Motivational Speakers

Steven Schussler is a master at multi-tasking as the World’s Premiere Branding Expert, Consultant, Entrepreneur, Restaurateur, Teacher, Motivational Speaker, Columnist for the Minnesota Business Magazine and National Best-selling Author of “It’s A Jungle In There, Inspiring Lessons, Hard-won Insights and Other Acts of Entrepreneurial Daring”.

Steven started his entrepreneurial career early with a paper route at 9 years old and reinvented himself many times with more than a dozen jobs before his sixteenth birthday. As an executive in the television and broadcast industry, Steven learned to sell concepts and the intangible. A creative type all his life, Schussler has a passion for conceiving concepts that appeal to the masses. His career in the restaurant industry began with the development of Jukebox Saturday Night, a nostalgic restaurant and night club with 8 locations in Chicago, IL; Des Moines, IA; Springfield, MA; San Francisco, CA and Minneapolis, MN.

Well known as the creator of one of the most successful themed restaurants in the world, Rainforest Cafe® (A Wild Place to Shop and Eat™), Steven opened the first at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota in October 1994. Steven and his public company owned and operated 45 Rainforest Cafe restaurants in seven years, on three continents and sold the chain to Landry’s Restaurants in 2000, but not before receiving more than 40 awards in six years including: Fortune Magazine’s Top 100 Fastest Growing Companies in the U.S.A. (named to the list two consecutive years); Nation’s Restaurant News’ Hot Concept Award, Orlando Magazine’s Best Theme Restaurant; the National Retail Federation’s National Retailer of the Year; and Chicago Tribune’s Best Restaurant for Kids.

Steven Schussler founded Schussler Creative, Inc. in 2000, where he leads the creative vision and overall strategic direction of the organization. Steven has created, built and owns restaurants and attractions that include T-REX™, A Prehistoric Family Adventure™, Yak & Yeti™, Betty & Joe’s™ Baker & Coffee Maker, Hot Dog Hall of Fame™, Galaxy Drive In™ and Backfire BBQ™ Featuring Orange County Choppers®.

Steven Schussler is a graduate of the FBI Citizen’s Academy which engages citizens in the process of protecting their communities and country. He has been involved with charitable and civic organizations that include the Leukemia Society, American Lung Association, Minneapolis Youth Connection, LifeSkills Center for Leadership, Special Olympics, Neighborhood House, and the Animal Humane Society.

Mr. Schussler played the lead role in the commercial for Clemmy’s Ice Cream, which won the American Advertising Federation’s Gold ADDY® awards. In addition, Steven appeared in September 2010 as an experienced judge on Food Network’s “24 Hour Restaurant Battle”.

Committed to inspiring and educating fellow entrepreneurs, the nation’s future business leaders and business professionals alike, Steven Schussler taught an entrepreneurial class for the Carlson School of Business Management at the University of Minnesota.

Schussler was a columnist for Minnesota Business Magazine. Steven’s monthly “Backtalk” column motivates and educates readers by sharing new and fascinating stories, advice and experiences from nationally and internationally recognized business leaders.

Giving back to the community is one of Steven’s passions and 100% of the author’s book profits from “It’s A Jungle In There” are dedicated to Smile Network International, (www.smilenetwork.org), an amazing organization that surgically repairs cleft lips and palates of impoverished young people around the world. Steven is a founding member and continues to be a lifetime advisor of the board of directors.