We mourn the passing of the following individuals who have contributed to our industry....our thoughts are with their family and friends as they grieve for their loss and cherish the memories they have of their loved one.   

To submit information about an individual for consideration on inclusion, please visit this page.

Members

Larry Baltz / Republic Speakers Bureau

Larry was a Managing Partner at Republic Speakers Bureau, and recently launched Build Team One, a teambuilding company.  Larry gave tirelessly of his speaker expertise and was eager to share his knowledge with industry friends. His smile and gentle nature put others at ease. (July 2010)

Kaaren Cheney / Keynote Speakers

Kaaren showed an immense dedication and love for her job. She was there every day, rain, shine, or illness aside, always with a positive attitude and a determination to do the best job she could.  She shook off temporary setbacks with ease and was productive in the extreme, maximizing each minute of her time here, focusing on the clients and speakers she knew best.  She had a good sense of humor, and the complete inability to harbor a grudge, two qualities everyone treasures in a colleague and a friend.   One of the reasons Kaaren loved her job so much was because she felt close to the people she worked with; it was never just a transaction, but always a personal relationship.  (July 2011)

Donny "Conn" Clap / Convention Connection

An 85-year adventure marked the life of Donny Conn, musician, comedian, speaker and creative spirit who entertained and enriched our lives. Donny was born in Waterbury, Conn., where he attended schools and where he started playing drums. He went on and graduated from the University of Connecticut, where he was one of the founders of Beta Sigma Gamma, the first intercultural fraternity in New England. After college he went on the road leading his "Playmates Trio" to clubs and records success. "Beep Beep," the story of the Nash Rambler and the Cadillac, was a million-record seller.  He was able to successfully reinvent himself as a stand-up comedian and then turned his comic talents to acclaim as a professional speaker. At the same time he started one of the first speakers bureaus to help book other speakers for conventions and business meetings. Provided courtesy of The Republican American - www.rep-am.com.  (September 2, 2015)  

Mark French /Leading Authorities

"Dik" Richard Hall / Dick Hall Productions

Dik Hall, founder of international production company and speakers bureau, Dick Hall Productions, was extremely active in the Hospitality Industry and many organizations including the International Association of Speakers Bureaus (IASB), Meeting Professionals International (MPI), the International Association of Corporate Event Producers and the Screen Actors Guild.  His passion was meetings planners and in its formative years, he helped create the hospitality industry.  He was a charter member of the St. Louis chapter of MPI and also served as SLAMPI president in 1986. He served on the International MPI Board, as Chairman of the MPI International Relations Committee, and in 1992 presented the first international charter to Italy.  He was sent by MPI as an ambassador to Tokyo to share his expertise on meeting planning. In 1992, he was named the MPI “Supplier of the Year” - chosen as the one out of 12,000 members. He also served on the MPI Foundation Board and was President of the IASB Board of Govenors from 2005-2006. 

Dik is best remembered by our community as a longtime member who was kind, generous, loved to sing and laugh and was the “life of the party” at IASB social events reminding us “to always have fun along the way”.  We are grateful to Dik for his many contributions, he leaves a lasting legacy in both the the speakers bureau community and the hospitality industry. (April 1, 2023)

Barbara Kincaide / Speakers Bureau International 

Barbara was the founder of Speakers Bureau International (Retired Member) and President of the International Group of Agencies and Bureaus (IGAB) from 1989 - 1990 (IGAB was the organization that became IASB in 2002).   In 1973, Barbara and her business partner founded Convention Consultants of Canada, an independent convention management company and in 1974 developed The Time of Day artistic calendar featuring theatres and restaurants across Canada.  In 1975, Barbara introduced Meeting Planners International to Canada and became its first President.  (May 8, 2011)

Sarah Whitten / Creative Talent Agency

 A heart of gold, a smile of pure joy, a kindness that extended to all she knew. This was Sarah Whitten through and through. Upon graduation from Drake University in 1998, Sarah started her professional career in the advertising industry before landing in the public speaking industry where she worked for the next fifteen years. She was Director of Marketing at a lecture agency, Five Star Speakers and Trainers from 2006-2012, Co-founder and Partner of a speaker management company, Standard Ovation from 2012-2018, and Founder of a speaker management company, Creative Talent Agency from 2018-2021. Sarah loved the speaking industry. She once said, “it expanded her intellect.” Her radiant interpersonal skills, coupled with her strong organization skills made her the perfect asset to the public speaking industry. Apart from her love for travel, reading books of all kind, and spending countless hours creating things from scratch, her biggest joy came from her five-year-old daughter, Harper. (December 30, 2021)  More Info

 

Speakers

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Steve Bridges

More info.

Chin-Ning Chu

Chin-Ning Chu, an inspirational leader to women in business all over the world, was an acclaimed author and speaker, an Eastern philosopher and historian and a marketing, business, and political consultant.  Not only was she an international sales warrior, but she was also an accomplished fashion designer, classical music historian, opera singer, actress and filmmaker.   (December 10, 2009)
 

Keith Harrell, CSP, CPAE

Keith Harrell was President and CEO of Harrell Performance Systems, an international speaking and training firm that focused on improving behavior, attitude, and performance.  Many knew Keith as "Dr. Attitude" or Mr. Super Fantastic", but to his family he was a son, brother, uncles, cousin and dear friend.  He loved blessing others and he will be truly missed, especially his laughter and the smile that lit up any room.  (October 18, 2010)

Gerda Weissmann Klein

Gerda was a presence rarely seen and felt, Gravitas. A holocaust survivor, at the age of 18 and at 88 pounds, her hair stark white from malnutrition, Gerda was rescued by an American soldier.  She and her future husband, Kurt, whom she exchanged love letters with for a year during her recovery in the UK. married and started their new life together in the Utopia she called Buffalo, NY. 

Gerda spoke all over the world. She worked with companies like Birdseye to make sure no child was ever hungry again-like she was, those many years in captivity. She answered hundreds of letters, every week, from teenagers who after reading her book, “All But My Life,” decided that suicide was no longer an option for them. You bring your troubles to the table with someone like Gerda and you’re happy to leave with your own. Gerda saved lives. She was forgiveness, hope, resilience and gratitude all wrapped up in one. She consistently chose love. She was a giant. Gerda did not give into fear-only the concrete belief that good will always trump evil. And that hope will never die.  (April 3, 2022)

Retired Colonel Richard Alan “Rick” Searfoss 

Retired Colonel Richard Alan “Rick” Searfoss passed away at the age of 62 at his home in Bear Valley Springs, California.   After a full career in the Air Force and NASA, Rick became a professional speaker, using his experiences to provide leadership presentations and keynote speeches around the world. (September 29, 2018)

Randy Snow

Randy had a flare for life, an exuberance and a wacky sense of humor. He passed away suddenly while volunteering at a wheelchair tennis camp in El Salvador.  He has endeared himself to everyone he has come in contact with and will be deeply missed.  (November 19, 2009)

Jeffrey Zaslow

Jeffrey Zaslow Through his Wall Street Journal column and bestselling books, The Last Lecture, The Girls from Ames, and Highest Duty, Jeffrey Zaslow has told the stories of some of the most inspirational people of our time.  He was tragically killed in an auto crash in Northern Michigan.  More info.  (February 10, 2012)