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Tony Caldwell

Storyteller and Executive Advisor

From the battlefield to the boardroom, some leaders don’t just teach resilience—they embody it.

Meet Tony Caldwell, a warrior-turned-catalyst who transforms audiences with the same intensity he once brought to the battlefield. This isn’t your typical motivational speaker with rehearsed platitudes. Tony is a “Mustang”—one of the rare breed who earned his stripes as an enlisted Soldier before commanding as a Lieutenant Colonel. He’s walked in every set of boots, from the ground up.

Where others offer theory, Tony delivers battle-tested truth. His highly decorated military career spanning decades of service forged not just a leader, but a master of human performance under pressure. Now, he channels that hard-won wisdom into electrifying experiences that don’t just motivate—they fundamentally shift how leaders think, act, and perform.

Tony Caldwell doesn’t give speeches. He creates moments of activation. When he takes the stage, teams don’t just feel inspired—they leave armed with real-world strategies, unshakeable resilience, and a renewed sense of purpose that drives immediate action.

Get ready for a speaker who brings the same contagious energy and unwavering commitment that earned him his decorations on the battlefield. This is leadership forged in fire, delivered with impact.

Kim Laughlin, CC

Stop managing drama and start building trust.

Kim Laughlin is a dynamic leadership and communication expert, former Director of HR, and founder of Cultural Apex Coaching. With over a decade of experience working inside organizations and alongside executive teams, Kim brings a rare combination of real-world leadership experience, practical tools, and engaging delivery that resonates across industries.

Kim doesn’t just inspire – she equips audiences with clear, actionable strategies they can use immediately. Her sessions are renowned for being relatable, interactive, and grounded in real-world workplace challenges, making her a trusted speaker for leaders, teams, and organizations seeking to enhance communication, mitigate conflict, and foster a stronger culture.

Areas of Expertise & Speaking Topics

Kim specializes in leadership communication and workplace culture, with a strong focus on helping organizations move from tension to trust.

Just a few of her most requested topics include:

  • APEX Method – HR Can’t Climb the Mountain Alone
  • APEX Method – Leaders Own the Climb Communicating with Impact: Adapting Styles for Stronger Results Using the
  • APEX Method Workplace Drama Costs Money

 

Kim’s mission is simple but powerful: to help leaders create workplaces where people feel heard, respected, and motivated to do their best work.

Keeping talent is crucial – Turn Tension into Retention!

Mike Metcalf Jr.

Pit Crew Champion | Co-Founder DECK Leadership

When it comes to creating high-performance teams and navigating change, Mike brings unparalleled expertise that excels under pressure, fosters trust, and delivers results.

As a NASCAR pit crew champion and the co-founder of DECK Leadership, Mike is redefining what it means to lead with purpose. As a leader in the motorsports industry, Mike has spent over 18 years coaching and competing at the highest level, inspiring teams to thrive under pressure and execute with precision.

Mike is a master at translating the principles of speed, teamwork, and efficiency into actionable strategies for organizations across industries. Mike co-authored the bestselling book 12 Second Culture, a transformative guide to creating cohesive, resilient, and high-performing teams.

Why Mike Metcalf?

Connector: Mike creates shared experiences that unite and energize teams.

Communicator: His storytelling is rich, engaging, and tailored to connect deeply with any audience.

Coach: With a proven track record of building fast, efficient, and highly collaborative teams, Mike teaches strategies you can apply immediately.

Consultant: Mike is currently working as an Efficiency Lead with organizations outside of Motorsports.

Ranika Chaney

Conversation Curator, Facilitation and Emcee

Ranika Chaney is a dynamic speaker, facilitator, and conversation curator known for creating spaces that spark clarity, connection, and transformation.

As the Founder of RanikaSpeaks, LLC, she specializes in guiding groups through meaningful dialogue that leads to real insight, authentic engagement, and actionable next steps.

