Share Your Story

Story Speakers Bureau

Story Speakers Bureau proudly presents a lineup of thought leaders, authors, and changemakers ready to inspire your audience and elevate your next event.

Mizzou Head Wrestling Coach

Brian Smith

Brian “Coach” Smith is the winningest coach in Mizzou Wrestling history and author of Tiger Style: Eight Steps to Create a Winning Culture. Over his 27-year career, he’s built one of the nation’s top wrestling programs by instilling a mindset of excellence, belief, and grit. Now, he shares the Tiger Style philosophy with businesses, schools, and teams across the country.
Leadership Development // Team Culture & Performance // Overcoming Adversity & Mental Toughness
Teen Mental Health Speaker

Brittany Richmond

Brittany Richmond is a dynamic teen and young adult mental health speaker and bestselling author of Lies My Anxiety Has Told Me. With over a decade of lived experience—after being diagnosed with multiple anxiety and impulse control disorders—she empowers student leaders to “Become an Overcomer” by dismantling negative self-talk and building authentic connection . Her interactive keynotes help students feel seen, heard, and equipped with practical tools to grow, lead, and thrive.
Mental Health & Anxiety Resilience // Self‑Leadership & Empowerment // Building Connection & Peer Support  
Speaker & Sales Leader

Chris Garner

Chris Garner is a former U.S. Navy leader and longtime SEC football official, known for leading under pressure and making tough calls with clarity. He’s the author of Whistles and Wisdom, where he shares leadership lessons from the field and the military. Today, Chris delivers high-energy keynotes and provides fractional sales leadership to help teams build trust, communicate clearly, and perform at the highest level.  
Fractional Sales Leadership & Strategy // Pressure‑Proof Leadership & Decision Making // High‑Performance Team Culture & Communication
Suicide Prevention Advocate & Mental Health Educator

Leslie Weirich

Leslie Weirich is a nationally recognized mental health speaker and founder of Leslie’s Hope, a nonprofit dedicated to suicide prevention and postvention. After losing her son to suicide, Leslie began sharing her family’s story to bring hope, healing, and critical education to schools, churches, and communities across the country.

Her presentations blend neuroscience, lived experience, and practical tools to help adults and teens recognize warning signs, navigate hard conversations, and reduce the stigma surrounding mental health.

Youth Suicide Prevention // Mental Health & Faith // Parenting & Teen Communication // Social Media & Adolescent Health // Postvention & Purpose After Loss
Student Leadership Coach

Kelly Simmons

Kelly Simmons is a U.S. Army veteran, first-generation college graduate, and author of The Winning Leadership Challenge, an 8-step framework to help students lead with purpose. As the founder of Empowered To Win, Kelly speaks to schools and universities across the country, equipping students with practical tools for confidence, resilience, and self-leadership. His high-energy keynotes leave students inspired to grow, lead, and make a lasting impact.

Student Leadership & Motivation // Career Readiness & Self-Advocacy // Veteran Resilience & Mental Toughness // Empowerment Through Education // Confidence & Personal Growth
Author & Speaker

Cory Scheer

Cory Scheer is the Founder & CEO of TrustCentric Consulting, bringing over 25 years of leadership experience across business, education, non-profits, government, ministry, and the military. He’s the author of Closing the Trust Gap: Taking Action on What Matters Most for Leaders, Teams, and Organizations, offering a clear, evidence-backed framework to build trust as a strategic advantage. Cory delivers engaging keynotes and coaching grounded in his “Structure of Trust” model—driving clarity, communication, and measurable culture growth.  
Trust-Based Leadership & Team Development // Culture Transformation & Strategic Communication // Building High-Trust Organizations  
Leadership Mentor & Mental Fitness Advocate

Richard Yeargin

Richard Yeargin is a transformational keynote speaker, former Clemson defensive end, two-time national champion, and bestselling author of The Man Is Greater Than the Brand. After a life-changing car accident, his journey from the gridiron to earning a master’s and teaching as a Clemson professor led him to champion character-driven leadership.

Through powerful storytelling, Richard inspires students, educators, coaches, and professionals to prioritize values over image, build emotional intelligence, and lead with resilience and purpose.

