Daren Martin. PhD
The Culture Architect
Agency Name: Real Change Now, L.L.C.
Proudest Moment: Seeing A Company of Owners become a Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestseller was a defining career milestone. Being invited to deliver the closing address for the Presidential Scholars Program (a Bush/Clinton collaboration) was a tremendous honor. One of my most meaningful experiences was speaking at the graduation for 22 blind and visually impaired students—pure joy and unforgettable connection.
But if I had to choose one defining moment, it would be this: The day I stopped talking about what I was going to do and started doing it. That decision changed everything. Since then, I’ve never been the same—personally or professionally.
Takeaways: I want every audience to walk away inspired, empowered, and equipped. I don’t just share stories—I deliver tools, strategies, and mindset shifts they can apply immediately to level up their performance and their lives. Whether it’s leadership, culture or reinvention, my goal is to ensure each person leaves with actionable insights that make them indispensable to their organizations and more impactful in the world.
Scott Tillema
Partner, Negotiations Collective
Agency: See Agency
Proudest Moment: Professionally, I think of being selected and trained as a SWAT hostage negotiator or completing 20 years of law enforcement work. The times where we have saved lives or changed lives are all pretty rewarding.
Personally, I think of my three kids and how my proudest moments are when I watch them use their emotional intelligence to extend kindness to others. My nine-year-old son Finn loves sports and is quite gifted. When he demonstrates to his friend how to make the shot in basketball or how to swing and get a hit in baseball, it always amazes me. My daughter Violet who is 12 will share time on her piano with our neighbor’s children who are a little younger than her, teaching them songs and allowing them to sing along while she plays. Liliana, my 15-year-old, is an emerging leader, babysitting, leading in the church group and swimmer-of-the-week this week. In each of their successes, I have my proudest moments, knowing we’ve created a next generation of people who are going to make the world a better place.
Take Aways: In my talks, I share the same techniques I’ve used in life-or-death negotiations, so audience members can use those concepts to find success in their work. At the core of what I do is have difficult conversations with people, where I use principes of influence to connect with another person to help move them to a positive outcome, even in difficult situations. The process illustrates how dialogue (communication) leads to connection, and how connection leads to influence. Whether the application of influence is in leadership, sales, HR, or customer service, a wide diversity of backgrounds will benefit from this message and find the inspiration to be powerful verbal influencers.
Need to Know: People are intrigued by the idea of a SWAT hostage negotiator as their speaker. In my keynotes, I share stories from the front lines, as well as stories from life, that illustrate main points and create emotion in the listener. I work to find the right balance between stories that are not too vivid or triggering, while not being so vanilla that anyone could give the talk. The audience feedback is consistently extremely positive, which is open for review on my talkadot public profile, which houses nearly 3,000 unique attendee’s reviews and over 40 talks given, both live and virtual.
I’ve been speaking since 2016, when I gave a TEDx talk that has amassed over 1 million views. I love what I do, and with the support of See Agency, we provide professional grade service.
Channing Muller
Principal & Founder, DCM Communications
Proudest Moment?
When it comes to my career, it’s not one singular moment I’m proud of—but the micro moments that affirm I’m serving the right audience and truly making a difference in their businesses. It’s the stage-side comments or post-event texts like:
“Your energy and enthusiasm were absolutely contagious, and your insights left everyone feeling inspired and ready to conquer the world!”
“Thank you so much for being a speaker this year for us. Your expertise and excitement shine through!”
“I always learn so much when we talk.”
“I feel so much more confident about what to do next in my business.”
And my favorite—straight from a client who was skeptical of my email marketing strategy but followed it anyway: “50% open rate and more registrations than any other email we’ve sent. OK, you win.”
These are the moments that make me proud. Not just because of what I said onstage, but because of what they were able to do after.
Takeaways: That effective marketing isn’t about doing all the things—it’s about doing the *right* things, on purpose.
I want attendees to walk away knowing how to tie their marketing and communication strategies directly back to sales, cut through the noise, and build a brand that reflects who they are and resonates with the clients they want to work with.
