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January 16, 2025 • Orlando, FL
Renaissance at SeaWorld®

Building and Connecting
the Military Creator Community

Experience a truly epic event celebrating innovation, artistry, and the creative spirit of the military community.
REGISTER NOW!

WHAT IS MCC?

Military Creator Con is an epic event celebrating innovation, artistry, and the creative spirit of the military community. This dynamic event brings together artists, film-makers, performers, podcasters, and visionaries from a wide range of industries, providing a platform for creators to build and share their talents and connect with like-minded individuals from and around the military community.

Our community is built by service members, veterans, retirees, spouses and families, and military supporters. Whether you’re an artist, entrepreneur, or simply passionate about being a creator, Military Creator Con has something for you. Explore the latest trends in design, tech, transition, and more. Discover new tools, gain inspiration, and learn from leading professionals in fields ranging from podcasting, visual arts, crafts, digital media to the performing arts and entrepreneurship.

This year, our 1-day Military Creator Con event is in partnership with Podfest Expo, the longest-running annual, in-person podcasting conference in the world. Podfest Expo is packed with the best and brightest of the podcasting world to both inform and inspire, all in an environment that encourages creative collaborations that lead to lasting relationships among the attendees. The PODFEST community is so much more than a mere collection of like-minded individuals – “we are a family!” for more information about Podfest Expo, go to podfestexpo.com

WHY ATTEND MCC?

Grow

Unlock new professional development opportunities, gain expertise from laser-focused sessions packed with actionable insights, and learn how to implement them all immediately into your work.

Connect

Join a global community of creators, artists, film-makers, performers, podcasters, visionaries, entrepreneurs and other passionate professionals from a wide range of industries.

Get Inspired

Hear from industry-leading speakers and leave Military Creator Con feeling inspired and equipped to tackle new challenges with a different perspective.

Enjoy

Immerse yourself in a 360° experience that offers top-notch education, vibrant community-building, entertainment, and other surprising and delightful moments.

Partner with Military Creator Con

Stand out as an industry leader and tap into MCC’s extensive network via turnkey packages, custom solutions, thought leadership and more. Become an official sponsor today!

BECOME A SPONSER

Who is MCC?

Military Creator Con is the brain-child of retired Air Force combat veteran, James Van Prooyen, and retired Army First Sergeant, Jeffrey Lodick. The goal is to build and share the talent, knowledge, and community spirit of the Military Creator Space.

Who is MCC?

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January 16, 2025 . Orlando, FL Renaissance at SeaWorld
© 2024 MCC – All Rights Reserved.
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James Van Prooyen

Founder-Board of Directors
Master Sergeant (Ret.), Air Force
Entrepreneur

James Van Prooyen is a 20-year retired US Air Force combat veteran, who since leaving the Military in 2015 has translated these extensive skills to create and cultivate a vast network with the goal of connecting people. He believes fervently in “relational networking” and cross promotes his entire network, all while maintaining a successful podcast career and enhancing the causes he is intimately tied to, including the Military Veterans Community and the Ragnar Relay running community.

Marah Lago

Board of Directors
Military Spouse, Air Force
Business Strategist

Marah Lago is an accomplished entrepreneur and visionary in the luxury jewelry industry. As the co-founder and CEO of a globally recognized multimillion-dollar jewelry brand, Marah spearheaded the company’s growth from inception to an eight-figure valuation in just 11 years, unleveraged. Beyond her business acumen, Marah is celebrated as an award-winning jewelry designer and a trailblazing female entrepreneur. Her passion for mentoring reflects in her commitment to support other entrepreneurs, drawing on her personal arsenal of grit, intuition, smarts, and inherited courage.

Adam Bird

Advisory Board
Veteran, Army
CEO

Adam Bird, CEO of Heroes Media Group, is a trusted expert renowned for his leadership and vast knowledge across multiple industries. As a military veteran, Adam has built a powerful platform that amplifies the voices of Veterans, First Responders, and Community Heroes. With a deep passion for podcasting, he’s become the go-to authority, offering top-tier services in hosting, production, and marketing—helping creators expand their reach and achieve success. Beyond media, Adam is the visionary behind HMG Beverage and co-founder of JB Audio Clothiers, blending innovation with purpose. His energy and expertise continue to inspire and empower communities everywhere.

Jeffrey Lodick

Board of Directors
First Sergeant (Ret.), Army
Director, Strategic Partnerships

Experienced leader with only one thing in mind, you! From serving at senior levels of the Army to opening “Change Your Forecast, LLC” we give the tools needed to create a road map to success and the follow through needed in order to accomplish the goals set.

