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home > speaker biographies > motivation
motivation
 
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Tony Alessandra
A marketing strategist and applied behavioral scientist, Dr. Tony Alessandra is a leading authority on bottom-line marketing tactics and on building business relationships for life. Recognized by Meetings & Conventions Magazine as "one of America's most electrifying speakers," Tony combines an endearing charisma and a command of his craft into a unique style that consistently captivates his audiences.
   
 
John Amatt
For over 30 years, John Amatt has led expeditions to remote regions of Northern Norway, Peru, Nepal, China, Greenland and has explored areas of the Arctic on six occasions, making many first ascents of previously unclimbed peaks.  At the age of 20, John spent two weeks lashed to tiny ledges while making the first ever ascent of Europe's highest and steepest mountain precipice - the 5000 foot "Vertical Mile" Troll Wall in Norway.  Later in 1981, he was the leader of the 1st Canadian  mountaineering expedition to Western China, which made a lightweight ascent of  24, 757 foot Mount Muztagata - the highest peak in the world to have been ascended and descended entirely on skis.
 
 
Robert Ballard
Dr. Ballard has participated in the production of numerous television programs for the B.B.C., Open University, National Geographic Educational films, Nippon Television, German Television, the Office of Naval Research, the National Science Foundation, Public Television, Walter Cronkite's Universe, and six National Geographic Television specials. From 1989 to 1991 he served as host of the weekly National Geographic Explorer program shown on Turner Broadcasting System. Dr. Ballard was technical advisor on "SeaQuest DSV" during its premiere season in 1993/1994.
 
 
 
Dr. Bertice Berry
No one defies stereotypes, generalizations or cliches more than Dr. Bertice Berry. Growing up poor in Wilmington, Delaware, the sixth of seven children, Bertice was told by a high school teacher that she was "not college material". Fortunately, there was another teacher who believed that she was destined for more. Berry applied to several schools without any idea how she would pay the tuition if she were accepted. The day her application arrived at Jacksonville University in Florida, a wealthy benefactor called the Admissions Department looking for a potential student "who could swim if they had the right backing," and might sink without it.
 
 
Norm Bossio
Norm Bossio is an independent management consultant, trainer, and public speaker who provides technical assistance and training in a wide variety of management areas throughout the private and public sectors. Prior to founding Norm Bossio Enterprises, he was a teacher, principal, and superintendent in public schools. He also served for eight years as an adjunct faculty member and consultant to the Management Certificate Program at Stonehill College.

 
 
Les Brown
As a renowned professional speaker, author and television personality, Les Brown has risen to national prominence by delivering a high energy message which tells people how to shake off mediocrity and live up to their greatness. It is a message Les Brown has learned from his own life and one he is helping others apply to their lives.
 
 
SCOTT BURROWS
Scott used his powerful success formula - Vision, Mindset and Grit during his entire life to maximize untapped potential, excel and surpass the competition. He played college football at FSU under Coach Bobby Bowden. He was a # 1 ranked kick-boxer having his last fight broadcast by ESPN. At the age of 19, Scott's life took a dramatic turn - he was a passenger in a single car accident which left him paralyzed from the chest down. Diagnosed a quadriplegic and confined to a wheelchair, Scott would not be sidelined. He applied his formula of Vision, Mindset and Grit and went on to lead a very rewarding and fulfilling personal and professional life.
 
 
CHRISTINE CASHEN
Fasten your seatbelt and enjoy the ride.  Christine Cashen delivers a fast –paced, hilarious program with useful content that makes her a sought after speaker worldwide.  For more than 10 years, she has jazzed an amazing variety of audiences throughout the United States, Canada, South Africa and Australia. Christine is an authority on sparking innovative ideas to handle conflict, reduce stress and energize employees.

  
  
Duane Cashin
With more than 20 years of top sales experience, Duane Cashin is the power and passion behind the Give & Get sales system – the system that consistently drives sales and accelerates corporations to top industry positions. Duane Cashin is not shy to share his controversial opinion. Without hesitation, he will proudly announce, any day  – any time, that sales professionals work in the most honorable profession in the world. This unusual opinion is the clear foundation of Duane’s success – and that of the Give & Get sales system.

