The NCS Enrichment Conference

2025 Conference Speakers

Tim Wenzel

Tim Wenzel, the Creator of The Kindness Games and Associate Managing Director of Enterprise Security Risk Management at Kroll, is a global security executive, international keynote speaker and thought leader in the security, leadership, and wellness industries. As a highly regarded Coach & Mentor, he has a passion to transform the existing paradigms of leadership and risk management while building highly effective teams and joyful environments for them to experiment and thrive within. Tim works extensively with UHNW families. He built the executive protection and residential security programs at Facebook/Meta, worked for the Saudi Royal family, and has helped families escape domestic violence, managed their stalking cases, and equipped them to overcome their trauma and learn to thrive again. Tim is a leadership columnist with the Security Journal Americas magazine and a sought-after SME in Enterprise Security Risk Management (ESRM). He helped lead the effort to codify it as the official risk doctrine within ASIS International as the Outreach & Education Lead on the 2017 ESRM Steering Committee. In 2024, Tim was named a Top 40 Thought Leader in the global security industry by the Life Safety Alliance. In the same year, Security Journal America named him as one of their 20 influencers and featured him in their February issue. In 2023, Tim co-authored a book entitled: The Kindness Games: How a Single Post Changed Our Mindset about Community. In 2022, Tim was named a Global Influencer & Thought Leader in the Security Industry by IFSEC International, and he was profiled by US Veterans magazine. He also became an Executive Fellow at WiLD Leaders, specializing in Industrial-Organizational Psychology, leadership, team development, and coaching. He is noted in business for his problem-solving skills, which stem from his background in healthcare. By properly identifying the root causes of risk, Tim and his teams create a bridge between opportunity and risk for businesses.

Tim will be presenting on Managing Adversarial People and Personalities.

Aakash Goel

Enginehire has been serving the newborn care industry for over eight years, offering customizable software solutions while gaining a deep understanding of the unique challenges businesses in this field face. Their commitment goes beyond software by providing a genuine partnership that adapts to their clients' specific needs. Enginehire delivers user-friendly solutions supported by a dedicated team focused on helping clients grow. From simplifying bookings and payments to streamlining scheduling, Enginehire is there every step of the way to help businesses thrive.

Aakash will be presenting on What is a CRM and How Can it Transform Your Newborn Care Business?

Monica Bykov

Monica Bykov is a Registered Nurse, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), and Cache Certified Newborn Care Specialist with over 25 years of experience in maternal and newborn care. Her journey began in 2003 as an LVN in a local hospital, working in L&D, Nursery, and Postpartum units while training as an Emergency Cesarean Section Scrub Tech. She later joined Maxim Healthcare, specializing in critically ill infants, and collaborated with pediatricians to provide proactive home health postpartum care, helping new parents navigate breastfeeding, newborn health, and safe living conditions. After the birth of her fourth child, Monica worked in the Nursery, Postpartum, and NICU units at West Hills Hospital and became a surrogate for a family she deeply cherishes. Today, Monica continues to educate and support families through her Baby Nurse Business, as the founder and inventor of The Butterfly Swaddle, and by maintaining her RN license with ongoing education. Her passion for helping families is rooted in her personal experiences as a mother of four, a surrogate, and a dedicated advocate for maternal and newborn well-being, making her life's greatest achievement second only to her role as a wife and mother.

Monica will be presenting on how to meaningfully and easily support a nursing parent with Lisa Myers.

Lisa Myers

Lisa Myers is the Founder of Ceres Chill, a company dedicated to ensuring the success of breastfeeding parents and the health of the world’s most vulnerable infants. In just the last few years, Lisa became a mother of two, was promoted to equity partner at an international law firm and created a company - all while enduring universal breastfeeding challenges. She struggled and failed to meet her breastfeeding goals. Through her struggles, she was inspired to invent a patented breast milk chilling thermos to help women all over the world keep their breastmilk safe and achieve their breastfeeding goals. She will never stop advocating for working women and breastfeeding families.

Lisa will be presenting on how to meaningfully and easily support a nursing parent with Monica Bykov.

Dr. Ken Cooper

Dr. Ken’s journey into chiropractic care began during his early years at Chiropractic college, where he had the privilege of being introduced to the esteemed Dr. Larry Webster. It was during his wife’s pregnancies and the subsequent care provided by Dr. Webster to both his wife and newborn babies that Dr. Ken’s passion for maternal, infant, and pediatric chiropractic care was ignited.

During his tenure at Life University in Marietta, GA, Dr. Ken actively participated in seminars focused on the intricate art of perinatal and pediatric chiropractic care. Upon graduation, he returned to his home in Michigan, entered into practice, and wasted no time in pursuing his fellowship in Pediatric Chiropractic from the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA), concurrently attaining four other pediatric certifications, including the Webster Technique.

Driven by a relentless pursuit of excellence, Dr. Ken immersed himself in the teachings of Drs. Rosen and Watson, pioneers in pediatric chiropractic care. He became an early adopter of their methodologies, participating eagerly in Pediatric Certification seminars. Dr. Ken’s unwavering commitment to learning and mastering techniques, particularly within the Peak Potential Institute, culminated in him being one of the inaugural two doctors certified in Pediatric Cranial Adjusting by Drs. Rosen and Watson.

Dr. Ken is dedicated to transforming the lives of children and families through his profound knowledge and skill.

Dr. Ken will be one of our Panelists on Functional Health and Well-Being of Newborns.

Carrie Dean

Carrie Dean is an experienced International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) and Infant Craniosacral Therapist (CST) with a strong background in providing therapeutic support to diverse families. She specializes in addressing complicated infant feeding challenges and is recognized for her ability to create tailored care plans that foster positive outcomes for both babies and parents.

