2026 Speaker Information

SCOTT TILEMA

Crisis Negotiator, Corporate Trainer, and Professional Keynote Speaker

Scott Tillema is an internationally recognized crisis negotiator, corporate trainer and professional keynote speaker. He is known and respected for his experience negotiating in emotionally charged incidents, with high stakes and when the situation requires sensitivity to the human element. 

Scott has over 20 years of municipal law enforcement experience in the Chicago area and specializes in hostage and crisis negotiation. He was trained by the FBI and spent many years negotiating with one of the largest regional SWAT teams in the United States. 

Educationally, Scott holds a master’s degree in psychology, a bachelor’s degree in behavioral science, and has received negotiation training at Harvard University’s Program on Negotiation. 

Today, Scott is the founder of Negotiation Excellence, LLC, where he provides keynote speeches and corporate training to clients from across the world around the concepts of leadership, influence, and difficult conversations. 

He is a prolific trainer, speaking to audiences of all professions, having provided training at companies and organizations such as Microsoft, GE Healthcare, Citi, Bosch, the FBI, multiple YPO chapters, and many more. 

Scott was invited to give a TEDx talk titled “The Secrets of Hostage Negotiators”, which has received over 1 million views. His visibility as a speaker and educator through TEDx and other venues has reached global status. 

NEAL GLATT

Managing Partner & Co-Founder, GrowTheBench.com

Neal Glatt, CSP, ASM is a managing partner and co-founder of GrowTheBench.com. In his career as a snow contractor, Glatt joined Case Snow Management, Inc. as an Account Executive in 2010. The company owned a single pick-up truck and had annual revenues of less than $1 million. Leading the sales effort and serving as part of the leadership team, Neal helped the company exceed $40 million in annual sales before beginning his own coaching practice in 2017. During that time, Glatt discovered the power of focusing on strengths and the ability of strong leadership to influence amazing results. His passion is to help other people also find fulfillment and success in life. He is a Certified Strengths Coach through Gallup and a John Maxwell Certified Coach, Speaker, and Trainer.

KENNY ROY

President, Royal Pavement Solutions

TRAVIS STOKES

President, Action Asphalt

Lauren Furtado

Founder, Unconventional CFO

Lauren Furtado is the owner of a Fractional CFO Services firm, who is labeled as “Not your typical CPA”. She spent 19 years in public accounting serving multi-billion-dollar Fortune 500 companies but was passionate about bringing big company strategies to blue collar businesses to simplify their finances, and improve their profitability enhance growth and impact.  Through her firm, she offers Fractional CFO Services tailored to the needs of business owners, helping them navigate financial complexities and achieve sustainable growth.

COLONEL GARTH MASSEY

Founder, CommandReady

Colonel Garth Massey is a U.S. Marine, commanding at every level of the infantry, from platoons to a regiment of nearly 5,000 Marines, led the senior staff training programs for Marine Corps Training and Education Command, He retired in 2026 after 31 years of service.

In 2007, he founded CommandReady, blending combat leadership, business experience, and two master’s degrees to build practical leadership programs used by organizations nationwide.

Known for high-energy, real-world training, Col Garth delivers keynotes, workshops, and immersive leadership experiences that prepare leaders to perform; from the battlefield to the boardroom.