Keynote Session Speakers
Alfonso Ribeiro
As the host of America’s Funniest Home Videos, actor, TV director, award-winning dancer and Broadway star, Alfonso Ribeiro has spent more than 30 years leaving his unique mark on the worlds of television, theater and beyond.
Ribeiro began his career as a child actor, most notably on Broadway playing the lead role in the Tony-winning musical The Tap Dance Kid. As news of Ribeiro’s dancing and singing skills spread, he was offered a recording contract with Island Records, for whom he released several dance/pop singles, as well as a spot in Michael Jackson’s 1984 Pepsi commercial.
Ribeiro was then cast opposite Ricky Schroder in the long-running NBC sitcom Silver Spoons, making him an instant teen idol. After earning a Theater Arts education from Cal State University, Los Angeles, he was given the opportunity to choose a role on the established sitcom A Different World or a new pilot called The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Showing an adventurous streak, he chose the latter and created the iconic character of Carlton Banks for which he is known for throughout the world.
Having grown up in front of the camera, Alfonso knew that opportunities existed behind the scenes, too. His impressive resume as a TV director includes popular programs like In The House, Shake It Up, Are We There Yet?, The Wannabes, Meet The Browns, Cuts, Eve, One on One and All of Us.
Ribeiro continued to make good use of his dancing skills in 2014 when he won the nineteenth season of Dancing with the Stars. After finishing in first place, he hosted the country-wide Dancing with the Stars tour.
Golf is also one of Alfonso’s passions, and he is currently a PGA TOUR Champions Ambassador.
He resides in California with his wife and three children.
Alyssa Mastromonaco
As the youngest woman ever to be Deputy Chief of Operations at the White House, Alyssa Mastromonaco kept our country running through a government shutdown, natural disasters, national tragedies and history-making events. A key figure in the "Sisterhood of the Administration 44," she made the presence of women felt and their voices heard – redefining the traditional White House boy's club culture. Mastromonaco chronicled her time in Obama’s inner circle in her acclaimed New York Times bestseller Who Thought This Was a Good Idea? And Other Questions You Should Have Answers to When You Work in the White House. She followed with her current book, So Here's the Thing...: Notes on Growing Up, Getting Older, and Trusting Your Gut, described as a "twenty-first century girl’s guide to life." Featuring reflections, essays and interviews on topics important to young women, ranging from politics and career to motherhood and making and sustaining relationships in the age of social media, So Here's the Thing showcases Mastromonaco's signature humor and disarming candor. Now speaking, writing and commenting on subjects ranging from our current political landscape to how to lead teams and handle crises, Mastromonaco combines an unfiltered style and irreverent humor with wisdom and stories gained in the White House, corporate America and as an outspoken voice in media.
Following the White House, Mastromonaco served as COO of Vice Media and President of Global Communications and Strategy at A&E Networks. She is currently a co-host of HYSTERIA!, Crooked Media’s all-woman produced podcast. She also contributes to Crooked Media’s Pod Save America, is a contributing editor to Marie-Claire and serves as Senior Advisor and spokesperson for NARAL Pro-Choice America. Before her position as a White House Deputy, she spent a decade working for Barack Obama in various roles, beginning as Director of Scheduling for his 2004 U.S. Senate Campaign. In 2011, she was named President Obama’s Deputy Chief of Staff of Operations, responsible for running and managing the entire 18-acre White House compound and the more than 1,700 employees in the executive branch. She was the youngest woman ever to hold this position and was included on the New Republic's list of "Washington's Most Powerful, Least Famous People." Mastromonaco's career in politics began as an intern for Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders and Director of Scheduling for John Kerry’s presidential campaign. A veteran of three presidential campaigns, Mastromonaco is consistently named as a Democratic power player in the upcoming 2020 presidential elections.
Sharing what one reviewer called "juicy stories from one of the world’s most glamorous jobs" with unvarnished advice on life, leadership and overcoming challenges, Mastromonaco takes audiences on an inspiring journey from her beginnings in small town America to the Oval Office to the corporate world and beyond.
Tyler Vonderheide
Tyler is a highly skilled cross-functional leader with a passion for improving Customer Value across all Southwest operations. As one of the founding fathers of the Enterprise Continuous Improvement movement at Southwest he champions low cost and problem solving across the airline as a Certified Master Black Belt. Through Continuous Improvement, business alignment, and servant leadership his mission is to help all teams achieve success.
Tyler leads Enterprise Continuous Improvement (ECI) projects and also serves as a strategic partner to multiple VPs. Prior to Southwest, Tyler held engineering and lead positions with Lockheed Martin related to quality, manufacturing operations, and procurement.
He holds a bachelors in mechanical engineering from the University of Florida and an MBA from Southern Methodist University. Tyler served on the Student Advisory Board at SMU and has also been involved with March of Dimes, Heart Walk, St. Jude, and Junior Achievement.
Tyler was awarded Lean Six Sigma Green & Black Belt certifications while at Lockheed Martin and recently received his Master Black Belt certification.
He is also an avid golfer and Gator fan.
For the Win Project
In 2015, two passionate dads (Jesse Wilson and Jaimie Trueblood) working in the entertainment industry decided to use their creative talents to benefit deserving children and started the nonprofit organization, The For The Win Project. Now several members strong, The For The Win Project gives children in special circumstances the chance to be their favorite heroes in their very own movie poster. They create a new sense of hope, motivation, and self-esteem boost for each child. Transforming these children into heroes is influential in raising both awareness and funds for whatever fight these children may be facing.