Keynote Speakers
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John FoleyFormer Lead Solo Pilot – Blue Angels High Performance Leadership Imagine being part of an elite, highly trained team of IT professionals who routinely achieve levels of extreme precision. The IT industry depends upon the performance of their people and their teams. There are few examples where this is more dramatically demonstrated than with the Blue Angels. John Foley draws upon his experience as Lead Solo of the Blue Angels to inspire audiences and show them how to achieve substantially higher levels of performance. Foley demonstrates a simple, systematic, yet exciting approach for how to develop the clarity, focus, commitment, and trust that are necessary to achieve ever-higher levels of performance. He shows how to create buy-in and commitment for a team’s vision and goals, leading to clarity that drives execution decisions. He demonstrates how learning to focus prepares individuals for action and increases successful outcomes. In this insightful program, he emphasizes the development of trust and respect among team members as essential to execution, and demonstrates proven ways for teams to achieve deep levels of trust. He also explains a process called the Diamond Performance® Framework that he believes is the primary key to continuous improvement and exceptional growth. He drives home his message with dynamic videos of his adrenaline-pumping performance with the Blue Angels. His charismatic and enthusiastic presentations stimulate audiences emotionally and intellectually with a whole new perspective on their ability to excel. They leave the event not only transformed, but also with a set of concrete tools to immediately begin a High Performance Climb®. About John Foley John Foley has spent nearly a decade sharing practical and inspirational messages on High Performance with audiences around the world. The former lead solo pilot for the famed Blue Angels flight-demonstration squadron is among the most sought after conference speakers, presenting keynote messages at more than 100 events a year. He is the founder and CEO of CenterPoint Companies, which provides in-depth training on the How of High Performance. And he is the founder of the Glad To Be Here® Foundation, which administers a giving-forward program that partners with clients to make donations to worthy charities. |
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Josh LinknerCEO and Managing Partner – Detroit Venture Partners Improvising to Drive Results In today’s complex and rapidly-changing environment, the challenges are bigger (and the stakes are higher) than ever. In order to achieve meaningful results – in both business and life – individuals and organizations must deploy spontaneous creativity to meet the challenges of the day. Innovation in real-time has become critical to success. As the evening’s keynote, author, VC, entrepreneur, and jazz-musician Josh Linkner will take the audience on an interactive journey to unleash their creative potential through the use of both business and musical improvisation. The session will inspire you and arm you with specific techniques which can become the difference-maker for your company and your career. The event will culminate with a live jazz improvisation performance based on input from the audience. A truly unique and compelling event that you won’t want to miss. About Josh Linkner Josh Linkner is on a mission to make the world more creative. His book, Disciplined Dreaming: A Proven System to Drive Breakthrough Creativity, was named one of the top 10 business books of 2011. In addition, Josh is actively rebuilding urban areas through technology and entrepreneurship. He has been honored as the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year, the Detroit News Michiganian of the Year and a President Barack Obama Champion of Change. Josh is also a Berkley-trained professional jazz guitarist performing regularly in jazz clubs throughout the United States. |
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Mark CarsonPresident & Co-founder – Fat Brain Toys Embracing the Mighty Bootstrap In Mark Carson’s keynote address, he will share with Infotec attendees a first-hand account of life as a “bootstrapper”. A self-proclaimed nine year old start-up, Fat Brain Toys has risen through the ranks to become one of the largest independent toy retailers in the country through the effective use of bootstrapping. A true story of what happens when entrepreneurship meets technology, you’ll learn how Fat Brain Toys combined open source tools, commercial software, and do-it-yourself development to blend together an effective platform that garnered it a “Hot 100″ designation by Internet Retailer Magazine. And whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur or corporate “intrapreneur”, you’ll be challenged to re-think the established notion that more funding equals more success. So regardless of where you land on the “buy vs. build” spectrum, be sure to attend this session to get a fresh perspective on doing more with less. About Mark Carson Mark Carson is the President and Co-founder of Fat Brain Toys, a Nebraska-based, multi-channel toy company. A self-taught designer, web developer and marketer, Mark – with his wife Karen – has built Fat Brain Toys into one of the nation’s largest independent toy retailers. Mark has served as CTO for NetShops and was involved in the web development for GiftCertificates.com. In 2011, Fat Brain Toys was named to the Hot 100 list by Internet Retailer Magazine and was nominated for Toy of the Year by the Toy Industry Association. |
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Alexander BlassPresident & CEO – Alexander Blass International Priceless Strategies From an Innovator: How to Thrive in Challenging Times In a constantly evolving world and today’s challenging economic climate, leadership through innovation, creativity and change management are no longer optional, but essential. In this captivating and engaging keynote speech which has been delivered to Fortune 500 and Global 1000 audiences worldwide, Alexander Blass reveals his strategies for success and an actionable blueprint. Learn how you can reinvent yourself and your organization to get on the path to innovation today, think about ‘what’s next’ and challenge the status quo in your industry. Discover 10 essential characteristics and strategies of successful leaders, innovators, and innovative organizations; grasp some of the challenges you must overcome; and learn how to generate international buzz and excitement for your innovative endeavors with increasingly limited resources. About Alexander Blass Wharton- and Oxford-educated, Alexander Blass is an internationally acclaimed American entrepreneur and innovator. He is the grand prize winner of the Daily Record’s Top Innovator of the Year Award, which credited him with “revolutionizing charitable giving” in 2007 for inventing person-to-person giving technology on the Internet. He presently serves as CEO of Alexander Blass International, an executive consulting and training firm. Previously, Alexander was a venture capitalist, strategy consultant, senior government executive and software developer. A proud first-generation American, Alexander is the son of a Holocaust survivor who instilled in him the sanctity of life and importance of making a difference in the world. |