My goal is always: less overwhelm, more clarity and tactics you can actually use the next day.
Need to Know: With me, you’re getting a content creator, event promoter, and speaker in one. I know what it takes to get butts in seats—and I do everything I can to make a planner’s job easier.
I’m not just a speaker who shows up and talks. I’m a marketing partner who supports your goals, customizes content for your audience, and keeps the energy in the room high. Education does not have to be boring, and each of my signature keynotes proves that.
Plus, I’m a stickler for staying on time (a rare and underrated speaker skill!) and always stick around to chat one-on-one with anyone who has more questions.
Tim Hines
Founder, Marketing Starter Group
Proudest Moment: When I published my first book, The Marketing Starter. I was super proud to have completed such a big project and self-published. Even more is the impact it has been having on readers. So many folks have felt inspired to start great things and change the trajectory of their careers.
Take Aways: How to make instant changes to their perspectives and processes to improve the way that they communicate and grow their business and careers.
Need to Know: I spend a lot of time before every keynote to learn the audience and the objectives of the event to ensure my content and delivery align with what the planner has envisioned. I don’t mind customizing to make my message as effective as possible and I am ridiculously good at communication with planners to make it as easy as possible to work together.
Gary Bolles
Global Fellow for Transformation, Singularity University
Proudest Moment?: Seeing my first book published
Takeaways: How to transform — intentionally, effectively, continuously.
Need to Know: Call us when you want to catalyze transformative leadership.
Rebecca Murray, CVP
Communications Edutainer, Rebecca P. Murray, Showcase Your Shine
Proudest Moment: Performing a one-woman show called The Confidence Equation in a live theater during Covid. It was part TED Talk, comedy and musical theater. All rehearsals were done solo in my living room. I’ll never forget how it felt to fulfill this dream—happiest day of my life. One month later I was diagnosed with breast cancer, so it was even more meaningful that I listened to the voice that told me “don’t let anything stop you!”
Takeaways: Develop a voice that carries influence at the table. Build vocal credibility through tone, pitch and pace. Adopt a brevity-first mindset for clear, compelling conversations. Interrupt with finesse—guide the moment without losing rapport. Practice Voice Equity to ensure every voice gets heard.
Need to Know: Having planned, produced and provided technical support for a multitude of events, I understand the stress and complexity planners face. My goal is to make a planner’s life easier while ensuring they shine as a result of hiring me.
Ryan Dohrn
Founder, Brain Swell Media
Proudest Moment: Earning an Emmy award stands as one of the most humbling and proudest moments of my career. It’s a testament to the time, dedication, and passion that form the foundation of my teaching and speaking journey. I’m also a proud Navy dad and have been happily married for 30 years. These two personal milestones have given me a wealth of meaningful and entertaining stories, many of which I love sharing with audiences from the stage.
Takeaways: My goal is straightforward: to help people achieve dreams they once thought impossible. I’m committed to delivering tactical, practical ideas that audiences can immediately put into action—all delivered with a generous dose of humor and fun. While my expertise centers on sales and management, I’m equally passionate about sharing insights on goal setting, time management, leadership, and innovation
Need to Know: I take great pride in being one of the most adaptable and easy-to-work-with speakers in the industry, before, during, and after every event. Whether I’m on a large stage or in a more intimate setting, I consistently roll with the punches and handle any situation that comes my way, delivering 40 to 60 presentations each year. I understand that my performance is a direct reflection on the meeting planner, and I approach that responsibility with the utmost seriousness and professionalism. It’s no coincidence that I’ve received over 100 five-star reviews from meeting planners who value my commitment and reliability.
Joseph VanDusen
CEO, Stealth Elevation LLC
Proudest Moment: My proudest moment so far stems from having everything taken from me in 2016—loosing my marriage and subsequently my work (as a Stealth Bomber Instructor Pilot)—a pilot certified in nuclear weapons with top secret programs “can’t” have the mental or emotional stress of major life changes, so I was grounded from flight and office duties—security clearances stripped away.
