Past Speakers
(2005-Present)
Horst Schulze
Co-Founder Ritz Carlton Hotel Company
Horst is creator of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel luxury brand, now owned by Marriott International. Horst encouraged listeners to trust God through challenging times and to celebrate His miraculous intervention in our lives.
Horst is respected and revered for establishing the gold standard in customer service in hospitality. He generously advises on how to grow a business by providing first-class service to customers. He also openly tells how one can create excellence in living the Christian life. In Horst’s mind and heart, the two are intertwined.
Vagn Nielson
Corporate Executive Chef - Proof of the Pudding by MGR, Inc.
Vagn Nielsen is corporate executive chef and co-owner of Proof of the Pudding, a catering company in Atlanta.
Though he hailed from Copenhagen, which is known as the happiest city on the planet, Vagn met colleagues in the U.S. who seemed a lot more satisfied with life than he was.
His faith journey began when a co-worker invited him to a Bible study. He enjoyed the group’s company, but Vagn did not fully embrace the Christian faith until experiencing a life-altering encounter with law enforcement.
More Past Speakers
William F. “Woody” Faulk
Vice President, Innovation & New Ventures | Chick-fil-A, Inc.
Steve Palmer
Managing Partner – The Indigo Road Hospitality Group
Julia McKelvey
Director of Sales & Marketing at The St. Regis
Rachel Terry
Wife, Mom & Independent Contractor
Horst Shulze
Co-Founder Ritz Carlton Hotel Company
Vagn Nielsen
Corporate Executive Chef Proof of the Pudding by MGR, Inc.
David Stein
Host of Rise and Stein Morning Show Victory 91.5FM
Andy Reese
Director of Business Development, East West Manufacturing
Ken Mansfield
“The Beatles, The Bible and Beyond” Former U.S. Manager of Apple Records, songwriter and author
Ford Fry
Celebrity Chef, Restauranteur
Fred Cerrone
Chairman & CEO, Hotel Equities
Suzanne Reinhard
Owner, Suzanne Reinhard Events
Cheryl Bachelder
CEO, Popeyes® Louisiana Kitchen, Inc.
Brian Wray
Manager, Product Development - Product Strategy and Development Chick-fil-A
Anne Beiler
Author, Founder of Auntie Anne's Pretzels
Jimmy Thomas
Hospitality Veteran and Cancer Survivor, Director-Americas Sales, InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG)
Mike & Chris Reis
Authors, Speakers, Addiction Counselor (Mike), Former NFL Player (Chris)
Drew Salapka
Director of Revenue Management Hotel Equities
Scott N. MacLellan
Chief Executive Officer TouchPoint Support Services
John C. Alexander, III (Jack)
Vice Chairman and Partner The Rainmaker Group Holdings, Inc. and former Co-Founder and CEO BCD Travel
Charles A. Bengochea
President & Chief Executive Officer The HoneyBaked Ham Company
Joel Manby
President and Chief Executive Officer of Herschend Family Entertainment Corporation
Lowell “Bud” Paxson
Co-Founder of the Home Shopping Network and Founder of Paxson Communications Corporation
William F. (Woody) Faulk, Jr.
Vice President, Brand Strategy And Design Chick-fil-A, Inc.
Dan T. Cathy
President of Chick-fil-A
Wayne Huizenga, Jr.
President of Huizenga Holdings, Inc.
Horst Schulze
Co-Founder of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company
