Keynote Speaker
Greg Siers is an Emmy award-winning LIVE broadcast television producer and director who works for Discovery Communications.
His production credits include New Year’s Rockin’ Eve Live from Times Square, the New York City Marathon, the Christmas Tree Lighting at Rockefeller Center, Skyscraper Live, Puppy Bowl, live coverage of all the 9/11 Memorials from Ground Zero in NYC, the New York St. Patrick’s Day Parade, 4th of July Live from the National Mall, Ghost Adventurers Live as well as countless LIVE events and productions for Discovery Education. He recently spearheaded the technical design that allowed for the world's first LIVE coverage of a natural giraffe birth in captivity.
He has worked for NBC News, ABC News, ESPN, 60 Minutes, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Cindy Crawford, Access Hollywood, Oprah and more during his career in show business.
Greg is dedicated to helping young people realize their potential and see their own value NOW. For over 20 years, Greg has travelled around North America as a motivational speaker who specializes in self-esteem workshops for young adults. He has volunteered for more then two decades as a mentor, facilitator and keynote speaker for youth leadership initiatives and has spoken to tens of thousands of students and educators worldwide. The focus of his mission is to promote authentic self-esteem, emotional survival skills and to help students embrace the challenges and opportunities of young adult life.
He received his degree in film production and cinematic theory from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. He holds the honor of being the youngest syndicated film critic in the US (started at age 10 back in 1985).
Greg lives with his wife Ashley and their three young children in Silver Spring, MD.
Brittany Wagner is a 14 year-old from Shillington Pennsylvania and a sophomore at Governor Mifflin High School. In December of 2014 she finished two years and nine months of active treatment for T-cell lymphoma. We are thrilled to say that her current status is N.E.D. (No evidence of disease)!
She enjoys swimming, crafting, and is active in school band and chorus, SGA, Key Club and Stage Crew. Most of all she enjoys being a teenager with an ever growing circle of friends from school, Mini-THON, PSU students involved with THON, PSU Water Polo Clubs, and of course the many friends that are now family from Hershey Medical Center. That includes kids in and post treatment as well as staff.
She once said that she would not trade having cancer if it meant that she wouldn't have met all the wonderful people she has through this journey. On behalf of the entire Wagner family, we want to say a huge thank you to all of the volunteers, staff, and supporters of Four Diamonds!
Advisor’s Roundtable and Dive into Mini-THON
Barry has worked in Student Affairs at Penn State for 21 years, serving in a variety of roles within both Residence Life and Union and Student Activities, most recently serving as the Director of Student Activities for 7 years. Additionally, as a part of his responsibilities, Barry advised Penn State's Dance Marathon (THON) from 2008-2013. He has worked with student leaders throughout his professional career and looks forward to discussing challenges and opportunities that come with advising student organizations.
Barry is originally from Cleveland, Ohio, and is a long-suffering fan of the Browns, Cavaliers, and Indians. He has degrees from Miami University in Ohio and The University of Vermont.
Social Media Savvy – Discover how to maximize different social media platforms to promote your Mini-THON.
Quinn Bryner is the Vice President, Social Media Strategist for Tierney, a public relations firm. In addition to providing strategic communications and media relations counsel to public and private clients across diverse sectors, Quinn is one of Tierney’s go-to sources on social media strategy.
She manages website and social media content for multiple clients, and develops Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest and Instagram strategies to increase client exposure online and create authentic conversations to engage with consumers and brand ambassadors.
With more than 10 years of experience, Quinn has proven in-market success in social awareness generation/outreach, conversion and social media customer engagement. Her work on behalf of clients has helped build stronger online communities by generating and repurposing content and encouraging targets to join the conversation and share user generated content. Another important component of Quinn’s work is the identification of relevant social influencers engaging them to spread the word.
Quinn leads the agency’s account team as it launches and manages social media channels for the Pennsylvania Tourism Office, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, and Independence Blue Cross, among others like General Motors, TD Bank, and PECO.
Before joining Tierney in 2007, Quinn spent more than three years in corporate communications for a professional services firm, satisfying a wide variety of internal and external communication needs. She is a graduate of Ursinus College, serves as president of the Pennsylvania Public Relations Society, and is active in several social media clubs and professional organizations.
