Jerry Conrad, MA, DTM, CSP
Please call Jerry (800-726-4499) if you have questions.
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Jerry is a Michigan's West Coast Speaker and the recipient of the Domino's Pizza Corporate Helping Hands Award. Jerry has been speaking professionally since 1986 and has earned speaking credentials only a handful of people have earned. He is the first person on the planet to earn both the Certified Speaking Professional designation from the National Speakers Association and the Distinguished Toastmaster designation from Toastmasters International.
Every presentation Jerry does is interactive and fun with clean, playful humor, audience-generated humor, and magic.
Jerry is a frequent conference keynote speaker and trainer working with the FBI, Ford Motor Company, Domino's Pizza, the Heart of America United Way, Subaru, and many others. Jerry has been the "DiSC® Expert of the Year" for many of his clients.
Jerry is not a "push button" speaker, and he is not a "motivational speaker", he is a carefully researched expert who speaks.
Jerry has been a full time professional speaker since 1986, and his professional background includes managing retail stores, college-level teaching, working with criminally active juvenile delinquents, and protecting abused children.
Jerry is proud to be a U. S. Army veteran, having served patrolling the Korean DMZ in the 1960's. He is active in the VFW. Jerry is most proud of his family.
Jerry also coaches talented entrepreneurs who want to succeed in the speaking/training industry.
Education
Earned Designations
Special Awards
Gold Medal [sparing], 2003 Michigan State Taekwondo Championships
Field Manager of the Year: Inscape Publishing
Helping Hand Award: Domino's Pizza
Top 2% Sales Recognition (Every year since 1995)
Toastmaster of the Year: Executive Toastmasters
COMMUNITY SERVICE
- Appointed by the president to chair the US Army's 2nd Infantry Division Association membership/public relations committee (2008)
- Reeths-Puffer Schools Chaired Athletic Review Committee: (2008)
- Reeths-Puffer Schools District Communication Committee Member: (2004-present)
- ProTrack Instructor: National Speakers Association of Michigan (2003-2004)
- Co-Chair: Muskegon Entrepreneur Advisory Council (2002-2003)
Business building speaker for the National Speakers Association of Michigan's eighteen-month ProTrack program: (2001-present) - Emcee: Miss Muskegon/Ottawa Scholarship Pageant (1999-2003)
- Board Member: Association for Worksite Health Promotion (1999-2000)
- Past Presidents Council: National Speakers Association of Michigan (1996-2003)
- Board Member: National Speakers Association of Michigan (1989-1996, 2000)
- Board Member: American Society for Training & Development (West Michigan)
- President: National Speakers Association of Michigan (1993-1995)
- Charter Member: Meetings Industry Council of Michigan (1993)
- Michigan Area Governor: Toastmasters International (1990-1991)
- Board Member: Society for Public Health Education (1988-1990)
- Youth soccer coach (1997-2001)
- Youth football coach (1978-1984)
- Founding member of the Wellness Awareness Connection (1984)
PROFESSIONAL HISTORY
1986-present: Founder and CEO of SG Maverick, Inc. - develops and delivers professional development seminars and workshops for corporations and associations. Consultant for organizations on matters of communication, teamwork, and presentation skills.
1987-1992: Baker College, Adjunct faculty member for 400 level oral communication classes.
1979 - 1986 Family Independence Agency, Supervised caseload of juvenile delinquent state wards and abused children.
1975 - 1979: Muskegon Public Schools, Team member within a unique school for 60 emotionally impaired students. Taught socially acceptable behavior, managed crisis behavior, facilitated re-entry into home schools.
1967 - 1975: Robert Hall Clothes, Managed Midwest re
tail clothing stores.
MILITARY SERVICE
I was a high school screw-up and a street punk before volunteering for the U.S. Army draft in 1965. In two short years, my life was completely turned around from dead end to anywhere I wanted it to go.
The greatest things I learned in the U.S. Army were discipline and taking a methodical approach to reaching a goal. While it's true that we must trust our instincts, we must also take a disciplined approach to acting on those instincts.
For example, the secret security clearance I earned as a classified weapons squad leader for a special weapons platoon in the 2nd Infantry Division while serving along the DMZ in South Korea allows me, in part, to provide training for the FBI in Quantico, Virginia. Everyday, I draw on the training, discipline, teamwork principles, respect for others, and self-respect I learned in the U. S. Army.
The leadership I saw and practiced moving from E-1 to E-5 in 16 months helps me today as I serve on state boards, mentor others, and run my own company. I know how to lead and I know how to follow.
The continuation of the physical training I received in the 60s has kept me strong and healthy and my wife marvels at how much I can pack into small luggage. (Due mostly my experience with the US Army-issued duffel bag.)
I am proud to continue serving the USA as a life member of both the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and the Second Infantry Division Association.
Service History:
1965-1966: Fort Knox, KY - 1966: Fort Ord, CA
- 1966-1967: South Korean DMZ
- 1966: Sergeant (E-5)
- 1967: Fort Meade, MD
- 1967-1971: US Army Reserves
Jerry, your style of presentation was nothing short of excellent. Your personal experiences and audience involvement strongly communicated your message of appreciating our differences and working as a team.
-Kim Norris, Human Resource Manager
Glastender, Inc.