Keynote Speakers

Steve Lerch

Speaker and consultant, Story Arc Consulting

Session details

Steve Lerch is an award-winning international public speaker, consultant, and former Google Executive, and has become a highly respected voice in the world of digital strategy, marketing, consumer behavior, and innovation. 

While at Google, Steve served as a digital strategy advisor to prominent brands like GoPro and Roku, respected non-profits like the YMCA and Save the Children, and even major branches of the Federal Government, like the Census and FEMA. He spent years helping hundreds of organizations better understand their customers, tell more compelling stories, and leverage data more strategically. 

In addition to building digital marketing strategies, Steve also served as a Culture and Innovation Evangelist during his time at Google. In this role, Steve was one of the first voices heard by hundreds of new employees, teaching them about the important cultural building blocks that drive innovation and that have led to Google’s success. 

Steve leverages his nine years at Google serving as a digital strategy consultant to dozens of the world’s most well-known brands to bring independent consulting services to companies of all sizes and across all industries. He offers an outside perspective on a company’s vision and strategy, challenges organizations to evolve past strategies, and helps brands embrace a digital-first world. His many areas of focus include marketing, digital/web/social strategy, customer insights, attribution, strategic planning, and team dynamics. 

When on a stage, Steve’s high-energy style perfectly blends humor, inspirational stories, and actionable advice, which makes him a perfect choice for larger, more aspirational keynote addresses as well as more specific breakout and education sessions. Steve is obsessed with data, patterns, and trends, but believes data isn’t useful when it’s boring. 

Mark Perna

Founder and CEO, TFS Results

Session details

Mark C. Perna is the founder and CEO of TFS Results, a strategic consulting firm leading the North American paradigm shift in education and workforce development. As an acclaimed generational expert, weekly Forbes.com contributor, and podcast host, Mark today delivers 90+ keynotes annually across North America, inspiring thousands of students, parents, educators, employers, and community leaders each year. 

Mark, who serves on the Advisory Council for the Coalition for Career Development in Washington, DC, helps communities create a rally point to connect education, business, and economic pipelines. His bestselling book, Answering Why, received 8 national awards and has empowered countless readers to unleash the true potential of today’s young people. Find out more about Mark at MarkCPerna.com.