12 operators have taken a Legacy Creators stage. Not professional speakers, but owners and practitioners sharing what actually worked, what did not, and what they would do differently.
Next room, Tuesday, November 17
Each panel runs its own conversation. Networking is on both sides of the program.
Follow-up, workflows, and the systems that keep working after the founder leaves the room.
Moderator
Founder, Create A Legacy
Shawn Mahdavi is the founder of Create A Legacy in Plano, TX, where he turns founders' vision into working systems: CRM, workflow automation, lead nurture and AI-powered tools. He has spent more than 35 years building businesses, including co-founding Global Advantage Credit Solutions.
Panelist
Owner, Accent Financial Services
Founder of Accent Financial Services in Allen, TX, Ryan brings plain-English financial guidance to business owners, families, and professionals across North Texas. Part educator, part strategist, he helps you understand the why and hands you a blueprint you can follow.
Panelist
Founder, Lead Getter Marketing
McKinlee Suitors is the founder of Lead Getter Marketing, where she builds websites, content and automation that help businesses grow with marketing and AI. She started her first business at 17, chose entrepreneurship over the traditional college route, and was named Intern of the Year during her summer internship at HighLevel.
Panelist
Founder & CEO, HiVergent AI
Nathan Brown is the founder and CEO of HiVergent AI, a DFW consultancy that helps small businesses, especially home service companies, put AI automation to work. He spent more than 30 years in enterprise technology at Intel Security, McAfee and Trellix, and co-leads the HighLevel Dallas Chapter.
Who has taken the stage
The people who showed up and said something useful. They stay listed here.
Tuesday, August 25, 2026 · 12 on stage
Moderator
Founder & CEO, Survive to Thrive Enterprises
Jay turned a childhood of limited resources into thirty years of relentless drive: multiple businesses built from nothing, bodybuilding championships, and work across radio, TV, stage, and print. The author of 10 books and a full Sales and Personal Development series, he now leads Survive to Thrive Enterprises and speaks to audiences everywhere on turning obstacles into opportunity.
Panelist
Talk Money With Tish
A licensed financial professional who builds long-term, tax-efficient plans for individuals, families, and businesses. Tish takes a holistic view, making your money work harder, guarding against loss, and growing financial literacy along the way.
Panelist
Smith's Wealth Management
Quinten helps people steward what they've been entrusted with, financially through Smith's Wealth Management and personally through Forged by Fire. His mission: stronger men building stronger families and legacies that outlive them.
Panelist
Accent Financial Services
Founder of Accent Financial Services in Allen, TX, Ryan brings plain-English financial guidance to business owners, families, and professionals across North Texas. Part educator, part strategist, he helps you understand the why and hands you a blueprint you can follow.
Moderator
R & R Legacy Consulting
A U.S. Army veteran, entrepreneur, and speaker, Masako founded R & R Legacy Consulting to advance leadership, entrepreneurship, and family development. She helps individuals and organizations build purpose-driven legacies through education, innovation, and community impact.
Panelist
Manifest Fitness Institute
CEO of Manifest Fitness Institute, where Marc works at the intersection of fitness, entrepreneurship, and leadership development. His premise: certification alone is not enough. High performers are built through hands-on coaching, real mentorship, and a path to ownership, a principle that carries into every growing company.
Panelist
Brite Smiles by Heather
After 30+ years in clinical dentistry, Heather brought teeth whitening out of the dental office and into a relaxed, luxury setting. She makes a brighter smile accessible at every budget, treating it as the confidence boost it is.
Panelist
Breakaway Chiropractic & Wellness
A North Texas chiropractor since 2008 and lifelong athlete, Dr. Lad pairs sports-informed care with a warm, family-friendly clinic. He serves as team doctor for local squads, driven by a simple passion for helping people move and feel better.
Moderator
Create A Legacy
Shika holds a PhD in Education and leads Learning and Development at Create A Legacy. She works with schools, tutoring businesses, coaching companies, edtech, and corporate teams on AI-enabled learning systems and curriculum design. She moderates the Technology panel on what is actually worth building.
Panelist
Zentek USA
Second-generation owner of a tech company founded in 1999, Brett has spent 15+ years across managed IT, software and web development, networking, and AI. He leads with faith and treats the business as a mission field.
Panelist
COO, Starks Technology Services
A U.S. Navy veteran, Dwayne drives business operations, strategic planning, and service delivery, strengthening internal operations and expanding the company's impact through workforce development and professional training.
Panelist
Director of Operations, Create A Legacy
Twenty years running global IT for Mary Kay. Data centers in Dallas, London, Shanghai, and Hong Kong. Network operations across 29 countries. Now Director of Operations at Create A Legacy, Mark brings that same enterprise discipline to the systems CAL builds, for growing companies and established organizations alike.
Panels rotate every quarter. If you have built the thing and you are willing to share the specifics, we want to hear from you.
Attending rather than speaking? Register for the next room.
Event partners
Legacy Creators is proud to partner with organizations investing in the DFW founder community.
Thank you to the partners who have backed past Legacy Creators events.
Social Media
The platforms founders actually use. What earns attention, what wastes it, and how a point of view travels.
Moderator
Gregory "G-Wiz" Rutledge
Founder, Question Everything LLC
Gregory Rutledge is the founder of Question Everything LLC and a business therapist who helps established service-business owners find what is really holding their growth back. He draws on business strategy, user experience research and more than 20 years of creative problem-solving.
Panelist
Tyler Woodruff
Founder, MedGrowth Partners
Tyler Woodruff is the founder of MedGrowth Partners in North Texas. MedGrowth installs The Growth Department, a done-for-you system covering ads, automated follow-up, a 24/7 AI receptionist, reactivation, and reviews inside chiropractic, dental, med spa, and fitness businesses.
Panelist
Wendell Jean-Jules
Founder & CEO, WJJ Brands
Wendell Jean-Jules is the founder and CEO of WJJ Brands and Linkautomy, with more than 15 years in marketing, branding and business development. Through WJJ Brands he delivers strategic marketing and growth solutions, and Linkautomy uses LinkedIn automation to help professionals turn targeted connections into business opportunities.
Panelist
Kandy Robertson
CEO, iKandyland & Co.
Kandy Robertson is the CEO of iKandyland & Co. and a 9x award-winning narrative and authority strategist who helps business owners turn expertise into influence and revenue. Known for organic social media growth, she has built over half a million followers and helped clients earn more than 500 million views.