Experts

Dr. Laymon Hicks

Dr. Laymon Hicks isn’t a stranger when it comes to student motivation and leadership. He has motivated over 350,000 students all across the nation in 45 states. His first leadership role came as a fourth grader and carried him through college where he capped off his student leadership experiences at The Florida State University. While at the 38,000 student institution, Laymon served in various leadership positions and eventually became the Student Body President. At the age of 29, Laymon accomplished his ultimate educational goal by graduating with his doctorate in Organizational Leadership from Northeastern University. Today, he is the CEO of Laymon Hicks Enterprises where he travels the nation as a youth speaker and author. He resides in Florida with his wife and daughter.

Shannon Oleen

For nearly a decade, this Kansas City native has shared her charm, enthusiasm and inspiring words with young adults, employees and organizations, presenting each audience member with an important “gift”—the tools and motivation to harness their potential. Using her own life experiences and encounters with adversity as a backdrop, Shannon shows audiences the way to the “Happiness Path,” providing easy‐to‐follow nuggets of inspiration participants of all ages can use in their daily lives. A former professional NFL cheerleader, Shannon draws on that “go team” attitude to show her audiences how to gain yardage in the game of life. Her magnetic energy and enthusiasm will continue to inspire hearts and minds, long after the lights go down on your event!

Brandon Lee White

Author, speaker, and youth mover, Brandon Lee White has spoken to thousands of youth and adults in nearly all 50 states about “owning it” in life and leadership. Brandon has been seen on TLC, Discovery Health, Fit TV, and TEDx. He attended Rockhurst University where he earned his Master’s in Business as well as a double major in Business and Psychology. At home Brandon loves spending time with his beautiful wife and son. They enjoy leading and serving in their church. Plus, Brandon can’t get enough of barbecuing, sports, hunting, and meeting new people as he travels around the country.

Geoff McLachlan

Geoff is a speaker, trainer, coach and facilitator who has worked with over half a million people across the United States and Canada.  His goal is to transform the way students interact with each other! His rules for life are simple: Work Hard, Play Fair, and BE KIND!

Jake Widmann

Jake Widmann is a perpetual force of positivity. His topics of expertise include: the importance of perspective and empathy, the power of sharing our individual stories, and how to use adversity to create the life you want. He is a husband, father to two boys, Army veteran and an author. He can’t wait to get to know you and your story better!

Jake Kelfer

 

Kyle Willkom

Kyle Willkom is the founder of Action Packed Leadership. He is a sought after keynote speaker and the author of Wake Up Call and The Thinking Dilemma. Kyle speaks to audiences of all sizes and, through his musical comedy, empowers them to get out of their comfort zone, serve others, and intentionally build a life of purpose. 

STUDENT EXPERTS

Rachel Brosman

Hi there! I’m Rachel Brosman. I am a second-year student in the Advertising & Marketing Communications program at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. I grew up in Wisconsin, where I took on a number of leadership positions within my community of Appleton. I became the DECA chapter president, the Advertising Editor of the school newspaper, and the Assistant Manager at my local PacSun. I was also able to complete a high school internship with a local marketing firm. Currently, I am interning at an advertising agency called Devito/Verdi. I work in the new business department, where I help with gaining new clients and updating the agency’s social media pages. In addition, I am a Resident Assistant in the dorms, where I manage a floor of first-year students, organize events, and deal with emergency situations. I love my work study job on campus, as well. I work at the front desk of the Career & Internship Center, and I get to answer students’ questions about all things career-related. Next Spring, I am planning on studying abroad in Spain, as I have been learning Spanish since kindergarten. In the future, I plan to become the Chief Marketing Officer of a fashion company. I am excited to join the team as a student expert because I am truly passionate about helping others with their career goals.

Jaron May 

Jaron May is a recent graduate of King Philip Regional High School and currently is enrolled at Syracuse University where he is studying Marketing and Broadcast/Digital Journalism. He has a vast resume of leadership positions, such as founding a nationally recognized high school sports broadcast, sitting on executive councils for regional and local community service organizations and, most notably, serving as the High School Division President of DECA Inc. where he was a keynote speaker and leadership workshop presenter. Jaron is always looking into the future to see what the next big thing is and his youth provides a student perspective different from any other leadership specialist.

Christina Wenman

Christina Wenman is a 17-year-old high school student from Wisconsin who has a natural propensity to look at things from a different perspective. She is the author of Success Through Your Eyes: Learning from Your World to Find Your Way, a book about what she has learned from interviewing people who she considers successful. She is an extroverted-introvert, a practical dreamer, and a natural born entrepreneur. Other than spending this past year interviewing CEOs and motivational speakers, she is a typical teenager, involved in Student Senate, DECA, National Honor Society, FCCLA, Volleyball, and Softball. She is the youngest of four siblings and when she is not spending time with her family or hanging out with her friends, she is reading books, listening to TED talks, and preparing to study Business at a University in Wisconsin.

Do you know someone who would be an awesome expert here? Great! 

Send suggestions to: [email protected].