Speakers

Meet our speakers

Industry leaders and inspirational speakers to inspire and educate you on what you need to know.  Even before you get to Reno, ABA offers virtual learning opportunities with professional speakers.  From human resources to technology and professional development, don’t miss out on these business-building strategies.

  • James Brown

    Webinar Speaker

    James is a speaker, emcee, voice-over talent, and presentation coach; I guess you could say he's a man who wears many hats (literally has more than 40 "B" caps!)  Known for his commanding voice and interactive approach, he lives by the creed that everybody is your customer.  A former All-American and award-winning Sales executive, James is no stranger to competing at the highest levels.  James' unique expertise as a leader and teammate has paved the way for him to be an asset to organizations challenging them to leverage the power of relationships in "The Xchange Zone."

  • Josiah Brown

    Webinar Speaker

    Josiah Brown is the former Chair of the New York State Tourism Industry Association and current President/CEO of Famous Destination Marketing. He is a rural destination and branding expert and is a frequent speaker in tourism and destination marketing.   Josiah, or The New York Sherpa, as he is called in the New York tourism industry, has logged nearly 1 million driving miles throughout New York State and 47 states over the last 21 years.  As the founder of the “New York’s Best Experiences” brand, travel guide and mobile visitors center he is uniquely positioned as both a destination consultant and a destination marketer.  His life goal is to always be “Inspiring People Forward”.

  • Dallin Cooper

    Webinar Speaker

    Dallin Cooper has owned and operated businesses of all sizes for nearly a decade. Teaching the same principles of ethical leadership that led to the success of his own businesses, Dallin is the speaker for any business group, association or organization looking to develop a culture of trust. Ethics generally gets a reputation of being a boring and stuffy topic. Dallin strives to subvert that reputation by crafting speeches and trainings that don’t feel like “ethics training.” Instead, audiences will learn about how their actions impact their relationships with others as well as themselves in such a way that they yearn to behave more ethically not because of compliance, but because of the benefit that behavior brings to their lives.

  • Sima Dahl

    Webinar Speaker

    Sima Dahl, CSP, AS, and MBA, is an international speaker and branding visionary who will revolutionize the way you think about the business of personal brands. Her experience as an award-winning marketer paved the way for Sway Factor™, a progressive mindset that empowers professionals to stand out, stay relevant, and be in demand. With bold candor, unfiltered honesty, and her signature charismatic style, Sima has traveled from Boston to Budapest to show organizations and their staff how to drive sales, attract top talent, increase employee retention, and market themselves.

  • Robb Holman

    Webinar Speaker

    Robb Holman is a globally renowned expert in personal transformation and the driving force behind his Inside Out Leadership philosophy. As a highly sought-after keynote speaker and best-selling author of four books, Robb has shared the stage with some of the most influential leaders of our time. Robb is also the CEO of Holman International, a top-tier global leadership consultancy, and has been named one of the world's top 30 leadership speakers for three consecutive years (2022 - present) by Global Gurus. His innovative Inside Out Leadership philosophy has been featured in esteemed publications including Inc, Forbes, and Fast Company. Fun Fact: Robb used to be a professional basketball player!

  • Jane Jenkins Herlong

    Webinar Speaker

    From farm fields to fame, Jane Jenkins Herlong is a Sirius XM Humorist and international best-selling author. Alongside Jeff Foxworthy, Ray Romano, and Jerry Seinfeld, her comedy is known far and wide.
    Not just a funny lady, Jane is also an award-winning author. She's churned out five award-winning books, each one more Southern-fried than the last. Her latest gem, "Sweet Tea Secrets from the Deep-Fried South," is on the shelves of Cracker Barrel nationwide and is being optioned for an upcoming film.
    In speaking, Jane holds a place in the Speaker Hall of Fame, next to Ronald Reagan and the late General Colin L. Powell. She also earned the title of Certified Speaking Professional and recently was inducted into the Legends of Speaking in Washington D.C.
    Jane faced her share of "You can't do thats" in her life, thanks to the dyslexic label stamped on her early on. But she just laughed, probably snorted, and transformed every "NO" into a "NEXT." You see, Jane believes that humor is the WD-40 of life—it makes everything run more smoothly. Jane shows crowds how to wrestle stress to the ground, and then high-five it out the door—all with a grin and a "watch me" attitude.
    Her vocal and humor talents earned her features on Sirius XM, Pandora, Spotify, and Amazon. She speaks in four languages: English, Southern, Northern, and Lowcountry Gullah (gul-la).
    Jane journeyed from the rows of her family’s Lowcountry tomato farm to the runway of the Miss America Pageant and then to Radio City Music Hall. She finished college with top honors and attended graduate school. Her message helps people change "NOs" into "NEXTs," one laugh at a time.
    Whether sharing wisdom or humor, Jane Jenkins Herlong is an act you won't want to miss.

