2024 Speakers

Aaron Witt grew up like many of us, loving bulldozers from birth.

When it came time to choose a career, he naturally opted for construction at 18 years old. He began as a laborer on a pipe crew and went on to work for five different heavy construction companies while earning an engineering degree at Arizona State.

But his perfect plan to become an earthmoving contractor took a turn when he began sharing his experiences as a young construction professional on social media. His storytelling took off shortly after graduation, and he quit his job to do it full-time.

Aaron and BuildWitt focused on storytelling and marketing for the construction and mining industries in the first few years. Step one for attracting the next generation is education.

Today, BuildWitt helps contractors attract, hire, train, and retain great people through many offerings—creative services, a jobs platform, a training platform, and even an industry-leading leadership conference.

Specifically, Aaron is learning how to lead the BuildWitt team while traveling worldwide to learn about the Dirt World firsthand.

A successful serial entrepreneur, Jesse’s mission is to continually raise the bar and build his LIFE RESUME. And with a passion for endurance challenges, he completed Ultraman in 2022 at the age of 53, which entails a 6.2 mile open water swim, 261.4 mile bike, and 52.4 mile run, the same year he sold his endurance hiking company, 29029 Everesting, to iFit. These things are not uncommon for Jesse, who also completed a 100 mile running race, sold Marquis Jet to Warren Buffett in 2010, and partnered with Zico Coconut Water which sold to Coca-Cola in 2013.

Jesse’s career is unlike anyone else. He started as a rapper on MTV in 1991, became the Manager of the greatest hip hop band ever, Run-DMC, and wrote the anthem for the NY Knicks.

He always says, "you don’t have to be the smartest in the room, but you have to be the most passionate." He teaches his principles and best practices through his online course and coaching program—where thousands of people have learned from his lifestyle approach and applied it to their own.

When he’s not training with Navy Seals (check out his book, Living with A Seal) or learning from monks (check out his other book, Living with Monks), you can find him plunging in cold water and sweating in hot saunas as part of his latest venture, All Day Running Co., a brand built on the foundation of combining race-like challenges (half-marathons, marathons, etc.) with retreat-like experiences (cold and heat exposure).

At the end of the day, his proudest accomplishment is his family—with 3 sons and a daughter, he and his wife, Sara Blakely (founder of SPANX), definitely have their hands full!

Herb grew up around his family’s construction company, H. E. Sargent, Inc., working as a mechanic’s helper and laborer during his teenage years and eventually joining the company full-time in 1983 as a trainee foreman.

From 1983 through 1991 Herb gained experience in all aspects of earth construction, working through positions of foreman, superintendent, estimator and project manager. Herb left H. E. Sargent in 1991 to start Sargent & Sargent with his brother, Shane. In 2005 Sargent & Sargent acquired H. E. Sargent, then the two were combined as Sargent Corporation, now known simply as Sargent.

In 2013, as a means to ensure ownership succession and management continuity, Herb moved Sargent Corporation and its affiliated companies into the SC Holdings Employee Stock Ownership Plan, wherein the company’s employees became owners of the company. Herb continues in his role as President and CEO.

Herb has enjoyed many roles in community and trade organizations throughout his career. He has two grown children, James and Savannah, a step-son, Colby, and he and his wife, Tristine, call Hampden, Maine their home.

After overcoming an initial rejection by the US Navy to attend SEAL training, Chadd Wright became the first person in Naval Special Warfare history to undergo elective open heart surgery to remove an asymptomatic pericardial cyst and eventually push forward to flawlessly complete US Navy SEAL Training.

Chadd Wright's Never Quit mentality is solid as a rock and will both inspire and equip you with tools to employ on your own battlefield of life.

Chadd retired in 2019 after a successful career in the U.S. Navy SEAL teams, where he served as a Team Leader on multiple deployments, a SEAL instructor and Master Training Specialist. 

Chadd is now a business owner, entrepreneur, competitive Ultrarunner, keynote speaker and husband.

He continues to serve as the personal mindset coach for former professional athletes and high profile entrepreneurs. Chadd also speaks frequently at corporate leadership team events, mastermind groups and athletic events around the world.

