Elite Speaker, Shawn Sommerkamp, Called to Speak at Pacific Design & Manufacturing 2020

Shawn Sommerkamp is a Lean Practitioner, Motivational Speaker, Product Development Life Cycle Expert and ICF Certified Executive Coach.

With 15 years-experience inside Fortune 50 technology OEM’s, and a focus on Lean manufacturing principles, Shawn’s insights into automation are well honed. Using humor and audience participation, he collaboratively engages the audience with a unique way of approaching all improvement opportunities.

Shawn’s Lightning Workshop:

Navigating Implementation Challenges in Manufacturing Automation

With technologies advancing at breakneck speed and workers aging out, manufacturers find themselves not just in need of employees, but those with a different, more advanced set of skills. Is automating more of the production process the answer? Will development of an in-house training system close the skills gap? Will profits decrease even further as employee pay sky rockets?

The audience will join Shawn Sommerkamp for a unique workshop that combines a brief TED style presentation and real-time solution exploration with audience members.

Shawn’s experience in growth methodologies, business analysis, quality compliance, and relationship management has also lead him to becoming well-versed in LEAN Six Sigma strategies with emphasis on continuous process improvement (Kaizen). Shawn is also passionate about helping other professionals achieve accelerated career growth. He lives by the motto, “Your career is not just a way to make a living, it’s a way to transform the world™.”

Shawn speaks often about the role that his core values has played in building a foundation for breakthrough career success and a lifetime of fulfillment. As an intellectual with a fantastic appetite for comprehensive and collaborative growth, he is able to speak on many topics including process automation, organizational development, efficiency, psychology, science, profitability, manufacturing and every aspect of the product development life cycle to excel.

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2-Time Grammy Winner, Speech Thomas, and His Queen Who Reigns With Him

Many celebrities have experienced disappointment and heartache in a failed marriage. It seems that most begin their relationships with as much promise and sincerity as any other person might. But sadly, when compared to non-celebrity marriages, the odds are stacked heavily against them. Statistically speaking, celebrity marriages do not have a very good track record for longevity. Whether it is an actor, a television personality, an accomplished athlete, a musician or any other profession that launches an individual into the public celebrity spotlight, the figures are not very promising. With that said, we direct our attention to Speech Thomas, an acclaimed hip hop artist, rapper and visionary who leads the 2-time grammy award winning band, Arrested Development. Speech has been a visionary in one of the most difficult and controversial music genres, yet he is fortunate enough to enjoy a healthy and happy relationship with his wife, Yolanda. They have been a part of each other’s life for almost three decades and have been married for close to two and half decades.

“Before knowing or even meeting my wife, I already knew that I wanted to lift her up as my queen. I was just waiting for someone that could fit that description.”

In the course of discussing marriage and relationships with Speech, he shares some of the misconceptions that he personally encountered as a young man, as it related to marriage. One of the most discouraging viewpoints that he was subjected to was a perception that marriage was a type of “jail”. Speech had and still has a different view, which was influenced greatly by his faith, in that marriage to the right person was more of a fundamental building block of life… a sacred chapter of sorts.

She Is My Queen

But before ever entering the chapter in our lives that is “marriage”, we must acknowledge that there are other chapters which come first. From early childhood, humans are immersed into the culture of their communities, neighborhoods and schools, as well as the culture that is found in the privacy of their own households. More often than not, we are influenced to adopt the thinking of those around us.

As a boy and later a young man, Speech discovered and came to the conclusion that many of the other young men he had met maintained a negative view of women. For instance, many women were treated as conquests to be used and mistreated. Sadly, he also found that some women had also surrendered and come to accept that they were living out the role of a second class citizen to their male counterparts. This concerned him because he had a lot of respect and admiration for some of the most important women in his own life. As a result, from a very young age, Speech decided that if he was fortunate enough to find the right woman to marry, he would treat her as a queen; she would be a true equal partner in his life.

