MEGACON ESCAPE 2020
Oct 1st – 3rd
Dates/Times:
• Thursday, Oct 1st from 9am to 4pm (VIP Day)
• Friday, Oct 2nd from 9am to 4pm (MEGACON Day 1)
• Saturday, Oct 3rd from 9am to 4pm (MEGACON Day 2)

2020 MegaCon Speakers
Melody Johnson
Melody Johnson has over 25 years of experience researching childhood development as it relates to sports, coaching, and parenting. Her first influential development was the creation of the Little Ninja Preschool martial arts program which landed in thousands of schools worldwide. Through the years, she has re-defined the children’s martial arts market with innovative age-specific curriculums and drills known as SKILLZ, which are currently utilized in over 1000 martial arts schools in 24 countries.
Melody started training in the martial arts in 1987. She holds a 7th Degree Black Belt in Taekwondo, and has a World Champion title in forms. She has a young son, and lives with her family in St. Petersburg, Florida.
John
Salama
John Salama is a 6th-degree black belt in ITF Taekwondo and has been training since 1983. His school offers SKILLZ based training integrated with traditional martial arts in various programs including traditional evening classes, a Transported Martial Arts Program, a Homeschool program, and full winter break and summer camps. John has become an expert in selling his programs in the community by utilizing all of the SKILLZ resources provided, which is key to helping him increase his student base and revenue.
Michael Evans
Michael Evans is a 6th-degree Black Sash in Northern Lohan Kung Fu. He has been training in the martial arts since 1985. He is the owner and head instructor of 4GK Martial Arts in Patchogue, NY, which offers Skillz programs for students ages 18 months to adult. Michael’s expertise is in education and implementation, applying Skillz methodologies and best practices in member schools, crafting business practices that match the educational model, and using content-based marketing to educate the community about the life-changing power of martial arts.
Clayton Maxy
Clayton Maxcy is the Lead Curriculum Developer for SKILLZ! He’s had over 12 years of hands-on experience working with kids of all different backgrounds which has allowed him to build out the best drills/games possible for SKILLZ.
His newest adventure has been the development of Spectrum SKILLZ, which targets development for children on the Spectrum.
He will be spearheading the beachside training and Instructor Certification Course for the Staff Training Seminars!
Kelly Murray Grys
Kelly Murray Grys is a 6th degree black belt in Isshin Ryu and has been a force in the industry for over 20 years. She is the former Director of Franchise Training for iLoveKickboxing; a multi million dollar franchise concept she helped to grow from the beginning.
Kelly is now a Leadership & Confidence coach specializing in helping individuals and CEO’s level up their influence and create infrastructures that help generate massive success. Kelly and her husband, Chris (a business consultant for the fitness industry) also hold high level, confidence-building, interactive workshops that help business owners learn the skills to properly lead and manage their teams.
Kelly’s systems and strategies have helped thousands of business owners recruit and build teams that turn profit, care like the business was their own, and stay loyal in the process.
She has shared the stage as a speaker with masterminds and entrepreneurs like Daymond John, JP Sears, Grant Cardone, Joe Polish, Michael Bernoff, Bedros Keuilian, Cameron Herold, Sean Stevenson, Jesse Itzler, and more.
Jennifer
Salama
Jennifer Salama is a 4th-degree black belt and has been training in martial arts since 2001.
She has a Masters Degree in Child Psychology and has embraced the SKILLZ curriculum because of its focus on child development and using martial arts as a vehicle to develop the child as a whole.
As a martial arts business owner since 2001, Jennifer has worked diligently to hone her social media and marketing skills which have helped her utilize the SKILLZ information via these platforms and educate parents and families throughout her community.
Cris Rodriguez
Cris is a highly sought-out expert in the field of digital marketing and works closely with Market Muscle and MAIA.
Duane Spires &
Lauren Spires
Duane and Lauren Spires are Martial Arts After School Program and Summer Camp experts with the Martial Arts Success Team!
