2020 Speaker Details

Montana Butsch

TNE EVENT HOST

Founder of spotivity, a double-sided marketplace that not only supports after school programs to increase enrollment and participation rates but also enables kids and their parents to make the best decisions about how to use time outside of school hours. spotivity removes key logistical barriers to entry and promotes positive networking opportunities while providing a platform for marketers to engage with a key demographic market. This self-sustaining dynamic app will ultimately evolve into a lifestyle/social tool and grow in importance as the user ages.

Prior to spotivity, Montana was the founder and CEO of major sports non-profit organization which has served thousands of inner city children in Chicago and who has formed extensive ties with Chicago business, philanthropy and government leaders

Montana understands the importance of access and the life-altering role it plays with outcomes. He has spent his life providing alternative pathways to opportunities through the sport of rowing and he has now turned his attention to all teens and the various interests they may have.

Montana has appeared on CBS Nightly News, been featured in the NYTimes, has twice been interviewed on iHeartMedia, and was a 2017 TEDx speaker (IE University). Montana has an elite sporting background (is a member of Oxford University Boat Club, was a participant in the annual Oxford Vs. Cambridge Boatrace, and was a National Team trialist) and was once a radio DJ.

As a dual national – US and UK – Montana spent his formative years between Chicago and the UK (Isle of Wight and London) and is married to a Spaniard and has two wonderful twins (Bella and Theo). Montana is a Founders Institute graduate, holds a BA from University of Pennsylvania (PPE Major), an MBA from IE Brown, and has attended programs at Oxford University (read Education Research) and the Kellogg School of Management (Executive Leadership)

Elizabeth Ziegler

CEO 1871

Elizabeth “Betsy” Ziegler is the first female CEO of 1871, now the Number 1 ranked university affiliated-tech incubator in the world. Previous to 1871, Betsy was the Chief Innovation Officer at the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, responsible for portfolio innovation as well as integrating technology into the Kellogg educational experience. From 2011 through September 2015, she served as associate dean of degree programs and dean of students.

Prior to Kellogg, she served as a principal in McKinsey & Company’s Chicago office where she led the firm’s Life Insurance Operations and Technology practice and co-led its Financial Institutions Operations and Technology practice.

Ziegler holds an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School and received a B.A. in economics from The Ohio State University, where she graduated with distinction. She is a member of Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, and the Museum of Science and Industry Boards of Directors and an advisor and investor in many young technology companies.

Art Norman

NBC SPECIAL CONTRIBUTOR

Art Norman is a special contributor to NBC 5 News and co-host of the Tech Trends segments with Charlie Wojciechowski . Norman came to NBC5 News as a general assignment reporter in July 1982 from WMAR-TV, in Baltimore, Md., where he had worked as a reporter and weekend anchor since 1979. Prior to his tenure with WMAR-TV, Norman worked as a reporter at WPCQ-TV and WSOC-TV, both in Charlotte, North Carolina. He began his broadcasting career in 1969, as a television engineer at WCCB-TV, also in Charlotte.

His honors include: a 1987 Wilbur Award given by the Religious Public Relations Council for "Giving God The Glory," a documentary tracing Chicago's gospel history; and a 1984 International Radio and Television News Directors Award for his live coverage of the shooting of a divorce court judge and an attorney in a Daley Center Courtroom. In all, Norman has six Emmy Awards.

Norman holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Math and Physics from Johnson C. Smith University. He is a member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity and holds a first class F.C.C. engineer’s license.

Aaron Filous

CEO PROMOTABLE

Aaron Filous is the founder of Promotable, a bootcamp looking to bridge the analytical talent gap. With a background at various other bootcamps, Aaron was uniquely positioned to create a program that builds upon the best qualities of other bootcamps.

Aiming to deliver education solutions that empower data enabled careers, Promotable offers courses in Intro to Python, Data Analytics, and Product Management. To work with varying student schedules and needs, courses are offered both in-person or live-online, and require only 5 hours of work per week. This format offers students the ability to learn in-demand skills without quitting their current job.

Aaron Fazulak

CO-FOUNDER OF DESIGNATION, A UX/UI DESIGN SCHOOL, 2014

DESIGNATION developed innovative course programming and helped hundreds of graduates find work as UI and UX designers at today’s top companies, including Facebook, Allstate, and Capital One. DESIGNATION was acquired by WeWork’s Flatiron School in 2018. Now Aaron is back to the drawing board after exiting his relationship with WeWork and currently working as an advisor to Black Spectacles as well as being an active Angel Investor.

Anna Straus

CO-FOUNDER AND CEO OF SPARCK

FEATURED COMPANY FOR 2020

SPARCK is an employee recognition and engagement SaaS platform that personalizes the workplace experience to increase retention and productivity. Anna has a Bachelor's Degree in Business Management and is a certified leadership coach, trainer and speaker. She began her career in the staffing industry and has over 15 years of business development, leadership, and talent strategy experience working with clients from around the world.

Ashley Connell

CEO AND FOUNDER OF PROWESS

Ashley Connell has been an unstoppable tech marketer and entrepreneur in both Austin and London over the past 15 years of her career. She has honed her dynamic skills in key positions including launching and driving all European marketing initiatives during her tenure at Spiceworks, and managing Global Field Marketing at SanDisk. Through PROWESS, Ashley is now changing the lives of frustrated managers, women seeking meaningful part time work, and doing all she can to close the gender gap.