2025 Keynote Speakers Coming Soon!

Check Out Our Keynote Speakers from Our 2024 Conference!

Manley Feinberg II

Wednesday, October 16

8:00 AM - 9:30 PM

Sponsored By:

Exponential Commitment:

Build Breakthrough Momentum in the Storm of Chaos

This dynamic keynote inspires participants to step up in a new way to overcome resistance and reach higher than ever by cultivating Exponential Commitment in themselves and those around them. Participants will learn essential Vertical Lessons for deepening their commitment, building momentum and achieving breakthroughs in even the most challenging circumstances.

Actionable insights on what it takes to gain clarity & see through the chaos every day

3 Steps to build and rebuild momentum, even when knocked off the route
Build focus and commitment in the chaos of your daily work
Attendees will gain tools they can use immediately to develop a leadership mindset that engages, equips and inspires both them and their team members to step up as a leader, regardless of their title.

Manley Feinberg is an award-winning international keynote speaker and best- selling author. In 1995 he started Vertical Lessons. Leveraging more than thirty years of business, professional speaking, and adventure experience, he helps professionals build breakthrough mindsets to step up and reach their next summit. As a result of his work, people have more focus, courage, commitment and momentum. In fact, he wrote a book titled- Reaching Your Next Summit! 9 Vertical Lessons for Leading with More Impact.

Manley’s 11 years of leadership influence and mission-critical project success contributed to a workplace culture that landed Build-A-Bear Workshop on the FORTUNE 100 Best Companies to Work For® List four years in a row. His work has impacted more than 30 major organizations in the financial services and insurance industries. Throughout his career, he has helped financial professionals achieve sustained breakthrough performance.

Theresa Fesinstine

Thursday, October 17

8:00 AM - 9:30 PM

Sponsored By:

Empowered HR Leaders: with Strategic AI Integration

In this interactive session, Theresa Fesinstine will guide senior HR leaders through the essentials of AI adoption, focusing on practical applications, strategic integration, and the pivotal role of HR in leading this transformation. Attendees will gain valuable insights into leveraging AI to enhance employee engagement, streamline operations, and foster a people-first culture.

Key Takeaways:

Understand AI Fundamentals: Learn the basics of AI and how it can be applied in HR to drive efficiency and innovation.
Strategic Integration: Discover strategies for integrating AI into HR practices to enhance talent development and employee engagement.
People-First Approach: Explore how HR can ensure AI adoption centers on improving the employee experience and fostering a connected workplace.
Practical Applications: Participate in a hands-on lab session where you'll work on real HR challenges using AI tools, guided by Theresa's expert insights.

Theresa Fesinstine, Founder of peoplepower.ai, brings over 25 years of HR leadership experience and is a recognized thought leader in AI. Her mission is to demystify AI for HR professionals, ensuring it becomes accessible and actionable. Theresa's engaging speaking style and innovative ideas have captivated audiences globally, earning her accolades such as PYN 50 over 50 Women in Tech and the Dextego AI Award for AI Thought Leadership.

Tony Chatman

Friday, October 18

11:00 AM - 12:15 PM

Sponsored By:

Deliberately Leading Through the Disruption of Change

Changes comes fast and disruption comes out of nowhere. It rattles us to our very foundations. It makes us wish that it would just go away and we could get back to what we know. You know the "good ol' days". The problem is that the good ol' days are gone. Remember Woolsworth's, Commodore computers, Blockbuster, Circuit City, MySpace, Borders and Enron? They're all gone. Just like the good o'l days. All all we've been left with is this ominous feeling that it can also happen to our organization

In "Deliberately Leading Through the Disruption of Change," Tony will share captivating stories from the field and the very latest in organizational and psychological research to show your leaders (1) how to turn the resistance of people stuck in their comfort zone into enthusiastic buy-in and (2) how to transform change and disruption into greater innovation, higher efficiency, a better customer experience, new market offerings and increased talent retention and attraction.

Leaders will Learn:

How to respond with resilience to change and disruption
The hidden secrete to creating buy-in and consensus (and eliminating the past habits that hold you back
How to identify and embrace change as the opportunity to skyrocket past your competitors by sparking excitement, igniting innovation, and leaving fear in the dust
How to turn saboteurs into supporters and adversaries into advocates.

Whether it's transforming your leaders, overcoming unconscious bias, embedding DEI or navigating change and disruption, Tony Chatman brings the heat that will ignite the potential in your people to create a culture that shines. With over 20 years' experience working with some of the most successful and diverse organizations in the world - including Chase Bank, the U.S. Secret Service, Phillips 66, Clear Channel and St. Joseph's Health - Tony unites the variance in people's beliefs, backgrounds, personalities, perspectives and levels of power by speaking to the need we all have to be seen. As a scientist and chemical engineer and as a husband, father and former leader of a nonprofit dedicated to improving lives and livelihoods, Tony is equal parts head and heart, combining rigorous scientific research into human behavior and psychology with a deep love for humanity and a passion for cultural transformation.