Mark Bowden is a leading authority on body language and communication, ranked the world’s top body language professional by Global Gurus. A bestselling author and founder of TRUTHPLANE®, he works with global leaders, Fortune 500 companies and top organizations to build trust, enhance communication and drive results.

JB Ryan is a speaker, author, and passionate advocate for impactful communication. She is the Senior Director of Chain Sales for Molson Coors Beverage Company’s West Region, where she leads a high-performing team and drives growth across one of the company’s largest regions.

With more than 25 years of experience spanning education, journalism, and marketing and sales leadership—and more than 5,000 presentations—JB has learned what it takes to move beyond simply speaking and truly connect with an audience.

She is the author of Say It With Impact: Seven Keys to Present with Confidence, a practical guide designed to help professionals communicate with confidence, clarity, and purpose. Her approach combines mindset, presence, body language, breath, voice, and authentic connection to help speakers bring their messages to life.

Today, JB helps leaders and professionals turn everyday presentations into opportunities to connect, influence, and lead—because when you communicate with impact, you don’t just deliver a message. You create momentum.

Craig Purser serves as the leading advocate for America’s more than 3,000 independent beer & beverage distributors. In this role, Purser is responsible for the strategic development and tactical execution of the association’s mission in the areas of government, public, industry and political affairs. He has led the charge to strengthen the three-tier system of beer distribution and state-based alcohol regulation.

During his tenure at NBWA, Purser has been a consensus builder among industry partners, control advocates, public health activists and elected leaders. Under Purser’s leadership, NBWA worked with a wide variety of stakeholders to help Congress pass the Sober Truth on Preventing (STOP) Underage Drinking Act. This meaningful legislation emphasizes the primary responsibility of the states to regulate alcohol as afforded them by the 21st Amendment, addresses health and safety issues related to underage drinking and authorizes grants to support innovative efforts.

A veteran of Capitol Hill and numerous political campaigns, Purser served on the staff of former U.S. Senator and Assistant Majority Leader Don Nickles (OK) and managed the successful election of U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe (OK). Purser has been recognized by the leading association publication CEO Update as a Top Association CEO and as a Top Association Lobbyist by The Hill newspaper. In 2002, he earned the Certified Association Executive (CAE) credential from the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) and was recognized as a Young and Aspiring Association Professional by Association TRENDS magazine.

Purser serves as a trustee for the U. S. Capitol Historical Society and the Center for Alcohol Policy (CAP). He also serves as a member of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Association Committee of 100, the ASAE’s Key Industry Association Committee (KIAC), the Association Executives Council of the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors (NAW) and is the past Chair of the Bryce Harlow Foundation’s Board of Governors. He has served as a guest lecturer at the University of North Carolina, the George Washington University and the University of Oklahoma.

A native of Oklahoma, Purser is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma. He and his wife, Gretchen, reside in Alexandria, Virginia, and have three children.

Laurie Knight leads the association’s lobbying team, directs the association’s federal advocacy efforts and plays a key role in advancing the association’s member-focused agenda on behalf of America’s 3,000 independent beer distributors.

Prior to joining NBWA in 2013, Knight served as the senior vice president, government affairs for the Association of American Railroads. She also spent more than five years as the executive vice president of government affairs for the National Association of Broadcasters.

Before gaining significant experience in the communications and transportation industries, Knight served as Washington representative and director of government affairs at NBWA from 1999 through 2005.

As a veteran association executive, Knight has a proven track record in advancing advocacy agendas, building coalitions and navigating complicated policy challenges.

Knight also has served on Capitol Hill, having worked as legislative director for then Representative Jim Turner (TX). She also practiced law in Texas and is licensed in Texas and California.

Knight is a graduate of Pepperdine University School of Law and Southern Methodist University.