Jan Lewan is a Polish singer and pianist who migrated from Poland through Canada to the United States. He gained and maintained a worldwide audience as a leading author, songwriter, polka band leader and tour guide. A movie about his life called “The Polka King”, starring Jack Black, premiered in 2018.
Elaine Lowry Brye, Army brat turned ROTC candidate turned military wife, is the mother of four military officers in the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines. Her book, Be Safe, Love Mom: A Military Moms Stories of Courage, Comfort, and Surviving Life on the Homefront, has been called a service manual for military moms. Elaine’s mantra is simple “We have to be braver than our kids.” She motivates Americans to remember their strong roots and band together. She speaks on raising patriots – brave children who can meet the challenges of life. Elaine believes that life in the empty nest can be filled with purpose and speaks to women about finding their passion in the later part of life.
Eddie Brill is a world-renowned comedian, writer and actor. For seventeen years he entertained, engaged and energized audiences as the warm-up talent on the Late Show with David Letterman, pulling double duty as the show’s Stand Up Comedy Talent Coordinator for eleven of those years. Along with Norman Lear in 1978, Brill helped create one of the first ever college comedy writing departments in the country at Emerson College in Boston and he delivers seminars world-wide on comedy, Late Night Television, and becoming a better speaker.
Despite poor academic performance and over 20 jobs by the time she turned 23, Barbara Corcoran became one of the country’s most successful entrepreneurs, creating a multi-billion dollar real estate business. As a speaker, Barbara brings her front-lines experience and infectious energy to every person she meets.
Robert has risen to prominence by delivering a high energy message which inspires others to take responsibility for their lives and live up to their greatness. He is also a film producer and television personality, receiving awards for his skills and leadership.
Rich Ruffalo is a dynamic motivational speaker, author, educator, and internationally recognized athlete that inspires a wide range of audiences everywhere, from children to adults and students to business gurus. Ruffalo is a true role model for all ages. Available for Staff Development, Conferences, Keynotes.
Courage, Confidence, and Compassion allowed Antoinette, a school bookkeeper, to successfully talk down an armed gunman saving 870 lives at the Ronald E. McNair Discovery Learning Academy on August 20, 2013.
Audiences of all ages are inspired and motivated by this story of one woman’s faith and raw courage – the only school active shooter situation in the nation which occurred without fatalities or injuries.
Scott suffered a rare stroke in his spinal cord at the age of 15 which left him paralyzed from the waist down. He has spent his life helping make a positive difference in the lives of others. Scott has made two world tours, visiting over 30 countries and speaking to over a million people around the globe and continues to receive standing ovations from his audiences.
At the age of fifteen, James Fiorentino became the youngest artist ever to be featured in the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum for his likeness of Reggie Jackson. In 1998, James became the youngest artist to be inducted into the prestigious New York Society of Illustrators, along with such artists as Norman Rockwell and Andrew Wyeth. A graduate of Drew University where James was also the starting shortstop for all four years of his college career. He has painted for and met many legends of the past and stars of today, including Ted Williams, Joe DiMaggio, Cal Ripken Jr. , Arnold Palmer and Muhammad Ali to Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera and Albert Pujols. His photo-realism in watercolor has helped him become a nationally-known wildlife and portrait artist, painting people from everyday life to Presidents and Nobel Peace Prize winners. Many of James’ works currently grace the walls of notable museums, galleries, Universities, companies and private collections. James’ work has won numerous awards and can be seen nationally in books and magazines and on trading cards. In 2001, “The Fiorentino Collection” consisted of approximately 100 paintings for Upper Deck Trading Cards depicting legends in five major sports. James’ work and story has been carried on international and national television shows, and in magazines and newspapers.
Mariela Shaker fled Syria in 2013 against the nightmarish backdrop of terror and destruction and arrived in the U.S. with her beloved violin a few months later. Through hard work, determination and luck, Shaker was able to obtain a student visa to study music at Monmouth College in Illinois, and subsequently won a full scholarship for graduate study at DePaul University in Chicago. She has become an advocate for peace and tolerance, wielding the power of music through her violin.