  • Brandon Kelly

    Webinar Speaker

    Brandon Kelly is a distinguished business owner, speaker, and author with a proven track record in building successful enterprises and mentoring others to reach their full potential. He is the author of several impactful books, including 101 Ways to Sell Your House and Keep the Commission, The ABC’s of Business Survival, Revival, and Thrival in the Modern Economy, and The Watermark Principles.  Brandon’s entrepreneurial journey began in his twenties, where he made his first million by implementing innovative strategies that set him apart in the marketplace. Known for his out-of-the-box thinking, he consistently identifies winning solutions for complex business challenges. His experience extends beyond business; Brandon has faced and overcome significant personal adversities, including battling cancer twice and surviving two critical accidents that required him to relearn basic functions like walking and speaking.

  • Margaret Johnson

    Webinar Speaker

    Margaret Johnson has been a speaker, coach and leadership trainer for over 20 years. Prior to that she held engineering, leadership, technical sales and consulting positions in the energy industry. Margaret received her Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Michigan State University and then moved to Texas as fast as she could! With her MBA (University of Houston – Clear Lake), professional engineering license and ICF (International Coach Federation) PCC corporate coaching and fitness credentials, she inspires people and organizations to move from S.O.S. (Same Old Stuff) to W.O.W.! (Well On the Way) to where they want to be. Her creative, engaging style inspires individuals to apply knowledge and take immediate action for success. She is also a published author of “From SOS to WOW! Your Personal Coaching Adventure” and her forthcoming book on “The Cure for INFObesity”.

  • Ami Kassar

    Webinar Speaker

    Ami Kassar, author of The Growth Dilemma, speaks nationally to entrepreneurs and business owners who desire money to grow their companies, improve cash flow and/or restructure debt.
    Ami is the founder and chief executive officer of Multifunding, a Philadelphia based consulting firm that specializes in helping business owners across the United States develop creative, cost-saving alternatives for their business debt needs and structure.
    For over twenty-five years he has challenged people to think differently about their businesses and to educate them on how to responsibly use leverage to create wealth.
    As the “go-to” thought leader in business financing, Ami is frequently quoted in national media and is a sought-after speaker at business and industry events across the country. He writes a weekly column for 21 Hats, and has advised the White House, the Treasury Department, Congress, and the Federal Reserve Bank.

  • Joseph Kopser

    Webinar Speaker

    Joseph Kopser is a lifelong problem-solver dedicated to assembling the teams necessary to tackle our most challenging issues. As a technology entrepreneur and expert in transportation, smart cities, urban mobility, energy, and national security, he brings a wealth of knowledge to his work, enhanced by his experience as an Army combat veteran. Currently, he serves as an Executive-in-Residence at the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas and is the President of Grayline, where he collaborates with individuals and organizations to connect experts, data, and solutions to effectively manage disruptive change. Joseph also co-authored the book Catalyst: Leadership and Strategy in a Changing World.

  • Alex McElroy

    Webinar Speaker

    Alex McElroy is an international speaker, TEDx speaker, leadership advisor, Apologist, author and blogger for RelentlessPursuitofPurpose.com. Alex has been instrumental in implementing his message of leadership and purpose in the ministry, non-profit and business world and has enjoyed tremendous success in the mortgage industry, insurance and financial services, as well as in the arena of energy efficiency. He is also a dedicated husband to his supportive wife and a loving father to two beautiful daughters.  Though living in his purpose now, Alex has experienced and overcome significant struggles and setbacks in life. He suffered the loss of his father at a young age, the loss of his mother more recently, dealt with drug and alcohol abuse in his college years, and found himself in an angry, depressed and lonely place as he endured financial hell that resulted in bankruptcy and desperation. Thankfully, these arduous moments served to reveal Alex’s purpose. Now Alex travels the world coaching and training others to discover their unique purpose and lead with purpose, because he is a firm believer that everyone has been created on purpose with a purpose!

