Keynote Speakers 2018

Introducing Our keynote Speakers

Shortcuts by Speaker:

Tracy Butz
Wednesday, April 18
Author, Speaker and Business Owner
Tracy Butz brings more than 20 years of speaking experience from both large- and small-size audiences including the US Army, Motorola, Shopko, Plexus and Subway. When delivering engaging and life- changing keynote messages, Tracy inspires audiences to live more passionate, productive and purposeful lives.

As an exceptionally talented and consummate training professional, she is well-known for delivering interactive, fun and results-focused workshops.

As the proud author of four books, Tracy loves to immerse readers with compelling content, powerful stories and vivid examples. Her newest book is entitled, HOLY COW! How to Create an Amazing Workplace that Steers Passion, Performance & Prosperity. This impactful read will help you to transform your workplace culture, whether you are a leader or an individual contributor. Discover how to alter workplace behaviors and performance—where you’ll feel empowered to do your best work, willingly collaborate with others, and help initiate the change needed to propel you and your organization forward.

In addition to HOLY COW!, Tracy’s other three popular books include: Tame the Turbulence: Avoid Losing It. Fly Through It., The Perfect Pair of Jeans: Design Your Life to Fit You, and Conscious Choices: 10 Powerful Strategies to Grab Control and Transform Your Life.

John Silvia
Friday, April 20

John Silvia is a managing director and the chief economist for Wells Fargo. Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, he has held his position since he joined Wachovia, a Wells Fargo predecessor, in 2002 as the company’s chief economist.

Before his current position, John worked on Capitol Hill as senior economist for the U.S. Senate Joint Economic Committee and chief economist for the U.S. Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee. Before that, he was chief economist of Kemper Funds and managing director of Scudder Kemper Investments, Inc.

John served as the president of the National Association for Business Economics (NABE) in 2015 and was awarded a NABE Fellow Certificate of Recognition in 2011 for outstanding contributions to the business economics profession and leadership among business economists to the nation. For the second time in three years, he was awarded the best overall forecast by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, as well as the best unemployment rate forecast for 2011. John is on the Bloomberg Best Forecast list for his forecasts of GDP, the ISM manufacturing index, housing starts, and the unemployment rate.

John holds B.A. and Ph.D. degrees in economics from Northeastern University in Boston and has a master’s degree in economics from Brown University.

John is a Certified Business Economist (CBE). He serves as a member of the Blue Chip Panel of Economic Forecasters and also serves on an informal advisory group for the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia. He served as chair for the Economic Advisory Committee of the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA) Economic Advisory Roundtable. John also serves on the finance committee for the Mint Museum in Charlotte and is a regular lecturer to the Cornell Food Executive Program. John is past president of the Charlotte Economics Club. He has also served on economic advisory committees to the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, and the Public Securities Association.