keynote Speaker

beth holloway

How does one muster the courage to persevere in the face of sheer adversity? Do we all have the capacity to overcome tragedy? How does one keep going? You will be uplifted by the remarkable story of Beth Holloway. How does she stay strong? Imagine being able to apply her philosophies of courage, dedication, faith and strength to your own life.

By her own account Beth lived a quiet, somewhat uneventful life as a speech pathologist (B.S., M.S.P.) for children with special needs for 24 years. Her life changed quite dramatically in the summer of 2005 when her daughter Natalee disappeared on the last night of her senior high graduation trip to Aruba. This tragic story became the leading news mystery when it happened, and continues to make headlines today. Beth has appeared on every television network in the nation as well as on international TV and radio and in international newspapers, capturing the world's attention as she searched for her daughter.

Barbara Walters selected Beth Holloway as one of the world's most fascinating people for her perseverance in seeking answers to what happened to Natalee.

Beth has delivered her message of hope, faith and personal safety to young adults and people of all ages all across the United States. To date, she has presented her message to tens of thousands of students and parents alike in high schools, colleges, churches, local and national conventions and other venues, and to law enforcement officials, Attorney Generals, Mayors' Conferences, professional associations, prayer breakfasts and many others.

As a New York Times Best Selling author ("Loving Natalee" - also a Lifetime Movie) and a veteran educator, Beth continues to work on educating the public on safer travel. To that end she offers her half-day Travel-Ed Workshop to all ages.

ABC 20/20 filmed a documentary with Beth, which aired in November 2019.

Featured speakers

julie murray

Julie is the sister of Maura Murray, who has been missing for over 20 years. Maura's story has been covered extensively by various media outlets, TV channels, and podcasts but never by a family member until Julie hosted Season 1 of Media Pressure Podcast earlier this year.

Julie also created the #EngageWithEmpathy campaign that encourages the ethical shift in true crime content.

Sarah turney

Meet Sarah Turney: a woman with a passion for justice, a love for dogs, and an unconventional palate that revels in the tangy kick of chips doused in lemon juice and hot sauce. As the founder of Voices For Justice , Sarah channels her advocacy into a gripping true crime podcast that captivates listeners worldwide. In the debut season of Voices for Justice, Sarah fearlessly dives into the haunting mystery surrounding the disappearance of her sister, Alissa Turney. With meticulous research and
unwavering determination, she unravels the tangled web of secrets and lies surrounding the case, bringing attention to overlooked evidence and compelling leads.

But when an arrest shakes the foundations of her investigation in 2020, Season One of Voices for Justice is temporarily halted. Undeterred, Sarah refuses to let justice slip through the cracks. With a relentless spirit and a newfound platform, she launched her new podcast,
Media Pressure , to help other families fight for justice. Through her podcasts, Sarah becomes a beacon of hope for those seeking answers and closure. Her tenacity, coupled with her genuine empathy for victims and their families, inspires a legion of followers to join her in the fight for truth and accountability.

Laurah Norton

Laurah Norton, is a writer, researcher, and host of The Fall Line podcast. On The Fall Line, Laurah focuses on cold cases from the American Southeast. She also hosts One Strange Thing podcast that shares unexplainable stories found in American news archives.

Laurah has 15 years of research and writing experience as a former academic in literary fiction, creative nonfiction, and archival and primary research.

Laurah released Lay Them to Rest in 2023, a true-crime book that shares Laurah’s experience while assisting in identifying a Jane Doe homicide victim found in an Illinois state park in 1993.

More announcements coming soon.