Voiceover Legend J. Michael Collins Purchases Industry's Largest Annual Conference

Voiceover legend J. Michael Collins and his wife, Anna Collins, are teaming up to assume ownership and operation of the industry's biggest annual conference.

We're told the powerhouse team was introduced as the new owners of 'VO Atlanta' during the annual conference closing ceremonies late last week. The couple is taking over for the events well-known Executive Director Gerald Griffith, who founded it in 2012.

J. Michael is relishing his new role and is already putting together a lineup of speakers and presenters for VO Atlanta 2023. Griffith, who announced 2022 would be his last year, gave his blessing to the husband and wife team, knowing he is leaving it in good hands.

"It has been my joy to see this conference grow from a smaller gathering of around 60 people to the internationally acclaimed industry event that it is today, which now includes a worldwide streaming audience as well. I know that J. Michael and Anna understand my original goal of bringing all kinds of people in the voiceover community together for networking, camaraderie, and professional development. I know they will continue to build upon that vision," he said. 

As you know, J. Michael Collins started his voiceover career over 30 years ago, voicing thousands of commercials and other projects. "This is such a special and unifying event for those of us in the field that we simply didn’t want to see it disappear. Gerald built an amazing foundation for what is now an internationally acclaimed annual event. We intend to keep the incredible array of professional development and networking opportunities while adding to programming and innovation, all with our signature first-class touch," he said about the new deal. 

Anna Collins is a veteran in the event management and promotion world, and will act as CEO of 'VO Atlanta.' Her new role will consist of logistics and planning for the four-day event. Obviously, she is well-suited for her new role and working with other events like the luxurious JMC Euro VO Retreats and the first-ever One Voice Conference in Dallas last year. The team worked in partnership with owner-operators and renowned industry leaders Hugh Edwards and Peter Dickson of Gravy for the Brain on that event. The One Voice launch was so successful that it will return to Dallas-Fort Worth in August as a 3-day conference, with J. Michael and Anna again co-producing.

"J. Michael and I have found through our experience attending, planning, and producing other conferences and events in this industry that we can bring a truly comprehensive approach to design content and programming that appeals to all facets of this unique sector that we so love," she added. 

Collins gushed over the hard work and success of his wife, saying, "Anna Collins and I are looking forward to continuing VO Atlanta in the spirit in which it has always existed," and "Anna, in her role as the new CEO of VO Atlanta, will bring her signature first-class touch to the logistics and operation of the event."

Adding, "We are excited to build upon the legacy Gerald Griffith has created, and to continue to grow and elevate the conference in order to serve our wonderful community."

'VO Atlanta' 2023 will take place next spring at the Hilton Atlanta Airport. As planning advances, updates will be shared on social media and via the conference’s website.