 
 
John Cassis
John Cassis is the founder and president of the Cassis Group, a firm specializing in business motivation and teambuilding. Since 1980, John has challenged more than 1 million people to face modern day demands with sensitivity and humor.  John focuses on the needs of each client, customizing his motivational messages to each group he addresses.
 
 
Dan Clark
In 1982, Dan Clark was sponsored by Zig Ziglar into the National Speakers Association and soon received NSA's highest earned designation, CSP-Certified Speaking Professional. Since then, Dan has spoken to over 2.5 million people in all 50 states, throughout Canada and in 15 other countries in Europe, Asia and the former Soviet Union.
 
 
Roger Crawford
Roger Crawford inspires, empowers and entertains audiences throughout the world. Many have even called him an energizer, because of his ability to activate and invigorate those who hear him. Having been challenged at birth with a physical disability, Roger has experienced firsthand the incredible power of resilience. He is certified as a tennis professional by the U.S. Professional Tennis Association and became the first severely handicapped athlete to compete in a NCAA Division I college sport.
 
 
PAT CROCE
Pat Croce graced the cover of Success magazine as the first person to ascend from the training room to the boardroom of a professional sports team. His remarkable success as a physical therapist and pioneer in the sports medicine field to the colorful leader responsible for the resurrection of the Philadelphia 76ers as a NBA championship contender has been defined as one of the most amazing stories in sports history.

   
   
Mack Dryden
In addition to being an electrifying motivational speaker and hilarious Emcee, Mack Dryden is a comedian/actor/writer who has appeared on numerous television shows, several feature films and whose writing and voice are heard on more than 500 radio stations every week.
 
 
LINDA EDGECOMBE
Linda Edgecombe is an internationally renowned award-winning humorous speaker, trainer and consultant. She is a best selling author who energizes every room as she leads people to loosen up, lighten the load and laugh. Her audiences are motivated and shown how they can shift their perspectives on life, work and themselves. Change has never been this painless!

  
  
Susan Ershler
Susan’s record would be remarkable enough if it only detailed her business achievements. During her 23-year corporate career, she has held a series of increasingly responsible executive positions in the sales divisions of Fortune 500 companies. She led teams to sales records, beating quotas from $1 million to $600 million. Ending as a vice president of sales for a multi-national telecommunications corporation, she was responsible for their fast-growing Internet division. She also worked at US WEST, United Technologies, FedEx-Kinko’s, and GTE (Verizon). During her business career, she earned 11 annual President’s Club sales awards – the top honors awarded to the sales people in these companies. 
 
 
TOM FLICK
Following his successes as an NFL quarterback, Rose Bowl Champion, Pac-10 Conference “Player of the Year”; Tom Flick now applies his winning ways as a dynamic and highly sought-after speaker to companies that include Microsoft, Marriott, Starbucks, Merrill Lynch, Ritz-Carlton Hotels, Shell Oil, Boeing, NAPA Auto Parts, Safeco Insurance and the US Army Rangers. Tom draws on his exceptional ability to communicate clear business solutions with humor, wit and razor-sharp insight as he addresses over 70,000 men and women each year on high performance strategies for leadership, teamwork, change, and personal growth.  With a gift for connecting with listeners’ hearts as well as their heads and habits, Tom helps create more effective leaders. 
 

     
Yossi Ghinsberg
Author of "Heart of the Amazon", Yossi Ghinsberg is one of the most exciting speakers you are likely to encounter anywhere today. Yossi's message is universal and inspirational - his manner soothing and reassuring, his style unassuming yet absorbing and most importantly, his messages can be taken further.
 
 
Steve Gilliland
Since the turn of the century, Steve Gilliland is one of the most sought-after and top rated speakers in the country.  Steve’s motto is:  “If you take care of people, the business will follow.”  Implementing this principle, he has helped people grow their business and expand their life by teaching them to rethink their work, their relationships, and themselves.  Organizations throughout the world have grown more profitable by improving their #1 resource – their people.  Steve learned great compassion for people and commitment to a hard-work and balanced-life ethic, at the knee of this highly principled Christian mother.
 
