Long

Vice President of Communications
American Sportfishing Association

FACILITATOR

Bruce Stanton

Vice President and General Manager, PRADCO Outdoor Brands

Shamarria Morrison

Founder/ Agent/ Talent Manager
[esem] talent

Easton Colvin

PR Manager,
Alabama’s Beaches

Jack McKinney

Director of Sales and Business Development

Mary Beth Long
Vice President of Communications
American Sportfishing Association

Mary Beth Long serves as Vice President of Communications for the American Sportfishing Association (ASA), the nation’s leading trade association representing the sportfishing industry. Since joining ASA in 2021, Long has led the association’s strategic communications efforts by supporting and advancing its core initiatives including member relations, fisheries conservation, the FishAmerica Foundation, ASA’s angler-focused advocacy campaign Keep America Fishing, and ICAST—the sportfishing industry’s premier trade show.

With more than 25 years of experience in public affairs, marketing, communications, and government relations, Long brings a wealth of leadership and expertise to ASA’s outreach and engagement strategies. Prior to joining ASA, she served as Vice President of Marketing and Workforce Development at the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA), where she oversaw member engagement, branding, social media, publications, advertising, and workforce programs. She also co-managed AAPA’s annual convention and led the launch of a $6 million U.S. Department of Labor grant aimed at developing the maritime workforce.

A passionate advocate for outdoor recreation, Long enjoys leading ASA’s Inspiring Women in Angling group, spending time on the water, and continuing to learn more about fishing!

Bruce Stanton
Vice President and General Manager
PRADCO Outdoor Brands

Bruce joined PRADCO Fishing in Fort Smith, Arkansas in 1996 and became General Manager in 2002. Under his leadership, PRADCO has launched several successful organic brands, including YUM and BOOYAH, and several acquisitions, including Lindy, Bandit, Bobby Garland, Gene Larew, War Eagle and Norman Lures. Bruce also serves on ASA’s Board of Directors and Co-Chairs ASA’s Sustainability Committee.

Shamarria Morrison-Thornton
Founder/ Agent/ Talent Manager
[esem] talent

Shamarria “Shay” Morrison is the founder of [esem] talent, a boutique talent management company representing creators across outdoor, fishing, military and lifestyle spaces. A former journalist, she now works across both sides of influencer marketing, representing talent in national brand partnerships and helping brands think more strategically about creators, audiences and where influencer marketing fits within their larger communications efforts.

Easton Colvin
PR Manager
Alabama’s Beaches

For the last five years, Easton has sat on the leading edge of tourism publicity, bringing expertise from sports, events and Las Vegas hospitality entertainment to South Alabama’s recreational fishing scene. Easton began the work of developing Alabama’s Beaches into a domestic fishing destination through traditional media, content creators, television and more. He brings 10 years of public relations experience to the decision-making table and views every opportunity through a unique and creative lens.

Jack McKinney
Director of Sales and Business Development
Fishbrain

Jack McKinney built his career where the fishing industry meets the boardroom. A Montana fishing guide for seven years, he moved into sales and business development leadership roles at outdoor tech companies and currently serves as the director of business development at Fishbrain, where he partners with leading outdoor brands across the world. From his home in Lolo, Montana, Jack and his team at Fishbrain are endlessly curious about what makes anglers tick and driven to providing the best tools to succeed on the water.