Speakers
Main Platform
The Minimalists
Main Platform
SUNDAY, JUNE 9
Less is Now
Minimalism is a lifestyle that helps MDRT members question what things add value to their lives. By clearing the clutter from life’s path, we can all make room for the most important aspects of life: health, relationships, passion, growth and contribution.
Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus, known to their audience as The Minimalists, help more than 20 million people live meaningful lives with less through their website, books, podcast and films. They have been featured in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Time magazine, and have spoken at Harvard, Apple and Google. The Minimalists Podcast is often the No. 1 health podcast on Apple Podcasts, and their documentary, Minimalism, was recently released by Netflix.
WME Entertainment
9601 Wilshire Blvd, 3rd Floor, Beverly Hills, CA, 90210
Email: cpearson@wmeentertainment.com Phone: (310) 270-4931
Jade Simmons
Main Platform
SUNDAY, JUNE 9
Move Like a Maverick
Simmons presents an empowering lineup of uncommon mindset shifts and brave, new modes of operation designed to shift people from status quo huggers to empowered trailblazers in one fell swoop. Her presentation is perfect for members looking to motivate their people to new heights personally and bigger results professionally.
Jade Simmons, known as classical music’s “No.1 maverick,” has repeatedly defied expectations, delivered riveting performances and innovated at every turn. One of the most versatile concert artists on the scene today, Simmons doesn’t simply play the piano to impress audiences. She uses the piano as an instrument for providing inspiration, information and entertainment to profoundly move people. Listed as one of Ebony magazine’s Top 30 Leaders under 30, Simmons’ impressive musical background and diverse cultural experiences have made her a pioneer and source of inspiration for her legions of fans.
Goodman Speakers Bureau
56 Poquonoc Ave, Windsor, CT, 6095
Email: diane@goodmanspeakersbureau.com Phone: (800) 875-2893
Cathy Burke
Main Platform
MONDAY, JUNE 10
Cathy Burke is a speaker, thought leader, and author of Unlikely Leaders: Lessons in Leadership from the Village Classroom. Cathy is a global ambassador for The Hunger Project, having served for 20 years, first as the CEO for The Hunger Project Australia and then Global Vice President, working to end hunger through developing leaders at scale across villages in South Asia, Africa and Latin America. She then used this experience to develop leaders in large banks, firms and Silicon Valley tech. Cathy believes leadership is crucial for any endeavor that matters. As a former CEO, she understands first-hand the challenges businesses and teams face. She helps people break through limiting beliefs and unhelpful mindsets, and inspires new thinking and possibilities.
The Hunger Project
Jenna Recuber
110 West 30th Street 6th floor
New York, NY 10001
Email: jenna.recuber@thp.org Phone: 212-532-9785
Jake Wood
Main Platform
MONDAY, JUNE 10
The Nine and the One
Wood's presentation will force you to rethink what you know about leadership, change management and risk. If you can adapt, you will thrive; if you refuse change, you will flounder and fail. Wood shares how you can find and build the team needed to win life's battles and become the "one" others look to.
Jake Wood is the co-founder and CEO of Team Rubicon, a nonprofit organization that recruits, trains and deploys military veterans to disaster zones around the world. Since 2010, Team Rubicon has scaled to 80,000 volunteers and deployed teams to some of the worst catastrophes of the century. A sergeant in the United States Marine Corps, Wood deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan as a scout sniper and earned the Navy and Marine Commendation Medal. A leading veterans’ advocate, Wood has met with former Presidents Bush and Clinton on veteran transition and disaster response and testified before a Senate committee to improve mental-health services for returning veterans.
BrightSight Group
139 Wall St, Princeton, NJ, 8540
Email: tom@brightsightgroup.com Phone: (609) 924-3060
Daniel Pink
Main Platform
MONDAY, JUNE 10
When
We all know that timing is everything. Trouble is, we don’t know much about timing itself. Busy business and professional lives present a never-ending stream of “when” decisions, but we make them based on intuition and guesswork. Pink shares his scientific secrets of perfect timing to reveal that perfect timing is truly an art.