But is this really realistic? After all, Speech would rise to become the founding member of one of the most iconic hip hop bands of the early 90’s, earning two grammy’s and having the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame name “Tennessee” one of The 500 songs That Shaped Rock and Roll. He has shared stages with legends such as Nelson Mandela, James Brown, The Roots, Oprah Winfrey and many more.

Well, it certainly was and is realistic for Speech, who has held firm to his convictions and stood his ground when it came to marriage. “Before knowing or even meeting my wife, I already knew that I wanted to lift her up as my queen. I was just waiting for someone that could fit that description.” He made a pact that he intended to keep. His wife would have to be his partner and his friend.

With a reference to the instructions that flight attendants often give passengers before take-off, Speech discusses the need to “put your oxygen mask on first.” To him, this meant coming to grips with what his core values and beliefs were and then internalizing them. After that, he accepted that steps would need to be taken in order to live his life by the virtues that he held dear. With great enthusiasm, he says, ” I brought my queen with me to many of my tours and events, and often the children were able to come too.” Although many years have passed and his children are young adults now, his sentiment still rings true. Speech still performs with his band, Arrested Development, and his wife still often joins him. His “queen” is still at his side reigning with him! It is a great privilege to experience Speech, an exceptional human being, artist and Elite Speaker.

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Africa, the Fight Against Aids and Doctor Mark Ottenweller’s Idealistic Life

Small children have a way of seeing things from an idealistic point of view. Have you ever taken the time to speak with a small child and asked them what they want to be when they grow up? Unless compelled by an adult to answer differently, it is not unusual to hear a child say that they want to fly into space, be a superhero… or save the starving and hurting people from around the world. That’s not unusual for a child but, as adults, our dreams and values may seem to change. Do adults remain idealistic? Perhaps, international speaker and humanitarian, Doctor Mark Ottenweller, might shed some light on the subject. After all, in many ways, Doctor Ottenweller spent three decades living out some of our child-like dreams.

“If you put people who have good hearts together with a need that they are willing to meet and, if God is in the picture, then that is where the magic happens!”

As I press on in my interview of Doctor Mark Ottenweller, the question is posed, “How did you ever go from living in the U.S. to going over to Africa some thirty years ago in order to serve the poor and needy?” His response, “I always wanted to do something to help others.” It was always there.

It Was Always There

According to Doctor Ottenweller, the part of him that wanted to do something to help people was always there. It didn’t somehow disappear as he got older or somehow get left in the past along with his childhood.

It was the late eighties when Doctor Mark Ottenweller was part of the first Aids clinic planted in Africa. From 1989 to 1994, he served as Director of Centre d’Assistance Sociomedicale (AIDS) in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. Later, he served as Director of HOPE worldwide, out of Johannesburg, South Africa from 1994 to 2006 and then as Director for Development from 2006 to 2007. He continued as Global AIDS Coordinator until 2012 and then as Director of Development for Africa & Senior HIV/AIDS Advisor until 2017.

How did this man do this? According to Doctor Ottenweller, a friend, Steve, asked him if he’d be willing to go to the Ivory Coast. Doctor Ottenweller researched it together with his wife. (He was married with three children at the time.) But he also paints a sobering picture, and says that it wasn’t easy at first. He temporarily moved into a two bedroom apartment with another family. He didn’t speak French or any native languages. He continues, “I was the one who sort-of became unglued at first but, I had a lot of support with my wife and friends who encouraged me. And we had God.” His wife had an adventurous spirit so she supported the idea of making a difference while living out a real life adventure. The desire to help others was always there and he just did something. But can that be the same of other people? Apparently, according to Doctor Ottenweller, it is certainly true of other people based on his experience. “If you put people who have good hearts together with a need that they are willing to meet and, if God is in the picture, then that is where the magic happens!” says Doctor Ottenweller.

Your dream to make a difference can be reality. It may seem unrealistic and maybe taking the first few steps towards change will be hard. But, just do something.