Chadd is passionate about sharing his most valuable lessons learned through powerful real life stories.

He relates his knowledge acquired during over a decade of service as a U.S. Navy SEAL and top ultra-athlete to his audience, giving them practical tools to conquer obstacles in personal or professional life.

Sal Frisella is a passionate entrepreneur, speaker, and leader in the health and fitness industry. As the CEO of 1st Phorm International, a renowned sports nutrition company, Sal has dedicated his career to empowering individuals to achieve their fitness goals and live healthier lives. With a deep commitment to excellence and authenticity, he inspires millions through his motivational talks and social media presence. Driven by a desire to make a positive impact, Sal embodies the principles of hard work, resilience, and determination. His relentless pursuit of success has earned him recognition as a visionary leader in the health and wellness community. Through his leadership at 1st Phorm, Sal continues to innovate and elevate the standards of the industry, helping people worldwide transform their bodies and minds. Beyond his role as CEO, Sal is a devoted husband and family man, finding balance between his professional ambitions and personal life. His unwavering dedication to his family, coupled with his entrepreneurial spirit, serves as a testament to his character and values.

Sal is the co-founder of a non-profit organization "30 for the Kids" which feeds, clothes, educates, and houses 46 orphans in Haiti. In addition to 30 for the Kids, he supports many other charities including Brace for Impact, Lift for Life and the Covering House. With a mission to inspire and help others to reach their full potential, Sal Frisella is a true influencer and role model, leading by example and empowering others to live their best lives.

Marcus Sheridan is a globally recognized communication expert, bestselling author, and captivating keynote speaker specializing in Transformational Communication. With over two decades of industry experience, Marcus has mastered the art of connecting, engaging, and influencing individuals and organizations. His expertise spans the topics of sales, leadership, marketing, AI, personal development, and trust.

Starting his journey after college, Marcus is an entrepreneurial success story. He founded a business that grew into the world's most-trafficked swimming pool company, revolutionizing effective communication in the business landscape. He ignited the They Ask, You Answer movement, empowering businesses to embrace transparency in their marketing and communications. His bestselling book, They Ask, You Answer, has sold over 100,000 copies, and has been translated into several languages. As a dynamic speaker, Marcus engages audiences worldwide, and is known for his real-time interactions that transcend norms, resulting in memorable presentations every time.

Featured in renowned media outlets such as The New York Times and Forbes, Marcus solidifies his role as a trailblazer in communication. His clients include recognizable brands such as Whirlpool, Discover, Bass Pro Shops, Cisco, Microsoft, and many more.

Rob Jones is a retired US Marine, combat leader, and now a leadership instructor and speaker with Echelon Front. He spent five years in the Marine Corps, with deployments to both Iraq and Afghanistan. As a Combat Engineer, Rob specialized in finding hidden Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), the enemy’s most deadly weapons. On a mission in July of 2010, while executing an IED sweep, Rob stepped on an IED, which resulted in double above-knee amputations of his legs. He spent the next year and a half in physical therapy before retiring from the Marine Corps in 2011.

Upon his retirement, Rob was forced to adapt to a new way of being a leader. To do this, he turned to the world of sports. In 2012, he competed in the 2012 Paralympic Games in London, England, bringing home a bronze medal in rowing. In 2013, he became the first double above knee amputee to ride a bicycle across the United States, riding 5,181 miles from Bar Harbor, Maine to Camp Pendleton, California. In 2017, he ran 31 marathons in 31 consecutive days in 31 different cities.

Throughout this journey, Rob has relied upon the principles taught at Echelon Front to turn the darkest moment of his life into a life of impact—more meaningful than he ever could have expected. Rob now brings his experience to Echelon Front to help teams of people take Extreme Ownership and overcome the challenges they face in business and in life.

Hamilton Baiden is the CEO of Youturn Health. He oversees the shaping of the company's long-term strategy and leads the pursuit of strategic opportunities that will promote sales growth and customer satisfaction for the organization.

Prior to joining Youturn Health, Hamilton was Executive Vice President of Sales at Avella Specialty Pharmacy where he oversaw the growth of the business from a small regional pharmacy to the largest independent specialty pharmacy in the nation. His knowledge and understanding of the pharmacy industry was developed throughout his professional career, working in various roles for prominent pharmaceutical manufacturing companies, including MedImmune, Serono, Daiichi and Sanofi.

