Mike Smith

Mike Smith is a high-energy speaker who lives in Tustin, California. For the past two decades, Mike has taken his fast-paced, involving presentations to over a million business leaders, parents, administrators, teachers and students in the United States and Canada. Today, Mike is the president of DifferenceMakers, Ltd., his speaking, seminar and product marketing company. 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. He has recently completed two video programs for student leaders: an eight-part series called Toolbox Workshops for Leaders and an innovative motivation program based on the P.R.I.D.E. (Personal Responsibility In Daily Effort) Campaign entitled All About Achievement Through Recognition.

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Dee Hartman

Dee Hartman is a speaker who tells her audiences the truth. She presents the challenges and the failures of life in a humorous, informative way, enjoyed by young and old alike. Dee started college at 39 against almost impossible odds. She graduated (summa cum laude) in 23 months. Her inspiring story is both funny and touching. She has a deep concern for people, for self-respect, for goal setting, and for the need to respect others. She has been a licensed auctioneer, a school-bus driver, a secretary, a waitress, a speech coach, a drama advisor, junior class sponsor and a cheerleader sponsor. She and her husband, Ron, a Professional Engineer, have taken students and adults on tours of the U.S. and Europe. She is presently finishing a Ph.D. at Ball State University.

Dee is a Keynoter, a commencement speaker, a seminar leader/teacher in Services. She has authored articles in Guideposts and Financial Freedom Report; reviews in the Muncie Star.

Dee is a member of Lambda Iota Tau, English Honorary: Phi Delta Kappa, Education Honorary; The Platform Speakers Association; Women’s Press Club and Pen Women.

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Stu Shaffer

Stu Shaffer is recently retired after 30 years in public education, 20 of them as Activities Director. Stu has been presenting The Traveling Junk Show and state and regional workshops for nearly 20 years. His presentation packs the "how to's" of noon time and pep rally games into a fun filled, action packed and totally involving experience. Stu is past president of the California Association of Directors of Activities (CADA), has been honored for his service and presentations many times and has been named the Activities Director of the Year for California. Stu Shaffer is good with student audiences and adults alike.

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Elena Zongrone

Elena M. Zongrone has been involved in student leadership / motivational speaking since 1982. For the past 14 years Elena has worked at the New York State Education Department in many positions, and has served as the Co-Executive director of Student Councils for New York State throughout her tenure at the department. Elena served as the Co-Director at one of the National Association of Secondary School Principal’s National Leadership Camps for over 10 years, served as a leadership camp consultant in Arkansas, North Carolina and Virginia and has served on a number of National and State advisory boards and committees in various leadership positions.

Elena has recently decided to build on her national and international reputation by speaking and training on a full time basis. She has had the privilege of speaking to, laughing with and learning from students, teachers, administrators and parents in 33 states, Puerto Rico and Germany. Get ready to be energized and motivated by her enthusiasm and belief in each of us.

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John Alston

John Alston is an award-winning author, trainer, educator, speaker, a member of the National Speakers Association, and a Certified Speaking Professional, who has delivered his inspirational message to more than 3,000,000 people over the last 20 years. In 1999, he was inducted into the National Speakers Association Speaker Hall of Fame and awarded the coveted CPAE. He is the author of four books: Life is a Gift... Don't Trash It, Story Power - Talking with Teens in Turbulent Times, Stuff Happens (and then you fix it!) with Lloyd Thaxton, and his most recent book, Goodness Must Be Taught.

Before launching into the world of presenting programs to youth in school assemblies and staff development programs for educators, he was a full-time consultant in the Palo Alto Unified School District, and Coordinator of Curriculum and Staff Development in the Hayward Unified School District. John's media experience includes appearances on the Oprah Winfrey Show, hosting two of his own PBS one-hour specials, and serving on the broadcasting team of People's Television Network.

