Ken Futch, CSP, CPAE
Professional Speaker | Leadership & Humor Strategist | President, Ken Futch & Associates, Inc.

Take Your Best Shot – Turning Situations into Opportunities

A moment can change a life. Ken’s astonishing true story of how he accidentally shot himself in the head—and how it opened his mind—is both hilarious and inspiring. Motivating and unforgettable, it will give you a (w)hole new perspective! You’ll look at life and work with a fresh point of view and experience renewed energy for:

• Rekindling your zest for living

• Recognizing situational opportunities

• Appreciating your uniqueness

• Enjoying life with an optimistic outlook

In this program packed with unique perspectives, you will gain practical methods to cultivate your resources and create environments that foster team motivation.

In times of dramatic change, discover how you can position yourself to maximize opportunities. Learn the critical factors that impact success and identify the silver bullets that will help you Take Your Best Shot!

Ken Futch is a Hall of Fame speaker, trainer, and author known for combining practical leadership insights with humor and storytelling. As president of Ken Futch & Associates, he has delivered impactful presentations to Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, and professional associations across the country. Drawing from his background in sales, corporate leadership, and real-life lessons, including the time he accidentally shot himself in the head and lived to tell about it, Ken brings unforgettable energy to the stage.

With a focus on resilience, adaptability, and human connection, Ken equips leaders to navigate change, inspire others, and use humor as a powerful tool for influence. He is the author of Take Your Best Shot: Turning Situations into Opportunities.

Mark Speckman
College Football Coach | Motivational Speaker | Overcoming Adversity Expert

Figure it Out

In this powerful and practical session, Mark Speckman challenges audiences to rethink what it really means to face obstacles head-on. Drawing from his own journey of coaching, leadership, and life without hands, Mark shows how creativity, perseverance, and a refusal to make excuses can unlock solutions in the toughest situations. With humor, candor, and unforgettable stories, he will inspire attendees to “figure it out” when challenges arise—whether on the field, in the workplace, or in everyday life.

Mark Speckman is a nationally recognized football coach and motivational speaker whose life and message inspire audiences to overcome obstacles and embrace a mindset of resilience. Born without hands, Mark has defied the odds throughout his life, building a successful career in coaching and leadership across high school, collegiate, and professional levels. He currently serves as the Offensive Coordinator at Azusa Pacific University in California.

With a signature message of “figuring it out,” Mark brings powerful insights and engaging stories that resonate across industries and audiences. His speaking engagements span 20+ states and international venues, with clients including Boeing, Nike, State Farm, the FBI, the University of Notre Dame, and the California Police Chiefs Association.

Mark’s presentations are candid, heartfelt, and customized to each audience—whether he’s speaking to business executives, educators, law enforcement professionals, or student-athletes. His message is clear: challenges don’t define you—how you respond to them does.

Michelle Curran
Former USAF Thunderbird Pilot | International Speaker | Author

Flying Through Fear: How Vulnerability Fuels Success

We are constantly under pressure to hire the right people, create a cohesive team, and perform at a high level… to do more with less. However, success hinges on each team member’s ability to be bold and expand their comfort zone. Sometimes, seeing this struggle from a new perspective is just what an audience needs. Recognizing that even those who may seem unflappable have overcome the same doubts and the same obstacles suddenly makes success seem within reach.

In her keynote, Michelle, also known as Mace, takes her audience on a surprising and compelling journey through her career as a Fighter Pilot, culminating in her role as the Lead Solo Pilot for the Air Force Thunderbirds.

Are you ready to take flight and overcome your fears?

Michelle “MACE” Curran is a renowned international speaker, author, and former U.S. Air Force fighter pilot known for inspiring audiences to overcome fear and self-doubt. She spent 13 years flying high-performance jets, culminating in her role as the Lead Solo Pilot for the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds — only the second woman in history to hold this prestigious position.

MACE has captivated audiences across the globe with her message of bold leadership and personal growth. Her clients include Fortune 500 companies such as Microsoft, Boeing, John Deere, SpaceX, Purina, and PwC. She’s been featured on The Kelly Clarkson Show, CBS Evening News, Glamour, and many other major media outlets.

In addition to speaking, MACE is a bestselling author of two children’s books and her newly released debut non-fiction book, The Flipside. As a LinkedIn Top Voice, she reaches millions monthly through her online presence. She is passionate about helping individuals and teams tap into their courage, reframe failure, and take flight in all areas of life.

Stephen James, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine at Washington State University | Expert in Operational Performance & Fatigue Science

The Hidden Risks of Fatigue

Fatigue is more than just feeling tired—it’s a critical safety issue for first responders. In this session, Dr. James will explore how shiftwork, long hours, and lack of sleep impact health, decision-making, and on-the-job performance. He’ll explain the biological limits that all humans share and why exceeding them raises the risk of serious errors and accidents. Drawing on real-world examples, Dr. James will show how fatigue undermines essential first responder tasks and highlight innovative training and policy solutions that can help organizations reduce these risks and protect their teams.

