Chad Williams

7:30 am | Awards Breakfast

Having been a featured guest on Fox News Channel, CNN News Room, Anderson Cooper 360 and more; former U.S. Navy SEAL Chad Williams draws from his experience in the SEAL Teams to communicate an instructive perspective on teamwork, resilience, leadership and self-motivation.

Just days prior to entering SEAL training Chad's motivation and mental toughness would be tested as he turned on a television one morning to see unexpected graphic video footage of his mentor and training partner Navy SEAL Scott Helvenston brutally killed, mutilated and dragged through the streets of Fallujah, Iraq. Hung upside-down from the Euphrates River Bridge while an incensed Iraqi mob repeatedly celebrated and chanted in Arabic, "Fallujah is the graveyard of Americans." Helvenston's body was set ablaze as Chad witnessed and learned an unwelcome firsthand lesson in what it was to be forged by adversity.

Read Full Bio

Steeled in his resolve to follow in his Helvenston's footsteps and complete SEAL Training in honor and memory of his good friend, Chad entered the military's most difficult and grueling training known as BUD/S. As a member of Class 254 Chad and 172 other sailors vowed that they would die before ever giving up and quitting the military's most rigorous training. Those that would quit, were required to "ring out" which entailed ringing a large hanging brass bell three times and surrendering their class helmet on the Naval Special Warfare Center's asphalt grinder. Exercising mental-toughness, leadership and teamwork Chad climbed the mountain and completed SEAL Training alongside 12 of the original number of 173 sailors that vowed their dedication to completing the program.

Serving his country proudly through multiple deployments as a U.S. Navy SEAL, on SEAL Teams One and Seven Chad continued to hone the qualities and values that our nation's best adhere to. In an ironic final operation in Iraq, Chad's SEAL Team was set up on a premeditated ambush similar to the location and scenario that took the life of his mentor Scott Helvenston but on that occasion Chad and his Team were able to overcome the enemy and complete the mission.

Today Chad is a bestselling author of his book, SEAL of God and an in demand keynote speaker. Drawing from his experiences as a SEAL, Chad captivates his listeners as he illustrates and instructs the SEAL mindset and ethos that involve: mental toughness, discipline, teamwork, leadership, safety and motivation.

 

Patrick Kelly

9:30 am | Key Note Speaker

Building Culture for the Changing World

This session will be more ‘big picture’ and presentation style, thinking about what are the factors of change influencing our world today and what companies and leaders need to understand in order to succeed moving forward.

Read Full Bio

It will cover: 

  • Brief history of massive periods of change and their influence on how we work and live (Industrial Revolution, 2nd. Ind. Rev) 
  • Overview of today’s technological, social, and demographic changes and how they have fundamentally changed how we live and work 
  • Factors in generational development 
    • We are products of our environments 
    • What are the biggest factors for today’s younger workforce (parents, education, debt, recession)
  • Disruptive change 
    • A look at how industries and businesses are being hurt due to lack of adaption
    • The talent pool is changing
  • Today’s work disconnect – why employees are disengaged and owners are frustrated
    • The battle of right vs. wrong, old vs. new
  • What it takes to attract and retain workers in today’s world
  • What is culture?
    • Introduction to how culture, behaviors, values, and mission align
    • Culture is not a destination, it is a state of mind
  • How culture influences the bottom line

Ross Bernstein

11:00 am | Industry Luncheon

“The Champion’s Code: Building Relationships Through Life Lessons of Integrity and Accountability from the Sports World to the Business World”

The best-selling author of nearly 50 sports books, Ross Bernstein is an award-winning peak performance hall of fame business speaker who's keynoted conferences on five continents and has been featured on CNN, ESPN, Fox News, and “CBS This Morning,” as well as in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times and USA Today. Ross' program is based on a series of books he wrote in which he was able to interview more than 500 professional athletes and coaches that all had one thing in common — they were all members of championship teams. In his research he concluded that the same metrics and characteristics that were common among champions in sports, were also common in peak performers in business.

 

Read Full Bio

As he learned, champions have a very unique DNA — and his goal in this keynote session is to get audience members thinking about their own DNA — and about the DIFFERENTIATORS they possess which would ultimately lead customers to CHOOSE to do business with them. At the core of his message is the simple fact that we like to do business with people who we trust, who we like, and who just “get it” — CHAMPIONS. In an engaging, provocative, and visually entertaining style, Ross will use inspirational stories and poignant life lessons from the world of sports to show attendees how to:
  • Create a “culture of excellence” by giving extraordinary customer service…
  • Generate momentum by utilizing the "currency of karma"...
  • Follow their moral compasses to win "the right way," with respect and integrity...
  • Be better leaders and create more "buy-in" by embracing change and failure...
  • Evolve from "order takers" to "trusted partners" by enhancing the quality of their relationships...

Julie Wanzer

2:00 pm | Social Media

Julie Wanzer, LEED AP, is the Owner and Principal of Business Rewritten, a marketing communications firm. She has 15 years of experience in marketing communications with a focus on digital marketing content and professional writing. Her firm specializes in social media marketing for professional organizations, currently managing content and social media engagement for 10 different firms and associations.

Read Bio

In addition, her professional writing has been published by numerous entities, including the Denver Business Journal, Colorado Biz Magazine, the Colorado Real Estate Journal and Building Dialogue magazine.