2026 Education Forum Breakout Speakers
We were pleased to welcome the following breakout speakers at the 2026 Education Forum, each of whom brought valuable insights and expertise to this year’s engaging sessions.
EJ Corporan, Director, Growth and Marketing, Ansera
EJ Corporan leads growth and communications at Ansera, where he helps brands design experiences that drive measurable connection, clarity and impact. With more than a decade of experience across aviation, technology and live events, EJ has built and led global event strategies for Fortune 500 companies and high-growth organizations.
Throughout his career, he has developed experiences alongside globally recognized brands and talent, including collaborations connected to the PGA Tour, the U.S. Olympic Ski and Snowboard team, Barrett-Jackson, NetJets and Big Machine Label Group. His work has brought him into projects with artists such as Keith Urban, Reba McEntire and Kelly Clarkson, shaping moments that blend entertainment, brand storytelling and audience engagement.
EJ is a frequent speaker on the psychology of event strategy, audience engagement and the science behind impactful experiences. He is particularly passionate about helping event leaders move beyond logistics to design moments that create lasting resonance.
Dr. Tyler J. De Haan, CFP, Director, Advanced Sales, Sammons Institutional Group
Tyler is responsible for speaking to financial advisor audiences on advanced financial planning concepts and behavioral strategies. Tyler is also responsible for developing educational content to be used by financial advisors. Tyler has over two decades of experience in the Financial Planning Industry and joined Sammons Financial Group in 2022.
Tyler received his undergraduate degree in political science from Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa, his master’s in public administration from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa and his master of science degree in personal financial planning from the College of Financial Planning in Denver, Colorado. Tyler received his Ph.D. in economic policy with honors from Liberty University. Tyler’s Ph.D research focused on Behavioral Economic Theory and taxes.
Tyler has been featured on several industry webcasts on topics such as Social Security, Medicare, Taxation and Retirement Income Strategies. Tyler was also named by the Des Moines Business Record 40 under 40 and was a finalist for the Des Moines Young Professional’s Young Professional of the Year award. Tyler also received the Alumni of the Year Award presented by the Waukee Leadership Institute for his service to the community. Tyler has also obtained and has the right to use the CFP® designation from the CFP Board of Standards and the ChFC® designation from the American College of Financial Planning. He has passed the Series 7, 66, 24, 4 and 53 and life, health and disability license exams, along with the CMFC®, CRPC® and AAMS ® designations from the College of Financial Planning. He has also passed the Certified Tax Specialist designation from the Institute of Business and Finance.
When Tyler is not studying and researching, he enjoys spending time with his wife and children, engaging in their many community and school activities.
Mthabisi Mhlanga, CEO and Founder, Speak Up Consulting
Mthabisi Mhlanga is a Zimbabwean-born, Toronto-based keynote speaker, public speaking coach and TEDx speaker who helps professionals find their voice in the moments that matter most. As the founder of Speak Up Consulting, he has worked with organizations including Scotiabank, Maxwell Leadership and Toronto Metropolitan University's DMZ, one of North America's leading startup incubators, where he serves as an expert in residence.
A former KPMG auditor and CPA, Mthabisi brings a uniquely analytical lens to communication, helping professionals understand not just how to speak, but what the cost of staying silent really is. He reached the quarterfinals of the World Championship of Public Speaking in 2022 and delivered his TEDx talk at McMaster University on the real antidote to speaking anxiety.
James Spellos, President, Meeting U.
James Spellos is the President of Meeting U. whose mission is to help people become more productive and comfortable with technology. Smart Meetings named Jim as one of their Smart Speakers in 2025. In 2024, Meetings Today magazine named Jim one of the Meeting Industry trendsetters for his “AI Education with Integrity” commitment. He was also named a trendsetter for them in 2015 as well. In 2022, Meeting Professionals International included Jim on their most influential list in the hospitality industry in honor of their 50th anniversary celebration. He was a faculty member at New York University for 25 years, receiving both the Award for Teaching Excellence and the Outstanding Service Award. Jim was previously named one of the Meeting Industry’s trendsetters by Meetings Today magazine in 2015.
Jim is on the Board of Directors for Rock and Wrap It Up, an anti-poverty, anti-hunger organization that recovers excess food from events. Jim co-created their Whole Earth Calculator app. He also speaks about food recovery and sustainability at events. In 2018 and 2019, BizBash named Jim one of their top 500 people in events for his work in sustainability. He has a certificate in Plant-Based Nutrition from the T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutritional Studies, is a certified Food for Life instructor through the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine and is on the staff of Plant Powered Metro New York, helping to educate people about a healthy diet and lifestyle, which helped to save his own life. In 2024, PPMNY chose Jim as their Grassroots Champion.
Jim is an accomplished musician and songwriter who released his first solo album, Stroke of Genius in 2020.