Testimonials 

Kevin Brown

Kevin's words and message are something every industry NEEDS to hear. His delivery, body language, storytelling weave in so well with his humor and the fundamental lessons of his keynote. From start to finish, you will be engaged and leave you in aw. Our group of leaders were left inspired to come back to their stores, share the lessons Kevin taught, and go to work dominating customer service! Our group of 9,000+ gave a standing ovation!

— O’Reilly Automotive Stores

“Kevin absolutely nailed it! He tailored his presentation specifically for our company, and our managers walked away excited to start the new season. Thank you for helping to make us a better company, and more importantly, better people.”

— The Home City Ice Co.

"Kevin was phenomenal! He did an excellent job of weaving both personal and work points into his speech that resonated with everyone.”

— Intralox

“I’ve been in the presentation and hospitality business for 35 years and have seen dozens if not a hundred keynote speeches. I’ve never been moved so much as I was this week listening to Kevin. I now look in the mirror a little differently thanks to him. Keep up the great work!”

— Spectrum Audio Visual

YOU WERE AWESOME! I knew you would be. We received comments all the way to the day we left about how you were the FAVORITE speaker at our event. You have a gift for this. You are a great story teller and connect with people on such an emotional level. And your humor is great on top of it all. I could not have been more pleased and am blessed to have met you. Thanks for making our event special.

— Georgia Credit Union Affiliates

Amazing performance!!! I’ve never seen people standing and applauding eagerly at the end of a keynote performance; Kevin made the closing of our event successful. Kevin’s passion and gift of speech makes his “Hero Effect” keynote a one of a kind: Entertaining, energizing and powerful message.

— Jorge E. Salazar, Employee Safety Advisor, ExxonMobil Pipeline

Kevin was our closing speaker this week at our national convention for Success Group International. We have been hiring professional speakers for the last 20 years to come to our annual events. Kevin's message was inspirational and motivational. He made us laugh and cry, but most of all, he made us all recognize the hero within. I cannot recommend him enough!

— Rebecca Cassel, President, Success Group International (SGI)

Every once in a while if you're lucky you cross paths with greatness. Individuals who make you better by just being in their presence. Having played with legends like Peyton Manning I know what that feels like. Kevin Brown is one of those people. Kevin has the ability to use the art of rhetoric and speech to inspire us as human beings to reach our potential and live extraordinary lives. Kevin Brown doesn't just share about the Hero Effect, Kevin Brown lives the Hero Effect!

— Ben Utecht, Super Bowl XLI Champion, National Speaker, and Author

Whatever it is that makes someone a great speaker - Kevin Brown has it!

— Joe Calloway, Author and Speaker of Becoming a Category of One

Kevin is not a story teller. Kevin is a truth teller. His truth is an aspiration that we all must have. His inspiration comes from his heart and his soul, and it is extremely obvious. Kevin, you are my HERO. Thanks for making a difference in my life and in the lives of 110 people that you opened up to this week.

— Mitch Little, Vice President, Worldwide Sales & Applications, Microchip Technology, Inc.

Our members loved you! Thanks for closing our conference with exactly the right message. I will recommend you to my peers far and wide as a great speaker!

— Patricia McLaughlin, Illinois Movers' and Warehousemen's Assn.

Kevin Brown was a fantastic speaker and left our group with a wonderful message that held value for work and home. He was extremely engaging and the content was rich with humor. All 500 employees, who attended the banquet, fully enjoyed his talk and I would recommend him for any event. He is also very easy to work with and will help you make your meeting and/or event a huge success.

— Caitlin Laramee, Transamerica

Kevin was AWESOME! For the next 2 days, everyone was talking about his presentation. He is phenomenal and we’re lucky to have had him present to our team. I can’t recommend him enough. Exactly what we needed!

