@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoiY3VzdG9tX21ldGFfc3ViX3RpdGxlIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJlbmFibGVfaHRtbCI6Im9mZiJ9fQ==@Award-winning speaker, acclaimed entertainer, and accomplished author, Adrienne Bulinski will show you how to walk and chew gum all the way up your staircase of life. While the world may look a little different in the aftermath of a pandemic, Adrienne is an expert in helping people see their hardships as a springboard and not an anchor. From high school auditoriums to corporate boardrooms, Adrienne has assisted countless individuals regain their focus in life, their understanding of their purpose, not to mention help regain the simple joy of life as it was intended. With more than a decade of experience on ...

@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoiY3VzdG9tX21ldGFfc3ViX3RpdGxlIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJlbmFibGVfaHRtbCI6Im9mZiJ9fQ==@Since the time he was a college student who made a “cold call” from a rotary phone to legendary football coach Tom Osborne, asking for a job, Bill Busch has always dreamed big. Never did his upbringing in small-town Nebraska deter him; instead, the values he learned early on inspired him to pursue his own dreams. That phone call ended up launching his 30+ year career recruiting, leading, and coaching football at the highest level, and also gave him “insider” experiences with some of the greatest leaders in the profession – Osborne, Barry Alvarez, Urban Meyer, Ed Orgeron, Kyle Whittingham, ...

@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoiY3VzdG9tX21ldGFfc3ViX3RpdGxlIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJlbmFibGVfaHRtbCI6Im9mZiJ9fQ==@Adam Carriker was born in Hastings, Nebraska to Dave and Nancy Carriker. Dave, an avid Husker fan, was born and raised on a family farm in the small town of Giltner, Nebraska. Despite moving halfway across the country at a young age because of his parents' jobs, Adam grew up with strong country values and a lifelong dream of playing for Nebraska, and one day, wearing a Blackshirt. The story of his career was in serious doubt, however, considering he wasn't allowed to play football for much of his young life. He was also more skilled at baseball and when ...

@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoiY3VzdG9tX21ldGFfc3ViX3RpdGxlIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJlbmFibGVfaHRtbCI6Im9mZiJ9fQ==@Meet Keynote Motivational Speaker, #1 Best Selling Author, and former professional football player, Richie Contartesi. Standing a stellar 5’7″ and weighing in at a magnificent 155 lbs, you wouldn’t think he’d be much of a football player. Instead, he looks more like a chess player. Don’t laugh, he’s good at chess too! Despite the odds and naysayers, Richie Contartesi walked on at Ole Miss and eventually received a football scholarship, started every game his senior year, and earned the Scholar-Athlete award twice. His inspirational book, “In Spite of the Odds” tells of the triumph and determination. Born on December 10, ...

@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoiY3VzdG9tX21ldGFfc3ViX3RpdGxlIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJlbmFibGVfaHRtbCI6Im9mZiJ9fQ==@Raised on a farm in Lyons, Nebraska, Ron 'Gus' Gustafson was a standout basketball player in high school in spite of having lost his right arm and shoulder in a tragic childhood farm accident. After a knee injury ended his collegiate basketball career, he was devastated. But, once again, his faith and courage sustained him and he redirected his energies, building outstanding academic and business careers. Gus is Founder and President of Ron Gustafson - My Story, located in Omaha, Nebraska. He and his wife, Julie, have three children: Isaac, Josiah and Hannah. When you face an obstacle in your ...

@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoiY3VzdG9tX21ldGFfc3ViX3RpdGxlIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJlbmFibGVfaHRtbCI6Im9mZiJ9fQ==@Neil Halford is one of the premier motivational and inspirational speakers in the speaking industry today. At the age of two, Neil was involved in a near-fatal accident that left him totally blind and forever changed the lives of him and his family. Neil’s fearless will to succeed in a sighted world has taken him to heights unimaginable to most listeners. In high school, Neil was one of the top wrestlers in the state of Nebraska. He twice qualified for the Nebraska state high school wrestling tournament, and as a senior brought home a 4th place medal. As an adult, ...

@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoiY3VzdG9tX21ldGFfc3ViX3RpdGxlIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJlbmFibGVfaHRtbCI6Im9mZiJ9fQ==@Todd Huston knows how to overcome incredible challenges. When his legs got caught in the propeller of a boat at age 14, his life was radically changed. He battled to keep his legs with numerous surgeries, but bone disease eventually forced him to have one leg amputated. Todd became a psychotherapist and clinical director of the Amputee Resource Center in California. He also worked in psychiatric hospitals for adults, adolescents and children. He used his professional skills and personal experiences to help patients achieve more in their lives. He also trained healthcare professionals and authored articles in working with individuals ...

