Building Legacies, Igniting Impact.
Elevate Memphis Leadership Summit
Thurs, October 30, 2025
9 AM – 4 PM
The Peabody Hotel, Memphis
Not just another conference — a catalyst for courage and connection.
Memphis is a city of builders, dreamers, and doers. Elevate Memphis brings them together under one roof to spark ideas, forge partnerships, and accelerate impact.
Spend one day surrounded by over 30 visionary leaders across business, arts, civic life, and entrepreneurship. You won’t just hear their stories — you’ll discover how to write your own next chapter in Memphis.
This isn’t about sitting in sessions. It’s about stepping into possibility.
Expand your vision. Learn actionable strategies to grow your career or enterprise.
Build real connections. Meet the people shaping what’s next for our city — and find your next collaborator, mentor, or investor.
Reignite your purpose. Leave re-centered, re-inspired, and ready to lead with courage.
Ticket Prices
Your ticket isn’t admission — it’s an investment in your leadership journey.
Professional Admission: $75
Collegiate Admission: $40
Elevate After Glow: $25
Keynote Conversations
Kris Christian
Founder and CEO of Chicago French Press®
Morning Keynote
Anthony J. Young
President & CEO, Epicenter
Morning Keynote
Audrey P. Willis (Moderator)
Co-Founder and Chief Innovation & Strategy Officer, CodeCrew
Lunch Keynote
Gebre Waddell
CEO & Founder, Sound Credit
Lunch Keynote
Tracee Walls
Co-founder and Co-CEO, Transit Adventures, LLC
Lunch Keynote
Summit Panelists
Miska Clay Bibbs
Shelby County Commissioner, District 11
Jen Prudhome Booker
VP, Brand Development, Memphis Brand
Jason Campbell
Managing Director, Global Security Technology, FedEx
John Carroll (Moderator)
Executive Director, City Leadership
Elizabeth Cawein
Executive Director, Music Export Memphis
Alicia Dixon
Co-Founder of Dixon-White Restaurant Group
CC Drayton, Esq.
Shareholder & Member, Board of Directors, Baker Donelson
Lucy Gaffney
Principal Advisor, Finance Operations, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital – ALSAC
Dorcas Young Griffin
Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Shelby County Government
Penelope Huston (Moderator)
Chief Communications Officer,
City of Memphis
Sylvia Martinez
President/CEO, Girls Inc. of Memphis
Dana James Mwangi
Founder, Cheers Creative
Ryan Robertson
Corporate President, Trust Marketing
Victoria Young Robinson, Esq.
Founder & Managing Partner, Young Robinson Law
Kayla Rodriguez
CEO and Co-founder of SweetBio
Tajuan Stout Mitchell
Political Strategist
DeMarcus Suggs
Director of Culture & Economy,
City of Memphis
Steve Swain
Senior Vice President & Community Lending Manager, Pinnacle Financial Partners
Nicholas Thompson
Senior Policy Advisor at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
Rory Thomas
President, Memphis Medical District Collaborative
Dr. Rychetta Watkins (Moderator)
Interim President & CEO, Memphis Music Initiative
Cassandra Webster (Moderator)
President, Memphis Challenge
McKenzii Webster
Manager, Memphis Chapter, The Recording Academy
Bobby White (Moderator)
Chief Government Affairs Officer, Greater Memphis Chamber
Dr. Jamila Smith-Young, DNP, MPH, CPNP-AC
Pediatric Endocrinology Nurse Practitioner at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital
Schedule
8:30 AM
Power Break: Women Shaping Systems of Impact.
Invitation-Only Breakfast for Women Leaders
- Cassandra Webster (Moderator)
- CC Drayton, Esq., Shareholder & Member, Board of Directors, Baker Donelson
- Dr. Jamila Smith-Young, DNP, MPH, CPNP-AC, Pediatric Endocrinology Nurse Practitioner at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital
10:15 AM
Keynote Conversation
The Morning Grind: Fueling Purpose, Passion, and the 901
- Kris Christian, Chicago French Press, Founder
- Anthony J. Young, Epicenter, President & CEO
11:30 AM
Breakout Sessions
The Soul of Entrepreneurship: Arts, Music, and Culture as Economic Drivers
- Dr. Rychetta Watkins (Moderator), Interim President & CEO, Memphis Music Initiative
- Elizabeth Cawein, Executive Director, Music Export Memphis
- DeMarcus Suggs, Director of Culture & Economy, City of Memphis
- McKenzii Webster, Manager, Memphis Chapter, The Recording Academy
The Power of Influence: Building Your Professional Brand
- Penelope Huston (Moderator), Chief Communications Officer, City of Memphis
- Jen Prudhome Booker, VP, Brand Development, Memphis Brand
- Dana James Mwangi, Founder, Cheers Creative
- Ryan Robertson, Corporate President, Trust Marketing
12:30 PM
Lunch Conversation – Beyond the Blueprint
- Gebre Waddell, CEO & Founder, Sound Credit
- Tracee Walls, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Transit Adventures, LLC
- Audrey P. Willis, Co-Founder and Chief Innovation & Strategy Officer, CodeCrew
1:45 PM
Breakout Sessions
Funding Your Future: Capital, Investment, and Business Growth
- Bobby White (Moderator), Chief Government Affairs Officer, Greater Memphis Chamber
- Alicia Dixon, Co-Founder of Dixon-White Restaurant Group
- Steve Swain, Senior Vice President & Community Lending Manager, Pinnacle Financial Partners
- Victoria Young Robinson, Esq., Founder & Managing Partner, Young Robinson Law
The Health of Our City – Pioneering, Innovative Care, Expanding Access, and Advancing Equity
- Kayla Rodriguez, CEO and Co-founder of SweetBio
- Rory Thomas, President, Memphis Medical District Collaborative
- Nicholas Thompson, Senior Policy Advisor at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
2:45 PM
Breakout Sessions
Leading With Purpose – Building Resilient Nonprofits for Memphis’ Future
- John Carroll (Moderator), Executive Director, City Leadership
- Jason Campbell, Managing Director, Global Security Technology, FedEx
- Lucy Gaffney, Principal Advisor, Finance Operations, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital – ALSAC
- Sylvia Martinez, President/CEO, Girls Inc. of Memphis
Civic On-Ramp: Your Path to Board & Public Service
- Miska Clay Bibbs, Shelby County Commissioner,
District 11 - Dorcas Young Griffin, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Shelby County Government
- Tajuan Stout Mitchell, Political Strategist
3:30 PM
Forward 901 Micro Grants Presentation
4:00 PM
Closing Remarks
Igniting What’s Right: A Call To Action from Memphis Mayor Paul Young
4:30 PM
Elevate After Glow
Aloft Memphis Downtown
63 N. B.B. King Blvd.
Join us for the day party immediately following the conference, a celebration of connection, culture, and community. Unwind with music, light bites, and good vibes as we toast to a day of inspiration and impact.
Private event. Registration required.
Ticket Prices
Professional Admission: $75
Collegiate Admission: $40
Elevate After Glow: $25
SPONSORS
