Self-Employment in the Arts (Conferences & Resources)

We are excited to welcome Mike Veny as our opening keynote to SEA this Saturday.

Here's a great video from him as we start to enter a very busy holiday season: Mental Health During the Holidays: 3 Simple Strategies to Stay Sane!

Mental Health During the Holidays: 3 Simple Strategies to Stay Sane! Here's the “Mental Health During the Holidays: 3 Simple Strategies to Stay Sane!” to help with stress, anxiety, and depression around the holidays. ⭐️ This F...

🎨✨ ART MEETS BUSINESS at ! ✨🎶

🚀 In just over TWO WEEKS, 30+ creative pros will take the stage at the Self-Employment in the Arts Conference to share real stories, practical insights, and proven strategies to help YOU turn passion into a sustainable, thriving career.
🎤 Whether you’re behind the mic, the lens, the canvas, or the mixing board — this is your space to grow your creative career with purpose.

📅 November 15–16, 2025
📍 North Central College | Naperville, IL

🔥 What to expect:
🎭 Inspiring panels & hands-on workshops
💡 Real advice from working creatives
💰 Strategies for building multiple income streams
🤖 Deep dives into the evolving role of AI in the arts
🤝 A creative community that gets you

From musicians to makers, performers to painters — SEA 2025 is where art and entrepreneurship collide.

🌟 Don’t just dream it. Build it.
👉 Explore the lineup & register now: selfemploymentinthearts.com/conference

Tag a fellow creative who needs to see this 👇

Conference | SEA Two days jam packed with engaging activities focused on making a living as a professional creative. From large keynote sessions to hands-on learning opportunities to one-on-one mentoring, you'll be exposed to an arts business eco system you won't find anywhere else. Whether you're looking to explore...

- Jonelle Marie Carter | River Road Trio

Jonelle Marie Carter is an accomplished speaker, singer-songwriter, and entrepreneur whose journey is defined by resilience, creativity, and purpose. With more than 3,000 appearances over nearly three decades in the music and beauty industries, she brings a rare blend of authenticity, inspiration, and practical insight to every stage.

A published songwriter since the age of eight and DSN’s most downloaded artist in 2005, Jonelle is also the creative force behind River Road Trio—writing all of the group’s original music while managing its media, bookings, and public presence. After surviving a rare form of cancer that briefly silenced her voice, she went on to launch multiple ventures centered around women’s empowerment, holistic wellness, and leadership development.

Jonelle has been invited to speak at events hosted by the Illinois Bankers Association, The Power of Her, and other organizations committed to growth and inclusion. Through her signature GLOW programs, she helps individuals reconnect with their voice and lead with clarity, confidence, and purpose.

Today, Jonelle continues to inspire audiences nationwide through music, storytelling, and transformational speaking.

Learn more about how you can join this incredible event here: https://www.selfemploymentinthearts.com/conference

SEA is funded through grants from the Illinois Arts Council, a state art agency, The Coleman Foundation, and The John E. and Jeanne T. Hughes Charitable Foundation.

SEA is hosted by North Central College, North Central College Enactus / SIFE, and the North Central Coffee Lab.

🎶 Ready to take your music career to the next level?

Join us at — two inspiring days built for emerging professionals in music and the arts.

Connect with industry pros, collaborate with fellow creatives, and dive into sessions on:
🎤 Building your brand as a musician
💼 Managing clients & collaborations
🎧 Expanding your income streams
🤖 How AI is shaping the future of music

🗓️ November 15–16, 2025
📍 North Central College

Whether you’re performing, producing, or composing, you’ll gain the tools, connections, and confidence to grow your creative career with purpose.

🔗 Learn more: selfemploymentinthearts.com/conference

- Jeanette Smith Zoonicorn |

Jeanette Smith is the Director of Zoonicorn, a 3D animated preschool series airing in nearly 100 countries. Having just completed Season 3, Jeanette leads the brand’s global business operations—including branding, business development, and licensing—while managing the day-to-day for the show’s creator.

