April Lewis
April Lewis is a woman on a mission to improve the employee experience and develop leaders in organizations. As the President and CEO of the A. Lewis Academy, Inc., a coaching and consulting firm, she uses her extensive training and leadership background to transform organizations from the inside out through proven workplace wellness strategies. Her guiding principle is “Human first, Employee second.”
April’s passion for teaching professionals how to work well has led her to become a keynote speaker and consultant for Fortune 100 companies, organizations, and education institutions across the nation. She served as the Interim Chief Operating Officer of a healthcare system based in Maryland. Despite all of her accomplishments, April remains grounded and passionate about stress-free living. She is also a best-selling author and lover of tacos.
She served as a combat veteran in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Bright Star in Egypt. Her credentials include being a Certified D.I.S.C Facilitator, Certified Health Coach, Certified Executive Coach, and Certified Neurolinguistic Programming (NLP) Practitioner. April Lewis has truly earned the title of “Leadership and Wellbeing Energizer” and her approach to transformation is a reminder to always put people first.
Richard Hadden
Richard Hadden has long been a respected voice in the world of Employee Engagement and Leadership. He brings both platform and business experience to deliver his timely, content-rich message with a future-looking perspective. Audiences love his energy, passion, and humor, and the practical takeaways and inspiration that are hallmarks of his presentations.
As an expert in Employee Engagement, Richard teaches specific practices that help to create a focused, engaged, and capably led workforce. He’s particularly helpful with Recruiting and Retention in a tight labor market.
Richard developed and practiced his leadership skills as a manager in both Financial Services and Information Technology. He was Director of Product Development for a software development company before starting his own consulting business. Gradually, his consulting focus shifted from Information Technology to Leadership, Employee Engagement, and the Workplace.
Chris Norton
Whether I’m inspiring people to change their lives, or helping them access recovery resources through my foundation, my purpose is to help others overcome any challenge they face. Life isn’t about getting knocked down – it’s about getting back up. Stand in the face of adversity. Stand for an idea. Stand to empower the world.
Chris suffered a spinal cord injury while playing football at Luther College (Iowa). The doctors gave Chris a 3% chance of moving anything below his neck again. Four years later, he defied the odds and walked across stage at his college graduation with his fiancé, Emily Summers. The video went viral twice, garnered 300 million+ views, and caught the eye of the country’s top media outlets (Good Morning, America, TodayShow.com, NBC Nightly News, CBS, USA Today, Sports Illustrated, etc.).
Three years later, Chris attempted another incredible feat – this time, perhaps the most important walk of his life – down the aisle with his wife, Emily. As with his Graduation Walk, Chris prepared relentlessly, spending four hours per day in the gym. Chris and Emily joyfully conquered the challenge – and walked seven yards down the aisle after their wedding ceremony. Seven yards symbolized the seven-year anniversary of his injury. Their beautiful story once again captured the heart of the world, with coverage ranging from nearly all of the top-tier U.S. media outlets to media in Germany, Italy and London, to name a few.
Chris is a well-respected motivational speaker and speaks at numerous events across the country. He was named to the ITA Group’s Hottest Keynote Speakers List, alongside Michael Strahan, Magic Johnson and Mark Cuban. Chris’ message focuses on the fact that we all face challenges, but our circumstances don’t define us – we do. With inspiring anecdotes and positive action steps, Chris connects with his audience in a genuine, entertaining and impactful way. His message resonates with all of us: adversity is universal, but we all have the Power to Stand. Additionally, Chris has written a book; he and Emily are working on their second book; and a documentary is being made about them.
Chris’ story is now on Prime Video and AppleTV! “The world watched as I took ten impossible steps on my college graduation day. That was just my beginning. 7 Yards: The Chris Norton Story shares my story of how I battled unbelievable odds with a faithful determination to discover that life’s lowest moments can be our greatest gifts. This film will redefine your outlook on how to overcome adversity with strength and resilience, but also the importance of family and friends. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that we all have the Power to Stand.”
