Michelle Dutro, a veteran of the military and the fire department, was determined to pursue her own dreams, which now focus on helping others to do the same. Her 15 years in preventative medicine, have spurred her to emphasize good health as she works to motivate others to pursue their passions in life. “My turning points always involved coming to the realization that my purpose in life is to make you have the faith, the belief and the understanding that whatever it is you want to do, you've got it. You really do! Whatever it is, that's the common theme.”

Will Ketchum, President and CEO of Burdette Ketchum, is a 26-year veteran of the marketing communications field. Joining the Jacksonville, Florida, firm in 1999, he rose to the top in 2011. The proud father of Kaiden, 17, and Ben, 15, Will has been married for 20 years to Missy Ketchum. “You can't find the perfect job unless you can find out what you're really meant to do. There are tools that can help you figure that out. When you have that clarity, it changes everything: the way you search for a career and find your own career sweet spot.”

Julie Fleming is an author, speaker, and caregiver for her father, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2011. Learning about caring for her father through trial and error and extensive research, she created Alzheimer’s Caregiver Minute to share her experiences to help other caregivers. “The biggest benefit is having a sense of purpose, whether practicing law, coaching, or trying to get the word out about Alzheimer's. It's not fun and games all day long, but I so thoroughly enjoy the parts that are fun! What's better than doing something that's fun AND has a purpose behind it?”

Judy Robinett, “the woman with the titanium digital Rolodex,” was profiled as a “super connector” in Fast Company, Forbes, Huffington Post, and Bloomberg Businessweek. She served as a director of Golden Seeds Angel Network, one of the largest in the U.S., and in several venture capital firms. “Many investors are frantically trying to find good deals to fund, while company founders are frantically searching for funders. They don't understand how the ecosystem works, or the difference between angel investors and venture capitalists. Often, entrepreneurs are just in the wrong room.”

Steve Koonin became CEO of the Atlanta Hawks in April 2014. In his first full season, the Hawks led the NBA in attendance increase, setting franchise records for retail sales, sellouts and season ticket memberships, plus a 500% jump in season tickets. Steve’s late-day cold call to Coca-Cola’s marketing director in 1986 opened doors to 13 different positions in 14 years, including running Coke’s worldwide sports and entertainment marketing, and responsibilities that he never imagined. A call to a friend at Turner Broadcasting led to the top position at TNT for 14 years.

Brandie Weikle, founder and editor of thenewfamily.com and host of The New Family Podcast, is a 15-year veteran of parenting journalism. She has been the Editor-in-Chief of Canadian Family magazine and held senior positions at a number of other parenting publications on and offline. Her website's 1,000 Families Project explores the variety of modern families. “It's very easy for people, especially women, to stay where they are in a job if it's comfortable. But I have advised every young woman I've mentored to be willing to move around. You need to do that sometimes to advance yourself.”

Marv Henberg, for seven years the president of The College of Idaho, a liberal arts college in Caldwell, is beginning an active retirement with plans “to engage in my other great passion, conservation.” An international and a local conservation organization are considering him for their boards.” Marv’s impressive academic life took him to Washington and Lee University and Oxford, as a Rhodes Scholar. “Early on I developed an interest in environmental philosophy. My Ph.D. thesis was on theories of justice. It combined my personal passion for the environment and my academic passion together.”

Corena Bahr is the owner of YourWebinarGuru, a consulting company that trains experts how to create exceptional webinar training programs that ensure learning and profitability. With more than 15 years with companies such as Citrix and Comerica Bank, she has a unique blend of expertise in instructional design and virtual learning. “Follow what excites you. You have to remember that you are the captain of you ship, the one who gets to steer the ship and go where you want to go. Networking is also important, meeting people, telling them what you need, or looking for people who can learn from.”

