Neil Aitchison

Neil Aitchison is a popular speaker, M.C., actor, former broadcast executive and radio personality. When not speaking, he’s kept busy as the Senior Manager of Market Development for Melloul-Blamey Construction, one of Ontario’s largest and most diversified construction firms.  Previously, he spent six years as Director of Development for Drayton Entertainment, one of Canada’s most successful theatre companies. Neil was the recipient of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal in 2002, for having made a significant contribution to Canada at home or abroad.

Deepak Chopra

Time Magazine heralded Deepak Chopra as one of the 100 heroes and icons of the century, and credited him as “the poet-prophet of alternative medicine.” Entertainment Weekly described Deepak Chopra as “Hollywood’s man of the moment, one of publishing’s best-selling and most prolific self-help authors.” He is the author of more than 49 books and more than 100 audio, video and CD-Rom titles. He has been published on every continent and in dozens of languages. Over a dozen of his books have landed on the New York Times Best-Seller list. Toastmaster International recognized him as one of the top five outstanding speakers in the world. Through his over two decades of work since leaving his medical practice, Deepak continues to revolutionize common wisdom about the crucial connection between body, mind, spirit, and healing. His mission of “bridging the technological miracles of the west with the wisdom of the east” remains his thrust and provides the basis for his recognition as one of India’s historically greatest ambassadors to the west. Chopra has been a keynote speaker at several academic institutions including Harvard Medical School, Harvard Business School, Harvard Divinity School, Kellogg School of Management, Stanford Business School and Wharton.

Crystal Andrus

Crystal Andrus is a worldwide leader in the field of self-discovery and personal transformation. From a bruised and battered beginning – one that could have sent her in the opposite direction – she has risen to become a best-selling author, (Simply...Woman! and Transcendent Beauty), motivational speaker, women’s advocate, health and fitness authority, and the weight-loss expert on the international hit TV show “X-Weighted”, seen in more than 15 countries. Certified by the American College of Sports Medicine and Canadian School of Natural Nutrition, Crystal is the CEO and founder of Crystal Andrus Productions – a company dedicated to creating health and healing products, CDs, DVDs, retreats, and telecourses. She is also the founder of the SWAT Institute, a long-distance-education Empowerment Coaching school. Crystal’s latest book, Simply...EMPOWERED! (March 2010) is already being hailed as one of this year’s “Must Reads!”.

Linda Armstrong Kelly

Linda Armstrong Kelly is a passionate activist and motivational speaker who captivates audiences with her personal story of battling adversity. She is a shining example of spectacular triumph against incredible odds. From high school dropout to successful career woman and mother of Lance Armstrong, seven-time Tour De France champion and cancer survivor, her story motivates people to achieve their own dreams, regardless of the obstacles they face. Her television appearances include “The Dr. Phil Show”, “CNN” and “ESPN”. She’s been featured in national magazines such as People, The New Yorker, USA Today, Ladies Home Journal and Texas Monthly, as well as many local newspapers, radio programs and television news shows. To find out more about Linda, her memoir – No Mountain High Enough: Raising Lance, Raising Me or her speaking engagements, please visit: www.lindaarmstrong.com.

David Bach

David Bach is the bestselling author of the FinishRich and Automatic Millionaire series. He’s a guest on “The Oprah Winfrey Show”, the “Today Show”, the “Early Show”, and a columnist for Yahoo! Finance. He’s best known for his common-sense strategies for living and retiring rich. His recent book, Go Green, Live Rich, combines the principles of living with eco-consciousness, so readers can reap the financial rewards.

Steve Wozniak

A Silicon Valley icon and philanthropist for the past three decades, Steve Wozniak helped shape the computing industry with his design of Apple’s first line of products the Apple I and II and influenced the popular Macintosh. In 1976, Wozniak and Steve Jobs founded Apple Computer Inc. with Wozniak’s Apple I personal computer. For his achievements at Apple Computer, Wozniak was awarded the National Medal of Technology by the President of the United States in 1985, the highest honor bestowed on America’s leading innovators. In 2000, he was inducted into the Inventors Hall of Fame and was awarded the prestigious Heinz Award for Technology, The Economy and Employment. After leaving Apple in 1985, Wozniak was involved in various business and philanthropic ventures, focusing primarily on computer capabilities in schools and stressing hands-on learning and encouraging creativity for students. He founded the Electronic Frontier Foundation, and was the founding sponsor of the Tech Museum, Silicon Valley Ballet and Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose. Wozniak currently serves as Chief Scientist for Fusion-io and is a published author with the release of his New York Times Best Selling autobiography, iWoz: From Computer Geek to Cult Icon, in September 2006 by Norton Publishing.

Jennifer Webb

Jennifer Webb has a passion for reporting and writing. After finishing her Bachelor of Journalism degree at Ryerson University as a magazine major in 2008, Jennifer interned at tvguide.ca and is now freelancing. She is also a new contributor to the Toronto Star and Travel Life Magazine. Feel free to contact her at: Jennifer.webb24@gmail.com.

Dr. Dan Baker

Dr. Dan Baker is a Medical Psychologist and author of the bestseller, What Happy People Know: How the New Science of Happiness Can Change Your Life for the Better (Rodale, 2003). What Happy Companies Know: Discovering What is Right With America’s Corporations, published by Prentice Hall (2006), followed by What Happy Women Know (Rodale, 2007). Growing Up Right, Growing Up Strong: Parents, Kids, and Scouting will be published by Boy Scouts of America in the first quarter of 2009.

Mark Wardell

Mark Wardell is President of Wardell Professional Development (www.wardell.biz) a national advisory group specializing in value enhancement for privately held companies. An author of seven business books, including How To Change The World While Waiting For Your Toast, Mark appears on “BNN”, Canada’s business news network, and contributes regularly to over 20 publications including PROFIT Magazine, the Globe and Mail, and CGA Magazine.

Mac Voisin

Mac Voisin is the Chairman & Founder of M&M Meat Shops, Canada’s leading retailer of specialty frozen foods with more than 470 locations across the country. Mac started M&M Meat Shops in 1980 and has since been named the Canadian Food Industry’s “Man of the Year”; “Entrepreneur of the Year” by Ernst & Young, Nesbitt Burns and Bank of Montreal; and has been recognized with several Canadian Franchise Association awards, including the “Corporate Citizen Award” for M&M Meat Shops’ charity work with the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of Canada. M&M Meat Shops is a five-time recipient of “Canada’s 50 Best Managed Companies”.

Lee Brower

Lee Brower, creator of the Quadrant Living system of wealth preservation, has been featured in the best-selling book and movie “The Secret”, and has appeared on “The Today Show”, among other popular programs. The revolutionary new method of financial planning is based on transferring not just monetary wealth, but core assets like health, family and values. Lee is a noted authority on helping prestigious families create enduring legacies that flourish generation after generation. He’s also an accomplished teacher and mentor for entrepreneurs and CEOs. His breakthrough concepts on preserving wealth are changing the landscape of leadership in a variety of places, from private homes and small businesses to public corporations and large educational institutions.

Robin Casarjian

Robin Casarjian is the author of Forgiveness: A Bold Choice For a Peaceful Heart (Bantam Books, 1992), which has been translated into seven languages. She is a public speaker on forgiveness and has appeared on numerous television shows, including “20/20” and “Oprah”. Her stress management seminars have been broadcast live via satellite to Fortune 500 companies across the U.S. Robin is the founder and director of The Lionheart Foundation www.lionheart.org, sponsor of The National Emotional Literacy Projects for Prisoners and Youth at Risk. She is author of the book, Houses of Healing: A Prisoner’s Guide to Inner Power and Freedom and co-author of Power Source: Taking Charge of Your Life.

Don Cherry

Don Cherry is a Canadian ice hockey commentator for CBC Television. Cherry co-hosts the “Coach’s Corner” intermission segment (with Ron MacLean) on the long running Canadian sports program Hockey Night in Canada. He is known for his outspoken manner, flamboyant dress, and staunch patriotism. Prior to his broadcast career, Cherry was a National Hockey League player and coach. He played one game with the Boston Bruins, and later coached them during the days of Bobby Orr. He is also well-known as an author, syndicated radio commentator for The Fan Radio Network, creator of the “Rock’em Sock’em Hockey” video series, and celebrity endorser. Cherry was voted as the seventh greatest Canadian on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s television special, The Greatest Canadian.

Deb Cripps

Deb Cripps is a writer, photographer and marketer (Oneofakind Marketing Solutions – Waterloo, Ontario) who is focused on adventures and projects that make a difference. Deb freelances for magazines, corporate work and is the author and co-photographer of Keepers of the Land … A Celebration of Canadian Farmers.

Stuart Knight

Stuart Knight is a graduate from the School of Business and Economics at Wilfrid Laurier University and today is an entrepreneur, entertainer, writer, and producer. Stuart has written, produced, and starred in shows that have been seen by over one million people across North America. Each year he speaks nationally and has helped some of Canada’s biggest companies reach new levels of success. When he is not on the road performing, Stuart spends time writing songs that are heard around the world, and producing commercials that have been seen nationally. He has also created hit musicals that have drawn thousands of people from across Toronto for over four years running. He was recently honored with the National Entrepreneurs Award for Community Leadership. He has a new book entitled, You Should Have Asked, The Art of Powerful Conversation. It can be purchased at www.lulu.com. Please visit : www.stuartknightproductions.com.

George Kourounis

George Kourounis is one of the world's most active storm chasers and a renowned adventurer, explorer, and television presenter. Based out of Toronto, his efforts to document nature's worst weather conditions have taken him all over the globe, straight into places that the majority of the population is fleeing from. George is a member of the Explorers Club and was nominated for 2 Gemini awards for his work hosting the Angry Planet TV series. For more information, please visit www.stormchaser.ca.

Donnamarie Dunk

Donnamarie Dunk, is a Certified Professional Coach specializing in NLP (Neuro-Linguistic-Programming) and Solution Focused Coaching. Donnamarie also conducts personal and business development learning encounters and retreats and is currently authoring her first book, The Anatomy of a Champion.

Bethany Eaton

As a Martha Beck trained Life Coach, writer and speaker Bethany specializes in helping clients heal and grow through life challenges. Experiencing a long history of personal life makeovers moving from school teacher, musician, promotions coordinator and interior designer to professional coach she expertly guides people gently and intuitively through the challenging process of reinvention. Visit: www.Inner-Lightness.com.

Bob Egan

For the past decade Bob Egan has been a member of “Canada’s Blue Rodeo”. He’s traveled a unique path to arrive at this dream job – a decade in university earning a Master’s degree in Industrial Organizational Psychology, six years as a management consultant specializing in employee attitude research and six years as small business owner/entrepreneur. His future path will be just as unique. Combining his experiences in music, business, and academia Bob is laying the foundation for new adventures in public speaking and writing.

Jim Estill

Jim Estill is former CEO of SYNNEX Canada Ltd., a computer equipment wholesaler based in Guelph, Ontario. He is now running an early stage venture fund in New York. His popular CEO Blog: “Time Leadership” can be enjoyed at www.jimestill.com.

Rosie Fernandez

Rosie Fernandez is a writer, director and producer who has worked in television and radio for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. She has had several plays produced, including A Girl Named Maria, at Harbourfront Centre. She has written and directed plays for radio and for the stage, including a Shakespeare in the Park version of Midsummer’s Night Dream. Rosie has written and produced short films in conjunction with The National Film Board of Canada and LIFT and had poetry published and featured on CKLN’s In Other Words literary radio program. She has a Master’s degree in English literature and currently works as a radio and web content producer for CBC’s Literary Unit.

Phil Town

An ex-Green Beret and former river guide, Phil Town is a self-made millionaire several times over and America’s most widely sought-after investment speaker. In his book, RULE #1, Phil describes the RULE #1 personal financial strategy in detail so that anyone (even first-time investors) can get and stay rich. Phil Town speaks to more than 600,000 people annually, appearing regularly on the same stage as Rudy Giuliani, Bill Clinton, and Zig Ziglar as part of the Get Motivated touring seminar. Phil is a regular guest on CNBC’s “The Millionaire Inside”, alongside fellow wealth experts David Bach, Barbara Corcoran, and Loral Langemeier. He frequently appears on the MSNBC program “Your Business”. For more of Phil’s ideas on investing and success visit: www.philtown.com.

Robin Todd

Robin Todd started working for her father in 1982, fresh out of high school. In 1995 Robin purchased Marks Supply from her Dad when the company had four locations and sales of $8 million. Since then the company has grown to include seven wholesale branches, three retail stores, and a repair division. The company’s sales now exceed $67 million and it employs over 185 people. Robin is ranked 25th in Profit Magazine’s List of Canada’s Top Women Entrepreneurs. Robin credits the growth of her company to the talent and energy of the outstanding team she’s had the good fortune of surrounding herself with. Please visit: www.markssupply.net.

Arupa Tesolin

Arupa Tesolin is a Speaker, Trainer and Business Consultant in Intuition Smarts, Grassroots Innovation & Creative Capital, author of two books, Ting! A Surprising Way to Listening to Intuition & Do Business Better and Spark - Raise Your Mind to the Power of Infinity & Create Anything and conducts related training workshops through her company Intuita. She’s also the Canadian Partner for Learning Paths International which designs profitable fast-track learning paths for employees.  Please visit: www.learningpathsinternational.com  or www.intuita.com.

Donna Taylor

Donna Taylor, DO(MP), is a graduate of the Canadian College of Osteopathy and author of The Concept of the Fulcrum (CCO thesis, 2008). Her book entitled The Alchemy of the Fulcrum is currently being edited for publication in 2010. Previous studies in Medical Technology, Vibrational Energy Medicine and Emotional Anatomy contribute to her unique perspective on healing.

Robin Sharma

Robin Sharma is one of the world’s most highly respected leadership experts, with a client list that includes Microsoft, GE, NIKE, FedEx, Yale University and IBM. In a survey of 22,000 business people ranking top leadership gurus including the likes of Jack Welch, Sharma was rank #2. His books, The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari and The Greatness Guide have sold millions of copies in over 60 countries. His new book, The Leader Who Had No Title: A Modern Fable on Real Success in Business and in Life (Simon and Schuster) is available in March 2010. Please visit Robin’s blog at: www.robinsharma.com.

Howard Schultz

Howard Schultz is Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Starbucks Coffee Company.

Geoff Rowan

Geoff Rowan is the Partner and Managing Director of Ketchum Public Relations Canada.

