2023 Annual Meeting General Session Speakers

General Session #1 Speaker:
Caylin Moore

Celebrated author and sought-after inspirational speaker, Caylin Moore invigorates audiences with wisdom from his journey of overcoming seemingly insurmountable obstacles to striving to leave the world better than he found it. His against-all-odds journey from the cruel poverty of a gang-ridden Los Angeles community to becoming a Rhodes Scholar is detailed in his acclaimed book, "A Dream Too Big: The Story of an Improbable Journey from Compton to Oxford". His work has been featured by Good Morning America, Sirius XM Radio, ABC News, NBC LA, Home and Family, Hallmark Channel, and The 700 Club amongst other media outlets. His book was named a Good Morning America Anchor’s Favorite Books of 2019, was an Amazon Bestseller in Sociology of Urban Areas and came out in paperback in June of 2020.

A burgeoning thought leader, Caylin seeks to reform the way we think about and respond to gang membership, education and urban poverty. His experiences growing up in Compton and South Central Los Angeles inform his scholarly interests. By taking advantage of the limited educational opportunities in his community, Caylin excelled through high school and college to become a US-UK Fulbright Summer Institute fellow at the University of Bristol and a Public Policy and International Affairs Junior Summer Institute fellow at Princeton University amongst other prestigious academic awards and fellowships. As a student-athlete at Texas Christian University, he became founder and president of S.P.A.R.K. a community outreach organization encouraging youth to pursue education as a means of community uplift. Caylin’s sustained mentorship and engagement with disadvantaged communities has led his work with S.P.A.R.K. to be featured as part of his November 2016 ESPN cover story and recognition as a member of the 2017 AllState Good Works ® Team.

Caylin went on to become a 2017 Rhodes Scholar, graduating from the University of Oxford in England, where he earned his Master’s of Science in Latin American Studies. Caylin is currently earning his Ph.D. in Sociology at Stanford University and is a Ford Foundation Fellow, aspiring to become a university professor. Caylin’s research agenda examines urban neighborhoods, criminal justice policies, and how such policies impact community social networks. Thus far, his research appears in the Annual Review of Criminology (2022) and the Oxford University Press Handbook of Gangs and Society (2022).

Caylin Moore has garnered much praise for his keynote speaking abilities and his gift of storytelling. He connects with a broad spectrum of audiences, as he works closely with clients to customize his speaking to align with the objectives of a particular event. Whether he is speaking about A Dream Too Big, the collaboration between education and community, dealing with pressures to succeed, carving out meaning, navigating higher education as a person of color, or dream inequality, his presentations are rich with actionable takeaways and leaves audiences awe-inspired. Caylin has spoken at a multitude of high-impact venues: non-profit organizations such as the NCAA, community organizations such as the Community Action Association of Pennsylvania, and institutions of higher education such as Yale University, Johns Hopkins University, Ole Miss, and the University of Texas at Austin to name a few.

As a testimony to his power to communicate through writing, notable figures have praised A Dream Too Big. #1 New York Times Best-selling author Ron Hall called his book “an inspiring tale that should be mandatory reading for every student, parent, and anyone else interested in the success of those who will shape and define our future.” New York Times Bestselling author Wes Moore said, “Caylin’s story is not just inspirational, it is instructional.” Emmy-Award Winning Anchor of Good Morning America and Pro-Football Hall of Famer Michael Strahan said, “What an inspiring story. How he was able to use his wits and his smarts to stay out of trouble and to excel in life... I thought that this book needed to be put out there in the forefront because you can never have a dream too big to accomplish.” Caylin’s story proves that there is no such thing as a dream too big.

General Session #2 Speaker:
Alex Weber

Alex Weber is an American Ninja Warrior, Award-Winning Leader & Entertainer positively inspiring millions to achieve breakthrough success! Not only does Alex talk the talk as an in-demand international speaker, he’s walked the walk as an elite competitor on NBC’s Emmy-nominated series American Ninja Warrior. Well, more like, leaped the leap! This wildly popular TV show has sparked a global phenomenon to the extent that hundreds of thousands of people apply, and only a few hundred are given the rare opportunity to compete. Alex is the only person to host and compete on NBC American Ninja Warrior.

Alex’s greatest passion is championing your highest potential by helping you find your Edge, because success is about more than just knowing what to do, it’s knowing how to do it. Alex shows Top Professionals and Leaders how to bring their very best everyday, and to the most high-stakes situations that can make or break your success. It's his sincere understanding of peak performance and peak challenges, mixed with inspiring stories and actionable strategies that makes Alex unforgettable and your human shot of espresso. With his contagious energy and passion, Alex shares his game-changing secrets to record-breaking success!