AASPA 77th Annual Conference
Keynote Speakers
Wednesday, October 14, 2015
Lenora Billings-Harris
Diversity and Inclusion is a full-time focus, not just one topic among many for
Lenora Billings-Harris. Whether through keynotes, workshops, or consulting, Lenora
partners with clients to help them build effective relationships that leverage diversity
in order to increase inclusion, faculty/staff engagement, and educational excellence.
Billings-Harris is a recognized authority. She has been included as one of the
100 Global Thought Leaders on Diversity and Inclusion by The Society of Human
Resource Management (SHRM), and was named by Diversity Woman Magazine
as one of the twenty top influential diversity leaders in the US. Her award winning
diversity leadership research is recognized in academic journals internationally.
Lenora recently keynoted at the Inclusion Conferences in Cape Town, South Africa and in Tel
Aviv, Israel to share best practices with leaders within business, government, education and NGO
communities.
Billings-Harris co-authored TRAILBLAZERS: How Top Business Leaders are Accelerating Results
through Inclusion and Diversity, and is the author of The Diversity Advantage: A Guide to Making
Diversity Work, 3rd Ed. She serves on the adjunct faculty of the business schools of Averett University
and the University of North Carolina-Greensboro.
Lenora is a Certified Speaking Professional (CSP), a past president of the National Speakers
Association, and is the 2014-2015 president of the Global Speakers Federation.
Before launching her business in 1986, she held management positions at two Fortune 100
companies, and managed executive development seminars for the Graduate School of Business,
University of Michigan. She is most proud that she is a former high school teacher.
Thursday, October 15, 2015
Mark Mayfield
It’s seldom that you find a really funny, clean comedian and it’s seldom that you find
a really good, captivating speaker. It’s nearly impossible to find one who is both.
Mark Mayfield is one of the rare individuals in the world who is equally accomplished
at performing comedy shows or delivering high content keynote speeches.
Known as “The Corporate Comedian”, he has merged together his corporate background as a lobbyist and his comedy background as a nightclub performer to create
an extremely unique and comedic presentation style. He has received rave reviews
sharing the stage with a wide variety of celebrities like Paul Newman, Peter Frampton, Colin Powell, and Bob Newhart and has introduced the President of the United
States on a live, nationwide television broadcast. He is also seen in print and television commercials.
Mark is author of the popular book, Mom’s Rules, a comedic yet poignant look at those things Mom
said to us as kids, and he makes nearly 100 presentations annually to a wide variety of corporations,
conventions, and trade associations. He has received two degrees magna cum laude from Kansas
State University and is a recipient of the “Certified Speaking Professional” designation from the National Speakers Association and has been inducted into their “Speaker Hall of Fame”.
From comedy shows to seminars, Mark’s philosophy is simple..... say it with humor and people will
take the message home. A national convention planner recently called Mark “one of the very few, really funny, inspiring men in America today.”
Friday, October 16, 2015
Aaron Davis
Aaron Davis speaks about the attitude of a champion from personal experience. As
a member of the 1994 National Championship Nebraska Football team and working
with numerous corporations & organizations, he understands firsthand what it takes
to perform like a champion & experience incredible results both personally & professionally! He’s shared with over a million people across the US and abroad! He’s the
author of 3 books and has co-authored 2 others.
His speaking & consulting company Aaron Davis Presentations, Inc. received the
Chamber of Commerce “Outstanding Minority Owned Business” award and Toastmasters International awarded him the “Communication & Leadership Award”. The
Lincoln Business Journal also awarded him as one of Lincoln’s 40 under 40 business achievement
awards; and he’s also received the Key to the city of Lincoln by former Lincoln Mayor Colleen Seng.
Aaron is married to his wife Brooke and they have three children. Son’s, Aden & Keenon & daughter,
Niya.