Character-Driven Leadership // Resilience & Mental Fitness // Athlete-to-Leader Transformation // Social & Emotional Intelligence // Purpose Over Performance
Award‑winning Business Leader

Evans Duren

Evans Duren is an award‑winning business leader, speaker, and author of Send Me: Discovering Your Mission Through Work. Drawing on two decades of success in Fortune 15 firms, tech startups, and over $100 million in sales, he now leads The Duren Companies, guiding professionals and organizations to bridge faith and work. Through motivational keynotes, coaching, and consulting, Evans challenges audiences to view every “ordinary” business moment as an opportunity for Kingdom‑impact and eternal significance.
Christian Workplace Integration & Purpose // Kingdom-Minded Leadership & Stewardship // Transformational Culture & Sales Excellence  
Speaker & Sales Leader

Jack Harnedy

Jack Harnedy is a seasoned leader with 21+ years in the Consumer Packaged Goods industry and former Division I long‑snapper at Northwestern University. As author of Snap & Go: Urgency, Discipline, and Finishing Through the Whistle, he draws powerful parallels between everyday leadership and the snap play—emphasizing strategy, consistency, and seizing each moment . Jack inspires growth-minded teams and individuals to stop dwelling on the past, fire off the ball, and make every day count—on the field, in families, and across organizations.  
Consumer-Packaged Goods Leadership & Strategy // Urgency, Discipline & Execution Mindset // Translating Athletic Principles into Everyday Success
Motivational Speaker & Leadership Coach

Thomas R. Williams

Thomas R. Williams is a former NFL linebacker (USC, Jacksonville Jaguars, Buffalo Bills) whose career was cut short by injury. He transformed adversity into purpose by founding Thomas R. Williams, Inc., authoring Permission to DREAM, and speaking globally to organizations, schools, and sports teams. Thomas empowers audiences with his story of overcoming setbacks and embracing identity beyond labels.

Resilience & Overcoming Adversity // Identity & Purpose Beyond Sports // Leadership & Team Cohesion // Pursuit of Greatness & Motivation // Navigating Career Transitions
Performance Coach & Resilience Expert

Lance Cibik

Lance Cibik is a speaker, performance coach, and author of Adversity Fuels Purpose. With two decades in financial services and a powerful personal story of resilience, Lance equips audiences to turn setbacks into strength, lead with confidence, and reach their full potential. From corporate teams to high school students, his keynotes inspire lasting growth across mindset, communication, and performance.

Resilience & Mental Toughness // High-Performance Mindset // Confident Communication & Presence // Overcoming Adversity // Sales & Business Growth
Leadership Author & Navy Veteran

Scott Milson

Scott Milson is a former executive and U.S. Navy Petty Officer who now empowers audiences to discover their “frequency of excellence.” Author of Frequency of Excellence: Tuning In to the Everyday Lessons of Life and Leadership (Fall 2024), Scott combines compelling storytelling with real-world insight to help professionals and teams unlock peak performance in leadership, sales, culture, and entrepreneurship.

Leadership Development // Sales Excellence // Growth Mindset & Performance // Entrepreneurial Culture // Mentorship & Team Building
Financial Literacy Advocate & CFP

Dale Alexander

Dale Alexander is a Certified Financial Planner® and author of The Talk (About Money), a go-to resource for teens and young adults learning to manage money. With over 30 years of experience and national features on Fox & Friends and Fox Business, Dale brings humor, energy, and real-world advice to schools, churches, and conferences nationwide. 

His simple message—“It’s not about how much you make, it’s about what you keep”—has helped thousands take ownership of their financial future.

Financial Literacy for Students // Money & Life After High School // Faith-Based Stewardship // Building Wealth with Purpose // Legacy & Generosity
Positivity Trainer & Growth Advocate

Julie Nee

Julie Nee is a certified Jon Gordon trainer, speaker, and co-author of You Grow Girl! Plant and Pursue the Power of You. With over 25 years of leadership experience—including 19 years at The Hershey Company—Julie brings energy, authenticity, and practical strategies to help professionals build positive cultures and lead with purpose 

Her workshops and keynotes empower audiences to overcome uncertainty, embrace their strengths, and cultivate a growth mindset through heart-centered leadership and enthusiasm Julie’s signature Mirror Mirror framework helps individuals clear self-doubt and shine with clarity and confidence.

