Meet our 2025 Speakers
STEPHANIE LINK
Keynote Speaker
Chief Investment Strategist, Hightower Advisors
Stephanie Link is the Chief Investment Strategist, Head of Investment Solutions, and Equity Portfolio Manager at Hightower Advisors, a national wealth management firm. She oversees multiple equity strategies, collaborates with advisory businesses and clients to navigate markets, and leads the Investment Solutions team, which manages $5.4 billion in assets across equities, fixed income, and private markets as of November 2024.
ROBERT SCHEIN
Founder/Co-Host Managing Director, Partner
CEO: Hightower/Blanke Schein Wealth Management
Robert L. Schein, AIF®, is the Managing Director, Partner, and Chief Investment Officer of Hightower/Blanke Schein Wealth Management, with over 25 years of experience. He specializes in asset allocation and investment strategies for high-net-worth individuals and families. Committed to financial education for women, he founded The Confidence: Women + Wealth + Wellness Summit (CW3) in 2020, empowering women through financial literacy and self-care.
BRONWYN LIV ISON
Co-Host/Speaker/Moderator
Bronwyn is a passionate advocate for empowering women to confidently embrace their journey toward becoming their best selves. With a background in health, wellness, fitness, marketing, and communications, she believes in nurturing both personal and professional growth. Her faith and family are at the heart of her life, and she finds joy in quality time with her husband, two daughters, and their beloved dog, Parker. She also cherishes friendships, embracing connection and community.
LISA KEUNG
Speaker/Author
Managing Director, Business Development Invesco
Global Consulting
Lisa Kueng leads Invesco Global Consulting in helping strategic partners elevate their businesses. A frequent industry speaker, her work has been cited by major media outlets like The New York Times and NPR. She coauthored Picture Your Prosperity: Smart Money Moves to Turn Your Vision into Reality, which explores success in both finance and life. Lisa shares insights on using brain science to help investors achieve their financial goals and create a personal “prosperity picture” as a motivator and roadmap.
MICHELLE GRIFFIN
Moderator/Confidence Summit Board Member
Principal of MDG Consulting Services
Michelle D. Griffin, Principal of MDG Consulting Services, is a management consultant specializing in business development, financial services, and family office infrastructure for high-net-worth clients. With 25+ years of experience, she held senior roles at Northern Trust in family offices and asset management. Michelle holds a B.S. from Purdue, an MBA from Case Western Reserve, and multiple financial certifications. She is a STEP member, an advisor to a family foundation in Irvine, CA, and Membership Chair for Ellevate’s Orange County Chapter.
LAUREN DEL SARTO
Speaker/Moderator
Founder/Publisher of Desert Health® and Co-founder of Good Vibes Sound Bath
Lauren Del Sarto, founder of Desert Health News® and Good Vibes Sound Bath, has a dynamic career spanning Wall Street, event production, marketing, and entrepreneurship. A James Madison University graduate, she has led major marketing initiatives, founded an ad agency, and managed equestrian construction projects. She serves on advisory boards for Coachella Valley Volunteers in Medicine and Women Leaders Forum and has received prestigious honors, including recognition from the Presidential Library.
RAJU MEHTA
Shining Spotlight
Owner El Paseo Jewelers
El Paseo Jewelers, founded by Raju Mehta in 1998, has earned a reputation as a diamond expert in Palm Desert. Originally from Navsari, India, Mehta entered the industry at just 15 and worked his way up after moving to the U.S. in 1982. After gaining experience in diamond wholesaling and jewelry manufacturing with his brother in Los Angeles, he opened his own store on El Paseo to showcase his exclusive designs. With family offices in New York, Los Angeles, and India, Mehta can quickly source stones and manufacture custom pieces, offering exceptional quality and service.
ALICIA WILKINS
Shining Spotlight
Vice-President AtWork Coachella Valley
Alicia Wilkins, AtWork Coachella Valley’s 2024 Employee of the Year, brings 20+ years of recruiting expertise, leading the company’s top-producing office. She excels in building strong client relationships, driving sales, and mentoring staffing professionals. With a passion for meaningful connections, Alicia is dedicated to fostering trust, delivering exceptional results, and sharing insights on professional growth and staffing excellence.