Her work blends communication, storytelling, leadership, and human-centered design, shaped by her background in broadcast journalism, sociology, UX research, and community development.

Ranika speaks on topics such as resilience, living boldly after hardship, the power of story to build trust, faith-driven leadership, and designing conversations that help people collaborate with confidence.

Her own journey includes rebuilding her life after leaving a difficult marriage, raising five children, transitioning into the tech world, and launching a successful facilitation and speaking business.

She brings a warm and relatable voice that resonates across diverse audiences. Whether speaking on stage or leading group experiences, Ranika brings intention, presence, and heart. She creates environments where people feel seen, valued, and inspired to step into their purpose with courage and clarity. Audiences leave encouraged, connected, and ready for growth.

Mike Manazir, U.S. Navy Rear Admiral (Ret.)

Leadership at MACH speed: Top Gun precision meets heart-centered leadership

Over nearly four decades in the U.S. Navy, Rear Admiral Mike Manazir (Ret.) graduated from Top Gun and commanded an F-14 fighter squadron, an aircraft carrier, and a strike group.

He led tens of thousands of sailors, managed multi-billion-dollar assets, and executed missions where the margin for error was zero. After retiring from service, he brought that same clarity, courage, and steady leadership into today’s fast-moving and complex business environment, first as an executive at Boeing, now as a VP at Hadrian Automation.

Mike’s rare brand of leadership—a blend of operational experience, emotional intelligence, and a proven ability to build high-trust environments—and his ability to translate it into immediately usable strategies is what makes him such a sought-after keynote speaker.

His philosophy is simple: Leaders win by leading with clarity, courage, authenticity and heart. His stories—drawn from cockpits, aircraft carriers, boardrooms, and high-pressure decision centers—give his audiences a vivid, behind-the-scenes view of leadership at MACH speed.

Your audience may never pilot an F-14 Tomcat, but Mike’s storytelling pulls them right into the action. He delivers a hard-earned, field-tested toolkit for human-centered leadership that helps people break through barriers, strengthen cultures and win without sacrificing humanity, humility or heart.

Cher Anderton, MSW, LICSW

Trauma Therapist, Social Emotional Fluency Expert, Parent Coach

I’m a mental health expert, speaker, ‘Resolutionist’ and educator on a mission to make true success and well-being achievable. By bridging the gap between knowing and doing, I help people and organizations get to the root of their challenges and build lasting solutions. Using practical, evidence-based tools, I transform burnout into resilience, disconnection into collaboration, and insight into real, sustainable change.

We have oodles of knowledge at our fingertips yet most of us struggle to actually do the things we need to in order to be well.

With years of experience bridging the gap between knowing what supports well-being and doing what’s needed to thrive, Cher’s evidence-based, relatable approach makes complex concepts easy to apply – both at work and at home.

Vance Morris

Customer Experience - Raving Fans for Life

If you want your audience to walk away with more than warm fuzzies and half-hearted notes, book Vance Morris. A former leader at Walt Disney World, Vance now delivers straight-shooting, profit-focused strategies to help business owners turn ordinary transactions into unforgettable experiences.

He’s the creator of Systematic MAGIC™ and Return on Experience™—two frameworks that have helped service providers, financial pros, and entrepreneurs radically increase client retention, referrals, and revenue.

Vance doesn’t just talk customer experience and marketing. He lives it, running three successful home service businesses using the same strategies he teaches. His keynotes are loaded with Disney stories, business breakthroughs, and sarcasm-laced truth bombs your audience won’t forget.

Why meeting planners love him:

  • Combines CX, marketing, and operations into a single high-impact message
  • Real-world strategies your audience can use immediately
  • High energy, practical, and tailored to your industry


Represented by Daymond John & The Shark Group Shared stages with Dan Kennedy, Roland Frasier, Joe Polish, Lou Ferrigno, and more

Bonus: He’s the founder of Making the Magic, a 3-day bootcamp at Walt Disney World for entrepreneurs ready to Disnify their businesses.