We are now in 2019 and where has “doing something” taken this man? Between the Aids clinics, early childhood development centers, travels back and fourth to the USA and meeting with donors, working with large-scale grants, and helping orphans…I guess you might say, it’s taken him pretty far. His cooperative work to make a difference on the world stages have garnered much attention including project features on international news media such as CNN, ABC News, NBC News (USA), Reuters, TF-1 (French), SABC (South Africa), ZDF (German), BNN (Netherlands), CBC (Canada), Boston Globe, LA Times, USA Today, and Vogue Magazine. As a part of the HOPE team that presented President Nelson Mandela with the HOPE Unity Awards, he has been in the presence of many leaders including hosting Bill Clinton, Colin Powell, Madeleine Albright, Oprah Winfrey, Graca Machel, and others in visits to Soweto. But that’s not why he did it. It is only a testament that being idealistic can take you places you weren’t even planning on going to.

Speaking year after year since the late eighties and early nineties and how did this get started? Doctor Mark Ottenweller answered the call and did something. Apparently, for some people, if that desire to help others was there at childhood then it could very well still be in there. It was always there… waiting to answer the right call to make a difference.

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MTV pop star Christian Ray called to sing against communism by Russian President Boris Yeltsin

Some people are so gifted with talent and skill, it seems almost unfair, until you see what they’ve done with it. Award winning media & marketing guru, international pop start, Christian Ray, is a perfect example. He has one parent that’s from Russia and the other is from Chile. He also lived in Mozambique and now he’s in the US but technically, he’s kind of from everywhere. And, wherever he goes, he seems to make an impact. He sings, he writes, he directs, he is a business owner, he is a visionary, he does benevolent work, and more. But, let’s take a few steps back and talk about Russia. How do we connect the dots between a pop star and a president who wants victory over his communist opponent? I guess this was Russia’s version of “rock the vote” against communism.

“It wasn’t like I was very political back then. I was young and it seemed like communism wasn’t a good thing so we went for it. Not to mention, it’s not every day a Russian president is calling on you to do their campaign song.”

Christian Ray brought much of what we were used to in the United States, as it relates to music in the 90’s, to Russia. He was a great success with many hits and of course, that number one hit that became the song used as the people’s theme song against communism. This was quite amazing in a country that is known for ballet, opera, theater, and, well, vodka! But not pop music or, at least, not yet.

Russia’s Version of Rock the Vote against Communism

A young musician with the world at his fingertips might be a dream come true but that is not how the story began for Christian Ray. Christian Ray was born in Moscow, Russia, on March 15, 1969, to a Chilean father and Russian mother. The family moved to Chile when Christian was nine months old. During the 1973 military coup of Augusto Pinochet, Christian’s father, Americo Flores, was arrested along with thousands of others and spent time in one of the infamous concentration camps. His mother Larisa, along with two children, went into hiding under an assumed name and with a fake Argentinian passport.

After Americo’s release, the family spent several months in a refugee camp and was granted asylum in Germany, moving to Munich. After some time in Germany and Russia, Americo and Larisa moved to Mozambique, at the invitation of the government, which was recruiting international professionals after a mass exodus of Portuguese upon the nation’s independence. Christian learned four languages by the age of nine: Russian, Spanish, English, and Portuguese. After his parents’ divorce, Christian returned to Russia with his mother and sister in 1983. Christian got a master’s degree in economics in 1991 from the RUDN University in Moscow.

In 1993, Christian Ray released his first single in Russia, and he became an instant success, playing to large crowds by 1994. Back to back top-ten hits culminated into his number-one single, “Our Generation”– an anthem of freedom and change. It became the official song of Boris Yeltsin’s election campaign. Christian tirelessly campaigned for Yeltsin as part of the Russian version of “Rock the Vote” which is credited to giving Yeltsin the youth vote and victory in the campaign. “It wasn’t like I was very political back then. I was young and it seemed like communism wasn’t a good thing so we went for it. Not to mention, it’s not every day a Russian president is calling on you to do their campaign song.”

