Steve "Stand Tall" Bollar

Steve Bollar, a.k.a. Stand Tall Steve, is an educational thought leader, former Superintendent of Schools, principal, author and a school culture and motivation expert.  He is known for his quick wit, creative thought, and humorous personality.  

Steve has been identified as one of the Top 30 Global Gurus In Education. He is the author of the leadership book Stand Tall Leadership, school culture book Ideas, Ideas, Ideas! and is a contributing author in the book Because of a Teacher and School Climate 2.0: Preventing Cyberbullying One Classroom at a Time. 

Steve openly shares his knowledge, experiences and creativity with others. He currently speaks to students, staff and communities throughout the world about how to think differently about schools, education, and life.

Jon Petz

As the world’s only Amazement Artist™, Jon Petz empowers his audiences to experience the true sense of amazement and then takes them backstage to discover how they can create those “Moments of Amazement” in their culture, sales, service and relationships to create more value in who they are what they do. Jon is a former sales executive and ,as a remarkable addition, a professional magician who has captivated audiences globally. This one-of-a-kind blend of expertise provides insightful, practical solutions to real-world professional challenges and opportunities through masterful storytelling, engagement, and entertainment with a WOW factor that is uniquely and unequivocally the Jon Petz Experience.

Far more than “JUST” a motivational speaker or conference emcee, he is the perfected trifecta of strategy, mindset and inspiration that that leaves each audience cheering . . . “Do It Again!"In 2004, Jon realized he had more people to help and left his executive, corner office to form the Bore No More Idea Lab. As an opening keynote speaker and conference emcee, he has presented at over 1,600 events, to more than 1,000,000 audience members, in over 200 industries worldwide. As a two-time best-selling author, Jon's dedication to sparking amazement and adding unparalleled value has been lauded by major media outlets, including USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, CNBC, ABC News, and Success Magazine. His mission continues to inspire and transform, making individuals and teams even more valuable.

Adrielle Benini

Dr. Adrielle Benini is a renowned figure in the realm of special education, recognized for her visionary approach and expertise in fostering inclusive school cultures. With a rich background ranging from paraprofessional roles, to teacher leader, to school district administration, Adrielle has honed her skills as both an instructional leader and a dynamic administrator. Her passion lies in crafting programs that promote meaningful inclusion and cultivate cultures of acceptance with the powerful message “All Means All”. As an expert in programming for students with autism and severe disabilities, Adrielle brings a wealth of experience and insight to her consulting endeavors. Her advanced degrees in Special Education, School Leadership, and a Doctorate in Autism Studies underscore her commitment to excellence in the field.

Iantha Ussin

Before her May 2021 transition from the classroom to full-time academic consulting, Ms. Iantha Ussin taught middle school English for 15 years with the Richmond County School System in Augusta, Georgia. In addition to being voted her school's Teacher of the Year in 2011, she was repeatedly named a highly qualified middle grades ELA instructor and model teacher throughout her tenure.

Currently, Ms. Ussin is a workshop facilitator and trainer, keynote speaker, and conference presenter. She partners with school districts, individual schools, and universities to educate, empower and equip new teachers for the classroom. Educators leave her get-up-and-move workshops with newfound motivation for creating classroom cultures that foster excitement for learning, which ultimately leads to students' academic success. She specializes in helping teachers (1) establish and maintain rituals and routines that create a perpetual conducive-to-learning environment (2) implement engaging, impactful lessons that are rich with meaningful, hands-on targeted tasks from bell to bell (3) build positive teacher-student relationships that eliminate the need for administrative behavioral intervention (4) understand the importance of teaching with power through her signature P.O.W.E.R. Teaching Tools.

Ms. Ussin is a three-time author. Her latest book, written specifically for beginning and pre-service teachers is Your Classroom or Their Playground: Classroom Management Observations and Conversations for the New Teacher (2021).

Ms. Ussin holds a Bachelor's degree in Journalism from Louisiana Tech University and a Master of Arts in Teaching degree (Middle Grades Language Arts) from Augusta University.

Tiran Jackson

Tiran Jackson is a speaker, author, life-coach, and entrepreneur who has used his tragic story about dealing with tragedy, loss, and overcoming as a means of helping others learn to overcome the setbacks that they encounter in their lives. After beginning his promising career as an engineer and living a life centered around advancing in his profession and providing for his family, he has gone through an incredible transformation, using his new, profound purpose as a means of inspiring others to find their path in life. Through his transformative journey, he has rediscovered who he is authentically and has allowed his vulnerability to serve as a guide in helping others find their resiliency, courage, and strength. He is inspiring those to move forward to reach their greatest dreams. Tiran's company is Reborn Resilient.