Alison Leigh Simmons

AI-Powered Business Strategist & Systems Builder

Most people teaching AI are obsessed with the tech and allergic to explaining it in simple terms. I’m neither. I’m here to show overwhelmed entrepreneurs how to use AI to actually think and lead better, not just crank out more content no one reads.

I am an AI-Powered Business Strategist, math nerd turned systems queen, and your favorite mix of no-nonsense execution and real-deal strategy. I help 6-figure founders stop being the engine of their business and start becoming the architect with AI-powered strategy and systems that think like they do.

Because burnout isn’t a business plan. And chaos doesn’t scale.

My talks blend straight-shooting truth with crystal-clear frameworks your audience can apply the next day. No hype. No vague motivation. Just real transformation for real business owners.

Most Requested:

  • From Overdrive to AI Driven
  • Market Research with AI
  • AI Powered Business: Systems, Strategies & Sanity

Rita Garnto

Stress-Tamer Extraordinaire

Rita K. Garnto is a self-care strategist, speaker, and author dedicated to helping busy people simplify their lives and reduce stress.

With almost 40 years of healthcare experience plus her own journey through life’s challenges, she has developed practical, no-nonsense self-care solutions that fit into even the busiest schedules.

Known for her relatable humor and genuine approach, Rita inspires others to embrace small, consistent changes for lasting well-being.

When not sharing her self-care wisdom, she enjoys working out, spending time in her yard, and finding joy in life’s simple moments.

Cara Truitt

TEDx Producer | Community Builder

Cara is the Founder of TEDx Sugar Creek Women, The Charlotte Chapter Host of Mic Drop Club, and the Education Director for NAWBO Charlotte. She was named one of the top 50 Women to Know in NC in 2024.

Cara’s ability to facilitate intuitive experiential learning gives her a unique edge. With two decades of entrepreneurship and leadership experience, Cara helps teams go from co-workers to community by fostering intentional connection.

Cara is masterful at connecting with diverse audiences and uses her inspiring story as a catalyst to advocate for social health, collaboration, and building inclusive communities.

Craig Smith

...As Seen on TV

Meet Craig Smith, a powerhouse in live television and event hosting. Craig has represented industry leaders like Google, HP, and Samsung, using powerful storytelling to engage audiences worldwide and foster thriving communities.

A regular on the live shopping giant QVC, Craig has appeared on the network over 4,000 times, and his expertise has also been featured on CBS Saturday Morning and the Home Shopping Network. Whether he’s pitching to major clients, speaking to organizations, or sharing his core belief—that storytelling is the key to unforgettable customer experiences—Craig’s stage and screen presence is truly compelling.

Since 2010, Craig has been the trusted on-air electronics expert for countless brands, driving more than $1 billion in direct-to-consumer sales across multiple platforms. His journey began in sports journalism, anchoring and reporting for NBC, ABC and CBS affiliates, where he covered everything from Super Bowls and NCAA Final Fours to local sporting events. (He’s also a former Dizzy Bat Champion of Orlando, but that’s a tale for another day.)

Off camera, Craig lives just outside Philadelphia with his wonderful wife, two daughters, and two energetic dogs. His life—like his live presentations—are packed with enthusiasm, passion, and action!

Dr. Cindy Goodwin-Sak

The Catalytic Capitalist

Dr. Cindy Goodwin-Sak, The Catalytic Capitalist, helps organizations dismantle outdated leadership models and build high-performance cultures for the AI era. A former global tech exec and cybersecurity expert at Cisco, she blends decades of hands-on experience with a doctorate in Organizational Behavior to redefine how leaders are measured, motivated, and developed. As founder of Valiant Leadership, Cindy delivers bold, evidence-based insights with a candid, engaging style that cuts through fluff and sparks real change.

