Structured Relationship Development
Leading to More Opportunities

Patrick Houlahan is the Founder and CEO of Strategic Leadership Consultants LLC. Founded in 2019, Strategic Leadership Consultants’ mission is to Build Inspired, Compassionate, Mission-Driven Leaders. Since 2019, Patrick has conducted Keynotes, led Workshops, and Consulted with numerous organizations such as State Farm, Technology Marketing Toolkit, Association of Inside Sale Professionals, and Mission Produce. Patrick has had a distinguished career in both the military and business world.

Patrick graduated from The Citadel in 1992 and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. He was stationed in San Diego, CA. serving as a fighter pilot flying the F/A-18 Hornet and deployed twice to the Western Pacific. Patrick graduated from the United States Navy Post Graduate Fighter Weapons School, “Top Gun,” and served as an instructor pilot. In 2003, Patrick was selected as the Instructor Pilot of the Year.

After leaving active duty in 2004, Patrick flew the A-10 Warthog with the United States Air Force Reserves and joined the Marine Corps Reserves in 2006. After returning to the Marine Corps, he established the first Reserve Training Unit and continued to serve as an Instructor Pilot. As a reservist, Patrick deployed to Al Assad, Iraq and again to the Western Pacific.

Patrick has trained over 500 replacement aircrew, accumulated over 2800 hours of flight time, and rose to the rank of Colonel. He is a graduate of the United States Marine Corps Amphibious Warfare School, the United States Marine Corps Command and Staff College, and earned his Master of Strategic Studies as a Distinguished Graduate of the United States Army War College. Patrick has served in a variety of roles in the Marine Corps including as a Supply Officer, Maintenance Officer, Operations Officer, and Unit Officer in Charge.

In 2004, after Patrick left active duty and joined Afterburner Inc.. Patrick quickly rose to become an Executive Consultant and Director of Seminars. In 2006 was selected as the San Diego’s MPI (Meeting Professionals International) Speaker of the Year. During his 13-year career at Afterburner, Patrick led over 450 keynotes, workshops, and consulting engagements with today's leading corporations such as Verizon, ExxonMobil, Medtronic, DOW, VMware and H&R Block to name a few.

Patrick has also worked as the account manager for Southern California for Kratos Public Safety and Security, as the Director of Business Development for Citadel Defense Company, and as the Organizational Development Executive (ODE) for Brooks International. As an ODE, Patrick worked with numerous executive leadership teams and was responsible for gaining consensus and alignment in support of the CEO’s imperative.

Throughout his career, Patrick recognized that the organizations that succeeded in any endeavor possessed great leaders. Those that did not, failed. Recognizing the need for leadership training, Patrick founded Strategic Leadership Consultants in 2019 to help organizations Build Inspired, Compassionate, Mission-Driven Leaders.

Hank Haney is widely considered one of the world’s premier golf instructors. He was inducted into the World Golf Teachers Hall of Fame in 2019 and the Texas Golf Hall of Fame in 2014. In 2012, Hank published “The Big Miss: My Years Coaching Tiger Woods” which debuted at #1 on the New Times Bestseller List. Having coached more than 200 touring professionals, his students have won every major tournament in junior, amateur and professional golf. Hank starred on The Golf Channel’s “The Haney Project” which in six seasons was one of the highest rated original shows in network history. Hank serves as president of Hank Haney Golf, which owns and operates 4 facilities in Texas and hosts the #1 rated golf podcast, The Hank Haney Podcast on iHeartRadio.

At 19, Jeremy Poincenot was your typical college sophomore. Friends, sports, fraternity and most importantly, perfect 20/20 vision. Then it happened, no warning, no time to prepare. Life began to blur. Over the next few months, Jeremy lost central vision in his right eye, followed closely by his left. The diagnosis: a rare genetic disorder called Leber’s Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON), a disease that affects a mere 100 people in the U.S. each year with no treatment or cure in sight. At first, Jeremy thought losing his vision meant forfeiting his life. But he soon learned that with every challenge comes an opportunity for growth.

