Diane Amundson
As a CSP (Certified Speaking Professional) I deliver live and virtual presentations for organizations that want to communicate more effectively with their employees to improve productivity. My expertise is in leadership, team building, conflict resolution and strategic planning. I speak locally & internationally in these areas and am known for my ability to make complex subjects simple to understand and apply. I have worked for General Mills and Pepsi Cola in sales and have taught at Winona State University as an Adjunct Professor of Organizational Behavior. My background also includes working as a General Manager with Express Employment Professionals. I have additional expertise in human resources, sales and training. I work with teams, managers and executives that want to improve their communication skills. I have published a chapter titled “Humility Leads the Way” in a book titled “Success Strategies: A High Achievers Guide to Success”. I believe being humble is one of the key components of a successful leader.
Jermaine Davis
Before receiving the prestigious College Instructor of the Year Award, Dr. Jermaine Davis worked in corporate America for IBM, Keebler Cookies, and Frito-Lay in sales and management. In 2003, Dr. Jermaine started Snack Attack Vending of Minnesota. After six-years of continuous growth, Dr. Jermaine sold his company and devoted his life to full-time speaking, teaching, facilitating, and writing. Now, he’s an award-winning Professor of Communication Studies at Century College and Organizational Leadership at St. Kate’s University in Minnesota. Dr. Jermaine has authored 10 books including, Get Up Off Your Butt & Do It NOW, Leading with Greatness, and Leading and Working with an Inclusive Lens. He is known across the United States for teaching his popular 3 C’s Approach: Dr. Jermaine helps teams thrive and flourish with effective Communication, Cooperation, and Collaboration.
Dr. Jermaine was raised in a drug- and gang- infested area on the West Side of Chicago. After the tragic loss of six family members to violent deaths, he enrolled in college to change the direction of his life. Dr. Jermaine holds a BA and a MA in Speech Communication, and a Doctorate in Organizational Leadership. Dr. Jermaine specializes in helping leaders, teams, and organizations develop healthy work environments so ALL employees can thrive and flourish.
Dr. Jermaine is an international speaker, leadership, and communication coach that engages audiences with his unique style of speaking and facilitating known as – EDUTAINMENT – a fun combination of education and entertainment. Prestigious organizations like 3M, Allianz, Best Buy, Sam’s Club, Prudential, Wells Fargo, West Point Military Academy, John Deere, Medtronic, Land O’ Lakes, and Enterprise Rent-A-Car regularly seek out Dr. Jermaine’s expertise in the areas of increasing employee engagement, leadership development, communicating with influence, and overcoming workplace burnout.
Most importantly, he still loves to eat his grandmother’s homemade Mac ‘n’ Cheese AND all-you-can-eat crab legs.
Lea B. Olsen
Growing up in poverty in a racially-blended family created social dilemmas for Lea at a young age. She learned that when your family doesn’t fit the mold, you have to get comfortable breaking the mold. It was one of her first Wins in Life.
Lea began her basketball career in the junior year of high school and, after only two years, went on to play Division I basketball at the University of Minnesota. Surrounded by coaches and teammates while doing what she loved was transformational. She developed an appreciation for the critical role process plays in achieving your goals.
Lea’s unique perspective on Winning in sports, business, and life has given her a game plan on how to Win with purpose and passion. As a speaker and thought leader, she thrives on helping people and businesses find their Wins while staying true to their core values and beliefs.
Chad Ellsworth
Chad Ellsworth is an author; professional keynote speaker; career, leadership, and life coach who empowers people to cultivate courageous cultures in their workplaces and organizations. In 2018, he published, “Building up without tearing down: How to cultivate heroic leadership in you and your organization.” On December 29, 2018, he was featured in a story in the Star Tribune, “Coaching us to purposeful lives.” In 2007, Chad was named an Anti-Hazing Hero by HazingPrevention.Org, and in 2010, he received one of two national awards that year for outstanding professionals by the Fraternity Information & Programming Group (FIPG).
Chad served the University of Minnesota community for more than 15 years as a Career Coach for the Carlson School of Management, where he was recognized in 2018 as Staff of the Year; an Academic Advisor and interim Pre-Health Career Coach for the College of Biological Sciences; an Academic and Career Coach for the Center for Academic Planning & Exploration; Adjunct Faculty for the College of Biological Sciences, Leadership Minor, and Office of Undergraduate Education; Program Director for the Office for Fraternity & Sorority Life; and Student Activities Advisor.
Originally from Lincoln, Nebraska, Chad received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska in 2001, and his master’s degree from the University of Maryland in 2004. He currently serves Carleton College as the Program Director for Employer Relations. He lives in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area with his wife, Kristin, and two sons, Joey and Paul.
