2026 Conference Details
September 13-16, 2026
Puzzol Creative Headquarters
Memphis, TN
Presentations
2026 Conference Presentations will be given by the Puzzol Creative ownership team:
Mallory Lynch
Puzzol Creative
Co-Founder & COO
Keith Edwards
Puzzol Creative
Co-Founder & CCO
Stephen Lynch
Puzzol Creative
Co-Founder & CTO
Stephen Lynch (Puzzol Creative Co-Founder & Chief Technology Officer)
Monday, September 14th - 9:30AM
Why was a room full of puzzles, locks, and keys enough to build a great escape room in 2015, but not anymore?
Well, as it turns out, there’s more than one way to delight an escape room player.
And the same way the standards for what constitutes a great escape room changed from past to present, the future of great escape rooms could be built on a different foundation than it is today.
In this presentation, Stephen will introduce a strategic framework for understanding customer delight and choosing a path forward that could extend the longevity and profitability of the escape room industry.
Well, as it turns out, there’s more than one way to delight an escape room player.
And the same way the standards for what constitutes a great escape room changed from past to present, the future of great escape rooms could be built on a different foundation than it is today.
In this presentation, Stephen will introduce a strategic framework for understanding customer delight and choosing a path forward that could extend the longevity and profitability of the escape room industry.
Mallory Lynch (Puzzol Creative Co-Founder & Chief Operating Officer)
Tuesday, September 15th - 9:30AM
Stay tuned for details about this presentation.
Stephen Lynch (Puzzol Creative Co-Founder & Chief Technology Officer)
Wednesday, September 16th - 9:30AM
Stay tuned for details about this presentation.
Puzzol Creative Lead Team
Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday - 2:00PM
Join members of the Puzzol Lead Team as they host live audience Q&A sessions.
Workshops
2026 Conference Workshops will be presented by:
Heather Booker
Boxed In Escape Rooms
Co-Owner
Tina Burfield
Timed Out Escape
President and Co-Founder
Julie Cole
FOX-N-OTTER
Co-Owner
Tyson Farris
Defy Escapes
Co-Owner
Paul & Tanya Foster
Lock, Clock, and Peril
Owners
Christina Guise
Puzzle Connect
Owner
Brendon & Jennifer Harbron
The Escape Room USA
Co-Founders
Zoli Papp
clueQuest
Co-Founder
Will Rutherford
Escape Artist Greenville
Co-Owner
Audrey Pelicano
Escape Artist Greenville
Art Director
Nick Schilbe
Off The Couch
Owner
Brian Vinciguerra
Cracked It! Escape Games
Co-Founder
Mallory Lynch
Puzzol Creative
Co-Founder & COO
Keith Edwards
Puzzol Creative
Co-Founder & CCO
Stephen Lynch
Puzzol Creative
Co-Founder & CTO
Heather Fjord
Puzzol Creative
Game Development Manager
Brianna Walsh
Puzzol Creative
Low Voltage Manager
Maddy Chapman
Puzzol Creative
Operations Director
Ian Bishop
Puzzol Creative
Carpentry Manager
Alec Lazarini
Puzzol Creative
Additive Design Manager
Madison Funk
Puzzol Creative
Production Specialist
Josh Taylor
Puzzol Creative
Game Design Specialist
Maya Eoff
Puzzol Creative
Coding Specialist
Alita Phillips
Puzzol Creative
Scenic Design Specialist
Barry Arrington II
Puzzol Creative
Experiential Design Engineer
Kirk Melancon II
Puzzol Creative
Experiential Design Engineer
Monday, September 14th:
11:00AM - Hands-On CNC and Laser Engraving: Mastering Machines for Custom Escape Room Builds
Ian Bishop, Puzzol Creative Carpentry Manager
DESCRIPTION:
If you’ve ever wanted to create precise, custom components for your escape rooms but didn’t know where to start with advanced machinery, this workshop is your gateway. In this interactive session, you’ll get hands-on experience operating a CNC machine and laser engraver, learning setup, software basics, material selection, and troubleshooting tips. Walk away with the skills to produce professional-grade props and sets that elevate your rooms!