Daniel Pink deploys the science of motivation to boost engagement, spark innovation and create better leaders. A New York Times bestselling author, Pink’s latest work, “When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing,” explores the science of timing in our lives. By distilling cutting-edge research in psychology, biology and economics, Pink presents a new paradigm of the opportune times for everything. Pink’s award-winning books have been translated into 38 languages and have sold 3 million copies worldwide. His TED Talk on the science of motivation is one of the 10 most-watched TED Talks of all time.
Washington Speakers Bureau
1663 Prince Street, Alexandria, VA, 22314
Email: kristind@wsb.com Phone: (703) 684-0555
Mick Ebeling
Main Platform
MONDAY, JUNE 10
Not Impossible
Ebeling has passionately studied the concept of "the impossible.” All the modern conveniences we see around us were once considered impossible until inspiration met execution and the impossible became a reality. Ebeling dives deeper into the impossible, the underlying psychological effects it has and how you can overcome it so true innovation can take place.
Mick Ebeling is a film, television and commercial producer, philanthropist, technology trailblazer, author, entrepreneur and public speaker who has won every major creative and advertising award. He is the CEO of Not Impossible Labs, a multiple-award-winning social-innovation lab and production company whose mission is to develop creative solutions to real-world problems. Named one of Ad Age’s “Top 50 Most Creative People,” Ebeling has worked with a wide variety of Fortune 500 companies to share the important message of creating “technology for the sake of humanity.”
Leading Authorities
150 N Michigan Ave, Ste 340, Chicago, IL, 60601
Email: ned@lauthorities.com Phone: (855) 827-0943
Bertrand Piccard
Main Platform
MONDAY, JUNE 10
Changing Altitude
Piccard's subject is life, communication, autohypnosis, crisis management and spirituality, all from the angle of the different altitudes and visions of the world that will give you more freedom to think and act. You may even be inspired to try new and more creative behavior to evolve and live better on a daily basis.
Chartwell
1910 Pacific Ave, Suite 16100, Dallas, TX, 75201
Email: ellis@chartwellspeakers.com Phone: (516) 658-1608
Ben Nemtin
Main Platform
MONDAY, JUNE 10
The Buried Life
Nemtin struggled with depression growing up and was forced to drop out of college. Searching for purpose, he created the world’s greatest bucket list with his three childhood friends. As a co-founder of The Buried Life movement, their quest has inspired millions to believe that impossible is truly possible.
Ben Nemtin is the New York Times bestselling author of “What Do You Want To Do Before You Die?” the star of the MTV show “The Buried Life” and an internationally renowned keynote speaker. As the co-founder of The Buried Life movement, Nemtin’s message of radical possibility has been featured in major media including The Today Show, The Oprah Winfrey Show, CNN, ABC, CBS and more. He delivers a high-octane message that motivates people to shake off mediocrity, dream bigger, live up to their greatness and give back to others.
Goodman Speakers Bureau
56 Poquonoc Ave, Windsor, CT, 6095
Email: diane@goodmanspeakersbureau.com Phone: (800) 875-2893
Steve Pemberton
Main Platform
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12
A Chance in the World
In his inspiring presentation, Pemberton shares how he defied seemingly impossible odds as an orphaned boy navigating the foster care system — all while trying to solve the mystery of his own identity and destiny. He also provides valuable lessons on self-empowerment, breaking negative cycles, creating a vision and achieving your goals — even when everyone says you don’t have a chance in the world.
Steve Pemberton is considered one of America’s most inspiring business and HR leaders. Adversity only fueled his desire to become a man of resilience, determination and vision. A child orphaned into foster care, Pemberton went on to find success as a corporate executive, innovative diversity and inclusion thought leader, visionary youth advocate and acclaimed speaker devoted to inspiring and helping others. His keynotes, like his life story, amplify his highly motivational messages: Believe in your dreams, rise above obstacles, create opportunities for others, and most of all, persevere.