 
Sam Glenn
Who is Sam Glenn?  Sam is creatively known as the “Chalk-Man.”  At 6’7”, Sam graduated from Xavier University on a basketball scholarship. After graduation, he ran a business in a multi-million dollar industry, but saw it instantly vanish before his eyes in a fire.  Riddled with depression, he spiraled until he was sleeping on borrowed floors and working as a nighttime janitor.  Eventually, a few small words took hold of him and motivated him to change his life, making him the huge success he is today.

 
 
Amanda Gore
Amanda Gore is one of Australia's most popular professional speakers. She holds a degree in physiotherapy, a major in psychology and is a master practitioner of neurolinguistics. She speaks on average at 150 conferences a year has many different presentations and is very easy to work with.   She is the author of three books, several audio and video learning programs, and a frequent radio and TV presenter.  Amanda also has a regular newspaper column. 

 
 
Scott Hamilton
Scott Hamilton is also a role model, a humanitarian, and a cancer survivor. As a public speaker, he exudes enthusiasm and inspiration.   As a figure skater, he is forever bridging the gap between sport and entertainment. As a role model, he contradicts the saying that "good guys finish last." As a humanitarian, he avails himself to any plight that will improve mankind. But, more important, as a cancer survivor he is a constant reminder that with fortitude and determination, anything is possible. Scott's much publicized bout with testicular cancer in 1997, and his November, 2004 diagnosis of a benign, non-cancerous pituitary brain tumor, from which he is successfully recovering, has touched him with a special insight into life and the human condition.

 
 
Keith Harrell
Keith Harrell personally has experienced success and failure in the game of life. While growing up in Seattle, Washington, he aspired to become a professional athlete. Keith learned about the importance of a positive attitude, improving performance, teamwork and the art of competition on and off the court. Today, he maintains that same winning edge in life because of one important journey - the desire to be his best!
 
 
BRIAN HOLLOWAY
Hired by 258 Fortune 500 Companies from around the world - Brian Holloway has set himself apart in delivering high performance value for the hard charging corporate competitors. Featured on CNN, ABC, CBS, NBC, ESPN, USA Today, 700 Club, TBN - Brian is recognized for his elite status as a America’s #1 TEAM BUILDING expert. His client list includes Wal-Mart, Albertsons, Honeywell, MBNA, Bank of America, Apple, Sprint, Verizon, AT&T, Cisco Systems, State Farm, SalomonSmithBarney, Knight Trading, AIG, Reebok, DaimlerChrysler, Best Buy, Wachovia Bank, and thousands more. Brian has been a featured guest lecturer at Harvard's Business School, Yale University, Stanford University, Princeton, New York Graduate School of Business and Williams College.

 
   
Bruce Jenner
Bruce Jenner captivated the world when he broke the world record by scoring 8,634 points in the decathlon at the 1976 Olympic games in Montreal and earned the title, "World's Greatest Athlete." "I love life and I want to LIVE it! Activity, variety and the next challenge around the bend -- and our new baby girls, Kendall and Kylie - keep me excited and inspired. I wouldn't have it any other way."

 
 
Dewitt Jones
Dewitt Jones is unparalleled in showing people how to bring their creative vision into reality. He is one of America's top professional photographers, a creative genius in his field. He's led an inspired life, celebrating "what is right with the world." Embracing this attitude has taken him to soaring heights in both business and life.
 
 
HARVEY MACKAY
Harvey Mackay is author of five New York Times bestsellers.  His first two books -- Swim With The Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive and Beware The Naked Man Who Offers You His Shirt -- have been translated into 35 languages and distributed in 80 countries.  Both books were New York Times #1 bestsellers and are also listed by the Times among the top 15 inspirational business books of all time. Dig Your Well Before You're Thirsty was released in April 1997, and Pushing The Envelope in January 1999.  Both cracked the New York Times bestseller list.  Harvey’s latest book, We Got Fired! … And It’s The Best Thing That Ever Happened To Us, was released on Oct. 1, 2004, and became his third New York Times #1 bestseller.  Harvey interviewed 28 Americans who were fired and landed on their feet – people like Muhammad Ali, Michael Bloomberg, Lou Holtz, Billie Jean King, Larry King, Robert Redford, Joe Torre, Lesley Visser, Jesse Ventura and many more.  His books have sold more than 10 million copies worldwide.