When Jeremy lost his central vision, he thought the game of golf he loved was over. But with some hard work, dedication, and the support of his family and friends, he quickly learned that his golfing career had just begun. At 20 years old and with his Dad as his guide, Jeremy competed in and won the 2010 World Blind Golf Championship with a dramatic chip-in in a playoff. They have since gone on to win 8 National Championships, an Australian Blind Open, an Italian Blind Open and two more World Blind Golf Championships. In 2011, Jeremy was honored as the San Diego Hall of Champions Challenged Athlete of the Year. Like all things, it’s the most difficult trials that shape who we are—and Jeremy is a better athlete and person because of this sport.

Now, Jeremy strives to raise awareness of LHON, and along with the help of his friends, they have created the C.U.R.E. (Cycling Under Reduced Eyesight) Ride, an annual fundraising bike ride that has raised over $350,000 for LHON research. Their goal is to raise a million.

Today, Jeremy is an Inspirational Speaker traveling the world, sharing his story to inspire audiences to take control of life and turn trauma into triumph. Jeremy is not your ordinary motivational speaker. With a powerful personal narrative, a little wit and a strong inspirational message, he has made it his mission to help his audiences rise up to their biggest obstacles and see them as opportunities.

Jeremy’s objective when he steps in front of an audience is not to dictate how to succeed in life; it’s to convince individuals that independence is good, while interdependence is great. He speaks from experience and has discovered that with a focus on the good, key insights, and the determination to persist through the challenges, anything is possible.

Jeremy has had the privilege of being featured on ABC's 20/20, ESPN.com, CNN’s “Great Big Story” and MTV's True Life and has spoken for many prestigious companies including Aflac, Honda, John Hancock, Kaiser Permanente, Wells Fargo and many more.

Gian Paul Gonzalez is widely recognized for inspiring the New York Giants to their 2012 Super Bowl victory with the phrase “All In.”

Gian Paul Gonzalez is widely recognized for inspiring the New York Giants to their 2012 Super Bowl victory with the phrase “All In.”Gonzalez, a high school teacher in Union City, N.J., was asked to lead a chapel service for members of the New York Giants team the night before the team’s Christmas Eve 2011 game against the New York Jets. To illustrate the concept of commitment, Gonzalez handed each football player a poker chip. Instructing the players to write their number on one side of the chip and write what they wanted to be committed to on the other side. He then shared with the team the meaning behind the poker phrase “All In”. Gian Paul inspired them to be committed and put all their “chips” on the table. He went on to urge players to fully commit to anything they take on, whether as a father, husband, son or even, a football player. The team went on to win every game, up to and including Super Bowl XLVI, where they beat the New England Patriots 21-17.

Gian Paul Gonzalez is himself an inspiration. He was a former NCAA First Team All-American forward from Montclair State University scoring nearly 1,400 points in his 3 year career. Played in the NBA Summer League in 2007 and was offered a few professional basketball contracts, yet he turned them down in order to continue his work with at-risk youth. He is a gifted motivational speaker and is the founder of Hope + Future. This organization is dedicated to using athletics & physical fitness to share a message of hope and striving for excellence in inner-city public schools and juvenile jails.

The Hope + Future Foundation provides opportunities for youth to proactively become empowered members of their community. Hope + Future uses extracurricular activities, events and programming to provide health, and wellness education while bridging the gaps between individual growth and improving families. This unifies communities around a common core belief that there is a hope for each child personally, academically, socially, and economically.

“ALL IN’ is not a slogan, it’s a LIFEstyle.

He has been featured on ESPN as well as had notable appearances on Fox News and CNN. His inspirational talks have made him an internationally renowned speaker for NBA, NFL, English Premiere League & Fortune 500 organizations.

In 2014, Noelle was awarded the US Olympics iconic “Moment of the Games” when she jumped into the stands to embrace her family after winning the Olympic Silver Medal in the sport of skeleton. It was not an easy road for Noelle to reach her success, having to face seemingly insurmountable obstacles along the way. As the #1 skeleton racer in the world in 2005, she was hit by a bobsled in a tragic accident that cost her her spot in the 2006 Torino games. Through hard work, hope and determination, Noelle made a comeback the following year to become the 1st American woman to win World Championships, and she did it by the largest margin in the history of the sport. She went on to compete in the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, before earning the silver medal in the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics. Noelle is a 26x world cup medalist, 2x world champion, MBA, author, mom of 4 kids and creator of Mindset Minute. 

