2026 Keynote Speaker


 

Todd Kashdan

PhD



George Mason University professor Todd Kashdan is a leading expert on the psychology of wellbeing, psychological strengths, mental agility, and social relationships. A recipient of the APA’s Distinguished Early Career Researcher Award, he is one of the top 1% most cited scientists in the world and his articles on well-being have been cited over 50,000 times.

Todd is the founder and leader of the Well-Being Lab at George Mason University. His research has been featured in hundreds of media outlets, including articles in Harvard Business Review, The New York Times, Fast Company, Forbes, TIME, and an interview on the #1 science podcast Hidden Brain. He has also been featured in the award-winning documentary The Hidden Power of Purpose, and has been described as the founder of the most widely accepted definition and conceptual model of purpose in life.

In addition to his acclaimed academic research, Todd is the author of five books that translate cutting-edge science on wellbeing to practical applications that anyone can use to improve their everyday lives. His most recent award-winning book, The Art of Insubordination, is a practical guide for the kind of smart disagreement that makes the world a better place. He offers actionable frameworks for people who want to be heard and change others’ minds. And he shows leaders what they need to do to cultivate teams with psychological safety, where disagreement actually makes the team stronger and more effective.

Master of Ceremonies


Jessica Matthews

DBH, NBC-HWC, DipACLM, FACLM



Dr. Jessica Matthews is a tenured professor and industry leader in the areas of lifestyle medicine and health behavior change. An award-winning educator, she is the creator and Founding Director of the Master of Science in Integrative Wellness at Point Loma Nazarene University. Additionally, Dr. Matthews is the Founding Director of Health Coaching at UC San Diego Health in the Department of Family Medicine. There she led the integration of health and wellness coaching services within both clinical practice and research in the Centers for Integrative Health.

A passionate advocate for whole person health, Dr. Matthews previously served as Interim Executive Director and Chair of the Board Directors for the National Board for Health & Wellness Coaching (NBHWC), with volunteer service to the organization in several board leadership roles spanning from 2019-2025. Additionally, she is board certified in lifestyle medicine (DipACLM) and served on the board of directors for the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) from 2020-2023. In 2021, Dr. Matthews was named a Fellow of ACLM for outstanding achievement in the field of lifestyle medicine and exceptional dedication to advancing the organization's mission. In 2025, she was honored as an ACLM special award recipient for developing and directing the first master's program to become a full academic pathway to lifestyle medicine board certification.

A TEDx speaker and trusted expert on health and wellness, for more than 15 years Dr. Matthews has regularly contributed to top national media outlets with hundreds of impressions. With a propensity for driving innovation and change, she is the co-creator of The Health and Well-Being Coaching Conference— the first dedicated professional conference for health and well-being coaches.

2026 Speakers and Panelists


Michael Arloski

PhD, PCC, NBC-HWC

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Kristi Artz

MD, FACLM

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Robert
Biswas-Diener

PhD, PCC

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Jennifer Britton

MES, PCC

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Crystal Cené

MD, MPH

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Noel Chan

PhD, NBC-HWC

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Colleen Cleindaniel

LSCW, DipACLM

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Sonja Ecklund 

NBC-HWC

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Tasha Edwards

MS, NBC-HWC

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Deanna Fournier

 

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Sara Grimsgaard Noyes

MS, NBC-HWC

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Tim Harrison

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Erika Jackson

MA, MCC, NBC-HWC, CPHWC

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Brittany Kowalski 

MS, ATC, NBC-HWC

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Megan Merchant

MS, PCC, NBC-HWC

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Megan Murk

NBC-HWC

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Izabella Natrins

 

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Jorge Otañez

MD, DipABLM

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Kirsten Olshan

MS, NBHWC

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Diego Salinas

MD, NBC-HWC

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Susan Schear

NBC-HWC

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Daniel Viscovich

MA, NBC-HWC

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Art Waber 

MFA, NBC-HWC

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Elyse Wagner

MS, CN, LMHCA

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Tiffani Bell Washington

MD, MPH, MBA

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Susan Whitman

PA-C, NBC-HWC, DipACLM

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