Steve Gilliland, CSP, CPAE
Speaker Hall of Fame Member and best-selling author.
A member of the Speaker Hall of Fame, Steve Gilliland is one of the most in-demand and top-rated speakers in the world. Recognized as a master storyteller and brilliant comedian, he can be heard daily on SiriusXM Radio’s Laugh USA and Jeff & Larry’s Comedy Roundup. With an appeal that transcends barriers of age, culture and occupation—plus an interactive and entertaining style—Steve shows audiences how to open doors to success in their careers, their relationships and their lives. Presenting to over 250,000 people a year, more than two million have now heard him speak, with audiences encompassing 51 industries. Steve has the distinction of speaking in all 50 states and in 15 countries. As one newspaper stated, “Steve is what happens when the humor of a stand-up comic collides with the inspiration of a motivational speaker.”
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Beyond his remarkable speaking career, Steve is also a highly accomplished and prolific writer. He’s an eight-time bestselling author, with titles such as Detour, Enjoy The Ride, Hide Your Goat, If Leadership Is a Game, These Are the Rules, It Is What You Make It, Making a Difference, The Cherry on Top, and Turn the Page. His impact as an author earned him the distinction of Author of the Year. His thought-provoking writing style makes his articles a favorite with prominent national magazines. He influences the lives of millions through his presentations, books, audio products and videos. An extensive array of these products has been utilized by small businesses, Fortune 500 companies, U.S. and Canadian government agencies, churches, school districts and nonprofit organizations. Speaking the language of active business leaders, his books and other resources identify practical lessons that grow people and their businesses.
Dr. Karen Tilstra
Founder, Creativity Effect
Innovation Architect, Educational Psychologist & Author
Meet Dr. Karen Tilstra: creativity guru, Experience Architect, and audience activator. Her secret? She believes everyone is creative and wired for leadership (even that guy in accounting).
Karen Tilstra, PhD., is an author, award-winning innovator, psychologist, and super fun person. She has led hundreds of human-centered design projects, runs innovation workshops, and builds innovation labs for universities, healthcare systems, pro-sports teams, and government agencies. Karen has built her life around helping leaders become more efficient and create spaces where workplace hierarchy can be dismantled in the best way. Her high-energy, interactive keynotes are part TED Talk, part improv, part leadership boot camp, guaranteed to get
people thinking, laughing, and doing.
Over the past two decades, Dr. Tilstra has had a blast helping teams and leaders do what they thought they couldn’t—think differently, lead boldly, and create real change. She’s launched award-winning innovation labs and led hundreds of high-impact projects with Fortune 500 companies, healthcare giants, pro sports teams, government agencies, universities, NGOs, and private businesses—all earning rave reviews and repeat invites.
As founder of Creativity Effect, Dr. Tilstra’s global work has taken her across the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Asia, helping organizations ditch stale strategies and ignite bold new thinking. She's a two-time TEDx speaker, co-creator of the U.S.’s first undergrad program in Innovation & Social Entrepreneurship, and inventor of the Orchard Model of Innovation—yes, that’s a thing. She holds a PhD in Creative Leadership (because why not?), is a licensed Educational Psychologist, and is the author of two no-BS innovation books: Amazon bestseller "The Deathline: Stopping the
#1 Killer of Human Potential" (2022) and "101 Ways to Ignite Collaboration, Boost Creativity & Fuel Innovation" (2023).
Offstage, she’s either on an annual “Art & Creativity Tour” with her artist husband or teaching her grandkids how to brainstorm like champions.
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Dr. Tilstra is a keynote speaker who lights up the stage and actually changes how people think and work.
Col. Michael Edward Fossum '80, USAFR (Ret.)
Vice President of Texas A&M University
Michael E. Fossum '80 currently serves as a Vice President of Texas A&M University, the Chief Operating Officer of the Galveston Campus, and the Superintendent of the Texas A&M Maritime Academy. Fossum joined Texas A&M following his retirement from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) – Johnson Space Center in 2017.
