Damon West, M.S. Criminal Justice, is a college professor, nationally known keynote speaker and best-selling author (with best-selling author and motivational speaker Jon Gordon) of The Coffee Bean: A Simple Lesson to Create Positive Change. His first book and autobiography, The Change Agent: How a Former College QB Sentenced to Life in Prison Transformed His World, was published just three years after his release from a Texas maximum-security prison. At 20 years old, he was a Division 1 starting quarterback at the University of North Texas, when he suffered a career ending injury. He turned to hard core drugs to cope with the disappointments of life. After graduation, he worked in the United States Congress, was a national fundraiser on a U.S. Presidential campaign and eventually trained to be a stock-broker for United Bank of Switzerland (UBS). One day at UBS, he was introduced to methamphetamines; he became instantly hooked—and the lives of so many innocent people would forever be changed by the choices he made in order to feed his insatiable meth habit. After a fateful discussion during his incarceration with a seasoned convict, Damon had a spiritual awakening. He learned that, like a coffee bean changing with the application of heat and pressure, he was capable of changing the environment around him. Armed with a program of recovery, a renewed faith, and a miraculous second chance at life, Damon emerged from over seven years of prison a changed man. His story of redemption, grit and determination continues to inspire audiences. today.

Former NFL general manager and three-time Super Bowl winner Michael Lombardi was most recently on the New England Patriots coaching staff for Bill Belichick after thirty years working in the front offices of the San Francisco 49ers, the Philadelphia Eagles, the Oakland Raiders, and the Cleveland Browns (where he was general manager). Author of Gridiron Genuis, Lomardi reveals what he learned working with coaching legends Bill Walsh of the 49ers, Al Davis of the Raiders, and Bill Belichick of the Patriots, among others, during his three decades in football. Lombardi provides the blueprint that makes a successful organization click and win – and the mistakes unsuccessful organizations make that keep them on the losing side time and again. Lombardi now writes for The Athletic, has his own podcast, The GM Shuffle, and is co-founder of The Daily Coach.

Sika Henry is a Corporate Analyst for Ferguson Enterprises and a Professional Triathlete and Ultramarathoner based in Newport News, VA. As a collegiate high jumper and sprinter, Sika became an NCAA All-American in Track and Field while earning her degree in Economics from Tufts University. After recovering from a traumatic bike accident that left Sika with significant injuries in 2019, she made history when she became the first African American Woman to qualify for her pro card in triathlon in 2021. Sika was named Athlete of the Year as part of the 2020 Outspoken Women in Triathlon Awards for her work to advocate for and make positive change in the sport of triathlon. In 2022, Sika broke the Virginia State 100K Road Record (the 10th fasted time by an American woman that year) and was inducted into the National Black Distance Running Hall of Fame.

Shaquem Griffin became the first one-handed player to be drafted and to play in the NFL. When he was just 4 years old, he had his left hand amputated due to a painful condition called amniotic band syndrome, which prevented his hand from developing normally. He has never used his lack of two hands as a reason to feel sorry for himself or to give up when he was faced with a challenge. It actually fueled his desire to prove skeptics and haters wrong, pursue his dream of playing football at the highest level and inspire millions along the way. Shaquem was born just minutes after his twin, Shaquill. At an early age, they made a pact to always stay together, to be inseparable. Both boys went on to become standout athletes at Lakewood High School in St. Petersburg and college at the University of Central Florida in Orlando, where Shaquem was Conference Defensive Player of the Year and helped lead UCF to an undefeated, national championship season. He even received a vote for the Heisman Trophy given to the most outstanding college football player in the country. After college, Shaquem and Shaquill were remarkably both drafted by the same NFL team, the Seattle Seahawks, where they played together for three memorable seasons (2018 - 2020). Shaquem's most memorable on-the-field highlight was sacking current NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers during the playoffs in 2020. He signed with the Miami Dolphins for the 2021 season and then retired in 2022 to pursue his "Plan A" of making a positive impact in the world full-time.

Ryan Poles is heading into his third season as the Chicago Bears general manager. Poles has already made an impact on the Bears in his short time with the team, most notably by making a series of trades that have landed the Bears the number one pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Poles has 15 years of front office experience. Before joining the Bears, he spent 13 seasons in various roles with the Kansas City Chiefs, lastly as their Executive Director of Player Personnel. During his time in Kansas City, Poles was instrumental in helping the team land All-Pros and future Hall of Famers Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and Tyreek Hill.

Recently named Head Coach for the Chicago Bears in 2022, Matt Eberflus is a strong, natural leader. Eberflus’ football career sparked as a four-year letterman and a three-year starting linebacker at Toledo from 1988 to 1991.With 29 years of coaching experience, Eberflus is a committed, consistent and reliable leader for players to turn to on and off the field. Prior to joining the Bears, he spent four seasons as the defensive coordinator for the Indianapolis Colts, seven seasons as the linebackers coach and passing game coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys, and two seasons as the linebackers coach for the Cleveland Browns. Eberflus carries an impressive reputation of being a great leader for young players. His leadership, in combination with his defensive success at Indianapolis, ranking top-10 in forcing turnovers each season and top-10 in scoring three out of four seasons, makes him a reliable man to learn from with advice on playing with the best mindset, maximum effort and personal growth in the game.