You Came, You Learned, You Conquered

Check out the recap video, event photos and reviews from #wowcon23.

The Reviews Are In!

Had such a great experience at #wowcon23! It was an exciting day with my marketing team, connecting with so many new people, all who were ready to teach, grow, learn, network, and inspire.
Kristen Patterson

“It was a beautiful day full great speakers, more tools in the tool box, and most importantly connecting with those within the community. I can’t wait to see what next year brings!!”
Madilyn Ellingsworth

“What an incredible event! Thank you to Kevin Lashley for putting together a successful #WOWCON. And “Thank You” for giving me the opportunity to present my work to a supportive audience.”
Manuel Herrera

About This Event

Are you a marketer, digital content creator or small business owner looking to learn from in-house, cross-industry leaders who will provide you with strategies to grow your brand and advance in your career? If so, Without Walls Digital Media Conference is for you. Come join us on July 25th at Maryville University (auditorium) for a day packed with inspiration, networking, music, food and tons of fun.

Without Walls Digital Media Conference will feature 2 dynamic keynote presentations, 16 engaging breakout sessions and lots of networking. Breakfast and lunch will be provide, along with an ice cream social to follow the event. From entry-level digital marketers to seasoned photographers and designers, this conference is for you.

  • Braden is a Digital Marketing Strategist & Social Media Influencer in St. Louis that has elevated the digital presence of St. Louis by showcasing the eats, drinks, & everyday life on Instagram. He is currently working on educating businesses, brands, & creatives on the economic impact of influencer marketing.

Keynote Speakers

  • Dr. Dustin York is an Associate Professor at Maryville University in St. Louis. Prior to entering academia, Dr. York worked in branding for the 2008 Obama Presidential campaign, and agency clients like Pepsi Co., and Nike. Dr. York’s specialties are two-sided: interpersonal leadership communication and digital transformation in marketing, which he now brings to life in the classroom. Beyond his primary passion for teaching, Dr. York is a subject matter expert for CNN, Entrepreneur.com, and Forbes, a contributor for Harvard Business Review, and serves as a national keynote speaker and consultant. Dr. York was awarded the St. Louis Business Journal 30 Under 30 Award, President’s Award for Strategic Leadership and Transformation Innovation, American Marketing Association 4 Under 40, and an Apple Distinguished Educator. Articles and interviews can be found at DrDustinYork.com.


  • Keisha Mabry Haymore is a connector, convener and social entrepreneur on a mission to change the world one connection at a time.     She is the owner of Heydays, a business incubator and coworking space for women and founders of color to connect, create and curate anything. Keisha has been featured on National Public Radio, The Daily Show, Success Magazine, Huffington Post, Essence, Black Enterprise, Fox 2 News, Nine Network, The Business Journal and more. In addition, Keisha is the Grow With Google Digital Coach for Missouri—a free program that provides digital skills training for Black and Latinx entrepreneurs to close the digital divide gap. Keisha is also a guest lecturer at Washington University, an Aspen Ideas Scholar, a Hatch Fellow, a TEDx speaker and her book Hey Friend: 100 Ways to Connect with 100 People in 100 Days is a movement to make the world friendly again, or at the very least, friendlier than it’s ever been. She’s delivered more than 150 keynote speeches for Fortune 500 companies and top brands like Spotify, Mastercard, Edward Jones, Square, Bayer, Facebook, YUM!, Ikea, SHRM and US Bank.

