Marketplace Speakers
Lenora Billings-Harris
Sponsored by Alaska Travel Industry Association
Lenora Billings-Harris helps organizations intentionally create and sustain inclusive work cultures that engage each individual to accelerate their efforts toward maximum contribution. Whether through keynotes, workshops, or organizational consulting, Lenora partners with clients to help them build effective relationships that leverage differences in order to increase innovation, customer satisfaction and bottom-line results.
Randall Dean
Sponsored by Mississippi Division of Tourism
Randy Dean, the "Totally Obsessed" time management/e-mail guy, is a professional speaker and sought-after expert on time & e-mail management, effective organization, and the related use of technology. For more than 20 years, Randy has been leading training and speaking programs and presentations for corporate, academic, association, and travel-related audiences. Obsessed with time management and personal productivity, he left a successful career as a graduate program admissions director, professional marketer, and manager to become a leading speaker and trainer. The author of the recent Amazon bestseller, Taming the E-mail Beast, he has led programs for thousands of satisfied and inspired students, managers, and professionals on being more productive and purposeful with their time and life. His highly informative and entertaining speaking and training programs leave audience members with applicable tools, strategies, and skills on how to better manage their time, technology, and information overload immediately following their program experience.
Stephen Evans
Stephen is the Vice President of Safety for the Pacific Western Group of Companies which operates a fleet of 3,000 Motor Coach, Transit, and School Buses in Canada and into the US. Last year Pacific Western was named “Operator of the Year” by the International Motorcoach Group (IMG). Also, their Transit Division successfully provided transit service for the Vancouver 2010 Olympics.
Stephen has a BA in Geography from the University of Lethbridge; completed a Safety Management Diploma program from the Institute of Safety & Systems Management at the University of Southern California; and has extensive transportation safety experience in both the aviation and highway modes.
He has given presentations to a number of organizations including the 2011 SAE Industry/Government Meeting and gave testimony as a driver safety subject matter expert at the NTSB Truck & Bus Safety Forum.
In the past Stephen has served as the Chair of the Vehicle Technical Operations Committee of the ABA’s Bus Industry Safety Council (BISC), and is currently serving in the BISC Executive as secretary.
Bill Geist
Sponsored by Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism
Bill Geist is the President of Zeitgeist Consulting, a firm specializing in strategic planning, governance, marketing and legislative issues for convention and visitor bureaus, tourism focused chambers of commerce, economic development organizations and communities.
He has provided consulting services to over 150 Destination Marketing Organizations since 1995 and is a popular speaker on marketing, trends and customer service across North America. He has also served as a guest lecturer on Internet Marketing at the University of Wisconsin's Small Business Development Center. He is the author of Destination Leadershipfor Boards and a contributor to Fundamentals of Destination Marketing.
Prior to forming Zeitgeist Consulting, Bill served as the President/CEO of the Greater Madison (WI) Convention & Visitors Bureau from 1990-1995. During his tenure, he was the lead spokesperson and co-strategist for the successful public referendum fight to build the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Monona Terrace Convention Center. He also succeeded in doubling the Bureau's sales and marketing budget and oversaw the launch of one of the Top 25 Marathons in the nation.
Before moving to the Madison CVB, Bill led the Kankakee County (IL) CVB and landed the first multi-year contract ever awarded for the American Power Boat Association's National Outboard Championships. Prior to his CVB work, he held various management and programming positions with broadcast media in the Chicago area.
Bill has served as the President of the Wisconsin Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus and the Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Wisconsin Tourism Federation. Past associations have included stints as Vice-Chair of the Wisconsin Governor's Council on Tourism and the past Chair of the Wisconsin Professional Speakers Association.
Bill holds an Executive MBA from the University of Wisconsin and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Kenyon College.
