2012 Keynote Speakers

Sunday, June 24, 2012

Eric Chester

“Reviving Work Ethic”

Bestselling Author of Employing Generation Why, Hall of Fame Speaker, and Founder and CEO of Reviving Work Ethic and the “Bring Your ‘A’ Game to Work” Initiative

“In a perfect world, owners, educators and managers would employ a workforce that’s engaged, enthused, and ethically unassailable. The reality, of course, is that the new, emerging workforce is streetwise and technology savvy, but they’ve not been taught how to succeed in the workplace, at home, or at school.

Eric Chester is the leading authority on developing work ethic in teens and young adults and on leading the new workforce to achieve at their remarkable potential. His presentation will illustrate why the work ethic in America has declined, and he’ll show the audience in his highly entertaining presentation how they can ensure the long-term success of their business by developing the core values of their front line and future leaders…” (Eric Chester and Gold Stars Speaker Bureau)

After receiving rave reviews following his presentation at the ACTE National Conference this past fall, Eric Chester joins South Carolina’s educators at the 2012 Education and Business Summit. Don’t miss your chance to hear this informative and challenging presentation as Eric opens the Summit at Sunday evening’s keynote in the Ballroom at the TD Convention Center (formerly the Carolina First Center) in Greenville. Invite your business partners to join you for this keynote and plan to host him or her at the “Taste of South Carolina” reception immediately following the keynote at 7:30 p.m.

Monday, June 25, 2012

Patti Agatston, PhD

“Cyber Bullying: Bullying in the Digital Age”

Prevention Specialist at the Cobb County School District’s Prevention/Intervention Center in Marietta, Georgia; Co-author of Cyber Bullying: Bullying in the Digital Age; and Member of the Board of Directors for the International Bullying Prevention Association and Connect Safely

Dr. Patti Agatston has been the featured speaker at many conferences, including large educational conferences in Florida and Georgia. She co-authored Cyber Bullying: Bullying in the Digital Age with two colleagues, Robin Kowalski, PhD, and Susan Limber, PhD, to help combat the growing problem of bullying via the Internet and mobile phone, issues that most parents never had to deal with growing up. Using the Internet and related technologies and other communications devices as the conduit for bullying is a problem in secondary and postsecondary educational settings. Dr. Agatston has also co-authored a chapter for the book, Expert Perspectives in Cyberbullying. Additionally, she has co-authored curriculum content relevant to students in grades 3–5 and 6–12. Dr. Agatston is a certified training and technical assistance consultant for the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program and has been quoted in articles on cyber bullying in The Washington Post, CNET News, Time Magazine, and the Christian Science Monitor. She has appeared on CNN as well as other local and national radio and television programming to discuss cyber bullying and other youth online risky behaviors. She was a participant in the CDC’s Expert Panel on Electronic Media and Youth Violence and has presented nationally and internationally on cyber bullying.

Dr. Agatston comes highly recommended from a number of event planners and educators. It is not unusual for her to receive standing ovations following her presentations. Her knowledge is broad-based, the issues she presents are far too real, and the lives negatively impacted or lost are at the very core of her work. Don’t miss your opportunity to hear her. It is a great opportunity for all guidance professionals, teachers, superintendents, school board members, and school improvement council members to join us at the Summit for this keynote and other timely sessions. Patti Agatston is just the speaker to “jump start” Monday morning at the Summit. She will educate and challenge you regarding issues surrounding cyber bullying; bullying impacts your life as an educator in our state.

Dr. Agatston will also conduct two concurrent sessions as follow-up sessions to her keynote address. Those sessions will be detailed in the Summit Program and will be conducted just after lunch on Monday, June 25, 2012. (See your Summit Program for details.)

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Libby Gill

“Igniting Bold Leadership: Inspiring High Passion and High Performance at All Levels of Your Organization”

Entertainment Industry Veteran, Head of Public Relations and Corporate Communications, Internationally Respected Executive Coach, Brand Strategist, and Author

An entertainment industry veteran, Libby Gill spent fifteen years heading public relations and corporate communications at Universal Studios, Sony Pictures Entertainment, and Turner Broadcasting. She was also the branding/public relations brain behind the launch of the Dr. Phil Show.

Libby is now an internationally respected executive coach, brand strategist, speaker, and bestselling author. Her latest bestseller, You Unstuck: Mastering the New Rules of Risk-taking in Work and Life, won a 2010 Independent Publishers Award.

In her dynamic, high-energy presentation, Libby shares key leadership strategies for combining passion with productivity, a perfect fit for this year’s Summit theme: dediCATE to Leadership. Come learn about her “Clarify, Simplify, & Execute” process, assisting all leaders to “clarify the vision, simplify the path, and execute the plan.” Learn to maximize your personal “Leadership DNA,” foster collaboration, reward risk-takers, re-engage the disheartened, and harness the power of personal accountability. Every educator should hear this keynote. Don’t miss it! If you can encourage a business partner to join you for this keynote, neither you nor your partner will regret having made this session part of your Summit experience.

Libby Gill has shared her success strategies on the Today Show, The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch, CNN, NPR, Oprah & Friends Radio Network, Fox News, CBS Early Show, and in Time Magazine, Business Week, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, O Magazine, Good Housekeeping, Self, and many more.

Her clients include Microsoft, Warner Bros., Siemens, Cisco Systems, Comcast, Hewlett-Packard,  The Boeing Company, Healthcare Businesswomen’s  Association, State Farm, and Women International, just to name a few.