Advisory Board
Maria Shelton
Founder & CEO - Ardian Group, Inc. & Ardian Technologies, Inc.
She is the Founder, CEO at Ardian group, inc. & Ardian technologies, Inc. With nearly 30 years of experience in operations, leadership, and innovation, Maria is responsible for implementing secure data-driven technology and project-management solutions for global impact events and organizations like the Presidential Inaugurations, NBA All-Star, the Emmy Awards, Philadelphia Eagles, various non-profit organizations, and much more.
As a minority woman in the field of information technology and security, Maria's tireless determination, singular focus, and creativity were requirements for her to achieve her goals. She holds that grit and perseverance as an example to other aspiring entrepreneurs, recognizing how much persistence is required to achieve dreams. To those women, and her own two daughters, she offers this advice: don't be afraid to have big goals and trust your ability to reach them.
Kelly Taylor
CEO - Metropolitan West & Peer Hatch.
Kelly Taylor is CEO for two companies, an innovator, and driven by her passion for improving the aesthetic and function of her clients’ spaces – a process she calls “WOWification”.
As a CEO for Metropolitan West, she leads her team of professionals daily on the front line, providing products and services for design firms, construction businesses, and facility management companies by supplying and installing mural wall graphics, decorative glass films, solar control films and any other film that covers glass, walls, floors, ceilings and doors. Her most recent innovative product is peer hatch; a dry-erase writable wall covering that includes a patented graphical layer to promote collaboration in team environments. To develop herself professionally, Kelly likes to expand her knowledge by attending groups of like-minded business owners to learn new techniques and strategies for developing her business further.
Andy McNeil
Founder & CEO - AMI & Co Host of the Destination Everywhere Podcast.
Andy McNeill is AMI’s CEO and founder of American Meetings, Inc. With over 30 years of experience in the Global Meeting & Hospitality Services he is a thought leader in the industry. AMI manages both over 3,200 live and virtual meetings annually in over 60 countries for some of the world’s top brands including Bristol Myers Squibb, Carnival Cruise lines, DHL, Mars & Sales force.
Andy is a true veteran of the meetings and events industry. His weekly blog off the American Meetings website is one of the industry’s leading blogs. He has been interviewed by CNN®, The Wall street Journal and scores of industry trade publications regarding trends in the meeting and hospitality space. He firmly believes in the strategic meeting marketing model, and provides consulting services to Fortune 100 clients on the practice.
Shaizad Shroff
President - Sealink International Inc.
Shaizad is the CEO of Sealink International Inc., a digital logistics service provider. He has a Masters in International Logistics from the University of Plymouth in the U.K. Coming from a family with three generations of logistics experience, Shaizad's grandfather started the business in 1921 in Mumbai, India. He completed his master’s degree in the University of Plymouth in the year 1999. He has extensively developed himself in Business Development, Strategy and Management. Shaizad really understands the needs of a company and builds customized sales plans for them.