2019 Sagamore Summit Speakers

Geoff Ables - Bestselling Author and International Keynote Speaker

Geoff Ables is a thought leader on digital customer and employee engagement. Geoff's most recent book, "The LUCK Principle: Business Results at the Intersection of People and Profit," delivers fresh insight and inspiration into creating people-centric digital workplaces.  Geoff has delivered keynotes and articles for: Summit EMEA, Customer Experience South Africa, Engage, EuroForum, BusinessWeek, USA Today, CRM Evolution, Smart Call Center and many others.  His firm, C5 Insight, has twice been named an Inc 5000 company.  Geoff started his career with Young Life, is avid motorcycle enthusiast, and has appeared as a guest on TruTVs's, "The Impractical Jokers."

Senator John Crane - Founder and CEO, Sagamore Leadership Initiative

John is a respected educator and cultural thought leader who regularly navigates th intersection between timeless truths and cultural trends. Though extensive speaking and writing, John seeks to help people understand the times and know what to do.

Recognizing the need for thoughtful, principled, and courageous leadership in our culture, John founded the Sagamore Leadership Initiative in 2009 with his wife, Jean. The mission of Sagamore is "to equip next generation leaders to influence our culture for Good."

John graduated from Taylor University and receives his Masters in Communications and Culture from Trinity International University. In 2008 he completed a two-month apologetics training program through the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics, a partnership between Ravi Zacharias International Ministries and Wycliffe Hall, Oxford University.

Previously, John has served as a pastor, and an adjunct professor at Marian University and Grace College: Indianapolis. He is a Colson Fellow with the Chuck Colson Center for Christian Worldview. Additionally, he is the Director of the Hoosier Leadership Series whose mission is "educating Indiana leaders on policy and culture."

In November 2016, John was elected to the Indiana State Senate for District 24. He and Jean live in Avon, Indiana with their four children.

Keaton Hendricks - Founder and CEO of Sky Footwear Keaton is the founder of Sky Footwear and recent graduate of Taylor University where he studied Marketing & Management and played on the men’s basketball team. Through experience and relationships developed with homeless individuals growing up, a passion grew inside him to help those in need. He combined that passion for others and previous Ecommerce experience to create a company that serves the homeless population in U.S.

Blaise Vincz - Designer

"Blaise is an ever-curious tinkerer and maker. He believes that a project is never truly done and loves each step of the creative process.

In his day job, he is a User Experience designer - he has worked on digital products for clients like Eli Lilly, Salesforce, Anthem, Thompson Reuters, and The White House. At night you can often find him hand-stitching leather goods, working in his wood shop, or playing music.

Blaise studied at the Herron School of Art & Design with focuses in Furniture Design and Printmaking. He lives in Indianapolis with his wife and two children."

Traci Cheatam - Leadership Development

Dream Defender. Leader. Developer. Traci Cheatham is an authentic and inspirational leader that has spent over 20 yrs developing top performing teams. Taking her experience in sales training, management and leadership development at Eli Lilly and Company and as a nursing home administrator, Traci awakens individuals to the fact that they were created on purpose and for a purpose with tools and resources to help them unleash their God given strengths and talents to change their world.

Traci is a Gallup certified strengths coach, strategic development partner for Spiritual DNA, and board member for Blackbird Mission. She lives in Fishers with her husband Tom, three daughters, Alexa, Claire, and Adi, and their dog Nala. Traci’s next adventure in activation includes overseeing the development of Spiritual DNA Teen and also working on her own leadership content titled Blessed to Be the Boss.

Lisa Johnson - Professional Storyteller

Lisa loves the way a good story can reveal truth and bring transformation. A trained professional storyteller, Lisa received her Master’s Degree from East Tennessee State University. She also has a extensive background in children’s ministry and communications. Lisa is married to David and loves being a stay at home mom with her kiddos. Have an upcoming event? Contact Lisa to help cast your company vision, inspire your leaders or provide heartfelt entertainment. You can email her at ljohnson.storyteller@gmail.com

Krista Shields - Communications

Krista is a Communications and Theater teacher at Covenant Christian High School in Indianapolis. She received her Bachelor of Science in Bible and Teacher Education from Kentucky Christian University and her Master of Library Science from Indiana University She loves teaching at Covenant because she has the freedom to center everything we do around Christ. To be able to live His story and invite students to be a part of it is an honor and a privilege. Krista is married to Jeff Shields and has two amazing daughters; Lily and Annie.

Tysha Hardy-Sellers - President and CEO of the Edna Martin Christian Center

Tysha is the President and CEO of the Edna Martin Christian Center and EMCC Holdings LLC which is located on the near-northeastside of Indianapolis in the Martindale-Brightwood community. Returning to the community in which she was born and raised to help rebuild, she has served in this position since 2008. Annually, EMCC impacts the lives of 3,000 in an effort to fulfill its mission of encouraging, empowering and engendering a vision of hope for residents through programs, services, and community development.

Tysha has a BA in Public Relations and a BA in Russian studies from Bradley University and Master's Degree in Medical Sociology (focusing on social determinants of health; health disparities; and mental health and illness) from Indiana University.

She is featured as a contributing author in Rizpah’s Children: Radical Response to Childhood Poverty released November 2018.

Tysha is a proud mother of two daughters—Gabrielle and Anna; stepson Raphael; and wife of Jeffery Sellers. They are members of North United Methodist Church in Indianapolis.

Will Smith III - Photographer, Media Producer

sextonscreek.com

William Smith III Vice President of Productions Smith brings diverse experience to Sextons Creek Productions, including design, brand solutions, creative direction, and video production. Will’s background is in alternative process photography

Jeff Shields - Cultural Architect

Jeff Shields is known for his work in leadership development and educational leadership. Jeff has a passion for cultural transformation through coaching, mentoring, and social impact.

​Jeff holds a B.S. in Leadership in Ministry from Ball State University, a Master's in Educational Leadership from Indiana University and Ministry from Cincinnati Christian University. He currently works for Bridge Builder Strategies and the Sagamore Leadership Initiative.

Jeff loves to hike, read and hangout with his wife, Krista, and daughters, Lily and Annie.