— Holly Horner, Director of Information Systems, Central Turf and Irrigation Supply

Oh my goodness, it couldn't have gone better!! Kevin was the perfect choice for this audience!! The fact that he stayed to sign books afterwards was so impactful. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Kevin was professional, really affected the audience, and had their attention the entire time!! We may ask him to come back next year. I don't have enough positive things to say!

— Jessica Fern, Director of Training and Development, FPI Management 

I thought you might enjoy hearing what attendees thought of your presentation at the CalTravel Summit. In short, they loved it! That is the highest rating we have ever gotten for a speaker. Congratulations, and thank you for bringing so much passion, heart and inspiration to our event.

— Barbara Newton, President and CEO, California Travel Association.

Thank you so much, Kevin! You knocked it out of the park. We were blown away by how you customized it to our group and made it personal for them. I know it must be so hard for you to not have the feedback of a live audience, but rest assured there was a well-deserved standing ovation!

— Leslie Midgley, CAE, Executive Vice President and CEO, Texas Land Title Association

Kevin was absolutely outstanding and his message was exactly what the doctor ordered for our leaders. Several of the leaders said that they didn't know how much they needed to hear his message until they heard it. The words uplifted them and gave them the opportunity to refresh and revisit their why and just cause. Kevin is truly one of the best speakers I have ever had the opportunity to hear.

— Dr. Holly Ferguson, Superintendent, Prosper Independent School District

Kevin’s keynote speech at our President’s Club was phenomenal! Hearing his personal story was particularly moving, as his relatability made us laugh, cry, and then laugh again. Each of our teammates walked away knowing the importance of being remembered as someone who shaped others, which certainly helps us as a people-first company.

— Rollins, Inc

We only got AMAZINGLY positive feedback on Kevin! Thank you all for your help planning our event! It will be hard to top him. On our employee survey, he rated 3.95 out of 4 stars. It’s the highest speaker rating I’ve seen in my six years of planning the event. And employees were seeking me out to rave about him. That has never happened on that scale.

— AmFirst

“Your talk was funny, emotional and on point with its messaging about showing up every day and making a positive impact on people’s lives both in work and personally."

— Univest Financial Corporation

“Hi Kevin –YOU HIT IT OUT OF THE PARK TODAY!! Thank you so much for your outstanding message and presentation. We are hearing rave reviews from our attendees. Thank you for making us look like heroes! We are truly grateful.”

— Visit Denver

“Thank you for serving as a speaker at the Channel Partners Conference & Expo. Your willingness to share your time and expertise to help our channel partners grow and better serve their customers contributed to the great success of the event. Your session, The Hero Effect - Creating a Culture of Heroes at Every Level, rated 5 out of 5):”

— InformaTech

Kevin is amazing! His presentation was spot on at my event. I’ve had attendees call my office and say, "My eyes were misty when he spoke about his parents. Couldn’t have had a better speaker if we’d searched the WHOLE world!" and "Kevin hit a home run with his keynote!

— Jeannie Gregory, State Farm Agent

First- let me start with saying how completely blown away everyone was with Kevin. He was perfect on so many levels and really effected everyone right in the spot that they needed it. The feedback was overwhelming and we are just still thrilled with our interaction with Kevin. We are already thinking of avenues in which we can work together again in the future. Kevin was exceptional to work with - as was his team!

— One of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world

Everyone enjoyed your presentation. We always send out an evaluation to get feedback for improvement and the responses were the most positive we have ever received. I can't tell you how many people said on the evaluation that it was the best speaker they ever heard. Several people said they had heard speakers for 30 and 40 years in education and you were the best ever! I have even had several emails from teachers that were so appreciative. Thank you for making our back to school PD the best. 

— Karen C. Walters, Superintendent Bryant School District, Arkansas

Kevin - thank you so much for inspiring our group. I have heard lots of wonderful feedback about how much everyone enjoyed hearing you speak at our Leadership Summit. I knew The Hero Effect was the right message for our audience, but I was really impressed and delighted with the way you connected to our core values and helped our audience relate to your message in those terms - well done!

