Agenda
Grow professionally and network with the industÂry's finest.
Master of Ceremonies and General Session Moderator
Gene Randall, Renowned Television Journalist
Gene Randall's professional broadcast journalism career can be measured by the major stories he covered; among them: the Solidarity strikes in Poland in 1980, the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, the liberation of Kuwait in 1991, and daily coverage of four U.S. Presidential Campaigns from 1988 through 2000.
In the 2000 campaign, Randall hosted CNN's celebrated "This Week In Politics, "a favorite with campaign insiders. With a broadcasting career that spanned four decades and much of the world, Gene Randall's speeches combine historic moments he has witnessed, the offbeat incidents that never made the evening news, the current political scene, and the effects of September 11, 2001 on our political fabric. Through his company, Gene Randall Enterprises, he is also offering a wide variety of services to trade associations and corporations. They include convention hosting, moderating panel discussion, live audience interviews of keynote speakers, webcast and closed-circuit television anchoring and videoconference hosting.
General Session Speakers
Michael Rogers, The Practical Futurist, MSNBC
Michael Rogers is futurist-in-residence for The New York Times Company and also writes the Practical Futurist column for MSNBC. His consultancy, Practical Futurist, helps businesses and organizations worldwide think about the future. For ten years he was vice president of The Washington Post Company's new media division, guiding both the newspaper and its sister publication Newsweek into the new century, as well as serving as editor and general manager of Newsweek.com.
He began his career as a writer for Rolling Stone and went on to co-found Outside magazine. He then launched Newsweek’s technology column, winning numerous journalism awards. In 1993 he produced the world's first CD-ROM newsmagazine for Newsweek, going on to develop areas on Prodigy, America Online and then a series of Internet sites. In 1999 he received a patent for the bimodal spine, a multimedia storytelling technique. In 2007 he was named to the Magazine Industry Digital Hall of Fame.
Rogers is also a best-selling novelist whose fiction explores the human impact of technology. He lives in New York City and is at work on his next book.
Tim Sanders, former Chief Solutions Officer, Yahoo!
Tim Sanders is a New York Times and international bestselling author and an advocate for good values in the business world. His two books include Love is the Killer App and The Likeability Factor (Crown, April 2005). His second book serves as the basis for both PBS and 20/20 television specials.
Sanders has deep experience in cutting-edge businesses, most recently a senior level executive at Yahoo!, serving as Yahoo!’s Leadership Coach and prior to that as Chief Solutions Officer, where he oversaw next-generation marketing programs to world class brands.
Sanders has also received an enthusiastic endorsement from Tom Peters, the renowned business motivational speaker. He developed and honed his speaking skills as a competitive debater, where he was national debate and public speaking champion in five categories over his career. He frequently appears as a guest on radio and television programs across the country, and delivers high-energy speeches and compelling seminars to high-level executive conferences, professional associations, and graduate schools.
Sanders attended Loyola Marymount University as an undergraduate and the University of Arizona for graduate work.
Learn more about Sanders
Wally Adamchik, President and Owner, Firestarter Speaking and Consulting
Wally Adamchik began his leadership at the University of Notre Dame, where he was the mascot and led 65,000 people on every football Saturday.
As an Officer of Marines, Adamchik deployed throughout the world in training, peace-keeping, and combat operations. First, in a tank battalion and then, as the pilot of AH-1W Super Cobra attack helicopters.
Always seeking a new challenge, Adamchik entered the hyper-competitive private sector. He was recognized for superior performance and award-winning leadership at two national restaurant companies. At the same time he earned his Master of Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
He is the President of FireStarter Speaking and Consulting and serves today as a consultant, speaker, and author. His new book, NO YELLING -The Nine Secrets of Marine Corps Leadership, was named as one of the best business reads for summer 2007 by Entrepreneur.Com. Adamchik also consults with the Marine Corps as a Non-Resident Fellow working with the Corps to define and refine leadership doctrine for the 21st century.
Buy Wally Adamchik’s book on leadership
Donald R. Leavens, PhD, VP and Chief Economist, National Electrical Manufacturers Association
Donald R. Leavens, PhD, specializes in the economics of the electrical manufacturing industry, providing analysis and forecasts of the economic forces affecting the industry. He has provided the economic outlook for the electrical manufacturing industry at numerous business meetings sponsored by manufacturers, electrical contractors and distributors, and engineering societies throughout North America. He has also written articles on public choice and public finance economics that have appeared in academic journals and has contributed articles to several books. In addition, he has served as a member of the Governor of Virginia’s Advisory Board of Economists. Leavens holds a Ph.D. in Economics from George Mason University, an M.A. in Economics from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, and a B.A. in Economics from the University of Virginia.
Bob Gaylord, President and CEO, IDEA
Brigadier General Robert E. Gaylord (Retired) has been the President & CEO of IDEA since December 2007. Prior to IDEA, Gaylord served as President & CEO of the Leader to Leader Institute. He retired from the United States Army on January 1, 2005 after a long and distinguished career culminating in his assignment as the senior Public Affairs Officer in the Army. Robert Gaylord is a graduate of The Ohio University with a degree in Fine Arts, and was a Distinguished Military Graduate commissioned as a Signal Corps Officer. He subsequently earned a Master of Technology degree from Georgia Southern College and a Master of Science degree in Public Relations from The American University. He is a graduate of numerous military schools including the Army Command and General Staff College and the Army War College.
David FitzGibbon, President and CEO, ILSCO Corporation
David J. FitzGibbon has proudly served ILSCO Corporation for over thirty years as President and CEO. He was also elected of IDEA’s Chairman of the Board in May, 2008. Among his other business affiliation involvement is the NEMA Board of Governors, NEMA Executive Committee and NAED Associates Advisory Council. FitzGibbon also makes time to serve civic affiliations such as the Foundation for Family Service of the Cincinnati Area. He is a graduate of Thomas More College.
