Event Program
How to Craft Your Brand Story
Presented by
Thursday, January 29, 2026
8:30 - 10:30 am
Nova Southeastern University
Many thanks to our sponsors! We are grateful for your support!
Today's Program:
- Welcome and Introduction | Cammie Lumpkin, Safety Harbor Chamber President & CEO
- Introductions of Panelists | Laurie Hill, Collaborative Labs
- Panel Discussion - How to Craft Your Brand Story
- Table Discussions
- Report-Outs
- Closing Remarks | Racquel Khuri, Nova Southeastern University
- Meet and Greet Panelists
Special Guest
Dorree Gurdak | VP of Marketing and Communications, Clearwater Marine Aquarium
Dorree Gurdak is a seasoned marketing communications executive with a 25‑year track record of guiding organizations through growth, transformation, and complex challenges. As Vice President of Marketing at Clearwater Marine Aquarium, she has been a driving force behind the nonprofit’s renewed visibility, community connection, and mission-centered storytelling. Her leadership has strengthened CMA’s reputation, elevated public awareness, and supported the organization through natural disasters, operational transitions, and high‑stakes crisis communications.
Before joining CMA, Dorree spent two decades at Weber Shandwick Boston, where she led the consumer practice and managed marquee clients including Ocean Spray, John Hancock, and Liberty Mutual. She is widely recognized for being part of the team who created the iconic “Bogs Across America” campaign, a global experiential platform that brought real cranberry bogs to life around the world—including a show‑stopping installation at the Vancouver Winter Olympics.
Across every role, Dorree is known for blending creativity with strategic discipline, setting high performance standards while cultivating empathetic, resilient teams. Her experience spans consumer products, financial services, technology, and nonprofit organizations — consistently demonstrating her ability to elevate brands, strengthen stakeholder trust, and deliver meaningful results.
Panelists
Laura Kepner | Local Historian and Author
Laura Kepner founded Safety Harbor Writers & Poets in 2010 and has since worked to bring opportunities to writers and poets through classes, conferences, contests, open mic events, and public art. Laura was editor-in-chief of Odet, a Florida based literary journal, through four volumes. In 2013, she co-authored A Brief History of Safety Harbor, Florida. In 2019, she won Creative Loafing’s annual fiction contest. In 2021, Laura wrote When Lourdes Was Big, a picture book with sister Jennifer Tombuelt’s illustrations. Her most recent book Images of America, Safety Harbor was released in October, 2022.
While writing and storytelling are close to her heart, Laura is also passionate about preserving history in ways that bring positive change today through lessons from the past. She is an active board member for the Safety Harbor Museum & Cultural Center and Whispering Souls African American Cemetery.
Casey Phillips | Team Reporter, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Casey Phillips is in her 11th season as the Team Reporter for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, which includes hosting two weekly TV shows and two weekly radio shows and podcasts, emceeing events, commercial voiceovers, and providing video content for the Buccaneers website and social media channels. She is a member of Tampa’s 2025 40 Under 40 class. She is a native of Dallas, Texas, and received her bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Missouri in Radio Television Journalism and Broadcast Management. Prior to her time with the Buccaneers, she worked in the Sports Public Relations department at Walt Disney World, served as Team Reporter for the Washington Wizards and Mystics, and was the Team Reporter for the St. Louis Rams. She also served as an adjunct professor at USF last spring teaching a course she created about on-camera sports reporting. She is married to Leon Battle, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships at One More Child, and they have a golden retriever puppy named Birdie.
Kamryn Reynolds | Founder, Articulate Advantage
Kamryn Reynolds is a communication coach, international speaker, and the youngest Executive Director in BNI history. He’s the founder of Articulate Advantage, helping professionals speak with power, clarity, and confidence.
A USF grad, Eagle Scout, and fluent Spanish speaker after serving a two-year mission in Argentina. Kamryn now specializes in keynotes and trainings for organizations seeking to connect to their clients on a deeper level. Known for his high energy and practical frameworks, he’s on a mission to become an Ironman, a TEDx speaker, and an international voice for intentional communication.
He lives by one core belief: connection is the currency of opportunity. Audiences walk away from Kamryn’s sessions not just informed, but transformed - ready to communicate with greater clarity, confidence, and purpose.
Kinard Robinson | Founder & CEO, Empowering Creative
Kinard Robinson is the Founder & CEO of Empowering Creative, a full-service marketing agency known for elevating brands through strategy, storytelling, and digital innovation. With a background that includes corporate strategy, HR, and marketing, Kinard has become one of Tampa Bay’s most connected and impactful leaders.
He is also the creator of NEXTKNOWN, a platform designed to help professionals elevate their presence, expand their network, and become “the next name people know.” Widely recognized for his ability to build relationships, develop strategic partnerships, and make meaningful community impact,
Kinard teaches companies and leaders how to craft authentic brand stories that build trust, deepen connection, and move people to action.
Panel Moderator
Laurie Hill | Collaborative Labs at St. Petersburg College (SPC)
Laurie joined the Collaborative Labs in January of 2016 and leverages her extensive marketing and business management experience to help match clients to the Collaborative Labs products and services.
Laurie has worked in marketing and sales for more than 35 years in both the secular and faith-based workplace. Her work has encompassed marketing for multiple industries within the healthcare field in the Tampa Bay area as well as ownership of multiple small businesses. Laurie excels in using her business acumen and active listening skills to demonstrate the possible outcomes a client can achieve to reach their organizational goals. She is the founder of the Christian Chamber of Commerce in the Tampa Bay area and authored the book I Am in Business.