Kathleen Brady, a certified career/life coach, author and speaker, has helped people identify goals and embrace their dreams for 25 years. Director of career development at Georgian Court University, she is head of Brady & Associates Career Planners, LLC. How well you distinguish between your own definition of success and society’s definition—aligning your inner desires with their outward expression—makes all the difference between deep satisfaction and drudgery. Gaining clarity and self-knowledge requires plenty of quiet time for reflection and stepping away from day-to-day pressures.

Chris Burnham is a lifelong learner and teacher of Lean Management systems and Continuous Improvement. Understanding that leadership is the difference between success and failure, Chris uses The Lean Leadership Podcast to teach, equip, and motivate others on using their gifts and talents to improve their own lives and others around them. Chris came to see how skills learned in his criminal justice studies were transferable. He saw that his talents that meshed with one field could be engaged in another.

Pia Gronning was runner-up Miss Denmark in 1969, landing leading roles in several Scandinavian movies. Discovered by famed modeling agency executive Eileen Ford in 1973, she moved to New York City and modelled for 13 years for print and broadcast ads, traveling worldwide. Now, at 65, she is a globetrotting model once again. Earlier, feeling pressure from her father to get “a real job,” Pia enrolled in college. Modeling agencies were enticing her with offers. Pulled in two directions, she took some gigs. “After filming all day, I’d go to my hotel room and I study to be a school teacher.”

Chip Franks is the founder of The Real Estate MarketPlace, with 16 realtors, and a property management company in Harker Heights, TX. His passion project, Joe Volunteer, is an Uber-like mobile app that connects organizations and volunteers on demand. The goal: increase volunteering 10-fold globally and help millions of people worldwide. "A formal education can make you a living, but a self-education will make you a fortune. What's great about business is that the act of creating something is fantastic. It is a mirror, good or bad, of the skills and talents that you bring to the table."

Julienne Burleson spent five years in an Ecuadorian prison because her so-called friends set her up with hidden cocaine. Featured on "60 Minutes" with Mike Wallace, she now speaks and writes about her inspirational story. Her bestselling book, "Surviving Camp Inca," was released in July 2015. In prison, she reviewed the many small decisions that led up to her imprisonment, strengthened her faith, and taught herself a trade, the energy work of reflexology. “No matter what you’ve been through in your life, it is possible to move past it, learn and grow from it, and become a better person.”

Col. Bill DeMarco has a passion for leadership and helping others lead organizations to amazing results. He has commanded at the squadron, group, and wing (equivalent) level. His teaching posts include USAF’s Air University. To earn his three masters degrees he studied at Stanford University, Cambridge’s Business School, and works with Harvard’s National Preparedness Leadership Initiative. “Some of us were born to be the hero of a story of epic proportions, but others are perhaps a hero of one small child, it could be your own or a child across an ocean, but both require a hero's soul, and a hero's call.”

Lee Phoenix has taken his passion for helping people reach a better point in their lives by using his knowledge of nutrition counseling, life coaching, and bodybuilding. Through his business, Rise Brand New Fitness, he plans to reach people around the world, enriching the quality of their lifestyles. “When I went out on my own—building rapport with people, working on myself—someone asked me if I was a life coach. I began to see I am good at motivating people through what I say and do. I began to see that I have something of value to offer.”

Judi Cohen is an attorney and law professor who founded Warrior One and its nationally-acclaimed Essential Mindfulness for Lawyers® trainings, helping thousands of lawyers, law students and conflict-resolution professionals integrate the tool of mindfulness into their practices and lives, to reduce stress, increase effectiveness, and positively influence wellbeing and outcomes. The practice of mindfulness—as a practice of life—can be useful to anyone. If you are surrounded by conflict, the practice of mindfulness can allow you to open your heart and mind and get through it.

Dr. George Moricz has taken on the medical establishment with his proprietary youthful blueprint system. As a thought-leader in anti-aging, Dr. Moricz has integrated hormonal balancing, weight management, and control over fatigue. In his 30s he began to suffer sleeplessness, fatigue and acute exhaustion. Though he loved his practice, he could not keep up the pace. As a patient, he thought of pinball machines as he was bounced from specialist to specialist. This experience led him to rethink medicine and develop a new approach.

