2026 UMCS Speakers & Workshops 

Prayer Breakfast Speaker - John Kriesel

In 2006 Kriesel was nearly blown to shreds by a 200 pound roadside bomb in the parched sands of Iraq, but battlefield angels in army uniforms kept him breathing long enough to reach a field hospital. He died three times and was shocked back to life. Somehow he survived through four hospitals, 35 surgeries and months of recovery. He lost both legs and suffered numerous other major injuries, but it was the loss of two close friends that hurt the most.

The guy who wasn’t supposed to survive and was told he probably would be in a wheelchair the rest of his life walked out of Walter Reed Army Medical Center after nine months. Working with author Jim Kosmo, Kriesel reveals his motivational story in “STILL STANDING: The Story of SSG John Kriesel,” winner of eight national book awards.

Four years after his near-death experience in Iraq Kriesel became a civilian marketing employee with the Minnesota Army National Guard and in 2012 was named Director of Veterans Services for a county in Suburban Minneapolis, MN. He also is a part time host on KFAN Sports Radio and former member of the Minnesota House of Representatives. He was elected to the House in 2010 after a vigorous campaign where he was told he could not win in his district. He personally visited several thousand homes in all weather conditions and literally wore out the socket in one of his prosthetic legs. He won. After tours of duty in Kosovo and Iraq and a lengthy medical recovery Kriesel’s family wanted to spend more time with
him and he chose not to run for re-election.

As a legislator he was anything but a quiet freshman challenging even his own party and frequently speaking his mind. “Kriesel’s honesty is a breath of fresh air at the Capitol,” declared the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. In addition to serving veterans in the Twin Cities and being a frequent voice on KFAN’s Power Trip Morning Show, he continues to share his upbeat, motivational message with businesses and organizations throughout the United States.

Thursday Night Comedian - JOHN HEFFRON

The winner of the second season of NBC’s hit reality series "Last Comic Standing," comedian John Heffron has become a comic to watch and love. The Detroit funnyman, who Phyllis Diller referred to as "the cute one," won a talent contract with NBC as well as other great opportunities. When asked about his experience on the show, John said, "It’s a lot like high school … there are good and bad memories, in the end, I think I will only remember the good ones."

John started his comedy career as a student at Eastern Michigan University, skipping night classes to perform stand-up comedy. He got his first gig as an emcee at the Main Street Comedy Showcase on the University of Michigan campus. After making his way to graduation, John immediately began working in his field of choice. He started touring the college circuit, performing at more than 80 colleges a year. By that time, he was already a seasoned comic with more than four years of experience. The college audience related to his type of humor, which talked about his days in college, the retro music that he and his classmates listened to and the Pop Rocks that he played with as a kid. This material made him a hit on college campuses, where he recorded his first comedy CD, "Kid With A Cape."

By the age of 25, John was a successful headlining comedian who decided to also put his degrees in communications and psychology to work by taking a job as radio sidekick to Danny Bonaduce on a highly-rated Detroit morning show. He worked for five years before making his way back to Los Angeles. Since arriving in LA and making his home in Hollywood, he has made numerous television appearances including NBC’s "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," CBS’s "The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn," his own half-hour "Comedy Central Presents" special and many others. Last year, he landed the lead role in the VH-1 sitcom "Smash," a show created by one of John’s biggest musical idols, Gene Simmons from Kiss. In addition, John has performed at the prestigious Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal, as well as the HBO Comedy Festival in Aspen.

Day 1 Keynote Speaker - Lou Nanne

Lou Nanne has one of the most solid careers of any American involved in the game of ice hockey. In addition to his All-Star player status with the Minnesota North Stars, he has been actively involved in the game as an administrator. Nanne served as the team’s General Manager from 1978–88, was a member of the International Committee for USA Hockey since 1988, and held various roles such as Vice President of the NHL Players Association, member of the NHL Board of Governors, and as a player, coach, GM, and president of the North Stars. AAE Speakers Bureau

Nanne’s early hockey journey included playing junior hockey with Hall of Famers Phil and Tony Esposito. He then became a member of the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers hockey team from 1959–63 under Coach John Mariucci. In 1963, he earned All-American honors and was named the WCHA Most Valuable Player. AAE Speakers Bureau