11:00AM - Show Control Magic - Session 1: Mastering Centralized Logic Control to Build The Next Generation Of Escape Rooms
Stephen Lynch, Puzzol Creative Co-Founder & CTO
Take your escape rooms to the next level with a new cutting-edge show control system. In this workshop, participants will design and assemble their own puzzles from scratch, integrating them with a state-of-the-art show control platform for real-time testing and refinement. You’ll leave with practical knowledge and inspiration to create more dynamic, automated experiences in your rooms.
11:00AM - The $1,000 Challenge: Keeping Existing Rooms Fresh
Julie Cole, FOX-N-OTTER Co-Owner
DESCRIPTION:
How can you improve your existing rooms with just $1,000? In 2025, Julie challenged herself to spend just $1,000 to bring an older room up to par with her newer builds. The results surprised her and allowed her to see her creations in a whole new light. From decorative ceiling panels to new paint and immersive decor, she’s taken a fresh approach to editing existing rooms with a small budget. Join Julie as she teaches how small updates can make a big difference.
BIO:
Julie Cole is the Co-Owner and creative force behind FOX-N-OTTER Adventure Escape Rooms operating locations in Asheville and Hendersonville, North Carolina. She designs story-driven, family-friendly escape rooms with a focus on flow, guest experience, and sustainable operations. Julie is also a relationship-skills coach for women, informing her human-centered approach to leadership and team culture.
11:00AM - Escape the Chaos: Hands-On Project Management Systems for Escape Room Builds
Brianna Walsh, Puzzol Creative Low Voltage Manager
DESCRIPTION:
Escape room construction can drag on and blow budgets if not managed properly—don’t let that happen to you. This workshop covers proven project management techniques tailored to escape rooms, including timeline planning, resource allocation, risk assessment, and tools for tracking progress. You’ll learn how to accelerate builds while minimizing waste and empowering your team to deliver high-quality rooms faster.
11:00AM - How To Design Award Winning Rooms With Limited Space and Budget
Paul & Tanya Foster, Lock, Clock, and Peril Owners
DESCRIPTION:
Paul and Tanya Foster are the owners and operators of Lock, Clock, and Peril in Sumter, South Carolina, home of the A Not So Fairytale Ending, a room on the TERPECA 2025 list. Join them as they explain how they design their rooms using a small budget and minimal space but still attempt to achieve maximal fun and customer satisfaction. In this workshop they will go over how they design their rooms focusing on puzzle ideas that give the WOW factor, room layouts to help maximize space, and how you can cater to both enthusiasts and everyday players.
BIO:
Paul and Tanya Foster have been in the industry for 7 years. They have one location, 5 rooms, and have helped build rooms for other escape room companies. Paul has a 35 year background in car audio and electronics, which gives him a huge skillset to lean on when designing and wiring puzzles with 12 volt architecture. Tanya owned a loan company for 8 years where she learned bookkeeping and money management, and she also obtained an interior design certificate. The skills learned while having a loan company have helped her with maintaining the day to day operations of the escape room and her interior design certificate has helped her when designing flow, puzzle placement, and decor in their escape rooms.
2:45PM - Moving Beyond Maglocks and Motors: How To Use Pneumatics In Your Next Escape Room Build
Barry Arrington, Puzzol Creative Experiential Design Engineer
DESCRIPTION:
Ready to add dynamic movement and realism to your escape rooms without relying entirely on electrical tech? In this workshop, we’ll explore pneumatics as a versatile alternative, covering system design, component selection, and integration into puzzles and sets. You’ll gain the confidence to incorporate air-powered effects that surprise and engage players, taking your builds from standard to standout.
2:45PM - How To Create Characters That Players Will Care About
Will Rutherford, Escape Artist Greenville Co-Owner
Audrey Pelicano, Escape Artist Greenville Art Director
DESCRIPTION:
A story is only as compelling as its characters. In this workshop you’ll learn how to create characters that accomplish your goals as a storyteller, how to help players connect with your characters through text, audio, video, puzzles, and action, “show don’t tell” – writing effective dialogue, 7 reasons players are ignoring your story and how to correct it, and methods and tools to develop full characters from scratch.
BIO:
Will and his wife Kim have created, owned, and operated Escape Artist Greenville for over 10 years. EAG leans heavily into storytelling with experiences that include actor performances, theatrical lighting effects, custom music, and even live puppet shows! This emphasis has helped EAG win major industry awards including USA Today Top 10, Newsweek Top 10, REA’s Golden Lock Award, and TERPECA Enthusiasts’ Choice Award for the top game in the USA.
