Meet the 2020 Making Things Happen Encouragers!

Making Things Happen Conference is going online, and you're invited!! Read all about it here, and get ready to hear from each of these ladies online in July. They can't wait, and neither can we!

Have you ever wondered why we call the women onstage at the Making Things Happen Conference "encouragers" and not "speakers"? While it's true that you'll get to hear from them, learn from their stories, and soak up their wisdom both days of MTH, we switched up their title to recognize that they're not just talking at you, they're doing the work alongside you—and offering the encouragement of someone who's found success in the same struggles you might find yourself in along the way.

At MTH you’ll dig deep, but you won’t do it alone! Our founder, Lara Casey, will be there to walk you through every step of the process. In addition, we've asked eight incredible women to come alongside Lara and serve as our team of Encouragers. All of them are ready to help you uncover what matters most, and are looking forward to getting to know you throughout the two days (especially in the small-group breakout sessions they lead!).

Here's what else they're looking forward to, as well as some additional insight into the MTH experience:



Lara Casey
Website | Instagram

Lara is a grateful wife, mom to three (one through the gift of adoption), and an unlikely gardener. She's the creator of the PowerSheets® grace-filled goal planner, the founder of Southern Weddings magazine, and the author of Make It Happen and Cultivate. She loves living in Chapel Hill, NC and leading a team of 10 at Cultivate What Matters. 

What are you most looking forward to about the spring conference? I can't wait to meet everyone and spend two days digging deep about what matters—my favorite two days of the year!

What would you say to a gal who is thinking about joining us, but is still on the fence? Spending two day having a personal retreat to uncover what really matters in life and DO something about it is a rare gift. Spending two days out of the average 27,000 we are given in our lives will help you to live the rest of those days on purpose!

How would you describe the MTH Conference to someone who's never been? This is the guided brain space, margin, and time to think that you've been looking for!

What's one decision you made at MTH that has continued to resonate in your life? Every time I go through the Making Things Happen Conference I leave changed. This experience is like a fast-forward button to get to the good stuff of life. MTH always makes me double-down on what's important and live it out!

Hannah Brencher, 
Website | Instagram

Hannah is a writer, TED Speaker, and online educator with a heart for building leaders. She is the author of two best-selling books: If You Find This Letter and Come Matter Here. She is the founder of More Love Letters—a global organization using the power behind social media to write and mail letters to strangers in need across the world. Named as one of the White House’s “Women Working to Do Good,” Hannah and her work have been featured in publications including CNN World News, the Wall Street Journal, Oprah.com, and Glamour.

What are you most looking forward to about the spring conference? I am looking forward to the clarity women are going to experience throughout our time together. I know the hours spent at the Carolina Inn are going to translate into big decisions, crazy direction, and a chance to really reset and move forward.

What would you say to a gal who is thinking about joining us, but is still on the fence? I can speak as someone who was all sorts of nervous to make the commitment—it will be one of the best decisions you've ever made and it will set you up for the long-haul. 

How would you describe the MTH Conference to someone who's never been? It's everything you want (and didn't know you needed) out of a conference. It's the perfect blend of business meets real life, and it will be rest for your soul. This is a 48-hour chance to sit with yourself and dream for the future without distractions. Take it. You won't regret it. 

What's one decision you made at MTH that has continued to resonate in your life? I cannot even begin to fully tell people the change I experienced at MTH. Honestly, it changed the trajectory of my whole life. The life I am living now, five years since attending MTH, is completely attributed to the process that takes place during those two days. At MTH, I finally had clarity that I needed to move in a completely different direction from where I was headed. The clarity was scary, but I am so thankful I took the first big step through attending MTH.

Maghon Taylor
Website | Instagram

What are you most looking forward to about the spring conference? I LOVE being in this room. BIG changes, LIFE changes happen here, and even though I've been a part of this experience more than ten times, It just keeps getting better! 

What would you say to a gal who is thinking about joining us, but is still on the fence? YOU deserve to be here. If you keep waiting for the perfect time or the perfect month, you'll never feel 100% ready, but everyone who shows up that day is exactly who is supposed to be there. You'll never regret investing in YOU.  

