Illinois Speakers

Haydn Shaw is an expert on increasing personal productivity and turning around negative work environments and negative employees, as well as helping leaders bridge generation gaps within their organizations. For over twenty years, Haydn has helped Traditionalists, Boomers, Gen Xers, and, most recently, Millennials, work together. He also has worked with Franklin Covey for twenty three years as a senior consultant and one of their most requested keynote speakers specializing in their generations, leadership, execution, personal productivity and trust methodologies. He is the author of Sticking Points: How to Get Four Generations Working Together in the 12 Places They Come Apart.

Fee Range: $7,500–$14,000
Travels From: IL

As a businessman who has proven his wit and acumen in front of millions as the first winner of what will go down as one of the most successful franchises in reality television history, NBC’s Apprentice, Bill Rancic shares the strategies of what it takes to win in and out of the boardroom.

Fee Range: $10,000–$25,000
Travels From: IL

Fee Range: $17,500–$28,000
Travels From: IL

Chris Gardner is the author of the autobiography, The Pursuit of Happyness, a New York Times and Washington Post #1 best-seller. Gardner is also the inspiration for the acclaimed movie "The Pursuit of Happiness", for which Will Smith, starring as Gardner, received Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild, and Academy Award nominations for his performance. 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. Surmounting acute obstacles throughout his life, Gardner is an avid motivational speaker, addressing the keys to self-empowerment, beating odds, and breaking cycles. Gardner is also a passionate philanthropist committed to many charitable organizations.

Fee Range: $50,000–$94,000
Travels From: IL

Fee Range: $12,000–$16,000
Travels From: IL

Fee Range: $10,000–$15,000
Travels From: IL

Setting himself apart with his in-depth pre-show interview, Tim skillfully and tastefully weaves the information into his show. This provides a connection with the audience that often leaves them wondering if he doesn't actually work with them. Tim can help kick-start a hum drum morning meeting, reenergize a luncheon conference, or make your evening awards banquet or annual dinner truly memorable. Tim builds a dynamic, content-focused presentation from the ground up. Tim has pretended to be everything from the "expert consultant" to the "new boss" and even a prestigious trainer brought in to teach a seminar. The "title" may change, but the reactions are hysterically predictable. Tim leads the group down a path where credibility turns to confusion and then to comedy. Whether it's an elegant banquet, convention or the company holiday party, Tim's style and material can enhance and complement any occasion.

Fee Range: $10,500–$12,500
Travels From: IL

Fee Range: Inquire
Travels From: IL

Fee Range: $7,500–$15,000
Travels From: IL

• Arne Duncan served as the U.S. Secretary of Education under President Barack Obama • Helped secure congressional support for significant investments in education, focused billions of dollars to transform struggling schools • Served as CEO of the Chicago Public Schools from 2001 to 2008 • Senior fellow at University of Chicago and board member of Communities in Schools • Head of Chicago CRED (Creating Real Economic Destiny), working to dramatically reduce gun violence in Chicago • Arne will share insights and thoughts on the education system as well as his other focus optimism, where he has dedicated a majority of his life to removing barriers to opportunities so people can live to their full potential

Fee Range: $25,000–$44,000
Travels From: IL

An expert in cybersecurity and network infrastructure, Nick Espinosa has consulted with clients ranging from small businesses up to the Fortune 100 level for decades. Nick founded Windy City Networks, Inc in 1998 at age 19 and was acquired in 2013. In 2015 Security Fanatics, a Cybersecurity/Cyberwarfare outfit dedicated to designing custom Cyberdefense strategies for medium to enterprise corporations, was launched. A internationally recognized speaker, member of the Forbes Technology Council, TEDx Speaker, strategic advisor to humanID, regular columnist for Forbes, award winning co-author of a bestselling book “Easy Prey,” host of “The Deep Dive,” nationally syndicated radio show, on the Board of Advisors for Roosevelt University’s College of Arts and Sciences as well as their Center for Cyber and Information Security, the President of The Foundation for a Human Internet and is the Official Spokesperson for the COVID-19 Cyber Threat Coalition. Nick is known as an industry thought leader and sought after for his advice on the future of technology and how it will impact every day businesses and consumers.

Fee Range: $5,000–$14,000
Travels From: IL

Over the past ten years, Kathryn Finney has made her mark as a tech entrepreneur, social media visionary, investor, writer, and television correspondent. Kathryn is the founder and Managing Director of digitalundivided (DID), a social enterprise that fosters economic growth in communities by finding, training, and supporting women of color entrepreneurs. She is also a General Partner in the Harriet Fund, the first pre seed venture fund focused on investing the untapped potential of high potential Black and Latina women-led startups. Prior to this, she was an early social media pioneer, founding one of the first lifestyle blogs, the highly influential The Budget Fashionista, which she sold in 2014 to a prominent media company, making her one of the first Black women to sell a tech company.