CAROLYN H. MARTINO
Panelist
Attorney, Partner, Chair of the SBEMP Family Law Department
Carolyn H. Martino, a seasoned family law attorney in Greater Palm Springs, has 24 years of experience guiding high-net-worth clients— including doctors, business owners, and celebrities—through complex divorce, custody, and financial matters. Known for her strategic yet compassionate approach, she simplifies legal and emotional challenges. At The Confidence Summit, Carolyn will share insights on navigating life’s transitions with clarity, empowering attendees to make informed decisions and build resilience.
LORI CRETE
Panelist
Entrepreneur, Esthetician, Beauty Guru
Lori Crete, a finalist for American Spa Magazine’s Women in Wellness Mentor of the Year, is a renowned celebrity esthetician, industry expert, and owner of Spa 10 Suite in Southern California. She founded The Beauty Biz Club®, a success-driven society helping beauty professionals thrive. Dubbed a “Top Celebrity Esthetician” by Guthy-Renker and a “Beauty Guru” by ExtraTV.com, she also hosts The Beauty Biz Show™, a top-rated iTunes podcast. Featured on major networks like ABC, CBS, and Fox, Lori leads the sold-out Beauty Biz Workshop Retreat™, empowering beauty professionals worldwide to build profitable, fulfilling careers.
VALERIE A.POWERS-SMITH
Panelist
Partner of the SBEMP Estate, Trust & Probate and
Special Needs & Elder Law Departments
Valerie A. Powers Smith, Partner at Slovak Baron Empey Murphy & Pinkney LLP, has 28+ years of expertise in trusts, estates, special needs, and elder law. She specializes in estate planning, litigation, special needs trusts, and advocacy. At the Confidence Summit, she aims to empower women with actionable insights on how strategic planning fosters confidence and smooth generational transitions.
JASON CHAVEZ
Sponsor/Shining Spotlight
Owner/Operator Chavez-Jessup GMC
With over 24 years in the automotive industry, including a decade as a dealer, Jason brings deep expertise and a passion for transforming the car-buying experience. A graduate and class president of the NADA Dealer Academy with a Master’s from Texas A&M, he combines industry knowledge with leadership in the community as a board member of First Tee Coachella Valley. At Chavez-Jessup GMC in Indio, CA—conveniently located at the I-10 Automall—Jason and his team offer a top-tier selection of new and pre-owned GMC vehicles, expert service, and a commitment to making car buying fast, fair, and simple.
THALIA HALSTEN
Panelist
Founder Le Club Travel and Tours (Wellness Travel Expert)
Philanthropist
Thalia Halsten is a spiritual entrepreneur, business mentor, and healer who blends corporate expertise with holistic wellness. As the founder of Le Club Travel & Tours, she helps overworked entrepreneurs align profitability with well-being. With a background in acupuncture, Chinese medicine, and Ayurvedic studies, she is dedicated to heart-centered coaching, guiding others to reclaim balance and vitality in life and business.
KRISTEN MARTINEZ
Panelist
Founder/President of Vanmar Lending
With over 20 years in the mortgage industry, Kristen Martinez combines expertise, clear communication, and a client-first approach to make home financing seamless and stress-free. A former Division 1 volleyball athlete, she applies teamwork, discipline, and perseverance to her work and life. As a dedicated mother of six, she values balance and brings energy, dedication, and strong communication to every aspect of her career and family life. Kristen is committed to hard work, lasting relationships, and helping clients achieve their homeownership dreams.
JENNICA SCHEIN
Panelist
Luxury Property Specialist
Jennica Schein, a lifelong Coachella Valley resident with over 18 years in real estate, offers unmatched local market expertise. Her negotiation skills and deep connections ensure swift sales at top value. Recognized with Coldwell Banker’s International Sterling and Diamond Society awards, she provides a hands-on, personalized approach, always working directly with clients. With a vast network and insider knowledge, Jennica is your trusted guide for real estate success in the Greater Palm Springs area.
