Corporations & Associations

Admiral Michelle J. Howard was recently a guest speaker at the Annual Hanify-Howland Memorial Lecture at the College of Holy Cross. She was selected as speaker at the annual event for her “remarkable dedication to public service.” A groundbreaking leader during her 35-year career in the U.S. Navy, Howard was the first female to achieve the rank of four-star admiral and the first woman to be appointed to the position of vice-chief of naval operations (the second highest rank in the Navy). She was also the first African-American woman to reach the rank of three-star and four-star in any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces and the first African-American woman to command a ship in the Navy.

Award-winning journalist and APB speaker John Quiñones’ newest book—One Year in Uvalde: A Story of Hope and Resilience—releases May 7. Quiñones co-wrote the book with María Elena Salinas. It is a narrative that builds on year-long ABC News reporting from Uvalde, Texas, chronicling how the community is forging on through grief with hope and activism in the shadow of tragedy.

In his highly anticipated new book, We Are the Leaders We Have Been Looking For, Dr. Eddie Glaude Jr. makes the case that the hard work of becoming a better person should be a critical feature of Black politics. Through virtuoso interpretations of Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X and Ella Baker, Glaude shows how ordinary people have the capacity to be the heroes that our democracy so desperately requires, rather than outsourcing their needs to leaders who purportedly represent them.

Each year, on April 22, more than 1 billion people from around the world celebrate Earth Day. At APB, we love to honor this special day, as well as our speakers below, who are working so hard to save our planet. They include:

Roadtrippers and lovers of pecan logs, it’s time to celebrate! Stephanie Stuckey, the chair of Stuckey’s, recently released her new memoir. Unstuck: Rebirth of an American Icon is Stuckey’s firsthand account of her unexpected rise to CEO upon suddenly acquiring her family’s iconic yet failing brand.

New York Times Bestselling Author and Award-winning Historian Dr. Keisha Blain has just released her latest book: Wake Up America: Black Women on the Future of Democracy. In this exhilarating anthology of original essays, Blain brings together the voices of major progressive Black women politicians, grassroots activists and intellectuals to offer critical insights on how we can create a more equitable political future.

On April 15, the 2024 Boston Marathon will get underway. As part of the historic race, we honor the victims of the 2013 bombing tragedy, as well as the brave survivors and law enforcement officials who have become the face of recovery and perseverance. Some of these people include the following APB speakers: 

Veteran Journalist, Author, Broadcaster and APB speaker Ray Suarez will release his latest book next month. We Are Home: Becoming American in the 21st Century—an Oral History will be available on April 23.

The Founder and CEO of The Lighthouse Academy—a leadership, coaching, and HR consultancy firm—has a message for us all and it’s both good news and bad. According to Steve Pemberton, who is also an APB exclusive speaker, DEI programs aren’t working anymore … But they can be fixed. And should be. Because they are crucial for a better America, he says.

Check out our growing library of Hot Takes—insightful, bold thoughts and opinions from some of our most sought-after speakers. Dynamic and engaging, these voices cut through the noise in a world inundated with information as they share sharp, exciting takes on a variety of topics. Fuel the fire of your intellectual curiosity!