www.byrdbaggett.com byrd@byrdbaggett.com

Why settle for success when you and your team can grow to significance?  Byrd Baggett is an expert at developing authentic leaders and passionately engaged teams.  Since 1990, he has helped numerous Fortune 500 companies and national associations achieve their goals.  His solutions have been featured in many publications, including Readers Digest, Bits & Pieces, Guide Posts, and Selling Power magazine.  He is the author of 13 books on the topics of sales, leadership, customer service, and motivation.  His books have sold in excess of one million copies and his book on sales – The Book of Excellence – has been published in nine languages.  His True Growth™ presentations are values-based and have proven to grow individuals, teams, and businesses to the richly rewarding Season of Significance.  Why settle for success?

Mr.Stephen Piontek Editor-in-Chief, National Underwriter

Stephen Piontek is editor-in-chief of National Underwriter's Life & Health/Financial Services edition.He is responsible for day-to-day news operations, including the assignment, editing and placement of stories and graphic support. He is also responsible for the Editorial and Op-Ed pages, and writes a monthly column, The Editor's Edge, which comments on industry trends and current events. Mr. Piontek came to the newsweekly in 1980 after five years in the advertising and publicity department of a major book publisher in New York. After a series of promotions, he was named Managing Editor in 1989 and five years later was promoted to Editor. During his years as a reporter he pioneered coverage of financial services and financial planning for National Underwriter. Mr. Piontek has appeared as a speaker at a number of industry meetings and conferences. Mr. Piontek graduated cum laude from Brooklyn College with a B.A. in English. In 1998, he completed the Professional Publishing Course at Stanford University. 

Tom's background in the insurance industry covers over 30 years in a variety of different levels.  He has been an agent, agency manager, trainer and most recently, sales vice president with Aviva. 
Tom is a graduate of Nortre Dame and is an active member of the university alumni association.
He is often asked to be the master of ceromonies for numerous events, primarily for his vast experiences and sense of humor.  Spending a few minutes with Tom will be a treat for everyone.

John E. Girouard, President, CEO Capital Asset Management Group & Founder, The Institute for Financial Independence

John E. Girouard is founder and president of CAPITAL Asset Management Group of Bethesda, Maryland, formed in 1984 to provide average investors with the same professionalism, expertise, and freedom from conflict of interests enjoyed by the wealthy and corporations. The company currently manages assets of more than $180 million with a team of professionals serving more than 3,500 clients.

Girouard’s life mission and the focus of his business has been to educate clients about the inner workings of the financial services industry and to help them avoid the pitfalls and exploit the strategies used by corporations and individuals to create, grow, and protect wealth.

In 2006, Girouard took all of his investment-teaching experience and techniques and put them together under the umbrella of The Institute for Financial Independence, a unique investor-learning-center concept. The first Institute location opened in 2007 in Bethany Beach, Delaware, a community which has attracted a large number of people who are transitioning from their working years to retirement.

He documented his strategies and solutions in his popular 2007 book, “The Ten Truths of Wealth Creation,” which explains the concepts and strategies he teaches at The Institute. He has appeared on numerous radio and television programs, and been quoted in print and web articles. He also educates his colleagues, speaking at investment trade events, training professional investment advisors interested in following his independent approach.

He has served as an advisory board member of AETNA Financial Services (ING), American Capital Corporation, American Skandia (Prudential), National Planning Corporation (NPC), and AssetMark Investment Services among others. He has also received numerous industry recognitions including the Million Dollar Roundtable, the National Quality Award and the Joint Chiefs of Staff of Lafayette Life, the Presidential Council of Aetna and Guardian Life, and the Advisors Circle Award of the Oppenheimer Funds.

Girouard earned a BA in Economics from the University of Maryland and began his career by founding AGI Financial Services Inc. in Washington D.C., helping nonprofit and government executives and employees negotiate employment contracts and establish employee benefit and retirement programs. The success of AGI led to the founding of CAPITAL Benefit Planning Group, an employee benefits firm.

Girouard has earned numerous industry certifications including Certified Financial Planner (CFP®), Chartered Financial Consultant, Certified Fund Specialist, Chartered Life Underwriter, Certified Estate Analyst and Certified Senior Advisor.

He has served as a member of the Board of Governors to the University of Maryland College Park Foundation, and chair of the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences Finance Committee for the Alumni Association. He contributes his services to the National Children’s Center, a Washington, D.C. organization that works with children with developmental disabilities, the Washington Animal Rescue League, and The Human Incentive and Research Education Institute.

John Girouard lives in the District of Columbia with his wife of twenty years, a daughter and a son, and a menagerie of pets. His hobby is cooking.

Kim O'Brien CFP, MBA, Executive Director, NAFA

Ms. O’Brien is Executive Director of NAFA. She is responsible for all aspects of association management. Kim has successfully organized and managed conferences for 2004, 2005 and 2006 which generated profit for NAFA. Membership has increased for 12 to 45 percent at present.

Previously, Kim owned and ran her own marketing agency called American Brokerage, LLC and received the 2002 Entrepreneur Award from Sun Life.

Prior to American Brokerage, LLC, Kim served as Executive Director of Marketing and Product Management at Clarica, where she led the development, marketing, and training processes for the company's portfolio of fixed and equity-indexed annuities. She previously headed the marketing department for individual health products, group health products, and student health plans for Fortis Insurance Company.

Kim O'Brien received her BA from Ripon College, her MFA from the University of Northern Colorado, and an MBA from Edgewood College, Madison, Wisconsin.

W Mitchell

The title of W Mitchell's latest book is also his philosophy on life -- "It's not what happens to you...it's what you do about it." This expert on taking responsibility for change shows his audiences not only how to gain perspective, but how to cope, and even better, to prosper with personal and professional change.

W Mitchell knows about challenge, change and courage -- all first hand. He speaks to you about the battles and the victories of life. From co-founding a metal casting company that put thousands to work, from his election as mayor and congressional nominee, from a fiery motorcycle accident that left him burned over 65% of his body, and from the airplane crash that took away his ability to walk, Mitchell now soars above the rest with grace, good humor and gumption.
Mitchell speaks with passion about the human spirit. He focuses on the positives of change--taking responsibility--and the proven result...himself.

"Before I was paralyzed there were 10,000 things I could do; now there are 9,000. I can either dwell on the 1,000 I've lost or focus on the 9,000 I have left."

David Smithkey President SECURITY FIRST BENEFITS & NAIFA

David is president/principal of Security First Benefits Corp. located in Flint, Michigan. The parent company was founded in 1924, and has continually served its clients by providing employee and executive benefits in the small group market. David has been very active in the industry and his community. He began serving the insurance industry by being elected as president of his local and state chapter of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors. Still maintaining the passion for this great industry, David began working on the national level of NAIFA, and in September 2005, was elected their 115th president during their annual meeting in Baltimore. David is a proud member of NAIFA, AHIA, MDRT, AALU, SFSP, TAC, and NAHU. In his community he has served on the United Way Team, and is an honorary board member of the Genesee Valley Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. David is currently serving as Head Elder of Emanuel Lutheran Church in his home town of Flushing, Michigan. When David does find time for leisure, he enjoys golf, sky diving (no longer), and spending quality time with family and friends.