David Allison
Human Values Research Pioneer, “The Values Guy!”, The Valuegraphics Research Company
Agency: Several dozen!
Proudest Moment: It’s a toss-up. It’s either this: completing the global inventory of shared values that allows us to pinpoint “What Matters Most” to any group of people, anywhere on earth. Or it’s this: learning that our invention of VALUEGRAPHICS is now in textbooks, next to demographics and psychographics, used on college campuses in more than a hundred countries around the world.
Takeaways: Oh this one is easy. For every keynote, our research firm (www.valuegraphics.com) pulls the shared-values-data that pinpoints “What Matters Most” to the people my audience needs to inspire. And I show them exactly what buttons to push to move the needle in the right direction. It’s the missing link for exponentially more powerful sales, leadership, marketing, engagement, change management, AI adoption: anything at all, to be frank. Because all those issues are about people, and when you know “What Matters Most” to them, you can change their behaviors, emotions, decisions, or pretty much anything.
Need to Know: I’m Canadian. We are perpetually shy and not very good at tooting our own horns. But the feedback I get is very validating. People say things like: “best speaker I’ve ever seen,” and “give him more time” and “”Bring him back next year!” and so on. Insert blushing emoji here.
But if I am trying to sell myself, I feel great about saying this: “I will transform how your audience thinks about themselves and the people they need to inspire. And despite these keynotes being built from scratch with custom data, they are not boring. People will be on the edge of their seats, with their hands in the air, and their heads filling up with great new ways to accomplish their goals.”
Nick Borelli
Director of Marketing, Zenus
Proudest Moment: My proudest career moments aren’t about awards or big audiences—they’re the aha moments when a session participant realizes something complex is actually simple. My goal isn’t for them to see me as smart, but to see themselves as capable.
Takeaways: I aim to demystify big ideas and make them approachable and practical. I want to replace fear with curiosity, complexity with clarity, and leave the audience feeling seen, heard, and deeply understood. Above all, I hope they leave with a renewed sense of how vital their work is in bringing people together.
Need to Know: Collaborate with me to offering the maximum value to your community. Yes, I can deliver breakouts and keynotes, but I can also deliver consulting to attendees, sponsors, and partners while I’m with you. Go outside the box with your designs and ask me how I can give you more than you expected.
Lisa Schulteis
Event Strategist and Consultant, ElectraLime Marketing
Proudest Moment: My proudest moment isn’t a stage or an award. It’s been watching my three kids grow into the amazing, intelligent, compassionate adults they have become. I know that isn’t a single moment, but a lifetime of them. When I think about all the opportunities I’ve had to watch them shine, overcome challenges and step into who they are meant to be… that is when this Momma feels the proudest.
Takeaways: I want audiences to walk away seeing events through a new lens. Understanding how the brain responds to moments and environments gives planners the power to design with intention, not just habit. Whether it’s building trust, improving engagement, or creating more inclusive experiences, I give them practical, science-backed strategies they can apply right away. My goal is for every attendee to feel inspired, empowered and ready to design events that truly connect with people on a human level.
Need to Know: I’m collaborative and flexible, and I tailor every presentation to your audience and event goals. I love working closely with planners to make sure what I bring on stage aligns with the bigger picture of the event. I’m also low maintenance on site. Just give me a good mic and a space to connect with people, and I’m ready to go. My goal is always to make the planner look good and the audience feel inspired.
Ken Holsinger
Senior Vice President, Strategy, Freeman
Proudest Moment: One of the proudest moments in my speaking career was during the height of uncertainty in the pandemic, when the events industry was paralyzed by fear and indecision. I poured myself into research and delivered countless presentations to anxious marketers and meeting planners, offering not just data—but clarity, strategy and reassurance when they needed it most.
The moment that stands out most was a webinar I led in late summer 2021, just as the Delta wave was surging. Many planners were on the brink of canceling again. In that session, I helped them understand why it was possible to move forward safely—that with vaccines, risk management and a willing audience, they could begin their return to in-person experiences with confidence.
To this day, planners come up to me and say, “That presentation gave me the confidence to move forward.” Knowing that my voice helped guide our industry back to live events during its most fragile moment is something I will always carry with immense pride.
Takeaways: While I often present industry research, my goal isn’t for the audience to simply remember the data—it’s to activate it. I want them to walk away understanding how to turn insights into action: how to use the research to drive strategy, fuel growth, embrace smart risks and navigate complexity with confidence.
Because data without context, application or execution isn’t just unhelpful—it’s irresponsible.
Need to Know: I’m highly flexible, obsess over the details, and always respect the clock—I start and end on time. I believe great presentations are built on understanding the audience, so I tailor every session to their specific needs and context.
And I always say: the day I stop feeling a little nervous before presenting is the day I should stop doing it. That energy is a sign that it still matters—and every presentation should.
Lamar Engel Adv. Sommelier, CSW
Owner/Producer, The Wine Militia
Proudest Moment: One of the moments I’m most proud of was mentoring a new generation of sommeliers and hospitality leaders—not just in how to serve wine, but how to tell a story, read a room and create genuine connection. Watching people I once trained go on to lead programs, launch brands and inspire others has been deeply fulfilling. Legacy isn’t just about what you build—it’s who you lift while you’re building.
Takeaways: My goal always is to deliver practical tools to the audience to help them create immersive, emotionally resonant interactions with those around them in hospitality arenas—where storytelling, education and entertainment intersect to drive deeper engagement. I love to challenge the status quo by reimagining traditional formats and offer creative strategies that resonate with modern audiences, especially Millennials and Gen Z.
Need to Know: I thrive on collaboration and bring a high level of energy, adaptability, and attention to detail to every engagement. I’m a big believer in co-creation—so whether we’re fine-tuning the format, curating wines and food experiences, or customizing the program for your audience, I’m all in. I’m flexible with logistics, comfortable on unconventional stages, and I always show up early, ready to bring the vibe love to have a ton of fun and I always deliver on passion!
Kevin Molesworth, CSEP
President, Celadore Creative
Agency: Professional Speakers Bureau International
terrificspeakers.com/kevin-molesworth
Proudest Moment: When I was invited to give a keynote address at a fundraising event for Make-A-Wish, I relyed on my storytelling skills and took the audience on an emotional journey that inspired them to donate more money in a single evening than had ever been raised at the annual event. Knowing that my words on that stage played a role in the betterment of the lives of numerous children and their families who would have their wishes granted was incredibly rewarding.
Takeaways: There is a lot more to creativity and innovation than good ideas. Nobody ever changed the world by treading lightly or playing it safe. You will need to be bold. The more innovative your ideas are, the more criticism you will experience. Be prepared for that criticism and understand that many people fear change, fear the things they do not understand—and fear being left behind. When presenting a new concept, process or product, know that you must be able to explain not only what it does, how it works, or what problem it solves but also why and how the new idea will benefit the user, the employee, the company, society, etc.
Need to Know:
I was a professional actor for more than a decade. I appeared on Broadway, on television and in films and recognize that those endeavors are most definitely a team effort. The same goes for live events. I want all planners and producers to know I am there to make them look good and make their jobs easier. When a client asks the planner to bring in a keynote speaker, I know that if I can hit a home run on that stage – inspiring the audience, making them laugh a bit, challenging them to think critically—the entire team wins.
