Leading the Education Revolution 

Anthony Muñoz

Anthony Muñoz, is a former American football offensive tackle who played 13 seasons for the National Football League’s Cincinnati Bengals. Muñoz is widely considered one of the greatest offensive linemen in NFL history. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1998. Anthony Muñoz has been actively involved in his commitment to make a difference in the lives of local youth in the Greater Cincinnati region. Anthony decided to bring all of his charitable initiatives together in April of 2002 to establish the Anthony Muñoz Foundation (AMF), a non-profit organization armed with the mission of engaging the Tri-State region to impact youth mentally, physically and spiritually. Along its journey, the Anthony Muñoz Foundation has touched the lives of over 30,000 youth. Now, over a decade later, the Anthony Muñoz Foundation educates, promotes, recognizes and rewards Tri-State youth who excel in all phases of life, while reaching out and empowering those who are struggling. No matter what adversity youth may face, the Anthony Muñoz Foundation programs teach young people that they can overcome their respective obstacles while maintaining a focus on higher education.

Michael J. Sorrell, Ed.D.

Ranked with the likes of Tim Cook and Bill and Melinda Gates on Fortune’s 2018 list of the world’s greatest leaders, Michael Sorrell transformed struggling Paul Quinn College in Dallas into one of the most innovative colleges in America. An attorney and former White House staffer, Sorrell brought a bold new vision to Paul Quinn, focusing on academic rigor, experiential learning and entrepreneurship. He also pioneered what he named the “urban work college model,” based on Paul Quinn’s dramatic success. Inspiring, straight-talking, and with a compelling and hopeful story to tell, Sorrell received a standing ovation at SXSW Education for his dynamic delivery and groundbreaking approaches to reinventing the future of American higher education. Read his full bio.

Justice Sharon Kennedy

Justice Sharon Kennedy joined the Supreme Court of Ohio in 2012, becoming the 154th Justice and the ninth female justice to serve on the court. She began her career in the justice system as an officer for the City of Hamilton Police Department, and went on to obtain her law degree from the University of Cincinnati College of Law.

Justice Kennedy maintained a private practice, during which time she served as General Counsel for the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #38, Special Counsel for the Ohio Attorney General’s office, Warrant & Compliance Officer for the Butler County Juvenile Court, and Magistrate and Warrant Officer for the Butler County Area Courts. She was elected to the Butler County Court of Common Pleas Domestic Relations Division in 1999, where she also served as the administrative judge from 2005 until her election to the Supreme Court.

Justice Kennedy has been the recipient of multiple awards, including The AMVETS Department of Ohio 2018 Past Department Commanders’ Civil Servant of the Year Award; The National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution Silver Good Citizenship Medal (2018), Leadership Ohio’s 2016 Community Leadership Award, and the University of Cincinnati College of Law’s 2014 Nicholas Longworth, III Alumni Achievement Award. Additionally, Justice Kennedy was featured in Trends in the Judiciary: Interviews with Judges Across the Globe, published in 2015. She was named one of 13 professional women to watch by the Cincinnati Enquirer in 2013 and was awarded Judge of the Year in 2006. In 2018, Justice Kennedy launched the “Lean Forward: Advancing Veterans Treatments Courts Across Ohio” initiative.

Shane Meeker

More than ever, there is one thing that truly separates many brands and companies today – that one thing is STORY. It’s no longer just what people buy, it’s what they buy into. When it comes to connecting, teaching, influencing, and inspiring others, a story will make whatever you say more impactful.

Nationally recognized storyteller, keynote speaker and author, Shane Meeker, knows the challenges that businesses and brands experience as they try to stand out in a crowded marketplace. After years of research and study in the film industry he created a way to take his favorite movies, books and TV shows and apply their story methods to the business and branding world. In fact, he often tells audiences that you can solve almost any business problem with what works in Star Wars (don’t worry, he will explain how).