Audrey has a background in writing and creative design and has collaborated with the owners of Escape Artist Greenville for over seven years. She is currently EAG’s Art Director and has been their lead script writer and story-boarder for five years. She’s lent her talent and effort to the production of seven award-winning escape experiences including co-creating EAG’s Chimera Corp. Saga (2025 TERPECA Enthusiasts’ Choice Award for top game in the USA).
2:45PM - Friend or Foe: How A.I. Can Be Used To Enhance Your Escape Rooms
Tyson Farris, Defy Escape Co-Owner
DESCRIPTION:
AI is rapidly reshaping the world. But what is AI? Is it a tool or will it entirely destroy the creative process? Or can it be used for good to enhance our experiences. Learn how we at Defy Escapes have fully embraced AI and are finding new ways to enhance our business both for ourselves and our customers. We will cover everything from simple searches, to a market research, business enhancements, design and creative uses, puzzle uses, marketing enhancements and even creating unique and memorable experiences with our escape room games themselves.
BIO:
Tyson Farris here—escape room co-owner at Defy Escapes, lifelong movie nerd, and enthusiastic connoisseur of all escape rooms. About three years ago, my best friend Jimmy Allen and I packed up California dreams and landed in the wonderfully scruffy city of Knoxville, TN, where we opened our own escape room and never looked back. We’re obsessed with movies, filmmaking, and creating immersive experiences that make people laugh, think, and feel clever. Our roots are in film and graphic design, and—plot twist—I also bring 20 years of surprisingly useful expertise in the paint world from a long career selling paint. Turns out, that knowledge comes in very handy when you’re building immersive worlds from scratch.
2:45PM - Immersive Audio Design: Crafting Sound To Create An Unforgettable Escape Room Environment
Kirk Melancon, Puzzol Creative Experiential Design Engineer
DESCRIPTION:
Sound can make or break the atmosphere in an escape room, transforming a good experience into an epic one. This workshop teaches you how to curate ambient tracks and sound effects that fit your theme, plus expert guidance on selecting and setting up audio hardware like speakers, amplifiers, and controllers.
2:45PM - Data Driven Decision Making: Why It's Important to Collect Customer Data and How to Analyze It To Make Decisions For Your Business
Nick Schilbe, Off The Couch Owner
DESCRIPTION:
Nick is the mastermind designer and creator of Off The Couch. In this workshop, he’ll talk about how important it is to get data on what games customers play, how often they’re visiting, where they’re visiting from, and so much more. Then, once you have that data, how you can analyze it and make the best decisions for your business.
BIO:
Nick Schilbe transitioned from a career in cybersecurity to become an escape room enthusiast and eventually an owner in 2017 with his wife Jana. As they ran their escape room, they encountered difficulties with existing software solutions that either lacked essential features or were prohibitively expensive for small business owners. Drawing from their technical background and experience as escape room operators, they developed Off The Couch – a comprehensive, affordable software platform designed to address the specific needs of escape room businesses. They launched in 2024. Their goal is simple: to provide fellow escape room owners with a practical, cost-effective tool that simplifies day-to-day operations, allowing them to focus on creating memorable experiences for their customers.
Tuesday, September 15th:
11:00AM - Show Control Magic - Session 2: Mastering Centralized Logic Control to Build The Next Generation Of Escape Rooms
Stephen Lynch, Puzzol Creative Co-Founder & Chief Technology Officer
DESCRIPTION:
Take your escape rooms to the next level with a new cutting-edge show control system. In this workshop, participants will design and assemble their own puzzles from scratch, integrating them with a state-of-the-art show control platform for real-time testing and refinement. You’ll leave with practical knowledge and inspiration to create more dynamic, automated experiences in your rooms.
11:00AM - Cocktails, Corporate, and Catering: Diversifying Your Bottom Line
Tina Burfield, Timed Out Escape President and Co-Founder
DESCRIPTION:
Are you tired of your revenue being capped by the number of rooms in your facility? While ticket sales are the heart of your business, the real growth happens before & after the game. Think beyond the ticket and unlock the hidden revenue potential already sitting in your facility. This workshop provides a step-by-step guide to integrating add-ons like B2B corporate deals, bar service, and exclusive private events into your current business model. We’ll discuss the logistics, the sales tactics, and the common pitfalls to avoid when expanding your offerings. It’s time to stop leaving money on the table and start maximizing your Average Booking Value without building a single new room. Join me to learn how to bridge the gap between “one-off game” and “premier entertainment destination.”
