meet our guest speakers
sébastien sasseville
Endurance Athlete | Motivational Speaker | Leadership and Change Management
Sébastien Sasseville was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 2002, the most severe form of the disease. Faced with this obstacle, he vowed that the condition would never keep him from living life to the fullest. Today, his story is a testament to how challenges can be turned into opportunities, growth, and empowerment.
Sébastien is the first Canadian with Type 1 diabetes to have reached the summit of Mount Everest. He then completed the mythical Sahara Race, a 250-kilometre ultra-marathon in the harshest desert on the planet. A few years later, he ran across Canada—a 7,500-kilometre journey, which is the equivalent of running 180 marathons in nine months. More recently, Sébastien Sasseville joined the very short list of Race Across America finishers—the toughest ultra-cycling event in the world.
Sébastien holds a bachelor’s degree in communications, is a TEDx speaker, and spent the first 10 years of his career in Fortune 500 companies. He speaks globally on teamwork, change, and leadership.
dr. joshua fredenburg
President and Founder of the Circle of Change Leadership
Dr. Joshua Fredenburg is a nationally acclaimed speaker, author, leadership consultant, and a visionary force in personal and organizational development. With a career spanning over sixteen years, he has touched lives across 49 states and globally, delivering powerful messages on leadership, diversity and inclusion, and personal empowerment. Holding a Doctoral Degree in Organizational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University and a Master’s Degree from Biola University, Dr. Fredenburg combines academic rigor with real-world experience. His journey is not just marked by professional achievements but also by his profound impact on individuals and organizations.
As the President and Founder of the Circle of Change Leadership
Experience, he has transformed the lives of thousands, especially culturally diverse and first-generation students, guiding them towards leadership excellence. Recognized for his contributions, he has received numerous accolades, including an honorary membership from Golden Key International and recognition as a Top Leader Under 40 in South Florida. Dr. Fredenburg's journey is a testament to his commitment to creating leaders who are not only successful but also empathetic and inclusive, making a lasting difference in the world.
Dr. Joshua Fredenburg's approach to addressing the challenges in leadership, diversity, and personal development is as unique as it is effective. Recognizing that you might be seeking solutions to specific challenges such as navigating leadership complexities, fostering inclusive environments, retention, or personal growth hurdles, Dr. Fredenburg tailors his strategies to meet these needs precisely.
His methodology is a blend of empathetic understanding, academic rigor, and practical application. He doesn't just identify issues; he delves deep into their roots and offers solutions that are both innovative and actionable. Whether it's bridging generational gaps, enhancing emotional intelligence, developing leaders and retention, or developing resilience, his approach is always focused on creating meaningful and sustainable change.
marilyn suttle
CEO of Suttle Enterprises
Marilyn Suttle, CVP is a customer service and communication expert and CEO of Suttle Enterprises, LLC, a personal and professional training company. She is a 3-time bestselling author and results coach.
Marilyn works with organizations that want to stand out as a provider of choice, and with teams that want to work well together.
Her advice has been featured on numerous TV news programs, radio, and print such as Inc. Magazine, Corp, New York Times, Chicago Tribune, Lady’s Home Journal, and Psychology Today to name a few.
Her books, Who’s Your Gladys: How to Turn Even the Most Difficult Customer into Your Biggest Fan and Taming Gladys: The Busy Leader’s Guide to Creating Fierce Customer Loyalty, coauthored by Lori Jo Vest focus on creating cultures of service excellence. She also authored the activity and coloring book, Color Their World: The Art of Creating Strong Customer Loyalty, and co-created The Customer Service Roadmap, a video-based 12 module course, available online or inside her clients LMS.
Marilyn presents programs, coaches, and consults with professionals at Fortune 500 companies, universities, medical, and mid-sized companies. Some of her clients include Pfizer Corporation, Kimberly Clark Corporation, Ford Motor Company, Visteon Corporation, Blue Cross Blue Shield, to name a few.
She has spoken to multi-cultural audiences on stages, conference rooms, and on virtual platforms.
She also works directly with entrepreneurs. Her extensive experience with online community management and social media helps brands engage deeply with their target market, endearing consumers to brands.
A double certified virtual presenter, Marilyn stays up to date on the latest technologies to engage her audiences. She’s been listed as one of the Top 30 Global Gurus of Customer Service for four years in a row, and she has an advanced certification in the Canfield Methodology, a high engagement strategy for teaching success principles. She is also Certified in RIM (Regenerating Images in Memory) an advanced coaching method that quickly and easily resolves mental and emotional blocks that hold clients back.
tim wiersma
Founder & Principal of Revenue Generation LLC
With over two decades of experience in the hospitality industry, Tim Wiersma is a recognized leader in revenue management. He specializes in property and portfolio revenue management, sales and marketing, distressed-asset turnaround, and asset assessment, delivering exceptional results for properties across the globe.
Tim founded Revenue Generation LLC following an impressive career holding senior leadership roles in the industry. He served as Vice President with Host Hotels and Resorts, Vice President at TPG Hospitality and Vice President of Revenue Strategy at Red Roof Group, overseeing a portfolio of more than 650 hotels. Additionally, he has held corporate-level positions with Starwood Hotels and Resorts, Canadian Hotel Income Properties, and acted as a trusted advisor to Marriott International in sales and revenue management.
Throughout his career, Tim has worked with leading hospitality brands and independent properties, designing innovative business intelligence tools, dashboards, and revenue strategies to maximize performance. His collaboration with Coast Hotels was pivotal in developing advanced intelligence tools and demonstrating the strategic value of revenue management. Tim's contributions not only enhanced our team's capabilities but also helped illustrate the importance of revenue services to ownership, paving the way for further investments in RMS and our team.
Tim thrives on innovative approaches to revitalizing underperforming assets while motivating sales and revenue teams to excel. He holds a BA in Business Administration and Finance and is an active member of the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI), currently serving as Chair of its Revenue Optimization Advisory Board.
Based in North Carolina, Tim enjoys spending his free time with family and friends and piloting a Cessna 172.