Jan Hargrave
Sponsored by Louisville CVB
Jan Latiolais Hargrave teaches you the ways in which your body communicates to the world around you. Her information could help you to “read” your customers, your family, your students, your associates, in fact, everyone around you. Author of Let Me See Your Body Talk, Freeway of Love, Judge The Jury and Strictly Business Body Language, this popular speaker, distinguished educator, talk-show guest of The Lifetime Channel, Fox News, The Maury Povich Show, The Montel Williams Show, Great Day Houston, E-Entertainment Television and The Ricki Lake Show, describes for you all “hidden messages” you use in your everyday life and shows you how to stop the lies and uncover the truth—in any conversation or situation.
Vicki Hitzges, CSP
Vicki reaches audiences. For 15 years she hosted TV news and talk shows at Dallas, TX affiliates for Fox, CBS and ABC. She learned to communicate talking to news makers like U.S. Presidents' Carter, Reagan, Clinton and both George and George W. Bush.
As an interviewer, Vicki's favorite celebrity was Bette Midler. The star with the biggest grin—Ron Howard. The most conservative--Arnold Schwarzenegger. The most difficult (surprisingly)--Bill Cosby. She excelled in broadcasting and won a Headliner Award from the National Press Club for outstanding reporting ability.
From TV, Vicki entered the business world as a corporate publicist. One of her clients was America's foremost motivational teacher, Zig Ziglar. Zig recognized Vicki's ability to communicate and quickly selected her to be one of the few speakers he would personally mentor.
Within three years, she'd spoken from New England to New Zealand. Clients include Southwest Airlines, Southwestern Bell, Microsoft, Cisco Systems, American Airlines, the CIA, Ernst & Young, Kraft-Nabisco, EDS, Delta Airlines and the C.I.A.
Audiences enjoy Vicki’s insight and energetic delivery. You will, too!
John Kennedy
Sponsored by Turning Stone Resort & Casino
John Kennedy has been speaking professionally for over 15 years to more than 100,000 audience members, and has reached expert status in the industry of hospitality/tourism.
John’s dynamic approach to leadership, sales, teamwork and service have him traveling the world to both present and facilitate success and growth within organizations, associations, and companies.
John is returning for a record 12th year to ABA and relishes the opportunity to drive excellence to the industry in which he began his career--hospitality.
Since 1994, John has created systems and strategies to ensure profits and productivity for great companies and associations including Marriott Hotels, Elizabeth Arden, Taco Bell, IACC, ISRAE, ABA…John has also spoken at the state level of South Dakota, West Virginia, Indiana, Maryland and Delaware at their tourism summits. He is currently working with the country of Bermuda to set world-class standards of service and experience.
Visit John at www.ishakeitup.com for a preview of his style, content, and delivery.
Jeff Korhan
Jeff Korhan is an authentic, informative, and inspiring speaker who helps mainstream small businesses use social media and Internet marketing to increase their influence, enhance customer relationships, and accelerate their growth.
In the first decade of his career, Jeff was a Fortune 50 Sales and Marketing Manager with an MBA. He later founded a construction services company that was twice named Business of the Year. After 20 successful years he sold his business, and now applies three decades of marketing experience to helping clients develop sustainable marketing practices that capitalize on emerging business trends.
Jeff maintains a busy schedule speaking and consulting on the topics of social media and Internet marketing, relationship selling, and small business trends. He is an author, syndicated publisher, and regular content contributor to leading business publications and websites. His own New Media and Small Business Marketing site recently ranked among the Top 100 Small Business blogs in the world by Technorati Media.
In addition to his authentic and informative style, Jeff's audiences especially value his special skill for simplifying technology and complex business ideas to make them practical and useful.
You can learn more about Jeff Korhan and access hundreds of articles on small business marketing at http://jeffkorhan.com.
Karen McCullough
Sponsored by Rhode Island Tourism
Karen McCullough opens conferences, meetings and minds - And she is the most fun you’ll ever have learning! You will be entertained, inspired and prepared for the future.
Karen teaches you the essential skills needed to manage and motivate your team and yourself. Her approach is practical, her message is relevant, and her style is total fun. Her programs provide you with the tools necessary to improve and succeed in these challenging times.