They are excited to join us at MEGACON 2020 to share their top marketing, sales, hiring, and training systems that are causing school owners across the country to grow by 6 and 7 figures!
Dan Heart
Introducing the CEO of FitKidz! USA.
Dan Heart is the definition of living with passion. He is Dedicated to provide a positive mentorship to kids.
Shaped through his many life experiences, he is on a mission to build a empire that provides role models and leaders. FitKidz! USA uses fun fitness activities as a vehicle to build positive relationships and tomorrow’s leaders.
Dan Anderson
Dan Anderson (AKA Super Dan) began training in 1966 and achieved his Black Belt in January 1970. He became known as Super Dan on the United States national karate circuit winning in excess of 80 Grand Championships, being rated in the Top Ten fighters in the US. His karate career has been capped by attaining the rank of 10th dan and being a recipient of the Joe Lewis Eternal Warrior award. Super Dan has also trained in Filipino Martial Arts for the last 40 years and now has his own system recognized in the Philippines.
Super Dan has written 25 books and has produced over 60 instructional DVDs on the martial arts (www.superdanonlinelibrary.com) and has recently produced an online continuing martial art video website called the Super Dan Online Academy (www.superdanonlineacademy.com).
Super Dan will be bringing his expertise to the 2020 SKILLZ Megacon and teaching a course on How To Teach Free-sparring To ANYONE!
Escape Details
Take your whole team to one of the most beautiful beaches in the world! Also network and enjoy the weekend with some of the coolest people in the world! This event is strategically organized with awesome INNOVATIVE and IMPROVEMENT courses set in a BEAUTIFUL Conference Room, INVIGORATIVE beachside networking & training sessions, a Saturday night beachside Tiki party, celebrity guest appearances, and more!


Why Attend MEGACON ESCAPE?
- INNOVATIONLearn what is new and/ or different about the SKILLZ philosophies as is relates to succeeding in the children’s martial arts market.
- IMPROVEMENTGain more confidence in your schools position as the “go to” experts in children’s martial arts training.
- INVIGORATIONEnjoy some down time to re-charge your energy and motivation.
2020 MEGACON ESCAPE DETAILS
Dates/times:
- Thursday, Oct 1stth from 9am to 5pm (VIP Day)
- Friday, Oct 2ndth from 9am to 3:45pm (MEGACON Day 1)
- Saturday, Oct 3rdth from 9am to 3:45pm (MEGACON Day 2)
Location:
Sirata Beach Resort
5300 Gulf Blvd.
Saint Pete Beach, Fl. 33706
Reservation info:
- You must reach out the hotel via phone or email to get the special discounted room rate:
- Phone – 800-344-5999 extension 1 (say you are with SKILLZ MEGACON)
**Download the reservation form and email it to the address at the bottom of the form:**
Reservation Request Form Download
We anticipate 200 guests for this event, and this hotel recently went through a $15-million reservation so it’s a desirable destination, which means the hotel will sell out!