American Program Bureau
One Gateway Center, Suite 751, Newton,, MA, 2458
Email: jbraverman@apbspeakers.com Phone: (617) 614-1600
Theodore S. Rusinoff, CFP
Main Platform
Monday, JUNE 10
Ted Rusinoff, a Platinum Knight of the MDRT Foundation and an 12 year member of the Round Table with 7 TOT and 7 COT awards, serves as Wealth Design Partners’ Managing Partner and is recognized as one of the nation’s leading financial professionals. Having spent the last 28 years in the financial services industry, Ted has found creative ways to better manage insurance and investment assets for thousands of individuals and businesses all over the country. While earning his Masters in Taxation and becoming a CFP® practitioner, Ted worked at every level of the insurance and investment industry. He gained the knowledge to build the systems and structures necessary to effectively manage an office, meet the needs of his clients and educate the public on different financial matters. In partnership with Secured Advantage, he currently works with more than 70 property and casualty offices helping them access the life insurance and other financial services opportunities their regular customers have that are going unaddressed.
Over his career, Ted has been published in several different industry periodicals. He was also identified as a rising star for advisors under 40 by both the Association of Advanced Life Underwriters and the Insurance News Net. Ted has spoken at the Advanced Association of Life Underwriters, The School of Life, The Best Practices Symposium and the Million Dollar Round Table.
As an active member of his community, Ted serves on several boards and committees for non-profits and foundations, including the MDRT Foundation where he is the current President, the Camp Ho Mita Koda Foundation, Trinity Farm Therapeutic Equestrian Center and the JDRF Northeast Ohio Chapter. He has been married for 24 years and has three children. In his free time, he enjoys golf, NASCAR and snowboarding.
Ross Shafer
Main Platform
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12
Be Relevant, Not Just Current
Shafer describes the innovations and attitudes necessary for you to stay relevant to your clients. He talks about the power of personal and corporate transparency and will inspire to be more responsible and accountable for your efforts and the efforts of your team.
Ross Shafer is a six-time Emmy Award winning comedian and writer. In l984, a local TV station saw him and decided to hire him as an on-air host. Shafers’ unconventional style was soon discovered and he went on to host shows for ABC, Fox, USA and Comedy Central. What he gleaned most from show business was how TV and movies reacted to emerging trends and human behavior shifts. So in l994, he began studying how customer emotional connections affected organizational growth. To that end, he has written 14 HR training films on customer service, motivation and leadership.
Eagles Talent
57 West S Orange Ave, South Orange, NJ, 7079
Email: eeagles@eaglestalent.com Phone: (800) 345-5607
Kai Kight
Main Platform
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12
The Question Is
Kight was inspired by his mother who, when diagnosed with cancer, revealed regrets of not bringing her ideas to the world. In his emotionally powerful presentation, Kight performs original music and candidly shares stories from his own transformation as an artist, translating these insights into takeaways you can infuse into your own life and work environment.
Kai Kight uses music as a metaphor to inspire individuals and organizations around the world to compose paths of imagination and fulfillment. On a mission to spark a global mindset shift in which ingenuity is the norm, not the exception, he delivers emotionally powerful presentations, performs original music and candidly shares stories from his own transformation as an artist. As a musician, he has performed for audiences around the world, from the White House to the Great Wall of China. As a speaker, he has created impactful experiences for a wide range of audiences internationally.
Gotham Artists
554 5th Avenue, 6th floor, New York, NY, 10036
Email: ben@gotham-artists.com Phone: (646) 873-6658
Michelle Poler
Main Platform
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12
Fear Less, Do More
TBorn and raised in Caracas-Venezuela, Michelle Poler is a creative and passionate social entrepreneur, keynote speaker, fear facer, and branding strategist. She is the Founder of Hello Fears, a social movement empowering millions to step outside of the comfort zone and tap into their full potential. She has spoken at TEDx, Google, INBOUND, Facebook, ESPN, Netflix, Procter and Gamble, Microsoft, Toyota, World Domination Summit, Festival of Media Global, and many more.
