Ava Ahrens is a Journalism student at the University of Iowa and the host of Ava’s Arena, where she dives into the human side of sports through the voices of athletes, innovators, and dreamers. A former basketball, cross country, and track athlete, Ava’s lifelong passion for Big Ten sports, F1, football, and more drives her mission to spotlight the heart and stories behind every game.

Christian Vande Velde is a retired American professional cyclist, now serving as a Peloton instructor and NBC Sports commentator. He is renowned for his accomplishments in the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia, and other international races. Christian lives in Greenville, South Carolina, with his wife Leah and their two daughters.

Deon Hornsby is an energetic, results-driven leader with a wealth of experience in underwriting, account management, and people development. A former Illinois Wesleyan running back and proud Joliet native, Deon has built his career on mentoring others, cross-functional collaboration, and driving growth through authentic leadership.

Outside of work, he’s known simply as “Uncle Deon” — a lifelong friend to Justin and Sarah Ahrens and a steady, positive presence in their family’s story. Though he and his wife chose a path without kids of their own, Deon has poured that energy into mentoring and showing up for young people across his community. His life is a reflection of quiet strength, empathy, and the power of chosen family.

JJ is a writer, teacher, and longtime StoryBrand director who has helped leaders and teams communicate with clarity for years. After coming out in midlife and rebuilding his life from the ground up, he now lives in Nashville with his husband, Jamie, and their four kids. JJ consults with organizations on messaging, identity, and courage, and hosts the podcast Badass Softy, where he explores what it means to live with honesty, humor, and heart.

Ed Cunningham is the Executive Director at Samuels Yoelin Kantor LLP, where he keeps the firm running smoothly behind the scenes. Ed leads the team’s day-to-day operations and helps SYK stay connected with the broader legal community, always looking for ways to support clients and staff alike. Whether he’s managing the latest project or representing the firm at industry events, Ed’s steady hand and collaborative spirit help shape SYK’s reputation for excellence and adaptability. His focus on people, details, and growth is at the heart of what makes the firm tick.

Jackson Ahrens is a recent Illinois State University psychology graduate and a freshman football coach at Batavia High School. He cares about how people communicate, learn, and work well together, bringing a calm, analytical approach to teams. With experience in research and collaboration, he’s interested in roles that connect people and strategy, from organizational development to HR and business analysis.

Jamie is a Certified Disney Travel Advisor and full-on pixie dust expert who helps families plan stress-free, memorable trips to Disney parks and beyond. He brings deep knowledge, calm guidance, and a love for creating experiences that feel magical and doable. Message him anytime if you’re ready to make the magic happen.

Jeff Fisher is the principal of Jeff Fisher LogoMotives and a nationally recognized logo designer, author, and educator. With over 40 years in the industry, Jeff’s logos have appeared in more than 350 books on design, and he’s mentored creatives worldwide through his books and speaking engagements. As a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community and longtime advocate for inclusion, Jeff is known for his honest storytelling and down-to-earth wisdom. Whether teaching, designing, or championing causes he believes in, Jeff brings humor, kindness, and authenticity to every conversation. 

Jenn Visocky O’Grady is a professor at Cleveland State University, where she puts out fires, mentors colleagues, and inspires the next wave of creative pros. As the university’s Faculty Mentoring Fellow (and a former department chair), Jenn is the one everyone turns to for advice, pep talks, and practical wisdom. Along with her husband and creative partner Ken, she’s written books like Design Currency, The Information Design Handbook, and A Designer’s Research Manual. Jenn’s work appears in dozens of publications, and she’s a frequent speaker championing the value of great design. She’s also an AIGA Fellow and past national board member. Best of all, Jenn and Ken are dear friends of ours, yes, even vacation friends, and we’re thrilled to have her join us.

Kelly Allison is a director and photographer known for her fearless creativity, bold use of color, and infectious joy for life. As the founder of Kelly Allison Productions, she leads a full-service motion and still photography studio that brings ideas from concept to completion in-house. Kelly thrives on capturing movement, bubbles, spills, laughter, hugs, and gravitates toward visuals that are gooey, splashy, and full of life.

Collaborating with top talent and technicians, Kelly pushes beyond traditional advertising, championing visionary projects that center on the authentic human experience. Her energy inspires everyone on set, from crew to clients, fostering a creative space where people and ideas come alive. Whether behind the camera or leading a team, Kelly is always seeking the perfect light, the right moment, and that one detail that elevates every image.

Ken Visocky O’Grady is a Professor and Graduate Coordinator at the School of Visual Communication Design, guiding students from their first lessons in typography all the way through research-driven design thinking. Ken’s work has been featured in top industry publications like HOW, PRINT, Metropolis, AZURE, GDUSA, and Communication Arts. He’s the co-author of A Designer’s Research Manual, Design Currency, and The Information Design Handbook, books that have shaped designers around the world. Ken has shared his knowledge at more than 30 creative events, including those by AIGA and HOW. On top of all that, Ken (and Jenn) are longtime, dear friends, so close, we even vacation together. We couldn’t be happier to have him join us.

Leah Vande Velde is an entrepreneur and chef based in Greenville, South Carolina. She is the owner of Honest Fork, a personal chef business, and Honest Scoop GVL, an ice cream truck for events. Leah is known for her creativity in the kitchen, her dedication to her family, and her supportive role in the cycling community.

Mackenzie Ahrens is the Ahrens’ firstborn and a lifelong animal lover. She works in special education at a therapeutic day school and spends her off-hours with her cats and Coopy, who might be her favorite family member.

Michael Norton is a leadership coach for those ready to do more than perform—he works with leaders who want to transform. With 15 years of experience coaching founders and executives, Michael helps people move beyond control and into flow, presence, and embodied intelligence.

His approach blends consciousness work, the Enneagram, and practical self-awareness to create lasting, whole-body change. He’s direct, attuned, and unafraid to challenge what’s in the way of your growth.

Based in Chicago, Michael holds an MFA from The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama and certifications with The Narrative Enneagram and Conscious Leadership Group. He works with visionary leaders who want to expand what’s possible—in business, in life, and in themselves.

Quinn Ahrens is an engineering major at North Central College and a proud member of the North Central Cardinals football team, the 2022 NCAA Division III National Champions. Whether he’s in the classroom or on the field, Quinn brings focus, grit, and a team-first attitude to everything he does. Known for his work ethic and positive energy, he’s passionate about building things, solving problems, and being part of a winning culture, on campus, in sports, and in life.