How would you describe the MTH Conference to someone who's never been?This is hard work but it's heart work. It's unlike any other conference I've been to, but it's had the biggest impact on my life. MTH helps you dig deep and uncover so much beneath the surface that equips you to come home an even better mom, wife, and/or business owner.

What's one decision you made at MTH that has continued to resonate in your life? Opening my heart to getting engaged, married, and even having a baby!  My first time at MTH I felt undeserving of the blessings headed my way because of my past mistakes. I uncovered so many fears that were holding me back, and the work I did here helped me open my heart and allowed me to move forward with enthusiasm.  



Nancy Ray
Website | Instagram

Nancy is a believer, wife, mama, photographer, blogger, and speaker. She is the host of the Work and Play podcast, and she speaks regularly at several conferences and retreats, sharing her inspiration and foundations in building a successful business and a balanced life. 

What are you most looking forward to about the spring conference? A complete reset for myself personally! I typically go to MTH for my work and my business, but this year—it's all about my family, my health, my faith, and the things that truly matter. I get teary eyed just typing this because of how deeply this experience has impacted me through the years! MTH is always, again and again, refocusing me on what matters the most, and I can. not. WAIT.

What would you say to a gal who is thinking about joining us, but is still on the fence? If you need a time out on LIFE, if you need some breathing space to just look at your life from the outside in for a hot minute, you need to be here. There's no other conference like it. It's not about networking, it's not about building a grand business—this is an experience that is about building YOU. As a woman, wife, and a mother, MTH is a grounding, important experience that helps you create the life you want, and helps you be the person you want to be.

How would you describe the MTH Conference to someone who's never been? Two days without your cell phone, in a ballroom full of women who enter the room anxious, fearful, and sad... and leave empowered, grateful, and changed. A lot of writing in a journal with a real pen, getting out a lot of feelings and dreams and emotions and plans. Time and space to let all the things that are in your heart and brain just come out. It's pretty awesome.

What's one decision you made at MTH that has continued to resonate in your life? My morning routine was born out of MTH over a decade ago! I STILL DO IT. And it's a huge reason for my strong faith and determination to focus on the right things every day.



Shunta Grant
Website | Instagram

Shunta is a business educator helping women build business and life on the OTHER side of busy through teaching her signature 4-step Peace Pace Progress™ Framework.  The Peace Pace Progress framework teaches women how to create consistency, focus, and structure in their business so that they can execute specific goals that progress their business. Shunta is also the creator of Because of Zoe Designs, a hair bow company specializing in celebrating the joy of childhood and host of the Business, Life & Joy podcast.

What are you most looking forward to about the spring conference? A new group of women entering into an experience they will never forget!

What would you say to a gal who is thinking about joining us, but is still on the fence? Gift yourself this opportunity to sit and think about you—all of you. We spend so much time making sure everyone else is good and okay; give yourself the opportunity to do that for yourself.

How would you describe the MTH Conference to someone who's never been? It's an opportunity to sit and think about the things that you know matter, but that the busy-ness of life distracts you from. This conference gives you the time and space to focus on what matters most. You'll likely discover something that surprises you! So many of us have.

What's one decision you made at MTH that has continued to resonate in your life? For me, it's been a reinforcement to think big picture and make sure the decisions I make today are pointing me in the direction of where I want to end up years from now.



Gina Zeidler 
Website | Instagram

Gina Zeidler is a wedding and lifestyle photographer and encouragement enthusiast. When not behind a camera or chasing her son around, Gina leads with a big heart and there’s nothing she loves more than bringing LIFE out of people and capturing it on her camera. There’s nothing that lights her up more than sparking up a conversation and being vulnerable about faith, business, family, and living real life with her husband and little one.

What are you most looking forward to about the spring conference? Getting to be in a room of like-minded friends who are on a mission to grow and love bigger! To see the lightbulb moments of clarity flow through that room and encourage others on!

What would you say to a gal who is thinking about joining us, but is still on the fence? You belong here. If it's been on your heart and mind, come. This is for you and your heart! Be open and jump in! 