Airport info:
- Tampa International Airport
Registration:
MEGACON AGENDA
VIP Day – VIP Ticket Holders
*Thursday, Oct 1st, 2020 (VIP Ticket Holders)
9:00 – 9:30 – Registration and Networking
9:30 – 11:00 – Melody Johnson – Mindset Workshop
11:00 – 12:30 – Mike Evans – Branding/Marketing Workshop
12:30 – 1:30 – Lunch Break
1:30 – 3:00 – John Salama – Sales Workshop
3:00 – 4:30 – Kelly Murray-Grys – Staff Development Workshop
4:30 – 5:00 – Event wrap-up
School Owners / Managers
Friday, Oct 2nd, 2020- School Owners/ Managers
9:00 – 9:30 – Registration and Vendor Networking
9:30 – 10:00 – Welcome to ESCAPE (MEGACON) 2020
10:00 – 10:45 – Seminar 1 – Melody Johnson
10:45 – 11:30 – Seminar 2 – John Salama
11:30 – 11:45 – Yoga SKILLZ Introduction by John Salama and Ana Marco
11:45 – 12:45 – Quick Lunch Break/Networking
12:45 – 1:30 – Seminar 3 – Cris Rodriguez
1:30 – 2:15 – Seminar 4 – Huston Godwin
2:15 – 3:00 – Seminar 5 – Kelly Murray-Grys
3:00 – Wrap-Up
Saturday, Oct 3rd, 2020 – School Owner/ Manager
9:00 – 9:30 – Vendor Networking
9:30 – 10:00 – Seminar 6 – Dan Heart
10:00 – 10:45 – Seminar 7 – Melody Johnson
10:45 – 11:30 – Seminar 8 – Mike Evans
11:30 – 11:45 – Warrior SKILLZ Introduction by Mike Evans
11:45 – 12:45 – Quick Lunch Break/Networking
12:45 – 1:30 – Seminar 9 – Duane & Lauren Spires
1:30 – 2:15 – Ron Sell/Cheong Park
2:15 – 3:00 – Awards and Event Wrap-up
Instructors / STORM
Friday, Oct 2nd, 2020 – Instructors/ STORM
9:00 – 9:30 – Registration and Vendor Networking – Conference Room 1
9:30 – 9:45 – Walk to Coconut Pavilion
9:45 – 10:00 – Opening to ESCAPE
10:00 – 10:15 – Team-Building 1 (Coconut Pavilion)
10:15 – 11:00 – Training Seminar 1 (Coconut Pavilion)
11:00 – 11:30 – Training Seminar 2 (Beach in front of Pavilion)
11:30 – 11:45 – Team-Building 2 (Pavilion)
11:45 – 12:45 – Walk to Conference Room 1 (Meet up with owners/ managers for lunch)
12:45 – 1:30 – Training Seminar 3 (Pavilion)
1:30 – 2:00 – Training Seminar 4 (Breach in front of Pavilion)
2:00 – 2:45 – Team Building 2 (Pavilion)
2:45 – 3:00 – Walk to Conference Room 1 (Meet up with owners/ managers)
Saturday, Oct 3rd, 2020 – Instructor / STORM
9:00 – 9:30 – Vendor Networking – Conference Room 1
9:30 – 9:45 – Walk to Conference Room 2
9:45 – 10:00 – Team-Building 1
10:00 – 11:00 – Seminar 1: Stages of Development
11:00 – 11:45 – Seminar 2: Speaking SKILLZ
11:45 – 12:45 – Walk to Conference Room 1 (Meet up with owners/ managers for lunch)
12:45 – 1:30 – Seminar 3: Teaching SKILLZ
1:30 – 2:30 – Seminar 4: 10 Laws of Instruction
2:30 – 3:00 – Team Building 2 / Event Wrap-up
3:00 – Walk to Conference Room 1 (Meet up with owners/managers)
MEGACON ESCAPE FAQ’s
- Connector.
I'm not a SKILLZ member, is this event right for me?
MEGACON ESCAPE is for anyone in the martial arts industry who wants to take their business to the next level through innovative thinking, systems that work, and people that you connect with.
- Connector.
Can I bring my entire staff?
There are seminars for both school owners/ managers and STORM/ Instructors. Space is limited, therefore there are no large group discounts for this event.
- Connector.
Can I bring my family?
There are no other martial arts events held in a cooler place than St. Pete Beach, so yes, bring your family to enjoy a vacation.
- Connector.
What is the dress code?
Beach and workout attire will work best. No hipster or formal attire necessary.
- Connector.
Will food be served?
Friday and Saturday we will provide breakfast. We are also throwing a Tiki party for 21 and up on Saturday night.
- Connector.
What if I have to cancel?
You can send someone in your place, or you can get access to the Livestream. Other option is to apply your ticket fees to another product or service that we offer.