{"id":147,"date":"2019-09-03T23:10:58","date_gmt":"2019-09-04T06:10:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stnexpo.com\/west\/?page_id=147"},"modified":"2026-06-09T09:51:42","modified_gmt":"2026-06-09T16:51:42","slug":"conference-speakers","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/stnexpo.com\/west\/conference-speakers\/","title":{"rendered":"Conference Speakers"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ background_image=”https:\/\/stnexpo.com\/west\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/speaker-background.png” parallax=”on” custom_padding=”40px||40px||true|” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||15px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_heading title=”Keynote Speaker” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_font_size=”4rem” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_5,3_5″ _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” border_width_bottom=”1px” border_color_bottom=”rgba(0,0,0,0.15)” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/stnexpo.com\/west\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/BT_LA_1x1.jpg” title_text=”BT_LA_1x1″ _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_team_member name=”Bruce Turkel” position=”All About Them: The Power of Relentless Relevance” admin_label=”Traci Brown Keynote” module_class=”dtb-equal-height” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” header_font=”Playfair Display|700|||||||” position_font=”|600||on|||||” position_text_color=”#EEB157″ background_color=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”0px|25px|0px|25px|true|true” border_width_all=”0px” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Monday, July 13<\/strong><\/p>\n

There was a time when promoting yourself was enough. Credentials, features, benefits\u2014just tell people how great you were and they\u2019d show up. But not anymore.<\/p>\n

The game has changed. Today, everyone carries a device in their pocket that offers instant access to infinite options and total control. Your customers don\u2019t just want great service. They demand it. What they\u00a0really<\/i>\u00a0want is to know what\u2019s in it for them. That means success doesn\u2019t come from being the loudest voice in the room. It comes from being the clearest, most relevant one.<\/p>\n

Presented by Blue Bird<\/em><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_team_member][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/stnexpo.com\/west\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/BlueBird_3D_stackedB_blue.png” title_text=”BlueBird_3D_stackedB_blue” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” width=”15%” width_tablet=”20%” width_phone=”35%” width_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_margin=”-15px|||25px|false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”-40px||||false|false” custom_margin_phone=”-40px||||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_toggle title=”Biography” open_toggle_text_color=”#261F11″ open_toggle_background_color=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” closed_toggle_text_color=”#261F11″ closed_toggle_background_color=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” icon_color=”#261F11″ toggle_icon=”||divi||400″ use_icon_font_size=”on” icon_font_size=”20px” open_icon_color=”#261F11″ open_toggle_icon=”||divi||400″ open_use_icon_font_size=”on” open_icon_font_size=”20px” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” title_text_color=”#EEB157″ title_level=”h3″ title_font=”|700|||||||” closed_title_font_size=”22px” border_width_all=”0px” border_width_top=”1px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Bruce Turkel is one of only 247 speakers inducted into the National Speakers Association\u2019s Speaker Hall of Fame, and he\u2019s spent decades not just on stages, but inside the engine rooms of some of the world\u2019s best-known brands.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s helped companies including American Express, Nike, Discovery, HBO, and Bacardi define and deliver their messages, and he brings that same brand clarity to the speaking business. Bruce knows the speech is only part of the job, the real work is in getting booked, getting remembered, and getting rebooked.<\/p>\n

Bruce founded and ran an award-winning global branding firm for over 30 years, with headquarters in Miami and offices in nine Latin American countries. His hands-on experience helping multinational brands grow gives him a unique perspective on what it takes to stand out in a competitive market.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s also appeared on CNN, MSNBC, CCTV, and in the pages of\u00a0The New York Times<\/i>,\u00a0Fast Company<\/i>,\u00a0The Wall Street Journal<\/i>, and\u00a0Speaker Magazine<\/i>. He\u2019s spoken at TEDx, Harvard, MIT, ASAE, MPI, and more than 300 corporate and association events across five continents.<\/p>\n

With seven books to his name, including\u00a0All About Them<\/i>, named one of Forbes’ Top 10 Business Books of the Year, Bruce walks the talk on content creation. He has also developed more than 25 speaker-friendly workshops to deepen his impact and provide lasting value long after the applause fades.<\/p>\n

Oh, and when he\u2019s not on stage, Bruce fronts a popular Miami R&B band.<\/p>\n

