In an eminent career dedicated to public service and built on fighting “impossible” battles, Doug Jones has often been the voice for those who did not have one. He turned the tide in his home state of Alabama when, in 2017, he became the first Democrat from the state to win a U.S. Senate seat in 25 years — making national headlines and shocking the establishment in the process. While on Capitol Hill, he solidified his reputation as a legislative force and consensus builder who played a key role in passing more than two dozen bipartisan bills into law in just three years. During his tenure, he was a member of the Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee; the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee and the Committee on Aging. He also served on the Homeland Security Committee for one year prior to joining the Armed Services Committee. Jones is widely respected for his commitment to common-sense “kitchen table” politics that seeks to tackle the toughest issues of the day and drive America forward.

Angie Bastian, entrepreneur, co-founder, and namesake of Angie’s BOOMCHICKAPOP, took a kernel of an idea and popped it into one of the fastest growing brands of natural popcorn. She and husband Dan founded their snack company in their Mankato, MN garage in 2001 as a means of creating a college fund for their children. Their gluten free, non-GMO, whole grain popcorn is proudly sold in natural food, grocery, club and mass retail outlets nationwide with a product presence in Canada, South Korea, Peru, Japan, the Caribbean and Mexico. The company is constantly innovating and is one of the fastest growing and most successful popcorn brands in the market today. Angie’s BOOMCHICKAPOP is loved by fans as an empowered, spirited brand that represents authentic, real food that delivers on the attributes of clean, transparent labeling and great taste experience.

Michael J. Durant is the best-selling author of In the Company of Heroes and the inspiration for the movie Black Hawk Down. He was the sole survivor of the helicopter crash caused by a Somali-fired grenade and held as a prisoner of war for 11 days. Prior to his time in Somalia, Durant had participated in combat operations in the Persian Gulf, Panama, and Kuwait. A highly-decorated soldier, his awards include the Purple Heart and the Distinguished Service Medal. He addresses leadership, teambuilding, growth, and his experience as a soldier and as a hostage.

Introducing the business world to the next big thing, Jack Uldrich reveals how future trends and paradigm-shifters will change business, and how “learning to unlearn” can help organizations prepare for the future and capitalize on these periods of profound change. A best-selling author, technology guru, and global futurist, Uldrich is a leading voice on nanotechnology and forward-thinking leadership. Jack knows how to read the future landscape to help audiences set goals and position themselves to take advantage of emerging trends and developments—including blockchain technology, artificial intelligence (AI), the impact of the rise of autonomous vehicles, and more.

As the first female F-14 Tomcat Fighter Pilot in the U.S. Navy, Carey Lohrenz is used to working in fast moving, dynamic environments where inconsistent execution can generate catastrophic results. The same challenges are found in business: markets change, customer needs evolve and if you do not adapt quickly, your company is at risk. In her motivating and engaging keynote presentations, Carey shares her fascinating experiences operating in one of the world’s most challenging environments – an aircraft carrier. She is uniquely qualified in the fundamentals of winning under pressure, reducing errors and overcoming obstacles. Her mastery of these fundamentals can help your team triumph in this high-risk, time crunched world.

Scott Jennings is a founding partner of RunSwitch, providing senior level political, communications, public affairs, media relations, and crisis communications counsel for national and international clients. Scott’s expertise often lands him in the national press. He’s an on-air Political Contributor for CNN, writes regular columns for Gannett, the LA Times, and CNN.com, and is frequently quoted by reporters the world over because of his expert analysis. Scott’s career has taken him across the country as part of four presidential campaigns and numerous U.S. Senate, congressional, state, and local races. He served in key roles in both of President George W. Bush’s campaigns in 2000 and 2004, before becoming Special Assistant to the President in 2005, working under Karl Rove. At the White House, Scott served as a liaison to members of Congress, state and local officials, and key business, political and community leaders nationwide. His office advised the president on numerous issues and was part of the confirmation process for two Supreme Court Justices.

Ryan Estis is a well-known Business Performance Expert helping companies, leaders and sellers more effectively connect to their two most important audiences: employees and customers. He has established himself as one of the premier speakers in the business field. Mr. Estis is regarded as one of the Top 100 Keynote Speakers by Meeting & Conventions Magazine, and has offered his services to companies including AT&T, Mayo Clinic, CDW, Cabela's, Giant Eagle, Hewitt, Microsoft, Medtronic, Equifax and BlueCross BlueShield.

Co-author of the best-selling book When Generations Collide, David Stillman provides a comical and intuitive perspective on recruiting and managing four generations. True to his own Boomer and Xer personalities, Stillman offers strategies for marketing and selling to customers of each generation.

For twenty years, Billy McLaughlin astounded audiences around the world with his complex and rhythmic music. In 2001, Billy was diagnosed with Focal Dystonia, an incurable neuromuscular disorder that rendered him unable to play his own music. By 2002, Billy’s career was over. Then in 2006 he did the unthinkable, he launched a comeback by learning to play the guitar with his opposite hand. He helps audience members learn how to prosper by adapting and refreshing their approach to accomplishing their goals, and he does this through a combination of masterful stories and music.

Dewitt Jones is one of America's top professional photographers who has earned himself a reputation as a world-class photojournalist. As a motion picture director, he had two films nominated for Academy Awards before he was thirty.

Major General Vinny Boles served as the Army Chief Operating Officer for Logistics Operations at the Pentagon. He shares time-tested methods for leaders looking to help their team put their hearts and spirits into organizational goals and aspirations, and uses lessons from the world’s most demanding leadership laboratory –the field of combat.

In 2006 Taylor Hicks won the fifth season of American Idol. More than 63 million votes were cast in crowning a gritty, down-home, R&B singer the new winner. His definitive musical style incorporates elements of classic rock, country, blues, and soul music.