BIO:
Tina Burfield is the President and Co-founder of Timed Out Escape, Charlotte’s top-rated entertainment venue. After a career spent negotiating complex enterprise contracts for global tech firms, Tina applied her strategic mind to a new adventure: locking people in rooms for fun. A locally family-owned business with her husband, Chris, Timed Out has earned over 2,000 five-star reviews and was named a “Top 10 Team Building Venue” by ManageHR Magazine. Whether she is navigating a large team building event or designing a new game, Tina remains dedicated to the idea that every challenge—business or otherwise—always has a creative way out.
11:00AM - Crush Black Friday: Using Gift Cards To Maximize The Biggest Sales Day Of The Year
Keith Edwards, Puzzol Creative Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer
DESCRIPTION:
Black Friday is the biggest sales day of the year, it’s the one guaranteed day that customers WANT to spend money. In this workshop, Keith will discuss winning strategies for gift card sales and promotions you can run to maximize your profits on this day and increase your bottom line with just one day of sales.
11:00AM - Business Tools That Will Improve Your Decision Making And Profits
Stephen Lynch, Puzzol Creative Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer
DESCRIPTION:
You can’t manage what you can’t measure. Knowing which metrics matter in your business and how to calculate them is the first step to making good decisions that will lead to profitability. In this returning workshop, you will learn how to use three custom-made analytical financial tools for evaluating your escape room business…and get to take them home with you.
11:00AM - Silicone Molds and Resin Casting: Hands-On Prop Creation for Durable Escape Room Elements
Alita Phillips, Puzzol Creative Scenic Design Specialist
Kirk Melancon, Puzzol Creative Experiential Design Engineer
DESCRIPTION:
Creating durable props with epoxy doesn’t have to be intimidating or expensive—learn the hands-on way in this workshop. We’ll guide you through making silicone molds from scratch and using resin casting techniques to produce high-quality, long-lasting items that also make prop duplication a breeze. You’ll practice the full process and take home tips to replicate it on your own.
2:45PM - Fun in the Sun: How to Implement Summer Camps at Your Escape Rooms
Mallory Lynch, Puzzol Creative Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer
Keith Edwards, Puzzol Creative Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer
DESCRIPTION:
Summer Camp is a right of passage for childhood filled with fun, friends and learning opportunities. As escape room owners, you have the perfect mix of entertainment and education already in your grasp! Join Keith and Mallory as they walk you through steps to launch a successful Summer Camp that parents and students alike with love. It will bring in extra income, brand awareness, and launch family traditions for years to come. They will give you a step-by-step guide of how they implemented these and the lessons learned along the way.
2:45PM - Unlocking Better Content: The Only 3 Things That Matter In A Social Media Post
Christina Guise, Puzzle Connect Owner
DESCRIPTION:
Are you burnt out from making Instagram Reels or Tiktok’s that only get 5 likes and 200 views? Let’s change that.
In this workshop, we will focus primarily on how to step up your game in the short form content department with a three part framework that makes your posts worth watching. Prepare to learn how to create more engaging content without overthinking, gain new visibility for your business, laugh a little and leave feeling confident to hit record on your next post.
BIO:
Christina Guise is an escape room owner from Holmdel, New Jersey who thrives on a good laugh and making new friends. Christina has a passion for creativity in all departments, including social media. It wasn’t until her first viral hit (2.4 million views) that she realized there must be something special that stops people from scrolling. Through trial and error, research and education she has adhered to a consistent format that makes content creation fun and much more predictable. Christina is not a full-time marketer or influencer. She’s an escape room owner, player, dental hygienist, and dog mom, wearing all the hats and finding ways to make social media manageable and effective. Christina is passionate about the escape room industry and looks forward to sharing her findings in this niche to help the awareness and community continue to grow.