Joe Schmit
Joe Schmit is an award-winning broadcaster, community leader, author and popular keynote speaker. As a sports broadcaster he has covered every major sporting event in the past 4 decades and has interviewed many of the biggest names in sports. He joined KSTP-TV in 1985 and has won 18 Emmys from the National Television Academy. In 2020, Joe was awarded The Silver Circle designation by the Upper Midwest Chapter of the Emmys for extraordinary contributions to the broadcasting industry. He was also honored with a National Headliner Award in 2001.
Before joining KSTP-TV in 1985, he was Sports Director for WBAY-TV in Green Bay, Wisconsin. His career also includes positions as weekend sports anchor for KCRG-TV in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and WKBT-TV in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Joe earned his degree in Mass Communications from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. Joe is also an author of two books: “ Silent Impact ” and “ The Impact Blueprint.”
In 2019 Joe was also inducted into the Minnesota Speakers Hall of Fame and earned his CSP designation (Certified Speaking Professional) from the National Speakers Association. Less than 15 percent of NSA members worldwide have achieved the CSP designation.
Joe is a long time youth mentor committed to advocating for a number of community organizations with Big Brothers and Big Sisters is at the top of his list. He is a past president and board member of the Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Greater Twin Cities. He has raised over $3 million for the organization through the Joe Schmit Celebrity Golf Tournament which had a 16-year run. In 2000, he was the winner of the Jim Kelly Distinguished Service Award from Big Brothers and Big Sisters and in 2001, a winner of the Odyssey Award for commitment to youth mentorship. He was also honored as the Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund (JDRF) Community Leader of the Year in 2005.
In 2018 Joe was honored with the Mike Givens Distinguished Service Award for The Mind over Matter Foundation. Joe and his wife Laura also chaired a $4.5 million dollar capital campaign for VEAP, the largest food shelf in Minnesota. He is past president and board member of the Fairway Foundation and has contributed time to many other charitable organizations.
Chad Weinstein
Chad Weinstein delivers presentations on ethics and leadership that inspire, educate, and entertain audiences with real-life examples and practical concepts and techniques. His life’s work is helping ethical leaders to achieve extraordinary results through improved trust and team engagement. As a speaker and educator, he seeks to energize audiences by uniting positive ethics with organizational performance.
For over 25 years Chad has worked as a business leader and consultant, helping Fortune 500 and start-up companies, public sector and non–profit organizations to achieve their goals. Before focusing on ethical leadership full-time in 2007, he led teams in IT, R&D and operations, as well as in marketing and sales. He draws on these experiences – working with leaders in fields as diverse as law enforcement, health care, mining, and high-tech manufacturing – to tell real stories that audiences remember and apply to their lives.
Chad also earned a Ph.D. in ethics from the University of Minnesota. In the course of his studies, Chad observed that the practice of business ethics is almost always negative, warning people to avoid mistakes. Chad set out to frame a new, positive perspective for ethics education, encouraging people to pursue greatness.
Chad is the founder and president of Ethical Leaders in Action (ELA), a Minnesota-based firm that provides consulting and training to public safety agencies, health care organizations, associations, and businesses. Before founding ELA, Chad founded and led the Hill Center for Ethical Business Leadership, a division of the James J. Hill Reference Library.
Kat Perkins
Kat is a nationally recognized motivational speaker who can deliver her message to businesses, colleges, schools of all grade levels, corporate organizations, fundraisers, and leadership conferences of all types. Kat appeared on Season 6 of NBC’s The Voice and went all the way to the show’s finals on Team Adam Levine!
She can set the tone for people of all ages and each appearance comes with a musical performance!
By booking Kat’s Fearless campaign, you can expect an inspiring experience about finding your passion, taking leadership and working with others, developing a positive attitude, and working toward your dreams. In schools, she focused on how to stay strong against bullying, as well as finding your passions, dreams, and setting goals. Your audience will leave the event with a sense of confidence, some laughs, music, and a full heart!
Stevie Ray
Stevie Ray has been a noted keynote speaker and trainer across the country for over 30 years (he is older than he looks). An expert in human interaction, he helps leaders and employees handle difficult situations. His most requested subjects are leadership, teamwork, customer service, persuasion and influence, professional networking, and presentation/speaking skills.
Stevie is unique in the speaking field in that he uses no PowerPoint/Keynote slides, and does not deliver a speech from behind a podium. Since his goal is to impart new skills that can be used immediately in the workplace, his sessions are highly interactive; using hands-on exercises that teach valuable techniques. Besides his work as a speaker, Stevie has been a professional entertainer, and has performed with such stars as Paula Poundstone, and “Weird Al” Yankovick. So, his sessions are laugh-filled as well as informative. A common comment from audiences is, “I never laughed so much and learned so much at the same time.”
Stevie is a nationally syndicated columnist for the Business Journal Newspapers, and is the author of a dozen books. In his free time, he is a beekeeper, volunteers recording books-on-tape for the blind, has studied seven martial arts and hold black belts in four of them.