SFEA Summer Seminar - Lexington, SC

With over 40 years of experience in marketing, advertising, and public relations—and more than three decades as the founder and principal of Marketing Performance, LLC—Robert Butt has built a reputation for delivering measurable results and reshaping the market presence of organizations across industries. He began his career as Advertising Director for Belk Department Stores, one of the largest privately held department store chains in the United States. In 1995, he launched Marketing Performance Group, a strategic communications firm serving clients ranging from local nonprofits to global manufacturers. A recognized leader in the field, Butt has been honored with the American Advertising Federation’s G.D. Crain Award for Public Service and is one of only two recipients of the University of South Carolina’s “Aid to Advertising Education” Award. He served as an adjunct professor in USC-Columbia’s College of Mass Communications & Information Studies for 24 years and is a contributing author to Creative Advertising Strategy, a textbook adopted in over 17 languages and now in its 20th printing. Butt earned his B.A. in Journalism from the University of South Carolina and his M.A. in Organizational and Strategic Communication from Queens University of Charlotte.

Abby Lee Carter is the founder and owner of BrioLIVE Entertainment, a dynamic company known for delivering unforgettable live entertainment experiences. With a passion for the live music experience and an entrepreneurial spirit, Abby has built BrioLIVE into a trusted name in the industry—synonymous with professionalism, creativity, and excellence. Abby has been around the music industry since she was born... literally, she was toddling around festivals across the Southeast while her dad’s band performed! She always says that she got her start in the industry as a merch-girl at the age of eight. Her passion for music directly correlates with her deep love for special events and festivals. In 2011, she earned a Certificate in Meeting & Event Planning from UNC Charlotte. After graduating from UNC Charlotte with a B.A. in Communications in May of 2012, Abby joined Green Dot Music as an Entertainment Consultant and the Social Media Director. Those roles transferred over when she started brioLIVE Entertainment in the Summer of 2016. She enjoys booking both regional and national acts and has worked with artists such as Neon Trees, Collective Soul, Big & Rich, The Fray, Brothers Osborne, Smash Mouth, Loverboy, Rick Springfield, 38 Special, and Joe Diffie, just to name a handful. Dedicated not only to live entertainment but also to empowering artists, and elevating the live entertainment space, Abby continues to push boundaries, bringing bold ideas to life and inspiring others through her work with Brio.

With over 20 years of experience in the entertainment industry, Walker has built a dynamic career that began behind the scenes as a sound technician and evolved into full-scale event management. His portfolio spans a wide range of events—from street festivals and national tours to large-scale concerts, corporate meetings, political rallies, and even engagements with the White House. Walker's strength lies in his unique, multi-perspective approach to event planning and execution. Whether catering to attendees, vendors, or artists, he is known for crafting exceptional experiences tailored to each stakeholder. His ability to see an event from every angle ensures seamless operations and memorable outcomes, regardless of the scale or setting.