We are excited to share another 10 of the more than 50 different presenters that will be on hand for the 18th Annual SEA Conference the end of February. Don't miss this opportunity to engage and learn from creative professionals from across the country. Watch your email the end of January as we reveal 10 more. We'll release the full list the beginning of February! Make sure to follow us on Facebook for Speaker Features and other conference announcements.

Matt McClure is the Executive Director of Artlink, a non-profit arts organization and gallery in Fort Wayne Indiana. He is the architect of 212, Artlink's  professional arts incubator/residency program opening in early 2018. Prior to this, Matt worked in arts advocacy and creative direction through his work editing The Sequentialist, serving as an art educator and mentor. Matt is a writer and illustrator.

> Beth Shadur - Visual Artist & Curator

Beth Shadur is an artist who has exhibited widely in solo and group exhibitions in the United States and abroad, including at the Art Institute of Chicago and the Drawing Center in New York City. She has created over 150 large public murals as public, private and community art projects in both the United States and Great Britain. She is an Artist-in-Education for the Illinois Arts Council in Chicago, IL. She has taught and served as a visiting artist at many colleges and universities. Shadur's work appears in such publications as Twentieth Century Watercolors, Abbeville Press and Community Murals: The People's Art, Associated University Press, NJ. Her mural work in Barlinnie Prison, Glasgow, Scotland is included in the archives of the Peoples Palace Museum in Glasgow. Shadur is an independent curator and the Gallery Director at Prairie State College. Her work is in various collections in the US and abroad.

> STEVE LEEPER -  Associate Professor, Animation - Central Michigan University

Steve has produced short films and commercials using pixilation, stop-motion, digital cutouts and drawn animation.  Steve was a freelance animator in Chicago while leading workshops for the Chicago Children's International Film Festival.  Steve later became the 3D Layout Supervisor at Big Idea Productions, contributing to many videos including the feature film Jonah: a VeggieTales Movie.  In 2005, Steve became a founding faculty of Digital Media Arts at Huntington University where, as Director of Animation, he helped students produce award-winning animation for over a decade. Last fall Steve joined the Department of Art and Design at Central Michigan State University to begin building a new animation program.   You can see examples of his personal and commercial work on his JSL Studio/Vimeo page and view progress on his Br. Thomas project at www.brotherthomasfilm.com.

> Toni Greathouse - Author & Caricature Artist

Since 1996, Serial Entrepreneur Toni Greathouse has carved out a creative niche and in the process paved a path to profit. Her book "Coloring Along America's Highway" is sold nationwide at 227 Walmart stores. The book features Classic Cars on Route 66. Toni helms the communication consultancy - Custom Community Creations, LLC named "Best Small Business of 2015" by the Bolingbrook Area Chamber of Commerce. For the past 22 years Toni has blazed an unconventional entrepreneurial trail by simply following her inner compass which is set to Teddy Roosevelt's prolific words, "Do what YOU can, with what YOU have, where YOU are!" Toni feels blessed to be able to channel her talents - daily - into a diverse range of creative projects. She hosts the monthly MeetUP.com group: "So YOU Think YOU Want To Be In Business" to empower like-minded entrepreneurs. Contact Toni via [email protected] or visit her website TOONiInk.com

> John Madormo, Author

John Madormo, a Chicago area screenwriter, author, and college professor, has created a body of work that has attracted the attention of motion picture producers and publishers. John has sold a family comedy screenplay to a Los Angeles production company, signed a contract for a three-book deal with a major New York publisher, and was recently named the Grand Prize winner of a national writing competition. John signed a contract for a three-book deal with Penguin Books for Young Readers. The middle-grade mystery series,  "Charlie Collier, Snoop for Hire," is a tale about yours truly, a 12-year-old private detective, who sets up shop in his parents' garage and solves cases for fellow sixth-grade classmates. 

> Carin Silkaitis - Actor / North Central College Department of Arts and Theatre - Chair

Carin Silkaitis is an actor from Chicago working in film, television, commercial, industrial, voiceover, and theatre. She is also the Founding Artistic Director of Other Theatre, a not-forprofit organization dedicated to othered populations and their allies. Carin is also a certified Green Dot instructor - a bystander training program dedicated to eradicating power-based personal violence. Carin has been teaching theatre in and around Chicago for almost 20 years. She taught acting to both undergraduate and graduate students at the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University, and now Carin is the Department Chair of Theatre at North Central College, where she specializes in Audition Technique, Realism and Naturalism, and Acting on Camera. Her favorite regional credits include: LOVE LETTERS, DANGEROUS LIAISONS, and A COMEDY OF ERRORS. Carin is a graduate of the School at Steppenwolf, and she received her MFA in acting from the Theatre Conservatory at Roosevelt University. Carin is a proud member of the Actors Equity Association, and she is equally proud to be represented by Gray Talent Group. Next up, Carin will direct the world premiere of THROUGH THE ELEVATED LINE at Silk Road Rising.

> Bob Roitblat, Actor & Speaker
Bob Roitblat was a professional actor for many years, appearing in more than 60 network episodic television shows and feature films. Now Bob is professional speaker appearing on stages throughout the U.S. and Canada.

> Lauren Ramsey - Social Media Strategy Expert
Lauren Ramsey is a social media content strategist, podcaster, and promoter of brands and bands through Betsy Bash, a boutique social media agency and The Lauren Ignited Podcast, a podcast for soul music and comfort food fanatics. She hosts a community for female business owners who are passionate about growing their brands through proper social media techniques. She coaches these women through creating a personalized social media strategy for their business, and she regularly holds Social Media Soirées, where guests learn and discuss crucial social media skills, tactics, and tools. Lauren has worked with million dollar consulting firms, New York Times Best Selling Authors, the Walt Disney Corporation, and has interviewed bands and restaurants such as The Wailers and Cafe Tola. You can hear her interviews with musicians, chefs, and discover culturally curious events by tuning into the Lauren Ignited Podcast or by joining her for a Betsy Bash Social Media Soirée.

> Michael Luchies - TrepRep Founder

Michael Luchies helps entrepreneurs and small businesses grow with words. He's Founder of TreRep, Contributor for Entrepreneur, a former TEDx speaker, and has published over 1,000 articles. Michael uses his passion for and knowledge in small business, creativity, and writing experience to write content from website copy to press releases, from books to speeches. After starting his first business over ten years ago, he quickly realized the importance writing plays in the success of small businesses. In 2014, Michael started his own company to work with thousands of clients in various industries across the country and the world. 

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