With a deep passion for natural healthcare practices, Carrie emphasizes a holistic approach to feeding comfort, coaching families on how to “listen” to their baby’s needs. She provides guidance on at-home exercises designed to optimize infant comfort and feeding success. Her expertise extends beyond one-on-one support, as she is also skilled in conducting educational classes, leading mothers’ groups, and developing breastfeeding resources for both patients and the broader community.

Known for her collaborative spirit and adaptive problem-solving, Carrie works closely with families and healthcare teams to ensure the best possible care for newborns. As an Advanced Craniosacral Therapist, she integrates gentle bodywork techniques into her practice, helping to alleviate tension and enhance overall feeding experiences. Her dedication to education and advocacy in infant feeding makes her a valuable resource for new and expecting parents.

Carrie will be one of our Panelists on Functional Health and Well-Being of Newborns.

Michelle Mintz

Michelle Mintz, M.S., CCC-SLP, is a distinguished Speech-Language Pathologist with over 25 years of experience in early childhood development and adult cognitive health. She founded MEET MICHELLE MINTZ to empower families in nurturing communication, connection, and cognitive development from infancy through adulthood. Michelle’s special gift lies in her ability to unlock the doors of communication. Her innovative programs, like Baby Blooming Moments and Parenting 911, offer personalized coaching to integrate enriching activities into daily routines, fostering strong brain connections, reducing behavioral issues, and strengthening family bonds.

In addition to her expertise with children, Michelle's significant roles at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and UCLA Medical Center, helped her design specialized programs in adult cognitive health, focusing on nourishing, retaining, and maintaining brain health. Her Cognitive Health programs are designed to enhance brain function through cognitive exercises that promote long-term brain health.

Michelle holds a Master's degree from Boston University and is certified by ASHA. She authored "All Done Binky!", co-hosts "This, That...Let's Chat!", and speaks at national conferences. Inspired by her adult son, Michelle blends personal passion with professional dedication to support families from infancy to adulthood. Her comprehensive approach promotes exceptional development and strengthens family connections. Outside of her work, Michelle enjoys yoga, gardening, painting, and spending time with her Japanese Spitz, Skyler.


Michelle will be one of our Panelists on Functional Health and Well-Being of Newborns.

Christina Conte

Christina Conte is a licensed and certified Speech-Language Pathologist, Certified Neonatal Therapist, and Swallow & Pediatric Feeding Specialist. She is the owner of The Feeding Fix and a devoted mom.

Originally from Brooklyn, New York, Christina has called Arizona home since 2002. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from New York University in 2002 and a Master of Science in Communication Disorders from Arizona State University in 2008.

With nearly two decades of experience, Christina has worked extensively in medical settings, including NICUs and PICUs, supporting premature infants, toddlers, and children. She has also treated adults with various medical diagnoses in hospital and rehabilitation settings.

In 2023, Christina founded her private home-based therapy practice, The Feeding Fix, inspired by her personal journey with her son’s early feeding struggles. This experience deepened her understanding of how essential it is for families to feel supported, heard, and empowered when navigating feeding challenges.

Christina is passionate about providing high-quality, compassionate, and timely services that equip families with the knowledge and skills to promote positive, long-term feeding and mealtime success.

The Feeding Fix serves infants, toddlers, and their families across the Valley, addressing pediatric feeding and swallowing difficulties with expertise and care.

Christina will be one of our Panelists on Functional Health and Well-Being of Newborns.

Mary Farrelly

Mary Farrelly is a certified NICU nurse, professionally trained doula, nurse educator, and mom of two. She is also the founder of The NICU Translator, where she helps bring more joy and less trauma to the NICU experience through empowered education and individualized virtual NICU doula support.

With over a decade of experience as a Level IV NICU nurse and nurse educator, Mary has supported hundreds of NICU families, both at the bedside and during the transition home. She has developed and taught a comprehensive curriculum for new nurses, drawing on her expertise in neonatal pathophysiology and best practices.

Her work has been instrumental in preparing healthcare providers, doulas, and other support professionals to deliver exceptional care to the most vulnerable infants and their families.

Mary will be presenting a bonus session on From Crisis to Comfort: How YOU Can Impact a Family's NICU Experience. *Additional Cost

Candi Vajana

Candi Vajana, the 2017 International Nanny of the Year and founder of The Experienced Nanny, brings over 30 years of expertise in childcare and family dynamics. Transitioning from hands-on childcare to consulting and training, she specializes in the soft skills essential for fostering harmonious home environments. Her work supports families, nannies, and agencies in areas such as onboarding, scheduling, and team coordination.

With an international upbringing and a lifelong passion for childcare, Candi's journey has taken her across the globe. Born in Sicily to a British mother and Italian father, she grew up in Italy and Turkey before moving to the UK at 18. She trained as an N.N.E.B. nanny, earning Student of the Year honors in 1992, and later became a qualified newborn care specialist, potty trainer, and Montessori teacher. Her experience extends to working with high-profile and ultra-high-net-worth families worldwide.

Currently based in Northern California, Candi continues to offer tailored consulting, mentorship, and travel chaperone services through The Experienced Nanny, ensuring families and caregivers thrive. When not working, she indulges her love for travel and the occasional urge to rearrange furniture—much to the amusement of her husband.

Candi will be presenting a bonus session on The ROTA System Meets High Net Worth Clientele: Elevating Elite Newborn Care. *Additional Cost 
Due to the overwhelming response and limited seatings, refunds will not be issued for this exclusive event.
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