Voice actor to headline Atlanta conference

The voiceover industry in the United States is dominated by a small number of large conferences where talent, clients, and coaches gather to trade contacts and discuss market trends. The next major gathering of that community is scheduled for March 18 through 21 at the Hilton Atlanta Airport.

Rebecca Lee has been named the keynote speaker for that event, known as VO Atlanta. Organizers describe the conference as the largest and longest-running meeting for voiceover artists in the world. Lee’s announcement came in September, shortly after she collected two honors at the 2026 One Voice Awards.

At that ceremony, Lee won the Commercials Best Performance Female Award for her work on a Coca-Cola spot. She also took home the Voiceover Artist of the Year Female Award. These accolades follow a career that began in aviation rather than the studio.

Lee worked as a flight attendant for 15 years before transitioning to voiceover full time in 2020. She said the shift happened when a client heard her making in-flight announcements and asked her to record a voicemail message. That first gig paid $100. A second client later hired her for a product release ad, which convinced her to pursue the field professionally.

Since then, Lee has built a studio and taken on work for major brands such as Progressive and Nike. She has also voiced characters in video games including World of Warcraft and Raid: Shadow Legends. She noted that the video game sector offers a different kind of recognition compared to traditional commercials, as fans often learn the name of the actor behind the character.

Lee said she initially resisted submitting her work for awards, believing she only needed the paycheck. After landing a few high-profile commercials, she entered the One Voice Awards and was surprised by the emotional impact of the win. She described crying on stage and feeling a sense of validation from peers in a field where artists often remain anonymous to the public.

The conference will take place during a period of adjustment for the entertainment industry. Lee acknowledged that the slowdown in film production has affected some voiceover work, particularly promotional narration for television shows. However, she said demand remains steady in political, corporate, and general commercial sectors. She also noted that while remote recording is common, many animation and video game projects still require actors to be present in the studio for precise sound capture.

Lee also teaches a coaching method she calls vocal alchemy. She emphasizes breathing, body awareness, and authenticity over traditional announcer styles. She said that modern commercials increasingly favor a natural, conversational tone that sounds like a real person talking to a friend rather than a professional reading a script.