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2013 Summit for Professional Growth
Tim Clue
 As a professional funny man and unconventional motivator, Tim Clue’s work behind the lectern is out in front—dynamic, inspirational, and most of all, hilarious. As a comedian, Tim has opened for Jerry Seinfeld and Steven Wright, and you may even have caught some of Tim’s viral comedy hits on YouTube or XM/Sirius Satellite Radio. But don’t think this professor of speech and published playwright is just about the laughs; as a corporate speaker, Tim has also spoken before such notables as POTUS 41 (President George H.W. Bush) and Nobel Prize winning economist Paul Krugman. Tim also enjoys his role as a lecturer on—and perpetual student of—contemporary issues surrounding communication. He persistently challenges himself to build on-point, potent and often-interactive content that underscores and reflects his clients’ realities, making Tim one of the most requested corporate speakers in the country. But he is perhaps most proud of his work as a playwright. Tim’s comedy “Leaving Iowa” was nominated Best New Play in the country, is now published and performed in theaters all over the U.S., and he is presently finishing up his next full length play, entitled “Standing in Mattoon.” Tim thanks the corporate world for funding these projects, but he does plan to continue speaking and challenging audiences to engage in humorous but thoughtful—and sometimes surprising—conversations. Tim Clue resides in Chicago as a hopeless Cubs fan with his wife Kathryn and his daughter Bailey.
Keynote session: "An Adventure in Confidence, Communication and Camaraderie" Tim combines his skill as a professional comedian, writer, improviser, teacher and motivator to create a one-of-a-kind experience that touches on key communication issues in the workplace today: technology, social media, organizational pain-points - Tim’s presentation reflects the velocity, energy and reality of our fast-paced technological era. Unpredictable, collaborative, lively, and – most of all – unforgettable.
Scott Friedman
 Scott Friedman, CSP, is a speaker and author with a sense of humor. He is a past-President of the National Speakers Association and has earned the ‘CSP’ designation (Certified Speaking Professional), the highest earned designation awarded by NSA. He recently received the Cavett Award, NSA’s most coveted award presented annually to the member whose accomplishments over the years have reflected outstanding service, respect, honor and admiration in the Association and the speaking profession. Scott has a sales and marketing background and for more than 28 years he has been traveling the globe sharing 'how to' techniques and practical ideas on customer and employee engagement, using celebration and humor strategically. Scott is the author of three books and his latest book is Celebrate! Lessons Learned From the World’s Most Admired Organizations. With a degree in Marketing and Psychology from Southern Methodist University, in Dallas, TX, Scott worked as a sales trainer and marketing director prior to becoming a professional speaker. He uses humor to remove negative, non-productive feelings and install a positive, fresh approach towards work, relationships, and life!
Keynote session:"The Best Way to Predict the Future is to Create It" In these turbulent, uncertain, globally competitive times, innovation and resourcefulness are essential to survival. This renowned program is fast-paced, humorous, and full of useable ideas on becoming a victor of change instead of a victim. Learn to create an environment that fosters creativity and team spirit. In this program, participants will learn to:
· Develop perspective of seeing challenges as "course corrections."
· Create a work environment that encourages and fosters creativity.
· Find the Joy and the Passion in what you do.
· Relieve Stress and Burnout.
· Use the “One-Minute Humor Break.”
· Convert Change into Opportunities for Growth.
· Maintain a High Level of Self-Esteem.
· Develop Strategies for Self-Renewal.
· Develop your Unique Sense of Humor.
· Create Other’s “Perfect Worlds.”