   
  
Michael McKinley
Michael is a CSP (Certified Speaking Professional) earned from the National Speakers Association, and demonstrates his commitment to the speaking profession through proven speaking experience. In 1992, Mike was named to the CPAE Speaker Hall of Fame. Five speakers are named annually to honor those National Speakers Association members who have reached the highest levels of the speaking profession.
 
 
FRANK MILES
What do you call a comedy juggler, a standup comedian, a comedy magician, and a composer of humorous songs who uses his act to teach people that they can overcome their deepest fears and accomplish anything they really want to? Most people just call him funny.Frank Miles delivers a riotously funny and totally unique show that's also a motivational workshop filled with powerful tools for handling fear. The show bounces from insightful standup comedy, to a slapstick turn juggling fire on a giant unicycle, to performing the world's only PingPong spitting ballet. Maybe that's why Penn Gillete of "Penn and Teller" fame pronounced this young man, "A comedy machine!"
 
   
  
W Mitchell
It's Not What Happens To You - It's What You Do About It, is the title of W Mitchell's latest book, and it's the message this expert on responsibility, change and renewal shares with audiences around the world. He has served in the Marines and worked as a Gripman on the San Francisco cable cars; the former mayor of Crested Butte, Colorado, congressional nominee and radio and pubic television personality, has been described as a renaissance man. In 1975 Mitchell co-founded and chaired Vermont Castings, Inc., which put thousands of people to work.
 
 
Diana Nyad
In 1979, Diana Nyad plunged into the history books by completing the longest swim in history.  The distance was 102.5 miles from the coast of Bimini to the Florida shore.  This incredible world record, the longest swim by a man or a woman without the aid of a cage, still stands today.  Diana was front page news throughout the Western world, the lead story for Walter Cronkite on the CBS Evening News, and many times guest of the Tonight Show. For ten years, Diana was the greatest long-distance swimmer in the world.  She broke numerous world records, including the fifty-year-old mark for circling Manhattan Island, in 1975 (7 hours, 57 minutes).

 
 
WES MOSS
Wes was born with a heart for entrepreneurship, beginning several successful business ventures in both high school and college. By his second year at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Wes was running a franchised painting business with more than 20 employees and finished as the top producer in the state of North Carolina. After graduating with an Economics degree from Chapel Hill, he moved to Atlanta, where he became a Vice President at one of the world’s largest investment firms in just five short years. As a Certified Financial Planner ™ Wes and his team manage more than $150 million dollars for entrepreneurs and business owners.
 
 
Neal Petersen
Neal speaks to audiences all over the globe about realizing goals and turning challenges into advantages. His expertise is unique and is based on his own real life experiences. Neal is among millions of people born with disadvantages. His were physical, financial and political. Neal is no stranger to adversity. He has faced and overcome hurdles most of us cannot imagine. He was born crippled with only one hip joint, and black in a working class family during South Africa’s racist era. Neal was the least likely person to become an international sportsman and successful businessman.

    
   
Connie Podesta
Connie obtained her Bachelor's Degree in Speech/Drama and Education at Northern Illinois University, her Master's Degree in Human Relations at Eastern Connecticut University and her certification as a Licensed Professional Counselor from the State of Louisiana.
 
 
Vince Poscente
The key elements in corporate culture today require a balance of mental toughness, a passion for excellence, and a dedication to an enjoyable journey. An authority on speed and focus, Vince Poscente knows the mind set needed to meet those demands. During the 1992 Olympic Winter Games in Albertville, France, Vince raced to a Canadian national record of 135 miles per hour (216.7 km/h) on skis. Even more astonishing, at the age of 25, Vince had never ski raced before. He went from a recreational skier to the Olympic finals in just 4 years.
 