  • Ken Sher

    Webinar Speaker

    Meet Ken  I am an Executive Coach and Career Consultant with nearly 30 years of experience at Johnson & Johnson and Bristol-Myers Squibb. I served as Vice President, Coaching Services at the Velocity Advisory Group coaching clients in positions ranging from first-line Manager to CEO and I have had my own Executive Coaching and Career Coaching practice since 2015.    I have found that TRUST is the foundation of all great relationships and great relationships are the foundation for success.    TRUST is not a given, it needs to be earned, nurtured and developed over time, more so with actions than words. The good news is that it can be developed by focusing on the TRUST Model and 5 areas of focus to build TRUST between you, your contacts, your colleagues and the marketplace.    I’ve helped leaders from first-time, first-line managers to CEOs be successful by identifying their true self and building their teams and business to heights they hadn’t reached before.

  • Lee Silber

    Webinar Speaker

    Lee Silber is an award-winning and best selling author of 26 books including fiction and non-fiction titles. His customized presentations are always full of energy and ideas and his is best known for his use of interactive activities that involve the audience.     Silber is also the founder of five companies, including a chain of retail stores. He co-hosts a weekly podcast on efficiency, and he's the drummer for the Hillzbillyz Band.     Lee lives in Mission Beach, California.

  • John Southard

    Webinar Speaker

    John Southard, a PhD in U.S. Military History, is a renowned author, speaker, and expert in empathetic leadership. He has translated his extensive research on empathy into actionable strategies for corporate America, helping leaders build more empathetic cultures and enhance both customer and employee experiences. John is passionate about empowering organizations to harness the transformative power of empathy, driving change within and beyond their walls.  In his book, Defend and Befriend, John uncovers one of the most remarkable yet untold stories of empathy in history. He chronicles a small group of U.S. Marines during the Vietnam War who used empathy to foster trust in a highly challenging environment. Their actions unknowingly created a powerful framework for building trust—one that businesses can apply today to connect with employees and customers. After over a decade of studying these Marines, John has successfully adapted their empathy playbook for the corporate world, resulting in impressive business outcomes.

  • Ronald Williams

    Webinar Speaker

    Ron Williams, is an internationally recognized speaker and trainer with more than forty years of experience in both the public and private sector. As a trainer, coach, and expert on leadership, Ron has developed a unique way of presenting information he calls “edutainment”. This high energy and highly interactive style combine thought-provoking content with an entertaining delivery that makes audiences think, laugh, learn, and have a positive fun-filled experience. Ron’s insights on 21st-century leadership, employee engagement, generational differences and psychological safety in the workplace make him one of the nation’s leading resources in understanding organizational and individual success and achievement.  He is considered a leader in the fields of Diversity, Equity Inclusion & Accessibility and Board education and development.  A graduate of Creighton University, Ron has held many high-profile positions in his career. He has been Senior Advisor to the Director of the United States Mint, Chief of Staff for the HR Department for the District of Columbia, he also was General Manager of the Western Region for Nike, Inc. While at Nike, Ron created the Corporate Diversity program where he was its first Director, as well as being the Director of Training and Development. Ron has also held key managerial roles at Champion Products, Pelle Pelle, and Wilson Sporting Goods.  Ron has worked with many federal government agencies in the United States, helping them develop programs to optimize their human capital.  He has also conducted educational programs for organizations in a variety of industries helping grow their leadership teams, build morale, increase customer satisfaction, and work more effectively as a team. Ron has coached the C-Suite, as well as all other levels of management.  Ron has been a featured speaker at Conferences in Saudi Arabia, Jamaica, Mexico, and Canada. The Creighton University graduate, is a proud grandfather and an avid golfer. The Chicago native currently resides in Upland, CA.  Ron is the author of three books, Rhythmic Leadership:  The Book That Makes Its Readers Better Leaders; Reinvent and Reinvest in Yourself: and The Right Man Business Plan for Women.