Eric Konovalov - The Goal Guide

Eric Konovalov is a high-energy sales strategist, speaker, and coach who has a rare ability to make people lean in, laugh, and leave ready to take action.

A decorated U.S. Marine Corps veteran and former top-performing sales leader, Eric brings together military discipline, real-world business experience, and an infectious passion for sales. His approach reframes selling as something it was always meant to be: a meaningful way to help people solve problems, create value, and move forward with confidence.

As the founder of The Goal Guide and creator of Relentless Goal Achievers, Eric has trained and coached entrepreneurs, sales professionals, and leadership teams across industries. Whether he’s leading a local chamber workshop or delivering a multi-day corporate training, his message is the same: sales should feel human, intentional, and fun — not pushy, awkward, or exhausting.

What sets Eric apart is his ability to make complex sales concepts simple, practical, and immediately usable. His sessions are highly engaging, interactive, and grounded in real conversations sales professionals are having every day. Organizations regularly bring Eric back because participants don’t just feel motivated — they actually change how they sell.

Eric’s credentials include:
• Author of B2B Sales Secrets
• Host of the Relentless Goal Achievers Podcast
• Founder, The Goal Guide
• Board Member, SRQ Vets and Lakewood Ranch Community Activities
• Certified Coach in DISC and Dr. Robert Cialdini’s Principles of Influence

When he’s not speaking or coaching, Eric is deeply involved in his community, mentoring veterans, supporting local initiatives, and spending time in Lakewood Ranch, Florida, with his wife Julia and their two sons, Max and Mikey.

Lori Ruth - Observer Media Group

Lori Ruth is the Publisher of the East County Observer and a familiar face to almost anyone doing business in our community. If you have lived or worked in Lakewood Ranch over the last 24 years, chances are you have run into Lori at a networking event, a parade planning meeting, or a local charity fundraiser.

Lori joined the Observer Media Group team in 2002. She started out as an advertising executive, working directly with local business owners to help them find their voice and grow their customer base. Over the next two decades, she grew right alongside Lakewood Ranch, stepping into roles as advertising manager, associate publisher, and ultimately Publisher. Before her time at the Observer, she helped local brands succeed at the Sarasota Herald-Tribune and The Knot.

What makes Lori such a trusted resource in our market isn't just her title—it’s her genuine love for this community. As a past Chairwoman of the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance board and an advisory board member for the Lakewood Ranch Community Fund, she has spent her entire career lifting up regional businesses. Lori is here today to ditch the corporate jargon and share the real, practical sales strategies she has used to build lasting relationships right here in our own backyard.

Jayson Ambrose - Big Robot

Jay Ambrose is the founder and CEO of Big Robot. He has spent more than 20 years building software platforms across financial services, media, logistics, adtech, and healthcare security.

Big Robot helps businesses become AI-native by building systems where human judgment, company data, and intelligent automation work together. As founder and CEO, Jay leads the company's product strategy, software development, and implementation work. He is also an active member of the Lakewood Ranch AI Creators Collective and is focused on helping local businesses use AI in ways that are useful, safe, and understandable.

David Perkowski - A.I. Creator's Collective

David Perkowski is a Realtor, entrepreneur, and community builder with a passion for serving others through real estate, innovation, and connection. As a Lakewood Ranch resident and the founder of the A.I. Creator’s Collective, a club established in Lakewood Ranch Community Activities, David brings people together to explore how artificial intelligence can simplify workflows, spark creativity, and unlock new opportunities in business and life. What started as a small group of curious minds meeting to share ideas and learn A.I. tools has quickly evolved into a growing collaborative community built on education, experimentation, and real-world application. David’s approach is hands-on and people-first, focused on helping others understand not just what A.I. can do, but how to actually use it. Whether working with clients, hosting sessions, or building new ventures, David is driven by a commitment to continuous learning, teaching, and collaboration. He believes the future belongs to those who are willing to adapt, share, and grow together.