 
Rudy Ruettiger
Against all odds on a gridiron in South Bend, Indiana, Daniel "RUDY" Ruettiger in twenty seven seconds, carved his name into history books as perhaps the most famous graduate of the University of Notre Dame. In 1993, TRISTAR Productions immortalized his life story with the blockbuster film, RUDY. Written and produced by Angelo Pizzo and David Anspaugh, the award-winning team who brought us HOOSIERS, the critically acclaimed RUDY received "Two Thumbs Up" from Siskel and Ebert and continues to inspire millions worldwide.
 
 
Mark Sanborn
A member of the prestigious Speakers Roundtable and recipient of the exclusive CPAE Award from the National Speakers Association, Mark is author of two books - Sanborn on Success and Teambuilt: Making Teamwork Work -  and co-author of five other books. He is also a prolific audio and video author. His video program "Teambuilding: How to Motivate and Manage People" was the second-best selling video in America.

 
 
Randy Snow
At the peak of a blossoming tennis career while just a junior in high school, Randy Snow was injured in a farming accident, which left him without the use of his legs. The transition of accepting his situation and competing has been a key to his success. Since then he has become a business owner and nationally recognized sales associate, a Fortune 500 speaker, published author, and one of the most successful gold medal wheelchair athletes in history. Randy’s most requested programs include “Pushing Forward When Things Change”, “The Courage to Lead” and “Diversity-The Truth of the Matter”. Randy Snow has proven that in order to succeed today, you must have a 100% able-bodied mind!
 
   
Jim Tunney
Certified Speaking Professional CPAE Speaker Hall of Fame. Drawing from 28 years experience as an educator and 31 years as an NFL referee, Jim Tunney is the celebrity speaker for team building, leadership, peak performance, motivation, customer service and wellness.
 
 
ERIK WAHL
Erik Wahl’s success as a speaker and unique understanding of vision traces back to his training as an artist. He holds a Bachelors degree from the University of San Diego where he studied both art and business. After first working in the business world and playing with his art, he now plays in the business world by working with his art. He has founded The Wahl Group, a consulting firm specializing in helping organizations identify and implement breakthrough thinking to achieve extraordinary results. Erik’s special blend of warmth, humor and experience helps audiences identify their unchallenged roadblocks to success. He is passionately committed to helping businesses explore new levels of vision and performance through creativity.
 
 
ROB WALDMAN
Rob ‘Waldo’ Waldman - The Wingman - delivers the message of maximizing performance in competitive environments. He teaches organizations how to build trusting, revenue producing relationships with their employees, partners, and customers while relaying his personal experiences as a combat decorated fighter pilot and businessman. He makes a striking parallel that is memorable and exciting and brings fighter-pilot energy and passion into each story and illustration.
 

 
 
Pat Williams
Pat Williams was raised in Wilmington, Delaware, earned his bachelors degree at Wake Forest University, and his master's degree at Indiana University. He has a doctorate in Humane Letters from Flagler University and is currently working on a doctorate in sports administration from Walden University. He is a member of the Wake Forest Sports Hall of Fame after catching for the Deacons baseball team, including the 1962 Atlantic Coast Conference Championship team.
 
 
GARRISON WYNN
If you could have no-fluff motivation, high-energy humor, and industry specific customized business content in a single program, what value would that have for your organization?  By blending his funny real life stories and current original business research, Garrison Wynn educates, motivates and entertains - delivering solutions audiences can use right away. Each program contains powerful information on communications, change and success that can be customized for salespeople, management teams, customer service representatives or those in leadership positions.
 
Desi Williamson
You'll look like a star when you bring in Desi to speak for your next training or convention. His fast-paced programs - customized for your organization both inspire your people to take action, and give them the tools to do so. Your people get a fun, energetic program with content, and your organization gets an immediate increase in productivity from your people. Desi brings results to your organization!
 
 
Benjamin Zander
Benjamin Zander has been the conductor of the Boston Philharmonic since its formation twenty years ago. Mr. Zander, who was born and educated in England, began to compose at the age of nine. He studied with England's leading composer, Benjamin Britten, and his close associate Imogen Holst, daughter of Gustav Holst. At fifteen, Zander was invited to Florence to study with the great Spanish cello virtuoso Gaspar Cassado.  For the next five years he traveled throughout Europe performing as a chamber musician.

 

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