To celebrate Veterans Day (November 11th) this year, let’s amplify the voices of veterans who speak truth to power and shed light on the breadth of the American experience. These renowned speakers utilize storytelling and journalistic acumen to share powerful lessons about overcoming adversity and share unique perspectives on teamwork and leadership.

Cheryl Wills

Cheryl Wills is a veteran anchor for Spectrum News NYl-she joined the cable network during its launch in 1992. She is the primetime anchor for NY1 Live at Ten and she’s also the host of the public affairs talk show In Focus with Cheryl Wills. In 2018, Cheryl became the first African-American reporter in NY1’s history to win an Emmy Award.

The award-winning journalist is the author of three books about her great-great-great grandfather Sandy Wills who fought in The Civil War: “Die Free: A Heroic Family Tale”, an illustrated children’s book “The Emancipation of Grandpa Sandy Wills” and a YA book “Emancipated: My Family’s Fight/or Freedom.” Cheryl has been invited to do readings of her Emancipation Series to tens of thousands of students across the country.

She is currently working on a groundbreaking book called “25 Women Who Changed Gospel”.
Cheryl has interviewed some of the most powerful people in the world including the first woman president of Africa: Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia. Cheryl’s groundbreaking report earned her a prestigious medal from United Nations Correspondents Association. She also scored an exclusive interview with United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon. Cheryl’s personal favorite was going one-on-one with the late great writer and activist Maya Angelou.

Cheryl also has been featured in a number of major television shows and movies including Ghostbusters: Answer The Call (2016); she can be seen in numerous episodes of Law & Order: SVU (NBC), Limitless (CBS), The Strain (FX), Freedom land with Samuel Jackson, The Brave One with Jodie Foster and numerous other stage and film productions.

Cheryl Wills was the first journalist invited to address the General Assembly of The United Nations about the impact of slavery on her family during the UN’s International Remembrance of Victims of the Transatlantic Slave Trade.

Cheryl takes great pride in being the Founder and Commander of The New York State Chapter of the Sons & Daughters of the United States Colored Troops, a national organization based in Washington D.C. She enjoys teaching students about the contributions of the 200,000 black soldiers who fought valiantly during The Civil War.

Cheryl Wills is a graduate of The Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University, with a major in Broadcast Journalism. She received an Honorary Doctorate from New York College of Health Professions in May of 2005.

Topics

* Juneteenth: The Descendant of a Civil War Soldier explains why Juneteenth Matters with a riveting PowerPoint presentation.
* Genealogy: How uncovering one’s past – empowers your future
* Career Empowerment: How to carve your own path in industry
* She Leads: Winning Formulas for Women of Color to Win

Matt Lindley

Matt graduated with a degree in commerce from the University of Birmingham. After leaving University, he joined the Ford Motor Company Graduate Training Programmer and joined a team implementing Japanese Management techniques in the car industry.
In 1995 Matt was selected to join the UK Royal Air Force as a pilot. During his military career, he flew many aircraft including the Hawk fighter jet. In 2000 he was selected to fly Her Majesty The Queen, members of the UK Royal Family and Government worldwide, serving on The Royal Squadron. Whilst serving, he became a qualified flying instructor and VIP qualified Captain. He flew missions in the Sierra Leone, Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts. Matt was one of the first openly gay pilots in the RAF.

In 2007 Matt left the Service to join a leading UK airline, initially flying the Airbus on their short haul network. Matt now flies the Boeing 777 on long-haul routes.
In addition to flying, Matt specialises in non-technical training. He delivers Human Performance Factors keynote speeches and workshops which draw on flight management techniques to optimise outcomes, whilst minimising human error in the workplace.

Topics

* Mental Health | Resilience – how to weather the storm
* Being your authentic self
* Stress and workplace performance
* How to be an inclusive leader
* Trust – building a psychologically safe place
* The importance of allies
* Culture change
* Emotional intelligence and empathy

Felicia Pecora

Felicia is not your average speaker. She is an Army combat veteran and seasoned police officer who makes leading through crisis fun and exciting! She brings unique perspectives gained from the battlefield and the American street that challenge audiences to see their purpose and potential within your organization and then determine a path to achieve both!
She is an award-winning entrepreneur who is frequently sought after to help organizations build a culture of safety that solidifies their foundation through relationship-building. She has been training adults in soft and combat skills for almost three decades. Felicia knows how to rock a platform, connect with a crowd and provide training so that others can effectively do the same.
Whether you are leading your team through a new software change or saving a hostage in an active shooting, Felicia will inspire you with humor, science, and a few pushups here and there. By the time it’s over, you too will be anything but average!

Topics

* The A.R.T. of Personal Security
* “Moments of Decision: Managing Large Scale Response to a Community Crisis”

Want to explore further? Find our complete list of speakers on our website. If you’re planning an upcoming event, please reach out anytime – we are happy to jump on a call to help you craft the perfect event.