Meet your 21 presenters

Ryan Duchoeny

Deaf/Hard of Hearing Actor

Ryan Duchoeny is a Deaf/Hard of Hearing actor, motivational speaker, and former Team Canada basketball player. He wears a cochlear implant and has built a successful career in the film and television industry, appearing in productions across Canada while advocating for greater accessibility and authentic representation. Through his personal journey, Ryan inspires families to see possibilities instead of limitations. He is passionate about helping parents understand that with the right support, communication, and encouragement, Deaf and Hard of Hearing children can achieve their goals and pursue their dreams. Ryan brings honesty, humor, and real-life experience to every conversation.

Jill Lestina

Retired Deaf Educator & Founder of Signs of Peace

Jill Lestina is a retired Deaf educator with more than 30 years of experience teaching Deaf and hard-of-hearing students, as well as preparing future educators at the university level. Growing up Deaf herself, Jill brings both personal experience and professional insight to her work. She is passionate about helping families see the strengths, possibilities, and unique gifts of Deaf children. Today, Jill is the founder of Signs of Peace, where she shares ASL reflections inspired by A Course in Miracles, encouraging people to move from fear to love, forgiveness, and inner peace. She and her husband travel full-time across the United States in their RV, continuing her mission of teaching, learning, and sharing hope wherever they go.

Chrissy Marshall

Writer/Director/Creative

Chrissy Marshall is an award-winning filmmaker and creative. An alumna of the University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Arts, her work has included collaborations with Apple, CBS, Sony, Adobe, and The Oscars. Chrissy is passionate about showcasing underrepresented communities on screen, advocating for accessible production environments, and collaborating with disabled talent both in front of and behind the camera. She also happens to be Deaf.

Beyond filmmaking, Chrissy creates educational content around accessibility, ASL, and disability inclusion and is a dedicated advocate with an audience of over 1.2 million viewers online. Fluent in both English and American Sign Language, she uses storytelling to foster empathy, challenge assumptions, and immerse audiences in perspectives they may have never experienced before.

Kellina Powell

CEO, Coach, 4X Author, and International Speaker

Kellina Powell is a hard of hearing coach, international speaker, 4X best-selling author, and advocate dedicated to helping young adults with disabilities build confidence, independence, and successful futures. Recognized as a Top Watch Black Woman in Canada (2025) and a Top 40 Under 40 recipient, Kellina combines lived experience with professional expertise to inspire meaningful change.

Known for her engaging and relatable style, Kellina is passionate about creating inclusive communities where every young person feels seen, valued, and capable of achieving their dreams.

Karen Putz

The Passion Mentor

Karen Putz was born hearing, grew up hard of hearing, and became deaf after a fall while barefoot water skiing as a teen. She learned ASL, met her deaf husband, and they have three deaf and hard of hearing kids who are now adults. Karen is a life coach known as "The Passion Mentor" and the author of multiple books, including "Success Wisdom by Deaf and Hard of Hearing People" and "The Law of Passion."

Aleksandra Stanojevic-Russo

Deaf Content Creator, Deaf Advocate, and CODA Mom

Aleksandra Stanojevic-Russo is a Deaf content creator, advocate, and proud mom of two hearing CODA daughters. Born profoundly Deaf, she grew up with access to both sign language and spoken language, giving her a unique perspective on navigating the Deaf and hearing worlds. Together with her husband, who is also Deaf, she is raising their family in a bilingual home that embraces both languages.

Through her social media platform, @rawtalkwithaleks, Aleksandra shares honest, humorous, and educational stories about Deaf culture, parenting, accessibility, and family life. Her goal is to help families feel confident, connected, and empowered as they raise Deaf or Hard of Hearing children, because she believes every child deserves full access to language, a strong sense of identity, and the freedom to thrive. Through education, advocacy, and authentic storytelling, she is helping bridge the gap between the Deaf and hearing communities.

Andrea Zackary

Creative Director for DEF Events & Beyond

Andrea Zackary is the founder of DEF Events & Beyond Inc., based in Brampton, Ontario. Hard of hearing from age six, she became Deaf at 25, and rather than let that stop her, she built a career and a business rooted in empowering the Deaf community. Founded in 2014, DEF Events & Beyond brings Deaf and hard of hearing people together and welcomes hearing guests in, bridging gaps through shared experiences.

Andrea's work has earned wide recognition, including Brampton's Top 40 Under 40, the Accessibility in Business Award, and a Business Excellence Community Builder award, along with national honors like Top 100 Black Women to Watch. She is a founding member of Black Deaf Canada, sits on the board of the Ontario Cultural Society of the Deaf, and advocates for disability inclusion through Disability Without Poverty. A Deaf Olympian and world championship qualifier, Andrea is also a wife and mother of six.