Christie Ward
 In the ‘90’s, she coached and managed more than 200 of the best professional trainers around the world for CareerTrack , Inc., where she was director of training. Since 1999, as an entrepreneur and principal in The Impact Institute, she has facilitated Communication topics that make the difference for performance, productive Teams, and effective Leadership. She personally coached the World Champion of Public Speaking for the year 2000! In 2004 she won the ASTD-RMC Best Practices award for a program that lowered union grievances at AT&T in Denver 66%. She earned her CSP (Certified Speaking Professional) designation in 2009. This certification is held by fewer than 10% of the professional speakers worldwide. She is Past-President of the ASTD-Rocky Mountain Chapter. She became part of NAC (National Advisors for Chapters for ASTD, the American Society of Training and Development) in 2008, served 3 years and was elected NAC Chair for 2011-2012 by her peers. She served on the National Board of directors for ASTD (2011-2012). She is past president for NSA (National Speaker’s Association) Colorado. She was voted member of the year 3x for NSA Colorado, 2008, 2009 and 2011. Christie regularly volunteers for the Tennyson Center for Abused Children, where she judges a speech contest, and for Goodwill, where she does mock-scholarship interviews at inner-city high schools. She recently conducted interviews for students as part of their career development at the Strive Charter schools in Denver. She is a leader on and off the platform.The focus of the Impact Institute is to give people the skills and tools they need to be effective with each other, their managers, their subordinates, their teams and their communities. The diverse landscape of human interaction today makes that a challenge. People are born and raised in a cultural context, and that is now complicated by a virtual context that has changed the way we communicate. There is more stress today caused by misperception and miscommunication than ever before. For this reason, Christie is called in to serve groups of people (teams or boards) where diversity of style and interest can get in the way of effective communication.
Erin Williams
Erin is entering her 12th year as an educator. After earning her degree at the University of Colorado at Boulder in 2002, she was on the path to law school, and in the interim decided to join Teach For America, a national corps of teachers who commit two years to teach in urban and rural public schools. She was placed in Los Angeles, and after a grueling first year and a much improved second year, realized she had found her calling and that law school was not for her. While in California, she taught sixth, seventh, and first grades at both public and charter schools in South Los Angeles and Watts. She earned her Master’s in Teaching from Loyola Marymount University. One of the highlights of her teaching career was the opportunity to chaperone students on a trip to Ghana, Togo, and Benin, West Africa in 2006.She has also taught adults, facilitating groups of brand-new teachers at Teach For America’s Summer Institute in 2008 and 2009. There she delivered high-impact, high-energy sessions over the course of 6 weeks to prepare recent college graduates for their first year in the classroom.She married the love of her life in 2010, and one year later moved to Colorado. Erin currently works at a high-performing charter school in the Denver area, where she teaches a course to 8th graders called Reading Seminar. Students read non-fiction news articles, novels, and poems, watch videos, analyze art, and then synthesize what they’ve learned in interactive Socratic Circles. Students are encouraged to question, to think critically, and to break down their own and others’ arguments to find truth.She loves teaching, and recently gave birth to a beautiful baby boy, who challenges and inspires her daily.
Keynote session: "Survive & Thrive in the Multi-Generational, Multi-Cultural Workplace of 2013" Communication Skills for today – taught by a 60-something and a 30-something! You’ve all heard about the Matures (prior to 1946), the Boomers (1946-1964), Generation X (1964-1980), and the Millennials or Generation Y (1981-2000). You’ve attended Diversity initiatives to explore respect for differences and Cultural and Global awareness seminars. Now we will show you the reality of how a 60-something and a 30-something, both professional women, deal with the real communication issues of our time. What is authenticity? How can I be truthful with a co-worker when it might hurt them? How can I say “NO” to my boss or a person in authority and have my intentions understood? How can I handle a sarcastic comment from a coworker, or a team-mate who steals the credit, then undermines me? What can I do to create balance in my life when I am feeling overwhelmed and can’t even leave work on time? This program will help you develop the personal presence to be taken seriously, and get some answers to the communication conundrums you face at work. And you will hear two perspectives – one from a 60-something and one from a 30-something; two women who have each dealt with adversity in their own way, and learned to not only survive but thrive. Fun banter, combined with heart-felt dialogue makes this program one that could change your perspective, lift your spirits and give you the courage to start tomorrow with a smile.
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