GEORGIA PROUD

During our 50+ years in Savannah, we created the first business jet to fly over both poles, were the first in our industry to make sustainable aviation fuel available to customers and grew our workforce both exponentially and internationally. We proudly share in these successes with our home state, one of the South’s leading hubs of innovation and industry.

Lynsey Dyer is a professional athlete, artist, self healing and wildlife advocate committed to our highest potential through flow states.

As an athlete, Dyer won the FREESKI overall extreme skiing tour(7 straight wins), was the first female on the cover of FREESKIER Magazine (mid air off a record sized 70ft cliff), and named Skier of the Year multiple times by Powder Magazine.

Lynsey Dyer

Professional Athlete, Film Maker, Designer/Artist, Speaker, Charity Co-founder, Fundraiser

She co-founded SheJumps. org, (to increase participation of women in the outdoors) and designed the iconic Girafficorn (the charity’s main fundraising and branding icon, to welcome more playfulness in the outdoors. Next she produced and directed the first all female action sports film for women and girls. “Pretty Faces” which shifted the industry to be more inclusive.

As an artist, Lynsey’s photography has been published in National Geographic Magazine. Her artwork can be seen on everything from ski graphics to NFT’s to large scale murals.

Recognizing approximately half of all skiers are women yet only 13% of ski films included women, Dyer fundraised $115k on Kickstarter to create the first all female action sports film; Pretty Faces. The film won many awards and sold out 100 grass roots shows. Since the release, ski films are much closer to equal representation.

Lynsey hosts the popular outdoor podcast ShowingUP with Lynsey Dyer. She is a trained Breathwork and flow-state facilitator offering movement workshops for breathwork, ski fitness and pregnancy to bring people to their highest potential.

Inspired by her first experices of flowstate, One of Dyers greatest tools for accessing higher states of being is breathwork. Lynsey is a trained facilitator of Transformational Breathing. This powerful technique Increases oxygenation throughout the body allowing freedom from lower states of consciousness and a powerful healing tool.

She designs her own line of function focused wellness and outdoor gear to help women and men perform best. She tells her unlikely story of success to groups to help them find the unicorn within.

Dyer has been awarded Female Skier of the Year by Powder Magazine multiple times and was the first female to grace the cover of Freeskier Magazine launching a 75 ft cliff. Her photography, an iconic shot of four base jumpers including the late Deane Potter has also been published in Nation Geographic and around the world.

Lynsey has been included in campaigns and commercials from GoPro, Chevy Trucks, MaryKay, Nissan, Jeep, National Geographic, Bravo, Rossignol, Fischer Skis. Dyer has hosted television shows for ESPN, Outside

Lieutenant General Leslie C. Smith, US Army (retired) currently serves as the CEO for LV Smith consulting Group LLC, the Carter Chair for leadership at Georgia Southern and on several corporate boards. LTG Smith received his commission from Georgia Southern University (GSU) in 1983 as a Field Artillery Officer. In 1985, he graduated from GSU with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and as a distinguished military graduate and branched as a Chemical Officer.

Lieutenant General, US Army (retired)

LTG Smith’s final assignment on active duty from 2018 to 2021 was as The Inspector General, Office of the Secretary of the Army, the first Chemical officer to serve in that position. His early assignments include service in the 1-230th Field Artillery Battalion of the 48th Infantry Brigade, Georgia National Guard; Chemical Staff officer in the 3-52d Air Defense Artillery Battalion; Division and DIVARTY staff officer and company commander in the 82d Airborne Division; Chemical Branch Assignments Officer, PERSCOM; S-3 and XO in the 23d Chemical Battalion; and the Joint Staff, J-5. In 2001, he assumed command of the 83d Chemical Battalion, where elements of the Battalion deployed in support of Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom and New Dawn.

Following command, he served on the Army Staff in the G-8 as the Deputy Division Chief and Chief, NBC Branch for the Full Dimensional Protection Division. In 2005, he assumed command of the 3d Chemical Brigade at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, and later served as the G-3, 20th Support Command (CBRNE). From 2008-2010, he was the 25th Chief of Chemical and Commandant of the United States Army Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear School. In 2010, LTG Smith returned to the 20th Support Command (CBRNE) as the Commanding General. In June 2013, LTG Smith became the first Chemical officer to serve as the Commanding General of the United States Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and Fort Leonard Wood. He served as the Deputy the Inspector General from 2015 to 2018.

His military education includes the Chemical Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, Airborne School, Jumpmaster School, Command and General Staff College, and National War College.

His awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit (with Oak Leaf Cluster), Bronze Star Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster), Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Commendation Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster), Joint Service Achievement Medal, Senior Parachutist Badge, and both the Joint and Army Staff Identification Badges.

LTG Smith also holds a Master of Science degree in administration from Central Michigan University and a Master of Arts degree in national security strategy from the National Defense University.

He is married to Vanedra, and they have two daughters.