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Dr. Lisa M. Boesky

Lisa M. Boesky, Ph.D. is a Child/Adolescent Psychologist who has trained and entertained thousands of parents and educational, medical, substance abuse, foster care, mental health, juvenile justice, and child welfare professionals on a national and international basis. She provides Trainings/Keynotes/Conference workshops on the identification and management of young people with Mental Health disorders (e.g., ADHD, Depression, Dysthymia, Bipolar Disorder, Mental Retardation, Learning Disorders, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Psychosis, etc.). She also specializes in youth who are suicidal and/or who self-injure (e.g, cut, carve, or burn themselves). Dr. Boesky has a way of providing clinical information in a practical and "user-friendly" manner so that individuals at all levels can understand the material. In addition to her dynamic and high-energy presentation style, she uses videotapes, real-life case examples, small group interaction, and audience participation. Participants consistently report they learn critical information and gain important new skills--while having fun along the way. Dr. Boesky is the author of the best-selling book Juvenile Offenders With Mental Health Disorders: Who Are They and What Do We Do With Them?, as well as a numerous book chapters, videotapes, and articles related to mentally ill youth.

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Phil Boyte

Phil Boyte specializes in Leadership development and has trained students from Alaska to Long Island. He works in all day programs as well as forty-five minute seminars. He has written “The Student Body President’s Handbook”, Secrets of Fundraising, Thirty-six 10 minute Lesson Plans for Educators and Co Authored “Teen Power”. Whether presenting before students or sponsors they have a blast because of his interactive style giving the audience ideas they can use immediately.
His school assembly program meets the needs of students from elementary to High School and the students at the University of Alabama enjoyed his presentation well enough to recommend him to the University of Memphis. Consider him for a staff development program following the day with your students. Discuss with Phil ways to impact your school or conference when he visits.

Phil will create magic for your students from his keynote to the halls of your school. He brings to your school or conference a lot of fun and clear message that will stay with your audience for months following the presentation. Many students have shared that visiting with him following the presentation made his message even more meaningful.

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Andy Costanzo

Andy Costanzo has developed a career delivering motivational presentations and leadership workshops in over 30 states across North America.

He has been an educator in Pennsylvania for over 36 years and a junior and senior high student council adviser for 32 years. Andy has won numerous state and national awards, including the Pennsylvania Adviser of the Year (1990,2002), the National Adviser of the Year (2003), and the National Workshop Director of the Year (1997).

Andy is known for his humor, high energy, real life stories, and getting crowds of people to become motivated to excel in student leadership.

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Jill Esplin

Jill Esplin has the ability to instantly connect with teens, which allows her to take them into "her" world of leadership and then send them back into "their" world empowered and refreshed.

Before Jill became a speaker, she was working in Hollywood as a publicist and left the entertainment industry to pursue her life-long dream of being a motivational speaker. Today, Jill mixes her enthusiasm with group activities and motivational stories to deliver high content messages that “Inspire Teens to Achieve Beyond the Ordinary."

Jill graduated from Chapman University with summa cum laude in Communications and has received a variety of national leadership awards from prestigious organizations such as, Rotary International, Edison International and Adelphia Cable.

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Sam Glenn

Sam Glenn is a nationally recognized speaker whose message has reached over 2 million people from all walks of life. He is the author of several dynamic books and has spoken to crowds as large as 75,000. Sam had the honor of being the closing presenter for the 2002 National Speakers Association Conference and has worked hundreds of other groups across the country.

What makes Sam's presentation so different is the added element of the chalk art performance. Sam visually reinforces his message. The chalk art performance is captivating and extremely memorable. As a bonus, you get to keep the picture!

Sam has an infectious sense of humor, and partnered with his amazing ability to reach an audience, you get a guaranteed formula for an effective and memorable program! Our clients are AMAZED by the impact Sam brings to their events! Look through our site to see a list of some of our clients and their responses to his program, as well as more details about what makes Sam's program so unique. Sam is a guaranteed way to add success to your event!