Positive Leadership & Culture // Growth Mindset & Self-Discovery // Overcoming Imposter Syndrome // Empowerment Through Positivity // Leadership Development & Team Building
Culture-Driven CFO

Douglas Dentler

Douglas Dentler is a seasoned CFO with over 20 years of leadership in Fortune 500s and high-growth companies. From his roots in a small, family-run business to overseeing billion-dollar operations, Doug brings a rare blend of financial expertise, operational excellence, and people-first leadership.

He speaks on building resilient teams, driving culture transformation, and leading with integrity—no matter the size of the organization.

Culture-Driven Leadership // Financial Strategy & Operational Excellence // Team Development & Organizational Design // Executive Decision Making // Values-Based Business Growth
President of Mosaic Family Wealth & Former All-American Athlete

Scott Highmark

Scott Highmark is the President of Mosaic Family Wealth and a Certified Financial Planner® with over two decades of experience helping families define success beyond wealth. A former college basketball All-American, Scott blends his background in athletics with deep financial expertise to help leaders align their money with their values.

Through speaking and advisory work, he equips audiences to lead with purpose, build lasting legacies, and pursue a richer kind of success—personally and professionally.

Wealth & Family Legacy // Faith and Financial Planning // Leadership Development // Emotional Intelligence in Business // Values-Based Decision Making
HR Executive & Culture Strategist

Abby Martin

Abby Martin is the Chief Human Resources Officer at Amplēo and a trusted advisor to growing companies across the country. With over 15 years of experience leading HR strategy for startups and Fortune 100 firms, she helps executive teams build scalable people systems and high-trust cultures. Abby speaks on leadership development, organizational design, and the power of people-first growth.

HR Strategy & Organizational Design // Culture Transformation // Leadership Development // Change Management // People-Driven Growth
Entrepreneur & Franchise Leader

Michael Browning Jr.

Michael Browning Jr. is the founder and CEO of Unleashed Brands, the parent company of Urban Air Adventure Park, Snapology, The Little Gym, and more. After launching Urban Air from his garage, he scaled it into a nationwide franchise before building a platform that now serves over 20 million families annually. Michael speaks on entrepreneurial grit, franchise growth, and building purpose-driven brands that last.

Entrepreneurship & Startup Growth // Franchise Leadership // Scaling Purpose-Driven Brands // Youth Enrichment & Innovation // Leadership & Culture
Women’s Mentorship & Spiritual Growth

Donna Aust

Donna Aust is a Bible teacher, writer, speaker, and passionate mentor of women seeking truth and transformation through God’s Word. Over 25 years ago, after a black belt test prompted her to confront the nature of truth, Donna encountered the life-changing power of the Gospel and left behind a career in leadership and martial arts instruction to pursue ministry. Since then, she has devoted her life to teaching Scripture, writing Bible studies, and encouraging women to know God personally and live in the freedom of His grace. She lives in New Jersey with her husband and delights in being a mom, grandmother, and mother-in-law. Whether she’s walking the beach, lifting weights, or gathered with family after church, Donna’s greatest joy is pointing others to Jesus—the One who changed her life forever.

Bible Teaching // Faith-Driven Identity & Transformation // Biblical Truth & Personal Discipleship // Freedom from Performance-Based Living
Coaching Youth Sports with Purpose & Grace

Bill Severns

Bill Severns is an author, speaker, and former professional baseball player passionate about shaping lives both on and off the field. A Sporting News and AACBC All-American at the University of Oklahoma, Bill played six years in the Milwaukee Brewers farm system and made four consecutive trips to the College World Series during his collegiate career. After retiring from the game, he spent over two decades coaching little league and mentoring young athletes—an experience that inspired his books Keepers of the Sandlot and Sandlot Strategy, which offer practical encouragement for parents and coaches. Bill lives in Prairie Village, Kansas, with his wife Suzanne. They have four grown children and twelve grandchildren, and he continues to serve his community through his work at HDR and as a board member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes of Kansas.

Faith and Character through Sports // Mentorship & Fatherhood Legacy // Team Culture & Personal Integrity

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