Relationships are the cornerstone of success for any organization and Tommy’s message of focusing on the ROR – Return on Relationships – perfectly captured and reinforced the environment we are striving to create here at BDO. Whether we are interacting with peers within the organization or clients outside the organization, we are all stakeholders and all have a responsibility to develop and nurture genuine and authentic relationships that go beyond simple transactions to serve one another. Tommy’s message resonated with everyone in the room to the point that we are still talking about it.

Wayne Berson – Chief Executive Officer, BDO

Tommy Spaulding’s keynote was exactly what I was hoping for.  He was engaging, insightful and most of all heartfelt.   There are many speakers that can inspire from the stage – and he did inspire – but more importantly he connected with everyone in the room.  His connection through his stories on the concept of “five floors of relationships,” touched everyone and left a lifelong impact.  I would highly recommend him for any organization building a culture of trust and service.

Jodi Rolland – Managing Director, Hearltand Market Executive, Merrill Lynch

Tommy’s keynote was truly inspiring. If your sales team is serious about building stronger relationships and achieving better results, his message is one you need to hear.

Greg Hopkins – EVP for Global Sales, Stream International

Honestly, our first choice was to have a big named celebrity speaker as our opening keynote speaker at our annual convention. That fell through and Tommy was our second choice. Boy did that turn out for the better. Not only was Tommy’s message received with a standing ovation, but he proved to be one of the most gifted speakers I’ve experienced in my 20 plus years working with chambers and associations.

Mick Flemming – President, American Chamber of Commerce Executives

You are going to have people wishing that they had 15-20 more minutes of Tommy Spaulding. His message to the business community is just right on. Three years later, people are still talking about Tommy Spaulding’s keynote.

Scott Bemis — President, Denver Business Journal

Tommy masterfully illustrates case by case, person by person, that we’re
all in this together.

Woody Johnson — Owner, New York Jets

Tommy’s keynote address and teachings will help build a culture in your organization that grows your most valuable assets…your employees and customers.

Larry Kellner - former CEO, Continental Airlines

Tommy was instrumental in setting the tone for our national conference. He inspired our group to look at the value in every relationship.  We received many calls of thanks from our attendees who truly took Tommy’s special message into their hearts.

Hoyt Jones - President, Jersey Mike’s Franchise Systems

Tommy Spaulding inspires his audience to think differently about what is possible relative to personal achievement, what the human spirit can accomplish. Tommy’s personal stories about relationships help an audience think differently about the barriers that can exist in relationships of any kind. Tommy’s passionate and genuine keynote helped us at Starbucks connect the relationship to better lives and better business! 

Eric Wyatt – Regional Vice President, Western Mountain Region – Starbucks Coffee Company

Tommy’s message is fundamental and important to all of us who are trying to make a contribution to the world.  It applies equally to the professional and personal realms.

Dolf Berle – President & COO – Dave & Busters, Inc.

A dynamic and knowledgeable speaker.  Always worth listening to on a wide number of issues relating to Higher Education.  He simultaneously educates and challenges.

Richard D. Lamm – Governor of Colorado (1975-1987)

Tommy gets it – leadership in all aspects.  He was the first ‘leader-in-residence’ at East Carolina and helped us kick off our strategic direction of distinguishing the university in its approach to leadership development.  He connected to our students in a significant way.

Austin W. Bunch, Ph.D. – Senior Associate Provost , East Carolina University

Tommy Spaulding was the keynote speaker at the national conference of the Council for Alumni Association Marketing and Membership Professionals.  ASU was the host and I can speak first hand that the participants were impressed by the preparation, the energy and commitment that Tommy had to his presentation and the prior work writing the book that led to his subsequent speaking engagements.  Participants stood in line to purchase books afterwards and the demand quickly surpassed the supply.  And, I felt the book would be a great professional development tool for further discussion so have purchased it for the entire staff. 

Christine Kajikawa Wilkinson - President, ASU Alumni Association – Arizona State University

The interactions Tommy has had with my team has been transformational, to say the least! Tommy’s seminars and teachings are inspiring and allow the participant to begin incorporating new ideas and initiatives immediately.

Margie Tlapa – Assoc. Vice President Corporate Relations  Ashford University

Tommy Spaulding’s new book, It’s Not Just Who You Know, takes the whole concept of building relationships to a new level— this exceptional book could be called “networking on steroids.”  Tommy’s book helps all of us make the most of any relationship, both in business and life.

Erik Weihenmayer – Only blind man to summit Mount Everest and author of Touch the Top

When you can quiet a room of 2655 Colorado DECA high school DECA members to where you can hear a pin drop and they are hanging every word, the message got through.  Tommy was incredible.  His life stories touched each and every person in the room.  I would recommend Tommy as a keynote speaker to anyone who asks.

Ev Vaughan - Colorado DECA & Collegiate DECA State Advisor

Tommy Spaulding teaches us the joy and value of investing in relationships!

James H. Maynard — Chairman and Co-founder, Golden Corral Corporation

Someone once told me that your students do not care how much you know until they know how much you care. This book provides the tools needed in cultivating your relationships at any level. Tommy’s book is a home run and a must read if you are interested in transforming your life.

Frank DeAngelis — Principal, Columbine High School

A remarkable collection of insights that teaches how generosity, humility and thankfulness will take your business and personal relationships to the next level!

Jason Jennings — Best-selling Author, Hit The Ground Running and Think BIG-Act Small

Tommy Spaulding is masterful at building relationships that matter. He shares powerful lessons and weaves them into a fascinating modern-day follow-on to Dale Carnegie’s How to Win Friends and Influence People. I only wish that I had this book early in my own career.

Richard R. Eakin — Chancellor Emeritus, East Carolina University

Nothing is more important than our connection with other people. With this book, Tommy inspires us with his first-hand experiences and insight to reach for those deeper relationships. Read this and you’ll be better for it.

Sam Parker — Best-selling Author, 212° the extra degree®

Tommy Spaulding has written an engaging guide to creating deeper, meaningful relationships. This is one of those rare books that can both make you better and make others better for being around you.

Dr. Barney Forsythe — President, Westminster College

Tommy Spaulding was our key note speaker last week as we gathered our top 30 Sales Executives from across North America. Tommy’s message was extremely impactful to our group. He tailored the message to our attendees and the feedback was incredible. His ability to personalize the message and connect with our ‘best of the best’ was simply amazing. Tommy’s own sales experience added to his relating to the group.

John Ruble – VP, Global Sales Operations, Marriott Vacations Worldwide

Tommy Spaulding’s speech inspired our leaders to focus on creating meaningful relationships with employees and guests in order to improve our business and their personal lives.

Scott Sibella – President and Chief Operating Officer, MGM Grand

After hearing a keynote by Tommy last year, I lobbied to bring him to Milwaukee. Our small business CEOs attend our events for substantive takeaways and new ideas or concepts they can immediately implement to help grow their companies. Tommy captivated the crowd and delivered a powerful message that truly resonated with them.

Mary Steinbrecher – Executive Director of COSBE, Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce

Tommy’s experiences and foresight on meaningful relationships and return on relationships resonated on many levels with our Leadership team. Like many, our industry is based on and fueled by referrals, relationships and the personal touch, and Tommy re-instilled to us how those elements lead to business success. So impactful is his personal story on overcoming obstacles, and his message on using the power of relating to others, that we have asked Tommy to speak directly to our customers at a future forum.

Mike Hairston - Executive Vice President of Sales & Business Development, Greenway Medical Technologies, Inc.