Jacob Clayton
A leading social media strategist, an empowerment speaker, and an authority of style. Also known as the Image Ambassador, he has used social media platforms such as Instagram and Facebook to solidify contracts with more than 40 companies in the last year and build his very own custom clothing business, J.C. Scott. Starting his professional speaking career 3 years ago, he travels the country impacting high schools, colleges, universities, and conferences with dress for success presentations that aid in the personal and professional development of our youth. His passion for transforming lives both mentally and physically have driven him to gain expertise in the industry to ensure he provides actionable information, tools, and resources that will give you the ability to create change in your life.
Dustin Dale
Has been inspiring companies, and individuals to create a culture of excellence by focusing on the implementation of servant leadership. His experience stems from 10 years working in the corporate sector with two of the world’s largest companies, where he led over 1,000 teams to success. Since retiring from the corporate world, Dustin has become an international selling author of, “Learn to Lead by Serving” book series, professional keynote speaker, and entrepreneur with his consulting firm; Beyond the Horizon Consulting. Dustin has consulted with leaders from all around the world through podcast, and training sessions to bring the best version possible out of each individual. Creating a culture of excellence
Dr. Alex Ellis
Dr. Alex Ellis is transforming lives, one redefined image at a time. An award-winning author, international speaker, activist and connoisseur of style, Dr. Ellis is turning heads across the nation through his inspirational message. He has been featured on CNN, Good Morning America, BET, Black Enterprise’s Our World Television Show, and the Steve Harvey Morning Show. Dr. Ellis has been honored with the distinguished BE Modern Man award from Black Enterprise.
Dr. Ellis passionately delivers a fresh perspective that empowers people to reach their maximum potential. He has taken this message to global audiences including Disney Dreamer’s Academy, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, UNCF, National Black MBA Association, and notable colleges and universities such as UCLA, Howard, Villanova, Morehouse and USC just to name a few. Whether speaking to audiences in Frankfurt, Germany; or empowering young men at Steve Harvey’s Mentoring Camp or inspiring young men and women at Disney Dreamers Academy, Dr. Ellis travels extensively sharing his message of defying mediocrity.
This New Jersey native proves to be one of this era’s leading men by accepting his responsibility of social impartation. His non-profit organization Tied To Greatness, is an international mentoring initiative that has impacted more than 10,000 inner city high school males in the U.S. and abroad.
Dr. Ellis received a Bachelor of Science Degree at North Carolina A & T State University. He has also earned a Master of Arts Degree and Doctor of Ministry Degree from the New Brunswick Theological Seminary.
Gabriel E. Gore
Is an experienced trial lawyer who concentrates on complex civil litigation and white collar defense. He has tried over twenty cases, including cases involving breach of contract, product liability, misappropriation of trade secrets, securities fraud, breach of trust, employment and property damage claims. His clients include Fortune 500 corporations, corporate executives and high-ranking government officials.
Gabe’s civil litigation experience includes commercial disputes, product liability defense, False Claims Act defense and employment defense. He has defended white collar matters and conducted internal investigations involving allegations of accounting and securities fraud, False Claims Act violations, Medicare and Medicaid fraud, antitrust violations, mail and wire fraud, environmental violations, immigration violations and public corruption.
Prior to joining Dowd Bennett, Gabe served as a law clerk to the Honorable John R. Gibson of the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals; an assistant U.S. attorney; an assistant special counsel for the Waco investigation; an associate at Williams & Connolly LLP; and a partner at Bryan Cave LLP.
Gabe is active in the community. He currently serves on the Missouri State University Board of Governors and served as Board Chair during 2019. He also currently serves on the Forest Park Forever Board. He served as a gubernatorial appointee to the Ferguson Commission, which was charged with making recommendations to move the St. Louis community forward following the unrest in Ferguson, Missouri. He was also a founding board member of KIPP St. Louis Public Charter Schools.
