Speakers

Theresa Belpulsi is Senior Vice President of Tourism, Sports, and Visitor Services at Destination DC, the official destination marketing organization for Washington, DC. A 20-plus year veteran of the organization, she leads efforts to attract international visitors, group leisure and student travelers, and professional, amateur, and collegiate sporting events to the nation's capital. Her team also manages visitor services and oversees DC's representation in key international markets including the UK, China, India, and Australia.

Kevin Clinton is Chief Program Officer for the Federal City Council, a civic organization working at the intersection of the federal government, local government, and the business community to advance progress in the nation's capital. He leads the organization's work across economic diversification, education, and government efficiency, and also manages internal operations. Clinton additionally serves as Chair of the Board of Directors for the Washington Housing Conservancy, a nonprofit focused on preserving housing affordability in the DC region.

Scott Ford serves as Deputy Director of the Downtown Sacramento Partnership, the organization dedicated to advancing the economic vitality and livability of downtown Sacramento. In his role, he works alongside the executive team to support the Partnership's business development, policy, public space, and communications work. He is a recognized voice in shaping downtown Sacramento's future as a destination and economic engine for the region. 

Ryan Hand is the Associate Director for Citywide Planning at the DC Office of Planning, where he leads a cross-sector team of policy experts focused on research, strategic guidance, and management of the District's Comprehensive Plan. His background spans economic planning, community planning, and regional planning, including work on economic development strategies, sustainability strategies, and regional investment plans. He holds a master's degree in city and regional planning from Catholic University of America.

Vida Ali is currently spearheading the expansion of the Ben's Chili Bowl brand and preserving its 60-year legacy in Washington, D.C. After returning to D.C. in 2009 following founder Ben Ali's death, she leverages her extensive publicity expertise to strengthen the family business. Before this role, Vida spent over 25 years as a respected entertainment publicist in Hollywood, where she led successful media campaigns for numerous recording artists including MC Hammer, Prince, Janet Jackson, and Paul McCartney. 

Reynolds Allen is Managing Director at EDENS, where he leads development and investment management for the 45-acre Union Market District in Washington, DC. Since joining EDENS in 2006, he has guided the project from the ground up and founded the Union Market Coalition, a nonprofit providing community services throughout the district, which he has chaired since 2016. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the DC Building Industry Association.

Sofia Ahmed serves as Director of Food and Beverage for the Marcus Samuelsson Group at The Morrow Hotel in Washington, DC, overseeing the food and beverage program across Marcus DC, the rooftop bar Sly, and the Goodie Lounge. In her role, she helps bring Chef Samuelsson's vision of culturally rooted, community-centered dining to life in one of DC's most celebrated new restaurant destinations.

Anthony Forte is Director of Sales at The Morrow Hotel, a lifestyle hotel in Washington DC's NoMa neighborhood that is home to the acclaimed Marcus DC restaurant group. He brings extensive hospitality sales experience to the role, including prior positions with HHM Hotels, OTO Development, Highgate, and Sheraton Hotels & Resorts. He holds a bachelor's degree in philosophy from Baruch College, City University of New York.

Chef Anthony Jones is Executive Chef of Marcus DC, the acclaimed restaurant from Marcus Samuelsson at The Morrow Hotel in Union Market, where his menu draws on his Maryland roots and the flavors of the Black diaspora to create what the Washington Post named a top-five DC restaurant. A James Beard Award semifinalist for Emerging Chef, he is currently competing on Season 23 of Bravo's Top Chef, and was named Rising Chef of the Year by Eater DC in 2025. He previously earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand as part of Samuelsson's Red Rooster Overtown team in Miami.

Abby Lee is a coordinator with the Friends volunteer program at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, where she oversees tour coordination, volunteer training, and programming initiatives including architecture tours and youth education. She is also a freelance photographer who has archived more than 30,000 historical photographs documenting volunteers and community engagement at the Center.

Josh Satterthwaite is Vice President of Hospitality and Strategy at Nationals Park, where he oversees the fan food and beverage experience at one of MLB's most celebrated concessions programs, featuring more than 40 local DC-area vendors. He brings a deep background in large-scale hospitality operations, including senior leadership roles at Great Performances in New York. He studied philosophy at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.