Motivational speaker and visionary entrepreneur, Christian Ray, has one very interesting life. Even today, he is a successful businessman in addition to his many other talents and skills. He is a speaker who is familiar with doing what it takes to make a difference, even if it means, well, not just doing it differently but, being the first one to do it.

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The Hanes Brand and Hanes Name from the father and son perspective of John Hanes and John Hanes

Elite Speakers, John Hanes and John Hanes come from a long line of “John Hanes.” To prevent confusion, we will call the younger of the two, John Wesley, which is what his mom and dad often call him anyway. John Wesley (Hanes) and his dad, John Hanes, are truly a great example of what a father and son should be. There is a sense of respect but there’s also laughter, appreciation for their differences, and even friendship. The Hanes family seems to practically breed men who are leaders. Yet, they lead differently and they choose different careers. John Hanes, the dad, is a Princeton graduate and an attorney. His son, is exactly what you’d expect from a successful millennial. He likes to travel and be free and move around wherever he feels he’s making a positive impact.

“Of course we know about The Hanes Brand. People have jokingly called us the Hanes underwear people without ever knowing that it really is our relative, John Hanes, that started the Hanes clothing line. And we knew that his son was a Senior partner at Smith Barney who played a role in helping FDR create the Securities & Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) but, truly…neither of us ever knew that one of our relatives was in a picture getting appointed to office by FDR! When we were asked about the picture of Franklin Delano Roosevelt appointing John Hanes Jr to the office of US Treasury, we were surprised.”

But what is it really like being a John Hanes from a line of men named John Hanes? Truth is, they really are just a couple of regular guys. But John Hanes, the dad, admitted it’s a little weird visiting family in North Carolina and then going to a mall (The Hanes Mall) that’s named after them. “It’s not like we ever tell anyone about any of that stuff. We never felt any pressure to be anything but ourselves. And one thing we like to do in this family is laugh. We never run out of corny jokes.”

The Hanes Reputation

The Hanes reputation seems to have started with good old fashioned hard work. A hard working man, John Hanes, was involved in the tobacco industry as well as in the textile and clothing business. He partnered with his brother after building the Hanes business. Flash forward years later and the company was sold to what was later to become Sara Lee’s clothing line, the iconic Hanes Brand. John Hanes’ son, John Hanes Jr, took a different path as a turnaround specialist in investments with Smith Barney. After speaking with the Hanes’ men about the Hanes Brand, we moved on and ask them about “the picture” and the response, well, is unique and distinctive. It’s the same for both, John Wesley and his dad, John Hanes, “Of course we know about The Hanes Brand. People have jokingly called us the Hanes underwear people without ever knowing that it really is our relative, John Hanes, that started the Hanes clothing line. And we knew that his son was a Senior Partner at Smith Barney who played a role in helping FDR create the Securities & Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) but, truly…neither of us ever knew that one of our relatives was in a picture getting appointed to office by FDR! When we were asked about the picture of Franklin Delano Roosevelt appointing John Hanes Jr to the office of US Treasury, we were surprised.” You see both of these men are experts at being genuinely interested in other people and asking a lot of questions and listening. It’s a little weird when somebody turns the tables on them and starts asking them questions. It is obvious that these guys are actually quite humble, which is a very attractive trait, especially from a leader. They go on to tell of John Hanes Jr’s son, John Hanes, who was a war veteran and who worked for the CIA for around three decades. Sadly, he passed away not very long ago. These men are distinctively different and have exceptionally good character. One can only wonder, will they continue the tradition by calling the next baby boy who comes along a “John Hanes” too? Only time will tell.

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KISS with Deb de Flores before being Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Deb de Flores is a Speaker that is no stranger to meeting celebrities. With a history of working for organizations like MTV, VH-1, and Universal Music, she’s got a unique perspective into the music scene as it skyrocketed from our record players into our television sets. Many people want to know who the people are behind the music they hear and love.

“I’ve met lot’s of celebrities but, seriously, these guy’s really know how to market themselves. Even when they are not on stage performing, they seem kind of larger than life…and if you haven’t noticed, they really are pretty tall compared to me. I can only imagine the type of courage it must have taken to go on stage for the first time dressed like that, make-up and all! To pull off something like that, you better be able to rock!”

