Colonel Nicole Malachowski

An accomplished military leader, combat veteran, the first woman pilot on the Thunderbirds Air Demonstration Squadron, a White House Fellow, and inductee into both the National Women’s Hall of Fame and the Women in Aviation International Pioneer Hall of Fame, Malachowski says that her distinguished 20-year-plus Air Force career has exceeded her wildest dreams.

But the dream came to an end when a devastating tick-borne illness left her struggling to speak or walk for almost nine months. An indomitable spirit, Malachowski fought back against overwhelming odds and prevailed.

Drawing on impactful yet relatable stories from her career and personal life, Malachowski captivates from the moment she hits the stage, inspiring audiences to rethink the challenges they face every day, and to go beyond resilience to become resurgent.

Thursday, October 13, 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Magnet and Pathway Designation Celebration
DJ and Laser Enhancements sponsored by Walden University
Break out your matching shirts, your banners, your pom-poms, and your team spirit as we recognize and celebrate all the Magnet® and Pathway to Excellence® organizations designated or redesignated in July 2021 through August 2022. Always the highlight of the conference, this year’s celebration is sure to inspire you.

*General Session celebrations will include laser light enhancements.

Ben Nemtin

Resilience in the Face of Adversity
A decade ago, Ben was knocked off his feet by a heavy depression. To help him feel more alive, he and his three best friends created the world’s greatest bucket list, borrowed a rickety old RV, and criss-crossed North America, achieving the unthinkable. Most importantly, each time a dream was achieved, they helped a complete stranger cross something off their bucket list. The foursome played basketball with President Obama. They had a beer with Prince Harry. They raised over $400,000 for charity and placed a record-breaking $250,000 bet on roulette. Ben’s bucket-list quest has inspired millions to chase their dreams.

As a mental health advocate, Ben fights the stigma of mental illness by encouraging open, honest conversations. By showing how his own vulnerabilities have become his strengths and underlining that all humans struggle, he gives others the courage to talk about their own internal battles and normalizes the conversation. An acclaimed keynote speaker, Ben has presented his ‘5 Steps to Make the Impossible Possible’ to business conferences and corporate leadership teams around the world, garnering standing ovations from groups like Amazon, FedEx, Harvard, Levi’s, Microsoft, and Verizon. He was recognized as #8 in the Top 30 Motivational Speakers for 2021 by Global Gurus.

Simon T. Bailey

Simon T. Bailey’s passion and purpose is to empower and equip you for sustainable transformation. He has over 30 years of experience and has partnered with more than 2,000 organizations. He’s here today to help you pursue your potential.

His framework is based on his 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry, including serving as sales director for Disney Institute, based at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, FL. He is a prolific author and Hall of Fame Keynote Speaker that has worked with Signet Jewelers, SalesForce, T-Mobile, Stanford Healthcare, General Mills and Hilton Hotels, just to name a few.

An experience with Simon goes beyond feel-good content. He delivers practical strategies and impacts real lives. He connects with any audience on many levels with a relevant message that resonates beyond the stage. Simon’s viral video posted by Goalcast to Facebook has 90 million views and LinkedIn Learning features three of his online courses that reach professionals in 100+ countries.

Recently, Simon became a certified Caritas Coach, leading with heart-centered intelligence. His approach is grounded in Caring Science that focuses on preserving human dignity, wholeness as the highest gift to self, systems, and society. His wisdom and expertise enabled an Orlando-based healthcare system to be acquired and a division of a hospitality company to be ranked No. 1 for customer service by Expedia.com. Simon serves on two unique boards; U.S. Dream Academy and Orlando Health Foundation where he is a five-year board member that has 20,000 employees and over $1 billion in revenue. Recently, Cleary University, a 138 year-old institution in Holland, Michigan, rewarded him with a Doctorate of Science in Business Administration for his global impact.