Dr. Mary Hemphill is a Leadership Expert & Development Coach, K-16 Educator & Administrator, Author, & Motivational Speaker. With over 17 years of professional experience as a teacher, administrator, state director, & university adjunct professor, Mary understands the importance of fusing education, empowerment, & leadership together as she works with learning & working communities & speaks to audiences across the country.

dr. mary hemphill

She holds a Ph.D. in Leadership Studies, & has led, coached, & impacted close to 45,000 educational and corporate leaders around the world on transformational & innovative strategy, self-empowerment, & leadership development.

Mary is the proud CEO & Founder of The Limitless Lady LLC TM, an organization that helps people ignite the leader in themselves so they can better serve their community, company, and personal career through coaching, consulting, workshops and keynotes aimed at corporate and educational leaders and organizations.

Through her roles as North Carolina’s first state director of Computer Science & Technology Education, Director of Academics, & Chief Academic Officer, Mary is adept at working with leaders at every level to leverage support & leadership around strategic initiatives and programming as well as helping leaders navigate change management. Mary was named Regional Principal of the Year for the Sandhills Region of North Carolina for her transformational work in school turnaround and reform. Most recently, Mary was selected as a 2021 School Ambassador Fellowship panelist by the US Department of Education to add her voice & expertise to the process of selecting ambassadors for the Department’s current administration.

Mary is the author of The One-Minute Meeting: Creating Student Stakeholders in Schools. The One-Minute Meeting teaches readers how to leverage a unique instructional practice called the One-Minute Meeting to authentically glean information from students. Developed to inspire school & district leaders to fully engage with & empower their students, The One Minute Meeting is an exceptional resource for courses in school leadership & administration.

Mary believes that in order to show up in the world as our most authentic & powerful self, we must break through limiting beliefs that inhibit us from reaching the next level as transformational leaders. If we want to create opportunities& pathways that shift our world in a more positive direction, then we need young adults, learning communities, & organizations who are prepared to lead the movement!

In 1987, John O’Leary was a curious nine-year-old boy. Playing with fire and gasoline, John created a massive explosion in his home and was burned on 100% of his body. He was given less than a 1% chance to live.

This epic story of survival (first showcased in 2008 with his parents’ acclaimed book Overwhelming Odds) has never felt more relevant than as we live through the COVID-19 pandemic together.

John O’Leary

John inspires 50,000+ people at 100+ live and virtual events each year. He speaks to companies and organizations across industries, including: sales, healthcare, safety, marketing, finance, faith, education and insurance. His schedule is a testament to the power of his message; his emotional story-telling, unexpected humor and authenticity make each presentation unforgettable.

John’s genuine, collaborative approach to partnering allowed him to understand early that clients’ biggest pain point in the wake of the fallout from the pandemic is team “burnout.” To address this, John expanded his Live Inspired Coaching program to bring his keynote from inspirational to transformational. Early successes in the program have clients saying their teams are more focused, collaborative and engaged than ever.

John is a two-time #1 National Bestselling author. His first book ON FIRE: The 7 Choices to Ignite a Radically Inspired Life has sold 250,000+ copies and been translated into 12 languages. IN AWE: Rediscover Your Childlike Wonder to Unleash Inspiration, Meaning and Joy published in May 2020 with many saying it is the message we all need right now.

John’s award-winning Live Inspired Podcast has more than 2.5 million downloads and enjoys world-class guests like Brené Brown, Mitch Albom, and Shawn Achor. John considers his greatest success to be his marriage to his wife Beth, their four children and his relationships with friends and family.

Amelia Nickerson joined First Step Staffing in January 2018 and was appointed as CEO in May 2020.

Amelia has more than fifteen years of experience as a fundraiser, volunteer, and board member for nonprofits across the Southeast.

Amelia Nickerson joined First Step Staffing in January 2018 and was appointed as CEO in May 2020. Amelia has more than fifteen years of experience as a fundraiser, volunteer, and board member for nonprofits across the Southeast. She previously served as the Vice President of Development and Community Relations at First Step, managing fundraising and community relations for all of First Step’s current markets, as well as assisting with recent expansion opportunities.

She previously served as the Vice President of Development and Community Relations at First Step, managing fundraising and community relations for all of First Step’s current markets, as well as assisting with recent expansion opportunities.

Bird Blitch is the Chief Payments Officer at Waystar, a technology company that helps healthcare providers of all kinds simplify and unify healthcare payments.

He leads the Innovation team, responsible for nurturing the groundbreaking solutions integral to Waystar’s mission to drive growth for clients and transform the healthcare revenue cycle.

Amelia serves on the Worksource Fulton Board and is Chair of Strategic Partnerships Committee.

She is also on the Board of Directors for the Metro Atlanta Exchange for Workforce Development and Partners for HOME. She is a member of YPO, and she and her daughter are members of the National Charity League.

Amelia serves on the Worksource Fulton Board and is Chair of Strategic Partnerships Committee. She is also on the Board of Directors for the Metro Atlanta Exchange for Workforce Development and Partners for HOME. She is a member of YPO, and she and her daughter are members of the National Charity League. Originally from Savannah, Amelia currently lives in Roswell, GA with her husband, Sean, and three children.

Originally from Savannah, Amelia currently lives in Roswell, GA with her husband, Sean, and three children.