POWER BRUNCH PANEL

Moderator Kristin Thorne

Emmy Award-Winning Investigative Reporter

WABC-7

Kristin Thorne was promoted to the 7 On Your Side Investigates team in January 2022 after serving 10 years as the station's Long Island Correspondent.

She is the creator, writer, and producer of WABC's true crime series "Missing," in which she investigates the disappearances of people from the New York City area. The episodes are available at www.ABC7NY.com/missing.

Before joining the Eyewitness News team in January 2012, Kristin was a reporter at News 12 Westchester. Before that, she worked at WHTM-TV ABC 27 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Kristin graduated magna cum laude from Georgetown

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Liz Bentley

University in Washington, DC and earned her master's degree in broadcast journalism from the prestigious Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. She is an adjunct professor at Hofstra University teaching journalism in the Lawrence Herbert School of Communication. She is the recipient of an Emmy Award and has received numerous Emmy nominations. She has also been honored with two regional Edward R. Murrow Awards and has received several Folio awards, which honor the best of Long Island journalism. She was honored with the "Excellence in Newscasting Award" at the 2021 Long Island International Film Expo.

Media Expert, Motivational Speaker, CEO & Founder LIZ

BENTLEY ASSOCIATES

Liz Bentley runs Liz Bentley Associates, a consulting firm specializing in executive coaching and leadership development programs to top leaders, teams and organizations across a broad range of industries.

Liz is an in-demand motivational speaker and media expert on the topics of leadership, career development, high performance workplaces, the future of work, and intergenerational workplaces. Known as the “Career Doctor,” Liz is a frequent media contributor on TV, books, podcast and in print for outlets including MSNBC, NBC

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Aimee Kestenberg Elan

Co-Founder & CCO

The Affordable Luxury Group

An award-winning designer, mother, wellness-certified expert and philanthropist, Aimee Kestenberg is dedicated to arming women with practical luxury designed to help them conquer their day. An industry leader and disruptor in the world of fashion, Aimee is the creative force behind her namesake brand Aimee Kestenberg, launched in 2013.

The Aimee Kestenberg brand redefines the meaning of ‘a ordable luxury,’ and the collection of casual shapes engineered with practicality in mind immediately caught the eye of leading fashion retailers. Aimee's entrepreneurial spirit developed at an early age.

She went on to become a two-time winner of the Instyle Independent Handbag Designer Awards in 2010 for Swarovski Crystals and in 2012 for Kipling. Most recently, Aimee was celebrated on Inc’s. 2023 Female Founder 200 List. Over the past three years, Aimee has successfully expanded the brand from bags to include footwear, luggage, jewelry, eyewear, baby bags and infant apparel.Combining mindful design and an ethos of self-empowerment, the Aimee Kestenberg brand values confidence and self expression, and inspires every woman to 'be your own muse.'

News, Fast Company, The Washington Post, Korn Ferry. She is also a featured columnist for the MSNBC Know Your Value franchise.

Liz is known for actionable, engaging keynotes for clients including Hearst, Microsoft, IBM, The WICT Network and Sotheby’s International Realty. She has won many awards and recognitions including, most recently, Crain’s NY Business’ Most Notable Women Business Owners and Long Island Business News’ Top 50 Women in Business and has been ranked Top 20 Real Estate coaches for 2021 to name a few.

Having faced many challenges in her career, she is dedicated to being a pillar of strength and support to her community through mentorship initiatives, philanthropic e orts and collaborations. Aimee lives in New York with her husband Sean, their two sons Max, Zac and daughter Ava-Beth.