Olivia Mode-Cater (she/her) is an industry leader in dance education and dance entrepreneurship, known for scaling 3 of the largest international dance brands.

Olivia is the Founder and CEO of Dance Ed Tips, the leading dance education resource company whose products are used by thousands of teachers and students in over 30 countries and all 50 states. Best known for her expertise in dance pedagogy, dance business profitability, marketing, and automation, Olivia has trained thousands of dance teachers, studio owners, and entrepreneurs worldwide. Her insights have been featured in Dance Teacher Magazine, Dance Business Weekly, Dance Studio Life Magazine, the Australian Dance Festival, and the Transform My Dance Studio Podcast.

Olivia is also the CEO of the Dance Studio Owners Association, the largest community of dance studio owners in the world where they help studio owners grow their businesses and reclaim their lives.

Previously, Olivia launched the marketing department at DanceStudio-Pro, the world's preeminent dance studio software. She led the team through a complete rebrand, strategic communication planning, and lead generation diversification and automation.

Her mission is to create the world's best training, resources, and technology for dance educators so they can transform their teaching and their business.

Helen Snelgrove (she/her) is the Chief Operations Officer (COO) at Dance Ed Tips, where she has been a key member of the DETeam since 2018. Before stepping into her leadership role, she served as an Executive Assistant, Content Creator, and Communications Manager, contributing to the organization's mission of supporting dance educators worldwide.

In addition to her work with DET, Helen has been a middle school dance educator in the San Francisco Unified School District for the past five years. She is deeply passionate about ensuring that all dance educators have the skills, confidence, and opportunities they need to succeed. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Performance from Mason Gross School of the Arts and an Ed.M. from Rutgers University, further strengthening her expertise in dance education and curriculum development.

Beyond the classroom, Helen has been actively involved in initiatives that foster community and student engagement. In 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic, she co-organized a book drive with Dee Holliday, collecting over 500 books to ensure that every middle school student at her school received a holiday gift. Her dedication to dance education also extends to professional development, having presented at the National Dance Education Organization (NDEO) Conferences in San Antonio, TX (2017) and Seattle, WA (2024).

Sophie McKie is a distinguished dance teacher, choreographer, competition judge, and digital artist with over 28 years of experience in the dance world. With 17 years of teaching expertise, Sophie has cultivated a reputation for excellence and innovation. She is renowned for her role as a judge in dance competitions, where her keen eye and extensive knowledge contribute to the development of emerging talent. As a digital artist, Sophie leverages her platform, Milibelle, to advocate for positive change within the dance industry, using her creative works to inspire and drive transformation. Her commitment to both education and advocacy underscores her dedication to advancing the art form and fostering a supportive, inclusive community.

Katie Wilber (she/her) is the Communications Coordinator at Dance Ed Tips as of 2021. Katie is also a dance teacher at Carroll County Dance Center. As a soloist and Company Member with Inlet Dance Theatre (Cleveland, OH) for 8 years, Katie toured regionally and nationally. Most notably, she performed at Jacob’s Pillow as part of the Inside/Out Series in 2016 and the leading role in the internationally renowned production of “What Do You Do With An Idea?” at the International Performing Arts for a Youth Conference in Philadelphia in 2020. At heart, Katie has always been a dance educator and has personally experienced the life changing growth that can happen in a dance class. Katie established the Newton D. Baker Dance Program and Student Dance Ensemble in 2017 and oversaw the program for 3 years. From 2014 - 2021, Katie was a lead competition program instructor for Ignite Dance Studio in Medina, OH. Katie has also served as a guest teacher at various dance studios in Ohio, Michigan, West Virginia, Virginia, and Tennessee. She also has had the privilege of being a guest choreographer winning multiple choreography awards throughout the Midwest region.Through her work as Inlet’s Social Media Coordinator, Katie discovered a love for arts administration. She now represents arts & entertainment organizations and artists globally, providing marketing and advertising strategy and execution. Katie truly loves working behind-the-scenes to provide knowledge, resources, and support for and about this art form and those working in the arts field. Originally from Newport, Tennessee, Katie graduated Summa Cum Laude with a bachelor’s degree in Theatre with a Dance focus and a minor in Interdisciplinary Writing and Speech from Middle Tennessee State University. Katie would like to thank all those who have helped her along the way, and especially for the support from her husband, Sean, her daughter, Eve, and her house full of furry friends (Cybil, Hurley, Desmo, Barry, and Norman)! 

Cortney King (she/her) is a Content Developer and Brand Ambassador for Dance Ed Tips.  Since 2003, she has been sharing her passion for dance, movement, and performance with dancers of all ages and levels.  Specializing in Tap, Hip Hop and Jazz, her students and choreography consistently place in the top 10 at numerous competitions.  Teaching is her true passion, and she is grateful to have been invited as a guest teacher to many studios.  As a member of the Detroit Tap Repertory performance company, Cortney performs consistently at small and large events throughout the year.  Continuing education and personal growth is another passion of hers.  Cortney is certified in STOTT Pilates and PBT (Progressing Ballet Technique), and believes true technique comes from understanding your body from the inside out.  Her calm and positive nature creates an encouraging and motivating atmosphere where dancers can feel safe to make mistakes, try new things and grow as movers and humans.  When she isn’t dancing in the studio, you can find her cooking and dancing in the kitchen with her husband and 3 fantastic kids! 

Kate Sommerhalter (she/her) is a career educator having taught preschool through college level classes in public, private, & charter schools in rural, suburban and urban settings where she has also been a content supervisor, curriculum director, assistant superintendent, & principal. Growing up in close proximity to New York City, her love of the arts began as a child frequently attending performances & visiting museums and galleries. This passion continued through her formal education where she pursued Shakespearian studies at Oxford University, fine and performing arts, educational administration, & the sciences. Her eye is always focused on multidisciplinary opportunities which highlight the joy of life-long learning.