A graduate of The Citadel in Charleston, SC, with strong ties to his community, Hamilton serves on the Board of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and MASK. Hamilton is also in recovery and committed to helping others.

Dave Berke is a retired U.S. Marine Corps officer, fighter pilot, ground combat leader, and now a leadership instructor and speaker with Echelon Front, where he serves as Chief Officer of Development and Curriculum. As a F/A-18 pilot, he deployed twice from the USS John C Stennis in support of combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. He spent three years as an Instructor Pilot at TOPGUN where he served as the Training Officer, the senior staff pilot responsible for the conduct of the TOPGUN course.

He then served as an ANGLICO Forward Air Controller supporting the Army’s 1st Armored Division during extensive urban combat operations on the ground in Ramadi, Iraq in 2006. Dave led his supporting arms liaison team on scores of combat missions into the most dangerous neighborhoods and accompanied SEAL Task Unit Bruiser on virtually every major operation in the Battle of Ramadi. He was the only Marine selected to fly the F-22 Raptor having served as an exchange officer at the Air Force’s 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron as the Division Commander. He became the first operational pilot ever to fly and be qualified in the F-35B, serving as the Commanding Officer of the Marine Corps’ first F-35 squadron from 2012-2014.

Upon his retirement from the Marine Corps, Dave joined Echelon Front providing unmatched experience and a unique perspective on combat leadership, analytical decision making, risk mitigation, and creating winning teams.

Jorge is Granite Construction’s Vice President of People & Culture/Chief Diversity Officer. In his role, he is responsible for Workforce Compliance and Inclusive Diversity, where he helps the company implement strategies that address Granite’s guiding belief that diverse backgrounds, perspectives, cultures, and experiences enhance creativity and innovation. He brings an innovative approach to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and looks to make a lasting impact at Granite and in the construction industry.

Before joining Granite, Jorge served as Senior Director of Diversity and Inclusion – Leadership Development at Northwestern Mutual and Chief Diversity Officer at Kraft Foods. He spent over 25 years at Allstate Insurance Company and held leadership roles in Human Resources, D&I, Product Operations, Product Development, Marketing, Claims, and Sales.

Throughout the years, Jorge has been active in civic and community organizations, such as the Association of Hispanic Professionals for Education, the Urban League of Orange County (CA), Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Los Angeles, Leadership Greater Chicago, the Latino Policy Forum, the Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement (HACE), the Chicago Posse Foundation.

Jorge is a board member at Rancho Cielo in Salinas, CA. He sits on the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Committee for the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) and the Associated General Contractors of California. He serves as the Co-Chair of the American Road & Transportation Builders Association’s (ARTBA) Workforce Development Committee and chairs The Conference Board’s (TCB) Diversity Equity & Inclusion Innovators Council. Finally, in 2021, he became the cohost of Construction DEI Talks, a podcast with tools for building Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the construction industry.

As Deputy Executive Director, Ms. Hendrickson is responsible for directing the planning and administration functions of the agency, in addition to government affairs, communications, strategy and innovation, and modal programs. Prior to her appointment as Deputy Executive Director of TxDOT in July of 2021, Brandye worked in Washington D.C. as Deputy Director of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials—AASHTO—and Acting Administrator of the Federal Highway Administration from 2017-2019. She served much of her career in various executive roles within the Indiana Department of Transportation, including leading the agency in a CEO capacity from 2015-2017. Brandye has served on multiple transportation boards and is a recognized leader for her contributions to the transportation industry. 

Dr. Vince Hafeli is the President of Ajax Paving Industries of Florida, a leading asphalt paving and construction services provider.

As an entry-level worker, Vince began his career in the paving and construction industry and has since risen to his current role as a President at Ajax. He has demonstrated exceptional leadership and management skills throughout his career, leading teams to complete complex projects.

Since completing his Doctoral research at the University of South Florida, where he focused on mental health and suicide in the construction industry, Vince has become an international speaker, author, and mental health and suicide advocate dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of mental health and reducing the stigma associated with mental illness. With a personal passion for mental health and a deep understanding of the challenges faced by those struggling with mental health issues, Vince has become a leading voice in the advocacy community.