Bruce Poon Tip

In 1990, Bruce Poon Tip founded G.A.P Adventures in order to deliver an authentic travel experience for travelers, like himself, who craved adventures that went beyond all-inclusive resorts. Bruce has been honoured with Entrepreneur of the Year, Innovative Executive and one of the Top 100 Leaders of Tomorrow. G.A.P Adventures has been recognized as a 50 Best Managed Company and a Top 100 Employer. Bruce has also been presented with the Global Traders Leadership award for excellence in exporting and international business. National Geographic Adventure recently rated G.A.P Adventures as the “Best Do It All Outfitter” on Earth in an international competition and for six consecutive years, this prestigious magazine has selected a G.A.P Adventures tour as one of its 25 Best New Adventure Trips of the Year.

Kim Phuc Phan Thi

For the past eleven years, Kim Phuc Phan Thi has been a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador working to promote a culture of Peace. In 1997, she was the subject of Shelley Saywell’s award-winning documentary “Kim’s Story: The Road from Vietnam”. Since defecting to Canada in 1992, Kim has inspired audiences around the globe, sharing her story though guest appearances and presentations while raising money for The Kim Foundation International. This organization partners with aid organizations to help child victims of war. The Foundation is currently working with school and water projects in Uganda and is planning a future project with orphaned children in Burma (Myanmar). To find out more about Kim Phuc Phan Thi, her life and her projects, visit: www.Kimfoundation.com for information and to make donations.

Nick Perpick

Nick Perpick is a member of the Board of Directors, and the President and Chief Operating Officer of Prime Restaurants of Canada Inc. He is also one of the original founders of the company. Perpick served as Senior Vice President of Operations of Prime’s predecessors from August 1989 to June 1995, Executive Vice President from June 1995 to May 1997, Chief Operating Officer from May 1997, and President and Chief Operating Officer from February 2001. Mr. Perpick graduated from Hotel and Restaurant Administration at Fanshawe College, London, Ontario.

Jay Paterson

Jay Paterson has been a visionary entrepreneur for over 35 years. His dynamic career has led to the creation and co-founding of Empowered Wealth Canada with his wife Anne and their partner Lee Brower. Jay is also a gifted speaker, facilitator & engaging "storyteller", yet without hesitation he will state with great conviction that his mission in life arises from his Core Quadrant: "... to be the best mentor I can be for my family, my children, my grandchildren, my friends, our clientele and their families." To purchase The Brower Quadrant please visit: www.amazon.com, www.leebrower.com. The Canadian site for the sale of The Brower Quadrant is: www.empoweredwealth.ca/thebrowerquadrant.

Tim Mulcahy

Tim Mulcahy is one of North America’s leading direct marketing entrepreneurs. Living a rags-to-riches story, Tim has helped develop many sales people into millionaires. His successful career in direct marketing and the development of motivational programs spans over 30 years. Tim co-founded Ontario Energy Savings Corporation, U Weight Loss Clinics, and created Truestar Health. Please visit: www.salessuperstar.com.

Meni Mancini

Meni Mancini is a seasoned executive with over seventeen years of International Trade and business experience specializing in helping companies understand the legal implications of cross border trade. Through her proven business acumen and strategic direction, Ms. Mancini was responsible for the management of business development and marketing activities for a leading North American Consulting firm, setting up the firm for unprecedented growth and leadership positioning in the market place. Her portfolio of clients included consulting assignments ranging from startup ventures to large multi-national companies. Ms. Mancini has participated in trade missions to promote trade and has been involved with various trade groups and industry associations in Canada and the United States and has lectured extensively on the topics of customs compliance, NAFTA, Border Security and risk management and mitigation. Ms. Mancini has established a boutique consulting firm offering services in the area of innovation development, business strategy, financing options, financial recovery opportunities, venture funding and customs and trade consulting. She can be reached at: meni@tradeworksinc.com.

Aedyn MacKenzie

Thirteen-year-old Aedyn MacKenzie plays rep hockey for the Wilmot Wolverines. When not listening to her IPOD, she spends her time writing, snow boarding, playing soccer and visiting with her friends. She enjoys writing and hopes to be an architect when she grows up.

Jeff MacInnis

Jeff MacInnis has pushed the limits of human experience. He achieved a four hundred year old impossible challenge, when he led the first team to sail the Northwest Passage. The expedition became a National Geographic article, a best-selling book, a worldwide Rolex Ad and an international television special. In athletics, Jeff competed on the Canadian National Ski Team, during the era of the “Crazy Canucks”. In business, his company has designed and delivered over 750 projects in 16 countries. His clients include more than half of the Fortune 500. He is the creator of The Business Race Program. Currently, Jeff and his organization are Business Racing their clients to over $16 billion dollars in revenue. Over the last few years, Jeff has competed internationally in Adventure Racing. Recently, at Eco-Challenge New Zealand, the World Championship of Expedition Racing, Jeff and his team celebrated a 10th place finish against the best teams in the world. Jeff is racing in business, athletics and life. Please visit: www.businessracecoach.com

Patricia Lovett-Reid

Patricia Lovett-Reid, Senior Vice President of TD Waterhouse Canada Inc. is one of Canada’s leading and respected authorities on personal finance. Patricia is the host of “MoneyTalk”, a national prime-time television program on personal finance, airing every Monday at 8:00 pm (ET) on Business News Network and is a regular commentator for “Business News Network”, “CTV”, “CP24”, “The National on CBC” and also offers daily market commentaries on “AM 740”. A sought-after speaker and commentator on wealth management, Patricia has co-authored six books, including the national best sellers, Get Real: 26 Canadian Women Share the Secret to Authentic Success, Live Well, Retire Well: Strategies for a Rich Life and a Richer Retirement and Retirement Strategies for Women.

Mike Lipkin

Mike Lipkin is the CEO, of Environics/Lipkin, Canada’s leading research and motivation company. Every year he talks to over 100,000 people around the world. He regularly shares the same stage as leaders like Bill Clinton, Anthony Robbins, and Lance Armstrong. He is an authority in social trends and values. Ultimately, Mike specializes in helping the best get even better. Visit: www.mikelipkin.com.

Catherine Fife

Catherine Fife was first elected to the Waterloo Region District School Board in 2003 and re-elected in 2006. In 2007 Catherine was elected as Vice-President of the Ontario Public School Board Association where she has taken the lead on Promoting Partnerships for the Whole Child.  Locally she serves as Vice-Chair of the City of Waterloo’s Safe & Healthy Community Committee and is Coordinator of the Child Care Action Network of Waterloo Region. Catherine lives in Waterloo with her husband and two children and works in Kitchener at the Mosaic Counselling and Family Services (formerly Catholic Family Counselling Centre).  She took her first run at provincial politics in 2007 and hopes to run again.

Clayton Fletcher

Best known for his appearances on “MTV” and “The Jamie Foxx Radio Show The Foxxhole”, Clayton Fletcher has performed his hilarious stand-up routine all over the world. His unique blend of clean, intelligent, sincere wit and pointed sarcasm make him a favorite among audiences ranging from suburban college kids to diverse mature urban professionals. This comic proves once and for all that funny is funny no matter who you are! Clayton headlines “The Clayton Fletcher Show” every Friday and Saturday Night 8PM at New York Comedy Club 241 East 24th Street in Manhattan. The show, which also features some of NYC’s top comics, has been running for three years and routinely sells out. Clayton Fletcher is also an accomplished actor, having appeared in several films and television shows. He has toured nationally with “Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story” and “Hank Williams: Lost Highway”. He is a multi-talented performer who has dedicated his life to entertaining people. He has recorded music with his band, “PokerFace”, and his a cappella doo-wop group, “Stackin’ Forty-Fives”. Fletch makes his home in NYC but was born in Baltimore, MD. For more, visit www.claytonfletcher.com.

James Fowler

James Fowler is an Associate Professor in the Political Science Department at the University of California, San Diego. James was recently named one of the Nifty Fifty most inspiring scientists by the San Diego Science Festival. He was also named the Most Original Thinker of the Year on The McLaughlin Group. James is working on his book Connected: The Surprising Power of Social Networks and How They Shape Our Lives. It will be published by Little Brown in early 2010.

Carmine Gallo

Carmine Gallo is the Communications Coach for the World’s Most Admired Brands. He is the author of several books including his latest, The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs: How to be Insanely Great in Front of Any Audience. Visit him online at www.carminegallo.com.

Christopher P. Gardner

Christopher P. Gardner is the head of his own brokerage firm and lives in a Chicago townhouse – one of his three homes – with a collection of tailored suits, designer shoes, and Miles Davis albums. His path to this extraordinary success took a series of extraordinary turns. Just 20 years ago, Gardner was homeless and living, on occasion, in a bathroom at a Bay Area Rapid Transit station in Oakland, California. Gardner’s first book, The Pursuit of Happyness, is an account of his life story and was released in June 2006. Columbia Pictures has also completed production on a feature film based on Gardner’s rags-to-riches tale. It stars Will Smith as Gardner and was released in December 2006. Gardner’s extraordinary story illustrates the nurturing and sustaining power of positive role models. He proudly acknowledges those who guided him – a mother who kept him grounded and uncles who served in the military. Gardner’s belief in himself and his dreams, along with his refusal to give in to self-doubt, inspires audiences.

Carl Hiebert

Carl Hiebert - photographer, aviator, motivational speaker, and author of six best-selling books - believes that at the end of the day, the rules are simple. Choose to live with a positive attitude, take regular intentional risks, and you’re on track for a life lived fully. As a speaker, he has shared his uplifting message with over 800 audiences across North America. www.giftofwings.ca.

Art Janzen

Holding the position of Operations Manager for Menno S. Martin Contractor Limited, Art Janzen knows first hand, the importance of building meaningful, trusting and long lasting relationships. His passion for meeting new people, sharing personal stories, contemplating the journey of life, and a dream to one day write about that journey, started with this submission. To contact Art, visit: www.mennosmartin.com.

Pamela Kelly

Pamela Kelly has trained thousands of professionals in Canada, United States and Asia to unleash their communication super-powers and live the life of their dreams. She specializes in helping others improve their presentation and interview skills, vocal development, accent reduction, and also offers whole life coaching. The content of this article is based on NLP and Pamela’s book, Speak with Passion, Speak with Power! available at amazon.com. Pamela is on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. Visit: www.pkelly.com, www.speak-with-passion.com, www.pkellycom.blogspot.com.

Shy Kurtz

Before Shy Kurtz even started university in New York, he had already lived, worked, and served in over thirty countries. During Shy’s academic career he became an award-winning scholar, who obtained straight “A”s with uncanny certainty. Despite a shocking diagnosis of severe learning disabilities while at McGill Law School, Shy finished two law degrees in record time, while also working full-time as a Faculty Researcher. When he suddenly found himself a single father of two, he decided to stop collecting university degrees, and gave himself a final school project: to start applying his “A”-Technique in “the real world,” aka the private sector. Now, Shy combines his skills in language, logic, law, and lore to address international acts and omissions that equivocate to “genocide” and human suffering, by structuring Canadian Government-registered programs that bring hundreds of millions of dollars (every year) of AIDS relief to world leading charities, NGOs, and to the Ministries of the Interior of embattled Sub Saharan African nations. Shy not only shows leading philanthropists and entrepreneurs around the world how to combine for-profit and nonprofit activities to achieve a “double bottom line”, but he inspires and empowers others how to apply the same principles to their career aspirations. To contact Shy Kurtz please email him at:info@sintax.pro.

Raymond Laflamme

Raymond Laflamme is Director of the Institute for Quantum Computing (IQC), a leading-edge scientific institution at the University of Waterloo in Canada. He co-founded IQC shortly after joining Waterloo’s renowned Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics. Previously, Laflamme spent nine years at the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico, during which time he was named an Oppenheimer Fellow. He earned his PhD from Cambridge University under the direction of Stephen Hawking. Laflamme lives in Waterloo with his wife Janice and their children Jocelyne and Patrick.

Loretta LaRoche

Author, humourist, PBS star and Fortune 500 trainer, Loretta LaRoche lives in Plymouth, Mass. She is on a campaign to stop Global Whining. For more information on Loretta LaRoche, go to www.powerwithin.com.

Silken Laumann

Silken Laumann is a four-time Olympic medallist, a dreamer, and one of Canada’s top inspirational speakers.

Patrick Lencioni

Patrick Lencioni is the founder and president of the Table Group, a business dedicated to providing organizations with ideas, products, and services that improve teamwork, clarity, and employee engagement. Lencioni's speaking and consulting clients include a mix of Fortune 500 companies, professional sports organizations, the military, nonprofits, schools, and churches. Lencioni is the author of nine best-selling books with nearly 3 million copies sold, including the new release, "Getting Naked", and "The Five Dysfunctions of a Team", which continues to be a fixture on national best-seller lists. www.tablegroup.com

Syd Vanderpool

Syd Vanderpool is a champion and world-class super-middleweight boxer. He owns and operates Vanderpool Athletic Training Systems, Boxing by Syd and the Destiny Boxing Academy in Kitchener, Ontario. He is a motivational speaker and is active in the community. The story of Syd’s rise to boxing fame can be seen in the award-winning 2005 documentary “The Road”, now showing on Super Channel. Syd can be reached at syd@vanderpooltraining.com.

General Rick Hillier

Born in Newfoundland and Labrador, General Rick Hillier joined the Canadian Forces as soon as he could. Having enrolled in the Canadian Forces in 1973 through the Regular Officer Training Plan program, he graduated from Memorial University of Newfoundland in 1975 with a Bachelor of Science Degree. After completing his armour officer classification training, he joined his first regiment in Petawawa, Ontario. Subsequently, he served with, and later commanded, the Royal Canadian Dragoons in Canada and Germany. Throughout his career, General Hillier has had the privilege and pleasure of commanding troops from the platoon to multi-national formation level within Canada, Europe, Asia, and the United States. He has worked as a staff officer in several headquarters, first at the Army level in Montreal, and later at the strategic level in Ottawa. In 1998 General Hillier was appointed as the first Canadian Deputy Commanding General of III Corps, US Army in Fort Hood, Texas. In 2000, he took command of NATO’s Stabilization Force’s (SFOR) Multinational Division in Bosnia-Herzegovina. In May 2003, General Hillier was appointed as Commander of the Army and subsequently, in October 2003, he was selected as the Commander of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Kabul, Afghanistan. General Hillier was promoted to Chief of the Defence Staff on February 4, 2005. He and his wife have two sons, a daughter-in-law, and a new grandson. General Hillier enjoys most recreational pursuits but, in particular, runs slowly, plays hockey weakly and golfs poorly. He retired from the Canadian Forces in July of 2008.

