OUR 2018 SPEAKERS WERE

MAIN SPEAKERS

Stephen Mackey, Character and Mental Skills Coach
Craig Flowers, US Army Colonel (retired)
Chip Townsend, Martial Artist & Successful Businessman
David Thomas, All-American tight end for 2005 National, 2009 Super Bowl Championship Team
Cody Hodges, A state championship player in both football and basketball.
Kent Jackson, Head Football Coach and Boys’ Athletic Director

TIMEOUT SPEAKERS

2018 Speaker Biographies

Stephen Mackey

Character and Mental Skills Coach

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From high school football teams to high-profile conferences, Stephen Mackey (2Words Character Development; New Balance Baseball) brings an empowering, inspiring, and equippIng message to audiences of all backgrounds.

Bi-racial and born to a teenaged mother, Mackey (as he is better known) beat the odds to become a first-generation college graduate (B.S., Texas A&M University ‘07; MDiv, Fuller Theological Seminary, ‘16), character development coach, motivational speaker, and most importantly, husband and daddy.

Drawing from his own life story and the stories of people he meets across the country, Mackey has an uncanny ability to authentically connect with his audience through humor, wisdom, and passion, and usher them to the next level of character and performance. Despite the odds being stacked against him, Mackey’s life was changed by the coaches and mentors in his life, who challenged him to “Take Responsibility. Period.” for his life. This single challenge has fueled everything Mackey has done in his life, and is the foundation of his work today.

On almost any given day, you can find Mackey in a locker room, school auditorium, or event stage, challenging and equipping people to take responsibility and change their lives. His deep commitment to forging a new legacy for his family, and fueling their generosity for generations to come, drives him to give over 275 speeches a year and patiently pursuing the goal of having over 1 million student-athletes, coaches, and parents use his 2Words Character Development Curriculum ( www.2Words.TV ) each week.

Whatever your event, you can be sure that when Mackey speaks, people listen and lives are changed!

Colonel Craig Flowers

US Army Colonel (retired)

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US Army Colonel (retired) J. Craig Flowers is a native Texan. Before his 2012 retirement from active duty, he served 25+ years in our Army as a Human Intelligence Officer.

Having served ten years abroad, including three years in the Kingdom of Morocco, his last decade of service was at West Point. His duties at West Point included; Director of Cadet Affairs, Assistant Baseball Coach, NCAA recertification Title IX sub-committee chair and member of the West Point Athletics Committee.

Army Baseball’s 2005 record was 39-14 and included the first ever four-game sweep of Navy and first win in the NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament, Tallahassee, FL.

Craig is the Director of Athletics Consulting and Development for Horizon Performance LLC. Horizon Performance assists with the selection and development of NASA astronauts, Navy SEALS, Green Berets, Army Special Operators and NCAA Athletics Programs in the SEC, Conf-USA, the Sun Belt and Big-12 conferences. www.HorizonPerformance.com

He is the founder of The Sideline Leadership Company, providing leader and character development training for coaches, players, the "Air it Out" football camps and major corporations. He specializes in reaching and teaching today’s generation of student-athlete. He is often heard on Austin’s #1 Sports Talk Radio Show, “The B&E Show”, FM 104.9, The Horn.

Craig attended Ranger Junior College for one year before earning a degree in Economics and playing baseball for the TCU Horned Frogs. He has a MA from Kansas University. He and his wife Beth, of 28 years, live in Austin, TX.

David Thomas

All-American tight end for 2005 National, 2009 Super Bowl Championship Team

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David Thomas is a graduate of Frenship HS. He was an All-American tight end for 2005 National Champion Texas Longhorns. David was drafted by the New England Patriots and was later traded to the New Orleans Saints where he was a part of the 2009 Super Bowl Championship Team. David currently lives in Lubbock Texas with his wife and their 4 children.