Shane is a 23 year veteran at the Procter & Gamble Company where he is the Corporate Storyteller & Company Historian. Outside of P&G he has been presenting his StoryMythos content for over 13 years at hundreds of brands and conferences across the globe from Amsterdam to Australia. Shane has been a keynote speaker at great companies like Walt Disney, FedEx, Nike, Whirlpool, Ford, Starwood Hotels, USAA, Anheuser Busch, Columbia Sportswear and Exxon Mobil. He has been featured in numerous books, online articles and interviews discussing how story can be used as a strategic, inspirational and executional tool. He also teaches story development as an adjunct professor at the University of Cincinnati and the Illinois Institute of Technology. His presentations include surprising insights, engaging personal stories, fun movie references and tools that everyone will remember and use long after the event ends.

Shane’s book, StoryMythos: A Movie Guide To Better Business Stories, is available on Amazon and Kindle and was rated a #1 New Release Best Seller in Business Writing and Skills. He also has a TEDx talk online about the Power of Short Stories.  Please visit his site at www.storymythos.com for more information.

Jennie Hempstead: Communication Designer/Graphic Notetaker

Jennie is a creative content professional from Dayton,  Ohio with 15+ years of experience in design, communications and marketing. Her career supporting scientists and engineers often has her visually translating high-tech concepts into impactful pieces of communication that empower teams and enable research. She has worked with clients such as the U.S. Air Force, The Ohio State University, the University of Dayton, Butler Tech and The Child Poverty Collaborative. She’s member of the International Forum for Visual Practitioners (IFVP), International Visual Literacy Association (IVLA) and is passionate about visual literacy in education. Jennie will be our graphic notetaker during all general session speakers.

View a sample of her work

La Shanda Sugg, LPC

La Shanda Sugg, LPC is a Certified Trauma-Responsive Therapist, Consultant, and the Founder and CEO of Labors of Love Counseling and Consulting, LLC in Cincinnati, Ohio.  With over 12 years of experience working at the intersection of Mental/Behavioral Health and Education, her gift for making complex concepts easy to understand and relevant to everyday life is one of many reasons La Shanda is a highly sought-after therapist and trainer.  Using specifically tailored trainings and consultation, La Shanda helps schools and districts deepen their understanding of Trauma and Resilience.  La Shanda provides engaging and informative trainings that foster professional and personal growth to district administrators, school leadership, teachers, support staff, students and parents.  She provides ongoing support and resources, aiding districts and schools on their journey toward becoming Trauma-Responsive.

Crissy Lauterbach, President of Contact Learning

Crissy Lauterbach, President of Contact Learning is a 26-year veteran educator. Crissy was the keynote speaker for the Department of Defense Schools’ International Future Educators Association in Garmisch, Germany, Miami University’s Teacher Academy Symposium, Tedx Yearling, and the Anthony Munoz Foundation’s Youth Summit. She was also the Teacher Ambassador at South Craven School in Yorkshire, England, in 2004. In 2014, she became the first National Advisor in Residence for Educators Rising. In 2015, Crissy was named a White House Innovator for her work in Teacher’s Academy and Educators Rising.  Her awards include: Ohio Teacher of the Year Semifinalist, Leavey Award Winner, Tri-state Educator of the Year, the Wooster Excellence in Education Award, the ACTE Community Service Educator of the Year for Region 1, and the inaugural winner of the Erin Young Award for honoring student voice.

JEE Foods

JEE Foods is a student-powered non-profit organization with a mission to aid and empower those who don’t have the means to do so themselves. Their philosophy of community involvement and outreach inspired the creation of JEE Foods that aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: No Poverty and Zero Hunger. JEE Foods utilizes strong partners, including regional and national grocery chains and organizations to collect, reprocess, and redistribute donated goods to those in need in the form of snack packs or MRE’S. JEE Foods has addressed the United Nations and won the 2018 Students for the Advancement of Global Entrepreneurship World Cup.

Renee is the founder and principal at RB Consulting. Combining 20 years in education, counseling, and non-profit leadership, her passion and purpose is helping individuals, teams, and organizations cultivate resilience. After years of working with survivors of trauma she now teaches others the skills of resilience for workplace well-being. As a Certified Resilience Coach, she provides clients with immediately usable tools to increase resilience, well-being, and optimism in the workplace. Renee speaks to international audiences on resilience and well-being, including as a guest lecturer at the University of Virginia’s Curry School of Education. Renee holds a MA in counseling psychology from the University of Colorado and a BS from The Ohio State University. Renee is an avid (albeit slow) runner, book club member, and proud mother to three boys.