From those very first videos that MTV played, maybe it was “Video Killed The Radio Star” and then a Pat Benatar song, we inched ourselves forward into an era like no other. Some of the most interesting music and styles found teenagers everywhere dressing like Madonna, Michael Jackson and so many others. Even some of the other artists that had been around a lot longer where getting a kick-start to reaching new audiences by simply getting on TV. We saw such iconic bands and artist like Led Zepplin, Whitney Houston, and Aerosmith (among others) join the video craze along with newer bands like Duran Duran, U2, or Prince.

And Then There Was KISS

There’s not much that compares to KISS. They did it first. Deb, thinks back about the story behind that picture. “I’ve met lot’s of celebrities but, seriously, these guy’s really know how to market themselves. Even when they are not on stage performing, they seem kind of larger than life…and if you haven’t noticed, they really are pretty tall compared to me. I can only imagine the type of courage it must have taken to go on stage for the first time dressed like that, make-up and all! To pull off something like that, you better be able to rock!” It really is no surprise that they found their way to music videos. People just want to see these guys. There was a time when very few people knew what they really looked like under all of the make-up and dazzling clothes. One thing’s for sure, it was a treat to meet them along with so many artists that Deb met through the years. There’s a few that stood out, even amongst the other celebrities. Flash forward and now they’ve been inducted into the Rock Hall of Fame. Speaker, Deb de Flores, has many other stories to tell from those times but with today’s perspective, and a vision for tomorrow.

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The late President George Bush Sr with Kelvin Bledsoe before Black Hawk Down and the Somali Pirates

Before Black Hack Down and the Somali Pirate attacks, Kelvin Bledsoe remembers the visit from then Commander-in-Chief, President George Bush Sr. As a commander and officer himself, he understood the significance of such a visit. The Commander-in-Chief, sometimes also called supreme commander, is the person that exercises supreme command and control over an armed forces or a military branch. U.S. Army Commander Kelvin Bledsoe had seen the gradual breakdown in relations between the U.S. and the criminal organizations in Somalia. But it didn’t come to critical mass until after President Bush was no longer in office and President Clinton had been appointed. The Bush visit was a good memory in a time when the soldiers needed encouragement.

“As I got closer, I heard a voice from behind me say, ‘Don’t walk behind the president…..you can’t walk behind the president.’ As I turned around, I realized the secret service agent was talking to me! I thought to myself, ‘I guess even commanders in Somalia or other war-torn countries are not excluded from this rule.'”

President George H.W. Bush served as the 41st president of the United States. After the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, he postponed his university and enlisted in the Navy instead on his 18th birthday. He became one of the youngest aviators to serve in the military before his tour ended and later attending Yale University. He became a millionaire by age of 40 after founding his own oil company. Eventually, he was elected president and since foreign policy drove the Bush presidency, he visited Somalia.

Somalia, a Total Breakdown in Civil Order

When Speaker and then Commander, Kelvin Bledsoe, met President Bush Sr in his visit to Somalia, there was a humanitarian disaster. The United Nations had attempted to step in to aid the situation through humanitarian efforts. Mr Bledsoe recalls that the communication was breaking down and the few relations which they had in Somalia were strained and could not be trusted. The supplies being brought in and given to the needy people were often stolen by militants.

Bledsoe remembers walking towards the President. “As I got closer, I heard a voice from behind me say, ‘Don’t walk behind the president…..you can’t walk behind the president.’ As I turned around, I realized the secret service agent was talking to me! I thought to myself, ‘I guess even commanders in Somalia or other war-torn countries are not excluded from this rule.'” Apparently, at that time, it was considered a security risk to have anybody walking behind the president.

Mr Bledsoe tells the story with a hint of humor, considering that not long after that, he had his arm around the President and the president had a genuine smile on his face. The two appeared to be like two close friends and it was a moment of peace that Bledsoe has fond memories of.