Jeneen Barlow is a results-producing presenter and clarity coach. A successful K-16 educator and administrator, she and husband Omar co-created The Destiny Statement Process and the Custom Cash-Generating Curriculum. Jeneen is the author of Don't Be Scared, Bespeak, and co-author of triple bestseller, Don't Be Scared, Live on Purpose. “What really matters is living life on purpose. I was there when both my parents drew their last breath, and I’m so clear about this. I'm happy to be able to do what I love every day, and even happier there is tangible evidence my work enriches the lives of others.”

Bill Lampton, Ph.D., helps leaders speak confidently, clearly and convincingly. His interview coaching enables applicants to excel in job searches. Founder of Championship Communication, Bill’s clients include major corporations and entrepreneurs. He taught at the University of Georgia, then served as vice president of three colleges and a medical center. He has hosted many radio talk shows. Fear of public speaking holds many talented people back. Many people in management won’t seek higher levels because they know they will have more speaking responsibilities. My experience and education convince me coaching can help.

Gareth Young is an author, radio show host, podcaster, blogger and speaker. His passion is challenging preconceptions and helping people transform and grow into authenticity, happiness, purpose and sense of fulfillment without sacrificing worldly and career success—topics often featured on his podcast, A New Business Mindset. He is also a successful businessman. “When I transformed my own life from a traditional corporate career and family life to an integrated life of independent business livelihood, I gained richer personal relationships, and deeper community involvement, all filled with a sense of meaning and purpose. Perhaps most importantly I have learned a new way of being with people.”

Latisha Robb seized her own destiny when she found herself homeless with four children, abandoned by her husband. This led her into self-discovery through New Age and Eastern religion. Less than seven years later, she is a self-made woman in real estate with a global clientele, a philanthropist and leader in business and spiritual thought. The turning points in our lives—good or bad—are there for a reason. I’ve learned that your pain is your purpose and it creates who you are. When we look at what we've been through with different eyes, we realize how our experiences can benefit others.

Rob Scott coaches from authentic wisdom gained through failures, massive successes and fundamental shifts in thinking. “I have a really sound—not ‘woo-woo’—and actionable way to help people get past their biggest limits, get connected to their biggest purpose, and make a permanent and profound change in their life. I had the advantage of a horrible childhood. That led me to having certain courage or durability in the corporate world.” After a descent into addiction, homelessness and cancer, Rob had a fundamental shift in the way he thought about things, a sense of "I'm going to succeed no matter what."

Erin Colleen Geraghty is a certified life and weight loss coach, and yoga therapist. She specializes in working with men and women who struggle with perfectionism, are seeking spirituality, and want to learn how to pursue their passions with vigor and determination. Her techniques include ways of releasing faulty belief systems. “Once you use your power to manage your mind, you're really limitless. Once you understand your dark and your doubts—from that place of love, understanding and acceptance—then you can really rise up. Your purpose becomes clear. Questions fall away as answers come organically."

Steven J. Chen, Ph.D., is an organizational psychologist, consultant and author who has worked with individuals and companies for over 25 years. His knowledge of human behavior and of what works in practice allow him to quickly diagnose issues and problems and create unique and long lasting solutions. “Many people choose careers and life paths without a clear understanding of who they are as individuals, then wonder why they feel so deeply disconnected and dissatisfied. Going through some professional assessment work, to better understand who they really are, is vitally important for a good fit.

Sam Porritt knows how to revitalize once-prominent brands, making them relevant again. His recovery from a spinal injury turned him into a leading advocate for full coverage for rehabilitation. Through his marketing consulting practice, Full Circle Branding, and Falling Forward Foundation, he takes up the cause of nonprofits. Earning an MBA from the University of Chicago and succeeding in a corporate career, Sam never considered the nonprofit sector. “For me it was all about making money. Suddenly, I'm working with nonprofit folks and realize, it isn't all about making money. It's about making the world a better place.”