Good Stuff part II a chance to 'elevate'
The 2023 Good Stuff Summit will take place Friday, May 5 at the Ohio Star Theater in Sugarcreek, where it will continue the tradition of providing fresh takes from experienced leaders.
Last year Kevin Bille’s Good Stuff Summit built a reputation on bringing in keynote speakers who were not only well-known, established and successful in their respective sports communities, but also inspiring leaders who painted a picture of how leaders lead and followers succeed with hard work.
The 2023 Good Stuff Summit slated for Friday, May 5 at the Ohio Star Theater in Sugarcreek will continue that tradition, providing fresh takes from experienced leaders from around the nation.
“What’s on my heart is to not only help our adults gain insight on how to lead, but to reach out and encourage the schools and help the young people, teachers and area coaches learn how to grow into leadership roles in the right way,” Bille said.
Bille said the theme this year is “Elevate,” a theme that works well for the sports-minded and in the business and community realm.
Because of that, he moved the event to May, hoping to entice more schools to attend. He even set up the upper tier at the theater specifically for schools, noting he already has five schools committed with room for more.
He said this event also is designed for area business leaders to take a day that focuses on pouring knowledge and learning skills they can take back to their respective businesses.
The keynote finale during the final session of the morning will come from Kevin Eastman, former NBA coach and executive with the Boston Celtics, where he won a world title in 2008, and the L.A. Clippers.
With more than four decades of coaching experience, Eastman has poured himself into learning what makes the best, a theme that is highlighted in his book, “Why the Best Are the Best.”
An engaging speaker who connects with an array of audiences, his message of building culture, leadership and teamwork connects with not just sports people and teams, but also every aspect of life, something Bille said is instrumental in each of the speakers at the event.
Bille said his background in sports leads him to connect with people in the sports world.
“Kevin Eastman is an incredible speaker who happens to be in the sports world,” Bille said. “But one of the things I like about this lineup of speakers is that while they are all sports related, their messages resonate into any aspect of life, be it in the work world, sports, community or church. The message is about developing leadership skills.”
The morning session will kick off with the doors opening at 7:30 a.m. and breakfast being served. In the first session, patrons will hear from Cody Royle, head of Elite Head Coaches, and Sue Ramsey, former Ashland University women’s basketball coach who brought that program to prominence.
That will be followed by a panel discussion centering around Dan Fisher, University of Pittsburgh head volleyball coach; Robyn Fralick, former head women’s basketball coach at BGSU who was recently tabbed to take over the Michigan State women’s program; and Jamion Christian, former college men’s basketball coach.
The final session will be devoted to Eastman and Johnson.
“I think Lauren Johnson will surprise and impress a lot of people,” Bille said. “She was the mental performance coach with the New York Yankees. Cody Royle might not be well known, but he is helping many coaches in the nation because he touches on topics that a lot of people struggle with.”
Royle wrote a book titled “The Tough Stuff,” which focused on dealing with a player who committed suicide.
“The guest panel is loaded with thoughtful, intelligent people who know how to lead and have been very successful in their respective fields,” Bille said.
Bille said sometimes it’s important for leaders in the community to set aside the hectic pace of the world, devote some time to themselves, and be filled with meaningful advice and encouragement.
“The values and lessons we can learn from sports carry over to every aspect of life and are applicable to every walk of life despite coming from a background of sports,” Bille said.
Tickets for the event are $125 per person, with groups of five or more discounted at 20% off. Bille went even further in committing to the schools, making the cost per ticket a $50 flat fee per person.
In order to give people a better idea of what to expect, Bille has posted last year’s Good Stuff Summit online at www.dhgroup.com/events/good-stuff-summit-elevate/. Tickets also are available there.
Each person attending the event will receive Eastman’s book as part of the admittance fee.
Bille can be emailed at goodstuffkevin@gmail.com for those wishing to attend at a discount price, and tickets are available online at www.ohiostartheater.com.