A school teacher turned actor, musician, two-time national poetry slam champion, entrepreneur, and award-winning poetic voice, any given day may now find Sekou keynoting at a leadership conference, helping a Fortune 500 company with brand messaging, or even performing pieces for Barack Obama in Oprah’s backyard. Sekou is the creator of Poetic Voice, a new, cutting-edge speaking category that seamlessly fuses inspirational speaking with spoken word poetry to make messages more moving and memorable. For over 15 years, Sekou Andrews has been helping the world’s largest organizations deliver relevant information with riveting inspiration through an innovative, unconventional category of speaking called “Poetic Voice.”

Edward Lee is the chef/owner of 610 Magnolia, MilkWood, and Whiskey Dry in Louisville, Kentucky, author of Smoke & Pickles and Buttermilk Graffiti, and culinary director of Succotash in National Harbor, Maryland, and Penn Quarter, Washington, DC. He appears frequently in print and on television, including earning an Emmy nomination for his role in the Emmy Award–winning series The Mind of a Chef. Most recently, he wrote and hosted the feature documentary Fermented.

Bill Whitaker is an award-winning journalist and storyteller extraordinaire whose voice is synonymous with compelling in-depth coverage that helps audiences make sense of, and connect to, the major news stories of the day. Since 2014, Whitaker has served as a correspondent on the CBS news program 60 Minutes, tackling era-defining issues with his signature calm demeanor and inquisitive mind. In four decades as a cornerstone of CBS News’ coverage, Whitaker has reported on virtually all of the historic headlines that have reshaped society — both domestically and across the globe. Millions of people continue to tune in to hear his gripping perspectives, which capture the imagination and spark constructive discourse.

Tall and thin, with remarkable onscreen energy and ease, the actor possessed intense malleable features that he used to good effect in both dramatic and comedic roles. Despite this gift, he surprisingly began his career with off-screen pursuits. Jones worked as writer and story editor for NBC's college-set comedy "A Different World" from 1991 to 1992. In 2000, he took on a role in a sports-themed feature set in the recent past in "The Replacements" and in 2002, Jones portrayed a band director out to prove that he has the best band/drumline that the historical black colleges and universities have to offer in the drama "Drumline." Jones has appeared in numerous television series including "Rules of Engagement," "Necessary Roughness," "House M.D." and "Pushing Daisies."

What happens when Washington, D.C.’s premiere, political satire group - the Capitol Steps - call it quits after nearly 40 years? Most folks would agree that it was a great run, and the story would end there. But an intrepid group of cast members and a co-writer would not go quietly into that good night. This band of fools reflected on a world without musical, political satire, and didn’t like what they saw. And just like that the Capitol Fools were born. While foolish enough to embark on this new journey, they were smart enough to not reinvent the wheel. Fast-paced, laugh out loud show…check. Equal opportunity offenders…check. Skewering both sides of the aisle…check. If a “Steps-style show” is wrong, they don’t want to be right. The Capitol Fools hold up a mirror to our crazy political culture, providing hilarious song parodies and foolish reflections that continue to inspire belly-laughter. Audiences will continue to see cast members from past seasons of the Capitol Steps performing all the beloved bits, the mind-boggling backward talking spoonerisms, break-neck costume changes, over-the-top impressions, and all-new song parodies reflecting the day’s news. They will give you a memory that will last a lunch time. The spirit, irreverence and D.N.A. of the Capitol Steps lives on with the Capitol Fools!

Afterburner Inc is a team of elite fighter pilots who help your team pursue flawless execution and take performance to the next level. The combination of sound organizational development and combat-proven methodologies has made Afterburner Inc one of the fastest growing training and consulting organizations in the country. The Flawless Execution Model is a proven process used by elite military professionals around the world to execute missions when the stakes are high and failure is not an option. Corporate success, like success in combat, depends on execution.

