Keynote Presenters
Our keynote presenters will motivate you, make you think and inspire you to connect to your audience!
You won't want to miss one word!
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Life, Legacy & the Pursuit of Happyness |
The Next Revolution Will |
Connect With Anybody, |
Wednesday, August 8
Opening General Session – 9:30 AM
Chris Gardner
Life, Legacy and the Pursuit of Happyness
Christopher Gardner, the owner and CEO of brokerage firm Gardner Rich LLC with offices in New York, Chicago, and San Francisco, cnquered grave challenges to become a successful entrepreneur. Gardner is a bestselling author and avid aspirational speaker, addressing the keys to overcoming obstacles and breaking cycles.
Gardner is the author of the 2006 autobiography, The Pursuit of Happyness, a New York Times and Washington Post #1 bestseller that has been translated into fourteen languages. Gardner is also the inspiration for the acclaimed movie “The Pursuit of Happyness” for which Will Smith, starring as Gardner, received Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild and Academy Award nominations for his performance. Gardner’s second bestelling book, Start Where You Are: Life Lessons in Getting from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be, was published in May 2009.
Always hard working and tenacious, a series of adverse circumstances in the early 1980’s left Gardner homeless in San Francisco and the sole guardian of his toddler son. Unwilling to give up Chris Jr. or his dreams of success, Gardner climbed the financial industry ladder from the very bottom.
Chris Gardner’s aims, through his speaking engagements and media projects, to help others achieve their full potential. He is a passionate philanthropist committed to organizations combating violence against women, homelessness, and financial illiteracy.
Thursday, August 9
General Session – 9:30 AM
Peter Shankman
The Next Revolution Will Occur in Your Pocket
PR Week Magazine has described Peter as “redefining the art of networking”, and Investor’s Business Daily has called him “crazy, but effective”. Peter Shankman is a spectacular example of what happens when you merge the power of pure creativity with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and a dose of adventure.
An author, entrepreneur, speaker, and worldwide connector, Peter is recognized worldwide for radically new ways of thinking about Social Media, PR, marketing, advertising, and customer service.
Peter is the founder and CEO of The Geek Factory, Inc., a boutique Social Media, Marketing and PR Strategy firm with clients worldwide. His blog, launched in 1995 at http://shankman.com, both comments on and generates news and conversation. Peter’s PR and Social Media clients have included American Express, Sprint, The US Department of Defense, Royal Bank of Canada, Snapple Beverage Group, Walt Disney World, Discovery Networks, Napster, Juno, and many, many others.
The author of two books: Can We Do That?! Outrageous PR Stunts That Work and Why Your Company Needs Them and Customer Service: New Rules for a Social-Enabled World, Peter is frequent keynote speaker; sits on the advisory boards of several companies; and is an angel investor, specializing mostly in very early stage tech and social media companies.
Born and raised in New York City, Peter still resides there with NASA the Wonder Cat. In his spare time, Peter has completed 13 marathons, seven Olympic distance triathlons, two half-Ironman triathlons, and one full Ironman Triathlon. He’s also a “B” licensed skydiver with over 220 jumps. In 2011, he’s focused on moving to ten percent body fat, and is documenting his attempt publicly at A Year to Ten Percent.
Thursday, August 9
Closing General Session – 3:15PM
Annie Griffiths
Connect With Anybody, Anywhere
Known for her sensitive nature and ability to bridge the divide that sometimes exists between people of disparate cultures and beliefs, Annie Griffiths has been connecting with her subjects for nearly three decades. Journey alongside her as she finds common ground in uncommon places.
Annie Griffiths was one of the first women photographers to work for National Geographic. She has photographed dozens of magazine and book projects for the Society; and her work has also appeared in LIFE, Geo, Smithsonian, Merian, Paris Match, Stern, and many other publications. She devotes a portion of each year to producing fundraising images for aid organizations, including Church World Service and Habitat for Humanity.
Annie has received awards from the National Press Photographers Association, the Associated Press, the National Organization of Women, and the White House News Photographers Association. She is a Fellow with the International League of Conservation Photographers. With a grant from National Geographic, Annie and author Barbara Kingsolver created Last Stand: America’s Virgin Lands. Proceeds from the book have raised more than a quarter of a million dollars for land conservation grants.
Annie’s photographs have been exhibited in New York, Washington, Moscow, Tokyo and Perpignon. She has recently completed a photo memoir of her life on the road as both a photographer and a mother.