Austin Walker

Austin Walker

Austin Walker is an executive coach with Novus Global and a sought-after keynote speaker who helps leaders and teams perform beyond what they thought was possible. His work with executives, teams, and organizations spans industries, from global companies to scrappy startups.

Austin’s approach blends storytelling, humor, and practical insights to inspire audiences toward action. Drawing on years of experience in leadership development, executive coaching, and Meta Performance team building, he connects with people through real-world examples that resonate. Whether he’s speaking to a room full of seasoned executives or a gathering of emerging leaders, Austin brings an energy that is refreshing, honest, and transformational.

Austin helps teams, leaders, organizations, and athletes move from high performance mode into Meta Performance. When you work with Austin, you get more than just a keynote—you get a catalyst for lasting impact.

Dave Webb

Dr. Dave Webb’s book, Homerun Leadership – Your Guide to Better Faster Team Decisions, became an Amazon best seller in three categories in 2022 for new releases. His leadership strategies transfer to lead any organization through every challenging situation. Dave coaches leaders and their teams on the best, simplified, team leadership science to equip their whole team to solve their own problems more quickly. Dave also trains internationally, both for-profit and nonprofit executives, management teams and boards of directors to increase their leadership success. He brings a wealth of experience having served as the former Superintendent of South St. Paul Public Schools for the past 12 years. Dave is currently the President of Roseville Rotary Club, Governing Board President at his church, adjunct faculty member at St. Cloud State, and serves on the Board of Directors at the Minnesota Speakers Association. He’s still waiting for his call-up to coach the Yankees—but until then, he’s happy helping leaders knock it out of the park.

Jan Lehman

Jan Lehman is an international speaker, author, and CEO of CTC Productivity. Her motto is to “Change the Culture” so organizations minimize wasted time, talent, and technology. For over a decade, Jan’s talks have helped thousands to dramatically improve profitability, employee engagement, and job satisfaction.

Using a blend of psychology and technology, Jan’s approach to workplace productivity extends beyond simple hacks or a one size fits all solution. You’ll get an exciting blend of interactive lessons and immediately usable strategies to work smart and do more. The roots of Jan’s business acumen and people-first attitude come from her business degree in Operations and Systems Management with a minor in Psychology from Indiana University Kelley School of Business. Keynote speaking is the perfect forum for her to blend her people skills and productivity expertise.

As a former Fortune 500 technology executive, Jan created and led highly effective teams that streamlined business processes and automated workflows. Today she works with leaders to leverage insights, strategies, and solutions to minimize waste and create a culture of productivity throughout their organizationsAll of Jan Lehman’s in-person talks and virtual experiences are customized to meet the needs of your event and exceed the expectations of your audience. But there is a common theme: Jan helps leaders eliminate waste in their organizations so they can become truly effective in their role.

Laura Boyd

Laura Boyd is a leader, speaker, leadership coach, and author. She has over 30 years of experience working with organizations to help them develop sustainable growth as organizations and the people within. She has been a leader on executive teams for large companies, emerging companies and non-profits, as well as, a business owner. She believes Leadership is the ultimate Delta for change, strategy and growth in an organization. She is now taking her years of experience helping businesses become high performance organizations through personal leadership development.

Laura has her Masters in Organizational Leadership, certification in change management and is a certified enhanced coaching practitioner. Laura recently authored Words that Work for Leaders: 31 Days of Reflection, Motivation, and Goal Setting. It is an inspirational book excellent for business leaders who want to grow and achieve their full potential through intentional leadership. When Laura is not working with her clients, she enjoys spending time with her family, volunteering with the Empower Leadership Academy for youth, teaching Entrepreneurship and Leadership classes, and going to the gym

Drew Moldenhauer

Drew Moldenhauer is the visionary behind Blue Ethos Specialized Training, where he serves as the Owner and Master Instructor. With a strong focus on empowering individuals and organizations, Drew offers comprehensive training that goes beyond technical skills, highlighting the critical importance of situational awareness and community engagement. His extensive background in public safety leadership, coupled with years of practical experience, makes him a sought-after expert in the field of active threat preparedness and high-stakes teamwork.

Drew holds a Master’s Degree of Science in Public Safety Executive Leadership from St. Cloud State University and is an experienced educator, having served as an Adjunct Professor at multiple respected institutions. He recently completed a year of full-time teaching at Bemidji State University, where he further refined his teaching techniques and curriculum development skills. As a published author, Drew co-authored the book How Smart Police Officers Use Situational Awareness to Improve Safety with Dr. Richard Gasaway, providing valuable insights on improving safety through situational awareness. His thought leadership extends to major platforms like Police1 and Officer.com, where his articles reach a broad audience.