Rachel Burton

Deaf and Neurodivergent Communications Leader and Content Creator

Rachel Burton is a Deaf and neurodivergent communications leader, content creator, and accessibility advocate who helps frame understanding between Deaf and hearing communities. Born into a Deaf family and raised in ASL, and a mother of a Deaf child and a KODA, she combines lived experience with a background in media and digital communication to encourage people to think differently about language, access, and belonging. Through her online platform, Such a Lovely Red, Rachel shares honest conversations about Deaf identity, neurodivergence, and accessible communication with a community of more than 175,000 followers. She believes Deaf children thrive when they are given full language access, high expectations, and the freedom to embrace who they are from the very beginning.

Brittany Gillies

Deaf Content Creator & ASL Advocate

Brittany Gillies is a Deaf content creator, storyteller, and mom based in Ontario, Canada, sharing her life entirely in ASL. Raised in a Deaf family with ASL as her first language, Brittany brings a rare, lived perspective on what full language access can mean for a Deaf child, and she is passing that same gift on to her daughter, Sienna, a CODA (Child of a Deaf Adult). She is also part of the ASL Bloom team, working to make ASL education accessible, and she advocates for the Deaf community while studying law. Brittany believes every parent deserves to see what is possible when Deaf kids are given full access from day one.

Germaine Graham

Speech Language Pathologist

Germaine Graham is the founder of Deafinitely Communicating, a private speech-language pathology practice providing remote, in-home, and contractual bilingual American Sign Language (ASL) and English services to Deaf and Hard of Hearing children, their families, and schools. Through her practice, Germaine educates families about the importance of early language access, its impact on the brain, and the benefits of ASL for Deaf children. Germaine has worked as a speech-language pathologist in Deaf Education for more than a decade in residential, day, and mainstream programs.

Beyond her clinical work, Germaine provides access for Deaf and signing audiences as a church interpreter and serves on the boards of organizations that support Deaf and Hard of Hearing children and their families. Germaine is wife to husband Clifton and mom of five. She enjoys the outdoors, time with family, and staying active in her local community.

Celena Ponce

Founder and Director of Hands United

Celena Ponce is the godmother of a Deaf young man who experienced severe language deprivation, a journey that transformed her understanding of what Deaf children need to thrive. Watching him struggle with barriers that could have been prevented through early language access inspired her lifelong commitment to supporting Deaf children and their families. Today, she is the founder and executive director of Hands United, where she works alongside Deaf individuals, parents, educators, and professionals to expand access to sign language, advocacy, and resources. Through both personal experience and years of working with Deaf families, Celena helps parents understand that early communication is about far more than language. It is the foundation for learning, relationships, confidence, and a lifetime of opportunity.

Shawn Ribaudo

Owner, The Signing Room

I was born Deaf and raised in Kansas by Deaf parents. I am a third generation Deaf person. I wear one hearing aid on my right side, which helps me hear sounds, but I cannot understand the sounds themselves.

I currently work at RIT in Rochester, New York. I love being around people and using sign language to communicate. In my free time, I enjoy playing strategy board games and video games, and I also enjoy watching movies. I have owned The Signing Room for the past three years, where I enjoy connecting with people and being part of their ASL journey.

Anakristen Scurti

Parent Advocate & Content Creator

Anakristen Scurti is a parent advocate, content creator, and former elementary teacher and reading specialist whose work centers Deaf awareness, inclusion, and family-centered communication. After her daughter was identified as deaf, Anakristen began learning American Sign Language alongside her and documenting their family's journey. She serves on the Delaware Hands & Voices Board of Directors and is passionate about supporting families as they navigate language access and advocacy. Through storytelling, advocacy, and practical examples from everyday life, she encourages families to focus on connection over perfection and to create language-rich environments where every child can thrive. She lives in Delaware with her husband and two daughters.

Karlie Waldrip

Deaf Children's Book Author

Karlie Waldrip is a proud deaf children's book author and former deaf education teacher from Texas with four years of classroom experience. Born deaf, she was raised using both spoken language and sign language. She wore hearing aids growing up and later chose to get cochlear implants to better access the sounds around her. Her life experience as a deaf person has deeply shaped her passion for representation, inclusion, and empowerment in early literacy.

Karlie is the author of "I Deaf-initely Can, Rhett the Heeler" and "We Deaf-initely Can, Let the Adventures Begin," inspiring children's books told from the perspective of her deaf rescue dog, Rhett. She adopted Rhett from a small-town Texas shelter and gave him a voice to help educate the world about the beauty and capability of deaf dogs. Through these stories she shares deaf culture, language, and resilience, hoping to inspire both deaf and hard of hearing children and hearing children to believe in themselves. The books feature deaf characters and are brought to life by deaf illustrator Lucy Rogers.