The Brothers Koren, Isaac and Thorald, are not just artists; they are visionary leaders committed to unlocking the profound potential of music, song, and voice, crafting transformative experiences that cultivate connection, foster teamwork, and ignite inspiration. The essence of their work is human interaction and they are masterful at creating safe and fun spaces in any environment. Their mission? To explore the peak of human potential using song & music as a model of collaboration. By using their innate musicality, their keynotes focus on culture building, creativity and inspiration. Hailing from Australia, the Brothers Koren embarked on an odyssey, drawn by their fiercely independent mother's quest to reclaim her voice—a voice that once echoed on the stages of the original cast of 'HAIR'. Landing in NYC in 2001, they aspired to global acclaim, envisioning themselves as the biggest band on the planet. Their musical journey as 'The Kin' spanned 15 years, from the hush of empty dive bars to the roaring applause of millions, culminating in a coveted gold record. Their talent took them around the globe, sharing stages with the likes of Coldplay, P!NK, Bon Jovi, and Rod Stewart. However, amidst the glittering success lay a void—a yearning for authenticity and a sense of unfulfillment. In a defining moment of clarity, the brothers envisioned a new path: to be guides, mentors, 'brothers' to others, nurturing and championing their voices, just as they wished someone had done for them. This epiphany birthed 'The Songwriter’s Journey' in 2015—an immersive expedition from the birth of a song to its soulful sharing. This endeavor was just the beginning. Today, the Brothers Koren have fostered thousands of voices, from diverse backgrounds, through a myriad of programs. Their work illuminated the pervasive issue of 'VOICE TRAUMA', underscoring the voice's vulnerability and its unparalleled power to influence and incite change.

Steve Farber is the best-selling author of three ground-breaking books: Greater Than Yourself, The Radical Edge, and The Radical Leap, which was named one of the “100 Best Business Books of All Time.” Cited as one of Inc’s “Global Top 50 Leadership and Management Experts,” Farber shares thought-provoking and practical leadership insights. Whether an organization’s challenge is coping with change, improving culture, building teamwork, or fostering innovation—his world-renowned “Extreme Leadership” framework is the new paradigm for the current business environment.

Clint Pulver is an Emmy Award-winning, motivational keynote speaker, author, musician, and workforce expert. He’s also fun, dynamic, entertaining – and the no-stress speaker clients love to work with. A Professional Drummer for over 20 years, he's played with top headlining fellow musicians in venues like the Vivint Arena, the Stadium of Fire, and the Kodak Theater in Hollywood. In 2010 he founded the UVU Drumline known as the Green Man Group, which he directed for six years and went on to direct the Drumline for the NBA’s Utah Jazz until 2015. Clint was featured in Business Q Magazine as one of their “Top 40 under 40” as a premiere Corporate Keynote Speaker. He has appeared on America’s Got Talent and in feature films with actors such as School of Rock's Jack Black and Napoleon Dynamite's John Heder. Known as the Leading Authority on Employee Retention, Clint helps organizations retain, engage, and inspire their team members from the front desk to the board rooms and everyone in between. He expertly helps audiences navigate generational complexities, communication challenges, leadership missteps, and cultural cues. As the president and founder of The Center for Employee Retention, Clint has transformed how corporations like Keller Williams, AT&T, and Hewlett Packard create lasting loyalty through his work and research as “The Undercover Millennial”. For over a decade, he has been a self-motivated Entrepreneur who is well versed in business start-up, leadership, sales management, management training, and helping teams grow multi-million-dollar accounts. He uses that experience to create teachable relationship and business strategies based on trust, service, support, connection, and consistent follow-through.

Frances West is an internationally-recognized thought leader, inspirational speaker, strategy advisor, author, and women in technology trailblazer known for her work in innovation, technology, and business transformation. She is the founder of FrancesWestCo, a global strategy advisory company focused on operationalizing inclusion as a business and technology imperative through her unique Authentic Inclusion™ blueprint. Her insightful and impactful approach comes from her unique personal background as a first-generation, no-English speaking immigrant to her trailblazing professional path as one of the first women in the technology field and her experience as a global executive in sales, marketing, business development, and research as well as her ground-breaking work in accessibility as IBM’s first Chief Accessibility Officer. Frances brings a valuable business perspective to this human rights-based initiative. Because of her expertise, she was invited as the sole IT industry representative to testify before the US Senate on the need to pass the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities and she holds an honorary doctorate from the University of Massachusetts in Boston in recognition of her work in accessibility, research, and digital inclusion.