How would you describe the MTH Conference to someone who's never been? A sacred place to come and spend two days digging into the meat and heart of your life!! A privilege! This is a space for the things in the undercurrent of your life that you usually don't have time or perspective to see clearly and think about.

What's one decision you made at MTH that has continued to resonate in your life? I have learned that my failures aren't things that make or break me, and they're not things that define me. They are just lessons. They are a healthy and beautiful part of life! Perfection isn't the prize. Being present and alive is! 

Amber Housley
Website | Instagram

What she’s most excited for: I am most looking forward to embracing a new season! There are always new ideas and opportunities that are uncovered at MTH, and I love that the spring season is going to be such a timely season to implement them alongside new friends!“

Her encouragement for attendees: Come just as you are. Whether you’re feeling good in your current season or whether you feel like everything is a mess, you are welcome here! Get ready for two days of solid time focused on you and dozens of new friends who will be cheering you on long after we leave the MTH doors!



Katelyn James
Website | Instagram

Katelyn started her professional photography career as a junior in college and was shooting 25+ weddings annually within her second year. After growing her business and gaining recognition in national publications, she began teaching and coaching photographers. KJP now serves over 10,000 photographers with online education and digital resources and consists of 5 full-time team members. When Katelyn and her husband Michael aren't working, they are cherishing their time with their kids, Evy (2.5) and Graham (6 months). In 2018, Katelyn carried a precious baby boy to 31 weeks and lost him due to complications from Down Syndrome. Baby James' life and story has had an incredible impact on their family and their testimony. 

What are you most looking forward to about the spring conference? I'm looking forward to sharing pieces of my story, but I'm also looking forward to the incredible growth that I experience at every single MTH that I am a part of! 

Her encouragement for attendees: CHANGE CAN HAPPEN. I remember feeling SO stuck in my business and in the hamster wheel that I was running on. I am SO thankful that I’m not the same business owner that I was 3-4 years ago. I’m thankful that I’m not the same wife that I was before. Your circumstances don’t define the reality of your future, no matter how STUCK you feel!



Nicole Marie Melton
Website | Instagram

Nicole Marie Melton is the founder of Melton Digital where she provides education and resources for beauty industry professionals on content marketing, social media strategy, and digital media. A former beauty editor, Nicole is passionate about mentoring beauty bloggers, brands and professionals through her online community, Beauty Content Studio. Nicole is a proud graduate of Howard University and is currently pursuing a Master of Divinity from Howard, as well, and a proud mama to her three-year old son, Josiah Andrew.

What are you most looking forward to about the spring conference? Connecting with so many women who are pursuing their purpose! There’s nothing better than being in a room full of like-minded people to encourage you with inspiration and tangible advice on how to live your best life in business, motherhood, wellness, and beyond!

What would you say to a gal who is thinking about joining us, but is still on the fence? I would ask her, “what will it cost you NOT to attend?” Every time I make an investment into personal development, I'm able to reap that investment back double. We are heading into a new decade, and MTH will give you everything you need to create the life of your dreams! Also, the connections are truly priceless! We will be here for you well beyond the conference, so you're truly making an investment into relationships that will last a lifetime!

How would you describe the MTH Conference to someone who's never been? A family reunion mixed with a retreat with your best girlfriends. The moment you walk in the door, you'll feel like you're connecting with women you’ve known your whole life. It’s such a warm and welcoming environment right from the start!

What's one decision you made at MTH that has continued to resonate in your life? I still remember how powerful it was to give Lara my phone and put it in that box for the whole day of MTH! I don't think I had EVER been away from all the demands of life that happen on my phone. To this day, I have remembered how important it is to disconnect from the pings, notifications, calls, and emails to just focus on ME and my journey for the day. Even now, I put my phone in the kitchen for hour-long blocks so I can focus on what matters most for the day, whether it be spending time with my son or focusing on finishing a project for work.

We can't wait to meet you! MTH tickets go on sale TOMORROW, Wednesday, November 6th, and are 50% off for 48 hours only. 

Sign up to be notified about this and future conferences below!