Carlos M. Llanes Jr. is the founder and CEO of Spartan Carrier Group, one of the most dynamic and fastest-growing logistics companies in North America. A U.S. Army combat veteran, accomplished executive, and man of deep Christian faith, Llanes has built Spartan into a powerhouse—closing in on $75 million in annual revenue in under three years, all without venture capital or outside investment.

Recognized as one of the Top 500 Largest Hispanic-Owned and Veteran-Owned Businesses in the United States, Llanes’ company has earned national attention for its rapid growth, operational excellence, and unwavering values. Spartan Carrier Group operates over 650+ assets across 12 locations in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, providing asset-based transportation, 3PL solutions, cross-border logistics, warehousing, and freight management.

Llanes’ leadership is shaped by four combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan with the 101st Airborne Division, and by a steadfast belief that his success is a direct result of his Christian faith. Guided by biblical principles of service, integrity, and stewardship, Carlos leads a mission-driven organization that prioritizes people over profit and purpose over prestige.

Spartan Carrier Group has earned the trust of major clients such as Toyota Motor North America, Foot Locker, Highland Dairy, and leading Tier-1 automotive suppliers. The company boasts a 98% on-time delivery rate and is at the forefront of nearshoring efforts, supporting over 24 million square feet of warehousing and cross-docking space through key alliances across the U.S.–Mexico border.
More than a logistics company, Spartan is a movement—one powered by faith, forged in discipline, and focused on revolutionizing the supply chain industry. As Llanes continues to scale his operations and influence, he stands as a rising star in logistics, a bold entrepreneur, and a living testament to the power of purpose-driven leadership.

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In 2010, I received a call from the hospital that would alter the course of my entire life. The nurse on the other end of the line said bluntly: “You need to stop telling my patients about nutrition.”I was a Home Health Physical Therapist at the time and had just discovered the vast world of nutrition. More specifically, I discovered how poor nutrition was linked to many of the health issues my patients were dealing with. So of course, I started telling them about it… I explained how gluten and dairy were big inflammatory foods. How sugar plays a role in things like high blood pressure, inflammation, and chronic disease. How toxic oils like canola and sunflower oil result in inflamed, calcified arteries. So when I received that life-altering call, I knew I had to do something more...So it began…In addition to the nutrition seminars that my wife and I were already hosting, I began researching whole-food nutrition products that would make people feel better. That’s when I stumbled upon this thing called collagen…And on that day—June 6, 2017—NativePath was born.

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Based in St. Louis, Michael Lazaroff is one of the most successful entrepreneurs in jazz. As the director of Entertainment Cruise Productions, he oversees The Jazz Cruise, The Smooth Jazz Cruise and the most recently added Blue Note at Sea cruise. A former attorney, the energetic Lazaroff came into the business in 2000 when Norwegian Cruise Lines discontinued its jazz cruise and his mother Anita Berry, who ran a travel agency that serviced the jazz trips, said that she wanted to start her own jazz-themed cruise. The company, which initially started with the Jazz Cruise, has grown to now host five different theme cruises, including a Star Trek cruise and an 80s music one. Since 2001, Entertainment Cruise Productions has produced more than 70 full ship theme charters, entertained more than 125,000 guests and presented thousands of artists, musicians and performers.

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Courtney Lightfoot began her journey with Squeegee Squad, a window-washing company, as an executive assistant and worked her way up to her current position as CEO. Squeegee Squad was founded by brothers Jack and Joe Ruegsegger in Minnesota. Initially named Jack & Joe’s Window Cleaning, the company grew from local roots to a national franchise. Squeegee Squad specializes in residential and commercial window cleaning, high-rise jobs, and building restoration services. Their commitment to quality work and customer service has helped them expand to over 60 locations across the United States. Lightfoot emphasizes the importance of trust and support within the franchise, likening it to a family

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Ilan Sobel has been the CEO of BioHarvest Sciences since July 2020. Ilan has brought the company’s first product, VINIA, to North America, building a direct-to-consumer machine that is now generating significant revenues. VINIA’s go-to-market success has established a template for the company’s near-term product pipeline of nutraceutical plant cell banks. In addition to commercial focus and planning, Ilan has scaled production capabilities from R+D up to industrial levels, and is building a biotech company with novel, and even patentable plant-based products that are based on science and backed by clinical trials.. Prior to BioHarvest, Ilan served for 6 years at Weissbeerger, as both Chief Operating Officer and then Chief Commercial Officer. In this capacity, Ilan played a major leadership role in building a disruptive BIG Data, IOT & Software Company servicing major Beverage players which was ultimately purchased by Anheuser Busch InBev. Previously, Ilan served an 18 year stint as an International Employee of The Coca-Cola Company, where he played a pivotal role in key senior leadership positions generating significant revenue and profit growth and improving brand health trends across diverse global markets including the United States, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines and South Africa.

• COMPANY WEBSITE: https://bioharvest.com/
• CEO LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilansobel/

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Robin Ganzert, Ph.D., serves as president and CEO of American Humane, the country’s first national humane organization and the first to serve animals, whenever and wherever they are in need of rescue, shelter or protection. She is the executive producer of the acclaimed documentary, Escape from Extinction, narrated by Dame Helen Mirren, and its follow-up, Escape from Extinction Rewilding, which features narration by Oscar winner Meryl Streep. She is also the executive producer of the annual American Humane Hero Dog Awards which aired for ten years on Hallmark Channel and most recently aired on A&E and fyi networks. Additionally, she is the author of The Humane Table: Cooking with Compassion, Mission Metamorphosis and Animal Stars. Her next book, Escape from Extinction, is set to come out in 2025. Dr. Ganzert serves on the board of Loro Parque Foundation, the Lois Pope LIFE Foundation and is a member of The Explorers Club, the Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce Trustee Program, and the International Women’s Forum. She has been awarded the prestigious Gorilla Prize by world-renowned zoological organization Loro Parque for her efforts in conservation. 

Dr. Ganzert is frequently highlighted in prominent national news and media platforms as an authoritative advocate for animals. In the recent season, she made appearances on shows like Good Morning America, Fox & Friends, Fox News Saturday Night, and America’s Newsroom, among others. During her tenure at American Humane, she has been a guest on broadcast outlets such as the TODAY Show, MSNBC, World News Tonight, CNN, and Fox Business News, to name a few. Additionally, her insights have been featured in major newspapers, including The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times, and the Boston Globe. 

Under her leadership, American Humane continues to earn recognition for its commitment to transparency, accountability, efficiency, and financial responsibility. Thanks to this dedication, American Humane is a top-rated charity having earned, for six years, Charity Navigator’s “FourStar” rating; the “Seal of Excellence” from Independent Charities of America – awarded to fewer than three percent of charities nationwide; an “A” rating from Great Nonprofits; and is one of the few charities that meet all of the Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance 20 Standards for charity accountability

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Charlie Youakim is a serial technology entrepreneur with over a decade of experience driving fintech companies to success. He is the Co-founder, Executive Chairman, and CEO of Sezzle, a leading Buy Now. Pay Later platform that empowers consumers to gain financial freedom. Previously, he founded Passport, a pioneering software and payments service that transformed the transportation industry.

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