Management Conference Speakers
Alex Theis is a speaker, consultant, author, and performance strategist who helps professionals and organizations surpass limits and drive meaningful growth.
With over 25 years of leadership experience, Alex has built and led high-performing teams across sales, marketing, and customer experience, generating more than $250 million in incremental revenue through innovative retention strategies and performance-focused initiatives. His work has consistently improved engagement, reduced turnover, and elevated team effectiveness.
Today, Alex works with corporate teams, finance professionals, and CPA organizations to develop the power skills that matter most in today’s workplace: emotional intelligence, mindset, leadership, communication, productivity, and resilience.
Blending real-world experience with a practical, engaging style, Alex challenges audiences to think differently, operate more intentionally, and take immediate action. His sessions are designed to go beyond ideas – equipping participants with tools, strategies, and perspective shifts they can apply right away.
Vanessa McNeal, named as a Top 10 Rising Speaker of 2026, Vanessa McNeal is a resilience and well-being expert with a Master's in Social Work — at the intersection of human performance, and trauma-informed leadership and neuroscience.
She speaks on burn-out, compassion as a competitive advantage, and the hidden survival patterns that shape how people lead, relate, and perform. Vanessa brings both the science and the lived experience of moving from survival mode into something sustainable. Her work has moved audiences and organizations nationwide.
Dr. Mike Kiefer is a professional speaker and author of seven books. He speaks on the topics of ethical leadership, team building, communication and lifestyle medicine. He has helped thousands of people and organizations lead with integrity, be more energized, healthy and effective! He consults with all types of organizations.
Dr. Mike earned his Ph.D. in advanced mindset psychology. His B.S and M.S. degrees are in genetic engineering.
Sherre Sattler serves as Executive Director of the North Dakota CPA Society (NDCPAS). She works closely with the NDCPAS Board of Directors, oversees a small but mighty staff, and manages the day-to-day operations of the organization. She also leads the North Dakota CPA Society Foundation which awards scholarships to accounting students enrolled in eight area universities.
Sherre has been with the Society for over 30 years. She began her career in continuing education. Over the years she has worked with nearly all aspects of the organization including information management, finance, marketing, membership and advocacy. In addition, she also worked for the ND Board of Accountancy which shared staff with the Society until 2018. Sattler became Executive Director of the Society in November 2018.
Sherre holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of North Dakota with majors in Marketing and Management and a minor in Communication. Recently she has chaired the AICPA and CPA/SEA Interchange Conference and served on the AICPA Rise 2040 Advisory Board.
Outside of her professional life, Sherre loves spending time at the lake and traveling with family and friends. She has two sons: Gunnar (26) and Garrin (22).
Heather Ostrowski is a Senior Organizational Development Officer for Gate City Bank with over 25 years of experience in management, sales, speaking, writing and team/personal/professional development. She is a joyful connector of people, both to other people and to resources they may need, with a special focus on mental health resources. She serves as a public speaker to diverse audiences on a variety of topics and her passions include supporting her family, community, and team members.
She lives in Hawley, MN with her husband Jeremy, their son Adam and two labradoodles. Their other son Ethan is a student at the University of Minnesota. They love golf, being outside in the warm seasons and sweet treats!
Gian Paul is widely recognized for inspiring the New York Giants to their 2012 Super Bowl victory with the phrase “All In.” He has been featured on ESPN as well as had notable appearances on Fox News and CNN.
His inspirational talks have made him an internationally renowned speaker for NBA, NFL, English
Premiere League & Fortune 500 organizations.
Gian Paul Gonzalez was a former NCAA First Team All-American forward from Montclair State University scoring nearly 1.400 points in his 3 year career. He played in the NBA Summer League in 2007 and was offered professional basketball contracts, yet he turned them down in order to continue to work with at risk youth. He is the founder of Hope & Future, an organization dedicated to using athletics & physical fitness to share a message of hope and striving for excellence in inner-city public schools and juvenile jails.