He has dedicated his time and resources to promoting mental health awareness and reducing the stigma associated with mental illness. He works with organizations and advocacy groups to help break down the barriers preventing people from seeking mental health help. 

As a speaker, Vince is known for his thought-provoking and impactful keynote talks on mental health and suicide prevention.

Geoff Smart is the #1 thought leader on the #1 topic in business. He is Chairman & Founder of ghSMART, a leadership consulting firm that serves Fortune 500 CEOs and boards, billionaire entrepreneurs, and heads of state.

He is the New York Times bestselling author of Who, Leadocracy, and Power Score: Your Formula for Leadership Success. Geoff and his colleagues donate hundreds of hours per year to advise leaders in Education, Public Health, and Government. He is the Founder of two 501c3 not-for-profit organizations: SMARTKids Leadership Program^® and The Leaders Initiative^®.

As President of ghSMART, Jeff is responsible for leading the strategic direction of the firm, maintaining and improving our world-class culture, supporting our team, and developing client solutions. In 2023, ghSMART was awarded an unprecedented 14 #1 rankings in the Vault study of “Best Consulting Firms to Work For,” including Best Boutique Firm and a #4 ranking in the Vault Consulting 50 of the industry’s best firms. He continues to serve clients, helping to solve their most critical business leadership challenges.

Prior to joining ghSMART, Jeff was Director of Strategic Initiatives and Asset Management for a large privately-held family office with operating businesses in multiple industries. Previously, he served as a Senior Policy Advisor and White House Fellow in the White House Office of American Innovation, where he helped lead nationally impactful initiatives including government technology modernization, prison reform, and future workforce development.

Earlier in his career, Jeff served as a fighter pilot and test pilot in the U.S. Navy, where he completed three deployments aboard aircraft carriers, including 51 combat missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. As a Fulbright Scholar and Truman Scholar, Jeff earned a degree in philosophy, politics, and economics from Oxford University. He also earned an MBA from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Science degree from the U.S. Naval Academy. He lives near Milwaukee, Wisconsin with his wife and three children.

Tim is the author of The Secret Society of Success and host of the Build a Winning Team podcast, where he challenges people to consider “helping others win” as the North Star for how they should live and lead.

He’s also the CEO of David Novak Leadership, a 501(c)(3) private operating foundation whose mission is to make the world a better place by developing better leaders at every stage of life. As the CEO of Yum! Brands (KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut), David Novak grew the business from $4 billion to $32 billion and he did it by creating a culture of recognition where every employee felt seen and valued for what they contributed. And now, these leadership lessons are being taught in companies and to students all over the world through the nonprofit David has entrusted Tim to lead.

Early in his career, Tim spent a decade launching two brands — StoryBrand and Business Made Simple — as COO alongside New York Times bestselling author Donald Miller. And before that, he worked at TOMS and Apple Inc.

Tim lives in Nashville, Tennessee, with his wife, Katie, and their two kids.

Richard Jones is an experienced therapist, clinician, and healthcare entrepreneur operating primarily in the behavioral health space. Richard has wide-ranging professional experience across nearly all behavioral health domains. This includes mental health, substance use disorders, co-occurring disorders, and intellectual disabilities. He has over 20 years’ management experience and has been instrumental in the launch and rebuild of multiple programs nationwide. Richard is passionate about providing quality care and supporting people in need. He has been the founding CEO of two non-profit organizations and two for-profit businesses dedicated to disrupting the behavioral health space for the betterment of people in need.

