David Horsager
 

David Horsager is an author, business strategist, and keynote speaker. Through his book and programs he shares the secrets of using trust to impact the bottom line. Combining humor, illustrations, and memorable stories with research and insight, Dave sheds light on the confusion and misconceptions surrounding the cornerstone of personal and professional success. 

 

Through his Master's research, experience as Director of K-Life Inc., and founding partner of Special Delivery Productions, Dave learned firsthand how the world's most successful people gain and keep the trust of their customers and colleagues. He's taken that knowledge and broken it down into tangible steps that audiences and readers can incorporate into their own lives right away. 

 

As a Certified Speaking Professional, David has delivered life-changing presentations on four continents, with audiences ranging from Fortune 500 executives to the armed forces and professional sports teams. He’s built his reputation on two things – being easy to work with and delivering engaging, high-energy speeches every time.

 

When he's not speaking or writing, David continues to research and consult through Horsager Leadership. He also serves as an Adjunct Professor of Organizational Leadership for Bethel University's graduate program. He lives in St. Paul, MN with his wife, Lisa, and their four children. 

 

 

Helen Levinson
 

Helen Levinson is Principal of Desert Rose Design, a marketing firm specializing in creating business opportunities through branding, digital marketing and web application development.

 

With over 16 years of industry experience, she has earned numerous awards in technical direction and business excellence. Passionate about teaching others the benefits of technology, Helen is often invited to various speaking engagements and is a nationally recognized digital marketing expert, specializing in social media strategies and tactics on brand protection and how to mitigate risk. Her social media presentations geared towards brand and asset protection have earned her speaking engagements at top business associations, such as the National Retail Federation, New England Organized Retail Crime Symposium hosted by Retailers of Massachusetts, Asset Protection Conference hosted by the Food Marketing Institute.

 

Helen earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Information Systems from DeVry University. She is an active member of select school advisory boards and associations. She takes great pride in aligning herself with various non-profits and charities with a specific focus on children. A mother of two, Helen also enjoys collaborating and sharing advice with other entrepreneurial moms on how to strike a healthy balance between life and work. Helen lives in the suburbs of Chicago with her husband (and biggest fan) Mark. While they enjoy traveling abroad, it’s time at home they cherish most, especially when entertaining friends and family.

 

 

Commander Kirk Lippold, USN (Ret.)

Inspirational Leader and Commander of the USS Cole

 

Commander Kirk Lippold, USN (Ret.) was the Commanding Officer of the USS Cole when it came under a suicide terrorist attack by al Qaeda in the port of Aden, Yemen. During his command, he and his crew distinguished themselves by saving the American war ship from sinking. This event is widely recognized as one of the most brazen acts of terrorism by al Qaeda prior to September 11, 2001. With this unique and invaluable experience, Commander Lippold has briefed over 2,500 military officers and given over 125 presentations on this seminal event in the war on terrorism.

Commander Kirk Lippold's assignments prior to the USS Cole included Executive Officer of USS SHILOH, an Aegis-class guided missile cruiser. His department head tour was unique in his assignment to the crew that commissioned USS Arleigh Burke, the Navy's first Aegis guided missile destroyer. He served as the Operations Officer responsible for the training and operation of a next generation $1 billion warship with a crew of over 300 Sailors. He had two division officer assignments, which included a tour on USS Yorktown, an Aegis class guided missile cruiser. There, he completed a lengthy seven and a half month deployment to the Mediterranean, where he participated in the Achille Lauro aircraft seizure, Black Sea Freedom of Navigation operations against the Soviet Union, and Attain III combat operations in the Gulf of Sidra off Libya that followed several Libyan sponsored terrorist attacks in Europe. His initial division officer tour was in USS Fairfax County, a tank landing ship, where he completed a deployment to Beirut, Lebanon, in support of the US Marine Corps and the Multinational Peacekeeping Force when terrorists attacked the American Embassy and severely damaged it.

 

Commander Kirk Lippold is a graduate of the US Naval Academy, and received his commission in the Navy in 1981. He attended the Navy Postgraduate School from 1987 to 1989 where he received a Masters of Science in Systems Engineering (Joint Command, Control and Communications). He is a 1994 graduate of the United States Army Command and General Staff College and is also a 2001 graduate of the Joint Forces Staff College. He has also served as the Administrative Aide to the Secretary of the Navy. He recently served on the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Directorate for Strategic Plans and Policy (J-5), where he was instrumental in crafting detainee policy for the war on terrorism during its initial stages following the 9/11 attacks. His last assignment was in the International Strategy Division in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (N5IS).

 

Commander Kirk Lippold's personal awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit (two awards), Meritorious Service Medal (three awards), Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Commendation Medal (two awards), Joint Service Achievement Medal, Navy Achievement Medal (two awards), in addition to various campaign and service ribbons.

 

Currently, Commander Lippold is the president of Base to Peak, LLC, a consulting firm specializing in training programs, crisis management, and long-range strategic planning. He is also the Senior Military Fellow for Military Families United, the nation's premier military family advocacy group.