Connie Merritt
A seasoned professional with over 25 years experience of speaking nationally with leading companies, organizations and associations, Connie Merritt, RN, BSN, PHN, is a compelling storyteller and award-winning author with an established reputation of connecting with audiences to help move them to action.
A dedicated registered nurse, she understands people and process – and she knows how to unlock her audiences to maximize potential. Connie has a gift for providing vital content with step-by-step tactical teachings and motivating her audiences by spinning unforgettable tales.
In her latest book released from McGraw-Hill, TOO BUSY FOR YOUR OWN GOOD, Connie helps people and organizations make vital adjustments in their personal lives and careers to manage the multiple decisions and requests being placed in all areas of life – especially during these “do more with less” times.
Her programs draw upon her vast experiences as a registered nurse, researcher, author and business professional. She delivers timely programs for organizations and individuals to learn the best practice skills & strategies to thrive now & continue to excel managing tasks and relationships.
For interviews, commentary, or speaking engagements, Connie Merritt can be reached at 949-494-0091 or Connie@ConnieMerritt.com
Connie's YouTube videos:
http://www.youtube.com/user/ConnieMerrittSite
Alf Nucifora
Alf Nucifora is the Chairman and Founder of The Luxury Marketing Council chapters in San Francisco, Monterey Peninsula and Las Vegas. The Luxury Marketing Council is a global organization representing more than 1000 of the world’s leading consumer luxury brands. Currently, he also serves as principal of a marketing consulting firm, having “retired” from the responsibilities as Chairman of the Southeast office of a $310 million advertising agency in 1990.
A native of Brisbane, Australia, Alf entered the advertising and marketing business on the corporate side working for two Fortune 500 companies, first in Australia and then in the United States. He then made the move to the advertising business and later advanced into agency management.
Alf, who is an avid spokesperson for the continued growth and success of the marketing profession, delivers speeches and seminars dedicated to sales, marketing and communications to Fortune 500 companies, organizations and associations across the country and abroad.
Alf graduated from the University of Queensland with a B.A. Degree. He furthered his formal education in the United States, attending the Harvard Business School, where he earned an M.B.A. Degree.
Karen Purves
Want your meeting attendees to say “I didn’t want the session to end”? Does your audience think they’ve seen and heard it all? Karen’s inspiring, entertaining and funny approach connecting science with emotion, has built a solid client base through results-oriented programs. Karen frequently speaks to standing room only crowds, co-creating interactive presentations weaving audience involvement with relevant content.
In addition to being described as “one of the best” or “favorite” speakers of entire conferences dozens of times, other attendee comments include: “Refreshingly honest”, “contagiously enthusiastic”, “attention grabber and keeper”, “breath of fresh air” and giving “real answers to real life”.
Karen combines a Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Master’s Degree in Environmental Public Policy and over 20 years business experience along with extensive training at “The Second City” leave audiences feeling energized, inspired and empowered. Karen also has the rare distinction of being a 3-time game show winner!
Throughout the US, Canada, Europe and Asia - from Fortune 100 companies to associations and government - Karen guarantees that attendees will receive useful material, in an engaging way, and practical tools to implement immediately for success!
Susan Sweeney, CA, CSP, HoF
Sponsored by Titanic Museum Attraction
Susan Sweeney is a best selling author, an internationally recognized Internet marketing and social media expert and the Dean of eLearningU – an online learning portal for the travel and tourism industry. Susan has delivered keynotes, webinars, workshops and Internet Marketing Bootcamps to audiences on 4 continents.
Susan is the author of the 8 Internet marketing books. These include 101 Ways to Promote Your Web Site, which is now in its 8th edition, has sold over 70,000 copies and has been translated into German, Spanish, and Chinese, Internet Marketing for Your Tourism Business and Social Media for Business.
Susan holds the prestigious Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) designation and has been inducted into the Canadian Speakers Hall of Fame by the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers.