Erin Craw, Ph.D., earned her doctorate in Health Communication from Chapman University in Southern California. Her research interests are at the intersection of health, interpersonal, and organizational communication as it relates to support seeking, social support, stigma, and resilience. She is particularly interested in translational research that improves access to needed support for underserved populations and those who face extensive barriers to gaining assistance. Her dissertation explored police officers’ preferences for support and factors influencing mental health-related disclosure decisions. As the daughter of a police officer (36 years) and granddaughter of a firefighter (40 years), she has a true passion for research that informs mental health-related interventions for first responders, enhances communication surrounding mental health, and improves access to support. Erin’s research has been published in Health Communication, the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, Communication Education, and the Journal of Applied Communication Research. In 2021 and 2022, Craw was awarded the Michelle Miller-Day Outstanding Research Award and has earned several top paper awards through the Eastern Communication Association. She has also been an invited guest on several podcasts to discuss how her research can help enhance new approaches to improving mental health support and communication. At Youturn Health, Erin manages public sector accounts, ensuring clients successfully access the support they need. Erin is also a part-time Adjunct Professor teaching various communication-related courses at multiple universities in Connecticut. In addition, she is a Certified Mental Health First Aid Instructor passionate about helping others feel more competent and confident navigating difficult conversations. Craw is a blogger for Psychology Today and has written several articles for Crackyl Magazine. She also loves volunteering with organizations like the American Red Cross, where she has previously worked with veteran families.

Austin is a NASM Certified Personal Trainer and Certified Sports Nutrition Specialist. He developed a passion for fitness through his time playing and coaching football. In only 7 years he coached over 30 high school players to the Division 1 level, as well as multiple players who have gone on to play in the NFL.

While coaching, he also worked an entry level position at Supplement Superstores where he helped hundreds of people local to St. Louis earn results, and improve their quality of life. After 4 years working in the retail environment he moved to 1st Phorm HQ where he has helped thousands more through the 1st Phorm App learn, and implement the education needed to look, feel and perform their very best. Currently Austin helps coach and develop the Team of Advisors at 1st Phorm HQ.

Ryan’s one-hour Netflix stand-up special, Happy Face, has been reviewed as “the special you can’t watch enough times.” This has been followed by a wealth of television appearances and a non-stop headlining tour. Armed with the unique perspective of

growing up in rural Idaho to become a favorite in the New York stand-up comedy scene, he’s one-of-a-kind. He’s been named one of Rolling Stone’s Five Comics to Watch; and his recent appearances include The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and Conan, as well as opening spots for Jerry Seinfeld and Jim Gaffigan.

Ken Simonson has been Chief Economist for the Associated General Contractors of America, the leading construction trade association, since 2001. He provides insight into the economy and what it implies for construction and related industries through frequent media interviews, presentations, and the Data DIGest, his weekly one-page e-newsletter that goes to more than 20,000 subscribers.

Ken has over 40 years of experience analyzing, advocating, and communicating about economic and tax issues. He currently serves as an advisor to the Census Bureau’s construction data re-engineering initiative. He is a Fellow and past president of the National Association for Business Economics, and he is co-director of the Tax Economists Forum, a professional meeting group he co-founded in 1982.

Ken has a BA in economics from the University of Chicago, and an MA in economics from Northwestern University.

Daniel B. Fisher is Associated Equipment Distributors’ (AED) senior vice president of government and external affairs. In this role, Fisher directs the association’s Washington, D.C.-based office and manages all aspects of AED’s advocacy and political programs, including serving as the association’s chief lobbyist and Treasurer of AED PAC. Fisher supervises the association’s state government affairs program and Canadian public policy efforts. He also oversees AED’s regional manager team.

Prior to joining AED, Fisher was Senior Managing Associate at a boutique law firm, Obadal, Filler, MacLeod & Klein (OFMK). At OFMK, he represented trade association and corporate clients, including AED, before Congress and the administration on a range of public policy matters.

Fisher began his career on Capitol Hill, where he worked as a Senate Judiciary Committee counsel for Sen. Arlen Specter (Pa.). He was on the legal team that managed the confirmation of two U.S. Supreme Court Justices, led congressional investigations, and handled a legislative portfolio that included litigation, products liability, and medical malpractice reform issues. 

Fisher received a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and public policy studies, magna cum laude, from St. Mary’s College of Maryland and was captain of the varsity baseball team his junior and senior years. He also has a law degree from George Mason University’s Antonin Scalia Law School and is a member of the District of Columbia Bar Association.

Koula Callahan serves as the Head of Content and Marketing for David Novak Leadership and loves doing all she can to help the organization pursue its mission of making the world a better place by developing better leaders. She loves managing a high performing team that accomplishes the organization’s big goals, together.

