DifferenceMakers, Ltd. - The "Original" Mike Smith

Below are several introductions commonly used to introduce Mike's presentations. You may use whichever works best for your purposes, or write your own from the information presented.

Introduction 1 (general)

With a common name like "Mike Smith," you might get the idea that our speaker today is a common man. But as you're about to find out, THIS Mike is a most UNcommon individual - which is why people call him The "Original" Mike Smith.

Mike has devoted his career to the promotion of positive attitudes and the fostering of personal responsibility in young people. His 20 years on the road as a speaker, trainer, author and philosopher have given him a unique perspective and a wealth of experience to enhance his message.

He is the president of DifferenceMakers, Limited - his speaking and motivational products company, and he has helped found numerous national organizations including the Alliance for Student Activities, a nonprofit association of student activitiy advisors. Please welcome THE "ORIGINAL" MIKE SMITH!

Introduction 2 (general)

Mike Smith believes life is an adventure and should be enjoyed - and he hasn't wasted any time. He has been hiking and whitewater rafting in the mountains, ventured as deep as 120 feet under the ocean on his hundred-plus SCUBA excursions, and soared several thousand feet above the ground as he piloted his helicopter for the U.S. Army.

For the past 20 years, Mike has traveled well over 4 million miles to speak to audiences both young and old. He is fun, fast-paced and enthusiastic about his discoveries and he is here to share them with us. Ladies and gentlemen, THE "ORIGINAL" MIKE SMITH!

Introduction 3 (general)

For the past 20 years, Mike Smith has taken his fast-paced, involving presentations to over two million parents, administrators, teachers and students in the United States and Canada.

Today, Mike is the president of DifferenceMakers, Limited - a speaking, seminar and motivational product marketing company, and he is the president of the Alliance for Student Activities - a national organization of student activity advisors.

He has earned the reputation of being able to pack a great deal of "learning" into a short amount of time. His honesty and humorous delivery make The "Original" Mike Smith one of the most sought-after youth speakers in North America.

Please join me in welcoming THE "ORIGINAL" MIKE SMITH!

Introduction 4 (adult audiences)

Mike Smith has devoted his career to the promotion of positive attitudes and personal responsibility in young people. His years on the road as a speaker, trainer and "edutainer" have given him a wealth of experience to enhance his message.

He has written articles, workbooks and video programs dissecting the processes related to leadership and motivation so that we might better understand how these things work. Mike has helped to found national organizations dealing with student activities, family involvement and co-curricular activities. He proudly sponsors the National Student Leadership Week DifferenceMaker Award where he provides 4 free speaking engangements to the winners selected by the Alliance for Student Activities.

His presentation today will be fast-paced and engaging; help me welcome THE "ORIGINAL" MIKE SMITH!

Introduction 5 (student audiences)

Ladies and gentlemen, our speaker today comes to us from Orange County, California. He travels the country logging over 100,000 miles a year in airplanes flying from coast to coast and border to border just to talk for a few minutes with audiences like us.

He has been doing this for a long time and has spoken to over 2 million people in the United States, Canada, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. I promise this next few minutes will "fly by." Please help me welcome THE "ORIGINAL" MIKE SMITH!

Introduction 6 (educator audiences, long formal)

Ladies and gentlemen, our presenter today holds a bachelor's degree in History, is an honors graduate of the U.S. Army's Instructor's Training Academy, and a decorated Vietnam helicopter pilot. He retired from his successful New Mexico-based marketing business at the age of 42 to pursue his passion for helping students and educators. He has been working with schools and school systems all over North America ever since.

As a speaker, he has keynoted many state and regional conferences for administrators, teachers, student leaders as well as numerous associations connected with education. As a trainer he has conducted workshops for both students and adult educators on a wide range of topics including personal responsibility, diversity, character and leadership.

As proof of his commitment to student co-curricular activities training as an involvement tool for education, he helped found and served 9 years on the board of the National Association of Student Activity Advisers and today Mike is helping organize the Coalition for the Promotion of Co-curricular Activities. His commitments to positive parental involvement lead him to help found Family Friendly Schools and to serve on its board for two years.

Mike has been honored by the California Association of Directors of Activities with an Honorary Lifetime Membership. He is in the hall of fame for the Collation for the Advancement of Student Activities and has received numerous awards for his work with teachers and students. As a poet, he has been published in various anthologies and self-help books while his "Rhymes for Reasons" cards can be found in over a million wallets.

He is a regular contributor to Leadership for Student Activities magazine published by the National Association of Secondary School Principals. His work has been featured on the educational web site, Straight Talk. In the past 19 years he has traveled well over 4 million miles delivering his message, addressing over 2 million people. He has been in every major city and spoken in every state in the United States and every province of Canada except Prince Edward Island. He has spoken in Bermuda and the Caribbean.

Constantly the student, constantly asking how to make the educational experience better and more productive for everyone, constantly looking for programs and products to share with others… ladies and gentlemen, the author, edutainer, philosopher, speaker - and a good friend to education: THE "ORIGINAL" MIKE SMITH!