Mr. Brian Heat
Brian Heat is a dynamic Inspirational Speaker, Educator, Producer, Director, Publisher, and Amazon Best Selling Author with his latest book release Get Ignited: Your Blueprint for Discovering Purpose and Manifesting Dreams, who transforms audiences infusing high-octane motivational and cinematic themes, making his presentations trajectory changing and unforgettable!
Brian’s God-given gifts to positively impact the lives of others can be experienced through his provocative keynotes, books, online content creation and ground-breaking stage performances. A phenomenal talent, Brian has shared speaking stages with former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, Steve Harvey, Halle Berry, Jalen Rose, Hill Harper, and Stedman Graham just to name a few.
As an Educational Leader his Maryland based Diverse Male Student Initiatives Program has transformed the lives of over 1,000 collegiate males in the areas of Academic Excellence, Manhood Development, and Career/Entrepreneurship Readiness. This work can be found captured in the award winning documentary he Co-Produced titled Striving for the Extraordinary: A Journey through Hope and Transformation.
With his profound ability to push the boundaries of inspiration, Brian continues to touch the lives of thousands across the country through a wide array of colleges, universities, corporate clients, non-profit organizations and Sports Teams.
With an uncanny Rockstar persona who maintains a finger on the pulse of Pop Culture, Hip Hop, Education Reform, Activism, Entrepreneurship and the epic journey of dreamers no matter their race, creed or background, audiences are never the same after witnessing him in action.
Mr. Elliott Jones
Being no stranger to SAAB and as a longtime member of the SAAB Family for more than 10 years, Elliott Jones embraces the legacy of being a grandson of one of our nation’s civil rights icons (The Late Dr. Maya Angelou, who was born in St. Louis, MO). He is a public speaker, philanthropist, community organizer, ally, and the leader of the City of Oakland’s MACRO Program.
Originally raised in Oakland, California. Later in life he moved to Queens, NY to enroll in St. John’s University; where he graduated in 2008. After graduation, Elliott worked for New York’s renowned politician, William “Bill” Lynch, Jr., where he developed an interest for the complexities of politics and how policies affect people’s lives. In 2010, Elliott moved to Miami and over the next decade worked consistently in community development leading projects in the Liberty City, Little Haiti, and Overtown neighborhoods focused on honoring residents and historic preservation. In 2019, Jones returned to Oakland and now works as the program manager of the Mobile Assistance Community Responders of Oakland (MACRO) program. MACRO is a non police, non emergency first response program within the Oakland Fire Department that responds to low acuity mental health and quality of life calls for service.
Victor Vonico Johnson
Has talents as a Real Estate Investor, an Inspirational Speaker, Published Author, Credit Coach, Serial Entrepreneur and Financial Wellness Coach that spent 20+ years in leadership roles for Debt Collection Agencies & Call Centers. During that time, he was responsible for managing 100’s of people, dozens of vendors and implementing tons of systems, while collecting more than $100 million in debt. He has an intimate understanding of how to get the best out of people, no matter what their personality traits are, social and cultural backgrounds are, nor what their economic status is.
Victors’ story is one of OVERCOMING ADVERSITY as he has struggled with poor credit, living paycheck to paycheck, being repossessed, evictions, and being called by collection agencies, while he was managing one! Even while advancing in his career, he continued falling further into debt. Enough was enough, and Victor eventually changed his mindset and found a way to achieve his goals, and he turned it all around.
Now, Victor maintains a credit score over 750, he is a successful business owner running 3 businesses, and owns multiple rental properties with his beautiful wife, Latasha. It is fair to say that he ‘Created His Future Self’.
Victor educates his clients and audiences on overcoming adversity, developing a WINNING MINDSET, introduces many to real estate investing, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship. His clients have transformed their ‘defeated mentalities’, personal finances, and many have learned how to build wealth by purchasing investment properties.