Fee: $25,000
Travels From: IL

Caleb Gardner’s career has been driven by curiosity and focused on change. Caleb is an innovation strategist and change management expert with unique experience: from startups to non-profits; from Fortune 100 clients to presidents of the United States. Caleb is passionate about helping organizations understand how to adapt to a world in which technology, communications, and media define our reality --where truth is dictated by tweet. Caleb trains teams and leads workshops on topics related to strategy, innovation, and change management, and his keynote presentations have inspired audiences around the world to understand their capacity to make change.

Fee Range: $10,000–$15,000
Travels From: IL

Fee Range: $7,000–$12,000
Travels From: IL

Tom Gimbel is a nationally recognized entrepreneur and careers expert who specializes in company culture, hiring and retaining top talent. He is founder and CEO of LaSalle Network, a staffing, recruiting and culture firm.

Fee Range: $7,000–$8,000
Travels From: IL

Fee Range: $15,000–$32,000
Travels From: IL

As Chairman Emeritus of Ebony Media Holdings, Chairman of Johnson Publishing Company, LLC, and second-generation leader of the largest African-American-owned publishing company in the United States – producing the iconic magazines Ebony and Jet – Rice has not only chronicled much of American history, she has lived it and shaped it. Throughout her extraordinary life as a woman entrepreneur in the media and beauty industry she has given voice to millions and helped tell the story of the African-American experience in America, with all its many trials and triumphs. Now, audiences can hear as she shares the invaluable lessons she’s gained by building a world-renowned business brand, as well as her view of how far we’ve come as a nation and where we go from here. While Rice is visually impaired, she continues to remain actively engaged in her leadership role and speaking events.

Fee Range: $18,000–$25,000
Travels From: IL

Ari Kaplan is a leading figure in sports analytics and technology. During 34 seasons innovating analytics within MLB front offices, he created the Chicago Cubs and Dodgers analytics departments and served as assistant to the GM of the Orioles, and was a "Top Ten GM Candidate" by Sports Illustrated. He currently is DataRobot's Global AI Evangelist, working with McLaren's Formula 1 and IndyCar teams on AI-driven race strategy and engineering, along with many MLB, NBA, NHL, and Premier League football clubs. In business he was President of the worldwide Oracle users group during a period of high growth including the acquisition of MySQL, Java, and PeopleSoft. He has been the recipient of Caltech's "Alumnus of the Decade" and Crain's Chicago Business "40 Under 40" awards.

Fee Range: $15,000–$20,000
Travels From: IL

Fee Range: $20,000–$32,000
Travels From: IL

Thomas Kolditz is a top leadership keynote speaker and expert, retired Brigadier General, author, and Executive Director of the Doerr Institute for New Leaders at Rice University. Tom has been named a top leadership Thought Leader by the Leader to Leader Institute and has appeared as an expert on more than a dozen national and international news agencies. Brigadier Gen. Tom Kolditz shows how extreme life-and-death situations can offer profound lessons for leaders in any setting. Gen. Kolditz’s research reveals that the leadership skills and principles evident in dangerous settings also apply to leading in business and everyday life, making this program applicable to both personal and professional success.

Fee Range: $15,000–$20,000
Travels From: IL

Maribeth is listed among the Top 25 C-Suite Speakers as seen in Meetings & Conventions Magazine. She has spoken for many major corporations as well as at Barron’s Top Advisor events, MDRT, and in front of audiences filled with hundreds to thousands of professionals sharing immediate strategies for acquiring new business. Maribeth conducts live and virtual inspiring keynote presentations on business development strategies with multiple takeaways that can be implemented right away by audience members. She also conducts live and virtual interactive training sessions designed to guide participants to create their own powerful marketing messages including value propositions, prospect scripting, elevator statements, and other key marketing messaging. Maribeth also facilitates large group sessions where business development strategies and marketing action plans are interactively created and shared by participants.

Fee Range: Inquire
Travels From: IL

Wendee Lee Curtis is a veteran news anchor and Broadway performer bringing the art of news-level production, live entertainment, and the magic of connection to your virtual, hybrid and in-person events. Her experience in both the corporate and theatrical worlds makes her an ideal presenter for hybrid events that need to reach all attendees, virtual or in-house, to be memorable. With her expert knowledge and powerful presence, Wendee will keep your audience engaged from beginning to end. A faculty member at Cornell University, Wendee teaches MBA candidates and legacy leaders how to be candid, confident and captivating on camera.

Fee Range: $10,000–$12,000
Travels From: IL

Fee Range: $50,000–$170,000
Travels From: IL

Paul Lisnek is a multi-Emmy, Cablefax, Telly and Beacon Award winning television host and analyst. Paul has been the political analyst for WGN-TV since 2008, appearing on all the station’s newscasts discussing political issues of the day. He is the host of Politics Tonight on CLTV, on which he interviews the leading political figures in the city, state and country, and also serves as a fill-in anchor. Paul has interviewed presidents, governors, senators, congressmen, local representatives and mayors too numerous to count over the last 25 years. Paul can also be heard on wgnradio.com, where he hosts a podcast called “Behind the Curtain,” which addresses political, theatre, and other areas of interest to Chicagoland.

Fee Range: $8,000–$15,000
Travels From: IL