Our Society Executives/Instructors

ADDITIONAL DETAILS:
LAURIE HARTWELL is a transformational wedding industry educator and inspirational speaker who has dedicated her career to empowering wedding professionals around the globe through CWP Society—the world's leading wedding planner certification program and largest membership of wedding professionals. As a sought-after presenter at premier industry events, she shares her expertise with organizations like The Knot Worldwide, Aisle Academy, Wedding MBA, Book More Weddings Summit, and Timeline Genius, inspiring countless professionals to elevate their craft and grow their businesses.
Drawing from over three decades of hands-on experience since 1993, Laurie has orchestrated weddings and special events for celebrities and thousands of couples across every style and budget imaginable. This extensive real-world experience became the foundation for creating a thriving global community where wedding professionals lift each other up and grow together.
Laurie's dedication to the wedding industry has earned her numerous accolades, including multiple wedding planner awards and The Knot Worldwide's prestigious "Most Helpful Mentor" award—a testament to her unwavering commitment to supporting fellow professionals.
KRISY THOMAS is the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the CWP Society, and owner of Southern Sparkle Wedding & Event Planning. She is also a Master Certified Wedding Planner through the Certified Wedding Planner Society. Southern Sparkle Wedding & Event Planning is an award-winning wedding planning team with locations in Nashville, Jackson, and Memphis, Tennessee. Southern Sparkle’s work has been featured in wedding publications and blogs such as: - Better Homes & Gardens - MidSouth Bride - MOD Weddings - Classic Bride - Ruffled Blog - The Wedding Playbook - Southern Bride Blog - and more! Southern Sparkle was also named one of The Nashville Scene’s Best of Nashville Wedding/Event Planners.
Certified Society Educators
Industry Advancement Directors