Lisa Drake

Lisa is an educator with a never say no attitude. Born and raised in Georgia, Lisa learned early that positivity and education are the keys to overcoming life’s difficult obstacles and has committed herself to offering this opportunity to others.

Lisa has a doctorate in education from the University of West Georgia and served for 30 years in two public charter school systems as a teacher, school counselor, coach, and Director of Teacher Development. She now works for Capturing Kids’ Hearts as a Leadership Development Strategist. Capturing Kids’ Hearts is a company out of College Station, TX whose mission is to improve school campuses by building culture and connections that matter.

 When she is not on the road training, Lisa loves spending time with her amazing husband, Danny. They love fishing and cooking. Her favorite quote comes from Dabo Swinney, “Let the light that shines from within you be brighter than the light that shines on you.”

Trey Harris

Trey Harris is a native of Memphis, Tennessee, and a graduate of Memphis Overton High School. Trey Harris is a veteran of the United States Army, and he served for 11 ½ years. Trey is a graduate of Liberty University, where he received a Bachelor of Science in Religion; Trey is also a Criminal Justice graduate of the Helms School of Government and a graduate of The Liberty University Baptist Theological Seminary with a Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry, and currently pursuing his doctorate in apologetics and theology at the Rawlings School of Theology, with a completion date of 17 August 2024.

Trey has been in public education (9 years) and religious education (16 years). Trey has been in special education for seven years, serving as an inclusion specialist and behavior management teacher for the last four years. Trey Harris is also a High School Basketball Coach, Christian Life Coach, and a Cohort of Within Our Ranks. Trey currently serving as a team member of our district Behavior Management Team. Lastly, Trey is a servant who serves our future leaders of tomorrow and our local community by providing counseling, coaching, and positive leadership skills.

Ashani Johnson-Turbes

Ashani Johnson-Turbes, PhD is the Vice President & Director of the Center on Equity Research, a multi-disciplinary Center in The Bridge at NORC at the University of Chicago. The Center advances equity through the development, implementation, and dissemination of high-quality inclusive and equitable social science research and methods. Johnson-Turbes leads the Center, focused on scientifically rigorous, social science research, expanding culturally responsive research, engaging community, building partnerships, and embedding equity principles in research across a range of activities and departments. She is an experienced and award-winning social scientist with over 20 years conducting communication, social marketing, public health, and public policy research, including rigorous measurement of communication messages, materials, and campaigns to promote equity. Johnson-Turbes blends her academic background in political science, political behavior, and public policy with years of work in public health, health communication, and evaluation. She received her BA at Hampton University, MA, and PhD at Purdue University with continued studies in political science and quantitative methods at Leiden University and the University of Chicago. Johnson-Turbes serves the Board for BLKHLTH, as Adjunct Professor in the Emory University Rollins School of Public Health, and Vice President for the  Society for Health Communication.

Kysha Cameron

Kysha is a conscious creator, connector, and closer.
She approaches her life leading with gratitude and passion as she seeks to model sharing, caring and supporting yourself and others. Most recently, she has intentionally aligned professionally and personally in racial equity where she led both Operations and Business Development while expanding into racial equity centered facilitation.

In 2013, she along with her two partners founded Honoring Hue, LLC, a company that produced a collection of celebratory greeting cards that are diverse, historical, sustainable, and responsible.Together they created the vision and designed 50+ cards marketed online and in Metro Atlanta retail stores. As a former Board Member and CEO Emeritus of an Atlanta based youth non profit where she positioned the Foundation for sustainability by developing programs, providing leadership, and securing community partners and corporate sponsors such as: Aetna, Atlanta Braves, Atlanta Hawks, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Coca Cola, Disney, Fulton Dekalb Hospital Authority, and Porsche. During her tenure, Kysha was a partner and visionary in graduating and awarding 32 renewing college book scholarships.

Prior to her work with the foundation, she enjoyed ten years of progressive career success in Media within radio sales and radio sales management in Washington, DC and Atlanta, GA.

Kysha has been featured for her community commitment and has been recognized and awarded over decades within the Atlanta community. She remains engaged and has served as a thought partner and advocate on numerous boards and committees in both leadership and supporting roles. "The best I've ever given was from a beautiful intentional place I call my garden and no awards were given". She has two young adult children in college and is now reimagining and creating anew while centering self and community care.