@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoiY3VzdG9tX21ldGFfc3ViX3RpdGxlIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJlbmFibGVfaHRtbCI6Im9mZiJ9fQ==@Molly is a nationally sought after Youth Motivational Speaker. She has dedicated the past 18 years to empowering today’s youth to be resilient and take charge of their future. Molly grew up in a dysfunctional family with addiction, divorce, abuse, neglect, abandonment, suffered from an eating disorder, was suicidal and a runaway at 15 years old. Molly ‘walks the walk’ when it comes to resiliency, grit and perseverance. She turned her pain into a purpose and has achieved many life goals. Some of these goals include becoming an author, Ironman Triathlete (140.6 miles), bodybuilding champion, and successful female youth motivational ...

@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoiY3VzdG9tX21ldGFfc3ViX3RpdGxlIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJlbmFibGVfaHRtbCI6Im9mZiJ9fQ==@Dan Meers goes to work each day like many other men, dressed in a suit. The only difference is that instead of wearing a tie with his suit, Dan wears a tail. You see, Dan is a professional mascot. Dan began his career in 1986 at the University of Missouri-Columbia. Dressed as the school mascot, Truman Tiger, it didn’t take long for Dan to establish himself as one of the top college mascots in the nation. After finishing second in 1988, Dan was selected as the nation’s #1 college mascot at the 1989 National Collegiate Mascot Championships. As graduation approached, ...

@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoiY3VzdG9tX21ldGFfc3ViX3RpdGxlIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJlbmFibGVfaHRtbCI6Im9mZiJ9fQ==@Marc Mero experienced his first crisis at age eight when his parents divorced. He grew up in a single-family home in a poor section of New York, but wrote down his dreams and goals, setting his sights on athletics. Marc worked hard to achieve success in hockey, football, boxing and professional wrestling. Former WWE Wrestling Champion and Author of “How to be the Happiest Person on the Planet,” reached the pinnacle of sports-entertainment success – then lost it all — but in the process discovered what’s most important in life. Everyone faces adversity. “It’s not how many times you get ...

@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoiY3VzdG9tX21ldGFfc3ViX3RpdGxlIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJlbmFibGVfaHRtbCI6Im9mZiJ9fQ==@Rohan Murphy is a nationally recognized youth speaker that has spoken in over 40 states. Rohan, who lost his legs at birth, started to wrestle his freshman year of high school. After a successful high school wrestling career, he went on to wrestle at Penn State University. In addition to wrestling, Rohan Murphy is also an accomplished powerlifter, competing in international competitions all over the world representing the USA. Rohan Murphy has been featured in publications such as ABC News, Sports Illustrated, and many more. He was even featured in his very own Nike commercial to motivate and inspire people ...

@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoiY3VzdG9tX21ldGFfc3ViX3RpdGxlIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJlbmFibGVfaHRtbCI6Im9mZiJ9fQ==@John O’Leary, lived through worse than most can imagine. At the age of nine, a fire exploded and burned 100% of his body. Given a one-percent chance to live, he fought extraordinary odds. John spent five months in the hospital, underwent dozens of surgeries, lost all of his fingers to amputation and had to relearn to walk, write, and feed himself. He endured, persevered, and survived – largely because others emerged, served and inspired. He now lives to share the life-giving lessons from his story in the hope that he can Spark! the extraordinary possibility of your story. John shares ...

@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoiY3VzdG9tX21ldGFfc3ViX3RpdGxlIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJlbmFibGVfaHRtbCI6Im9mZiJ9fQ==@With a name like Antarctic Mike, you know what you are in for will be a different experience. Mike spent 20 years in the business world as a headhunter before a random visit to a bookstore changed his life. While on a business trip to Bakersfield, CA in August 2001, Mike stumbled upon a book called Shackleton’s Way, a story about how Ernest Shackleton led 27 men home safely after being stranded in Antarctica for two years. Mike was so inspired by Shackleton that he followed him all the way to Antarctica twice in 2006 when he ran both a ...

