June 11, 2025 (Denver, CO) – North America’s only B2B sexual wellness trade show, conference and community, STIMULATE, is thrilled to announce a Board of Directors team positioned to enhance their goals of better supporting their attendees, exhibitors and collective community alike.
As we approach our third flagship experience, we look forward to also welcoming our Board of Directors to STIMULATE. Each of our respective directors bring an important perspective and experience to STIMULATE, and we are excited to have them also join us in Nashville this upcoming August,” shares Nicole Leinbach Hoffman, Founder of STIMULATE.
STIMULATE’s Board of Directors includes:
Nancy Berger
Nancy Berger’s career exemplifies visionary leadership, characterized by a deep understanding of market trends, innovative initiatives, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. Over her 30+ year career – which has spanned two large media companies,
Conde Nast and Hearst, and over 8 magazine brands including Vanity Fair, Allure, Gourmet, Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan,
Women’s Health, Men’s Health and Seventeen – Nancy has not only transformed brands but also set new standards within the media industry.
Nancy’s personal mission has remained consistent: empowering younger women to achieve their aspirations. Her dedication extends to every employee she mentors, her initiatives on college campuses, her support of female founders growing relevant businesses, and her efforts to connect women executives in meaningful ways. Through initiatives like her CEO retreats, Nancy has created authentic connections that have led to lasting friendships and successful business partnerships. Career Highlights include Allure’s Best of Beauty Seal of Approval, where Nancy pioneered this concept, which has become the gold standard in the beauty industry. It allows brands to prominently display their awards at the point of purchase and on packaging, enhancing their visibility in new and effective ways. No beauty brand has been untouched by these. Additionally, Nancy launched the Marie Claire Power Trip – a groundbreaking, invite-only event where influential women from various industries gathered for networking and empowerment. By chartering a commercial plane for a 36-hour content-packed excursion, she extended Marie Claire’s position as the go-to source for professional women. Additionally, Nancy spearheaded CosmoTrips—a travel initiative offering curated girlfriend getaways with all-inclusive packages. This initiative not only tapped into new revenue streams but also solidified Cosmo’s presence in the re-emerging travel category.
In 2023, Nancy launched her own company Start With A Good ____, because everything great starts with a good… a good idea,
connection, collaboration, mission, product… even hair day! She works as a strategic advisor to a variety of companies including
Art Basel; Tribeca Film Festival and Tribeca X; Katie Couric Media; Her Campus Media; The Daily Beast; Hearst Labs; and
tech platforms Statusphere; BEAM; Barometer. In addition, Nancy organizes and hosts invite only CEO female retreats at
spas throughout the country that are highly curated and coveted experiences.
Georganne Bender
Georganne Bender is a nationally recognized speaker, author, consultant, and the driving force behind KIZER & BENDER Speaking. Her career began on the retail front lines and propelled her into senior leadership, giving her a rare blend of hands-on experience and executive insight. Since 1990, she has advised thousands of organizations across retail, healthcare, hospitality, and other service sectors, consistently delivering measurable results and sustainable growth. A recognized authority in consumer behavior and the in-store experience, Georganne is best known for transforming retail environments to achieve double-digit sales increases. Her impact has earned her accolades as one of the Top 40 Omnichannel Retail Influencers, a four-time RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert, and a go-to thought leader across multiple industry platforms.
Retail is evolving and STIMULATE is leading the charge, finally giving the sexual wellness industry the bold, unapologetic platform it deserves. This isn’t just another trade show, it’s a movement. I’m excited to help industry retailers tear up the retail rulebook, reimagine their spaces, and create stores that connect with consumers. STIMULATE is about breaking boundaries, owning the conversation, and turning customer engagement into an experience they won’t forget,” shares Bender.
Georganne is the voice behind Retail Adventures, a long-running and widely respected blog that has influenced the industry since 2005. As a global thought leader and BrainTrust panelist for RetailWire, she helps shape the conversations that define the future of retail.
Dr. Amy Pearlman | Board Certified Urologist
Dr. Amy Pearlman’s career is defined by a groundbreaking approach to sexual medicine—one that blends clinical precision with empathetic, forward-thinking care. As a board-certified urologist and fellowship-trained specialist in genitourinary reconstruction, Dr. Pearlman has reimagined what it means to treat sexual health, not only for men but also for women navigating challenges like genitourinary syndrome of menopause. After training at Baylor College of Medicine, the University of Pennsylvania, and Wake Forest, she went on to lead the Men’s Health Program at the University of Iowa before co-founding Prime Institute in Coral Gables, Florida, with her twin sister. There, she delivers concierge-style, evidence-based care rooted in personalization, innovation, and collaboration.
Dr. Pearlman’s approach is comprehensive and deeply human. She integrates lifestyle medicine, cutting-edge sexual wellness products, medications, in-office procedures, surgical interventions, and close partnerships with sex therapists and pelvic floor physical therapists to address the full spectrum of sexual health needs. Her mission is clear: to help patients feel heard, empowered, and optimized. Whether on stage at national conferences, across the exam table, or through her 2025 podcast Pearls & Perspectives with Urology Times, Dr. Pearlman is shifting the narrative around sexual wellness. Her work reflects a new standard in medicine—one that sees sexual health not as a niche specialty, but as a foundational part of whole-person care.
In addition to her commitment of supporting individuals in healthy behaviors for optimized health, Dr. Pearlman has introduced a “medtail” experience in her Coral Gables based practice – the Prime Institute – which provides a variety of over the counter sexual health based products her patients can explore and purchase in the comfort of her practice.STIMULATE is where medical expertise meets market innovation. I’m proud to be a bridge between the clinical and retail worlds in this growing space,” shares Dr. Pearlman.
STIMULATE’s Board of Directors looks forward to helping support the innovative and important growth in a category expected to reach $115B annually by 2030. For more information or to speak with the STIMULATE Board of Directors, please contact stimulate@retailminded.com.
About STIMULATE
STIMULATE was founded in 2023 and will host it’s third annual trade show + conference in Nashville, Tennessee, on August 4+5, 2025. Founded in an effort to bring connectivity of products to retailers, medical leaders and more together in combination with education supporting these same professionals, STIMULATE has been recognized by Trade Show Network News as one of the best community focused trade shows (2023) and continues to gain further reach of medical leaders, brands and retailers alike as each year passes. Hoffman, founder of STIMULATE, is also a longtime retail professional who also founded Retail Minded, is a frequent contributor to media outlets that have included Forbes, Newsweek, The Today Show and more, as well as is a frequent speaker at a variety events. STIMULATE also holds various events throughout the year separate from it’s flagship experience. Explore more at StimulateTheShow.com.
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