After graduating from the University of Minnesota, Nanne was drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks. However, following a contract dispute, he opted to play for the Rochester Mustangs of the USHL while pursuing business interests in the Twin Cities. His leadership was recognized when he served as captain of the U.S. Olympic Team in 1968, was general manager of the U.S. national team for the 1981, 1984, and 1987 Canada Cup tournaments, and continued his involvement at the 1994 World Championship. AAE Speakers Bureau

After the 1968 Olympics, Nanne joined his hometown expansion North Stars where he emerged as the team’s first star. He had an 11-year NHL career with the North Stars, tallying 72 goals and 167 assists for 239 points. His role later evolved into one of the league’s knowledgeable GMs, running the team until 1990. AAE Speakers Bureau

Throughout his career, Nanne received numerous awards and honors. He was named to the 50-Year WCHA All-Star team and awarded the Lester Patrick Award in 1989 for his outstanding service to hockey in the United States. He was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in 1998 and the International Ice Hockey Federation Hall of Fame in 2004. He also received Regional Emmy Sports Broadcast awards in 2009 and 2010 and was inducted into the Minnesota Sports Hall of Fame and received the Minnesota Sports and Events MN Champions Award in 2023. AAE Speakers Bureau

Currently, Nanne serves as Managing Director at RBC Global Asset Management and has hosted a weekly radio show on KSTP 1500 AM since 2011. He has been a TV color commentator for the Minnesota State High School Boys Hockey Tournament since 1964, reaching 60 years of broadcasting in 2024. He also serves as a rotating color commentator for Minnesota Wild broadcasts on Bally Sports North. His multifaceted career makes him synonymous with the game of hockey in Minnesota and reflects his diverse expertise.

Day 2 Keynote Speaker - Steve Goreham

Steve Goreham is a speaker, an author, a researcher on energy and environmental issues, and an independent columnist. He speaks and writes about energy, industry, agriculture, the environment, sustainable development, economic trends, climate change, and corporate environmental policy. Steve is the Executive Director of the Climate Science Coalition of America and an advisor to The Heartland Institute.

Goreham has been speaking to business, industry, and educational organizations for more than a decade. He has appeared in the past to agriculture, engineering, equipment, manufacturing, materials, metals, oil and gas, transportation, and utility groups. He has spoken at events of the Alaska Resource Development Council, the American Association of Professional Landmen, the Colorado Oil and Gas Association, the Hand Tools Institute, the Idaho Consumer-Owned Utilities Association, the Indiana Municipal Electric Association, the Kansas Independent Oil & Gas Association, the National Propane Gas Association, the Petroleum Club of Ft. Worth, the Society of Independent Gasoline Marketers of America, the Summer NAPE Expo, and many other energy and industry groups.
Goreham is the author of four books on energy, climate change, sustainable development, and public policy, including his latest, Green Breakdown: The Coming Renewable Energy Failure. More than 100,000 copies of his books are now in print.

Steve is a frequent guest on television and radio. His TV appearances include Fox Business Channel, Joe Pags, Pat Robertson, Wilkow, the Joe Donlon Report, and Sky News Australia. His radio segments include Glenn Beck, Frank Beckmann, John Catsimatidis, Roe Conn, Bill Cunningham, Larry Elder, Sean Hannity, Lars Larson, Dennis Miller, George Noory, Janet Parshall, and Todd Starnes, as part of more than 400 radio show appearances.

More than 100 of Steve’s articles have been published in The Wall Street Journal, Breitbart, RealClear Energy, Master Resource, The American Oil & Gas Reporter, The Daily Caller, The Washington Times, Washington Examiner, Western Journal, World Net Daily, World Oil, and other publications. His articles cover a broad array of topics, such as acid rain, battery storage, biofuels, climate change, the fracking revolution, hydrocarbon and renewable energy, hydrogen, meat consumption, the ozone hole, pollution, resource depletion, sustainable fuels, and wildfires.
Steve is a graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana, receiving Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Electrical Engineering degrees in 1976 and 1977. He received a Master’s in Business Administration degree from the University of Chicago in 1983.

Goreham’s business experience includes 30 years in engineering and executive roles in product development, sale, and manufacture of wireless and wired communications products and systems for global markets at Fortune 500 and private fi rms. He served as division general manager and member of the policy committee at his last company.