Some of Hollywood’s most inspirational movies were born from the world of sports. One in particular inspired not only sports fans but anyone with a pulse. In 2006 Walt Disney Pictures continued their triumphant tradition of motivating sports stories with the release of INVINCIBLE. It’s a stirring football drama starring Mark Wahlberg as Vince Papale, an ordinary guy who, against all odds, takes his shot at every fan’s fantasy of going from the grandstands to the gridiron.  It has been described that Papale’s odds of achieving his wildest lifelong dream of playing for the Eagles as “one in a gazillion!”. 

It was 1976 when this 30-year-old, a teacher and coach at his HS Alma mater, and die hard Eagles fan, decided to take on a challenge and entered the unprecedented public tryout for his beloved Eagles.  Inspired by this quote from his high school coach mentor, “Happy are those who dream dreams and are willing to pay the price to make those dreams come true”, he figured he had nothing to lose. Papale, a ten-year season ticket holder and former track star. who did not play a down of college football, not only paid the price and made the cut . . . he made history!

It was a time when Philadelphia fans were buried in 11 years of defeat, when Americans were battling the lingering effects of Watergate, the Vietnam War and a sweeping energy crisis. Ordinary people appeared badly in need of a champion from their ranks and Vince answered the call. Now,  he continues to respond to the need for a motivating hero who knows what it’s like to battle and overcome adversity.

Instantly electrifying the fans and eventually winning over skeptical teammates with his gritty play, Papale helped the Eagles rediscover their winning ways. From being voted Special Teams Captain by his teammates to earning Eagles “man of the Year’ in 1978 for his numerous charitable activities Papale was an NFL sensation until a shoulder injury ended his playing career in 1979. Having now added “cancer survivor” to his bio, Papale continues to hold the record for being the oldest rookie in the National Football League (kickers excluded). He was recently honored by the Eagles and their fans and was named “Most Outstanding Special Teams Player” during a celebration of the Philadelphia Eagles 75th anniversary.

“Not often can a person see a film made about their own life’s journey,” Papale said of Invincible. “What’s even rarer is having that movie described as inspirational, motivational, and giving hope. There’s a feeling of intense pride and humility that, at times, is overwhelming.”

Vince is married to former US World Team Gymnast, Janet Cantwell, and they reside in Jupiter, FL. They have two grown children, Gabriella and Vincent. Today, he electrifies audiences and is regarded as one of the top motivational speakers on the country. The ultimate underdog continues to thrill audiences with his energy, journey & humor.

Can a woman that walked as Miss California in 4” heels command an aircraft in combat? You bet!!

LTCol. Patricia Murray has been speaking to audiences of all ages for over 26 years about how the most ordinary ideas can be extraordinary successes.

She has often been told how “lucky” she has been in her life to have achieved so much, but once you listen to her speak, you will learn that it is simply turning life’s normal rejections and failures to her advantage and being ready to seize opportunities when they appear. She is an expert on leadership in high stress and dynamic situations, breaking the glass ceiling and developing positive harmonious relationships between men and women in the workplace and finding a
way to win the race of life when the world is convinced you are the underdog.

Patricia is an engineer by trade but used her scholarship earned as Miss California 1992 to pursue a career in commercial aviation. She was recruited by the California Air National Guard and was awarded the top honor of the Commanders Trophy at military pilot training graduation. She was inducted into the prestigious Order of Daedalians, a WWI flying organization where she is a Director. She is also a Director on the Disabled Veterans Charities board where they award hundreds of thousands to disabled veterans in need annually.

