Robert Jackson began his teaching career almost 25 years ago in Indianapolis Public Schools with a no excuses teaching approach with all of his students. As an educator he didn’t allow his students to feel sorry for themselves or let their circumstances define their futures. He set high expectations for his students and expected them to do well. As a coach, he led with the same principles. Several of his students went from being low performing to successful pastors, lawyers, school administrators, teachers, sales reps, business owners, pro athletes, entertainers and more.
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He has become one of the most sought after speakers in the country, delivering keynote addresses and workshops to educators, administrators, parents and students. He has delivered 100’s of presentations and has become an expert in teaching cultural diversity, restorative practices, socio emotional learning and how to retain troubled students in school. His goal is to teach educators and administrators how to use their power more effectively to Educate, Activate and Motivate all students to be successes. He challenges parents to take a more active role in their children’s education. Robert also works with students to overcome pain and hardships through discipline and accountability.
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Mr. Jackson has written and published 6 books and has written articles for ASCD EL Leadership Magazine. His new book, “Becoming the Educator They Need: Strategies, Mindsets and Beliefs for Supporting Male Black and Latino Students” was just released in August of 2019 by ASCD. His No More Excuses Curriculum has been featured in publications nationally and is utilized in K-12 Schools and Colleges/Universities. His books include, Black Men Stand Up, A Boys Guide to Manhood, A Young Woman’s Guide to Womanhood, Put a Stop to Bullying and Solutions to Educating Black and Latino Males.
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He attended Western Kentucky University where he received his BS Degree in Industrial Technology while lettering 4 years in both Football and Track. After being cut from the NFL Minnesota Vikings he began his teaching career. Instead of focusing on the problem, he decided to focus on solutions by training students to cope with their inner pain and navigate more effectively through the school system.
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He has remained deeply rooted in his commitment to serve his community as a speaker and mentor. Robert has spoken at national conferences including ASCD, SDE, CAAASA, NABSE, HSTW, School Discipline National Conference and SAAB National Conference.

Mr. Jackson is a Life Member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc., and the NFL Players Association. He has received numerous awards for his work, including the 2019 Motivational Educator of the Year Award and the Key to the City of Miami. He has spoken at Harvard University, Nova Scotia, Canada and Hilo, Hawaii just to name a few. 1000s of youth and adults nationally are being transformed through his speeches and presentations.

Robert is married to Essence Best Selling Author, Tajuana “TJ” Butler-Jackson and they have 3 children.

His motto is, “For Every Problem, there is a Solution.” Bio from https://www.robertjacksonmotivates.com/untitled

For over 30 years, Paul’s work in education across the United States with school districts and his affiliation with community service and industry professional organizations, has connected him with key education and business leaders while experiencing the school and business climates of major cities.

In education, starting as a sales representative to his current role as Vice President, Strategic Urban Initiatives, Paul works with a team of colleagues to bring digital education solutions to administrators, superintendents and community stakeholders. He connects sales professionals and company executives with education leaders to produce win-win outcomes in education. As an experienced professional, his focus is to help Amplify lead the way in proving next generation curriculum and assessment.

Paul began his sales career working in the institutional foodservice industry and represented two leading food manufacturers, General Foods Corp. (now Kraft Foods) and Hunt Wesson Foods (now Conagra Foods) during his time in the industry. In 1989, he transitioned into the education industry accepting positions at Texas Southern University, The University of Texas Health Science Center, and Texas A&M University, before being recruited to join publishing giant, Houghton Mifflin Company.

After 22 years with Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, he retired from the company in 2017, as Vice President of Strategic Relationships. In 2020, he joined Amplify Education, as Vice President, Strategic Urban Initiatives. Amplify is an education tech company with products and services that provide assessment and analytics for data-driven instruction and next generation digital curriculum.

Paul serves on the board of directors of the Desoto Economic Development Corporation. Previous board service with community service organizations such as the Neighborhood Centers, Inc., Acres Home Community Development Corporation, and Alpha Epsilon Boulé Education Foundation, Inc. He also served as an Advisory Board member of the National League Cities, Institute for Youth, Education and Families.

Paul enjoys life memberships in the following organizations: NAACP; Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., (serving as the 32nd International President–2005-2009); National Alliance of Black School Educators (NABSE).

Paul received a B.S. and M.A. degree from Houston’s HBCU, Texas Southern University. He and his wife Belinda reside in Desoto, Texas, a suburb of Dallas.

