Speakers

2024 Speakers

Susan Gisler, PT, DPT, MHA

Leadership Trainer, Speaker & Coach

Breakfast Keynote

When Susan engages with a group of leaders, her skill at working with individuals through change shines through. Drawing on her training and time as a physical therapist, she has a genuine motivation to help others learn and grow. Susan embraces the challenge of getting to the root cause of an issue, breaking it down into understandable components, and partnering with others to bring out effective solutions. Her ability to bring levity and fun to any obstacle helps to surface the best version of those around her, bringing a tangibility to even those hard-to-reach goals.

Being a skilled leader herself, Susan applies her experience leading large and small teams through an array of complex circumstances to her work with clients, facilitating change and driving success for individuals and organizations alike. She connects quickly with others, helping to find innovative solutions that are sustainable and efficient by engaging in difficult conversations with teams going through transition, sustaining calm in emergency situations, and coaching people through professional challenges. Clients that work with Susan appreciate her distinctive approach and ability to promote engagement and understanding.

Susan can be found enjoying a meal with her husband and two kids around town, mountain biking with good friends, or hanging out on her back porch enjoying the view of the woods.

  • MHA from University of North Carolina, Gillings School of Public Health, Executive MHA Program
  • Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Andrews University
  • B.S. Ed. in Exercise and Sports Science from the University of Georgia

Willa Brigham

Emmy Award Winning Television Host, Inspirational Speaker, Storyteller, Writer, Teacher and Performing Artist

Panel Moderator

Willa is the TWO-TIME Emmy Award-winning host of the television show Smart Start Kids, an inspirational speaker, storyteller, writer, teacher and performing artist. She is a native of Tuskegee, Alabama, a graduate of Alabama State University and Indiana University. She holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in health and physical education.

Willa has entertained and delighted audiences across the US and to standing ovations on cruise lines in the Caribbean. This busy artist has six delightful CDs to her credit. They include Willa Will, Something Good, Stinky Johnson and Other Tales, Happy Healthy Habits, What You See and Midnight Quilter. Willa is also the author of Golden Years, a collection of stories and poems dedicated to senior citizens and The Pizza Tree – a colorful and imaginative story about sharing.

She is also a multidimensional fiber artist, with an impressive collection of sweetheart ladies portraits, sweetheart ladies notecards, art quilts, fidget mats, and fiber art.

  • Two-time Emmy Award Winner
  • Zora Neale Hurston Award Winner
  • GFWC – NC Woman of Achievement Award
  • Sounds of the Mountain Story Slam Champion
  • Indiana University Alumni Community Service Award
  • 2020 Cary Magazine (Front Cover) – Women of Western Wake