Featured Presenters

  • Dallas Adams

    Communications Manager
    Great Rivers Greenway

  • Danielle Ambry

    Photographer | Designer | CEO
    Danielle Ambry Photography |
    The CEO Tribe

  • Lisa Camp

    Social Media Specialist & Community Manager
    Cannonball

  • Stephen Capron

    Marketing Director
    SuperSpeed Golf | Garsen Golf

  • Nichole Carpenter

    Head of Marketing
    Imo’s Pizza

  • Madeline Childs

    Senior Specialist, Omni-channel Marketing
    Caleres

  • Dana Christian

    Film | Television | Video Specialist
    Breaking the 180 LLC

  • Dr. Brittany Conners

    Chief Executive Officer
    Optimistic Theory, LLC

  • Lucas Farrell

    Founder | Owner
    STL Bucket List | Mango Social Marketing

  • Grace Frisella

    Content Creator and Social Media Manager
    Posted. Social

  • Mich Hancock

    Co-Founder
    TedxStLouis

  • Macy Harrell

    Executive Producer
    RDLV Films

  • Derek Hartley

    Director of Brand & Marketing
    Plancorp

  • Emily Hemingway

    Executive Director
    Tech STL

  • Manuel Herrera

    Learning and Development Specialist
    Washington University - St. Louis

  • Jake Huber

    Creative Director
    SPLYCEHOUSE

  • Susan Jones

    Director of Marketing
    Holland Law Firm

  • Anna Karpinski

    President
    AIGA St. Louis

  • Kevin Lashley

    Marketing & Communications Manager
    St. Patrick Center

  • James Lesch

    Vice President of Accounts
    Pattan & Co. Public Relations

  • Jennifer McDonnell Bardot

    Founder & Publisher
    G.R.I.T.

  • Angie Minges

    Director, Partnership Marketing
    Nestle Purina

  • Brian Munoz

    Multimedia Reporter & Staff Photojournalist
    St. Louis Public Radio

  • Tsion Nigussie

    Social Media Manager
    Riverfront Times

  • Dan Parris

    Filmmaker & Co-Founder
    Speak Up Studios

  • Meagan Peters

    Vice President of Behavioral Science & Strategy
    Cannonball

  • Kanna Rook

    Associate Director of Strategic Communications
    Siteman Cancer Center

  • Aaron Sanders

    Content Strategist
    New Honor Society / an FCB Company

  • Shuntae Shields Ryan

    Chief Marketing & Communications Officer
    United Way of Greater St. Louis

  • Kim Scott

    Goodwill

  • Victoria Shipley

    Digital Marketing Manager
    Hot Box Cookies

  • Chyna Smith

    Senior UX Designer
    Boeing

  • Maddie Smith

    Owner and Chief Diversity Officer
    Synclarity Associates LLC

  • Braden Tewolde

    Digital Marketing Strategist
    Space Mission Marketing | BradENSTL

  • Amy Venturella

    Creative Director & Writer
    Cannonball

  • Rachel Wilkins

    Founder & Chief Education Officer
    Team of Seven

  • Aja J. Williams

    Vice President & Chief Content Officer
    Nine PBS

Conference Tracks

  • Building Community

    The truth is, your community already exists. Whether you know where it is, how big it is, or how to leverage it, that is a different matter. When you know who your brand community is and where they are, you can receive many different benefits. First, you need to understand the crucial step to reach your goals. Come learn what you need to build a successful brand community and develop long-lasting, successful relationships with your most loyal customers.

  • Digital Marketing

    Whether it’s through your website, social media, or another form of digital media, digital marketing plays a leading role in growing your brand. Join us as we examine the current and future thinking on strategies to engage audiences through digital marketing practices. From understanding your audience, to reviewing analytics, we’ll cover the ins and outs of digital marketing. We’ll also review the latest trends and tools available to help you best do your job.

  • Content Creation

    It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you need some inspiration to jump start your career. Whatever it is, this track will help you take the content you’re creating to the next level. We’ll focus on various topics from improving your workflow to finding your voice as a creator. From in-house UX designers to freelance videographers, this track will help inspire you to reach new levels with your content creation.

  • Level Up

    Across the board, every professional has a skill they can improve and every business has its shortcomings. Let us help you LEVEL UP and take your career or business to the next level. Career growth experts and seasoned business owners will be providing relevant insight and actionable tools to help you reach the next level of your journey. These sessions will cover topics such as growth strategies and funding opportunities to help you position yourself as a thought-leader.

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