If you’re looking to cut through the noise, clarify your message, and build a brand that books, Bruce Turkel is someone you\u2019ll want to hear from.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_toggle][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row disabled_on=”off|off|off” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”70px||15px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_heading title=”Featured Speakers” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” title_font_size=”4rem” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_4,1_4,1_4,1_4″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”2″ make_equal=”on” disabled_on=”off|off|off” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||-5px||false|false” custom_padding=”|||25px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Green Talk<\/h6>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_team_member name=”Jason Yan” position=”VP of Sales, RIDE” image_url=”https:\/\/stnexpo.com\/west\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Jason-Yan_SM_Web_Sq-1024×1024.jpg” admin_label=”Traci Brown Keynote” module_class=”dtb-equal-height” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” header_font=”Playfair Display|700|||||||” position_font=”|600||on|||||” position_text_color=”#EEB157″ background_color=”rgba(255,255,255,0.6)” custom_margin=”||||false|false” border_width_all=”0px” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Sunday, July 12<\/strong><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_team_member][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||-5px||false|false” custom_padding=”|||25px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Tech Talk<\/h6>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_team_member name=”Charles Kriete” position=”CEO, Zonar” image_url=”https:\/\/stnexpo.com\/west\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Kriete-Charles.jpg-e1780533533764-1024×1024.webp” admin_label=”Traci Brown Keynote” module_class=”dtb-equal-height” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” header_font=”Playfair Display|700|||||||” position_font=”|600||on|||||” position_text_color=”#EEB157″ background_color=”rgba(255,255,255,0.6)” custom_margin=”||||false|false” border_width_all=”0px” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Sunday, July 12<\/strong><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_team_member][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||-5px||false|false” custom_padding=”|||25px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Tech Talk<\/h6>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_team_member name=”Karoon Monfared” position=”CEO, Bus Patrol America” image_url=”https:\/\/stnexpo.com\/west\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Karoon-353A5223_Web_Sq.jpg” admin_label=”Traci Brown Keynote” module_class=”dtb-equal-height” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” header_font=”Playfair Display|700|||||||” position_font=”|600||on|||||” position_text_color=”#EEB157″ background_color=”rgba(255,255,255,0.6)” custom_margin=”||||false|false” border_width_all=”0px” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Sunday, July 12<\/strong><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_team_member][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||-5px||false|false” custom_padding=”|||25px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Tech Talk<\/h6>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_team_member name=”Vivek Garg” position=”Co-Founder\/CEO, Zum” image_url=”https:\/\/stnexpo.com\/west\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Vivek-Garg-ZUM-Headshot_SQ-1024×1024.jpg” admin_label=”Traci Brown Keynote” module_class=”dtb-equal-height” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” header_font=”Playfair Display|700|||||||” position_font=”|600||on|||||” position_text_color=”#EEB157″ background_color=”rgba(255,255,255,0.6)” custom_margin=”||||false|false” border_width_all=”0px” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Monday, July 13<\/strong><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_team_member][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ disabled_on=”off|off|off” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”40px|||||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” min_height=”109.6px” custom_padding=”||18px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_heading title=”Speakers & Trainers” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” title_font_size=”4rem” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _dynamic_attributes=”content” _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Montserrat||on||||||” min_height=”30.8px” custom_padding=”0px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”]@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoiY3VycmVudF9kYXRlIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiQXMgb2YgIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIuIFN1YmplY3QgdG8gY2hhbmdlLiIsImRhdGVfZm9ybWF0IjoibS9kL1kiLCJjdXN0b21fZGF0ZV9mb3JtYXQiOiIifX0=@[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,1_3,1_3″ _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||0px|3px||” hover_enabled=”0″ text_orientation_tablet=”” text_orientation_phone=”” text_orientation_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n

Keba Baldwin
<\/strong>Director of Transportation & Central Garage
Prince George’s County Public in Maryland<\/span><\/p>\n

Pete Baxter
<\/strong>Retired State Director, Office of Transportation
Indiana Department of Education<\/span><\/p>\n

Bernando Brown
<\/strong>Director of Student Transportation
DeKalb County School District in Georgia<\/span><\/p>\n

Derek Bryant
<\/strong>Manager, Medium\/Heavy Vehicle Test Development
National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence in Virginia<\/span><\/p>\n

