Kevin Carroll - Katalyst Consultancy

Kevin Carroll is the author of the highly successful Rules of the Red Rubber Ball. He is the founder of The Katalyst Consultancy where his “job” is to nurture and care for the individual and communal inner spirit and to inspire new ways of thinking. It is not unusual for him to work with CEOs from Fortune 500 companies and a group of equally unruly first graders on the same day. In fact, it’s expected. He considers himself an excitatory agent for change; in other words, he’s a “Katalyst.” The “K” is for Kevin. Kevin and I were high school soccer and basketball teammates and friends at Haverford High School. We had some great coaches and understand and appreciate the values and ethics that these coaches have passed on to us. There were many lessons learned as we developed our "intestinal fortitude" through sweat equity from folks like Ted Keyser and Steve Juenger. Although things may not have been crystal clear when we were teenagers, there obviously came a point in time where it all clicked and their message made sense to us.

www.katalystatlarge.com/about.html

Jonathon S. Blais a.k.a. BLAZEMAN

Jonathan S. Blais is a Seekonk "Warrior" who went on fueling a passion for teaching "Underdogs" to overcome an obstacle called: life. He took his Seekonk "Smarts" to the streets of San Diego, CA becoming known as "Blazeman". On May 2, 2005 while teaching and finishing a Masters degree in Education, he was given a death sentence by diagnosis of ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) more commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease. According to statistics, he has a MND (motor neuron disease) on board that was progressively and relentlessly destroying his body.  The reality is 70 years later, after former baseball legend "Iron Horse" Lou Gehrig was walked off field at Yankee Stadium in 1939, the world has only one FDA approved drug that clinically fails to do anything beyond extend suffering. Did you know 411 people die each day from ALS? That's 17 people every hour. More than 150,000 PALS (People with ALS) keep dying from Lou Gherig's disease and more than 350,000 PALS are left suffering its affliction each year. ALS... the best your Neurologist can do is hand you a pamphlet as you make your way out of their office that describes the fact that you will sooner than later find yourself up "Shit’s Creek" without a paddle. Anyway, such are things and it is what it is. Jon has always believed in ending your story with a quote. Others have already said it best, so it's better to remember those and go out strong. So … "What lies behind us and what lies ahead of us are tiny matters compared to what lives within us." R.W. Emerson. So what then if I may ask kind of Braveheart lives within you? On October 15, 2005 Blazeman finished the 27th annual Ford Hawaii Ironman Triathlon Championship: 2.4 miles of ocean swimming followed by 112 miles of cycling finishing up with 26.2 miles of running through the lava fields of Kona. In 2006, Jon was wheel chair bound.  In May of 2007, Jon lost his battle but the war against ALS in his spirit and honor will never waver.

You can help Blazeman continue his fight by visiting www.alswarriorpoet.com

Brian Gast - Quadrant International

Brian Gast offers team building seminars, executive peer groups, corporate team building and much more. Look to Brian for group facilitation and leadership building near Denver, Colorado. Brian and I go back to first grade in Ardmore, Pennsylvania and were inseparable at the time. I lost touch with Brian for a number of years. When I reconnected, I learned that he still refers to vivid memories of bike riding with "Little Stevie Brown" within his lecture series as he has his participants close their eyes and think about an early childhood memory. 

www.quadrantinternational.net

Tim Kerr - TK Charities

Tim Kerr Charities, Inc. was created by Tim Kerr specifically to raise funds for physically and mentally challenged children. There are three components of Tim Kerr Charities: Tim Kerr 7 - Mile Island Run for Challenged Children, Power Play for Life, and Children's Charities of Power Play Realty. Although I've only know Tim personally for a couple of years, his legend is certainly well known. His NHL All Star status is almost eclipsed by the incredible work he has done through his charitable organization. With the addition of the Avalon IslandMan Triathlon in 2006, Tim and his wife Midge, "get it", and are giving back in a big way.

www.timkerrcharities.org

Rob Vigorito  - The Columbia Triathlon Association

RR

The Columbia Triathlon Association (CTA) is a non-profit organization based in Columbia, Maryland. The organization plays an active role in Columbia and its environs and actively supports several local charities, among them: The ARC of Howard County, for developmentally affected youth and adults, The Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults based in Howard County, The Lance Armstrong Foundation, and several other very worthwhile causes.  The Columbia Triathlon and CTA as a group is about Tradition. living The Dream. Not enough can be said about the contributions "Vigo" has made to the sport of triathlon, the community at large, and mankind as a whole. Just show up at one of his events and you will feel his passion once inside a 5 mile radius of his being.

www.tricolumbia.org

Todd Crandell - Racing for Recovery

Racing for Recovery is a federally approved non-profit organization founded to prevent drug and alcohol abuse in children and provide positive alternatives to those currently battling addiction through motivational speaking events, health and exercise. I became friends with Todd in 2004 when I interviewed him for Transition Times. Todd literally hit the bottom of the barrel, pulled himself out, and is now helping countless people find their way. Todd is a true ambassador of good will.

www.racingforrecovery.com