Through organized sports, we teach young men and women life lessons that will etch leadership characteristics within them that will last a lifetime. Dreams happen quickly, only while you are sleeping. In life, dreams are possible with work, dedication, and time. We assist in breaking down the walls that stop you from unlocking your full potential.

The best leaders empower those who follow them in order for personal growth to occur and hold them accountable for the things they do and fail to do in order to gain experience on their road to success. We empower our clients to be just that; great leaders!

Codie Seier

Advisory Board
Military Spouse, Air Force
Senior User Experience (UX) Research Analyst

Codie Seier is a Senior User Experience (UX) Research Analyst at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University where she works to innovate the learner experience in higher education. She is a seasoned military spouse for 17 years, with 15 years being stationed overseas and serving the military community abroad. She is an avid volunteer and has served in various capacities for several organizations, including Americans Working Around the Globe, the Air Force Key Spouse program, PTSA, and community organizations at several installations. Codie believes passionately in leadership, advocating for others, the power of networking, and leaving things better than she found them. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, baking, and being outside in the sunshine.

Joe Rubin

Advisory Board
Military Supporter
CMO

Joe Rubin is the CMO of the leading podcast growth agency, mowpod.com, growing the audience of some of the largest podcasts in America. Prior to that, Joe had been introducing entrepreneurs to investors nationwide for 19 years through VC & Angel Investor Conferences across the US. Joe has also invested in over 50 early stage technology companies as a Founding Partner of ARC Angel Fund, including as seek.ai (AI query system for complex datasets), Upnext (3D city mapping technology acquired by Amazon), Partpic (visual parts and objects recognition co acquired by Amazon), FirstDue (first responder data technology company acquired by PE), Skywatch (earth mapping data and satellite platform technology), Made In Space (3D printing tech for parts on the ISS acquired by Redwire) and Akash Systems (new materials company for hyper-efficient satellite communications).

Dr. Russ Barnes

Advisory Board
Colonel (Ret.), Air Force
CEO

Colonel (retired) Dr Russ Barnes, PhD is the CEO of Systro Solutions, a strategy development firm that focuses on helping small business owners achieve profitability. His strategy development expertise is drawn from nearly 30 years of military service as a senior officer, 10+ years of small business experience and doctorate level academic research. His Purposefully Profitable Program has helped hundreds. Russ is a best-selling author, speaker, strategist and life-long learner. He earned his Bachelor’s in Business Administration from Manhattan College (NY), his Masters in Business Administration from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, his Master of Science in Strategic Studies from Air University and his PhD in Organization Development from Benedictine University. The title of his dissertation is Organization Design for Small Business: A Discovery of Business Fundamentals for Executing a Purposeful Path to Profitability. His Purposefully Profitable™ Program guides small business owners in creating and implementing a customized progression toward their prosperity. In support of the Purposefully Profitable™ Program, Russ produced the Purposefully Profitable™ Podcast and the Mission Mapping™ Workshop. Russ speaks publicly on Organizing Your Business for Profitable Growth and CEO Skills for Small Business. He is the author of #1 best seller Small Business for Servicemembers: 15 Things You Need to Know to be Purposefully Profitable and a co-author in three #1 best-sellers: Becoming a GovCon Expert, Gamechangers for Government Contractors, and Mission Unstoppable: Extraordinary Stories of Failures Blessings. His lifetime target is to help 600,000 microbusiness owners become purposefully profitable and to sell 300,000 books that improve the financial lives of business owners through strategy development and organization design. For more details, visit his profile on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/rcbarnes and his website at www.systrosolutions.com.

April S. Caldwell

Advisory Board
Veteran, Air Force
CEO

April Caldwell is the Co-Founder and CEO of fayVen, a marketplace for retail space that helps small businesses find and book temporary retail spaces at local venues. By connecting entrepreneurs with mission-driven organizations, fayVen fosters growth, community engagement, and economic opportunity. With a Master’s degree in Entrepreneurship and a Bachelor’s in Business Management, April brings academic expertise and a passion for innovation to her work.

A proud 10-year U.S. Air Force veteran, April’s military career instilled in her a deep sense of discipline, resilience, and commitment to service. Today, she channels those values into supporting military and veteran entrepreneurs, collaborating with organizations that empower veterans to build successful businesses. As a former small business owner herself, April understands the unique challenges entrepreneurs face and works to create meaningful opportunities for their success.

April’s entrepreneurial journey has earned her numerous accolades, including winning the Warrior Rising Business Shower Pitch Competition, David Meltzer’s Two Minute Drill on Bloomberg, and St. Pete Pitch Night. Recognized as one of Tampa Bay Inno’s Top 23 Startups to Watch and featured in prominent media outlets, April is dedicated to inspiring, connecting, and empowering others, creating lasting impact for small businesses, veterans, and local communities.

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