Sir Richard Branson

Sir Richard Branson is the founder and current chairman of the Virgin Group, one of the world’s most recognized and respected brands. Born in 1950 and educated at Stowe School, Richard’s first successful business venture came at the age of 16, when he established a national magazine called Student. At 17, he started a student advisory centre to help young people. In 1970, shortly after leaving Stowe School, Richard founded the Virgin brand as a mail order record retailer. The first Virgin record shop opened shortly thereafter on Oxford Street, London, where it remains to this day. In 1972, a recording studio was built in Oxfordshire and Virgin’s first artist, Mike Oldfield, recorded Tubular Bells, which was released in 1973, selling over 5 million copies and becoming the soundtrack to "The Exorcist". Today, the Virgin Group has expanded into air travel, mobile, financial services, rail, health & wellness, radio, hotels and resorts, space travel, and renewable energy. It invests through more than 200 companies’ worldwide, employing approximately 50,000 people in 30 countries. In 2006, at the Clinton Global Initiative, Richard announced that all future proceeds of Virgin Group’s transportation companies will be invested into renewable energy initiatives. This commitment is estimated to be $3 billion over the next 10 years and corresponds with the focus of Virgin Unite, the independent arm of the Virgin Group that centres on entrepreneurial approaches to social and environmental issues. Through Virgin Unite, Richard supports a number of efforts with on-the-ground partners, ranging from the creation of sustainable health clinics in Africa to the fostering of new entrepreneurs through the Branson School of Entrepreneurship in South Africa. In December 1999, Richard Branson was awarded a knighthood in the Queen’s millennium New Years honours list for “services to entrepreneurship”. Richard is married with two children.

Scott Shane

Scott Shane has written extensively about entrepreneurship and innovation. His book, Illusions of Entrepreneurship: The Costly Myths That Entrepreneurs, Investors, and Policy Makers Live By, was one of the top ten business books of the year for Amazon.com. His 2005 book, Finding Fertile Ground: Identifying Extraordinary Opportunities for New Businesses, won the 2006 Golden Book Award for best business book of the year and has been translated into eight languages. His most recent book is entitled, Born Entrepreneurs, Born Leaders: How Your Genes Affect Your Work Life. Shane was the 2009 winner of the Global Award for Entrepreneurship Research, the most prestigious award in this academic field. He also writes a regular column for "BusinessWeek" small business online. Scott is a Professor of Entrepreneurial Studies in the Department of Economics, Weatherhead School of Management, Case Western Reserve University.

Anna Olson

Originally from Atlanta, Georgia, Anna Olson moved to Ontario as a child and grew up in Toronto. She studied politics and sociology at Queen's University in Kingston and pursued a brief career in banking before realizing that cooking was her true passion. Anna followed her dream of becoming a chef by enrolling in the renowned culinary program at Johnson and Wales University in Vail, Colorado. She has never looked back. After finishing her studies in 1995, Anna found her way to Niagara. She started working as a line cook at distinguished restaurant Inn on the Twenty, where she was soon promoted to pastry chef. It was here that she met her husband and business partner - head chef Michael Olson. Anna joined the Food Network in 2002 as the host of "Sugar". The show's success prompted two companion cookbooks, Sugar and Another Cup of Sugar. Anna now hosts a new Food Network series, "Fresh with Anna Olson", which is filmed from her own kitchen. Anna and Michael live in a 19th century heritage house in Niagara and are the founders and managers of Olson Foods & Bakery. Visit www.annaolson.ca.

Barbara Sha Jackson

Barbara Sha Jackson is the Program Associate for the "Coming to the Table" program. She is a graduate of Syracuse University’s Magazine, Newspaper and Online journalism program and holds a B.A. from Mary Baldwin College in English and African American Studies. Please visit www.comingtothetable.org.

Cathleen Fillmore

Bureau owner Cathleen Fillmore is a well known consultant to speakers who want to build a seven figure platform. Author of five books, Cathleen works with speakers to develop a solid gold business model. Cathleen's bureau, Speakers Gold, holds an annual search for the top amateur speaker. She can be reached at www.speakersgold.com.

Dan Pink

Dan Pink lectures to corporations, associations, and universities around the world on economic transformation and the changing world of work. A free agent himself, Dan held his last real job in the White House, where he served from 1995 to 1997 as chief speechwriter to Vice President Al Gore. He also worked as an aide to U.S. Labor Secretary Robert Reich and in other positions in politics and government. Pink’s fourth and most recent book, Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us, uses 50 years of behavioral science to overturn the conventional wisdom about human motivation and offer a more effective path to high performance. Drive examines the scientific literature on motivation and describes the three key elements of truly effective motivation: autonomy, mastery, and purpose. Drive reached every national bestseller list in its first month of publication and is now in its sixth month on the New York Times list. Over the next year, it will appear in Japanese, Korean, French, German, Spanish, and 20 other languages. Also available are: A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future, The Adventures of Johnny Bunko, a comic book known as “Manga” in Japan, and Free Agent Nation: The Future of Working for Yourself. His articles on business and technology appear in many publications, including the New York Times, Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, and Wired, where he is a contributing editor. He also writes a monthly business column for the U.K. newspaper, The Sunday Telegraph. Dan has provided analysis of business trends on CNN, CNBC, ABC, NPR, and other networks in the U.S. and abroad. Visit www.danpink.com.

Jeff Fox

For over 25 years, Jeffrey Fox has been helping clients build lasting value through innovative marketing, thinking, and analysis. Jeffrey is founder of a management consulting firm that focuses on marketing strategy and execution. His customized programs include marketing strategy, innovation enhancement, selling, skills training, branding, and various applications of a proprietary methodology called “dollarization.” Fox is a best-selling business book author who will show you the rules for getting and keeping customers and clients. He is the author of How to Become CEO, which was on the NY Times, Business Week, Wall Street Journal, Knight-Ridder, Amazon.com, and German best seller lists. The book is published in twenty-five languages and in all the major countries of Western Europe, Asia, and South America.

Kes Sampanthar

The Director of Media Strategy at Cynergy, Kes Sampanthar is a computer scientist with a background in artificial intelligence and cognitive science. His research into game design, neuroscience, neuroeconomics, and paleoanthropology has lead to his development of a Motivational Design Framework that has been used to create engaging experiences for some of the world’s leading brands. He is a recognized expert and speaker on innovation and is the inventor of ThinkCube, an innovation tool for business. He recently organized and spoke at TEDx in Washington, DC. Kes can be reached at kes.sampanthar@cynergysystems.com.

Libby Gill

Libby Gill is an executive coach, brand strategist, and bestselling author. She specializes in guiding executives to create personal brands that position them strategically within their industries and guiding business owners to gain competitive advantage with compelling online brands. The former head of corporate communications and media relations at Universal Studios, Sony Pictures Entertainment, and Turner Broadcasting, Libby was also the branding/ PR brain behind the launch of the “Dr. Phil Show”. An internationally renowned speaker, Libby’s clients include Microsoft, Nike, Siemens, Thomson Reuters, Comcast, Cisco Systems, Warner Bros., US Travel Association, and Cadbury. She has been featured on the “Today Show”, “CNN”, “NPR”, and in Time Magazine, the Wall Street Journal, Business Week and many more. The author of three books, Libby’s latest bestseller, You Unstuck: Mastering The New Rules of Risk-Taking In Work & Life, recently won an Independent Publishing Award. Please visit www.LibbyGill.com.

Tim Sanders

Tim Sanders is the author of Love Is The Killer App: How To Win Business and Influence Friends. He has valuable experience in cutting edge businesses, sales, and marketing. He's weathered the quality movement as well as the dotcom crash and emerged with precious insight. He was the Chief Solutions Officer at Yahoo! and later their Leadership Coach. Prior to these senior positions, Tim created and led the Yahoo! ValueLab, an in-house "think tank" which delivered futuristic insight on technology and human behavior. He was an early member of Mark Cuban and Todd Wagner's broadcast.com, the most successful opening day IPO in history. His work is frequently featured in the media, most recently in The New York Times, Financial Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Fast Company. Connect with his blog or social media via www.TimSanders.com.

Weldon Long

Weldon Long is a successful entrepreneur, award winning author, and a powerful, driven speaker/trainer who helps businesses and individuals simplify success and sales principles and implement those principles on a consistent basis. Mr. Long has developed his success philosophies in the real world, having transcended 20 years of prison, poverty, and addiction and created a life of unimaginable prosperity. He is the author of the The Upside of Fear, winner of the 2009 New York Book Festival’s Best Autobiography. The book has been endorsed by Dr. Stephen R. Covey and Tony Robbins. Despite dropping out of high school in the 9th grade, he now holds an MBA in Management. Mr. Long has been featured in numerous articles and radio and television programs, including the “WGN”, “Fox News” and “First Business Networks”. He splits his time between the Rocky Mountains of Colorado and the beaches of Kapalua, Maui. Visit www.weldonlong.com.

Becky Blanton

Becky Blanton is a journalist, photographer, ghostwriter, and speaker. The late Tim Russert credits her essay “The Monster”, for his decision to include a chapter on forgiveness in his best selling book, Wisdom of Our Fathers, Letters from Daughters and Sons. She spoke at TED Global in 2009 about her experience of being homeless for a year and living in her van with her Rottweiler and cat. She is currently back in her van, traveling and writing about the homeless who are or have moved back off of the street. She also blogs for Change.org, and is working on her book Staying Hungry, about what it takes to move out of homelessness and back into life. To find out more about Becky please visit http://beckyblanton.com.

Gerald McGroarty

Gerald McGroarty is a Leadership and Performance Coach and the creator of The Brand Within™ – a personal development program that aligns human capital with organizational strategy. He is also President of Brandon Taylor Consulting, a cutting-edge leadership company specializing in management reputation, team and organizational effectiveness, and psychometric profiling. For speaking engagements or more information, contact gerald@brandontaylorconsulting.com or visit www.thebrandwithin.com.

Laura Rittenhouse

L.J Rittenhouse is president of Rittenhouse Rankings Inc., a CEO strategic and investor relations company that annually conducts a benchmark survey of CEO candor and stock price performance. Rittenhouse advises large-cap and mid-sized companies on how to build internal programs that improve corporate communications and valuation. She specializes in showing clients how to penetrate corporate blind spots that in turn, strengthen the corporate culture and improve execution. Her contribution to promoting capital stewardship and candor have been recognized by Warren Buffet, Jack Bogle, Jack Welch, and other respected business leaders. Rittenhouse is the author of Buffet’s Bites: Do Business With People You Can Tru$t, a featured selection at the Berkshire Hathaway annual shareholder meeting in the shareholder bookstore. Prior to founding Rittenhouse Rankings, Rittenhouse was a senior vice president in corporate finance at Lehman Brothers Inc., where she advised clients on valuation and strategies, public securities offerings, and mergers and acquisitions. She has an MBA and an MS from Columbia University, and is a founding member of the non-profit, Families with Children from China. Please visit www.slideshare.net/MGHProfessional/buffetts-bites-the-essential-investors-guide-to-warren-buffetts-shareholder-letters

Kim Nelson

Kim Nelson is a wife, mother, triathlete, and CEO of Royal Containers, living her life fully, without apology. She serves as the Chairman of the Association of Independent Corrugated Converters (AICC) representing over 800 members worldwide. Kim graduated from Brock University in St. Catherines with an honours Bachelor of Business degree and joined the family business, Royal Containers, in 1992. Royal Containers manufactures corrugated packaging in Brampton and London, Ontario, employing over 200 people. Royal Containers and two other partners own TenCorr Packaging of Toronto and Mississauga. For the past 18 years Kim has been racing triathlons and has completed 10 Ironman triathlon events.

Joe Fermano

Joe Fermano has achieved remarkable success in the Financial Consulting field for more than 28 years. He credits his success – reaching the top 1% of his industry – to discipline, service, and attitude! Joe brings his years of experience advising people and observing their “proven” methods of success to listeners world-wide through his radio program, How To Use Your Life. Inspiring interviews and compelling stories help listeners rise to their fullest potential. Recent interviews include Shevaun Voisin, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Motivated Magazine, Timothy Ferris, author of The 4 Hour Work Week, and Max Ritz, All-Star professional Lacrosse player and star of MTV’s hit series, “The Hills”. Joe continues to consult and speak to Fortune 500 and Fortune 100 companies and is currently a President’s and Chairman’s Council Member. As a husband and father to three children, Joe’s commitment to helping people through the information he collects and shares is rooted in the love he receives and gives to his family and now to you. Visit www.joefermano.com for his Daily-Dose Newsletter, Mojo Video Blog, and speaking information.

Elizabeth Lesser

Elizabeth Lesser is the co-founder of Omega Institute, the largest adult education and retreat center in the U.S., focusing on health, creativity, spirituality, and social change (www.eomega.org) She is the author of The Seeker’s Guide and the New York Times bestseller, Broken Open: How Difficult Times Can Help Us Grow. Her recent work includes helping Oprah Winfrey produce the 10-week “webinar” for Eckhart Tolle’s book, A New Earth, guest-hosting shows on Oprah Radio, and creating Omega’s groundbreaking Women and Power conferences.

Cora Tsouflidou

Cora Tsouflidou is the best example of a self-made business woman. She is the founder of Cora restaurants and her initiative, perseverance, self-confidence, and boundless energy have been the main ingredients in her recipe for success. She was the only woman nominated as Quebec’s 2006 CEO of the Year, a yearly contest organized by the business section of La Presse, a prestigious Montreal newspaper. In 2006, Cora was named Entrepreneur of the Year by the Réseau des Femmes d’Affaires du Québec. She has also been named to the list of Canada’s 100 Most Powerful Women in the Entrepreneur category in a special report conducted by the Globe and Mail in November 2006. Other awards include the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award in the Manufacturing/ Consumer Products Category, the Pinnacle Award, and the Tops in Hospitality Award from Foodservice and Hospitality magazine. Tsouflidou is the recipient of the 2003 Governor General’s Award. In 2004, she was also inducted into the Canadian Professional Sales Association’s Hall of Fame and in 2005, she received the Hall of Fame award from the Canadian Franchise Association. In 2009, she received the RBC Canadian Women Award in the Bell Trailblazer Award category. Visit www.chezcora.com.

Brian Tracy

Brian Tracy is one of the world’s foremost thought leaders on personal and business success. He has consulted for more than 1,000 companies, and has spoken to over 5,000,000 people worldwide on the subjects of Personal and Professional Development. Brian is the top selling author of 55 books and has written and produced more than 500 audio and video learning programs. Brian has transformed the lives of millions. Please visit www.briantracy.com to learn more.

Cassie Campbell-Pascall

Cassie Campbell-Pascall is one of Canada’s most beloved and celebrated athletes. She is a three-time Olympian and two-time Olympic gold medallist. Currently, she works as a television analyst for “CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada”, where in October 2006 she became the first woman to ever provide colour commentary during a hockey broad¬cast. During her tenure on Canada’s National Women’s Hockey Team, she helped the team win six world champi¬onships. She served as team captain from 2001 to her retirement in 2006, which made her the longest-serving captain in Canadian hockey history. She was the only captain, male or female, to lead Canada to two Olympic gold medals. Cassie lives with her husband, Hockey Canada official Brad Pascall, and their baby daughter, Brooke Violet, in Calgary, Alberta.