Most Requested Talks:

🌟 Algorithms Can’t Lead—Why AI Demands a Leadership Revolution

To truly harness the power of AI, leaders must lean deeper into human leadership—algorithms alone can’t inspire loyalty, create belonging, or empower meaningful work. Discover how emphasizing intrinsic motivators like value, belonging, and empowerment unlocks team performance, morale, and successful AI integration.

🌟 From Meh to Meaningful: How to Stop Your Team From Quietly Quitting

If your team is disengaged despite good salaries, it’s time to rethink motivation. Discover practical strategies to foster genuine belonging, meaningful recognition, and authentic empowerment, transforming your team’s experience from uninspired to unstoppable.

Zenica Chatman

Professional Disrupter

I got paddled so much in Catholic School that I started the trend of wearing biker shorts under my skirt, so you would think corporate America would be easy for me…it wasn’t.

After my final experience of being bullied and forced to resign from my dream job, I committed myself to understanding workplace dynamics, confidence-building, and leadership development. Today, I partner with corporations and conferences to lead transformative discussions on workplace bullying, leadership, and personal empowerment.

Most Requested Talks:

  • Recognizing and Responding to Workplace Bullying
  • Transforming Challenges Into Opportunities?

Lianne Hoffer

Elevate your Happiness

Transform Your Space, Transform Your Life 

Clutter isn’t just about stuff, it’s about how we relate to our lives. As a two-time award-winning and international best-selling author, renowned speaker and leader in the field of personal empowerment and decluttering, I bring a unique blend of practical strategies and spiritual insight to every stage. 

I’ve helped thousands of people shift their spaces and shift their energy, mindset directly impacting their happiness. If your audience is ready for more clarity, freedom, and alignment, I guide them with inspiring, actionable, and life-changing strategies. 

Why Hire Me to Speak? 

The Hidden Cost of Clutter – Clutter isn’t just physical; it affects focus, emotions, relationships, and success. I reveal the deeper impact and how to reclaim space and energy. 

A Spiritually Aligned Space = A Spiritually Aligned Life – Your space holds energy. Learn how to create an environment that supports joy, peace, and purpose. 

Decluttering is Personal Transformation – Letting go is about releasing old stories, limiting beliefs, and what no longer serves you. 

Happiness is Your Birthright – I show people how to reconnect with what truly lights them up and make space for it. 

Engaging, Actionable, and Inspiring – Every talk includes practical takeaways. Leave motivated, empowered, ready to create change. Let’s Create an Experience that Resonates: I deliver an unforgettable experience that inspires real transformation.

Tanya Quinn

Alchemist of Social Good and Small Business Growth

Engaging. Passionate. Practical. Tanya Bumstead Quinn is a leading expert in small business social responsibility, known for transforming complex ideas into actionable strategies that drive social good and business success.

Tanya’s journey began with a simple question: How can I make a bigger impact? Her background spans small businesses, corporations, nonprofits, and entrepreneurship. Along the way, she identified a gap: most tools for social responsibility were built for large corporations, leaving small businesses without practical guidance.

Determined to fill this gap, Tanya founded Small Actions Greater Good to help small businesses “do better by doing more good.” As the creator of the Small Actions Framework, Tanya combines her expertise in process improvement—her “better, faster, cheaper” mindset—with a passion for intentional social responsibility.

Her 5-step framework helps businesses align actions with values, maximize impact, and achieve results for their communities and companies. Tanya’s dynamic speaking style, real-world examples, and humor inspire and equip audiences with actionable steps. Her sessions show how small actions create powerful ripple effects.

Booking Tanya is more than hiring a speaker—it’s joining a movement to amplify the impact of businesses everywhere.

Anthony DeNino

The SMART Guy!

Anthony inspires creation. The creation of ideas. The creation of dreams. And the creation of people’s reality. He doesn’t just inspire, though —he ignites transformation. A dynamic and sought-after speaker, Anthony utilizes humor and engaging storytelling to inspire audiences to push past limitations,embrace their potential, and take ownership of their reality.