— Marti Greathouse, Helzberg Diamonds

Kevin’s program was a great reminder of the importance of customer service and what it means to make an interaction with someone truly exceptional and memorable. We had about 500 employees attend his presentation, including several from our IT area. We laughed, cried and walked away inspired to be everyday heroes. Kevin’s presentation and message were different than our typical guest speakers’ – and it showed. We received rave reviews from employees, and many asked to have more speakers like him in the future.

—Mary Donnelly, Supervisor of Benefit Projects, COUNTRY Financial®

You were the message. The ripple effect of your talk has been extraordinary.

— Philip Styrlund, CEO Forum

Kevin's presentation was very well received. It was the perfect complement to the relaunch of our WATER'S WORTH IT campaign and both were the buzz of the conference. We continue to receive positive feedback. Kevin had just the right mix of emotion and inspiration, and couldn't have been more perfect for our audience. He was also wonderful to work with and was amazingly self-sufficient - showed up when he was needed and required zero hand-holding. He was a breeze to work with.

— Lori Harrison, Director, Creative Projects, Water Environment Federation

Kevin's keynote was an absolute home run! Everything I hoped it would be when I heard him at a Great West event in March of 2018, and more! He gave me the idea for our convention theme; the Highway is for Hero’s! He was sensational and I know from the subtle differences in his presentation that he works very hard at keeping it up to date! I hope to see him again someday to hear more about how their son is doing at Disney!

— Dave Huneryager, President, Tennessee Trucking Association

Kevin received a 5 out of 5 from our attendees. He was the most favorite speaker of the day! :) We appreciate his invaluable contribution to the 2020 San Diego International Roundtable Members! A few things we heard from our members: "Great content, positive message. One of the best speakers I have ever heard! Excellent. Great speaker! So inspirational. One of the best speakers you have ever had. Very moving, relevant stories. Excellent! Thank you for your phenomenal presentation. Thanks for making a difference!"

— PeriSean Hall, Show Producer, Service Nation, Inc.

“It was terrific! The themes were carried through the rest of the meeting with several speakers referring back to your message, especially Aunt Bea and the apple pancakes. Thanks so much for being a part of this with us and for incorporating the elements of our discussion into your message.”

— Chief Customer Officer, Verizon Connect

“Kevin was great—no, better than that…GREAT!!! Attendees loved him and he was so easy to work with. One of my very favorite speakers in the 40+ we’ve booked through GDA over the years.”

— International Institute of Ammonia Refrigeration (IIAR)

“Kevin, thank you for your powerful and moving keynote presentation. You reminded leaders how they can have a positive impact on others and how relevant this is as we navigate the challenges posed by the ongoing pandemic. I wanted to share a few of the comments we received from attendees: ‘This guy was off the charts in a good way!’; ‘Brilliant speaker, very moving!’; ‘This was the most powerful and influential presentation of the conference.’ Thank you, again.”

— Colorado Municipal League

Kevin’s message truly resonated and I can say with certainty there have been few speakers who moved our audience as much as he did. We have been tracking speaker scores since 2011 - Kevin is now the No. 1 rated speaker out of nearly 500 speakers our attendees have evaluated at XChange events over the years. Truly an amazing accomplishment.

— Robert DeMarzo, SVP, The Channel Company

We've booked hundreds of speakers over the years, and Kevin is, without a doubt, one of my favorites! Kevin, like world-class organizations, draws you in and leaves you wanting more. He doesn't just talk about The Hero Effect, he lives it.

— Troy Peple, CEO, Accelerent

To say that Kevin was phenomenal would be an understatement. I have never seen a room captivated the way it was a few weeks ago with Kevin on stage. He commanded the room through his stories, compassion, humor and overall demeanor. He and his story are truly a treasure and we appreciate your team working with us to make it all a reality!