Walter Bond
Walter travels the country speaking, coaching, teaching, and inspiring companies across a wide range of industries, from financial services to agriculture and franchising to real estate and many more in between. At any given time, you can find Walter leading a mastermind class, offering one on one professional development, hosting book talks, and coaching hungry business leaders and entrepreneurs towards success.
While many know Walter Bond as a former NBA player, more and more people know Walter as a passionate and motivated speaker, author, and business transformation coach with one goal: to help people see their full potential. Walter always focuses on mastering the fundamentals of business. The only way a professional can reach their professional potential. The benefit to the audience, is that not only is Walter a Hall of Fame speaker based on his platform skills that are second to none, he is also teaching as he is performing for his audience. Leaving an audience entertained and educated. A rare gift!
Ashley Rhodes-Courter
Since her first National Keynote at age 14, Ashley Rhodes-Courter has shared her story with thousands in the United States and in over 7 countries.
Ashley Rhodes-Courter, MSW, is the quintessential American success story. Born in 1985 to a single teen mother, by the age of 3 she was in Florida’s foster care system where she spent almost ten years being shuttled between 14 homes—some quite abusive—before being adopted from a Children’s Home at the age of twelve.
Despite her ordeal, she excelled in school because she believed that, “my education was the one thing nobody could take from me.” Early in her life she felt compelled to advocate for herself and the other children she lived with, particularly in the abusive foster homes.
Her efforts and academic achievements landed her Eckerd College’s Trustee Scholarship where she graduated with honors and ahead of schedule earning a double major in Communications and Theater and a double minor in Political Science and Psychology. Ashley then went on to earn a Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Southern California.
During her undergraduate studies, she was one of 20 college students selected for the USA Today All-USA Academic Team and was named one of GLAMOUR Magazine’s Top Ten College Women. She was also selected as one of the four Golden BR!CK Award winners for outstanding advocacy for community change by DoSomething!. As part of their campaign, she was featured on 25 million bags of Cool Ranch Doritos.
By the age of 22, Ashley had become a New York Times Bestselling Author. Her first book, “Three Little Words” is now an International Bestseller and has been published in at least 4 countries. Her second book, “Three More Words” debuted at #1 on Amazon Bestseller’s List. Both books are used in classrooms across the country in various community and First Year Experience Collegiate programs.
Ashley has received State, local, and National awards for her speaking, advocacy, and philanthropy. She has spoken on Capitol Hill and has been invited to the White House twice. “Three Little Words” is now being made into a major motion picture.
Simon T. Bailey
Simon T. Bailey believes you are meant to share your brilliance. His passion and purpose is unlocking
that ability in a way that ignites sustainable transformation. He understands the pressure leaders and high performers are facing in the midst of uncertainty and equips them with simple, easy-to-implement strategies to accelerate results.
Recognized by Washington Speakers Bureau as one of the 12 business speakers who embolden
audiences to think big and lead with purpose and by BigSpeak! as one of the top sales kickoff
speakers, Simon knows how to challenge an audience and provide them with tangible takeaways
and sustainable action steps. LinkedIn Learning features three of his online courses that reach professionals in 100 countries.
Simon has more than 30 years experience in the hospitality industry, including serving as sales
director for Disney Institute, and has worked with more than 1,800 organizations in 50 countries.
He has been named one of the top 25 people who will help you reach your business and life goals by SUCCESS magazine, joining a list that includes Brene Brown, Tony Robbins, and Oprah Winfrey. His Goalcast video, released on Facebook, has over 90 million views worldwide. When he is not working, Simon serves as a board member for the U.S. Dream Academy and Orlando Health Foundation Board.
Debbie Peterson
Debbie Peterson runs a speaking and coaching business to help her audiences and clients develop a focused mindset for fulfilling professional results by harnessing the power of their thoughts.
Her audiences and clients have shared that with Debbie’s Clarity System, they experience
- More clarity of professional direction, producing better self-aligning decisions
- An increased focus for clearer, consistent action
- More momentum, keeping them motivated to achieve the next level of success on their terms.
