These 41 Educational speakers give free virtual presentations to groups anywhere in the country, with no fee, no honorarium and no mileage. Book one for a library program, a school or classroom visit, or a club meeting on Zoom, on history, civics, careers, parenting and more. Each card shows the city where the speaker is based.
Chicago
Co-lead, Restore our Democracy Project, NWSOFA-Indivisible
Ed Spire is a retired software engineer who has started and operated two small software companies and participated in an IPO of a large software startup, culminating in the position of senior director of software engineering for a large multinational team of engineers. In his retirement, Ed is participating in several areas of political activism
Los Angeles & Orange County
Project Manager, Retired from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Mr. Lehman worked at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California, USA for 40-years until his retirement in 2021. His career highlights include Technical Manager for the development for the Mars Pathfinder Attitude and Information Management Subsystem, Project Manager for the Deep Space One mission, Project Manager for the lunar explorer Gravity Recovery and
Washington D.C.
Owner and Principal Consultant, KEG Consulting Driver Safety Services
Kurt E. Gray is the owner and principal consultant of KEG Consulting LLC and a former Director of Driver Education & Training at AAA Club Alliance, the third-largest auto club in the U.S. With over 20 years of experience in traffic safety, Kurt spent 17 years leading AAA’s driver education and training programs before founding
Indianapolis
Certified Fraud Examiner, Assoc. of Certified Fraud Examineers
Greg is Certified Fraud Examiner that helps attorneys and CPAs investigate insurance and investment fraud, and a Certified Financial Planner helping Seniors avoid financial fraud. He is a frequent public speaker, a Toastmaster Competent Communicator, and guest lecturer at the Purdue Kranner Graduate School and Ball State Miller Business School. He is President of the
Los Angeles & Orange County
CEO / Founder, Heal with Zeal, LLC and Sardar Coaching and Training
Melina Sardar, M.A., CPLC, is a dynamic speaker, transformational coach, and community leader who has spent more than two decades supporting individuals and organizations develop emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and healthier communication. As the founder of Heal with Zeal, LLC and a longtime facilitator with Ark Family Center, Inc. Melina creates powerful learning experiences that blend
Los Angeles & Orange County
Story Architect
Geoffrey Berwind is one of the foremost experts on how to use the power of story to make memorable connections with clients, team, audiences, friends and family. His award-winning work in storytelling began in 1999 when he founded and ran an innovative theater in suburban Philadelphia. Five years later, this led to an invitation to
Dallas-Fort Worth
Director, Secure Our Seniors' Safety (SOSS)
Shannon Gleason Dion is a founding Board Director of the non-profit Secure Our Seniors’ Safety (SOSS). The organization was formed in 2019 in response to the lack of security in senior living establishments. This permitted Billy Chemirmir, one of Texas' most prolific serial killers, to smother to death over two dozen seniors in their homes
Indianapolis
President and CEO, Conner Prairie
Norman O. Burns II is president and CEO of Conner Prairie. He has more than 28 years of experience in various leadership capacities at historical institutions, most recently as executive director at Maymont, a 100-acre property in Richmond, Va., that includes historical buildings, gardens and animal experiences, drawing 500,000 visitors annually. Prior to Maymont, he
Phoenix
Founder and CEO, Independent Education Group
Michelle Smith is an education leader, advisor, and founder of Independent Education Group, a boutique consulting firm dedicated to helping families navigate school placement, academic strategy, and competitive admissions with clarity and confidence. With more than two decades of experience in independent school leadership, Michelle has served as Dean of Students, Principal, and Head of
Milwaukee
Author, Bringing Up Nana
Jean Yarger has been an elementary and middle school teacher, business owner, serial entrepreneur, wife and mother whose personal and professional life is focused on assisting and inspiring people to be more than they thought they could be. Her multidisciplinary experience in education, business, and as a parent taught Jean that people can succeed when
Phoenix
Author, The Legend of Tessie Agana: Beloved Child Star of the Philippines
Mylene Agana Jao Richardson was born in Manila, Philippines, and is the sixth of nine children (six boys and three girls) from Tessie Agana Jao and Dr. Rodolfo Jao. Although she grew up in Indiana in the United States, her trips back to the Philippines are her most memorable family vacations. She developed a passion
Chicago
Director of Outreach, Citizens Utility Board (CUB)
Ivonne joined the Citizens Utility Board in 2012. As Outreach Director, she leads the team that educates Illinois consumers on various utility issues, establishes relationships with community organizations and serves both English- and Spanish-speaking constituents. Her favorite part about working for CUB is being able to make a difference in the lives of consumers and
Chicago
CEO, Roland, Ruth & Mitchell
Matt Kinnich has over 30 years of sales and general management experience, most recently as CEO of a private equity-backed education company. Matt’s Education Sector experience includes: Higher Education, Professional Education, Credentialing, Corporate Training and PreK thru 8th grade. He is passionate about education as a lever to change the trajectory of individuals, organizations and
Chicago
President & Premier Home Stager, Staging Redesign Group Inc.
GraceAnn Simoni is a credentialed RESA-Pro® with the Real Estate Staging Association®, a Corporate Associate of the Mainstreet Realtors Association® and Illinois State President of the Real Estate Staging Association. She has been Staging and Redesign homes in Chicagoland since 2001. In 2005, GraceAnn founded the Staging Redesign Institute Certified Training Program, offering professional training
Chicago
Retired Professor of History and Law, College of William and Mary
Mark McGarvie, J.D., Ph.D., is an American historian who writes, teaches, and shares history so as to respect the integrity of the historical actors who made our history. Accordingly, he believes that the goal of studying history is understanding, not judgment. Too many scholars today condemn the past and those who lived through it without
Washington D.C.