Craig Kielburger

Craig Kielburger is a children's rights activist. He is the founder of Free The Children, the world's leading youth-driven charity which works to free young people from poverty, exploitation, and the notion that they are powerless to change the world. Visit www.freethechildren.com, www.metowe.com.

Brian Price

Brian Price was diagnosed at age seven with Cancer, Leukemia ALL, and was given a new outlook on life at a very young age. Although the battle to beat cancer was extremely difficult, it allowed him to become one of the best coxswains in the world. Brian is adamant that, “Without having had cancer I would never have become a 3-time World Champion and Olympic Champion.” During his international career, Brian has been crowned a World Champion three times in the Men’s Eight (2002, 2003 and 2007). He has also competed three times in the Men’s Coxed Pair at the World Championships, where he won a bronze medal each time (2003, 2006 and 2007). Brian has been part of crews which have won seven medals in World Cup rowing events, including five gold, one silver, and one bronze, along with three Grand Challenge Cup trophies at the prestigious Royal Henley Regatta in England (2002, 2003 and 2007). Without question, the ultimate achievement of his 10-year career on the National Rowing Team was crossing the finish line to win the gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics – a victory that completed a long line of comebacks for Brian. For more information about Brian, please visit his personal website www.brianpriceonline.com.

Gavin de Becker

Gavin de Becker is widely regarded as a leading expert on the prediction and management of violence. He is the best-selling author of The Gift of Fear, Protecting The Gift, Fear Less and Just 2 Seconds: Using Time and Space to Defeat Assassins. In 1980, he was selected by President Reagan to be Director of the Special Services Group, responsible for the logistics and safety of public figure guests of the first family. He then served at the U.S. Department of State, working on the official visits of Prime Minister Thatcher, Korean President Chun, King Juan Carlos of Spain, and others. His work has earned him three Presidential appointments and a position on a congressional committee. He was twice appointed to the President's Advisory Board at the U.S. Department of Justice, and was a principal advisor on the federal research project into mentally ill people who stalk public figures. He served two terms on the Governor's Advisory Board at the California Department of Mental Health. He is currently co-chair of the Domestic Violence Council Advisory Board. He has appeared as an expert on every major news show and has been interviewed several times by Oprah Winfrey, Larry King, Maria Shriver, Sam Donaldson, Mike Wallace, and Ed Bradley. He's been profiled in TIME and Newsweek, U.S. News & World Report, the New York Times, and many other publications. Mr. de Becker's first book, The Gift of Fear, was the Nation's #1 bestseller - on the New York Times Bestseller List for seventeen weeks. It is now published in thirteen languages. In 2008, Oprah Winfrey dedicated an entire show to commemorating the 10th Anniversary of the book's publication.

John Hope Bryant

John Hope Bryant is the Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Operation HOPE. He served as the Vice Chairman of the U.S. President’s Advisory Council on Financial Literacy, Chairman of the Council Committee on the Under-Served, Financial Literacy Advisor to the World Economic Forum Global Agenda Council, and is the author of LOVE LEADERSHIP; A New Way to Lead in a Fear-Based World which debuted in August 2009, as number 8 in the CEO Reads Top 10 Best Seller List. Please visit www.operationhope.org or www.johnhopebryant.com.

Manisha Thakor

Manisha Thakor is the co-author of two critically acclaimed personal finance books: On My Own Two Feet and Get Financially Naked. Manisha’s financial literacy advocacy work has been featured in national media outlets including The New York Times, BusinessWeek, CNN, and NPR. Prior to this, Manisha spent 15 years working in the financial services industry as an analyst, portfolio manager, and client service executive. Manisha earned her MBA from Harvard Business School, her BA from Wellesley College, and is also a CFA charterholder. Her website is www.ManishaThakor.com.

Richard St. John

What really leads to success? Richard St. John can answer that question. After achieving business success himself, he interviewed over 500 of the world’s most successful people; including Bill Gates, Martha Stewart, Richard Branson, and the Google founders; and asked them what led to their success. After analyzing every word they said, Richard discovered The 8 Traits Successful People Have in Common and wrote the bestseller 8 To Be Great. On the prestigious TED.com website, where there are over 700 amazing talks, Richard St. John’s talk is in the top 20 “Most Viewed,” along with Bill Gates, Richard Dawkins, Tony Robbins, and Malcolm Gladwell. He has also ranked highest in many categories, inculding “All Time Favorites,” “Most Inspirational,” “Funniest,” “Most Emailed,” and “Most Translated into other Languages.” Richard St. John’s way of making a difference is to de-mystify success and share an incredible wealth of wisdom from the world’s most successful people - wisdom that we can all apply to our own lives. Please visit www.RichardSt.John.com.

Saskia Shakin

Saskia Shakin started coaching leaders in 1980 – in a career that never ceases to surprise her. Her clients have worked in the White House, appeared before Congress, run global corporations, written Broadway plays, managed prestigious law firms, and held chairs at major universities. She saw herself as a consultant; her clients called her “coach”. She had expected to carve a niche in the world of PR and advertising; she ended up coaching executives in corporate America. Her interest was in the arts; her clients were more often in finance. One thing her career has taught Saskia is to expect the unexpected! Another thing her career has revealed: “When we speak in public, we bring to the podium not just our speeches but ourselves. We speak what we live, and we live what we speak.” Her book, More Than Words Can Say: The Making of Inspired Speakers, is a collection of war stories and wisdom taken from her life as a coach to speakers in positions of leadership. For more on Saskia, please visit www.TheKeynoteCoach.com.

Seth Godin

Seth Godin is the author of 12 books that have been bestsellers around the world and have been translated into more than 34 languages. Permission Marketing was a New York Times bestseller, Unleashing the Ideavirus is the most popular ebook ever published, and Purple Cow is the best selling marketing book of the decade. In addition to his writing and speaking, Seth is the founder of squidoo.com, a fast growing, easy to use website. His blog (which you can find by typing “seth” into Google) is one of the most popular in the world. Seth’s latest book, Linchpin, is about doing work that matters. It hit the bestseller lists when it was first released in January and continues to spread from one person to another. Find out why American Way Magazine called Seth Godin, “America’s Greatest Marketer.”

Dayna Steele

Dayna Steele is an entertaining motivational speaker, successful entrepreneur, and author of the best-selling business book, Rock to the Top: What I Learned about Success from the World’s Greatest Rock Stars. She travels the world helping others "find their inner Rock Star!” For years, Dayna was one of the top female rock radio personalities in the USA and was known for her sultry voice, music knowledge, and entertaining celebrity interviews. During her career, she was named one of the 100 Most Important Radio Talk Show Hosts by Talkers Magazine and nominated as Local Radio Personality of the Year by Billboard Magazine. After leaving radio, Dayna created www.TheSpaceStore.com, the world’s largest space related e-commerce venture and www.SmartGirlsRock.com, a product line to encourage girls to make “smart the new cool.” She also founded www.OperationNationalAnthem.com, a series of free videos of U.S. soldiers serving in Iraq offered to venues throughout the country to play prior to the singing of our national anthem. For that, Reader’s Digest named Dayna one of the 35 People Who Inspire Us in the May 2008 issue.

Brian Germain

Brian Germain is the author of many books, including: Transcending Fear, Greenlight Your Life, Vertical Journey and The Parachute and its Pilot. He tours the world speaking about fear and its opposites, striving to help people expand into who they most desire to become. His website is http://www.TranscendingFear.com

Sharlene Jones

Sharlene Jones has served as a police officer for 12 years, and is currently a sexual assault detective and youth resource officer at a large police department in California. She works as the crisis negotiation team leader, and serves on the Internet Crimes Against Children task force. Her co-workers and the public call her "Corporal"; her children call her "Mom". The book she started writing for her three girls will be published in 2011, and will be released on Mother's Day.

Donna Messer

Donna Messer is an author, speaker, coach, and an inspiring and passionate motivator who has addressed thousands of people on three continents. She is a former broadcast journalist and the author of more than 4,000 articles that have been published in magazines and newspapers around the world. Her book, Effective Networking Strategies, is a Canadian best seller. Messer has played a critical and active role in introducing networking training to the curriculum of colleges and universities throughout Canada, the United States, and Europe. She serves on the Executive Board for Women in Food Industry Management. Donna is also an active Rotarian, and on the board for The United Way of Oakville. She volunteers her time to support charities directed towards improving the status of youth, those with disabilities, women and new Canadians. Visit ConnectUs International Inc. at www.ConnectUsCanada.com

Jane Atkinson

Jane Atkinson is the author of The Wealthy Speaker, and a business coach for professional speakers. For more information, visit www.speakerlauncher.com. Her second book, The Frog Whisperer, is due out mid 2011. Visit www.frogwhisperer.com.

Jeremy O'Krafka

Jeremy O'Krafka is the Founder of MENTORnetwork.ca, a resource dedicated to creating a culture of mentorship across Canada. He is the past National Manager of the Canadian Association of Career Educators and Employers (CACEE) and Managing Editor of Career Options Magazine. Jeremy is also currently the President of JCI Toronto, a leadership development program for young professionals and entrepreneurs. Please visit www.MENTORnetwork.ca.

Kelley Keehn

Kelley Keehn is a financial expert, speaker, and author of seven books, her newest, THE Money Book, will be in stores March 2011. She’s the financial host of "Burn My Mortgage" on the W Network and a weekly contributor to the Globe and Mail and AOL’s WalletPop Canada. For more information, visit www.kelleykeehn.com

Svetlana Kim

Svetlana Kim is the author of White Pearl and I: A Memoir of a Political Refugee and an international speaker. Kim has been featured and profiled in Women’s Life magazine in Seoul, Korea; the Asian Fortune; Networking Times; NASDAQ’s Closing Bell; and The Gazette, a publication of the Library of Congress. In 2009, she delivered the Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Keynote Address at the Library of Congress. She was chosen to attend the Asian American Pacific Islanders Celebration in the White House, among 50 other prominent Asian-American leaders. Committed to giving back to her local and worldwide community, Kim has donated over 180 hours in eighteen months to the Calvary Women’s Services in Chinatown in Washington, D.C. Additionally, she volunteers at the Office of Presidential Correspondence in the White House. Svetlana Kim’s passion for helping young Asians achieve their own American dreams fuels her daily work and volunteerism. Ms. Kim resides in Washington, D.C.

Robert Steele

Robert Steele is a former wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys and a participant in Superbowl XIII. He recently completed his first book, Steele Here: An Underdog’s Secret to Success about making the World Champion Dallas Cowboys as a free agent. Robert is currently working on his second book about his days with the Cowboys. Steele’s mentoring experience includes his time as an elected Georgia state representative and his speaking engagements with youth groups, sales groups, and executives on a variety of business, sales and motivational topics. He is currently an avid golfer, CEO of TheEnterpriseZone providing sales, marketing and business development consulting to the healthcare, insurance, employee benefits and financial services markets, and a private pilot. Robert is developing a new website called RedZoneRules. It will debut in early 2011, promoting sales, marketing and sports tips on “scoring” in your field of endeavor. Please visit www.steelehere.net.

Vivian Prokop

Vivian Prokop is the Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Youth Business Foundation (CYBF), the ‘go to’ place for youth entrepreneurship. As a national charity, CYBF provides everything a young person needs to start and sustain a successful business. Under Vivian’s leadership, the organization has grown tenfold and today, supports nearly 700 new business start-ups annually with a 94 per cent success rate.

Jimmy Wales

Jimmy Wales is an American Internet entrepreneur best known as the founder of Wikimedia Foundation, the charity which operates Wikipedia.org, and as the co-founder of Wikia.com. Wales received his Bachelor’s degree in finance from Auburn University and his Master’s in finance from the University of Alabama. He was appointed a fellow of the Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard Law School in 2005 and in 2006, he joined the Board of Directors of the non-profit organization Creative Commons. In January of 2001, Wales started Wikipedia.org, the online encyclopaedia that anyone can edit. Today, Wikipedia and its sister projects are among the top-five most visited sites on the web. In mid-2003, Wales set up the Wikimedia Foundation, a non-profit organization based in St. Petersburg, Florida, to support Wikipedia.org. The Foundation, now based in downtown San Francisco, boasts a staff of close to thirty and focuses on fundraising, technology, and programming relating to the expansion of Wikipedia. Wales now sits on the board of trustees of the Wikimedia Foundation ,and as founder, continues to act as a key spokesperson. In 2004, Wales co-founded Wikia.com, a completely separate company that enables groups of people to share information and opinions that fall outside the scope of an encyclopedia. Wikia’s community-created wikis range from video games and movies to finance and environmental issues. Wikia’s network is now ranked in the top 75 of all websites according to Quantcast.com, and strong growth continues. In 2007, The World Economic Forum recognized Wales as one of the “Young Global Leaders.” This prestigious award acknowledges the top 250 young leaders for their professional accomplishments, their commitment to society, and their potential to contribute to shaping the future of the world. In addition, Wales received the “Time 100 Award” in 2006, as he was named one of the world’s most influential people in the “Scientists & Thinkers” category.

Randy Butcher

Randy Butcher is a successful stuntman, stunt coordinator, director, and screenwriter. He is a member in good standing of the Directors Guild of Canada (DGC), the Alliance of Canadian Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA), and is the only stunt coordinator in the province of Ontario who is also in the Union des Artistes (UDA); the French actors union based in Montreal, Quebec. He is currently the stunt coordinator on the hit CTV/CBS drama “Flashpoint” and is in development to write, produce, and direct two original comedy screenplays “Dicks With Chicks” and “Last Call”, a drama written in collaboration with his son, Andrew. Randy lives in Cambridge, Ontario with his wife, Rhonda, and can be contacted through his website at www.reelstuntsproductions.com.

Dan Sullivan

Dan Sullivan is the founder and president of The Strategic Coach Inc. and creator of the Strategic Coach® Program, which helps accomplished entrepreneurs reach new heights of success and happiness. He has over 30 years of experience as a highly regarded speaker, consultant, strategic planner, and coach to entrepreneurial individuals and groups. Dan is the author of over 30 publications of interest to entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial thinkers around the globe. For more information visit www.strategiccoach.com

Miles Hilton-Barber

Miles Hilton-Barber has, in the last ten years alone, set numerous world records undertaking extreme events across all seven continents of our world in the fields of mountaineering, desert and polar ultra-marathons, power-boat racing, scuba-diving, motor-racing and long distance, aerobatic and supersonic flying, amongst other achievements. Miles is here to remind us that we too can live our dreams, because, "The only limits in our lives are those we accept ourselves". For more information about Miles, visit www.mileshilton-barber.com.

