Breakout Speakers
Alyssa Lee
Alyssa Lee champions livable, people-centered cities with her deep grassroots campaign experience. As a leader of Strong SacTown - one of the largest Strong Towns Local Conversations - she’s grown its social media to 3,000+ followers in 2 years, earned recognition from city council, and cultivated dozens of volunteer leaders. For 9 years, she organized youth climate justice campaigns, coaching and training hundreds of students in facilitation, group-building, and campaign strategy skills. Growing up car-deficient in the California Central Valley and later discovering the joys of Boston’s walkable, mixed-use communities shaped her commitment to resilient urban environments. She now lives car-free in Sacramento, where she manages communications for the Caltrans Director’s Office of Sustainability.
Session: How to Activate Local Advocates–and Keep Them Engaged for the Long Haul
Horton Hobbs
Horton Hobbs has served as Vice President of Economic Development for the Partnership of Greater Springfield (formerly known as the Chamber of Greater Springfield) since January 2012. In his position, he works closely with local economic development partners to assist existing businesses, attract new businesses, develop real estate, and aggressively market the community. Since his arrival at the Partnership, he has coordinated efforts that have resulted in approximately 7,000 jobs created, 9,500 jobs retained, approximately $2.3 Billion in new investments, the development of a $9 Million-200 acre industrial park, and the location of Topre America Corporation, Silfex, Surati Sweet Mart, Gabe’s and 5C Datacenters to Springfield. In 2024, Hobbs led efforts to raise $6.6 Million locally to support economic and workforce development efforts in Clark County.
His previous work experience included positions as Development Officer for the Springfield Foundation, Executive Director of the Center City Association, Planning Director for the City of New Carlisle and Regional Planner for the Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission.
Session: Unity Under Pressure - Springfield’s Journey Through a Migrant Media Storm
Brandi Thompson
Brandi Thompson is one of the founders of ST Albuquerque, where she has been living and working as an emergency and flight nurse since 2020. She accidentally found herself as a community leader when she invited 4 people to the inaugural meeting of ST ABQ and 72 people showed up. She has been fumbling, learning, and sharing her experience since then, and has had help from a great team of volunteers. Prior to being a nurse, she was a rattlesnake wrangler, 8th grade science teacher, waitress at countless establishments, grant writer, and worked in non-profit healthcare admin. She is originally from Columbus, OH and has lived in 8 states.
Session: The Completely Unqualified Community Leader’s Survival Guide
Jon Shell
Jon Shell is a real estate developer, entrepreneur, and civic leader based in Pensacola, Florida. He leads The Shell Group, a residential real estate team under Levin Rinke Realty, and is the founder of Upward Intuition, a nonprofit dedicated to youth empowerment and placemaking. Through Upward Intuition, Jon has spearheaded transformative community projects such as the Blake Doyle Skatepark and the upcoming Safe Spot Skate Spot—initiatives that merge skate culture, public space design, and civic vision to create healthier, more connected communities.
Across his ventures, Jon’s work reflects a commitment to collaboration, creativity, and building places that inspire people. His belief that cities thrive when residents feel both empowered and connected drives his leadership and vision for Pensacola’s future.
Session: Crossroads and Concrete - Building Places That Tell a Bigger Story
Seth Young
Seth Young is the Executive Director of the Augusta Heritage Center in Elkins, West Virginia, where he leads one of the nation’s premier folklife and traditional arts organizations. A 2023 Aspen Ideas Fellow and recipient of the 2023 West Virginia Governor’s Arts Award, Young is recognized for his innovative leadership at the intersection of culture, economic development, and community engagement.
In 2020, Augusta's Summer Workshops was named “Event of the Year” by the International Bluegrass Music Association under his direction, and the team he leads was awarded the Vandalia Award, West Virginia’s highest folklife honor, for their work in traditional music preservation. He is currently redeveloping a 20,000-square-foot mixed-use cultural facility in the heart of downtown Elkins. The project leverages a diverse funding portfolio—including congressionally allocated spending, private philanthropy, state grants, and nonprofit technical assistance - to serve as a hub for arts programming, cultural education, and community-building.
A lifelong musician and arts advocate, Young brings a deep understanding of how cultural traditions can be a driver of creative placemaking and rural revitalization. His work bridges the past and future, building sustainable models that uplift local voices and create lasting impact..
Session: Culture at the Center: Reclaiming Space, Community, and Identity in Small Town Appalachia
Seth Young
Norm Van Eeden Petersman is the Director of Movement Building at Strong Towns. Norm has published articles on housing, transportation, faith, and culture and his writing appears regularly on the Strong Towns site. He is an energetic enthusiast for the work that Strong Towns members do around the world. Norm spent 10 years pastoring churches in Canada as a preacher, teacher, and leader. He’s worked in communications and stakeholder outreach for the Mayorof Surrey, BC and the federal Minister of Health in Ottawa, ON. Norm's been a tree planter and construction laborer. He grew up on a dairy farm in Alberta. Today he coaches soccer, promotes cycling, and advocates for better land use in his community of Delta, British Columbia as the leader of Deltans for People- Oriented Places.
Session: Culture at the Center: Reclaiming Space, Community, and Identity in Small Town Appalachia
Daniela de Castro
Daniela de Castro Sucre is a Venezuelan multimedia artist and designer based out of Pensacola, USA. She studied classic oil painting as a teenager, graduated with a Graphic Design bachelor’s in 2019, and began painting murals professionally in 2017. Her conceptual approach colors her diverse artist portfolio. Daniela has painted walls in Spain, Venezuela, England, and USA.
In 2024, Daniela expanded her large-scale art business and rebranded as Daniela de Castro Studio. Her studio brings together artists and experts in their field to create conceptual art installations that are closely tied to the brands and the spaces they inhabit.
Behind the scenes, Daniela pursues continued education in optics, color theory, and art history. She continues to work on her exploratory oil painting series started in 2020.
Session: Art as the Heart of Vibrant Communities
Daniela de Castro
Daniela de Castro Sucre is a Venezuelan multimedia artist and designer based out of Pensacola, USA. She studied classic oil painting as a teenager, graduated with a Graphic Design bachelor’s in 2019, and began painting murals professionally in 2017. Her conceptual approach colors her diverse artist portfolio. Daniela has painted walls in Spain, Venezuela, England, and USA.
In 2024, Daniela expanded her large-scale art business and rebranded as Daniela de Castro Studio. Her studio brings together artists and experts in their field to create conceptual art installations that are closely tied to the brands and the spaces they inhabit.
Behind the scenes, Daniela pursues continued education in optics, color theory, and art history. She continues to work on her exploratory oil painting series started in 2020.
Session: Art as the Heart of Vibrant Communities