2:45PM - Escape Room Tech Masterclass - Session 1: Pushing Boundaries for Seasoned Tech Builders
Stephen Lynch, Puzzol Creative Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer
Brianna Walsh, Puzzol Creative Low Voltage Manager
Barry Arrington, Puzzol Creative Experiential Design Engineer
Kirk Melancon, Puzzol Creative Experiential Design Engineer
DESCRIPTION:
If you’re already comfortable with basic escape room tech but crave advanced innovations to expand your knowledge and skill, this masterclass is designed for you. We’ll discuss cutting-edge tech components and methods. Expand your expertise, troubleshoot high-level challenges, and emerge ready to pioneer the next evolution in immersive tech!
2:45PM - Capitalize on Christmas: The Financial Impact of a Seasonal Game
Keith Edwards, Puzzol Creative Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer
DESCRIPTION:
Is it really worth it to have a seasonal game? How much money can they actually make? Should you run it all year round? Join Keith in this workshop where he’ll discuss the pros and cons to having a seasonal game and why we believe it’s extremely important to have one open during the holiday rush.
2:45PM - Scenic Design Basics: Creating Realism with Rust, Aging, and Color Matching Painting Techniques
Heather Booker, Boxed In Escape Rooms Co-Owner
DESCRIPTION:
In this workshop, we will learn how to use color, texture, and design to enhance the environment, puzzles, and props in your rooms. You will have the opportunity to experiment hands-on with various painting methods.
BIO:
Heather Booker is co-owner (with her husband, J.R. Booker) of Boxed In Escape Rooms in the St. Louis, Missouri area. They opened their first location in early 2022 and a second at the end of 2025. Balancing life with four homeschooled children, she specializes in scenic and set design—crafting authentic environments through structural features like detailed caves, faux stone and subtle touches such as object distressing and realistic aging. In her workshops, Heather shares practical tips, techniques, and tricks for owners building their own rooms to elevate immersion and believability.
4:00PM - The Art of Value Engineering: Doing A Lot With Very Little
Barry Arrington, Puzzol Creative Experiential Design Engineer
Kirk Melancon, Puzzol Creative Experiential Design Engineer
DESCRIPTION:
Stretching your dollars without sacrificing quality is key to thriving in the escape room industry. This workshop introduces value engineering principles, showing you how to prioritize features, source affordable materials, optimize designs, and repurpose elements to create impressive rooms on a shoestring budget. You’ll learn strategies that deliver big wow factors with little spend, helping you build smarter and more sustainably.
4:00PM - Benefits Unlocked: Introducing Health Care, 401k and Other Products Into Your Small Business
Mallory Lynch, Puzzol Creative Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer
DESCRIPTION:
Did you know there are several benefits available to you as a small business owner that will create a staying culture? It’s true! And you can offer them at little to no cost to you. In this workshop, you will learn the ins and outs of offering a complete benefits package that will help your staff members stay longer and grow with your company as a career. We will cover health benefits, 401k options, life insurance, PTO, counseling, discounts, and more!
4:00PM - From Bland to Brand: A Practical Guide To Establishing Your Company In A Crowded Market
Zoli Papp, clueQuest Co-Founder
DESCRIPTION:
Feel like your brand could use a glow-up? Or just want to make sure customers actually remember you? This hands-on workshop will help you shape a brand that stands out – visually, verbally, and emotionally. You’ll work on defining your brand’s personality and tone of voice, and learn practical techniques to differentiate your business in a crowded market. Walk away with tools you can apply right away to make your brand more memorable and meaningful.
BIO:
Zoli is the co-founder of the UK’s longest running escape room clueQuest. He also consults with escape room owners on business development and marketing.
4:00PM - Escape Room Tech Masterclass - Session 2: Pushing Boundaries for Seasoned Tech Builders
Stephen Lynch, Puzzol Creative Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer
Brianna Walsh, Puzzol Creative Low Voltage Manager
DESCRIPTION:
If you’re already comfortable with basic escape room tech but crave advanced innovations to expand your knowledge and skill, this masterclass is designed for you. We’ll discuss cutting-edge tech components and methods. Expand your expertise, troubleshoot high-level challenges, and emerge ready to pioneer the next evolution in immersive tech!
4:00PM - Scenic Design In 3 Dimensions: Creating Trees, Rocks, Bricks, and More That Feel and Look Real
Heather Booker, Boxed In Escape Rooms Co-Owner
DESCRIPTION:
In this workshop, we will discuss and demonstrate various techniques and processes to create more immersive props and set designs. You will learn how to use materials to create your own unique 3 dimensional props!