Patrick Gaston is the former Chairman of the board of directors of Bed Bath & Beyond, Inc., a publicly traded company with annual revenue of approximately $10 billion and more than 1,000 stores in the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada.  He has overseen a significant transformation of the company’s Board governance structure and its C Suite including the CEO and the appointment of 10 new independent directors. He had previously served as co-chair of the company’s Compensation Committee and is formerly a member of the company’s Audit Committee. Mr Gaston also serves on the Board of Directors of Laird Superfood and chairs its Compensation Committee. Mr. Gaston is currently President and CEO of PG Consulting, a management consulting company that assists corporations and NGOs in building Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), ESG strategies, Strategic Planning, Private/Public Partnerships and Philanthropic strategies.

Prior to this Mr. Gaston was President of the Western Union Foundation; served as the Senior Advisor to the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund; and was President of the Verizon Foundation. 

Patrick serves on several national non-profit boards including the NAACP Foundation, KidSpirit, Eden Reforestation Projects, SCOPE and is an emeritus member of the advisory board the US Chamber of Commerce Center for Corporate Citizenship.

Patrick was raised in Haiti, Montreal, Canada and Boston, Massachusetts. He holds a B.A. in management from the University of Massachusetts and an M.B.A. from Northeastern University. Additionally, he earned an International Certificate in Business from Ecole Superieure de Commerce in Reims, France. He is fluent in French, Spanish and English.

Patrick is married with two children and lives in the Washington, DC area.

Dr. George C. Fraser is Chairman and CEO of FraserNet, Inc; a company he founded almost 30 years ago with the vision to lead a global networking movement that brings together diverse human resources to increase opportunities for people of African descent. He is considered by many to be a new voice for African Americans and one of the foremost authorities on economic development, networking and building effective relationships.

While George’s accomplishments are significant, his beginnings were very humble. He was born in Brooklyn, NY into a family of 11 children (8 boys and 3 girls). When George’s mom became mentally ill, George’s dad, a cab driver, could not care for 11 children so George was orphaned at 3 and spent 14 years in foster homes. Growing up on the streets of New York he had little hope and no expectations.

Although his guidance counselor suggested he drop out of high school, George graduated from high school with a vocational diploma in woodworking because the school system did not consider him college material. Thank God George felt differently…for several years, he mopped floors on the midnight shift at LaGuardia Airport, while he paid his way through college. Later, in 1996, he graduated from the prestigious Dartmouth College; Minority Business Executive Program. In 1999, he was awarded the Honorary Doctorate Degree of Humane Letters from Jarvis Christian College.

Dr. Fraser rose to leadership positions with Procter & Gamble, the United Way, and Ford Motor Company. It was some 25 years ago that God unveiled His real purpose for George. Mr. Fraser went on to author of four critically acclaimed books: Success Runs In Our Race; Complete Guide to Effective Networking in the African American Community and Race For Success; The Ten Best Business Opportunities for Blacks In America; Click: Ten Truths for Building Extraordinary Relationships; and, most recently, a children’s book; Who Would Have Thunk It; The First Adventures of The Fraser Foster Kids.

Dr. Fraser is also the publisher of the award-winning SuccessGuide Worldwide: The Networking Guide to Black Resources. He is the founder of the national annual PowerNetworking Conference, where thousands of Black professionals, business owners, and community leaders gather to learn the art and science of networking, entrepreneurship and wealth creation.
Dr. Fraser is the Chairman of Phoenix Village Academy; which consists of three afro-centric charter schools that serve Cleveland inner city children. A popular speaker and author, George C. Fraser’s inspiring talks on success principles; effective networking, wealth creation, business ethics; and valuing diversity, are as popular among corporate professionals as they are among college students.

His views have been solicited by media as diverse as CNN and the Wall Street Journal. Over the past decade, the prestigious publication, Vital Speeches of the Day, has selected, reprinted and distributed worldwide, five of Dr. Fraser’s speeches–a first for any professional speaker in America, regardless of color.

UPSCALE magazine named him one of the “Top 50 Power Brokers in Black America”. Black Enterprise Magazine called him “Black America’s #1 Networker” and featured him on a cover issue. Dr. Fraser has appeared on seven national magazine covers and was recently inducted into the Minority Business Hall of Fame and Museum.

TV host and journalist, Tavis Smiley called him a “visionary with the rare combination of leadership and management skills.” Mr. Fraser was featured in the New York Times-bestseller, Masters of Networking, along with Secretary of State, General Colin Powell. Bio from https://www.greatblackspeakers.com/author/georgefraser/