Nadine Curtis founded Be Sweet in 2003 while living in Cape Town, South Africa. Her entrepreneurial spirit and passion for socially-conscious programs served as a catalyst for turning her fascination with local hand-made accessories into a thriving business that supports artisans in developing countries. Be Sweet, a company with a conscience, has a mission to bring socially- and environmentally-friendly products to fashionable consumers. We focus on products that evoke an individual style while helping to support community development around the world. “I want to remind people to literally be sweet and to show compassion for your neighbors and those less fortunate.”
Contact:
Web: www.besweetproducts.com
Patty Young grew up in San Jose, Costa Rica, in an environment where she was encouraged to express her creativity freely. Both of her parents dabbled in the arts so it was only natural that she would inherit their creative genes. They moved to the United States in 1987 and Patty attended The University of Central Florida from 1989 to 1993 where she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Graphic Design and Photography. Currently, Patty is the co-owner and designer of MODKID, LLC, which specializes in boutique sewing patterns for children’s and women’s clothing as well as purses and home accessories. Also, Patty is a licensed textiles designer for New York-based, Michael Miller Fabrics and is currently designing her seventh fabric collection for them. Patty’s first book, Sewing MODKID Style, for Wiley Publishing, will be available for pre-order this Fall and in newsstands Spring of 2012.
Princess Lasertron, also known as Megan Hunt, is a bridal designer, blogger, and best friend. Her trademark combination of handcrafted design and business prowess with a dash of magic has earned her cult celebrity status in the wedding industry. Since 2005, Princess Lasertron has grown to a three-person company that serves over 250 brides each year. Their line has expanded from simple hairpieces and brooches to gowns, bouquets, and DIY craft kits. The Princess Lasertron brand has reached hundreds of thousands of brides through magazines, television, and online media. Princess Lasertron lives in Omaha where she devotes much of her time to supporting local entrepreneurs and creatives through her coworking space, CAMP. She works through the night making floral accessories for brides, designing dresses for fabulous people, and sharing inspiration with her customers through her website. What she loves most about her job is meeting and collaborating with passionate dreamers, speaking in front of great big crowds, and being able to take her daughter, Alice, to work every day.
Rebekah Teal has been an attorney for over 20 years. She has worked primarily in business, juvenile, and criminal law. In criminal court, Rebekah was appointed as an Assistant District Attorney, prosecuting felonies. Later she served as a Juvenile Court Judge, deciding abuse, neglect, and criminal cases. Today, in addition to general practice matters, she serves as Special Counsel to an Atlanta-based asset management firm focused on making investments in clean technology, energy, and natural resources. In 1993 Rebekah became a pioneer in the private probation industry when she co-founded and grew one of the first private probation companies in the U.S. Although she enjoyed being an entrepreneur, Rebekah ultimately sold her interest in the company, which continues to operate as one of the most successful companies of its kind in the state. Rebekah enjoys the non-profit world and has served on numerous non-profit boards, most dealing with child advocacy issues. She was honored to head the state-mandated Domestic Violence Task Force. She also served as chairperson of the Child Fatality Review Board. In addition to her law degree, Rebekah holds a Master’s of Theological Studies. Ten years ago, Rebekah became a mom. Much to her surprise and delight, motherhood has been her most fulfilling role. She is proud to say that she spoils her ten-year-old daughter rotten. In her free time, Rebekah enjoys hiking, cooking, gardening, running, and visiting her mountain farm. One day she hopes to have a big green tractor. 
Shannon Okey is a designer, the publisher behind Cooperative Press, and a former knitting magazine editor. She has written more than a dozen fiber arts titles and has taught classes everywhere you can imagine, including a drop-spindling class on a swaying cruise ship! Her most recent book is The Knitgrrl Guide to Professional Knitwear Design.
Stacy Julian is a recognized leader in the scrapbooking industry and the visionary founder of Big Picture Classes (BPC). Launched in November 2005, BPC is the first online community offering creative e-learning with members around the world. Stacy is a passionate sought-after speaker and the author of four books including her most recent, Photo Freedom. Her television appearances include the Discovery Channel’s Home Matters and the PBS series Scrapbook Memories. Simple Scrapbooks Magazine (2002-2008), where Julian was the founding editor, has been mentioned in The Chicago Tribune and Woman’s Day as a leading consumer publication for the scrapbooking industry. Stacy has been a certified professional teacher with the Craft and Hobby Association since 1997 and lives with her husband Geoff, five energetic children, and a tank of somewhat neglected goldfish in Washington state.
As a creative pioneer in the scrapbooking industry, Wendy Smedley is a well-known expert of new scrapbooking products, industry developments, and creative innovations. She was creative editor with Simple Scrapbooks magazine for over six years, managing the product-focused section of the magazine and representing Simple on the popular Scrapbook Memories television program, seen on local PBS stations. She has authored three books on scrapbooking, including her latest geared toward beginners, Start Scrapbooking, released in September of 2010. Currently she works with 
Steven has been combining art and craft since his mother Christa taught him to knit as a boy in Wisconsin. By the age of eight, he was creating sequined gowns for Barbie dolls and knew what he wanted to be when he grew up. It was only a matter of time until his love of design led him out of Wisconsin to New York City, where he studied at Parsons and graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology. Since then, his international career has allowed him to lead a glamorous life in Hong Kong, Milan, Paris, and Miami. By 2003, success in the fashion capitals of the world had begun to lose its sparkle, as the corporate life led him further and further away from the creative process he so loved. When it became clear that something had to change, Steven headed to Rosemount, where his sister Monika Oeltjen had settled. Together they opened The Yarn Garage and set about creating a scene, which is after all, what Steven does best.
Terry Walters is at the forefront of the clean-eating lifestyle movement. She is the author of the highly acclaimed cookbooks, 
Tiffany Threadgould is a design junkie who gives scrap materials a second life. She’s the founder of 