Elaine Overholt

As singing coach to such Hollywood stars as John Travolta, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Richard Gere, Renee Zellweger, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Queen Latifah in films such as the Oscar-winning "Chicago" and "Hairspray", as well as numerous Broadway stars and recording artists, Elaine Overholt has established herself as one of North America's most respected and treasured voice teachers and producers. Whether in private sessions or at motivational workshops, she is celebrated for her ability to elicit magical performances from every kind of singer and speaker. Her coaching segment of Ellen DeGeneres on "The Ellen Show" has become a YouTube phenomenon. Elaine's own spectacular voice has been heard in recordings, on stage around the world as a soloist, and has allowed her the envied opportunity to sing along such titans of music as Ray Charles, Tina Turner, Dionne Warwick, and Anne Murray. Her new TV series "Big Voice", now airing on the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) in Canada, encompasses Elaine's life-long ambition to help unlock the power of the human voice - to communicate one's strongest intention and deepest passions. In each episode, she coaches an adult through a six-week vocal and psychological boot camp, resulting in a long-held dream of a spectacular onstage performance. Whether on stage, on T.V., in the boardroom, in the studio, or on the road, Elaine's "students" connect with the unique and powerful voice that is in every one of us - our authentic "big voice". These techniques are available on her Big Voice DVD and Vocal Warm-up CD. Visit www.elaineoverholt.com

Shel Horowitz

Marketing consultant, Green and Profitable syndicated columnist, and copywriter Shel Horowitz shows you how to "reach green, socially conscious consumers with marketing that has THEM calling YOU". He specializes in Green and ethical marketing strategies and materials for businesses and organizations. The primary author of Guerilla Marketing Goes Green: Winning Strategies to Improve Your Profits and Your Planet (John Wiley & Sons, 2010), Shel writes the monthly columns Green and Profitable and Green and Practical. His website is: www.greenandprofitable.com

Janine MacIntyre

Janine MacIntyre is a mother of three children living in Waterloo, ON. She has paired her passion with purpose serving as a paramedic. She is dedicated to treating patients with both respect and honor, and is committed to responding to the challenges before her with grace. Janine is passionate about communicating to the world that we always have a choice when it comes to the care of our bodies, and that we need to take responsibility for the care that works best for us. Janine can be reached directly at nightshiftgirl@hotmail.com

Dr. Stanislaw Burzynski

Stanislaw R. Burzynski, M.D., Ph.D. graduated with honors from Medical Academy in Lublin, Poland, receiving his M.D. degree in 1967. Subsequently, in 1968, he earned his Ph.D. in biochemistry. He completed his internship and residency in 1970. From October 1970 to 1977, he was employed by Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, initially as a Research Associate and later as Assistant Professor. While at Baylor, Dr. Burzynski's research was sponsored and partially funded by the National Cancer Institute. Doctors associated with M.D. Anderson Cancer research Center also cooperated in this research. On July 1, 1977, Dr. Burzynski resigned from Baylor College of Medicine and established Burzynski Research Laboratories. Over a number of years, the company expanded to Burzynski Research Institute, Burzynski Clinic, and Pharmaceutical Plant. Dr. Burzynski serves as the President and Chairman of the Board of the Institute, and is the owner of the clinic and pharmaceutical plant. Dr. Burzynski is the discoverer of antineoplastons, which are components of a complex biochemical defense system against cancer. he is also the discoverer of new treatments for cancer, viral infections including AIDS, autoimmune diseases, Parkinson's disease, neurofibromatosis, and restenosis. Among his contributions are 242 patents and over 300 scientific publications. He is a member of numerous professional organizations, recipient of over 20 international awards, and carries the hereditary title of Count.

Laura Robinson

Laura Robinson is a Canadian actress/ inventor/ producer and happily married mother of two. she co-invented the classic, best-selling board game "Balderdash", which has sold over twenty-five million copies worldwide. Laura launched a new game, "Identity Crisis: The Funniest Game About Famous Names", to great success in 2008. Along with well-known celebrity partners, Robinson recently sold a 1-hour prime-time television game show based on the game to a major U.S. network. It is scheduled to launch in the summer of 2011. Laura has enjoyed a successful and varied career as an actress with many roles in film and television, both in Los Angeles and Toronto. She was a regular on the long-running CBS show "Night Heat", played the title character in Lifetime Television's original detective drama "Veronica Clare", and guest-starred on many hit shows like "Cheers" and "Frasier", to name a few. In 2009, Robinson had the honor of becoming a Chicken Soup for the Soul author with the bestselling book Count Your Blessings, all about the transformational power of gratitude, and co-created an inspiring family board game of the same name. Robinson was featured in the book Women Invent, and has been a keynote speaker at numerous events. She has appeared as a guest on "Entertainment Tonight Canada", "Rogers Daytime", and "The Gill Deacon Show" on CBC TV. Laura also consults and advises inventors on the trademark/ copyright process and on creating cohesive brand strategies. She can be reached at laurarobinson@rogers.com

Jerry Greenfield

Jerry Greenfield and his long-time friend and business partner Ben Cohen are the men behind one of the most talked-about conventional success stories in American business. Co-founder of Ben & Jerry's Homemade, Inc., Greenfield has helped to build a store front venture into a $300 million ice cream empire by making social responsibility and creative management strengths, rather than weaknesses. Greenfield was born four days before his future business partner in Brooklyn, New York. He grew up and went to school in Merrick, Long Island. It was there that he first met Cohen in junior high school. After graduating from high school with a national merit scholarship under his belt, Greenfield enrolled at Oberlin College. In 1976, he moved in with Cohen and the two decided to pursue their dream of starting a food business together. They eventually settled on ice cream and, in May 1978, opened Ben & Jerry's homemade ice cream parlor in Burlington, Vermont. Today a model for American business success, Greenfield and Cohen have been recognized for fostering their company's commitment to social responsibility by the council on economic priorities and by the U.S. Small Business Administration. They have also received the James Beard Humanitarians of the Year and the Peace Museum's Community Peacemakers of the Year awards. Today, Greenfield's official title at the company is co-founder. He is involved in promoting the social and environmental initiatives that Ben & Jerry's undertakes. He is also President of the Ben & Jerry's Foundation.

Joe Navarro

Joe Navarro is the author of the international bestseller, What Everybody Is Saying, and is also the author of Louder Than Words (both by HarperCollins). Joe Navarro can be reached at www.joenavarro.net

Simon Sinek

Simon Sinek is an optimist. He believes in a bright future and in our ability to build it together. Described as "a visionary thinker with a rare intellect", Simon teaches leaders and organizations how to inspire people. With a bold goal to help build a world in which the vast majority of people go home every day feeling fulfilled by their work, Sinek is leading a movement to inspire people to do the things that inspire them. Sinek's unconventional and innovative views on business and leadership have attracted international attention and have earned him invitations to meet with leaders and organizations in a wide array of industries, including: Microsoft, Dell, Intel, Chanel, the United States Military, Members of the United states Congress, the Ambassadors of Bahrain and Iraq, multiple government agencies, and entrepreneurs. Sinek has also had the honour of presenting his ideas to the United Nations, to the senior leadership at the United States Air Force, and to the leaders of NASA. Sinek is an adjunct staff member of the RAND Corporation, one of the most highly regarded think thanks in the world, where he advises on matters of military innovation and planning. He is also active in the arts and not-for-profit world, working for the Education for Employment Foundation to help create opportunities for men and women in the Middle East region. When not in hotels, he lives in New York where he teaches graduate level strategic communications at Columbia University.

Amy Sky

Amy Sky has always used her songs and recordings to reflect "where" she is in life. Her first two albums, "Cool Rain" (1996) and "Burnt By The Sun" (1998) garnered Amy three Juno nominations, two for Songwriter of the Year (both for her own works and compositions recorded by others) and one for Best New Artist. In 2001, inspired by the hundreds of fan letters she received thanking her for capturing the emotions and reality of being a woman in the millennium, Amy released "Phenomenal Woman" by American Poet Dr. Maya Angelou. Amy's latest album, "With This Kiss - A Romance Collection", was released in 2003 as a celebration of good times past and those to come. Amy has sung at many political events, including special speaking engagements for President Bill Clinton, and has twice testified successfully in Ottawa before the CRTC, helping to shape and change copyright policy. For her testimony regarding the groundbreaking establishment of the Neighbouring Rights Royalty, Amy was awarded the Canadian Recording Industry Association Applause Award, in recognition of her "passionate and unwavering support of artists' rights". When not touring or fulfilling her many charitable obligations, Amy lives in Toronto with her husband, acclaimed singer songwriter Marc Jordan, and their two children.

Dave Ramsey

Dave Ramsey is a personal money management expert, popular national radio personality, and the author of three New York Times bestsellers - The Total Money Makeover, Financial Peace Revisited, and More Than Enough. In them, Ramsey exemplifies his life's work of teaching others how to be financially responsible so that they can acquire enough wealth to take care of loved ones, live prosperously into old age, and give generously to others. Ramsey knows first-hand what financial peace means, having lived a true rags-to-riches story. By age 26, he had established a $4,000,000 real estate portfolio, only to lose it by age 30. He has since rebuilt his financial life and now devotes himself full-time to helping ordinary people understand the forces behind their financial distress and how to set things right financially, emotionally, and spiritually. Ramsey offers life-changing financial advice as host of a nationally syndicated radio program, "The Dave Ramsey Show", which is heard by 4.5 million listeners each week on 450 radio stations throughout the United States. His syndicated column, Dave Says, can be read in more than 300 print and online publications worldwide. Visit: www.daveramsey.com

Terry Fallis

For the past 25 years, Terry Fallis has enjoyed a successful career in politics, public affairs, and public relations consulting. Feeling the sense that something was "missing" through it all, he finally put that feeling to rest when he wrote, podcast, and - after receiving rave reviews from legions of Canadian and International listeners - self publishing The Best Laid Plans, his debut satirical novel of Canadian politics. In 2008, The Best Laid Plans became the first self-published novel ever honoured with the Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour and, within a week, Fallis had signed on with a literary agent and landed a publishing deal with McClelland & Stewart. The M&S edition of the novel hit bookshelves in the fall of 2008, followed by Fallis' sequel The High Road in fall of 2010. In February 2011, The Best Laid Plans was crowned the winner of CBC's Canada Reads 2011 as an "essential Canadian novel of the last decade". Terry blogs at www.terryfallis.com and can be reached at fallis@thornleyfallis.com.

Chris Brogan

Chris Brogan consults and speaks professionally with Fortune 100 and 500 companies (including PepsiCo, General Motors and Microsoft, among others) on the future of business communications and social software technologies. He is the New York Times bestselling co-author of Trust Agents and a featured monthly columnist at Entrepreneur Magazine. Chris’s blog, [chrisbrogan.com], is ranked in the Top 5 of the Advertising Age Power150 blogs. He has over 11 years of experience in online community, social media and related technologies and is the president of Human Business Works, an online education and community company for small businesses and solo entrepreneurs. His first project with HBW, 501 Mission Place, helps nonprofits and charities learn how to grow their capabilities. Chris is Entrepreneur in Residence at CrossTech Ventures, where he’s working to develop New Marketing Labs and The Pulse Network, among other projects. Chris is also the cofounder of the PodCamp new media conference series, exploring the use of new media community tools to extend and build value. Prior to this all, he has 16 years of enterprise telecommunications and wireless experience.

T. Harv Eker

Born to European immigrants who arrived in North America with only a few dollars to their name, T. Harv Eker grew up in Toronto Canada. Money was scarce in his household and so, early on, Harv began dreaming of becoming a millionaire. As an adult, Harv moved to the U.S. and started a number of business ventures – none of which panned out. Eventually he did find success in a retail fitness venture and, selling part of his business to a Fortune 500 company, realized his dream of becoming a millionaire. Realizing that he had spent all of his money in a period of two years, Harv began to question the way people think about money and wealth. He noticed that every person has an inherent ‘money blueprint’, and set out on a mission to reset his own blueprint – this time becoming a multi-millionaire and, in the process, developing a set of principles and techniques that he now teaches in his Millionaire Mind Seminar and his best-selling book, Secrets of the Millionaire Mind. Now the dynamic, larger than life Founder and President of Peak Potentials Training, Harv has gone on to inspire thousands to realize their goals of financial freedom, changing their financial blueprint to reach for success and wealth.

Linda Lundström

Award-winning Canadian Fashion Designer Linda Lundström owned and operated Linda Lundström Inc. from 1974 to 2008. The company was recognized for innovative leadership, business achievement, community outreach, environmental initiatives, use of CAD/CAM (Computer Assisted Design/Computer Assisted Manufacturing) technologies, and Lean Manufacturing. In addition to corporately-owned stores, the company supplied retailers throughout Canada and the USA. Today, Linda Lundström Works TM provides the platform for Linda to fulfill her life's purpose – to inspire others. Students at George Brown College, audiences at keynote speeches, participants in workshops, and business clients seeking guidance have all been inspired by Linda's knowledge and skills. For more information visit www.lindalundstromworks.com or www.outstandingwomenspeak.com.

Mark C. Thompson

Mark Thompson is a world-renowned speaker, executive coach, and an expert on innovation and customer engagement. One of the most successful business communication executives and angel investors of our time, Thompson has been a board member and advisor to Global 1000 companies. During his tenure as Charles Schwab's Chief Customer Experience Officer, Chief Communications Officer, and Chief of Staff, the company's customer assets grew to more than $800 billion dollars, and have continued to grow during one of the greatest economic upheavals in history. As a bestselling business writer, Thompson co-authored Success Built to Last, the best-selling sequel to Jim Collins and Jerry Porras' classic, Built to Last. Focusing on Collins' five levels of leadership, Thompson teaches leaders how to get things done fast! In 2010, he published the bestselling book Now, Build a Great Business. Mark Thompson is an expert advisor on Level V Leadership and Built to Last - transforming how leaders inspire managers to boost sales, innovation and lead change in a volatile world. He is also Chairman of the American Express Leadership Series for Peter Drucker's Leader to Leader Institute, of which he is a member of the board. For more information, visit www.MarkCThompson.com.

Paul Boynton

Paul S. Boynton is President & CEO of The Moore Center, an agency that serves people with intellectual, developmental and personal challenges by creating opportunities for a good life. In addition to over 35 years in the health care, human services, and nonprofit world, Paul has served on numerous boards in New Hampshire, currently serving on the boards of Catholic Medical Center and The Bedford Ambulatory Surgical Center. He received his B.A. in Social Work from the University of New Hampshire and his M.A. in Counseling from Goddard College. Paul is the author of the motivational book "Begin with Yes," hosts the TV Show “Begin with Yes,” and writes the column, "Begin with Yes in the Workplace." He is currently using his book to help unemployed and underemployed people in New Hampshire and nationwide, offering free downloads in an effort to communicate that, when developing an effective job search strategy, positive attitude plus positive action leads to a positive result. Paul’s philosophy on life, “reach out a hand to help someone because, as you do, there’s always someone ahead holding out a hand for you”.