She retired after a 21 year military career as a LtCol and Instructor Pilot for the California Air National Guard in the 115th Airlift Squadron. She flew six tours of duty in the Middle East and has been awarded 5 flying Air Medals. She was named the 2010 California Air National Guard Field Grade Officer of the Year. She has earned her Masters of Science in Military Science and Operational Art. Patricia was the CEO of the Miss California Organization a preliminary to Miss America from 2015-2020. She has flown 23 years as a pilot for American Airlines and resides with her three daughters in Manhattan Beach, California.

Steve Russell served 21 years in the United States Army as an infantry officer, deploying operationally to Kosovo, Kuwait, Afghanistan, and Iraq. During his command of the 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, he was widely covered during the first year of the Iraq war by TIME, CNN, Fox News, ABC, CBS, NBC, AP and Reuters. He and his unit were featured in BBC Panorama’s Saddam on the Run documentary as well as Discovery’s Ace in the Hole. He has also been the subject of numerous books and publications. Russell retired from the Army in 2006 to return to his native state of Oklahoma, where he has advocated nationally for veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan.

He is the Chairman and Founder of Vets for Victory, an organization that works to better the lives of America's military men and women.

As a sought after speaker, Russell draws upon personal and unit experience to share practical leadership techniques, problem solving and decision-making under pressure.

Through expert storytelling, he captivates audiences with his recounting of the hunt and capture of Saddam Hussein while inspiring them with a message of hope and patriotism.

Russell is the author of We Got Him! A Memoir of the Hunt and Capture of Saddam Hussein. The late Robin Moore, author of The Green Berets and The French Connection praised Russell's book as "an extraordinary personal glimpse of the war. A monumental credit to himself, his troops, and the United States of America," while General Tommy Franks calls it "a moving, gripping account of one of the most remarkable achievements of soldiering in a generation."

Russell is a featured speaker at events across the United States, in Canada, and in Europe. He lives in Oklahoma with his wife and five children and also serves in the Oklahoma Senate.

Retired Navy SEAL Jason “Jay” Redman is the author of “The Trident: The Forging and Reforging of a Navy SEAL Leader,” which captures his 21-year career and journey in leadership serving with the US Navy SEAL teams. He has encapsulated those profoundly transformational lessons learned and now shares his life-changing motivational messages with companies, churches, teams, executive leadership, and other organizations and individuals worldwide through motivational speaking, training, workshops, personal coaching, business consulting and more. His messages of leadership, teamwork, the OVERCOME Mindset and surviving life ambushes by “getting off the X” resonate with audiences of all types, within the contexts of both personal and professional development alike. Jason is frequently sought as a motivational leadership keynote speaker for professional sports teams, schools, associations, and Fortune 500 companies such as NASCAR, the NFL, MLB, McDonald’s and Dell. He has been mentioned and/or featured in The Wall Street Journal and other prominent news outlets as well as numerous distinguished leadership blogs, podcasts, books, panels and forums.

Brian Smith, Founder of the world famous UGG Australia Brand.

Graduating in 1978 as a Chartered Accountant in Australia, Brian came to California looking for the next big opportunity to bring back to Australia.

While studying at the UCLA Graduate School of Management he observed that there was no sheepskin footwear in the US.

With only $500 in capital, he imported boot samples and over the next seventeen years built the UGG Australia brand into a multi-million dollar international enterprise. He sold in 1995 and the brand has continued to grow to exceed a billion dollars in annual sales for the past six years.

Brian is one of the most sought after International business leaders in the country today. He is committed to teaching entrepreneurs how to leverage their most precious assets from within, and to recognize and pursue their passions to create a fulfilling and successful life.

Brian has authored the book “The Birth of a Brand – Launching Your Entrepreneurial Passion and Soul”, is a sought after Keynote speaker and mentors small business owners.

He spends his time with his family and friends in Southern California and enjoys surfing and contributing to humanity.

Voted one of the Top 15 Business Growth Experts to watch by Currency Fair, a Top Sales Experts To Follow by LinkedIn, and Top 41 Motivational Sales Speakers. Meridith has a cutting-edge message, rooted in real-life examples and real-world knowledge. She is the author of six books, including “Cut Through The Excuses – Send Sales Through The Roof” , and her latest “Thrive: Strategies To Turn Uncertainty To Competitive Advantage,”

Meridith is regularly featured in publications such as Forbes, Fast Company, Inc., Investment News, and American Banker among others. High energy and highly interactive, Meridith’s helps leaders and business owners learn the new rules of success today, and the strategies they need to build their business, engage their team, and leave their competition in the dust.