Fossum is a veteran of three space flights and has logged more than 194 days in space, including more than 48 hours in seven spacewalks during his 19 years as an astronaut! During his last mission in 2011, Fossum served as the Commander of the International Space Station. He has logged over 2,000 hours in 35 different aircraft throughout the course of his career. Fossum earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Texas A&M University and was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Air Force in 1980. He is also a graduate of the US Air Force Test Pilot School and has earnedMa ster of Science degrees in Systems Engineering and Physical Science/Space Science.
Fossum was born in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and grew up in McAllen, Texas. He is married to his Aggie sweetheart, the former Melanie J. London '80. They have four children and eight grandchildren. He enjoys family and outdoor activities, motorcycle riding and backpacking. Fossum has been a lifelong supporter and volunteer in the Scouting program.
Michelle Tatum-Bush
Partner, FordHarrison
Michelle Tatum-Bush provides advice and handles disputes for employers in Florida and with operations throughout the US.
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Her clients represent a wide variety of industries, including construction, brokerages, medical practices, management, insurance, and not-for-profit organizations. Michelle has particular expertise in FMLA and ADA accommodations matters. She is also passionate about helping clients throughout their litigation matters, whether the cases involve discrimination and harassment in the workplace, retaliation against whistleblowers, WARN Act claims or violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Age Discrimination in the Employment Act.
Michelle understands the challenges facing employers first hand. Prior to joining FordHarrison, Michelle was a judicial staff attorney for the Fourth Judicial Circuit in Jacksonville, Florida, where she oversaw the operation of the Criminal Division and was responsible for hiring, firing, managing, and disciplining attorneys as well as interns. Michelle also served as the Capital Judicial Staff Attorney, appointed by the criminal judiciary to attend all phases of capital murder trials to assist judges with instantaneous research and recommendations on issues that arose during hearings and trials.
Prior to joining FordHarrison, Michelle also served as a Special Master, appointed by the Chief Judge of the Fourth Judicial Circuit on a per case basis to preside over evidentiary hearings regarding petitions for belated appeal filed in the First District of Appeal. In this role Michelle issued written orders to the First District Court of Appeal setting forth findings of fact and conclusions of law regarding a petitioner's entitlement to a belated appeal.
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Michelle served eleven years on the Board of Directors for the University of North Florida Alumni Association, serving as its President for two years. During her time serving as Board President Michelle was honored to give graduation commencement speeches at each graduation ceremony, awarded monies raised by the Alumni Association to the first-generation scholarship fund, served as an Ex-Officio board member on UNF's Foundation Board, and was selected to be on the committee leading the Foundation in developing the University's ten-year strategic plan. Michelle remains very involved in UNF.
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Michelle also speaks frequently to groups of HR professionals, brokers and other audiences on a wide range of employment-related topics.
Louis D. Wilson
Managing Partner, FordHarrison
Louis Wilson is the Managing Partner of the Melbourne office. He regularly assists employers on a wide range of matters, from providing advice and guidance on day-to-day labor and employment law issues to representation in complex employment litigation matters.
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Louis has extensive experience assisting organizations with drafting employment contracts and non-compete agreements, developing personnel policies and practices, conducting workplace trainings and investigations, and carrying out separations and reductions-in-force. Louis also regularly represents employers in federal and state court and before administrative agencies, with a particular focus in breach of contract, discrimination, FMLA, wage/hour and whistleblower matters. Additionally, Louis has a broad range of experience representing management in traditional labor matters, including providing legal advice in connection with union organizing campaigns and representation in labor arbitration and unfair labor practice charge proceedings.
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Over the course of his legal career Louis has advised and represented clients involved in a variety of industries and sectors, including companies involved in the financial services, healthcare, hospitality, manufacturing, restaurant and retail industries, as well as a number of public employers and government contractors. He is a member of the firm's Global Legal Services practice group, as well as its Healthcare and Restaurant practice groups. Earlier in his career Louis was an attorney in the labor and employment practice group of a large international law firm based in New York City where he worked extensively with employers on a variety of labor and employment matters, including complex corporate restructurings and mergers and acquisitions. He also spent several years in London, England where he qualified as a solicitor in England and Wales and studied UK employment law. While in law school, Louis served as an Articles Editor for the George Washington University Journal of International Law and Economics and was a member of the George Washington University Law School Moot Court Board.