Signature Talks:

  • I Am the Creator…and So Are You – Creating the mindset of infinite possibilities.
  • CFCF – Four Pillars to Next-Level Achievement – A blueprint for exponential growth
  • The Power of Giving and Gratitude – Transform your outlook, performance, and life
  • Awakening Your Soul – Align passion, purpose, and productivity
  • XwE – eXecute with Excellence – Move beyond good intentions to exceptional execution

 

Following a successful career in Corporate America, Anthony founded CORe – Creating Our Reality and is recognized as The SMART Guy – Success Means Acquiring Right Thoughts.

A published author, Certified Stress Management Coach, and Mental Performance Coach, he delivers more than inspiration—he delivers results.
Ready to elevate your next event?

Let’s talk about how Anthony can make a lasting impact on your audience.

Story League Sign Up

Thanks for letting us know you want to tell your story!Whether you’re a seasoned storyteller or someone who’s never held a mic before, Story League is the place where your voice matters and your story shines.

Story League is held at
Sugar Creek Brewing Company

215 Southside Dr, Charlotte, NC 28217

Holly Hughes

TEDx Speaker, Award Winning Author, Intuitive Healer

Holly is a TEDx speaker, an award-winning author, and intuitive healer. You may have heard her voice on one of the hundreds of podcasts or networks she’s contributed to. Specializing in navigating emotional pivots and life transitions, she firmly believes that one’s past is not a defining factor but an integral part of their story, allowing individuals to shape their future. SPEAKING TOPICS INCLUDE: • How to be REAL, not perfect • You are not the worst day of your life • What your intuition is telling you and how to listen • How to navigate transition points in life. Motherhood, career changes, divorce, and loss As a speaker she is personable & offers easy to understand solutions.

Kristin Clark

Be Career Courageous

Helping Early-Career Professionals Take Charge & Love Mondays Again

Kristin Clark is not your typical career coach. She’s a no-nonsense, high-energy speaker who shakes up the way people think about their careers. If you’re early in your career (or just stuck in the wrong one), Kristin is the person who will tell you what no one else does—how to take control, stop waiting for permission, and build a career that actually makes you excited to get out of bed on Mondays.

Be Career Courageous: The Secrets to Loving Mondays and Owning Your Career

What if you could stop dreading Mondays and start calling the shots in your career? Kristin Clark takes you on a bold (and hilarious) journey through the untold truths of career success—no fluff, no corporate jargon, just real-world strategies you can use now.

Through relatable stories (yes, including some early-career faceplants you’ll totally recognize), Kristin reveals insider secrets no one teaches you about navigating your career with confidence.

You’ll learn:
 How to take charge—stop drifting and start directing your career
 Why strengths matter—and how to use yours as a shortcut to success
 The secret to managing your boss—give them what they need, not just what they ask for
 How to silence self-doubt—and go after the opportunities you actually want

Kristin’s talks aren’t just motivating—they’re packed with practical, real-world strategies that you can act on immediately. No more waiting. No more hoping. It’s time to own your career.

 Want to bring Kristin to your team or event?
Reach out today and get ready to shake things up.

Paula Lesso

Divorce Coach

Divorce stinks, and having been through a divorce, I understand what it takes to achieve what you want. I help clients move through more than the process. We concentrate on mental, emotional and physical aspects so you can find happiness.

Kathy Lindert

Mental Performance Trainer

Empowering Success in High-Stress Environments that Transform Stress into Strength

As a Mindset Architect trained in Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), and Hypnosis, Kathy offers alternative and holistic methods to address a wide range of challenges, including smoking cessation, weight loss, and overcoming fears and anxieties. She has assisted thousands of people in taking control of their emotional well-being, managing stress, and overcoming fears, leading them to live happier, healthier, and more successful lives.