A dynamic force in children’s entertainment and brand strategy, Jeanette is also spearheading a new initiative with High Touch High Tech, a global science education franchise. She secured a publishing deal for The Spark Experiment, a graphic novel adventure launching in Spring 2026 that combines storytelling with hands-on science experiments kids can do at home, plus a line of plush characters based on the book.

In addition to her leadership on these projects, Jeanette serves as an agent, consultant, and coach for multiple clients—helping transform creative concepts into marketable brands through expert guidance in marketing, product development, and licensing. Her work bridges creativity and commerce, empowering creators to bring their ideas to life and into the global marketplace.

Learn more about how you can join this incredible event here: https://www.selfemploymentinthearts.com/conference

SEA is funded through grants from the Illinois Arts Council, a state art agency, The Coleman Foundation, and The John E. and Jeanne T. Hughes Charitable Foundation.

SEA is hosted by North Central College, North Central College Enactus / SIFE, and the North Central Coffee Lab.

🚀 is less than a month away!

We’re bringing together 30+ creative professionals ready to share their stories, insights, and real-world strategies to help you turn your passion into a career.

🎨 Here’s a sneak peek at our Visual Arts speakers and the inspiring sessions you won’t want to miss.

🌟 Don’t miss your chance to learn, connect, and grow your creative future!

Learn more and register today: https://www.selfemploymentinthearts.com/conference

- Melissa Sallée

Melissa Sallée, a classically trained ballerina and former co-director of Dance Detour, Chicago's first integrated professional dance company, later helped found ReinventAbility, where her role brought dance experiences to newly disabled veterans.

Her work blends dance, visual art, and trauma-informed practices to support people with and without disabilities. Most recently, she served as an Artist-in-Residence with Inclusive Arts Vermont, working with students in therapeutic schools—a program once supported by the Kennedy Center until national funding shifts occurred.

That disruption prompted Melissa to reimagine how to sustain her work in times marked by social change and uncertainty. In response, she founded Expressive Resilience, an L3C dedicated to fostering cultural resilience.

Nationally sought after for creating professional work with dancers of all abilities, Melissa also advocates fiercely for disability rights and access to the arts, working with the Congressional Arts Caucus, regional task forces, and the Boston Dance Alliance.

Learn more about how you can join this incredible event here: https://www.selfemploymentinthearts.com/conference

SEA is funded through grants from the Illinois Arts Council, a state art agency, The Coleman Foundation, and The John E. and Jeanne T. Hughes Charitable Foundation.

SEA is hosted by North Central College, North Central College Enactus / SIFE, and the North Central Coffee Lab.

- Terry Carter River Road Trio |

Terry Carter, originally from Dwight, Illinois, now resides in Morris, Illinois with his wife and musical partner, Jonelle Marie Carter. He began playing guitar at the age of five and has been performing live since he was thirteen. In the 1990s, he was a member of the Chicago-based band "The All Night NewsBoys," who were sponsored by Coors Light and even wrote the Coors Light theme song. This experience helped him develop a strong stage presence and a deeper understanding of the music industry.

Later, Terry lived and performed in Nashville and toured nationally with country music artist Sammy Kershaw, along with other major label artists, gaining valuable insights and expanding his musical horizons. Throughout his career, he has dedicated himself to refining his craft, exploring diverse genres, and connecting with audiences both locally and across the country.

Recently, he launched a YouTube channel and blog called Guitar Closet (GC), where he shares tips, stories, and reflections on guitar playing, guitars, amps, tones and more. GC also features guitar shops, boutiques and players from around the world.

​Today, Terry continues to perform with the River Road Trio and The Clients, record in the studio, perform solo, and visit as many guitar boutiques as possible—remaining active and passionate about his music.His lifelong dedication to the art of music reflects his love for the craft and his desire to inspire others through his expertise and performances.

