Speaker Biographies
Tim Gard, CSP, CPAE: Resilience Expert, Humorous Keynote Speaker, and Corporate Consultant Introducing Tim Gard, CSP, CPAE, a Hall of Fame speaker renowned for blending humor with practical resilience techniques to enhance productivity and employee enthusiasm. With over 25 years as a professional speaker, Tim has captivated global audiences at over 3000 events, from Texas to Tasmania, leaving a lasting impact with his memorable and dynamic presentation style. Starting his career as an eligibility caseworker, Tim developed resilience amidst high-stress situations, which led him to roles such as a welfare fraud investigator and a Management Analyst for Food Stamp operations. His "comic vision" philosophy, born from these experiences, underpins his approach to defusing and managing stress. Tim holds the prestigious Certified Speaking Professional designation and is a celebrated author and inventor of stress reduction products. His background as a US Navy veteran and business owner for over 20 years further enriches his connection with audiences, making his strategies on stress reduction and conflict resolution universally relatable and effective.
Susan Barton - LEGO Serious Play Instructor
Susan has been working as a consultant for 12 years engaging with myriad teams from international non-profits, corporations, and local governments. The variety of her client base has allowed her to witness and develop teams of all shapes and sizes as she has developed strategy, addressed cultural change, and designed and delivered programs to develop leaders and teams.
She attained degrees from Pepperdine University and Azusa Pacific University and is currently pursuing her doctorate in Organizational Leadership at Indiana Wesleyan University. She is certified as a LEGO Serious Play facilitator and by the Connective Leadership Institute in delivering the Achieving Styles Index (ASI).
Alison Young is a dynamic resilience and TEDx speaker whose global hiking adventures serve as a backdrop for her inspiring storytelling. With over 12,000 miles traversed across six continents as a solo, middle-aged long-distance backpacker, Alison offers a unique perspective on embracing challenges and transforming adversity into growth.
Her journey is not just about physical endurance; it reflects her remarkable resilience as a manager of a neurological movement disorder and a cancer survivor. With a titanium-enhanced spirit, she navigates the trails and trials of life with grace and determination. She has been described as "thought provoking and inspiring!" "engaging, emotional and relatable," as well as "even if your hikes are confined to your backyard you’ll be inspired by her tales from the trail.”
Alison Young is an award-winning professional flutist and a syndicated host on American Public Media, renowned for her creative work on the Blissful Hiker Podcast™. This unique podcast weaves together found sound, flute music, and personal essays, offering listeners an immersive experience that has garnered over 100,000 downloads. Her dual expertise as a musician and storyteller resonates deeply with audiences.