Conference Keynote Speakers 2018

Conference Keynote Speakers

“U.R. Crazy!”

Russ Riddle is a past-president of the North Texas Chapter of National Speakers Association. His keynote will specifically target how to encourage adventure in life and business. This is truly a keynote you do not want to miss!

Bio:

Having practiced marriage for 34 years, law for 26, fatherhood for 25, and braved adventures such as a juvenile probation officer and newspaper columnist, Russ Riddle is convinced that we must never stop learning and laughing.

His love of levity stems in part from an intellectual property law practice that has served such clients as Barney& Friends®, Wishbone®, Bob the Builder®, Thomas & Friends®, and the voices of Jimmy Neutron® and Larry the Cucumber®.

Russ earned his J.D. from Texas Tech University School of Law. He is a past president of the North Texas Chapter of National Speakers Association and currently serves nationally as chair of their Chapter Leadership Committee. He’s the author of two books: Lawyer Up – The Smart Way and Persuasive vs. Abrasive – The judges have ruled, as well as an intellectual property manual Corral Your Ca$h Cow!

“The Path Taken”

Why do we make the decisions and choices we do? Toastmasters International First Vice President Deepak Menon will provide information and insights that will help the audience understand what motivates us and helps us achieve our goals on the path we take.

Bio:

Deepak Menon, DTM, is a chartered accountant at J.P., Kapur & Uberai in New Delhi, where he is one of nine partners. He oversees management and operations, and specializes in international taxation, cross-border taxation, transfer pricing and direct taxes. Menon also serves as chair of the Chandra Charitable Trust, a nonprofit organization. Menon is a fellow chartered accountant with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, where he also earned a Diploma in Information Systems Auditing.

While working with the American Center in New Delhi, Menon served as a coach for Toastmasters’ Youth Leadership program and helped build communication and leadership skills for approximately 700 underprivileged children. He also served as secretary of St. Columba School’s alumni society Old Columbans’ Association, and in 2006, co-founded the publishing house Ambi Knowledge Resources Private Limited.

A Toastmaster since 2002, Menon’s home club is Central Delhi Toastmasters.

“Toastmasters has taught me skills that no school, college or university can teach,” he says. “It has helped me evolve from a being a lone-player to a being a team-player; from being led to being a leader; from the problem to being the solution.”

“Hands On”

Our Communication & Leadership Award Recipient, Jermaine O’Neal is a six-time NBA All-Star, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. His charity includes building homes for Habitat for Humanity, serving food at Indianapolis missions for Thanksgiving, and to promoting awareness of prostate cancer. Jermaine is looking ahead to the next journey in his life. He believes investing in children and young adults is the soundest way to insure a better world. Being there and being Hands On will make all the difference in someone’s life, including yours.

Bio:

Jermaine O’Neal is an NBA All-Star, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. One of a small, elite group of athletes drafted out of high school, this six-time All-Star is looking ahead to the next journey in his life. Sitting at the helm of multiple companies in the areas of real estate, entertainment, fashion, and philanthropy.

PHILANTHOPY
Jermaine, The Jermaine O’Neal Foundation, and The Drive Nation Sports Foundation have been important parts of neighborhood safety projects, basketball clinics, scholarship programs, celebrity poker fundraisers, and low-income holiday celebrations. In recognition of his continuous efforts and operations in charity, Jermaine was awarded the Magic Johnson award for off-court media relations work and the National Basketball Association’s Community Assist Award four-times for community engagement, philanthropic activity, and charity work. While the programs and events that take place as a part of the Foundation are quite varied and diverse, they all strive toward the same end – the improvement of the quality of life for those children who need it most. Scholarships, clinics, and special events are only a few of the ways Jermaine and his foundation try to better the lives of kids.

“Define Your Legacy, Design Your Significant Life?”

Cindy Arledge, MBA, is an author, speaker, and visionary for the Legacy Family Revolution. Her company provides family leaders and estate planning professional’s useful information, training and support to transfer wealth. What happens when you replace at the end of the day with at the end of my life? What happens when you live with the end in mind? Learn three simple steps you can take to define your legacy and live your answer to three of life’s most important questions.

Bio:

CINDY ARLEDGE, MBA brings a fresh new approach to an age old problem.  After surviving the destruction of her own family following her parent’s deaths, Cindy vowed to help other families avoid common pitfalls that plague the majority of wealth transfer events.

Her movement, Legacy Family Revolution, is the place where family leaders and professionals can find useful information, training and support to transfer wealth without drama.