Billy McLaughlin
Billy McLaughlin is recognized internationally as a world-class guitarist, composer and inspirational performer who has appeared on Billboard’s TopTen Chart. Previously signed to Virgin Records’ Narada label, McLaughlin has 14 CD releases, 3 National Campus Entertainer of the Year Awards*, 5 Minnesota Music Awards and his decades of national concert touring earned him the Hall of Fame Achievement Award*.
But in 1999 McLaughlin vanished from sight as his career crumbled due to a little-known neuro-muscular disorder called Focal Dystonia. After suffering several years without a cure, he embarked on an unlikely attempt to regain his career by re-learning his instrument left-handed. His remarkable comeback is captured in the documentary film Changing Keys (airing on PBS 2010) and a concert film called Coming Back Alive featuring McLaughlin with string orchestra and a reunion of his longtime rock band.
Now serving as Ambassador for Awareness for the Dystonia Medical Research Foundation, McLaughlin is the winner of the 2010 Public Leadership in Neurology Award** whose previous winners include Paul Allen, Julie Andrews, Leon Fleischer and Michael J. Fox.
McLaughlin has resumed an international schedule of concert appearances and keynote speaking. He resides in his home state of Minnesota where he is proudly raising two boys.
Candy Whirley
Have you ever wondered why it’s sooooo hard to work with PEOPLE in person or virtually? Most answers are YES!
Candy Whirley is the expert on the “WHY” of that question!
Professional nuggets about Candy: She is a speaker and business owner for 20 years, producer of several books and training programs and has spoken in ALL 50 states as well as Canada, Seoul Korea and Africa,
Personal nuggets about Candy: She has been married for 33 years, is a Grammy for 13 years, and Kansas City Chiefs Cheerleader for 3 years! A…LONG… TIME… AGO!
What Candy’s clients receive: From motivational speaking for a crowd of thousands to rolling up your sleeves and doing a deep dive workshop to helping you plan your event, live or virtual, Candy is your go to speaker. She brings tons of interaction, energy and motivation to each of her speaking engagements. Quite frankly, she can do it all! … She’s been known to move tables….wait on tables…clear food from tables….and dance on tables…NO tip necessary!
Candy works directly with her clients to customize the presentation to meet their specific needs…she is also very dynamic and interactive and will adjust as needed based upon participant interaction and feedback during the session to ensure all areas receive the right amount of attention…Remember Candy “Can”…but her presentations aren’t canned.