Habits of Highly Effective Christians is a book about leading an effective and influential life by Ron Meyers.
...
.
| |
Soar Higher 2005 Brings 12 Speakers to NWA to Provide Professional Development to Area
Leaders
“We had a great time at Soar Higher 2005. It was well
worth the time away from the office to attend. I learned ways to improve a
number of skills that relate directly to my business goals. Giving persuasive
presentations, motivating an unmotivated staff, and achieving a work/life
balance were all very applicable. I was also impressed with the caliber of the
speakers that were there. It is unusual to get to hear that many great speakers
in one day; and all for what you’d expect to pay for just one. Soar Higher 2005
was awesome. I can’t wait until next year!”
Tim D. Keck, Performance Insights
Articles from the Speakers
|
|
Article
1. Kristine Sexter, “Employee Recruiting and Retention Ranked #1 Concern of
Top Executives”
Article
2. Bob Oros, “The Best 30-Minute Sales, Marketing, and Motivation Session I Have Ever Attended
In My Entire Life”
Article
3. Ron Meyers, “It’s the Finish That Counts”
Article
4. Darren LaCroix, “10 Speaking Tips from the Champ”
Article
5. Carrie Perrien Smith, “Set Kick-Butt Goals”
Article
6. Mary Pryor, “Move Now! It’s Doesn’t Have to be Perfect” |
|
Article
7. Tom Bach, “What Does Change Have to Do With Customer Loyalty?”
Article
8. Willie Johnson, “If It Is to Be, It Is Up to You”
Article
9. Kerry Robertson, “Listening ... The Skill That Can Transform
Relationships”
Article
10. Bob Oros, “Are You Putting Off You Success?” Walt Pavlo was
featured in USA Today on November 16.
Click here to read the article in the online version. |
|
|
|
Tuesday, November 1, 2005
The conference featured three general sessions and eight skill-builder
sessions.
|
|
The Soar Higher Operations Team
takes a few moments to enjoy lunch. Left to right, Juli Vonnegut, Lunch
General Session Speaker Chaundra Cox of Wal-Mart, Jana Wegner, SIFE Team
Member Allisha Raltson, Tina Bright, and Tom Smith.
|
|
Speaker Kristine Sexter uses Spike, an Australian Bearded Dragon, to
reinforce her message on leadership at the Soar Higher 2005 conference in
Springdale.
|
|
If you’ve picked up the newspaper on a regular basis over the last 12 to 24 months, you’ve seen an increase in the number of conferences held in Northwest Arkansas. With the new convention center scheduled to open next summer, you can plan to see the number pick up even more.
On Tuesday, November 1, Rogers, Arkansas-based Soar with Eagles hosted their first full-day conference at the Holiday Inn Northwest Arkansas in Springdale.
The Soar Higher 2005 conference featured 12 speakers who are experts in their field.
The morning and lunch general sessions were kicked off by local 12-year-old
singing sensation, Meagan White.
Breakout sessions included topics such as “Back to Normal: Handling and
Managing Change;” “Motivating and Managing an Unmotivated Staff;” “The FACTS
about Living Better at Work; and “Career Success — God’s Way.”
Click here to see the full line-up of topics and speakers.
Professional Speaker Kristine Sexter from Tulsa, Oklahoma, presented
“Characteristics of Wildly Successful Leaders.” Sexter uses exotic animals
in her presentations. “I like to incorporate the animals in my presentations
because it makes my points more memorable,” commented Sexter, a professional
member of National Speakers Association. Her presentation incorporated
Spike, an Australian Bearded Dragon, owned by Safari Joe Estes, Owner of
Safari Joes Wildlife Sanctuary located in Adair, OK.
The morning general session featured 2001 Toastmasters World Champion of
Public Speaking presenting his championship-winning program, “How I Went
from Chump to Champ.” Darren came in a day early so that he could present a
training program at the Rogers Toastmasters Club. “I owe so much of my
success as a professional speaker and speaking coach to Toastmasters. I like
to visit area clubs when I travel to share my knowledge and experiences with
members” said LaCroix.
The lunchtime general session featured Chandra Cox, Director of Women’s
Markets Diversity Relations, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., and Cathy Harris of C.
Harris Companies, Inc. The session focused on leadership experiences from
two professional women. Harris is a seasoned professional speaker and
consultant who helps organizations to identify and implement the best
changes for their growth. She also founded a New Orleans-based non-profit
organization called Each One Save One that encourages mentoring.
Harris shared her experiences of losing her home and business in the
aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in September. She and her husband, Ray, along
with her family members, have relocated to Hot Springs, Arkansas. She told
the audience about the experience from her perspective. “We went into a
Sam’s Club after we finally got settled in Hot Springs to buy a few things
we needed. It was the first thing that really seemed familiar since the
hurricane. It felt like home because we shopped at Sam’s Club in New
Orleans,” commented Harris. She even chuckled about not knowing what do to
during her first tornado warning ever after she moved to Hot Springs.
The audience of over 100 attendees gathered for the final, unforgettable session of the day. Professional Speaker Kerry Robertson of Oklahoma City interviewed Walt Pavlo, the former MCI manager who served time in federal prison for his role in a fraud that involved some of MCI’s major clients. In a room so quiet that you could hear a pin drop, Pavlo
recounted his experience as the fraud damaged his health, changed his career
forever, and devastated his family. Today, Walt is picking up the pieces of
his life and now travels the country speaking to companies and college
students about the perils of white-collar crime.