Prior to David Novak Leadership, Koula spent 6 years growing StoryBrand, a brand messaging company that has helped thousands of businesses clarify their marketing message to grow their business. At StoryBrand, Koula was responsible for creating content, overseeing marketing campaigns and launching products that helped build a multi-million dollar business. 

Whether she’s speaking at a conference, interviewing a thought leader on a podcast or creating a product launch campaign, Koula works with expertise and passion and loves to infuse fun into the work she does with her team. Koula is a graduate of Vanderbilt University and spends most of her free time traveling to the beach, playing golf or teaching yoga as a 200-hour RYT.

• 18+ year experience
• Foster human connection.
• Public Speaker / Keynote Speaker
• Certified coach, strategy thought leader, and stakeholder for
corporations, executives, teams, individuals, and students.
• Design customizable training specific to organizational outcomes.
• Impact overall retention, profitability, and productivity.
• Customer experience, support, and organizational impact.
• Provide accountability through application of strategies & process.

Chris “Elroy” Stricklin is a 3-time best-selling leadership author, a highly sought after motivational keynote speaker and a Combat-Proven Senior Military leader retiring after 23 years of service which culminated with CEO-Level leadership of a 7,000-person strong, $7B worldwide organization. His unique leadership style & skill have afforded him roles as a Business Management Consultant with Fortune 500 businesses, including both presentations and publications before millions of business employees. He now serves as the President of Dunn University, and the Governor of Alabama on her Workforce Development Board, molding the landscape of our current and future workforce.

Unique experience as a U.S.A.F. Thunderbird Solo coupled with CEO-Level duties and Pentagon-level strategic management of critical Air Force resources valued at $840B, multiple N.A.T.O. assignments, White House and DARPA fellowships, and command-experience in the United States Air Force allow his unique synthesis of speaking, following, leading, management, negotiations, continuous improvement and positive change.

A combat-decorated Fighter Pilot, Chris is also a Certified Manager with degrees in Economics, Financial Planning, Management, Real Estate, Strategic Leadership Studies and Operational Art and Science. He and his wife, Terri, have 4 children.

Daron Earlewine is a passionate, catalytic, influential, captivating dreamer. He serves as an author, speaker, podcast host and entrepreneur. His mission is to help people find passion, purpose and peace. Daron has helped thousands of individuals move from feeling insignificant to understanding their worth and creating their future through his online and live workshops. Daron’s first book The Death of a Dream was published in October 2022. Daron uses his honesty, humor and wit in the book to help resurrect your purpose when life doesn’t go as planned. Daron and his wife Julie have been married twenty-two years and have three teenage sons.

Jonathan Campbell is the Co-CEO of Campbell Companies which is headquartered in 
Salt Lake City, Utah. The company operates a diverse portfolio of distribution and 
manufacturing businesses that serve the construction, mining, and energy sectors across 
the Western United States. Jonathan holds a Bachelor's degree in Finance and an MBA 
from the David Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah.

In addition to his leadership role, Jonathan is an active board member for several 
organizations, including BuildWitt, the Utah Mining Association, the Utah Foundation, 
and the Eccles Advisory Board.

Outside of his professional commitments, Jonathan enjoys spending quality time with his 
wife, Loryn, and their three sons, Kason, Royal, and River. His personal interests include 
traveling, fly fishing, and endurance racing.

Randy Blount entered the construction industry at age 17 working for his family contracting business. He was thrust into a leadership role at age 21 when a cancer diagnosis sidelined his father from the company. Taking lessons from a number of early mistakes, Randy maintained the business until his father’s passing, at which time he purchased the company and took over management of daily operations.

Over the next ten years, Randy worked with his team to implement key operational systems which helped successfully grow Blount Contracting from $3.5 million to $40 million in annual revenue. In 2020, he sold the business and remained closely involved as a shareholder, helping to grow annual revenue to $100 million while maintaining profitability well above industry averages over the next two years. Randy now serves as Chief Financial and Strategy Officer of BuildWitt, where he applies his finance education and career-long construction experience to help drive the organization towards its mission of making the Dirt World a better place.