Michelle is also the creator of the project 100 Days Without Fear. Her work has been featured on CBS, CNN, Huffington Post, Buzzfeed, Fox News, Telemundo, Glamour, Elle, The Rachael Ray Show, Refinery29, and Daily Mail among many others. In 2017 she started speaking to the younger generation. Since then, she has empowered over 20,000 students at schools and universities around the world to live with courage, find their authenticity and embrace their growth paths.
Julian Treasure
Main Platform
SUNDAY, JUNE 9
Secrets of Great Listening
Treasure describes types of listening styles and warns you how to avoid the "7 deadly sins of listening."
Julian Treasure is a sound and communication expert. He travels the world training people to listen better and create healthier sound. The author of “How to Be Heard” and “Sound Business,” Treasure’s five TED talks have been watched more than 40 million times. He is regularly featured in the world’s media, including Time magazine, the Economist and the BBC. Treasure is also founder of the Sound Agency, which work with some of the world’s biggest brands to improve their sound.
Big Speaks
23 S Hope Ave, Ste E, Santa Barbara, CA, 93105
Email: AmyD@bigspeak.com Phone: (805) 965-1400
Ross Vanderwolf, CFP
Main Platform
MONDAY, JUNE 10
President’s Address
Ross Vanderwolf, CFP, of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, is the President of MDRT. He is a 32-year MDRT member with nine Court of the Table and nine Top of the Table qualifications. A Platinum Knight of the MDRT Foundation, he is also a member of its Inner Circle Society and has served on its Board of Trustees. Vanderwolf, a 38-year industry veteran, is managing director of Rothgard Financial Partners, a full-service financial planning practice. Over the course of his MDRT membership, Vanderwolf has served on numerous committees. He has been recognized as one of Australia’s Most Trusted Financial Advisers, since this designation’s inception in 2014.
Regina Bedoya, CLU, ChFC
Main Platform
TUESDAY, JUNE 11
Incoming Presidents’ Address
Regina Bedoya, CLU, ChFC, of Juno Beach, Florida, is the First Vice President of the MDRT Executive Committee. She is a 26-year MDRT member with seven Court of the Table and three Top of the Table honors. She is also a Diamond Knight of the MDRT Foundation and a member of its Inner Circle Society. Bedoya is president of RB Financial Advisors, a financial consulting firm specializing in retirement and insurance planning. Bedoya’s volunteerism within MDRT includes speaking at several Annual Meetings, an MDRT Experience and Global Conference, and international industry conferences. She has been the recipient of the Irvin Konter Award, was named Prudential Palm Beach’s Agent of the Year twice, and is the recipient of the American Free Enterprise Companion Medal awarded by Palm Beach Atlantic University.
Peggy Tsai, RFP, CCFP
Main Platform
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12
Nominee Acceptance
Peggy Tsai, RFP, CCFP, of Taipei, Taiwan, is the 2019 Nominee to the MDRT Executive Committee. Tsai is an 18-year MDRT member with eight Court of the Table and three Top of the Table qualifications. She is also a Silver Knight of the MDRT Foundation. Tsai, an advisor with Shin Kong Life Insurance Co., began her career in financial services in 1993. She has won the award for No. 1 sales achievement in her company for seven consecutive years. Tsai has held numerous volunteer leadership positions for MDRT, currently serving as Chair of the Global Conference ConneXion Zone Committee. In 2018, she served as Divisional Vice President of Membership Communications Committee (MCC) Division 2. Other highlighted MDRT roles include service as MCC Region Chair for Greater China and MCC Zone Chair for Taiwan. Tsai has also volunteered in several capacities for MDRT’s meetings, and she has presented at the MDRT Annual Meeting. In addition to her MDRT involvement, Tsai has spoken to numerous audiences of financial professionals in China and has contributed to industry publications in her region.