Some time later, after President Clinton was in office, one of this centuries most horrific events ensued as an American helicopter was shot down, soldiers were trapped, and bodies were dragged around as if in some nightmarish Hollywood film.

U.S. Army Officer, war veteran, and international public speaker, Kelvin Bledsoe, knows the values of treasuring the good memories because in war, good memories are a treasure.

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Cannabis stereotypes and Doctor Sasha Noe the Leading Cannabis Expert in America

If there’s anybody who is the undisputed authority on marijuana in the United States today, Doctor Sasha Noe, a Florida Physician and award winning researcher, is it. Doctor Noe is the only known physician in the US with a PhD in molecular cannabinoid research for almost two decades! Her award-winning published research has contributed towards the advancement of the therapeutic potential for medical cannabis. Her research, which began 24 years ago, has been referenced in the US and worldwide in numerous scholarly articles and books.

“… it is my life’s goal to educate and consult with patients, physicians, and the industry about medical cannabis while developing safe, maximally effective, therapeutic applications of cannabis and minimizing the use of opioids and other more harmful pharmaceuticals to improve overall health and wellness.”

With an introduction like that, you would think that the medical advancement and uses of cannabis would be further along by now. So why is it taking so long for doctors, hospitals, clinics, and medical or pharmaceutical professionals to make some changes? As I researched, I couldn’t help but to wonder if stereotypes might be the biggest antagonism to a more rapid acceptance of the medical use of cannabis.

It’s About Improving Overall Health and Wellness

It doesn’t take long, after hearing one of Doctor Noe’s presentations, to realize that perhaps we should start looking at this from a different angle.

This plant is not just about getting high. But let’s not ignore the elephant in the room. We’ve all seen the different adaptations of “stoners” on television or in the movies. Or maybe, we’ve experienced something difficult like a friend, family member, or even ourselves being harmed due to illicit drug use. But Doctor Noe can even address our addiction fears and concerns, after all, the plant can be stripped of the part that creates a euphoric affect or at least it can be minimized.

My introduction to Doctor Noe was not a planned one. Our family was moving out of state and we decided to go to one more church conference about a week before moving. Since I had only barely glanced at the different breakout sessions, I had no idea what I was about to hear when I walked into a room filled with people without even checking what the class was about. A woman who appeared fairly young began her presentation and I was barely paying attention until I heard the word “cannabis” which instantly woke me right up. It was a shock as she began to start presenting about cannabis and I concluded that I probably was not at my church conference anymore. As I tried to figure out what was the closest exit where I might quietly sneak out, I started recognizing several faces of friends, including a church elder, who were sitting attentively and taking notes. So I remained and was surprised about how little I really knew about cannabis. I was also quite surprised to discover that this young woman was actually much older and had been married for around 25 years.

She shared how she went through one of the most excruciating and painful experiences due to her gall bladder… something that I had personally experienced just a few years earlier. My wife watched helplessly in the hospital while I was keeled over desperately seeking a remedy for pain. This plant, like any other substance on the earth, may provide a great alternative under the responsible guidance of a qualified physician. We are sure to discover that there are very real potential medicinal uses that have been confirmed as a result of Doctor Noe’s research. I still remember the phrase she used in one of her presentations, “… it is my life’s goal to educate and consult with patients, physicians, and the industry about medical cannabis while developing safe, maximally effective, therapeutic applications of cannabis and minimizing the use of opioids and other more harmful pharmaceuticals to improve overall health and wellness.”

After hearing about Doctor Noe’s many years of studying and researching this plant, there is no doubt in my mind that it is time for a new perspective on cannabis. To say that, under the direction of a qualified physician, it has a staggering potential value and that is has many amazing and beneficial medicinal use possibilities, well… that would be a fantastically huge understatement. And now, even though moving slowly, we are seeing a shift as medical professionals in the United States become aware that International Speaker, Doctor Sasha Noe, has already paved the way and is speaking about her findings.

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