Key Note Speakers

Monday Opening Keynote Speaker

Rich Schlentz

Chief Enthusiasm Officer of EXTRAordinary! Inc.

Rich Schlentz: is the founder of EXTRAordinary! Inc. a movement dedicated to reviving the American workplace one culture at a time. Rich is an international consultant, speaker, and leadership coach. In his work with companies, teams, and individuals, Rich provides the tools to create “breakthrough” performance. With an emphasis on human relationship principles, he helps organizations develop strategies to increase employee engagement, commitment, and productivity. His area of expertise is guiding leaders to create and foster engaging cultures resulting in improved loyalty, creativity, innovation, and profitability.

Rich has been described as a passionate, inspiring, and engaging presenter. He speaks from the heart and offers a message of encouragement sprinkled with humor and enthusiasm. As one of his audience participants put it, “It is speakers such as this that result in cultivating and inspiring change from within.”

Rich is currently writing his first book, Your Employees Have Quit-They Just Haven’t Left.

Monday Lunch Keynote Speaker

Erik Qualman

Bestselling Author & Motivational Speaker

5x #1 Bestselling Author and Keynote Speaker Erik Qualman has performed in over 60 countries and reached 60 million people. He was voted the 2nd Most Likeable Author in the World behind the Harry Potter series.

His Socialnomics work has been on 60 Minutes to the Wall Street Journal, and used by the National Guard to NASA. Qualman is a current professor of Digital Leadership at Northwestern University, and his materials are used in over 500 universities. Qualman’s animation studio works with some of the world’s leading brands including Disney, Oreo, Chase, and Cartier.

He is a former sitting professor at MIT and Harvard’s edX labs and has received an honorary doctorate for his groundbreaking work. Qualman is also the inventor of the bestselling board game Kittycorn. Most importantly, he’s still trying to live up to the “World’s Greatest Dad” coffee mug he received from his wife and two daughters.

Qualman’s live performances are unique in that he is a pioneer in video storytelling.

Monday Breakfast Keynote Speaker

William T. Chittenden, Ph.D.

President & CEO, Southwestern Graduate School of Banking – Southern Methodist University’s Cox School of Business

Dr. William T. Chittenden is the President & CEO of the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking (SWGSB) at Southern Methodist University’s Cox School of Business. He previously served at Texas State University as Presidential Fellow, Associate Dean for Graduate Programs and Department Chair. Dr. Chittenden earned a B.B.A. in Finance and an M.S. in Economics from the University of Texas at El Paso, and a Ph.D. in Finance from Texas Tech University. He is a past president of the San Antonio Association for Financial Professionals and the Academy of Financial Services. He has been interviewed for TV and radio in the U.S., Canada, Australia, Austria, Germany, and Singapore. He has been quoted in The Wall Street Journal, New York Post, Fortune, USA Today, American Banker and numerous other publications. He has served as a consultant to numerous financial institutions and speaks regularly to professional organizations across the United States and Canada on a variety of financial and economic topics. 

Tuesday Lunch Keynote Speaker

Jessica Janzen

Leadership, Speaker & Mindset Coach

When teams face burnout, change fatigue, and diminishing engagement, Jessica Janzen delivers the spark they need. She is an in-demand motivational speaker, entrepreneur, bestselling author, and expert in resiliency whose high energy keynotes unlock a clear pathway from adversity to achievement. She empowers audiences to shift from a problem to a possibility mindset, making her an essential voice for navigating today’s challenging business landscape. Janzen doesn’t just inspire — she equips audiences with actionable strategies to re-wire their thinking, get curious, and bring on the joy.