Scott Frederick

Scott Frederick attended the University of Dayton, where he received a B.A. in Psychology and also his Juris Doctorate. After spending ten years as a practicing trial lawyer and Magistrate Judge, Scott left the bench in 2003 and, along with his wife Sharon, purchased Carson Wrapped Hershey’s Chocolates, a personalized candy business. Scott is the CEO and manages business operations. He has helped oversee tremendous strategic growth for the custom announcement and favor business. Since their purchase, Scott and Sharon have launched several multi-channel marketing initiatives that increased Carson revenue by over 100% in just the first four years. This multimillion dollar custom candy business continues to grow and evolve, reaching new markets and customers worldwide. Scott also posts regularly to his company blog which can be found at wrappedhersheys.com. Carson is licensed by the Hershey Chocolate and Confectionary Corporation.

Buddy Valastro

For Buddy Valastro, 34, mixing eggs, sugar, butter and flour means a lot more than “making a cake.” As a fourth generation baker, it’s a constant source of pleasure, pride and creativity. His talent and passion for the family business, Carlo’s Bakery in Hoboken, NJ, has earned the straight-talking cake expert the moniker and TLC TV show, “Cake Boss”, followed shortly by “Cake Boss: The Next Great Baker”, and most recently, “Kitchen Boss”. Following the launch of his best-selling first book, Cake Boss, Stories and Recipes from Mia Famiglia (Free Press), Buddy continues bringing his stories and tips to life on stage via his highly successful Bakin’ with The Boss Tour, and plans to release a how-to book in November 2011. To give “Cake Boss” fans a real taste of what Carlo’s can offer, Buddy is building a 30,000 sq. ft. baking facility in Jersey City that will allow him to fulfill one of his (and his father’s) life long dreams – to ship his product across the country. For more information, visit www.carlosbakery.com or, for cities and tour dates, see www.buddyontour.com.

Maegan Carberry

Building off of her first gig as a Chicago Tribune reporter and columnist, Maegan later became Arianna Huffington’s Chief of Staff and then went on to work as an independent journalist and web entrepreneur, where she co-founded a thriving women’s lifestyle social network called TruuConfessions. Inspired by the historic 2008 presidential election, she became Rock the Vote’s Communications Director during the 2010 midterm elections. She is also the creator and co-host of Variety’s weekly podcast, Wilshire & Washington, appears as a frequent guest on FOX Business News, and has been quoted in outlets like CNN, The New Yorker, U.S. News & World Report, and the Atlantic Wire. She’s interviewed everyone from cultural icons like Jennifer Lopez and Hugh Hefner to President Barack Obama. Please visit: www.maegancarberry.com.

Gina Rudan

Gina Rudan is the President of Genuine Insights Inc., a professional development and training practice whose mission is to leverage the genius within every individual and organization. Gina spoke on the subject of genius at the 2010 TED Global conference at Oxford University and is the author of PRACTICAL GENIUS: The Real Smarts You Need to Get Your Passions and Talents Working for You (Touchstone/Simon & Schuster). Gina has been a guest lecturer, trainer and strategist for organizations including Merck Co., the BET Network, the Interpublic Group, the United States Department of Agriculture, and the Stern School of Business at New York University, among many others. She is the curator of TEDxMIA, an independent movement to spread genius in southern Florida and is a member of the Visionary advisory board for the Wolfsonian – FIU Museum. Before launching her own practice, Gina held management positions at Fortune 500 companies including Avon Products and PR Newswire, where she was responsible for spearheading multicultural and international marketing efforts. A native New Yorker, Gina graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature from Binghamton University. She holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Baruch College in New York City. Visit: www.genuineinsights.com

Justin Hines

Though Justin Hines grew up singing in church at his grandmother’s behest, the realization that music was his destiny came in the most unlikely of places –at a Toronto Raptors’ basketball game in front of thousands. A then-14-year old Justin won a vocal competition to sing the National Anthem at the game and his world opened up before him. Thrown in the deep end, Justin, who has performed professionally ever since, realized he could not only survive, but thrive. But then again, Justin has thrived all his life against odds that would daunt someone with a less indomitable spirit. Justin has Larsen Syndrome, a joint dislocation condition that confines him to a wheelchair. While Justin, who performed at both the Beijing and Vancouver Olympics, admits his condition has provided challenges, he primarily sees the good it has brought him and the inspiration he can provide others. That natural optimism permeates much of his 3 albums, including his upcoming American debut, “Days to Recall”, which includes “Say What You Will,” (South African Remix)". The uplifting song sparked JustInspired, a campaign which has helped build 20 South African schools in 11 days. Performing in South Africa this spring and seeing the schools that will educate more than 22,000 students, Justin feels honored that "a song we did was part of this, that we get to be part of that beauty". For more information, visit v2.justinhines.com.

Ryan Blair

Ryan Blair is the author of Nothing To Lose, Everything To Gain (Penguin/Portfolio). Blair is a self-made multimillionaire and serial entrepreneur who established his first company, 24-7 Tech, when he was 21 years old, since creating and investing in several hi-tech startups. As the current CEO of ViSalus Sciences, after weathering the 2008 recession, Blair took the company from near failure to over $10 million a month, growing revenues by 2000% in 15 months. He has appeared on "CNBC", "MSNBC", and "Fox Business", amongst others, and has been featured in Time, BusinesWeek, Sports Illustrated, The Wall Street Journal, and Forbes, etc. Blair lives in Hollywood, California with his son Reagan. More at www.nothingtolose.com

Nancy Silcox

Calling herself a "late bloomer", Nancy Silcox, a former secondary school teacher and university counsellor didn't start writing professionally until her mid-40s. Since then she's made up for lost time! She wrote a column on education for 15 years for The Record, and is a regular contributor to several lifestyle magazines, including Grand, Most, and Arabella Design Magazine. Nancy is the author of four books including, Food That Really Schmecks about legend Edna Staebler. Nancy's writing passions cover history, biography, and Canadian art. She believes fully that everyone has a story just waiting to be told.

Jean-Robert de Cavel

Jean-Robert de Cavel was born in Roubaix, France. After serving his culinary apprenticeship in Lille, France, he worked under Master Chef Jo Rostang in the French Riviera and the British West Indies and then, at the age of 26, was named Executive Chef at La Regence restaurant at the Hotel Plaza Athenee in New York City. In 1993, Jean-Robert moved to Cincinnati to serve as Chef de Cuisine at the Maisonette, at the time, the longest-running Mobil five-star restaurant in the United States. Under his tenure, the Maisonette earned eight additional five-star Mobile ratings. Jean-Robert left the Maisonette in 2001 - four years before it closed - to open his own restaurant, Jean-Robert at Pigall's, which was subsequently named by Conde Nast Traveler as one of the top 75 new restaurants in the world. It was associated with Relais & Chateaux, one of only 13 such restaurants in the U.S. and the only Relais Gourmand restaurant in the Tri-State. Jean-Robert at Pigall's was also named a Mobil four-star restaurant, again, the only one in Greater Cincinnati. Jean-Robert has been featured in Wine Spectator, Bon Appetit, Food Arts, Gourmet, Esquire, and Conde Nast Traveler magazines. In 2007, Jean-Robert earned the title of Maitre Cuisinier de France, French Master Chef. His most recently opened restaurant, Jean-Robert's Table, won best new restaurant of 2011. In recent years, Jean-Robert has donated his time and his talents on behalf of such organizations as the March of Dimes, Hospice of Cincinnati, the James Beard Foundation, the Cincinnati Zoo, and Taste of the NFL. In March 2003, Jean-Robert and his wife Annette founded Seven Days for SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome), after the loss of their baby daughter, Tatiana. Jean-Robert's humanitarian work was cited, along with his culinary achievements, when in 2002 he was awarded the Chevalier de l'Ordre du Merite (one of France's highest civilian honors) by the consul general of France. He lives in Newport, Kentucky with his wife and their daughter Laeticia. Please visit: www.jrtable.com

Terry Savage

Terry Savage is the author of four best-selling books, including The Savage Truth on Money, and The Savage Number: How Much Money Do You Need to Retire? She is a nationally syndicated financial columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times, and has won the National Press Club award for Outstanding Consumer Journalism. Her expertise comes from experience, she was a founding member – and the first woman trader – on the Chicago Board Options Exchange. Please visit: www.terrysavage.com

Blair Singer

For more than two decades, Blair Singer has empowered people around the world to go beyond their ordinary selves and reach peak performance. A dynamic, in-demand public speaker, Singer has the unique ability to get people and organizations to shake up the status quo, change behaviors, and achieve unprecedented results. Spanning 20 countries on five continents, his clients range from Fortune 500 companies like Deutsche Bank, Redken, HSBC, IBM, CitiGroup, UPS Stores, Mrs. Fields Cookies, Dunkin’ Donuts, and Westin Hotels, to small business owners, entrepreneurs, sales teams and just regular folks. Singer is the author of three best-selling books, the latest of which is Little Voice Mastery: How to Win the War Between Your Ears in 30 seconds or Less – and Have an Extraordinary Life! In this book, Singer reveals the secret for tuning out self-sabotaging negativity and tuning in to your true potential. Whether you want to find true love, get a better body, or even improve your golf game, Singer's 21 proven techniques to reprogramming that “Little Voice” can break down the barriers. Singer is also the CEO of SalesPartners Worldwide™, a dynamic sales and personal growth training company made up of professional mentors and business builders who work one-on-one with businesses and corporations to help them achieve double-digit growth in any economy. Singer is also the founder of the All-Access Club, a service that provides monthly members with personal coaching calls, one-on-one tune ups, and access to powerhouse professionals in sports, entertainment, and business. For more information, please www.blairsinger.com/membership.

Jon Gordon

Jon Gordon is a consultant, keynote speaker, and the international best-selling author of The Seed, Soup, The Energy Bus, The No Complaining Rule, Training Camp, and The Shark and the Goldfish, all from Wiley. He and his books have been featured on “CNN” and on NBC’s “Today” show, as well as in Forbes, Fast Company, O, The Oprah Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, and The New York Times. Jon’s principles have been put to the test by NFL football teams and Fortune 500 companies alike. He has worked with such clients as the Atlanta Falcons, the PGA Tour, Northwestern Mutual, JPMorgan Chase, and Publix Supermarkets. A graduate of Cornell University, he holds a master’s degree in teaching and works with numerous businesses, professional sports teams, schools, universities, and nonprofit organizations. For more information, please visit: www.JonGordon.com.

Vickie Milazzo

Vickie Milazzo, RN, MSN, JD, is the author of the New York Times bestseller, Wicked Success Is Inside Every Woman. From a shotgun house in New Orleans to owner of a $16-million business, Wall Street Journal best-selling author Milazzo shares the innovative success strategies that earned her a place on the Inc. list of Top 10 Entrepreneurs and Inc. Top 5000 Fastest-Growing Companies in America. Vickie is the owner of Vickie Milazzo Institute, an education company that she founded in 1982. Featured in the New York Times as the pioneer of a new profession, she built a professional association of 5,000 members. Vickie has been featured or profiled in numerous publications, including the New York Times, Entrepreneur, Houston Chronicle, Ladies’ Home Journal, Texas Bar Journal, Los Angeles Times, Philadelphia Enquirer, and in more than 220 newspapers. Vickie has appeared on national radio and TV, including the National Public Radio program “This I Believe” and more than 200 national and local radio stations. She is the author of the Wall Street Journal bestseller Inside Every Woman: Using the 10 Strengths You Didn’t Know You Had to Get the Career and Life You Want Now. Vickie is recognized as a trusted member and dynamic role model by tens of thousands of women, a distinction that led to her national recognition as the Stevie Awards’ mentor of the Year. Vickie was recognized as the most innovative Small Business by Pitney Bowes’s Priority magazine and received Susan G. Komen’s Hope Award for Ambassadorship. Author, educator, and nationally acclaimed speaker, this multimillionaire entrepreneur shares her vast experiences with thousands of women. Please visit www.wickedsuccess.com.

Maxine Clark

Maxine Clark is one of the true innovators in the retail industry. During her 30+ year career, her ability to spot emerging retail and merchandising trends and her insight into the desires or the American consumer have generated growth for retail leaders, including department store, discount and specialty stores. In 1997, she founded Build-A-Bear Workshop, a teddy-bear themed retail-entertainment experience. Today there are more than 400 Build-A-Bear Workshop stores worldwide, including company-owned stores in the U.S., Puerto-Rico, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Ireland, and franchise stores in Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, Mexico, and the Middle East. The company extends its in-store interactive experience online with its award-winning virtual world at Bearville.com. In 2008, Maxine Clark was named one of the 25 Most Influential People in Retailing by Chain Store Age; in 2006, she was inducted into the Junior Achievement National Business Hall of Fame and received the 2006 Luminary Award for Entrepreneurial Achievement from the Committee of 200. She was named a Customer-Centered Leader in the 2005 Customer First Awards by Fast Company. Maxine was named one of the Wonder Woman of Toys by Playthings magazine and Woman in Toys, and was also one of the National Finalists in Retail for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year for 2004. Build-A-Bear workshop was named on the 2011, 2010, and 2009 FORTUNE Best Companies to Work For list. Bearville.com received a 2009 “Best of the Web” award from WiredSafety, was honored with the socially safe seal, and in 2008, received the Excellent Product iParenting Media Award. In 2005, the National Association of Small Business Investment Companies made Build-A-Bear Workshop Portfolio Company of the Year; it was named one of the International Council of Shopping Centers “Hottest retailers of 2004” and the Retail Innovator of the Year for 2001 by The National Retail Federation. Maxine serves on the Board of Trustees of Washington University in St. Louis and is a member of the Executive Committee. She is a member of the Teach For America National Board and the local St. Louis regional board, the National Board of Donorschoose.org, and the KETC Channel 9 – PBS Board of Directors. She and her husband Bob Fox are founding of KIPP Inspire Academy and Maxine is on the charter school advisory Board of Trustees. She is also a member of the Committee of 200 and is a former member of the Board of Directors of the J.C. Penney Company, INC. Maxine is a graduate of the University of Georgia, and holds an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from St. Louis University. In 2006, she published her first book, The Bear Necessities of Business: Building a Company with Heart.

