MSAE Speaker Showcase 2025

Event Details

Join Us for the 2025 Speaker Showcase Event. If you are looking for the right speaker for you and your organization come and hear for yourself! In 3 hours listen to 8 highly sought after speakers and other entertainers.

Speakers

Amanda Fontaine

She Gets Success

L. Lavon Gray

PhD, MBA, CSP at Lavon Gray Leadership

Dr. Samuel Jones, CSP

Transform NOW

Candie L Simmons

CLSimmons Consulting, LLC

Mandi Stanley, CSP

Mandi Stanley

CJ Stewart

Make 'Em Count!

Joe M. Turner

Turner Magic

Janie Walters

AUTHOR OF NEVER WRESTLE WITH PIGS
AND INSPIRATIONAL SPEAKER ON
LEADERSHIP, ORGANIZATIONAL STRATEGY
AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION

Business Owner...
Organizational Conflict Specialist...
Award-Winning Author...
Professor...
NCAA Football Referee...
These are just a few of the hats worn by Dr. Lavon Gray.
From conference rooms filled with bully bosses and passive aggressive co-workers, to college
football stadiums filled with screaming coaches and out of control fans, when it comes to conflict,
Lavon has seen it all. More importantly, he learned to thrive in the middle of the chaos! With 30
years and over 7,000 hours of platform experience, he's your go-to expert for turning
organizational chaos into order. Lavon holds the designation of Certified Speaking Professional
(CSP®) from the National Speakers Association (NSA®), and is a certified speaker, coach, and
trainer with The John Maxwell Team.

Dr. Jones has dedicated over twenty years of his life in helping to guide people and organizations through dysfunction, disruptions, and disappointment. He currently serves as the Assistant to the President for Leadership Training at Jones College, a coach and facilitatory for Engaged Leadership Organization and Blue Hen Agency, and is the Superintendent for Sunday School and Associate Pastor at Peace & Goodwill Missionary Baptist Church in Richton, MS. Most importantly, he is married to the former Sarah Clark of Richton, MS.

He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Advertising and a Master’s degree in Public Relations from the University of Southern Mississippi, a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from Mississippi State University, and was recognized as one of the TOP Entrepreneurs by the Mississippi Business Journal. He has the Certified Speaking Professional® (CSP) designation from the National Speakers Association, and certifications such as Jack Canfield’s Success Principles and TTI Success Insights™ with DISC® to support his coaching. Based in Ellisville, MS, he travels globally, from New Orleans to various destinations.

With more than 29 years of experience on the seminar circuit, Certified Speaking
Professional Mandi Stanley works with association leaders who want to boost their
professional image by becoming better speakers and writers. She has traveled
throughout North America entertaining and educating more than 100,000 seminar
participants. Some of her repeat clients include:
Campbell’s Soup
United States Air Force
McDonald’s USA
Kimberly-Clark’s World Headquarters
Godiva Chocolate
Mississippi Association of REALTORS
Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi
Mississippi Bankers Association
Mississippi Bar Association
Mississippi Association of Broadcasters
Mississippi Hospital Association
National Football League (that’s right—the NFL!)

In 2003, Mandi was designated a CSP, Certified Speaking Professional. Fewer than 9
percent of all worldwide speakers have earned this designation, and Mandi is the first
Mississippian in history to receive this honor through the National Speakers
Association.
She currently serves as president of the Honors College Alumni Advisory Board at
Mississippi State University. Mandi is the award-winning business author of The No-
Panic Plan for Presenters: An A-to-Z Checklist for Speaking Confidently &
Compellingly Anywhere, Anytime. Audiences appreciate her platform enthusiasm,
interactive style, and content-rich messages. More important for us, though, she
brings chocolate for everyone.

I am a combat-wounded veteran of the 101st Airborne Division. I have a degree in counseling, and over a decade of experience in both the nonprofit and corporate sectors developing leaders. Today, I serve in the local church as a full-time pastor and as a coach in one of the fastest growing faith-based men’s professional development organizations in the country.