JENELL VANDENBOS
Panelist
Top Realtor – Coldwell Banker
Jenell Vandenbos, the #1 agent at Coldwell Banker Coachella Valley for 2024 and a top-ranked Realtor in Palm Springs Life for five years, transformed her life from having no home in 2009 to building an $8 million real estate portfolio. Now, she’s sharing her top three strategies to help you secure your dream home: smart financing to save thousands, insider intel to build wealth, and a custom action plan for success. Don’t miss your chance to claim your piece of the market—your mission starts now!
JAY BHAKTA
Breakout Session Presenter
Founder of Base Case and Build
Jay Bhakta, Founder of Base Case and Build, leverages 20+ years in the financial industry to empower families with financial literacy and emotional intelligence. Recognizing the gaps in traditional education, he developed a program to help families build generational wealth while strengthening their bonds. At the Confidence Summit, Jay will share how these essential skills lead to financial freedom and lasting happiness.
ERIC SICKINGER, D.O.
Panelist
Board-certifed Sports Medicine Physician, Founder of Advanced Center for Sports & Musculoskeletal Medicine and SOAR: Sickinger Orthobiologics & Regeneration
Dr. Sickinger, a Southern California native and lifelong athlete, is a Board-Certified Sports/Musculoskeletal Physician. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from San Diego State University and completed his medical training at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. After excelling in his residency, he completed a Sports Medicine fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. His specialties include minimally invasive ultrasound-guided procedures and orthobiologics. Dr. Sickinger and his wife, Dr. Maryam Sickinger, enjoy outdoor activities with their three children in Southern California.
EDITH JONES-POLAND, M.D.
Panelist
Physician, Health Coach
Dr. Edith Jones Poland is a dedicated physician and health coach with over 20 years of experience. Specializing in pre-diabetes, insulin resistance, heart health, mindfulness, stress management, and weight loss, she empowers women to make lasting lifestyle changes. Trained at the University of Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine and mentored by Dr. Andrew Weil, Dr. Jones-Poland offers coaching services in a supportive, non-clinical environment, outside the traditional patient-doctor framework.
CHARISSA FARLEY-HAY
Panelist
Visionary Leader, Business Owner, Trailblazer
Charissa Farley is a multifaceted leader with over two decades of experience in construction, hospitality, wellness, and media. Known as the “Queen of Pavers” for breaking barriers in the interlocking paver industry, she later redefined herself as an entrepreneur with Wildest Restaurant & Bar and Coachella Yoga, Therapy & Wellness. Charissa has hosted TV programs like Home Makeover in the Desert and Desert Home Builders, earning accolades such as Business Woman of the Year and Business Trailblazer. She is also committed to giving back, serving on the boards of the Desert Cancer Foundation and Women Leaders Forum.
BILL MCMANUS
Breakout Session Presenter
Hartford Funds Applied Insights Team
Bill is part of the Applied Insights team at Hartford Funds, where he educates financial professionals and their clients on current and emerging opportunities in financial services, including retirement income, investment, and charitable planning. He joined Hartford Funds in 2003 and holds a CIMA® designation, along with FINRA Series 7 and 63 registrations. Bill has been featured in publications like The Wall Street Journal and Barron’s, and has appeared on Bloomberg Radio. He earned a bachelor’s in political science from the University of Pennsylvania and now resides in Austin, Texas.
DELPHINE CHANNELS
Panelist
Life Coach, Entrepreneur, Founder of Harmoneum
Delphine Channels is a Life Coach, Entrepreneur, and Founder of Harmoneum, an online community focused on enhancing well-being through daily practices, health technologies, and coaching across five wellness pillars. As the Producer and Host of Delphine’s Circle, she leads inspiring conversations with influential guests to uplift her audience. With a background in real estate, marketing, and cosmetics, Delphine’s creative leadership drives her success. A California native and mother of two, she now resides in Indian Wells, guiding others toward balance, purpose, and personal growth.