Jeff Cassell
<\/strong>President
School Bus Safety Company
<\/span><\/p>\n

Tony Corpin
<\/strong>President & Publisher
School Transportation News<\/span><\/p>\n

Denny Coughlin
<\/strong>Consultant
School Bus Training LLC<\/span><\/p>\n

Sandy Dillman
<\/strong>CEO
SLD Consultation<\/span><\/p>\n

Darryl Dotson, Jr.
<\/strong>Assistant Director of Transportation
Fountain Fort Carson School District in Colorado<\/span><\/p>\n

Ernest Epley
<\/strong>Director of Transportation
Fremont Unified School District in California<\/span><\/p>\n

Alan Fidler
<\/span><\/strong>Fleet Manager<\/span>
Metropolitan School District of Lawrence Township in Indiana<\/span><\/p>\n

Richard Fischer
<\/strong>CEO
Trans-Consult in Colorado<\/span><\/p>\n

Ryan Gray
<\/span><\/strong>Editor in Chief<\/span>
School Transportation News<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||2px|3px||” text_orientation_tablet=”” text_orientation_phone=”” text_orientation_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Ryan Hahn<\/span>
<\/strong>Senior Consultant
Strategic School Consultants<\/p>\n

Rudi Halbright<\/span>
<\/strong>Expert Product Manager, Vehicle\u2011Grid Integration
Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E)<\/p>\n

Michael Hout<\/span>
<\/strong>Professor
New Mexico State<\/p>\n

Richard Jimenez
<\/strong>Director of Transportation
Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District in California<\/p>\n

Cor’Darius Jones
<\/strong>Bus Driver
Escambia County Schools in Florida<\/p>\n

Grant Jones
<\/strong>Director
Updraft Energy, Inc.<\/p>\n

Alfred Karam
<\/strong>Retired Director of Transportation
Shenendehowa School District in New York<\/p>\n

Ron Kinney
<\/strong>Retired State Director
California Department of Education<\/p>\n

Tonica Lathrop
<\/strong>President
Sinnett Consulting Services<\/p>\n

Jim Levine
<\/strong>President & CEO
Levine Security Solutions<\/p>\n

Jannet Malig
<\/strong>Co-Director
Long Beach Clean Cities in California<\/p>\n

Pamela McDonald
<\/strong>Director of Transportation (Retired}
Consultant<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Lawson Mollica
<\/strong>Consultant
Long Beach Clean Cities in California<\/p>\n

Harley Pinson
<\/strong>Director of Fleet Maintenance
Paulding County School District in Georgia<\/p>\n

Timothy Purvis
<\/strong>Principal Consultant
Pupil Transportation Information, LLC<\/p>\n

Darren Reaume
<\/strong>Director of Training
Q’Straint \/ Sure-Lok<\/p>\n

Brian Reu
<\/strong>Lieutenant at State Patrol
Minnesota<\/span> Department of Public Safety<\/p>\n

Alexandra Robinson
<\/strong>President
A. Robinson Consulting<\/p>\n

David Roper<\/span>
<\/strong>Automotive Instructor
Long Beach Clean Cities in California<\/span><\/p>\n

Jim Schiffler
<\/span><\/strong>Keynote Speaker
Professional Speaker & Author
<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

GP Singh
<\/span><\/strong>CEO \/ Founder
ByteCurve<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Maritza Valentin<\/span>
<\/strong>Contract\/National Account Manager
AMF-Bruns America in Florida<\/span><\/p>\n

Rosalyn Vann-Jackson
<\/strong>Executive Director of Enrollment & Student Services
Broken Arrow Public Schools in Oklahoma<\/p>\n

John Zippay
<\/strong>Vice President
Levine Security Solutions<\/span><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Monday, July 13 There was a time when promoting yourself was enough. Credentials, features, benefits\u2014just tell people how great you were and they\u2019d show up. But not anymore. The game has changed. Today, everyone carries a device in their pocket that offers instant access to infinite options and total control. Your customers don\u2019t just want […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-147","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/stnexpo.com\/west\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/147","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/stnexpo.com\/west\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/stnexpo.com\/west\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stnexpo.com\/west\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stnexpo.com\/west\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=147"}],"version-history":[{"count":252,"href":"https:\/\/stnexpo.com\/west\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/147\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15593,"href":"https:\/\/stnexpo.com\/west\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/147\/revisions\/15593"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stnexpo.com\/west\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=147"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}