BIO:
Heather Booker is co-owner (with her husband, J.R. Booker) of Boxed In Escape Rooms in the St. Louis, Missouri area. They opened their first location in early 2022 and a second at the end of 2025. Balancing life with four homeschooled children, she specializes in scenic and set design—crafting authentic environments through structural features like detailed caves, faux stone and subtle touches such as object distressing and realistic aging. In her workshops, Heather shares practical tips, techniques, and tricks for owners building their own rooms to elevate immersion and believability.
Wednesday, September 16th:
11:00AM - Prop Design & Creation - Part 1
Ian Bishop, Puzzol Creative Carpentry Manager
Alec Lazarini, Puzzol Creative Additive Design Manager
Alita Phillips, Puzzol Creative Scenic Design Specialist
Kirk Melancon, Puzzol Creative Experiential Design Engineer
DESCRIPTION:
Bring your escape room ideas to life by mastering the end-to-end prop development process. In this workshop, we’ll walk through initial concepting in 3D modeling software, refining designs for feasibility, exporting files, and manufacturing in the shop. Learn the workflow to turn visions into tangible assets efficiently, saving time and enhancing your rooms’ uniqueness!
11:00AM - We Want It NOW! Motivating Gen Z Staff To Stay and Grow with You In A Non-Committal Era
Mallory Lynch, Puzzol Creative Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer
DESCRIPTION:
So many people are done with working with the younger generation. They say they are lazy, don’t committ, won’t do hard things, and on and on. We at Puzzol strongly disagree and can share tips we’ve learned through the years of unlocking the incredible talent that lies in our young people. They can carry high levels of responsibility, they want to work and they want to feel needed. With a growth system that is incremental, you can truly unlock potential of your team.
11:00AM - Go For Launch: Know When To Start, When To Expand, and When To Buy Or Sell
Stephen Lynch, Puzzol Creative Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer
DESCRIPTION:
Making the decision to start a business, open a new location, acquire a business, or to sell your own can be both exciting and terrifying. How do you know if you’re ready? In this workshop, we will learn how to assess these opportunities through multiple lenses, including startup capital, cash flow forecasting, operational readiness, human capital, and business valuations.
11:00AM - Remote Room Running: Set Up Your Games for Off-Site Game Master Support
Heather Fjord, Puzzol Creative Game Development Manager
DESCRIPTION:
When walk-ins surge or staff calls out, understaffing can kill your revenue and guest experience—unless your games can be run remotely. In this workshop, you’ll learn how to configure your escape rooms for remote operation, including reliable camera feeds, audio integration, puzzle monitoring tools, secure remote access setups, and communication workflows that let owners or managers jump in from anywhere. You’ll get practical steps to test and implement remote running safely, so you can provide real-time support, cover shifts, and keep rooms turning even when on-site staffing is tight. Walk away ready to make your business more flexible and resilient!
11:00AM - Built on Purpose: How Core Values Drive Decisions, Culture, and Growth
Brendon & Jennifer Harbron, The Escape Room USA Co-Founders
DESCRIPTION:
In this session, we will share the process behind defining the Core Values that guide every aspect of our business—from daily operations to the toughest leadership decisions. You’ll learn how clearly-articulated values can become a decision-making compass, a culture-shaping tool, and a growth engine for your organization. Together, we’ll begin crafting the foundational Core Values for your business and explore practical strategies to implement them effectively. You will leave equipped with actionable tools to refine your values, empower your employees, elevate guest experiences, and make meaningful contributions to your community.
