FACES OF THE 2025 CONFERENCE
This Spotlight appeared in our July 2025 newsletter.
Jan & the Veterans
Jan is our current Patient Representative, and his “Veterans” have all earned their place on the stage by having each attended four conferences or more. Together these rock stars make up the heart of our Welcoming Committee! Jan brings grounding energy, a big smile, and a deep love for this community. For returning attendees, many of these conference vets will be familiar to you already. If this is your first time attending, expect the VIP treatment from the Welcoming Committee this year – they are guaranteed to make your first conference experience a top-charting HIT!
Scarlett: The Conference “Jeanette Whisperer”
This year, Scarlett’s back in action as Jeanette’s right hand. As everyone who plans events knows, people tend to have alter egos that come out when the big weekend comes around. With her background working with horses, we think (hope) she’ll have the skills to tame whatever Conference-zilla energy lies ahead! Scarlett first got involved thanks to her sister Sam and has quickly become a staple of the team. She’s worked multiple events and recently returned from studying abroad in Scotland – just in time to dive into pre-conference prep.
Where is she when she’s not keeping Jeanette on schedule? Riding showjumping horses in Wellington, FL or studying business in Providence, RI.
Special skill? Being constantly mistaken for Sam.
Dream breakout session? Equine therapy
Janna: Our Hotel Hero
Senior Event Manager
West Palm Beach Marriott
If she ever slowed down enough to be perceived by the human eye, you’d know Janna immediately by her flawless manicure and Girl Boss aura. She is most likely to be spotted leaving a room, with elegant solutions to problems (she would call them “opportunities”) that no one else even knew existed in her wake. Whether it’s finding an extra room or pulling off a last-minute “trail mix party” (yes, really – and all while in her own monogrammed chef’s jacket, from another glamourous life…), Janna handles every challenge with creativity, speed, and calm confidence.
Janna and her incredible team are the reasons the Foundation returns to this Marriott year after year, since July 2022. She says it’s unlike any other conference she hosts: “I feel more involved and truly part of the family.” With Janna’s enthusiasm and infectious zest for, well… everything, we wouldn’t have it any other way!
Favorite part of the VWD Connect Conference? The “Girl Talk” activity. It always makes my heart happy.
Mental wellness tip? I always like to say “organized chaos is my sweet spot,” this comes from bartending the majority of my life. However, my mental wellness go-to is listening to books on tape, it takes you to another universe, and is always helpful to me.