Frank O'Dea

Frank O’Dea is a powerful and inspiring speaker with a story of triumph over adversity that brings audiences to their feet, and leaves a long lasting impression. His inspiring message resonates with audiences who are going through the stress of difficult or uncertain times, bringing them perspective and confidence in themselves and the future. In his early teens, Frank O’Dea’s life went off the rails into a downward spiral. Within a few years, he was living in 50-cent-a-night flop houses in Toronto’s bowery district where just surviving was about all one could do in a day. At 23 years of age, with the courage to hope for a better life, and the spirit to forge ahead, Frank began the long road back. Within a few short years, he cofounded Second Cup, which became the largest chain of gourmet coffees and teas in the country. By the time he sold his interests, the company had stretched across Canada and into the United States. Building on that success, he was a founder of Proshred Security, a company that pioneered the entire industry of on-site document destruction. As his business grew, Frank began serving on the boards of directors of charities and not-for-profit organizations. This lead to his co-founding Street Kids International, an organization developed to help homeless children in third world countries. A few years later, he became the founding Chair of War Child (Canada), an organization that provides assistance against suffering and abuse for children in war affected countries. In the same year, Frank co-founded the Canadian Landmine Foundation, an organization that raises funds and awareness for the dismantling of minefields around the world. With support from the likes of Colin Powell, Paul McCartney and Kofi Annan, he went on to initiate the organization’s most successful, worldwide annual fund raising program, “Night of a Thousand Dinners”. He has received the Ontario Volunteer Award, two honorary university degrees and has been invested as an Officer of the Order of Canada. This incredibly inspiring story of resilience and triumph in the face of adversity is retold in his best-selling autobiography, When All You Have Is Hope.

Farrah Gray

Farrah Gray is named as one of the most influential Black men in America by the National Urban League’s Urban Influence Magazine. Ebony Magazine recognized him as an entrepreneurial icon, business mogul and international best-selling author. Raised in poverty on the South side of Chicago, Gray defied the odds and became a self-made millionaire by the age of 14, after working for himself at age 6. Motivated to work toward wealth at a young age after seeing his mother struggling in dire financial circumstances, Gray went on to create a number of successful companies while in his teens. Not content with material wealth alone, Gray has put that same caring compassion he felt for his mom to use in service for others. At the age of 21, he received an Honorary Doctorate degree of Humane Letters from Allen University. This was in recognition of his ingenious economic mind and distinguished commitment to the development of values such as leadership, integrity and scholarship. Gray also enjoys sharing his practical advice as a sought-after public speaker and through popular business books such as Reallionaire and Get Real, Get Rich. He is currently a syndicated columnist, professional numismatist; chairman of the Farrah Gray Foundation. He is also the spokesman for the National Coalition for the Homeless and the National Marrow Donor Program. Gray is the founder and CEO of Farrah Gray Publishing, a 100% celebrity book publishing house and one of the largest African-American owned book publishing companies in the country. Farrah Gray Publishing’s first title, Dear Dad by Ky-Mani Marley, the son of Bob Marley, was published, with HCI serving as distributor. Now, a little less than 18 months after releasing its first title, his publishing house has its first bestseller, Priceless Inspirations by Antonia “Toya” Carter. Since his first interview at 11 years old on “KVBC Channel 3”, Gray has become a celebrity entrepreneur, featured in thousands of print, magazine, radio and television media outlets nationally and internationally. Dr. Gray can be reached via email at fg@drfarrahgray.com or his website at www.drfarrahgray.com.

Brett Wilson

Shama Kabani

Web and TV personality. Bestselling author. International Speaker. Award winning CEO of The Marketing Zen Group – a global online marketing company. Shama is the face of today’s digital world, and represents the best her generation has to offer. She has aptly been dubbed the “master millennial of the universe” and “an online marketing shaman” by Fast Company.com. Shama is author of the best-selling book, The Zen of Social Marketing, and is an oft-quoted social media expert. Shama has been featured by Business Week, Dallas Morning News, Entrepreneur, Fast Company, Inc. Magazine, The New York Times, The Huffington Post, The Wall Street Journal and hundreds of blogs and social media outlets. She’s also an accomplished international speaker and hosts her own Web TV show, “Shama.TV”. The show addresses new media marketing topics, trends, people and relevant perspectives. She also hosts “Tech Zen with Shama” and “Socially Sound with Shama” on CW 33. Shama formed The Marketing Zen Group in 2009. Since then, the company has grown, includes 25 employees and clients that range from publicly held, Fortune 1000 companies to privately held small businesses and non-profit organizations. The company serves clients worldwide, including companies in Europe, Asia and Central and South Americas. Since its start in 2009, average company growth is 400 percent. She holds a Masters degree in Organizational Communication from the University of Texas at Austin, and prides herself in being a constant learner. In 2009, Business Week honoured Shama as one of the Top 25 under 25 entrepreneurs in North America. In 2010, Shama won the prestigious Technology Titan Emerging Company CEO award. In 2011, Entrepreneur Magazine featured her as one of four Super Sonic Youth, dubbing her a “Zen Master of Marketing.” When not working directly with her clients or shooting her shows for the media, Shama travels the world speaking on business, entrepreneurship, and technology. The 2nd edition of her best-selling book, The Zen of Social Media Marketing, is due out in the spring of 2012.

Kathleen Burns Kingbury

Kathleen Burns Kingsbury is a wealth psychology expert and behavioral change specialist. She teaches financial services professionals how to connect, communicate, and collaborate more effectively with their clients to increase client retention and improve profitability. Kathleen is a faculty member of the Certified Private Wealth Advisor (CPWA) program, an educational course developed by the Investment Management Consultants Association (IMCA) and offered in conjunction with The University of Chicago Booth School of Business. She is also an adjunct lecturer at the McCallum Graduate School of Business at Bentley University, where she teaches “Psychology in Financial Planning.” A frequent keynote speaker, Kathleen has presented at Merrill Lynch Global Wealth and Investment Management Advanced Education Symposiums, Women Advisors Forums, the Massachusetts Bankers Association Wealth Management Conference, and the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors Regional Meeting. In addition, Kathleen has been engaged by financial firms, including Pioneer Investments, Commonwealth Financial Network, Silver Bridge Advisors, and Investors Capital, as a consultant and trainer. Voted one of the top ten executive coaches in 2009 by Women’s Business Magazine, Kathleen is an internationally published author. Her book, Creating Wealth from the Inside Out Workbook, ranks 25 in the Financial Planning Workbooks category on Amazon.com. She is a columnist for the Women Advisors Forum and has contributed articles to print and online publications, including IMCA’s Investment and Wealth Monitor. Her latest book, Women and Wealth: A Guide for Advising Affluent Women will be published by McGraw Hill in 2012. As an expert on financial psychology, Kathleen has been interviewed by MSNBC’s “Today Money”, Forbes’s “ForbesWoman”, Thomson Reuters’s “Reuters Wealth”, and Financial Planning Magazine. She has also been a guest on WBNW’s “Money Matters Radio”, WATD’s “McNamara on Money”, and WCBM’s “Money, Riches & Wealth”. Kathleen holds a Master’s in Psychology and is a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC). She is a member of the Financial Therapy Association, the International Coach Federation, and the National Speakers Association, for which she has served on the Board of Directors for the New England chapter. When she is not working, Kathleen is an avid alpine skier who lives for the next powder day. In the off-season, she enjoys road and mountain biking, kayaking, and sailing.

Joey Adler

Joey Adler is a visionary entrepreneur and humanitarian, seeking to reinvent the business of philanthropy through ground breaking sustainable models. Driven by a vision to launch and develop a cutting edge fashion brand in Canada, in 1987, with her future husband, Louis Adler, Joey secured Canadian exclusivity for the Italian-based Diesel fashion label. Today, as President and CEO of Diesel Canada Inc., Joey’s keen understanding of the Canadian marketplace and entrepreneurial savvy have helped grow the brand into one of the most recognizable and sought after fashion labels in the country. A passionate philanthropist, Joey founded the ONEXONE Foundation in 2005 in memory of Lou who passed away after a long illness. The Foundation’s philosophy is that every single life is precious and that individuals can make profound changes in the lives of others, one by one. ONEXONE’s mission is to improve the lives of children in Canada, the US, and around the world with programs dedicated to the fundamental pillars: water, health, education, play, and food. ONEXONE’s reach and impact is profound with important initiatives operating in South Africa, Rwanda, Kenya and Haiti. In addition, through its “Feeding Our Children” initiatives, ONEXONE provides over 300,000 nutritious meals to over 3,000 Canadian and U.S. children in need, through ONEXONE’s First Nations School Breakfast Program and strong partnerships with communities in inner cities, and across North America. Just days after the devastating earthquake in 2010, ONEXONE team members were on the first non-military flight to land in Haiti. In the missions that followed, ONEXONE delivered $7 million worth of goods including $5 million of medicine and medical equipment. ONEXONE remains committed to the country and recently announced $3 million to fund the construction of a state-of-the-art pediatric ward in the new Partners In Health hospital in Mirebalais, Haiti. Joey is also an active member of the Clinton Task Force on Haiti. Joey is committed to pushing the envelope of sustainable investing, seeking new business models that offer solutions. As a founding partner of IRII, crated in 2010, Joey is a key thought leader behind the initiative. Through entrepreneurship and creativity, IRII exemplifies a new business model for the 21st century where sustainable and environmentally responsible businesses are created with the objective of having measurable positive impact on the local communities in which they operate. These businesses represent a true partnership between the investors, the workers and the local communities, the first of which is a state-of-the-art apparel manufacturing facility being launched in Croix des Bouquets, Haiti. In addition to sitting on the board for the Hope & Cope Wellness Centre in Montreal, Joey and her family are the main benefactors. Inspired by her late husband, Joey also founded Lou’s House, a Centre that helps cancer survivors resume healthy lives with the world’s leading psycho-social cancer support programs available to them, free of charge. Putting her business savvy to good use locally, Joey is also presently in her fourth term as city councillor in a Montreal area municipality and has overseen matters ranging from the environment to finance. Joey recently became president of a community camp, where she has been instrumental in helping to continue and evolve a 92-year institution. In 2011, Joey was honoured in the prestigious “Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100™”, Canada’s most recognizable award for the country’s highest-achieving female leaders in the private, public and not-for-profit sectors. In 2010, Joey’s philanthropic efforts were recognized when she became the first recipient of the Laurie Normand-Starr Humanitarian Award, held at the Table of Hope event in Montreal to raise funds to fight childhood hunger. In June 2010, she received the I’m Philanthropic Power Award from The Foundation for Advancement of Women Now Inc. in New York City. Concordia University recently bestowed Joey with a Honorary Doctorate of Laws from the John Molson School of Business for her numerous achievements in business and in charity. Joey currently lives with her family in Montreal, Canada.

Hugh Culver

Hugh Culver is a sought-after keynote speaker and author who works with leading organizations like Imperial Oil, Shoppers Drug Mart, Royal Bank of Canada, Suncor, Telus and the Canadian Red Cross. His first book Give Me a Break - The art of making time work for you was published in 2011. Please visit: www.hughculver.com.

Eric Ryan

Eric makes soap. Really nice smelling soap that’s non-toxic and good for the planet. It’s really beautiful, too. He and his high school buddy Adam started method in 2001 and have since built it into a global industry leader – a brand that was ranked the 7th fastest growing company in America by Inc. Magazine in 2006 and received the 2011 AIGA Corporate Leadership Award. Today, method has over 100 planet-friendly cleaning products in stores across North America, Europe, Australia and Asia. Eric has been named an eco-leader by Vanity Fair, a Food & Wine Tastemaker, an eco-revolutionary by Time Magazine, PETA’s Person of the Year, and one of People Magazine’s Sexiest People Alive. Okay, that last one’s not really true, but the others are. Eric lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife Ingrid and three children Anya, Matias and Anders, all of whom think he is a rock star on Guitar Hero.

John Izzo

Dr. John Izzo is a leading business leadership expert, a bestselling author, and a community leader. He consults and advises some of the most admired companies in the world, teaches at major universities, conducts leading edge research on workplace values, and has spoken to more than one million people across the globe from Brazil to Russia, from New York to London. His client organizations range from high tech to high touch, hotels to hospitals, and government agencies to entrepreneurial start-ups. John has devoted his life and career to showing leaders how to create workplaces that bring out the best in people and discover more purpose and fulfillment in life and work. For over twenty years he has conducted pioneering work on employee engagement and helped leaders create exceptional corporate cultures. He is the author of five books. In his first, Awakening Corporate Soul, John identifies four paths to more engagement at work. In Values Shift: Recruiting, Retaining and Engaging the Multigenerational Workforce, he identifies six major shifts in work values and creates a blueprint for the 21st century workforce and provides practical ideas on how to win over employees. His book, The Five Secrets You Must Discover before You Die, was the basis for a five hour Biography and PBS Television series in which John interviewed 250 people from the age of 60 – 106 asking them to reflect back on what they had learned about life. This bestseller was named the best self-help book of 2008 by the Independent Book Publishers Association. Izzo’s latest book, Stepping Up: How Taking Responsibility Changes Everything offers inspiration and practical advice on how ordinary people can step up and make a difference in work, family, community or the world. Filled with moving stories of how ordinary people accomplished extraordinary feats the book challenges each of us to step up and create change. He shows how leaders can create a workplace where people will choose to step up. Prior to establishing his own firm, Izzo was a senior organizational development consultant for Kaiser Permanente and Vice President of The Einstein Consulting Group, an international customer service consultancy. He holds a Masters degree in psychology and a Ph.D. in organizational communication. Leaders say that John Izzo brings the unique combination of practical ideas and highlevel “big picture” thinking to their organizations. He inspires people to greater vision, challenges them with new insights, and leaves them with practical strategies to create the organization of the future. Above all, he ignites the spark in all of us to live a more authentic and purposeful life – an uncommon life where lasting legacy is balanced with every day fulfillment. Visit www.drjohnizzo.com.

Devon Brooks

An entrepreneurial tour-de-force. Devon co-founded Blo Blow Dry Bar, a first of its kind franchise concept, born from her second year University project. She was dubbed ‘The Business Mind’ as one of Canada’s Top 13 Bright Young Things in FLARE magazine, has been nominated for Chatelaine Magazine’s ‘Hot 20 Under 30’ 2011 Women of the Year Awards, and represented Canada as 1 of 30 delegates at the G20 Young Entrepreneurs Summit in Nice, France this past Fall. At 25 Devon has had an extraordinary experience in business and in life. She sailed around the world in a tall ship, earned her degree (with honors) in the UK, brokered valuable business collaborations, appeared as a business personality on a CityTV Canadian docu-sitcom, as well as consulted on communications and growth strategies for a variety of companies like www.metrolyrics.com (The World’s largest music lyrics website, which was recently acquired by CBS). This fierce make-it-happener is also passionate about paying it forward, actively mentoring and coaching start-ups and developing professionals. Devon is the Canadian Youth Business Foundation’s youngest ever mentor. Among all of these adventures the boldest part of Devon’s story is a personal one; she was assaulted in two untimely, and entirely separate incidences at 18 and then again at 21, and went through the ensuing judicial process that eventually led to a guilty plea by both men. She is candid about her experiences, finds humour in life’s curve balls, and digs authenticity hard. Devon is often asked to speak publicly about her story of forgiveness and maintaining momentum, in business and in life, while working through depression and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). In addition to her personal story, Devon can be found scooting her sparkling energy from coast-to-coast presenting on topics like personal growth, brand, culture and leadership. Devon stands out in her generation and beyond, as an energetic action-driven young entrepreneur who thrives on keeping-it-really-real.