Literally, everything I knew and worked so hard for was taken from me. As I hit rock bottom, I began to build into a new man. I sought therapy to learn about myself for the first time in my life, which almost ruined my return to flying, but I fought back, discovered who I was and who I wanted to become…through much effort and help from others, I was able to make it back to being an instructor pilot once again and that first flight back gave me an elite perspective and the ability to help others reach new heights. It’s like I broke the chains that were holding me back from my potential. Hitting my rock bottom and building into the man, pilot, leader, author and speaker I am today, started with overcoming and fighting my way back into the most elite pilot group in the Air Force—that’s my proudest moment to date!
Takeaways: My presentations revolve around the elite strategies and tactics employed by real stealth bomber pilots which I have adapted to life, leadership and business in every industry. From learning how to set and achieve goals at an elite level to embracing failure, learning how to empower your people through leading and delegating at the highest levels to learning life skills (mediation, breathing, harnessing energy, the power of thought and positivity), I teach real, impactful, meaningful thought leader ideas and principals to immediately elevate your life, leadership and business.
Need to Know: I am a very easy speaker to work with. I prefer to make my presentations interactive and immersive for the audience to maximize takeaway impact. Therefore, I don’t have many visual aids and can easily speak without any at all. We’ll do a zoom discovery call so I can learn your objectives. From there, I will create a customized, highly impactful keynote that aligns with your desired outcomes for your meeting, conference, or retreat. I don’t do a lot of speaking events, since I am a current 787 Dreamliner Pilot full time for United Airlines, but if you are truly looking for that Elite Edge, I will gladly find time in my schedule to help you, your teams or your clients elevate! If this sounds like what you are looking for, simply get on my calendar via my website and let’s start the journey!
Mark Matteson
International Speaker, Sparking Success LLC
Proudest Moment: My first book “Freedom from Fear” being published in 2000.
Takeaways: That they can do, have, become, share and achieve more than they currently believe they can. Most of us are operating at a fraction of what is possible. As we think, so we become.
Need to Know: You can expect Platform Skills and Life Changing Content, with high levels of interaction, soft skills transfer and Self-Effacing humor with humility. The best is yet to come.
Kara Conway Love, Esq JD
Speaker, Lawyer, Executive Coach, Author, Kara Conway Love Strategy
Proudest Moment: My proudest moment has been choosing reinvention over resignation—more than once. After nearly 25 years as a business lawyer, I realized I was successful but not fulfilled. Instead of staying the course, I made the uncomfortable decision to pivot, first becoming a college professor, then a speaker, executive coach, creator and business mentor. Each reinvention required me to let go of what was safe and proven and step into the unknown with curiosity and courage.
What I’m most proud of isn’t just that I changed careers—it’s that I kept evolving. I translated my legal expertise into classrooms, then into keynotes and coaching. I built a business helping others find their voice, navigate change, and communicate with purpose. The through-line in every chapter has been impact: helping others step into their potential while continuing to stretch my own.
Takeaways: Audience members will walk away with the clarity to communicate intentionally—and the confidence to do so with influence and impact. Whether I’m delivering “Talk Less, Earn More™️” or “Today, I Get To,” my goal is to shift the way people think about communication, leadership, and their own potential.
In my presentations, audiences learn how to: communicate with intention, not overwhelm; lead with presence and credibility—even in high-pressure moments; reframe burnout and uncertainty as signs it’s time to grow, not give up; build confidence through clarity and aligned action.
My sessions are practical and energizing. Attendees leave with tools they can use immediately—and a mindset shift that stays with them long after the applause. Because real change happens when people not only learn something new, but start seeing themselves differently.
Need to Know: I’m easy to work with, well-prepared, and focused on making your event a success. I bring professionalism, flexibility and a collaborative mindset to every engagement—and I customize each presentation to suit your audience’s needs. Planners often tell me I’m the speaker they didn’t have to worry about, and I take pride in that.