Debbie has 25+ years in Corporate with experience in Business Administration, Project Management, and Investor Relations. She is a certified Trainer of NLP at the Master Practitioner level and has spent over ten years studying, designing, and delivering keynotes, workshops, and corporate trainings using Neuro-linguistic Programming (NLP) as a foundation. Debbie has presented to thousands of employees, leaders, and clients at various sized organizations.
Debbie is the creator of “The Way Forward Mentorship Program” and the “The Way Forward in Career and Life Mastery Weekend” for women leaders and emerging leaders. She is a professional member of the National Speakers Association, Women’s Speakers Association, and an author with her book, Clarity: How Smart Professionals Create Career Success on Their Terms, released in 2019.
Sara Frasca
Sara Frasca helps organizations capitalize on a refreshing new way of thinking, creating a culture that enables creative problem-solving to drive lasting change.
An expert on innovation and the power of human creativity, Sara Frasca weaves together sparkling story-telling with inspirational tools of innovation, while masterfully driving actionable impact from the moment she steps on-stage.
David Glickman
David Glickman has been a professional speaker and entertainer for over 20 years and is a member of the Speaker Hall of Fame. Before transitioning from “show business” to “speech business” he worked with comedy stars like Steve Martin and Ellen DeGeneres, as well as operating his own chain of comedy clubs.
In the late 1990s, David moved full-time into professional speaking. His presentations were created from a combination of the “workplace wisdom” he learned as a business owner and the “comic relief” he learned on the comedy stages.
Today, David’s popular keynotes teach vital strategies for success. His valuable content, combined with his customized humor, provide attendees with incredible tools to handle the myriad of challenges they face every day.
Scott Burrows
Scott Burrows is a motivational business speaker who brings the concepts of Vision, Mindset and Grit to life using his life-changing story as the backdrop for organizational success. Three simple, yet powerful words that when put into action can help your organization stand up to any challenge.
By the age of 19, Scott played college football at Florida State University for legendary coach Bobby Bowden and was a top-ranked kick-boxing Black Belt champion whose last fight was broadcast by ESPN. Scott’s life changed dramatically when he survived a catastrophic car accident that left him paralyzed from the chest down and diagnosed a quadriplegic. Told he would be confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his life, Scott realized his split-second decision to not wear a seat belt had altered his course forever.
Despite his grim diagnosis, Scott astounded his doctors and refused to be sidelined. After graduating with a degree in Finance, Scott served as a Financial Advisor in the Insurance and Financial Industry for Northwestern Mutual. He specialized in life and disability insurance, as well as retirement, estate and wealth planning. In his 5th year, he hit a huge goal and qualified for the prestigious Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT), the Premiere Association of Financial Professionals, which is a 100% commission-driven sales production award that fewer than 8% of his peers qualify for annually from more than 500 companies in 70 countries around the world.
At the pinnacle of his career, Scott experienced yet another setback, a second automobile accident. Although buckled in this time, new injuries forced him to RE-evaluate, RE-invent and once again RE-ignite his life by practicing what he preaches.
During his nine month recovery, Scott reminisced about the overcoming adversity speakers he heard at sales and leadership conferences. Their life-changing stories inspire others to chase their dreams, regardless of obstacles or barriers. That’s when Scott decided he would make the tough decision to leave an industry he had so much passion and success in to pursue a speaking career that has taken him around the world.
Scott also took advantage of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to help expand his brother’s golf course fertilizer and equipment company into Southeast Asia by disrupting an industry and doing what the competition was unwilling to do – offer custom-blended fertilizers designed specifically to meet the needs of golf course fairways based on individual soil tests. This expansion brought in an excess of 1.6 million the first year.
Scott is the author of Vision, Mindset, Grit! Vision refers to your goals and aspirations, the endpoint you are seeking. Mindset is the continual mental preparation and adjustment needed to meet oncoming challenges. Grit is the day-to-day determination to persevere when you are too tired, too sore or too beleaguered to press on.
Scott has delivered keynote in 45 states as well as Australia, Spain, India, Thailand, Bermuda, Costa Rica, Mexico, Brazil, the Czech Republic and Canada, and our soldiers at the Minot Air Force Base.