Cody Hodges

A state championship player in both football and basketball

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Cody Hodges is a graduate of Hereford HS. While in HS Cody played for a state championship in both football and basketball. Cody went on to attend Texas Tech University where he led the nation in passing during the 2005 season. He has been an inspirational and motivational speaker for the organization, Rachel’s Challenge. Cody and his wife Christy have 3 daughters

Kent Jackson

Head Football Coach and Boys’ Athletic Director

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Coach Kent Jackson is currently serving as Head Football Coach and Boys’ Athletic Director in his hometown of Seminole, Texas. He graduated from Seminole High School in 1982 and Lubbock Christian University in 1986. He has been married to his wife Elizabeth for 32 years. They have two sons who both live in Lubbock; Trenton, who is married to Danae and Randall, who is married to Addie.

The Jacksons have been blessed to teach, coach, lead and serve in several great schools in the last three decades: Roby H.S., Odessa H.S., Olney H.S., Sweetwater H.S., Frisco Heritage H.S. and Lubbock Coronado H.S. before returning home to Seminole three years ago.

Coach Jackson has served on the Texas High School Coaches Association Board of Directors. He has been nominated for the Tom Landry award and he is a two-time nominee for President Elect of the T.H.S.C.A. He was given the 2017 Coach Grant Teaff Coaching Beyond the Game award from Texas High School Coaches Education Foundation.

He coached the Boys’ State Champion Track team at Odessa High in 1992 and has led numerous playoff teams in football, including the 2005 Semi-Final team at Sweetwater. He and his Sweetwater staff were chosen to coach the T.H.S.C.A. All Star Game in 2006. The last two football seasons in Seminole have been the most successful in school history with the Indians reaching the 4 th round a year ago and the 3 rd round this past season, marking the two deepest back to back playoff runs ever for the program.

Coach Jackson has always viewed coaching as a ministry and a great vehicle for positive change because of the impact teamwork has on the development of young people, their coaches, their schools and ultimately their communities.

Chip Townsend

Martial Artist, Winner of the BBB’s prestigious Torch Award for Market Place Ethics

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Chip Townsend began his journey in martial arts at the age of 13 under the tutelage of Grand Master Lim. As a youngster, Chip was not a stranger to adversity. When he was 3 years old, a freak injury cost him his right eye. From that day forward, he faced life with a one-eyed perspective. In Chip's case, that perspective was one of perseverance, and a belief that his handicap was in fact, not a handicap.

Chip has not only persevered to black belt and beyond, he has become a leader who teaches leaders and a mentor. To say he is an accomplished martial artist is an understatement. He holds 14 ISKA (International Sport Karate Association) World Titles in Breaking. He performs stunts that martial artists with two eyes struggle with, or cannot fathom.

He has been featured on ESPN, the Discovery Channel, and more recently NBC's America's Got Talent. It is this success that has become a powerful platform for impacting others.

More than a martial artist, Chip is also a successful businessman (winner of the Better Business Bureau’s prestigious Torch Award for Market Place Ethics), the Abilene Chamber of Commerce Business Salute winner, and martial arts school owner. He is a sought after public speaker who devotes many hours to community service, and speaking to school age children.

Chip and his wife of 25 years, Glyn Ann, have three children.

Speaker Alumni

Grant Teaff
Craig Flowers
Bennie Wylie Jr.
Brian Hodnett
Russell Lucas
Todd Moebes
Chip Townsend
Hugh Sandifer
Coach Kent Jackson
Coyte Cooper
James Morton
Steve Coleman
Dallas Huston
Gary Gaines
Spike Dykes
Bob Wager
Mike Copeland
Jimmie Keeling
Paul Wright
Cammie Petree
Jacob Cox
Bob Cervetto
Mike Ables
Cliff Watkins
Heather Collier
Del Van Cox
Stephen Hernesmeyer
Rosie Lucas
Shane Mobley
Casey Thompson
Brent West
D.W. Rutledge
Jae Head
Sam Harell
Steve Keenum
Brad McCoy
Bob Shipley
Willie Franklin
Case Keenum
Case McCoy
Coly McCoy
Steve Warren
Denney Faith
Joseph Gilliespie
Caden Smith
Wayne Hutchinson
Keith Woolf
Alan Wartes
Julie Goodnough