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Norm Hull

Norm Hull is an internationally recognized presenter. Each year he inspires over 100,000 young people with his school assemblies, keynote speeches at leadership conferences and specialized workshops. Norm is recognized as a leader in the training and development of young people. He heads “The Learning Spectrum,” a company created to provide leadership resources to schools. Norm has been an outspoken advocate for students. He has lead numerous conferences on subjects ranging from the environment to diversity. His workbooks on leader-ship skills/ personal motivation/ fund raising and time management are used as classroom guides.

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Heather Schultz

Heather Schultz's presentations have been described as a wild and wonderful roller coaster ride of humor, emotion and inspiration! Heather motivates her audience through messages of: achieving your potential and personal best, positive choices, anti-bullying, leadership, building resiliency, creating a safe school environment, character and self-esteem. She believes young people are a solution not a problem in our world. It is that kind of belief that makes her a highly requested national motivational youth speaker. Heather has spoken in 48 states and 7 other countries, worked with HBO, appeared in People Magazine, numerous radio and television specials and is a contributing author to several inspirational teen books. She attended Central Michigan University and has a degree in the field of nursing.

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Bob Tryanski

For more than a decade, Bob Tryanski has met with thousands of young people each year, encouraging them to approach life with a clarity of purpose and the determination to make their dreams a reality. Bob is a writer, speaker, and storyteller from Starkville, Mississippi. He was born in Philadelphia and is a graduate of North Penn High School and Syracuse University.

Bob's programs have been recognized by students, parents, and educators for their humorous, down-to-earth approach to dealing with the challenges of the teenage years.

As an educational consultant, Bob has worked with organizations such as United Way of America, the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Youth Assembly, the National Association of Workshop Directors and the Congressional Youth Leadership Council. He has spoken at conferences in forty-two states and addressed audiences from Canada, France, Russia, Japan and South Africa.

Throughout his career, Bob has worked as a television producer, college instructor, championship swim coach and student affairs administrator. He is currently the Director of the Pennsylvania Association of Student Councils' Summer Leadership Training Program at Grove City College.

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Harriet Turk

Often described as "that cheerleader woman," Harriet Turk believes it takes incredible enthusiasm and energy to make it through life. Her thought provoking and energetic presentations are heard each year by thousands of teens throughout America and Canada. Harriet uses her experience and knowledge as a former probation officer, youth programs coordinator and national traffic safety consultant to create a customized presentation that challenges teens to reach their highest potential, develop their character and live a healthy lifestyle. In her smooth southern style, Harriet gives teens hope and encouragement for the rough spots in life. Throughout her programs, she uses humor, personal stories and patriotic themes to touch hearts, minds and souls.  She challenges people and changes their lives.

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Susie Vanderlip

Susie Vanderlip brings "Broadway-class" acting, dance and mesmerizing personal stories to engage and inspire teen and adult audiences across the nation. Her original theatrical presentation, LEGACY OF HOPE®, is a favorite for schools, conferences and communities because it is extraordinarily unique and captivating. How better to reach people deeply and produce measurable change than through her eight characters depicting youth and adults facing real-life challenging situations: from alcohol and drug abuse to teen pregnancy, gangs, AIDS, eating disorders, child of alcoholic issues, depression, suicide, self-harm and violence. Audiences laugh, cry and identify with the feelings and foibles Susie portrays. Greater resiliency, character, parent-teen communication and increased tools for higher achievement are results Susie offers in an incomparable entertaining format.

Susie not only brings her powerful theatrical assembly to schools, but also incorporates assessment tools, parent education programs and Peak Performance workshops to adults and teens (developed with husband Dr. Ken Vanderlip, clinical psychologist). Susie has been a weekly newspaper columnist with "It's Not Easy Being a Teen" and is a contributing author in several of the Teen Power book series. She shares with compassion and depth of understanding what she has learned from thousands of teens opening up to her after programs in her newest book Teens From The Inside Out: Insights to Minimize the Pain and Strain of Raising Teens. She also improves awareness and resiliency in homes and classrooms through LEGACY OF HOPE® on video and CD, in both English and Spanish.

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