Meridith is a Certified Speaker Professional, a designation held by less than twelve percent of professional speakers, as well as a Certified Virtual Presenter, having passed the rigorous certification standards to achieve this designation.

In her highly engaging keynote-speaking sessions, Meridith shows her audiences how to attract more business, retain top talent, and leap into position to win in this new economy. No walking on coals, no breaking boards, just real-life strategies you can put into place first thing Monday morning.

Retired Navy SEAL Jason “Jay” Redman is the author of “The Trident: The Forging and Reforging of a Navy SEAL Leader,” which captures his 21-year career and journey in leadership serving with the US Navy SEAL teams. He has encapsulated those profoundly transformational lessons learned and now shares his life-changing motivational messages with companies, churches, teams, executive leadership, and other organizations and individuals worldwide through motivational speaking, training, workshops, personal coaching, business consulting and more. His messages of leadership, teamwork, the OVERCOME Mindset and surviving life ambushes by “getting off the X” resonate with audiences of all types, within the contexts of both personal and professional development alike. Jason is frequently sought as a motivational leadership keynote speaker for professional sports teams, schools, associations, and Fortune 500 companies such as NASCAR, the NFL, MLB, McDonald’s and Dell. He has been mentioned and/or featured in The Wall Street Journal and other prominent news outlets as well as numerous distinguished leadership blogs, podcasts, books, panels and forums.

Author & Speaker Aaron Davis has shared with over a million people about performing like a champion from personal experience. He is a leading authority & expert on the importance of having a Positive Attitude!

From the age of 8, he was helping his Dad work in the evenings as a janitor.

Through this experience, Aaron learned the importance of having a Champion Attitude no matter what your role or title is. Through mopping floors, cleaning bathrooms, emptying hundreds of trashcans nightly, Aaron learned that it's not WHAT you do; instead, it's HOW you do it!

As a member of the 1994 National Championship Nebraska Football team and working with numerous corporations & organizations, he understands firsthand what it takes to perform like a champion & experience incredible results both personally & professionally by maintaining a positive attitude!

 Aaron is not just a speaker "telling" other companies and individuals how a championship attitude leads to greater success. He's a successful business owner, held roles in corporate America, and a cancer survivor!

He's received numerous awards and accolades, and he's a proud University of Nebraska alumnus earning his degree in Psychology. He's shared the stage with some of today's top luminaries in various fields. He has spoken for some of the leading companies & universities and numerous associations, including Farm Bureau, Walmart, ConAgra, USC, Penn State, Texas A&M, and many more.

Aaron and his wife, Brooke, reside in Nebraska, and they have two sons and a daughter!

Voted one of the Top 15 Business Growth Experts to watch by Currency Fair, a Top Sales Experts To Follow by LinkedIn, and Top 41 Motivational Sales Speakers. Meridith has a cutting-edge message, rooted in real-life examples and real-world knowledge. She is the author of six books, including “Cut Through The Excuses – Send Sales Through The Roof” , and her latest “Thrive: Strategies To Turn Uncertainty To Competitive Advantage,”

Meridith is regularly featured in publications such as Forbes, Fast Company, Inc., Investment News, and American Banker among others. High energy and highly interactive, Meridith’s helps leaders and business owners learn the new rules of success today, and the strategies they need to build their business, engage their team, and leave their competition in the dust.

Meridith is a Certified Speaker Professional, a designation held by less than twelve percent of professional speakers, as well as a Certified Virtual Presenter, having passed the rigorous certification standards to achieve this designation.

In her highly engaging keynote-speaking sessions, Meridith shows her audiences how to attract more business, retain top talent, and leap into position to win in this new economy. No walking on coals, no breaking boards, just real-life strategies you can put into place first thing Monday morning.