Sydnie Peebles | Sydnie Banks
Sydnie Peebles is the visionary founder behind SydnieBanks.com, a luxury handbag brand renowned for its hand-stitched, sculptural designs. Her distinctive handbags, crafted using age-old techniques, have graced the runway at New York Fashion Week and earned her the title of “Global Fashion Brand Feature of the Year” in Elle UK.
Sydnie’s journey into leather crafting began unexpectedly while she was studying at BYU-Idaho. A YouTube video of a Hungarian artisan making dress shoes ignited her passion for leatherwork. This led her to apprentice with renowned cowboy boot maker Lisa Sorell. After earning a degree in Art from BYU-Idaho, Sydnie launched Bijou Browns, a leather baby shoe company. She donates these shoes to women who have experienced stillbirth or early infant loss.
To transition to hand-stitched handbags, Sydnie trained with master saddle-stitcher Charlie Trevor in Winston, England. She founded Sydnie Banks in 2022, and her exceptional craftsmanship has since been featured in prominent publications such as Fashion Channel, ELLE UK, and LUXIERE Magazine.
Sydnie and her husband Christopher live in Edmond, Oklahoma, with their four children.
Peter Nguyen | Department of Defense
Major Pete Nguyen is a U.S. Army officer and currently serves as the spokesperson for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs in the Office of the Secretary of Defense at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. In this role, he serves as the Department's spokesperson on defense issues regarding the Indo-Pacific, providing timely and accurate information to the public, Congress, and news media. He also advises Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Dr. Ely Ratner.
Most recently, he served as the spokesperson for Middle East Policy and African Affairs, also in the office of the Secretary of Defense.
Pete graduated from BYU-Idaho in 2010 and was commissioned through the Army ROTC program. During his time at BYU-Idaho Pete, a registered Republican, re-founded the BYU-Idaho College Democrats after a long hiatus in 2007. Pete furthered his education with master’s degrees from Washington State University and Georgetown University, and completed certifications at the Defense Information School.
He also wrote a column for Scroll called “The Angry Asian” where he had stirring headlines like “Why can’t students wait their turn in line,” and “McDonald’s: ‘I’m lovin’ it,’ why aren't you?” He was never allowed to write for the opinion section again but was later selected to serve as the editor-in-chief.
Pete has been married his wife Jessica for nearly 20 years and they have four children. They currently live in the Washington, DC area.
Emily Rushton | Hire Integrated
Emily Rushton is the Founder and CEO of Hire Integrated, Utah’s leading recruiting agency. Her journey began at Robert Half, where she quickly distinguished herself as a top performer and earned a place in the Chairman’s Club, reserved for the company's elite producers.
Emily then co-founded SEARCH Group Partners, Inc. and later became Executive Vice President at PrincePerelson & Associates. It was during this time that she discovered her passion for storytelling in recruiting, realizing that effective hiring is about crafting a compelling narrative for candidates rather than just making sales.
Today, as founder of Hire Integrated, Emily leverages her expertise to showcase the unique stories of companies, helping candidates find their perfect career paths. Her innovative approach has made her the go-to expert for solving high-volume hiring challenges and attracting top talent quickly.
Emily and her husband Corey live in West Valley, Utah with their energetic son Jack.
Yahosh Bonner | Emcee and Entertainment
Yahosh Bonner’s life exemplifies a seamless blend of music and achievement. Growing up in a musically gifted family, he was profoundly influenced by his mother, Debra Bonner, a celebrated voice teacher and recording artist.
Originally from Las Vegas, Yahosh’s educational journey took him across the country. After serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Tampa, Florida, he earned a degree in Communication Studies from the University of Northern Colorado in 2010. His passion for basketball led him to Southern Utah University, where he served as Director of Basketball Operations and completed a master's in professional communication. He currently serves as the Athletic Director for the American Heritage Academy.
He has performed with such artists as Alex Boyé, James The Mormon, Mauli B, and Oyoyo Joi. He enjoys creating remakes of popular songs, adding a little of his own flair, style, and emotion to the songs that he performs. Although he is a pronounced Hip Hop and R&B vocalist, he says that his heart will always be rooted in Gospel music. He also gained acclaim as the lead actor in the award-winning film Green Flake.
Married since 2009 to his wife Vanessa, they now reside in Spanish Fork, Utah with their four children. Yahosh successfully integrates his professional and personal life, demonstrating a deep commitment to his faith and family.