Dr. Stephen James is a leading researcher and educator focused on the impact of physical stressors—such as fatigue, shift work, and high-stakes environments—on the operational performance of military and law enforcement personnel. He serves as faculty in the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine at Washington State University, where his research explores how sleep health, decision-making, training, and policy intersect to influence real-world performance.

With more than 20 years of experience as a British Army soldier and officer, including deployments to Cyprus, the Former Yugoslavia, Northern Ireland, and Afghanistan, Dr. James brings firsthand operational insight to his academic work. His research has shaped understanding of critical law enforcement tasks including driving, citizen encounters, crisis response, and deadly force situations.

Dr. James is a sought-after speaker known for translating complex science into practical strategies to enhance readiness, resilience, and well-being for first responders and military professionals.

David Griffin, Ph.D.
Fire Chief | Author | Leadership & Organizational Change Expert

In Honor of The Charleston 9: A Study of Change Following Tragedy

The presentation “In Honor of The Charleston 9: A Study of Change Following Tragedy” is based off of the best-selling book with the identical name, which includes doctoral research that will help all organizations—whether public, private, for-profit, or non-profit—determine whether organizational change is needed in their respective organization. Students are taken on an emotional ride from June 18, 2007, in Charleston, SC, where nine firefighters perished in the line of duty, to today, where the organization is now a national model for progress in operations, community risk reduction, firefighter health, and leadership. All organizations can learn life-altering lessons from Charleston to ensure that they do not experience this type of tragic incident.

This presentation utilizes firsthand video footage from June 18, 2007, that is not available online, as well as the radio traffic that coincides. Also discussed during this presentation are signs and symptoms of post-traumatic stress, acute stress disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and suicide awareness. This presentation was developed and is presented by the first-due engineer on the scene of this multiple line-of-duty death incident, who is now an Assistant Fire Chief in Charleston, South Carolina.

Dr. David Griffin is the Assistant Chief of Administration in Charleston, South Carolina. He was the operator of the first-due engine on June 18, 2007, when nine of his fellow firefighters perished. Over his 20-year career in Charleston, he has served in every uniformed position in Operations, from Firefighter to Assistant Chief.

Dr. Griffin holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from The Citadel, a Master’s Degree in Executive Fire Service Leadership, and a Doctorate of Education in Organizational Leadership and Development. He is the author of the bestseller In Honor of The Charleston 9: A Study of Change Following Tragedy, along with three other books.

He is an international speaker and instructor, a certified Chief Fire Officer (CFO) and Chief Training Officer (CTO) with the Center for Public Safety Excellence, and an IFSAC/Pro Board-certified Fire Officer IV. Dr. Griffin is also a graduate of multiple prestigious programs, including:

• Executive Fire Officer Program (EFO) – National Fire Academy

• Senior Executives in State and Local Government – Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Executive Education

• Psychology of Leadership – Cornell University’s Samuel Curtis Johnson College of Business

• Values Based Leadership – Yale University’s School of Management

• Fire Service Executive Development Institute (FSEDI) – International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC)

Dr. Griffin is the owner of On A Mission Inspirational Speaking (drdavidgriffin.com), where he has worked with over 1,400 organizations across 46 states and 3 countries, reaching more than 500,000 attendees.

Johnny Quinn
U.S. Olympian | Former NFL Player | Leadership & Peak Performance Speaker

BREAKING THROUGH BARRIERS: Unleash Resilience, Determination and Growth for Unbounded Success

Everyone faces barriers. Some are obvious. Others are hidden beneath the surface. In BREAKING THROUGH BARRIERS, Johnny Quinn helps audiences recognize the roadblocks holding them back and equips them with the mindset and tools to move forward. Drawing from his remarkable journey from professional football to the Olympic Games, Johnny shares how setbacks, injuries, and detours became the very things that propelled him toward success. This keynote offers more than motivation. It provides a proven framework built on three essential qualities: resilience, determination, and growth mindset. These are not buzzwords. They are the tools leaders need to thrive in pressure-filled environments, navigate personal and professional challenges, and build meaningful momentum in life and at work. When leaders break through barriers, they do more than reach goals. They create stronger teams, healthier cultures, and better results across every area of life.

Johnny Quinn is a U.S. Olympian, former NFL football player, and highly sought-after keynote speaker known for helping audiences break through barriers and embrace change. As one of only three people in history to have played in the NFL and competed in the Winter Olympics, Johnny brings a powerful blend of resilience, leadership, and peak performance strategies to the stage.

Johnny represented Team USA as a bobsledder in the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, after playing professional football for the Buffalo Bills, Green Bay Packers, and Saskatchewan Roughriders. He’s been featured on major media outlets including ABC, CNN, FOX, ESPN, USA Today, and The Wall Street Journal.

Through captivating stories and actionable insights, Johnny equips leaders, teams, and organizations to tackle challenges, adapt to change, and perform at the highest level. He is also the author of PUSH: Breaking Through the Barriers, a bestselling book about overcoming adversity with purpose.