Kathy’s transformative approach combines evidence-based techniques with practical strategies to create lasting change. Through workshops, seminars, and one-on-one coaching, she guides individuals and teams to develop resilience, enhance communication, and cultivate a positive mindset, ultimately leading to improved performance, increased job satisfaction, and a greater sense of well-being.

A Leading Voice in Personal and Professional Development

Kathy is a published author of four books and has been featured in numerous magazines, sharing her expertise and insights with a wide audience. Her engaging presentations and workshops have inspired and motivated countless individuals to unlock their full potential and achieve their goals.

Signature Topics:

  • Rescue Yourself
  • Identify Your Roadblocks to Progress
  • Unburdening: Anger & Stress Relief
  • Doubt to Confidence
  • Speak Power into Your Life With Words
  • Thrive, Don’t Survive

Taylor Leë Andorfer

Life Well-being Coach for Entrepreneurs and Professionals

Taylor is a certified life well-being coach specializing in guiding entrepreneurs and professionals toward achieving alignment, balance, and fulfillment through a unique blend of neuroscience-backed strategies, positive psychology, and solution-focused coaching.

Sarah Clark

Aligning the 4 P's: Lessons in Process People, Paperwork and Patients
Confessions of a Consultant: Habits that Sabotage Efficency

Sarah is a highly sought after medical practice consultant. She is an energetic and relatable speaker who gets to the bottom of real-life problems in your medical practice. The solutions are tangible and actionable.

She facilitates audience participation to build trust and rapport. Medical practice owners and managers can implement her practical suggestions immediately. Helping turn the chaos of the day to day operations calm(er).

Sarah owns a medical consulting practice for small private practices. She provides insight into the potential blind spots of a medical office. Her unique background as a clinical and administrative expert provides a fresh perspective and actionable solutions in day-to-day operations.

Her presentations are relatable, actionable, and engaging. Previous audiences include state and local medical associations, world-renown physicians, and various NFL teams.

If you want to add value to your medical event, then Sarah is the speaker for you.

“Not only are Sarah’s trainings enjoyable, they are engaging and include open forum questions and detailed example walk through of answers. One of our staff said that this was the ‘most helpful and enjoyable training’ that they had ever attended. I would recommend hiring Sarah for this!”
   -Kevin Killian, DPM

“Sarah Clark is an excellent resource. She has provided training and has helped streamline processes and procedures in every department. Her extensive knowledge and experience has significantly benefited our practice. Highly recommend!!!”
   -Maile Nelson, Practice Manager – Matthews Foot Care

Melissa Taylor

Growth Via Networking &
Out-of-the-Box Marketing

Melissa is a well-known top strategic business consultant, author, sought-after speaker and mentor. Over the last two decades, Melissa has built three solid, successful, and profitable businesses and now simply wants to share those experience with others.

As the founder of Network Build Grow, a community designed to merge networking with personal and professional development, she strives to always offer value, encouragement, inspiration, and motivation while providing the right online and offline strategies for other entrepreneurs and professionals on their journey to success. 

She is also the founder of Speaker League – a community for professional speakers to hone their skills in order to increase their influence and impact. Melissa shares her vast knowledge of public speaking to help other speakers rise to the top of their game.

Most Requested Talks:

Networking is a Contact Sport shows you how to effectively and efficiently use networking to broaden your circle of influence, increase your brand awareness and reputation, sharpen your business skills all while producing more leads, referrals, engagement, collaborations and growth.

Get More Sales – Without Selling blends marketing with sales techniques to ensure you have a full pipeline, increased conversion rates, all while doing activities that you enjoy. Marketing should be fun – and can be!

Melissa has a library of keynotes, workshops and programs. Contact her team to find a fit for what you need.

BOOKS:

Journal: Growth & Success: 52 Weeks for Insights, Strategy and Moving Forward

Networking is a Contact Sport

Get on the Speaker League 2025 waitlist!