Military Influencer Conference Started With 80 People. Ten Years Later, Nearly 4,000 Are Coming to Tampa

Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins, civil rights attorney Ben Crump and Medal of Honor recipient Maj. James Capers Jr. are among the confirmed speakers for MIC’s 10th anniversary

TAMPA, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Military Influencer Conference will mark its 10th anniversary in Tampa this September, the first time the conference has been held in the city. Nearly 4,000 people are expected to attend, including military and government leaders, veterans, military spouses, entrepreneurs, creators, advocates, media and brands.

“In the early years, many people came to MIC looking to connect and figure out what they could build,” said Curtez Riggs, founder of the Military Influencer Conference. “Now they are coming with businesses, audiences and partnerships already in place. What they need from the room has changed, and MIC has grown with them.”

Confirmed speakers for 2026 include Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins, civil rights attorney Ben Crump, Medal of Honor recipient Maj. James Capers Jr., Ramón “CZ” Colón-López, former senior enlisted advisor to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman, chef Robert Irvine, creator and entrepreneur Kendall Mariah, content creator Kita Rose and etiquette expert Elaine Swann.

This year’s programming covers military leadership, veteran transition, military family issues, entrepreneurship, public policy, advocacy and the creator economy.

Creators have been part of MIC since its early years, as social platforms gave military-connected voices new ways to build audiences and businesses. Today, creators come to the conference with established businesses, audiences and brand partnerships of their own.

This year, MIC will add a dedicated Creator Stage focused on audience growth and the business of being a creator. More than 20 podcasts will participate in the conference’s new Podcast Row, where hosts will record interviews with speakers and attendees.

MIC sponsorships include creator partnerships, original content, podcasts, livestreams and social media, in addition to traditional event visibility. BMW and TikTok will return for their third consecutive year as MIC partners.

“Military-connected influence reaches well beyond any one industry or platform,” said Katherine Torres-Pummill, general manager of Recurrent Military. “These are business owners, creators, advocates and leaders with audiences and communities that trust them. MIC gives brands, media and government a way to hear directly from the people shaping those conversations.”

"For a decade, USAA has been a foundational partner of the Military Influencers Conference, and this tenth year is a significant milestone in our shared commitment to serving the military community," said Senior Vice President with Military Affairs at USAA Robert Whittle. “The MIC provides an unparalleled platform for connection, collaboration, and innovation among military leaders, entrepreneurs, and advocates. We are proud to support an event that empowers individuals to make a tangible difference and celebrates the unique strengths and experiences of those who serve and have served."

MIC 2026 will be held Sept. 23-26 at the JW Marriott Tampa Water Street. Conference information, programming and registration are available at militaryinfluencer.com.

Limited media credentials are available.

About Military Influencer Conference (MIC)

Military Influencer Conference (MIC) connects entrepreneurs, influencers, leaders and brands passionate about supporting the military community. MIC attracts more than 4,000 attendees and 100 global partners annually and reaches millions of service members, veterans and military families through Recurrent Military & Defense brands including Task & Purpose, We Are The Mighty, MilSpouseFest and The War Zone. MIC Unplugged is the conference’s national forum series, smaller and more focused conversations designed to move the military community dialogue forward between major events.