@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoiY3VzdG9tX21ldGFfc3ViX3RpdGxlIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJlbmFibGVfaHRtbCI6Im9mZiJ9fQ==@Mark Potter was a career head basketball coach, dedicating 30 years to the profession. He began teaching and coaching at Cheney, Kansas High School in 1987. He led the Cardinals to two state tournament appearances. Coach Potter then headed to Kapaun Mt. Carmel High School where he also led them to a state tournament appearance. During his third tenure at South High School in Wichita, the team finished third in the state tournament. After one year at South High, Potter accepted the challenge of re-starting the men’s basketball program at Newman University after an 11-year hiatus. In only the second ...

@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoiY3VzdG9tX21ldGFfc3ViX3RpdGxlIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJlbmFibGVfaHRtbCI6Im9mZiJ9fQ==@Ricky was born on January 29, 1961, to Bertha and Clyde Simmons in Greenville, Texas. His parents were both schoolteachers with master’s degrees. Ricky considered his family very traditional. Both parents in the home, hands-on, always available for him to talk to, and they attended church weekly. Ricky started playing football in the 5th grade as a deal with his father. At the end of high school, his success in football brought him several scholarship offers from all over the country. In 1979, Ricky signed a full-ride scholarship to play for the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Ricky played wide receiver from 1979-1983 ...

@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoiY3VzdG9tX21ldGFfc3ViX3RpdGxlIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJlbmFibGVfaHRtbCI6Im9mZiJ9fQ==@Dr. Jim Sutfin is the Superintendent of the Millard Public Schools and a national speaker who has dedicated his career to developing leaders so they can best impact students, faculty and staff. His work emphasizes the importance of leadership, culture building, overcoming adversity and maintaining a positive work-life balance. Jim stepped into the role of superintendent for Millard Public Schools in the fall of 2014. Currently, he serves as the leader of a district of 35 schools with nearly 24,000 students and more than 3,000 teachers and staff members. Previously he served as the Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources for ...

@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoiY3VzdG9tX21ldGFfc3ViX3RpdGxlIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJlbmFibGVfaHRtbCI6Im9mZiJ9fQ==@Aaron Thomas' father, Ed, was a beloved high school football coach who not only trained generations of players on the importance of hard work, dedication, excellence, and commitment but personally put those values into action as the community leader who inspired his town to rebuild in the wake of a deadly EF5 tornado. Not long after the community withstood the disaster of the storm, the small town of Parkersburg, Iowa endured a far worse tragedy…the fatal shooting of Coach Ed Thomas by a former player with mental issues. Following his father’s murder, Aaron was approached to return home to take ...

@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoiY3VzdG9tX21ldGFfc3ViX3RpdGxlIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJlbmFibGVfaHRtbCI6Im9mZiJ9fQ==@Joe Torrillo was a 25-year Lieutenant with the NYC Fire Dept. who is now retired on disability. He spent the first 15 years of his career in Engine Company #10, across the street from the South Tower of the World Trade Center. While recuperating from a severe injury on New Year's Eve of 1996 going into 1997, Joe was assigned to convalesce in the office of fire safety education. Eight months into this light-duty position, Joe was ultimately named the Director of this public-based program. In his new position, Joe would co-design a children's state-of-the-art fire safety learning center, which ...

@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoiY3VzdG9tX21ldGFfc3ViX3RpdGxlIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJlbmFibGVfaHRtbCI6Im9mZiJ9fQ==@Jim Weeks was born and raised in southeast Nebraska. He and his wife, Kim, have five children. He was the head coach of the Beatrice Orangemen High School boys basketball team for 24 years before being named the head basketball coach at Doane College in 2012. Jim is currently the head basketball coach at Auburn High School. He graduated from Fairbury High School and Doane College, where he competed as a decathlete on the Doane track team. Both of Jim’s parents were teachers and he knew at a very young age he wanted to be a teacher and a coach ...

@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoiY3VzdG9tX21ldGFfc3ViX3RpdGxlIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJlbmFibGVfaHRtbCI6Im9mZiJ9fQ==@Dave Zimmer grew up in Hartington, Nebraska where he spent much of his youth working at his parent’s drive-in restaurant. He graduated from the University of Nebraska-Kearney with a bachelor’s degree in Education. He later went on to earn his master’s degree from Wayne State College in School Administration. Dave resides in Kearney and is married to his high school sweetheart Renae. The Zimmers have two grown children. Dave is currently employed by the Kearney Public School District. He has twice been named to Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers. He has also served on the Nebraska State Steering Committee on ...