David Suzuki

Award-winning geneticist and broadcaster David Suzuki is the Foundation’s co-founder with Tara Cullis. He is familiar to audiences around the world as host of CBC TV’s long-running series, “The Nature of Things”. From 1969 to 2001 he was a faculty member at the University of British Columbia, and is currently professor emeritus. He has authored over 50 books, and is widely recognized as a world leader in sustainable ecology. Dr. Suzuki has received numerous awards for his work, including a UNESCO prize for science, a United Nations Environment Program medal, and is a Companion of the Order of Canada. He has 25 honorary doctorates from universities in the USA, Canada, and Australia. For his support of Canada’s First Nations people, Dr. Suzuki has been honored with six names and formal adoption by two tribes. Please visit: www.davidsuzuki.org.

Adam Lowry

Adam Lowry is the co-founder, Chief Greenskeeper and head of international business at method. Before founding method in 2001 with his friend Eric, Adam began his career in product design, inventing two patented products for use in the automotive industry, and then spent four years as a climate scientist at the Carnegie Institution for Science, developing software products for the study of global climate change. Adam focuses on building sustainable innovation into the method business. He also directs the sustainability aspects of product design, sourcing and production. Adam has been honored as one of Vanity Fair’s Global Citizens and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals’ (PETA) Person of the Year for his pioneering work on sustainable business and product design. He is also a Catto environmental fellow at the Aspen Institute. Adam lives in San Francisco with his wife Mara and daughter Kenning. Though an avid environmentalist, Adam does admit he has a bit of a thing for muscle cars.

Mario Pilozzi

Alfred Blake

Alfred Blake is known as a “Servant To The Masses” and a dream catcher who looks to find the unlimited potential in every person he meets. He is the Co-Founder and President of I Am Multi LLC, a company that provides life skills workshops for youth, ages 13-25. He has presented at the Pharrell William's 2010 Kidult Leadership conference (mentor), Rutgers NAACP Empowerment Day (keynote), and Jesse Jackson's Wall Street Summit (Breakout Session Speaker). Alfred is a graduate of Oakwood University, where he received a Bachelor of Science in pre-physical therapy. Alfred Blake is NOT a motivational speaker, a writer, a teacher, or an activist. He believes that he is a mere proponent for change by any means necessary...and so are you! To find more information about Alfred Blake, please visit www.iammulti.net or www.facebook.com/alfredblake.

Joshua Hayward

Joshua is the founder and CEO of True Life Training Inc. and the creator of his dream life. At age 24, Joshua has started three successful businesses, and has created the freedom to live his dream. He absolutely loves his life as he gets to travel all over the world, spend tons of time with his family and friends, and transform lives through his personal development training programs. Joshua has a huge vision and a compassionate heart and his life is dedicated to helping people live a life of freedom and live a life they love. He can be found at www.TrueLifeTraining.com.

Mark Black

Mark is a motivational/inspirational speaker, a double-lung and heart transplant recipient, and a marathon runner. He uses his experiences on his journey from “Hospital Bed to Marathon Man” to inspire others to “Live Life from the Heart”. If you know someone who would benefit from hearing Mark’s message, contact him at Mark@MarkBlackSpeaks.com or go to his website: www.MarkBlackSpeaks.com for information about his powerful presentations.

Paul Andrew

Paul Andrew is passionate about helping everyday leaders become effective leaders. He is Australian-born, and after many years of leading innovative non-profit organizations he’s now based in New York and works across the globe as a speaker and management consultant. Paul is an engaging speaker with infectious ideas and energy. Please visit www.theleadershipcoach.com

Katie Tallo

Katie is a mother, wife, writer, director, P90Xer, vegetarian, motivator and momentum gatherer. Through her blog, http://www.momentumgathering.com, she seeks to inspire simple, soulful ways to live, eat, move, create and embrace life.

Sarah Cochran

The U.S. Insurance Industry is at a crossroads with an aging agent workforce (nearly 60 percent of agents are over the age of 45) with the majority of them being male. At only 25 years old, Sarah bridges this age gap as a Charter Member of GAMA International’s Leaders of Today, helping support young front-line leaders in the insurance industry. At age 23, Sarah was promoted and become the youngest Regional Marketing Specialist in the company. In her position she helps keep over 250 agents in sales. She has also been a guest speaker for Chuck Norris’s martial arts organization and for Mentors Club International. She has been published in GAMA International's GIJ magazine and their Great Ideas book series. Sarah gives back not only to the insurance industry but also to local charities in Las Vegas. Sarah enjoys staying active and has just completed her first half marathon.

Corey Poirier

Corey Poirier is a professional motivational speaker, trainer, researcher of success principles, and publisher. Having interviewed more than 600 leaders and leading organizations regarding best practices, Corey spends his time helping corporate clients and educational institutions create A+ customer experiences and achieve greater success personally and professionally. His second audio program, Creating A+ Customer Experiences, was released in Mid-2010, and his business publication, Island Business News, has been reaching business leaders for more than four years, delivering content related to best practice principles and strategies for peak performance. For more information, please visit www.coreypoirier.com.

Ann Green

Ann is a certified master yoga teacher/trainer specializing in sport specific yoga. She teaches Ashtanga, Vinyasa, Hatha, Tiny Kids, Teens, and Pre & Post Natal yoga at her private studio, StudioBLISS. Ann is a motivational speaker to a variety of International audiences, the Press Chair for Kids Help Phone Committee, and the Olympic Representative for Strength Within – a non-profit organization connecting young women to share, learn & lead. For more about Ann and StudioBLISS please visit www.annegreenyoga.com.

John Spence

John Spence is the author of Awesomely Simple – Essential Business Strategies for Turning Ideas into Action. He is an award-wining professional speaker and corporate trainer, and has been recognized as one of the Top 100 Business Thought Leaders in America.

Dr. Thomas Boyce

Thomas E. Boyce received his doctorate in psychology from Virginia Tech. He is a keynote speaker, business consultant, educator, and musician. His Evidence-Based Leadership process has been embraced by many organizations as the gold standard for motivating and inspiring world-class performance. For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact Dr. Boyce directly via e-mail at ted.boyce@cbsafety.com, through his website www.cbsafety.com or join his network at www.linkedin.com/in/cbsafety

Lauretta Ryan

Lauretta Ryan and her sister Maria Ryan are motivational singers/speakers who believe that music heals. After Lauretta came down with a life threatening illness called Guillain Barré Syndrome in June, 1995, the Ryan sisters decided to pursue their dream of sharing their inspirational music with the world. The motivational messages in their music empower listeners to believe in themselves and to realize that anything is possible. Their book, Light & Love, A Journey of Healing and Inspiration, explains how the powers of love and gratitude help to open your heart and awaken your inner power, heightening your ability to create your own destiny. Visit www.RyanSisters.com to read more about Lauretta’s incredible journey.

Dr. Natasha Turner

Natasha Turner, N.D. is a Toronto-based naturopathic doctor and founder of the Clear Medicine wellness boutique. She is also the author of the bestselling book The Hormone Diet and the upcoming Supercharged Hormone Diet, available online and in bookstores across Canada March 22nd. Visit www.thehormonediet.com

Gord Paynter

Gord Paynter lost his eyesight at age 23 as a result of diabetes. His loss of sight did not stop him from becoming a professional stand-up comic and motivational speaker. He performs throughout North America and writes a travel column, The Way I ‘See’ It, for ViBrant Magazine. He is a golf nut – his best score? 6004. Visit www.gordpaynter.ca.

Tony Hartl

Tony Hartl founded Planet Tan in 1995 and built the company into one of the most recognizable brands in the Dallas area. He currently sits on the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship Board and has been a guest lecturer at the Caruth Institute of Entrepreneurship at SMU’s Cox Business School. He has been featured in numerous media outlets, including Inc. magazine, Fortune Small Business, and the Dallas Morning News.

Deri Latimer

Deri Latimer is an expert in possibilities for people! She is one of the top 10% of speakers globally who hold the designation of CSP (Certified Speaking Professional), the international measure of platform excellence. Deri inspires her audiences to ‘Move Into a New Groove’! Her keynotes and workshops impact individual and organizational energy and performance, as she applies the latest research and practice in positive psychology, appreciative inquiry, emotional intelligence, and employee engagement.

Dawna MacLean

Dawna has over 20 years experience as a creative coach, adviser, speaker, partner, strategist, writer, and consultant providing insightful and forthright leadership to ensure goals are realized. She has a proven track record of developing and implementing successful complex business strategies that have resulted in sustained growth and rich customer experiences. Dawna is passionate about the shared value movement and fostering meaningful change. Visit http://dawnamaclean.com

Phyllis Zimbler Miller

Phyllis Zimbler Miller (@ZimblerMiller on Twitter) has an M.B.A. from The Wharton School. She is the co-founder of the social media marketing company Miller Mosaic LLC. Visit her company blog at www.MillerMosaicSocialMediaMarketing.com

Lindsay de Swart

Lindsay de Swart is a Life Coach, Hypnotherapy Trainer and Master of NLP and Time Line Therapy®. She works with people to live their life with renewed energy, health and self esteem. Lindsay runs workshops, seminars and ‘lunch and learn’s’ as well as individual coaching and breakthroughs. Visit www.lindsaydeswart.com.

Karen Zizzo

Karen Zizzo is an Inspirational Speaker, Author and Spiritual Life Coach. She has over 25 years of experience in the areas of business ownership, corporate training, and e-corporate business development, including ten years of business coaching, and utilizes her expertise in communication and her leadership and organizational skills to guide her clients to higher levels of success in their personal and professional lives. Karen can be reached at 1-800-538-5194 or at karen@karenzizzo.com. Visit www.karenzizzo.com

Rivers Corbett

Rivers Corbett, MBA is an award winning Entrepreneur, Speaker, CEO, Author of “13 Fears of Entrepreneurs”, and Founder of The Entrepreneurs Summit. He has received numerous business honors including Entrepreneur of the Year as well as being listed on Canada’s Hottest Start-ups List and Canada’s Fastest Growing Companies list through Profit magazine. A three time marathoner, Rivers’ real joy in business is starting new business ventures such as the Relish Gourmet Burgers franchising system and The Chef Group - not bad for a guy who hates to cook. Besides his family, Rivers’ other real KICK in life is coaching entrepreneurs to great success through his philosophy of Zagging instead of Zigging.

Rhonda Reist

Rhonda Reist is a speaker, trainer, and writer with a passion for motivating people to reach their highest potential. Rhonda is also a certified Can-Fit Pro Fitness Instructor and Nutrition and Wellness Specialist. She is an expert at singing incorrect lyrics to her favourite 80’s songs, and laughing loudly at her own jokes. For more about Rhonda, please visit www.HelpMeRhondaTraining.com or her inspirational blog BelieveDreamLove.com.

Matthew Cimone

Matthew Cimone is the co-founder and CEO of Esther’s Echo (www.esthersecho.org). Esther’s Echo is a small-scale start-up community development organization seeking to utilize the Internet as a means of profiling community-based social change initiatives online and helping them secure financial support. Matthew has completed extensive research on youth engagement models in Canada, has spoken to over 50 000 youth across the country, was named Youth Spokesperson for the Millennium Development Goals by the United Nations in 2006, and hopes one day to play a rock concert in space.

Carol Roberts

Carol is an accomplished Marketing, Business and Community Development Consultant with over 25 years of extensive experience leading large strategic projects in three key sectors; Financial Services, International Development, and Government Relations. She is also a freelance writer, mentor, and motivational speaker. Carol specializes in Marketing and Business Development, Stakeholder Engagement and Relationship Management. She has served on numerous boards and coalitions including the Ontario Trillium Foundation (Toronto Grant Review Team), Sinfonia Toronto Chamber Orchestra, and the Toronto Police Services. She is currently serving as Board President for the Teresa Group, a child focused HIV/AIDS charity. Carol is also in the process of writing her first book about the power of resilience. It is due out in 2012.

Dean van Leeuwen

Dean is an intellectual adventurer, scholar of the new world of work, and customer experience alchemist. He has an insatiable appetite for exploring how businesses can become more successful and increasingly contribute more value to society. His real gift is an ability to take complex information and identify creative, innovative and practical solutions. A sought after professional speaker, Dean travels the world speaking at company events and conferences, challenging conventional wisdom and revealing thought-provoking new realities. His approachable style quickly engages audiences leaving them wanting more. Dean is also the co-founder of TomorrowToday International (www.tomorrowtoday.uk.com), a company that shows businesses leaders how to succeed in the new world of work. Twitter: @newworktrends Email: dean@tomorrowtoday.uk.com

Michelle Alcorn

Michelle Alcorn has over 15 years of experience successfully managing and leading various sized businesses across Canada. She is a skilled leader, coach, and trainer who understands how to develop and implement action plans that deliver results. She was a Senior Executive in the Optical/Manufacturing and Retail industries, managing teams with over 450 employees and over $90 million in sales nationally. Michelle brings a wealth of knowledge to areas of customer service, recruitment, training, leadership, and sales. Her familiarity with the National and Atlantic Canadian industries comes from her years of experience with a national recruitment company. She successfully led recruitment projects from CEO, to Finance, to Sales, to IT; within various industries, including Non-Profit, Manufacturing, Retail, Distribution, and Call Centers. She enjoys the opportunity to help others find successful new careers, and to consult with companies, assisting them in making great hiring decisions and training their teams. She sits on the Board of Directors for the Greater Moncton Chamber of Commerce and the Riverview Boys & Girls Club.

Proshat Sarabloo Lehmann

Proshat Sarabloo Lehmann is an international Feng Shui consultant, architect, speaker, artist, and a founder of Zensation. She is a celebrated pioneer in Dubai and UAE broadly, and is now on a quest to bring Feng Shui to Canada. Proshat provides authentic Feng Shui consulting for businesses, offices, real estate organizations, and developers, locally and worldwide. Proshat is motivated by the idea of making the environment of her clients work for them. For more information, please visit www.my-zensation.com or www.proshatlehmann.com

Shevaun Voisin

Shevaun Voisin is the Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of MOTIVATED Magazine.

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