Pre-registration is now closed. Walk-ins will be available!

Join the Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce for our monthly breakfast on Wednesday, December 6, 2017 at Palm Beach Gardens Marriott. This event is presented by Discover the Palm Beaches.

This event will include guest speakers from the tourism industry, such as Discover the Palm Beaches and other tourism industry professionals, moderated by Jack Lighton of Loggerhead Marinelife Center.

Learn more about the speakers:

Roger Amidon - General Manager, Palm Beach Marriott Singer Island Beach Resort & Spa
Roger Amidon has served as general manager of Palm Beach Marriott Singer Island Beach Resort & Spa since 2012.  Marriott International named him "Franchised General Manager of the Year" for its Eastern Region Full Service Hotels/Resorts in 2015.  

Amidon is responsible for the successful operation of Palm Beach County's only AAA Four-Diamond all-suite beachfront hotel, which, at 193 rooms, boasts a prime location on its own private beach on Singer Island, and amenities including the acclaimed 3800 Ocean restaurant and the elegant Condé Nast award-winning SiSpa. Under Amidon's expert leadership, Palm Beach Marriott Singer Island was named one of Marriott International's "Full Service Hotels of the Year" in the Eastern Region for 2015.  

A longtime Palm Beach resident, Amidon has worked 25 years with the Marriott Brand and near 30 years in the hospitality sector. Prior to joining the resort, he served for three-years as Executive Director of the Tourist Development Council of Palm Beach County. As head of the county's tourism development efforts, Amidon focused on promoting and managing tourism-related agencies and activities in Palm Beach County. Prior to that, he served Marriott in roles including Area General Manager for Marriott Palm Beach Gardens, Boca Raton Renaissance and Fort Lauderdale Marriott North. His regional tenure included general manager positions for the Delray Beach Marriott and Sheraton at CityPlace. Prior to migrating to Florida from the Northeast, he managed a number of other hotels, including independent ski resorts.

Amidon provides leadership and involvement in a variety of industry and community organizations. Current and past positions include:  Executive Director of the Tourist Development Council; Chairman of the Palm Beach County Convention and Visitors Bureau; President of the Palm Beach County Hotel & Lodging Association.; President of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (Palm Beach Chapter); and board memberships with Singer Island Civic Association and Loggerhead Marinelife Center, Riviera Beach Business Council, and Coalitions to Senior Leaders and Interns.

When not working or volunteering, Amidon enjoys golf, fishing, travel with his family and indulging in his passion for classic cars. Amidon who has been married to Tina for 28 years has two children and resides in Tequesta.

Connie Kartell - Marketing and Events Director, Harbourside Place
Connie Kartell holds a Bachelor of Science degree, cultivating a career in many different industries. Hailing from Oklahoma, Connie relocated and secured multiple roles in the theater and film industry in New York City, where she gained an affinity for the fine arts.  When she is not enjoying her three granddaughters you can often find her at Harbourside Place in her current role as the Marketing and Events Director.   Connie has lent her expertise in marketing and event planning to many charitable organizations she is close to:  Woman and Man of the Year for Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Habitat for Humanity, Chasin A Dream Foundation, Little Smiles, Furry Friends, and Big Dog Ranch Rescue to name a few.

Brett Laiken - Associate Vice President, Integrated Marketing, Discover The Palm Beaches
​Brett Laiken is the Associate Vice President of Integrated Marketing at Discover The Palm Beaches. In this role he oversees a team of digital marketers focused on Discovers website, eMail marketing, CRM, and graphics, as well as two advertising agency partners responsible for all paid media and creative. Prior to joining the organization, Laiken worked for 15+ years in advertising agencies, partnering with clients that include AT&T, Bridgestone, Proctor & Gamble, American Cancer Society and PGA National.
 
A native of New Jersey, and graduate of both University of Delaware (BS) and Palm Beach Atlantic University (MBA), Laiken now resides in Wellington with his wife, chasing around their two young children. 

Moderator:
Jack Lighton - President & CEO, Interim Director of Development, Loggerhead Marinelife Center
Jack Lighton is the President & CEO of Loggerhead Marinelife Center (LMC), one of Palm Beach County’s most visited cultural destinations.  Mr. Lighton joined LMC in 2013 and has management purview over the center’s entire ecosystem which includes the management of the Juno Beach Pier and the Center’s partnership with Manatee Lagoon.  Annually LMC’s campuses welcome over 500,000 guests.
 
Since joining the center, Mr. Lighton and his team have transformed LMC’s structure and realigned the Board to better support the center’s vision: “To be recognized locally and internationally as the leading authority in sea turtle education, research and rehabilitation.” 
 
Under Mr. Lighton’s leadership, the center has more than doubled annual revenues, significantly increased memberships, programming, and conservation impact; locally and globally.  In 2017 LMC launched their “Waves of Progress” capital expansion campaign, which is designed to transform LMC’s campus, hospital, and research laboratory.
 
Prior to joining LMC, Mr. Lighton was Senior Vice President at Harris Interactive (a Nielsen Company) where he managed the firm’s global management consulting division, his offices and teams were based in New York, London, and Singapore.

In addition to his role at LMC, Mr. Lighton is the co-founder of the North American Veterinary Heart Center, the most advanced cardiac and open heart hospital for dogs and cats, based in Jupiter, Florida.