He is the published author of the book, PROVEN PATHWAYS TO WEALTH & HAPPINESS– which tells the story of Victor growing up in a single-parent home- BROKE. Later, as an adult he lived paycheck to paycheck with horrible credit. He walks the reader through the exact steps that transformed his mindset, helped him attract better outcomes, got him out of debt, increased his earnings, and outlines how he purchased his 1st rental property, which led to a 7-figure real estate portfolio, and has a credit score consistently over 750. Victor has also mentored dozens of employees, friends, clients, and family members through their personal finance & credit challenges, helped with career guidance, starting businesses, and become real estate investors.
Today, besides his busy speaking schedule, Victor is the founder of Nico Don Projects LLC, a mentoring company, he is the Senior Managing Partner of 555 Equity LLC, a Carrollton TX real estate investment company, and serves as a partner and course creator for Own Your Business Mastery.
Victor believes that we all have the ability to Create Our Future Self; in our personal life and our business life. When you bring Victor Vonico Johnson to share his inspirational, customized message, they will all be ready to take action, after the standing ovation!
Tyree Vance
A graduate of California State University, San Bernardino, where he co-founded his first SAAB chapter, holds a dual B.A. in Psychology and Human Development. Tyree Vance has also obtained a M.A. in Higher Education from California State University, Fullerton. Vance served as an Academic Advisor for Student Support Services at Cal State, Dominguez Hills. He was the inaugural Senior Program Coordinator of the Male Success Initiative-Fullerton at CSU, Fullerton and the inaugural Senior Coordinator of The LEAGUE and Project SUCCESS, a male success initiative for developing men of color at Cal Poly Pomona. He currently serves as an educational consultant, training various universities and colleges across the U.S. how to effectively engage their students using asset-based frameworks and high impact practices.
Vance became a certified member of the Appreciative Advising Faculty in 2012, where he facilitates group sessions at the annual Appreciative Advising Institute. Moreover, Vance has conducted research with two of his colleagues focusing on the collegiate success of African American males and exploring the counter-narrative for these men. Vance’s work is driven by providing a counternarrative to the thoughts and beliefs that limit people in their lives. His trainings are geared to created alignment with their personal and professional vision.
Areas of Expertise: 1st Gen, Low Income Students, and Males of Color
Toson Knight
Toson Knight is a Detroit-bred champion tackling the moral, academic, and intellectual growth in Detroit’s young people. Mr. Knight is President and founder of Caught Up mentoring program. Toson has worked tirelessly in each of his roles to create a safe community, establish positive relationships, and develop a process of ongoing support for youth. His enthusiasm and depth of knowledge regarding young people make him a rarity in the city of Detroit. Toson demonstrates leadership and commitment through his unique ability to think outside the box and willingness to take risks to produce the best nurturing environment for young men in our community. Mr. Knight is helping bridge the gap between the at-risk youth population and positive community members by using an innovative approach to cultivate and maintain relationships with students in Detroit. Saturday Night Live, Project Re-entry and Project Empower are all initiatives spearheaded by Toson in an effort to empower youth to overcome obstacles, network, and cultivate individual talent.
Mr. Knight has been celebrated for several achievements, including being featured in B.L.A.C. magazine, recognized by Operation Reach back for reaching back and helping others. He received the alumni of the year award from Oakwood University because of his effort in getting young black males to college. Mr. Knight has received the Vanguard young professional ward and the community service award from Spectrum human services. Most recently Mr. Knight was selected as a Michigan Chronicle 40 under 40 honoree.
Mr. Knight is a product of several Public Schools. He received a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Oakwood University and a Masters Educational Leadership from the University of Michigan. He served as a Deputy Manager for District 4 for the Mayor’s Office, where he was responsible for working with community organizations, businesses, and religious groups on fighting blight, lowering crime, and handling citizen complaints. Mr. Knight served as Dean of East English Village and Western High school for several years where he led several initiatives to turnaround the culture. He is now the Division Director for Prevention and Diversion at Wayne County.