Steve Gilliland
Keynote Speaker

THE SPEAKER
A member of the Speaker Hall of Fame, Steve Gilliland is one of the most in-demand and top-rated speakers in the world. Recognized as a master storyteller and brilliant comedian, he can be heard daily on SiriusXM Radio’s Laugh USA and Jeff & Larry’s Comedy Roundup. With an appeal that transcends barriers of age, culture and occupation—plus an interactive and entertaining style—Steve shows audiences how to open doors to success in their careers, their relationships and their lives. Presenting to over 250,000 people a year, more than two million have now heard him speak, with audiences encompassing 51 industries. Steve has the distinction of speaking in all 50 states and in 15 countries. As one newspaper stated, “Steve is what happens when the humor of a stand-up comic collides with the inspiration of a motivational speaker.”

THE AUTHOR
In addition to his brilliant speaking career, Steve is a prolific, accomplished author, evidenced by six of his books—Detour, Enjoy The Ride, Hide Your Goat, Making a Difference, The Cherry on Top and Turn the Page — perennially making the publisher’s bestseller list and his being named Author of the Year. His thought-provoking writing style makes his articles a favorite with prominent national magazines. He influences the lives of millions through his presentations, books, audio products and videos. An extensive array of these products has been utilized by small businesses, Fortune 500 companies, U.S. and Canadian government agencies, churches, school districts and nonprofit organizations. Speaking the language of active business leaders, his books and other resources identify practical lessons that grow people and their businesses.

THE BUSINESSMAN
Steve built a multimillion-dollar company from the ground up on the same philosophy he expounds to his audiences. If you continually learn more about your company, your industry, your customer and yourself, you will always be a leader. You will be purpose-driven rather than process-driven, and you will make a difference. His motto is straight­forward: “If you take care of people, the business will follow.” He has been recognized by Who’s Who for Speakers and Business Pro­fessionals, and The Pittsburgh Business Times named his company one of the fastest-growing privately held com­panies in the region. Steve also serves on the board of directors for a financial institution, and he and his wife Diane launched the Gilliland Foundation in 2017 to provide funding that creates lasting solutions for causes they are passionate about.

THE PERSON
Steve was born and raised in the Pittsburgh area, resides in North Carolina and travels throughout the world. He received his bachelor’s degree from Grove City College. He is a proud grandpa, devoted father of four boys and a loving husband to Diane. He learned great compassion for people and a commitment to a hard work and balanced life ethic at the knee of his highly principled Christian mother. Whether Steve is speaking at an event, writing about current issues that impact others or leading his own employees, he is not just a person who challenges people to change, he motivates them to do so. Steve’s personal vision is to wake up every morning and, through humor and inspiration, help others to discover and develop their potential and live life to fullness.

THE GUARANTEE
Everyone who hears his message leaves with a renewed sense of enthusiasm for who they are and for what really matters.

Dan Lyons
Keynote Speaker

Dan Lyons has been called “the Mark Twain of Silicon Valley,” and “a Jonathan Swift of our own digital age,” as well as “the expert on the culture of work, and how it’s changing business and lives,” according to Dave Ramsay, who runs the legendary “Ramsay Talks” series in Toronto. He’s a sharp-eyed pundit in the spirit of Dave Barry, P.J. O’Rourke, Jon Stewart, and Bill Maher. But instead of politics, Dan aims his laser-sharp wit at the world of business, and especially the culture of Silicon Valley. Over the past decade, Dan has done more than 100 keynotes and corporate events, entertaining audiences with his irreverent, insightful takes on how technology is transforming the modern workplace—for better and worse. He has also consulted with tech companies and his ideas have helped companies create happy, productive people-centric cultures. He is the author of several books, including STFU: The Power of Keeping Your Mouth Shut in a World That Won’t Stop Talking (2023).

Dan’s career as a satirist began when he created the Fake Steve Jobs blog, a smart-funny website where he spoofed the persona of Apple’s legendary founder and established his reputation as a gifted humorist and savvy critic of how technology shapes our culture. He wrote for HBO’s hit series Silicon Valley, and published Disrupted: My Misadventure in the Startup Bubble, a rollicking New York Times best-selling memoir about his time working inside a cult-like tech startup run by Millennials. He published Lab Rats: How Silicon Valley Made Work Miserable for the Rest of Us in 2018. Dan has written for the New York Times, Fortune, Forbes, Newsweek, and many others. He’s quick on his feet, loves doing Q&A, and will have your audience in stitches with his rapid-fire delivery and self-deprecating wit. He aims to entertain but also to inform, leaving your audience with new ideas and a fresh perspective.