Janice Drake

Retired Principal

Janice Drake is a lifelong advocate for Deaf education, Deaf culture, and community leadership. A graduate of Sir James Whitney School for the Deaf, she returned to the school exactly 30 years later as Principal, completing a remarkable full-circle journey in Deaf education. Janice began her career teaching in both the elementary and secondary programs at Robarts School for the Deaf. She later served as Educational Coordinator for Robarts School and the elementary program at Ernest C. Drury School for the Deaf before becoming Vice-Principal of the Drury secondary program. She subsequently served as Principal of both the elementary and secondary programs at Sir James Whitney School until her retirement in 2019.

Beyond her educational career, Janice remains actively involved in local, provincial, and national Deaf organizations, championing Deaf culture, language access, leadership development, and equitable opportunities for Deaf children, youth, and adults across Canada.

Dr. Michelle Hu

Pediatric Audiologist, Founder of Mama Hu Hears

Dr. Michelle Hu, Au.D., CCC-A is a pediatric audiologist, speaker, author, and founder of Mama Hu Hears. She also happens to be a bilateral cochlear implant user, which means she has spent her life sitting in both the patient chair and the provider chair.

For more than 15 years, Michelle has helped children and families navigate hearing loss through diagnostics, hearing technology, cochlear implants, and family-centered care. Today, she shares that expertise with audiences around the world, helping professionals move beyond the audiogram to better understand the families they serve. When she is not speaking or in clinic, you will find her creating educational content for the Mama Hu Hears community, writing resources for hearing parents of Deaf and Hard of Hearing children, chasing after her four kids, or testing new recipes in the kitchen.

Michelle believes every family deserves to feel informed, supported, and empowered, not overwhelmed. Her mission is simple: bridge the gap between clinical care and real life so children with hearing loss and their families can thrive.

Tristan Kong

Realtor

Tristan Kong is the founder of The Tristan Kong Group and has over six years of experience in the real estate industry as a licensed realtor. His dedication, client-centered approach, and professional passion have enabled him to assist over 80 clients in their real estate journeys. Tristan has been recognized by Royal LePage as part of the National Top 10% Award for the 2025 Sales Awards year, alongside nearly 19,000 colleagues across Canada.

Tristan's educational background includes studies in Photojournalism at Loyalist College and Advertising and Marketing Communications at Sheridan College. His expertise, combined with his commitment to accessibility for the Deaf community, sets him apart as a trusted and compassionate realtor. Whether buying, selling, or navigating the market as a first-time homebuyer, Tristan is dedicated to ensuring his clients feel comfortable and well-supported throughout the entire process.

Beth Leipholtz

Parent & Author

Beth Leipholtz is an advocate for inclusion and accessibility who is raising her deaf son, Cooper, bilingually in hearing and Deaf cultures. With over 2 million followers on social media, she shares her parenting journey on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and Facebook. Beth and her family live in Minnesota. Follow her online at @beth_and_coop.

Julie Rems-Smario

Ed.D., Deaf Education Programs Consultant

Julie Rems-Smario, Ed.D., is an Education Programs Consultant for the Deaf Education Unit at the California Department of Education and co-coordinates California's Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) system through LEAD-K Family Services. She advocates nationally with the LEAD-K Campaign for early language acquisition milestone laws that promote language access for Deaf and hard of hearing infants and young children, and she co-founded CoFusion Group to address educational inequities through abolitionist work.

Julie was honored by CNN Heroes and E-Women Network in 2007 for her work with DeafHope, supporting Deaf survivors of abuse. She earned her Ed.D. from California State University, East Bay, in 2021. Julie lives in California with her spouse. Outside of her professional work, she treasures spending time with their grandchildren, including her Deaf granddaughter, whose arrival has made her life's work in early language access deeply personal, as well as their two beloved chihuahuas.

Leah Riddell

Inclusive Communication Educator & ASL Instructor

Leah Riddell is a Deaf educator, accessibility consultant, and President of the Ontario Cultural Society of the Deaf. As the founder of SignAble Vi5ion Inc., she has spent over 10 years working with families, educators, businesses, healthcare providers, and government organizations to improve communication access and promote understanding of Deaf culture and American Sign Language (ASL). Growing up as a Deaf child in both public and provincial schools gives Leah a unique perspective on the educational choices families face. She is passionate about helping parents make informed decisions based on language development, access, and the individual needs of their child, not fear or misinformation. Leah believes that when families are equipped with knowledge and connected to the Deaf community, Deaf children are empowered to thrive.

Jojo Savea

Samoan Deaf Content Creator

Jojo grew up navigating just about every type of deaf educational setting there is, moving across five states and Samoa before she could even drive. That constant shifting taught her early on that if she did not speak up for what she needed, no one else would. Now she brings that same "embrace the chaos" energy to everything she does: her work in social media and Deaf advocacy content, travel, and her own wild little life with her husband Austin and a house full of pets (four mini Aussies, three cats, and one very chill chameleon).

Through her own journey as a deaf and hard of hearing kid, Jojo learned that self-advocacy is not a switch that flips at adulthood. It is built one small moment at a time. She is here to share what worked, what did not, and how parents can start building that skill in their kids today.