As a respected international speaker, Drew has delivered impactful presentations at numerous high-profile conferences, offering expert guidance on topics like de-escalation, active threat preparedness, and situational awareness. Known for blending practical experience with academic rigor, Drew engages audiences through interactive discussions and real-world examples, ensuring that professionals at all levels leave with actionable strategies. His presentations are not only informative but also resonate deeply, empowering teams to be more prepared, aware, and effective in their roles

Cedric Thompson

Cedric Thompson Jr. is not just a former NFL player; he’s a beacon of motivation and resilience, whose journey from the streets of inner-city Los Angeles to the grand stage of professional football is nothing short of inspiring. Born and raised amidst the chaos of violence and drugs, Cedric defied the odds stacked against him. His remarkable story was documented in the award-winning film, Bombay Beach, which captured the essence of his journey and the challenges he overcame.

His talents on the high school football field caught the attention of scouts, earning him a full-ride scholarship to the University of Minnesota. In 2015, Cedric was drafted by the Miami Dolphins, marking the beginning of his professional football career. Over the years, he showcased his skills with various teams, including the New England Patriots, Minnesota Vikings, and Cincinnati Bengals. However, Cedric’s journey didn’t end with his retirement from professional football.

He transitioned seamlessly into a new role as a full-time content creator, leveraging his experiences to inspire and empower others. With a social media audience surpassing 1 million people, Cedric shares invaluable life lessons, teaching people how to navigate the complexities of life and become better fathers, partners, and humans. Through his platform, Cedric continues to make a difference, shining a light on the power of resilience, perseverance, and self-belief. His story serves as a reminder that no matter the circumstances, with determination and courage, anything is possible.

Desiree Petrich

Steve Fredlund

Steve Fredlund is an Inspirational Speaker & Breakthrough Strategist who spent 25 years as an award‑winning actuary and nonprofit founder, before swapping spreadsheets for a microphone. While leading a trip to Rwanda, he discovered that true breakthrough doesn’t come from doing everything “right”—it comes from having the courage to do The Unright Thing™. That revelation inspired him to study what drives extraordinary change and build his three‑step Safari Way Roadmap.

Today, Steve helps people‑pleasers and right‑doers break free from the “good” and “fine” to reach their extraordinary—guiding audiences through vivid African safari stories, laugh‑out‑loud moments, and practical, actionable strategies. He is the bestselling author of Do the Unright Thing: Memoir of a People Pleaser and a two‑time TEDx speaker. Known for simplifying complex challenges into a clear, step‑by‑step process, Steve equips individuals, teams, and organizations to reconnect with their authentic selves, reignite passion, and bring renewed energy and impact to both work and life.

When he’s not inspiring others on stage, you might find Steve playing disc golf, calculating odds at a poker table, or enduring (and wincing) through another season of Minnesota sports.

Ben Utecht

Ben Utecht

Experience a commanding corporate presence that inspires, teaches, and coaches on building a world championship organizational culture with Ben Utecht. Standing at 6 foot 7 inches and weighing 260 pounds, Ben is not only an NFL Super Bowl Champion Tight End but also the Chief Culture Officer who received the esteemed “Uncommon Leader Award” from NFL Hall Of Fame coach Tony Dungy for his exceptional leadership performance on and off the field. After retiring from football, Ben embarked on a remarkable career path, becoming a sought-after speaker for Fortune 500 companies, sharing his expertise in building high-performing cultures.

As the Chief Culture Officer for True North Private Equity, overseeing a family of companies spanning multiple industries, Ben brings his passion for people and culture into corporate leadership. Additionally, he is culture and brand ambassador for Realty Group, an owner of Conquer Ninja Gyms, a top US Ninja Fitness/Entertainment Franchise, and the founder of SoleCareRx, and the Culture Operating Strategy. To further enhance his impact on talent acquisition and leadership development, Ben became a partner in Behavioral Essentials, a technology company specializing in customized behavioral assessments and benchmarking.

Ben firmly believes that culture can be designed intentionally rather than left to chance. Empowering companies to define, create, implement, and lead culture strategies that drive bottom-line improvement while inspiring and developing individuals is his primary focus. Ben is working with Wiley Publishing to release his business book “The Champions Creed: Build your Culture on the power of Belief!” The book will release this spring.

Above all, Ben treasures the joy of sharing his life with his wife and four daughters.

Achievements:
2003 Team Captain – University of Minnesota
2003 First Team All Big Ten Tight End
2007 Super Bowl XLI Champion – Indianapolis Colts
2012 Dove Award Nominee
2013 Minnesota Brain Injury Alliance Ambassador Award
2014 Public Leadership in Neurology Award (American Academy of Neurology)
2019 Tony Dungy “Uncommon Leader” Award Winner