Founder / President, Kids Connection Haiti
Twenty years ago, Astrid went to Haiti for the first time and fell in love with the country and the people. Living in Haiti and working for an orphanage for five years, where she was exposed to the suffering of some very broken and traumatized children, she learned that even the most vulnerable lives could
Chicago
Retired Teacher, Brother Rice High School
I am retired after 40 years of teaching math at Brother Rice H.S. in Chicago. I am author of a book detailing 62 shortcut methods dealing with addition, subtraction, fractions, squaring and multiplication. I have spoken in 16 states and Canada to various groups at over 130 math conferences, schools and libraries. Mental math is
Chicago
President, Premier Insights, LLC.
I'm an author and own a consulting practice focused on mentoring CEOs of technology based start-ups where I help them demystify the "fuzzy front end" of their businesses with an emphasis on converting their innovations into profitable enterprises. I also created and teach people how to become entrepreneurs via a course sponsored by a local
Phoenix
Educator, Chandler Unified School District
Mr. John Prothro began his teaching career in the Los Angeles Unified School District in 1985 at Menlo Avenue Elementary School. After seven years in Los Angeles, I matriculated to San Jose, California, to start instruction at Franklin Elementary School. Next, I accepted a teaching job in Chandler, Arizona. In the Grand Canyon State, I
Phoenix
Self-Defense Instructor, Kubotan Time
Instructor Jui L. Chiu, is a Former Army Specialist, and CPS Investigator. He specializes in three types of martial arts (Kung-Fu, Shuri-Ryu & Shotokan Karate). Mr. Chiu is a Certified Private Investigator in the State of Arizona.
Phoenix
Exec. Vice President, Thunderbird Field II Veterans Memorial
Gunnar Buzzard is the President and CEO of Systems Integration Plus, Inc., headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona. SIP is an engineering and technology company that designs rugged computer, radar and electronic systems for the defense, aerospace and heavy industrial markets. Prior to founding SIP, Inc. Gunnar was both a Naval Aviator (active duty) and Air Force
Dallas-Fort Worth
Associate Professor and Fellow, Venise Stuart Professorship in Nonprofit Management and Leadership, UT Dallas
Elizabeth is the Venise Stuart Endowed Chair of Nonprofit Management & Leadership and an Associate Professor at UT Dallas. She’s also an Adjunct Research Professor at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada. Elizabeth studies how nonprofit and other social economy organizations become more resilient. This normally involves financial management, data-driven analysis, and the local community. In
Dallas-Fort Worth
Director of Development, Longhorn Council, Scouting America
Dan Busby holds a BA in Art and Business from Muskingum University and has dedicated over 30 years to youth development through Scouting America (formerly Boy Scouts of America). Currently, Dan serves as Director of Development and Marketing for Scouting America’s Longhorn Council in Fort Worth, TX, with a primary responsibility of raising $4M of
Dallas-Fort Worth
Assistant Professor of History and Fellow, “Jacqueline and Michael Wald Professorship on Human Rights, Genocide, and Holocaust Studies”, University of Texas at Dallas
Paula Cuellar Cuellar is an Assistant Professor in the History Department and the “Fellow, Jacqueline and Michael Wald Professorship in Human Rights, Genocide, and Holocaust Studies” at the Ackerman Center for Holocaust Studies at the University of Texas at Dallas. Previously, she was a postdoctoral teaching fellow in Latin American, Caribbean and Latinx studies at
Chicago
Registered Investment Advisor,Adjunct Professor of economics, Wunderlich Wealth Management, Lake Forest Graduate School of Management
Charlie Munro brings extensive industry experience and knowledge to his role as Senior Vice-President with Wunderlich Wealth Management. During his more than 35 year financial services career, he spent almost two decades trading municipal bonds. He subsequently transitioned his deep understanding of fixed income investing to his work helping high net worth investors achieve wealth
Dallas-Fort Worth
Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering, UT Dallas
Kianoosh Yousefi is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Texas at Dallas. He received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Delaware in 2020. Prior to joining UT Dallas, he was an Associate Research Scientist at Columbia University. Dr. Yousefi's research is focused on fundamental turbulence,
Los Angeles & Orange County
Mathematician, Malibu Education
Mathematician Jose Angel Manaiza, Jr. is known as “The Tutor to the Stars” from Malibu to Beverly Hills. He coaches the children of Hollywood celebrities to the highest levels of success. Mr. Manaiza has currently coached over 1,2000 students including NCAA student-athletes from schools such as UCLA, to excel intellectually by coaching a speed-reading system
Phoenix
YOUR Instructor (Real Estate, Mortgage, Aviation), SELF
The newest book by Wes Waddle is titled, "Anticipating and Appreciating Your Christian Life". It is being released on audiobook in September 2026. This book will be simplified (without Scripture) in 2027 as "Anticipate Your Life; Appreciate Your Reality". These books will systematically help you guide YOUR decisions for your life, your family, your church
Indianapolis
President, United Spinal Association of Indiana
My name is Cyrus Anton, and I am a 20-year-old quadriplegic from West Central Indiana. I am dual majoring in pre-law and political science at Wabash College. Outside of school, I am involved in many different organizations and activities. Most notably, I am president of the United Spinal Association of Indiana. I am also an
Chicago
Terry Poppleton has lived in Glen Ellyn, IL for 53 years. He taught history for 33 years at Hadley Junior High School. He has had a lifelong interest in Native Americans. Since his retirement, he and his wife, Sharon, have made many trips to the southwest. It was on these trips that Terry became interested
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