BIO:
Brendon Harbron is co-founder and Chairman of The Escape Room USA, where he has helped grow the company from a single location into a multi-market experiential entertainment brand with destinations across Indiana and Ohio. As Chairman and Chief Game Designer, Brendon blends vision, strategy, and operational oversight to support immersive experience design while maintaining excellent guest satisfaction and creative leadership. In addition to The Escape Room USA, Brendon is a Managing Director and Financial Advisor with RBC Wealth Management and a founding partner of The Promus Wealth Management Group. His financial services expertise is grounded in more than 30 years of industry experience, and he holds the Certified Investment Management Analyst® (CIMA®) designation. Brendon’s financial leadership has been recognized on industry lists such as Forbes’ Best-In-State Wealth Management Teams, including for 2026, highlighting his commitment to client-focused financial strategy. At The Escape Room USA, Brendon oversees financial performance, operational consistency, and long-term strategy, ensuring that systems scale thoughtfully without losing the quality and creativity guests expect. He also brings his analytical leadership to his community pursuits and personal interests—such as board gaming (including winning the world’s largest game of Settlers of Catan, besting over 900 participants in 2014.) He is also a minority partner of Escape Room Holdings, an escape room company with operations in Missouri, Colorado, Michigan, and Nebraska. With a unique blend of entrepreneurial insight and wealth management acumen, Brendon continues to shape experiences— both in entertainment and financial planning—that are strategically grounded, creatively driven, and built to last.
Jennifer Harbron is co-founder, CEO, and a creative force behind The Escape Room USA, a company she helped grow from a single location into a multi-city operation with destinations across Indiana and Ohio. With over a decade of hands-on leadership, Jennifer blends storytelling, design, operations, and hospitality to create immersive, high-quality guest experiences that consistently exceed expectations. At the heart of Jennifer’s work is a passion for experiential design which includes developing original escape room adventures with multi-layered narrative worlds, original props, and engaging puzzles. Her creative vision extends beyond gameplay to encompass branding, scenic design, staff training, and guest service models that reinforce a strong, people-first company culture. In addition to The Escape Room USA, Jennifer is an entrepreneur involved in multiple ventures across hospitality, events, and real estate, including a wedding and event venue. She is known for her meticulous attention to detail, collaborative leadership style, and ability to merge creativity with scalable business strategy. Whether she’s designing an immersive storyline, mentoring team members, or building systems that support long-term growth, Jennifer is driven by one guiding principle: memorable experiences are built at the intersection of imagination, execution, and genuine human connection.
3:15PM - Prop Design & Creation - Part 2
Ian Bishop, Puzzol Creative Carpentry Manager
Alec Lazarini, Puzzol Creative Additive Design Manager
Alita Phillips, Puzzol Creative Scenic Design Specialist
Kirk Melancon, Puzzol Creative Experiential Design Engineer
DESCRIPTION:
In this second session, we will continue where we left off in Part 1 of Prop Design & Creation. Bring your escape room ideas to life by mastering the end-to-end prop development process. In this workshop, we’ll walk through initial concepting in 3D modeling software, refining designs for feasibility, exporting files, and manufacturing in the shop. Learn the workflow to turn visions into tangible assets efficiently, saving time and enhancing your rooms’ uniqueness!
3:15PM - Training Policies and Procedures for Creating Awesome Game Masters
Maddy Chapman, Puzzol Creative Operations Director
DESCRIPTION:
In this workshop, we will explore a range of training materials and strategies designed to ensure that both new hires and current employees are well-equipped to excel in their roles and drive the success of your business.
3:15PM - Make A Great First Impression By Maximizing Your Google Profile
Brian Vinciguerra, Cracked It! Escape Games Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Officer
DESCRIPTION:
In this workshop, we will explore a range of training materials and strategies designed to ensure that both new hires and current employees are well-equipped to excel in their roles and drive the success of your business.
BIO:
Brian Vinciguerra is a retired Marine and is the co-founder and chief marketing officer of Cracked it! Escape Games in Jacksonville, North Carolina.
3:15PM - Cue The Lights: Build Cinematic Immersion With Proper Lighting Effects
Kirk Melancon, Puzzol Creative Experiential Design Engineer
Stephen Lynch, Puzzol Creative Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer
DESCRIPTION:
Great lighting turns an escape room into a cinematic, fully-immersive world—get it wrong and the magic fades. In this workshop, you’ll learn how to choose the right color temperatures, select durable and dimmable fixtures that fit your theme, strategically place lights for realism, and integrate controllers for dynamic scenes, cues, and synchronization with puzzles or audio. You’ll walk away with practical guidelines, fixture recommendations, and setup tips to create professional, theatrical atmospheres that pull players deeper into the story and elevate their experience.
3:15PM - PuzzolCon Camp Presents PCC Escape Rooms!
The amazing young minds from PuzzolCon Camp will show off their new 10 minute escape room. If you want to see what the next generation of escape room developers have created, come play!