Inspirational & Motivational (C)

<p>Dr. Beck Weathers moves audiences with his emotional tale of survival against all odds, encouraging you to appreciate the perseverance of the human spirit and the strength of loved ones to conquer even the most daunting challenges.</p><p>It was spring 1996. An accomplished pathologist and amateur climber on an expedition to summit the world’s tallest peak, Dr. Weathers was caught in one of the most devastating storms in Mt. Everest’s history and presumed dead.

<p>From the basketball court to the board room, former NBA star Walter Bond motivates audiences by sharing his life story of trials and triumphs. Growing up in Chicago, he always dreamed of playing in the NBA but lacked the natural athletic gifts of many of his peers.

<p>Former foster kid turned award-winning country music recording artist Jimmy Wayne takes audiences on an unforgettable and inspiring journey.</p><p>Country music recording artist Jimmy Wayne is known for hits such as “Stay Gone,” “Paper Angels,” “I Love You This Much,” and the single that the earned BMI’s Mission-Air Award for getting more than one million radio spins in the U.S., “Do You Believe Me Now?” A musician who has performed on the Grand Ole Opry 224 times, toured with Brad Paisley and recorded “Sara Smile” with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame duo Daryl Hall and

<p>As the real-life high school robotics coach played by actor and comedian George Lopez in the movie Spare Parts, Fredi Lajvardi is one of the nation’s leading STEM educators and a thought leader on the power of diverse teams to fuel creativity, innovation, and resilience in any organization. </p><p>Fredi Lajvardi captivated the country when he led his team of disadvantaged Latino teens in a university-level underwater robotics competition where they defeated leading schools, including top-ranked MIT.

<p>Oprah Winfrey calls Amy Purdy her inspiration. As a young girl, Purdy dreamed of sailing through fresh powder restrained only by a snowboard attached to two feet. Above all, she dreamed of freedom, of the chance to craft a personal narrative of her own choosing.

<p>An expert on chaos, Dr. Natalie Stavas faces every obstacle with the same attitude she had when she ran into a terrorist attack to help victims of the Boston Marathon bombing: “You run towards that which you fear, that which challenges you, that which is oppositional.”  </p><p>On April 15, 2013, Dr. Stavas approached the finish line of her fifth Boston marathon. Just blocks away she heard explosions, and she ran toward them.

<p>Brandon Stanton shares his journey of personal growth and discovery, and uncovers the stories behind the stories featured on <i>Humans of New York</i>, powerfully illustrating the value of sharing your experiences. </p><p>As the founder of the street portrait blog, <i>Humans of New York</i>, Brandon has emerged as a worldwide Internet phenomenon and one of today’s most influential storytellers.

<p>Florent “Flo” Groberg shares his story, <i>8 Seconds of Courage</i>, inspiring audiences to see the opportunities in challenging environments and to find the strength to complete any mission.</p><p>On his second deployment to Afghanistan in 2012, American hero “Flo” Groberg demonstrated the ultimate selflessness when he tackled a suicide bomber, significantly minimizing casualties and preserving the lives of the command team it was his mission to protect. For his heroism, U.S.

<p>“Find A Way” inspired action in Hoge’s life, and today his empowering message encourages people to take action and Find a Way to achieving, overcoming, and changing the circumstances of their own lives.  </p><p>Merril played in the NFL for 8 seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Chicago Bears; he was also a football analyst for ESPN for 21 years.</p><p>Hoge is an inspirational speaker who speaks all over the country, impacting people and companies to grow through self-reflection and taking action to Find Their Way.

<p>Chris Gardner is an entrepreneur, international best-selling author and an   award winning film producer. Gardner’s autobiography, <i>The Pursuit of HappYness</i> became a New York Times #1 best seller, has been translated into over forty languages, including six (6) dialects of Chinese and most recent into Arabic. </p><p>Gardner is also the inspiration for the critically acclaimed film <i>The Pursuit of HappYness</i> for which Will Smith received the Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild and Academy Award nominations for his performance.