This event is the first of this type of conference in this area. It was
focused on providing a series of professional development topics that serves
the needs and interests of leaders or individuals on the leadership track.
“With my speaker bureau, I have access to so many fantastic experts who
speak professionally, that it seemed like it was time to invest in an event
like this,” said event organizer, Carrie Perrien Smith, president of Soar
with Eagles. Her company provides speakers, training, consulting, and
conference design services.
A talented conference operations team consisting of Jana Wegner, Juli
Vonnegut, Tina Bright, and Tom Smith, all who work at Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
assist Perrien Smith in coordinating the conference. Their skills include
large-scale meeting management, event planning, catering contract
negotiation, emergency planning, and technical support. “The folks are not
only exceptionally talented and detail oriented, they extremely great
friends to spend a day of their vacation time and invest so many evenings
planning this event,” commented Perrien Smith.
The Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) at NorthWest Arkansas Community College offered their help in planning and supporting the conference. “Their SIFE Fellow [faculty advisor], Theresa Neal, and President, Becky Hudson, have such a strong, motivated team this year. They were a huge help to our conference operations team.”
Soar with Eagles made a $500 donation to the SIFE team at the end of the
day.
Plans have already begun for Soar Higher 2006. To find out how you can get involved in the next conference, contact Carrie Perrien Smith at Soar with Eagles at 479.636.7627 or carrie@soarhigher.com.
|
|
Members of the Students in Free
Enterprise team at Northwest Arkansas Community College were on hand to help
with the conference. Standing (left to right) are Brandon Wood, Angie
Francis, and SIFE President Becky Hudson. Seated (left to right) are Chris
Starnes, Allisha Ralston, and Heath Jones.
|
|
General Session Speaker Walt Pavlo talks with
Kerry Robertson about his role in the MCI fraud that sent him to federal
prison. Pavlo now travels the country talking to companies the dangers and
warning signs of white-collar crime.
|
|
Attendees had the chance to
browse the conference book store which featured the speakers books and audio
CDs.
|
|
Local professional speaker,
Willie Johnson, presented “If It’s To Be, It’s Up to Me.” Johnson is a
13-year Toastmasters International Veteran who turned professional speaker
this year.
|
|
Professional Speaker Kerry
Robertson spoke to the audience on the Facts about Living Better at Work.
Robertson is a former Oklahoma City talk show host who consults with
companies on improving their communication. |
|
|
|
|
What
Attendees Said About Soar Higher 2005
|
|
“I’ve told everyone I could about
this great conference I was able to attend . I have never attended a
conference of this type that targeted business from this perspective. It was
great. The variety of speakers was wonderful. I learned something from each
one. I’ve talked to my friends and co-workers today and said it was hard to
pick out my favorite part. I think some of the best parts were the quality
of speakers and their organization and delivery of information. I also was
very impressed with the timing. Every minute was put to good use. Even our
break time was used visiting with the educators and browsing the bookstore.
You did not waste one second of my time.
I’m also excited about the books and CDs I bought. I want to learn more from
these educators and I can do that as I drive to work.”
Sara Lou Manning,
Hairlines
“The day was extraordinary! I wasn't sure what to expect.
It started our great and went up from there. It was very uplifting and
thought provoking! I would recommend it to anyone and everyone! ”
Joy Rendon,
Lenders Title Company
“The conference was a WONDERFUL professional development day for me!”
Jean Anderson,
NorthWest Arkansas Community College
“The conference was a DELIGHT! What a great job you did! I
am anxious for the next one and will tell everyone I know that they need to
attend!” Terry Allen, Lenders Title Company
I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed Soar Higher 2005. The
speakers were so dynamic! I was motivated to think of ways to revise and
improve my business for the upcoming year. Soar Higher is a fabulous way to
reflect, learn from the past year, and prepare for the next.
I’ve been emailing my notes from the conference to all my friends and
colleagues. They are eagerly awaiting Soar Higher 2006!
Lana Ginn, Harris McHaney Realtors |
|
“I was sincerely impressed with the quality of the conference as a whole and
the speakers in particular. It was as useful a conference as similar
conferences I have attended in Dallas, Saint Louis, and Washington DC and I
didn’t have to spend travel money to attend. I applaud the committee and
Soar with Eagles for bringing such a superior conference to Northwest
Arkansas.”
Cyndi Bilyeu, HOPE, Inc.
“I thought the conference was great! I got a lot of great
info and affirmations! You really have set a precedent for conferences in
years to come. The sessions were informative and inspirational! I look
forward to next year and already got you another attendee! My guess would be
that your attendance will triple next year.” Brenda
Bailey, Boom Boom Enterprises “The conference was very
beneficial. The speakers were great and so enthusiastic! The conference gave
me ideas that I can start using today!” Jennifer
Vandiver, Literacy Council of Benton County, Inc. “I enjoyed having the opportunity to listen to two wonderful speakers, Tom
Bach and Darren LaCroix, and look forward to applying the skills I learned
in these seminars to not only my professional life but to my role as a
volunteer as well. I look forward to applying the skills I learned in these seminars to not
only my professional life but to my role as a volunteer as well.”
Stephanie Austin,
Northwest Arkansas Member Services,
Arkansas Hospitality Association
“I thought it was great. Many of the sessions were too
short and I wanted to see them all.” Mardis DéVore,
Wal-Mart “The conference was awesome and provided me with a
lot of good information (and motivation) that I will be able to use to
further our agency’s cause. I really appreciate all you do for the community
and for your commitment to helping area non-profits be successful.”
Danny Burdess, Our Farm |
|
|