— Lexi Dussi, Marketing Manager, Eliassen Group

You were a HUGE HIT with our conference attendees. You're a pleasure to work with.

— Diana Shackelford, Event Marketing Manager, Blue Cross Blue Shield

Every once in a while you come across a book that you connect with on such a profound level that you find yourself getting anxious as you draw to the final pages as you don’t want it to end.  A book, that after having read it, you know that there is a little piece of you that will see life through a slightly different lens than before.  Even after having heard your message prior to Saturday night, I found myself not wanting it to end.  I found myself hoping that I can hang on to viewing life through the lens that you pointed out that I have always had, but not always chose to see through. You have been given a great gift in your profound ability to share your message and move people to reflect upon their own lives.

— Jimmy Stilley, OakStar Bank

Kevin was extraordinarily phenomenal! Kevin's down to earth presentation on the Hero Effect connected with the audience both personally and professionally. His delivery was thought provoking, yet filled with humor at the most appropriate times. Kevin’s inspiring performance will take you on a ride filled with emotion and entertainment, and one that will stay with you long after its over!

— Beata Craig, CPCU, CLU®, CIPP/USState Farm Insurance

Your passion and story really resonated with people here …your closing keynote was like the bottom of the ninth inning with the score tied and you walked up and hit a grand slam home run for the walk off win!! Bottom line Kevin…simply put…you rocked it when you were here!

— Al Hodgeman, CIC, AIS, Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance

Thank you for coming to share your wit and wisdom with our local CPCU chapter. Your presentation on the HERO Effect: Bringing Your Best when it Matters the Most was a perfect send-off for our audience. The images of Aunt Bea and being called Mr. Delicious are embedded in the heads of CPCUs throughout the area. You’ve got quite a talent for painting a word picture in the minds of your audience.

— Michael C. Nibbelin, MBA, Ph.D. CPCU, ChFC, CLU, CPA, CMA, Central Illinois Chapter CPCU Society

On behalf of the 2015 IT Symposium team thank you for being a part of it and making it such a huge success! People are still “buzzing” about it. Your session was such a great way to close down the two days and was very memorable.

— Joyce Brooks, State Farm Insurance

Kevin Brown was a perfect end to our event. His message and delivery were spot on, and blended beautifully with the content provided the previous two days. Our members are discerning and have listened to a number of amazing outside speakers over the years, and many have provided feedback that Kevin is right there with the best of them.

— David Hernandez, VP of Finance and PD&I, Success Group International

Thank you so very much for sharing your story at our Kick Off meeting today. You did an amazing job and certainly helped put all of our employees in the right frame of mind. I am looking forward to being part of HERO community.

— Elizabeth Hiza, Chief of Staff, Barnum Financial Group

Kevin’s message was engaging and inspiring, and most importantly, our members loved him.   His ability to connect to our audience – a virtual audience - was amazing and his storytelling resonated across through the computer screen and generated quite the buzz during and throughout the conference. There was laughter, tears, and conversations that are still going on a week later! His session is the most viewed on-demand session of the conference. Selecting a keynote is never an easy process, but Kevin is a no-brainier for any planner. We hope to have him back for another event soon.

— NAFA Fleet Management Association

I wanted to thank you for such an amazing keynote address for our Virtual event. Everything about the process of working with you was wonderful. Your pre-meeting got us very excited for your message, which you customized just enough for our group. Your studio and sound were great. Your message brought hope and inspiration to so many of our attendees. There were definitely tears shed during your wonderful storytelling.

— Kris Rzepkowski, Vice President of Marketing & Communications, Bennett Family of Companies

Kevin Brown truly exceeded our expectations. He spent almost an hour with us before the presentation to learn about our organization and what message he could provide to make our event a home run for our staff. His message was poignant, meaningful and he gave us steps that we could implement. The reviews for Mr. Brown were great. I highly recommend him.

— Sarah Gehring, FCS Financial