Throughout my journey in life, I have always loved The Moments.
Powerful words have always guided me, especially in the most difficult times. Over the years I have grown quite fond of sharing brief, but powerful quotes with people.

What I have found is that often, these very simple words turned those brief exchanges from just an ordinary opportunity into a meaningful moment that changed the trajectory of someone’s life. Make ‘Em Count was born out of those experiences.

Two decades of corporate and private clients across America and around the world attest to both the entertainment value and business impact of Joe M. Turner, a multi-talented performer and speaker based in Memphis and Atlanta.
From boardroom to ballroom, from country club to cruise ship, from local gala to national conference to international television, Joe has created magical astonishment for millions of people worldwide. He has headlined multiple times at Hollywood’s Magic Castle and Nashville’s House of Cards, and at hundreds of other venues and theatres including an Armed Forces Entertainment tour to entertain our troops in the Middle East.
But in addition to being a gifted entertainer, Joe is also a gifted speaker. He has used his performance skills to communicate and inspire people in hundreds of organizations to create their own amazing experiences for both the people they serve and for the people they serve alongside.
His global accolades as a magician and mentalist are just the start. Joe is a Mississippi native, a Mississippi State grad, a former management consultant, a professional actor, a gifted pianist/singer/composer, and a credentialed educator and trainer. Joe understands the impact of live events and experiences on both attendees and planners. His professionalism and dedication to the success of your gathering will make him an MVP for your meetings and other events.
Six continents. Fifty countries. Thousands of clients. Millions of smiles. One solution: Joe M. Turner.

Topic:
Primary program: "Five Kinds of Amazing: Creating Amazing Experiences for the People We Serve (and the people we serve alongside!)"
Additional program: "Memory Mojo: You Can Instantly Improve Your Memory!"

Entertainment:
- strolling magic/mentalism after-dinner entertainment
event host/MC piano or piano/vocal entertainment
(see memphispianist.com)

Author of two books, "Blow A Bubble, Not A Gasket: 101 Ways to Reduce Stress and Add Fun to Your Life" and “Develop the Habit of Joy: A 21-Day Devotional”
Professional member of the National Speakers Association
Speaker for more than 1,000 national, state and local conferences
Listed in Who's Who Among American Teachers 2000
Keynote address, Family, Career and Community Leaders of America 2002 National Conference
Keynote address, National Girl Scouts Product Sales Conference, Orlando, FL
Keynote address, Mississippi Association of Colleges
Conference speaker, Federally Employed Women's National Conventions, 7 years
Leadership trainer, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in KY, MO, AR and GA
Teamwork Trainer, Federal Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Washington, D.C.
Creator of Champion Communications, including speaking, writing and products
Past president, Mississippi Theatre Association; also past VP and secretary
Founder and former coach, Miss. Gulf Coast Community College Jefferson Davis Campus Intercollegiate Debate Team
Coach of seven state high school debate championships
Six-time winner of Best Director, South State Drama Festival
Best High School Director in Mississippi, State Drama Festival, 1990
Director of more than 50 plays and musicals
Outstanding Educator Award presented by Gulfport Jaycees

MIssissippi Society of Association Executives

Contact us

Event Details

Speakers

Amanda Fontaine

L. Lavon Gray

Dr. Samuel Jones, CSP

Candie L Simmons

Mandi Stanley, CSP

CJ Stewart

Joe M. Turner

Janie Walters

Sponsors and Partners

Community

Discover and connect with other attendees.

MIssissippi Society of Association Executives

Contact us

MSAE Speaker Showcase 2025

Event Details

Speakers

Amanda Fontaine

L. Lavon Gray

Dr. Samuel Jones, CSP

Candie L Simmons

Mandi Stanley, CSP

CJ Stewart

Joe M. Turner

Janie Walters

Sponsors and Partners

Organizer

Explore Ridgeland/Ridgeland Tourism Commission

Community

Discover and connect with other attendees.