Learn more about how you can join this incredible event here: https://www.selfemploymentinthearts.com/conference

SEA is funded through grants from the Illinois Arts Council, a state art agency, The Coleman Foundation, and The John E. and Jeanne T. Hughes Charitable Foundation.

SEA is hosted by North Central College, North Central College Enactus / SIFE, and the North Central Coffee Lab.

- Katie Sowa

Katie Sowa is a creative, purpose-driven leader with deep experience in entrepreneurship, organizational growth, and community building. As Head of Programming of the Small Giants Community, she designs and drives the strategy and operations of development programs and events to help leaders thrive. Her career spans high-impact roles at Sora Schools, Future Founders Foundation, and the Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization, where she fueled growth, secured major funding, and built entrepreneurial ecosystems that empower founders and emerging leaders.

An adjunct professor at DePaul University, board member with Inside Out Club, and certified executive coach, Katie is passionate about developing people and communities. She pairs her business expertise with her artistic side as a choreographer and dance teacher. Katie holds an MBA from DePaul University and a B.A. from Bradley University.

Learn more about how you can join this incredible event here: https://www.selfemploymentinthearts.com/conference

SEA is funded through grants from the Illinois Arts Council, a state art agency, The Coleman Foundation, and The John E. and Jeanne T. Hughes Charitable Foundation.

SEA is hosted by North Central College, North Central College Enactus / SIFE, and the North Central Coffee Lab.

- Lynda Sommers-Herzog

Lynda Sommers-Herzog graduated from University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee with a Master of Fine Arts in Sculpture with an emphasis in Foundry and a Bachelor of Arts in Ceramics. A professor at Alverno, Lynda teaches Sculpture, Metals, Enameling and Glass Fusion and Ceramics. For the past 20 years, she has been the director for the Arts and Cultures Gallery which also includes Senior Seminar and Art Gallery Management classes.

Her artwork is usually through commission work, private and public, and she has also exhibited in galleries around Wisconsin. One of Lynda’s larger public wall sculptures utilizing glass fusion, cast aluminum and bronze can be viewed at Aurora Sinai Medical Center, Milwaukee in the lobby hallway. Whenever Lynda creates public sculptures, she likes to involve students so they can gain insight in the professional experience of art making.

Learn more about how you can join this incredible event here: https://www.selfemploymentinthearts.com/conference

SEA is funded through grants from the Illinois Arts Council, a state art agency, The Coleman Foundation, and The John E. and Jeanne T. Hughes Charitable Foundation.

SEA is hosted by North Central College, North Central College Enactus / SIFE, and the North Central Coffee Lab.

- Jessica Zambo ()

Jessica Zambo is a multidisciplinary artist working toward her B.A. in Design with Honors at North Central College. She has over four years of experience in creative consulting, personal branding, and UX/UI design, working with clients from small businesses to Fortune 500 companies.

Some of her most notable work includes serving as Creative Director for the Delta Railroads website redesign, which was recognized by the American Journal of Transportation for its improved user experience and “state-of-the-art” design; collaborating with CDW, a Fortune 500 information technology solutions provider, to create visual communications and a co-branded logo for internal software with Salesforce; and helping brand Only In Theatres, the company behind iconic collectible popcorn buckets, along with creating advertising for the Minecraft Movie merchandise line.

Jessica’s freelance work covers digital, print, and experiential design - from product packaging seen on Amazon to brand identities for skincare, personal wellness, food, and entertainment. She has worked on UX and SEO strategy for Chicagoland dispensaries to improve their online presence, as well as designing cover art for podcasts and documentary films.

Learn more about how you can join this incredible event here: https://www.selfemploymentinthearts.com/conference

SEA is funded through grants from the Illinois Arts Council, a state art agency, The Coleman Foundation, and The John E. and Jeanne T. Hughes Charitable Foundation.

SEA is hosted by North Central College , North Central College Enactus / SIFE, and the North Central Coffee Lab.