Leadership in Action - Discover how to translate your leadership skills to effectively run your Mini-THON
Paul is a veteran Organization Development consultant with more than 36 years of experience working with executives in pursuit of operational excellence. Paul spent 36 years with The Hershey Company as well as being the principal of Kreider Associates, a boutique Organization Development consulting firm since 1996. He has counseled CEO’s and executives on issues ranging from strategy to organization design to leadership.
Paul has been an adjunct faculty member at both Penn State University and Bucknell University. He was also a football coach for seven years at Bishop McDevitt High School where he became a mentor to NFL running back, LeSean McCoy. Paul is an active community member serving on the board of the Pennsylvania Sports Athletic Directors Association and the LeSean McCoy Foundation.
You, Me & Everyone Else: Developing Outreach – How to effectively promote your event using online tools, news media and community partners
Mark Kandrysawtz is the CEO of Benjamin&Bond, an innovation consultancy. Our mission is to improve the human experience. To do that, we are designing and investing in the next generation of healthcare experiences and improving the way care is managed, delivered and consumed. Our work is realized in new technology, products and services.
Mark is responsible for managing client relationships and leading the team of consultants. He has extensive consulting and client-side experience related to communications strategy, user experience, advertising and public relations.
His background includes communications campaigns, public awareness, nonprofit public relations and digital strategy development. The unique mix of Mark’s anthropological and business studies has informed his approach to planning effective, moving and memorable experiences.
Framework For Success: Building a Strong Mini-THON– Interactive session to learn best practices so you can host a great event.
John Gildea has been the advisor for Springfield High School's Steve Stefani Dance Marathon for 10 years. His THON/Mini-THON journey began when he was a junior at Penn State and danced in Penn State's THON representing the Penn State Blue Band; he danced again in THON '99 and THON '00.
John became the advisor for Springfield High School’s Mini-THON in 2005. Since then, he has helped to guide his students in raising more than $1.3 million for Four Diamonds. Representing the Mini-THON program, he served on the Four Diamonds Advisory Board from 2010-2014.
He is a Language Arts teacher at Springfield High School, teaching American Literature, acting, and Principles of Leadership courses.
Framework For Success: Building a Strong Mini-THON– Interactive session to learn best practices so you can host a great event.
Mike Barber has been the advisor for the Northern Middle School Mini-THON since its inagural year, 2011. It began as a favor from a middle school aide whose daughter was a Four Diamonds child. The NMS Mini-THON has become a premiere event of the school year, drawing hundreds of students and scores of volunteers from the Northern York County School District.
Mike has guided students from its inception from an initial goal of $ 3,000.00, to a Mini-THON that has raised more than $ 135,000.00 in four years. Proud of his students’ commitment, he is also proud of his son, Conor Barber, who will be the Overall Chair for East Pennsboro High School’s 2016 mini THON.
Mike is a seventh grade English teacher at Northern Middle School and is also the Spelling Bee, Book Club, and Student Council Advisor.
Energize Your Event– The best events are well planned. Learn how to build a memorable event from the ground up.
Jodie Ruediger is a Lead Community Affairs Analyst in Highmark Blue Shield’s Central Region. In her position, she coordinates both the Harrisburg and Lehigh Valley Highmark Walk for a Healthy Community fundraising event, coordinates community social media, oversees a special volunteer program she created and serves as the team lead for community programs in Western and Central, PA.
Prior to joining Highmark, Jodie served as director of special events at the American Lung Association of the mid-Atlantic and was the sponsorship manager for the U.S. Army Morale, Welfare and Recreation program at Fort Rucker, Alabama and Fort Hood, Texas. In her role with the Army, she twice received the Commanding General’s Award for Civilian Service and was also awarded for having the highest sponsorship sales Army wide two years in a row.
She began her career in pharmaceutical marketing and public relations with Rite Aid Corporation in Camp Hill, PA. Jodie holds a Bachelor of Humanities with a concentration in Public Relations and Advertising from Penn State Harrisburg and recently completed a 12-week mini-MBA program from Rutgers in Social Media Marketing.
She is a member of the Pennsylvania Public Relations Society and a member of the Harrisburg Regional Chamber and CREDC. In her activities with the Chamber, Jodie was awarded Ambassador of the Year in 2005 and cofounded the Chamber Business Women (CBW) program in 2007 and served as a mentor in the CBW Mentorship Program for 3 years. Jodie is a former elected official, having served on Lemoyne, Pennsylvania’s borough council for four years including terms as vice president and president.
Jodie lives in York County, PA with her husband James and a menagerie of pets.
Get The Word Out