Mike Dilbeck

As a filmmaker and video producer for over 30 years, Mike produced a film in 2008 that would change the course of his career — and his life. RESPONSE ABILITY, the award-winning educational film on bystander intervention for 40 organizations and over 250 college campuses, immediately became a distinct and special project. This one struck a chord. This one caused a demand. This one sparked a movement.

The reasons why have showed up in each of the nearly 4,000 stories he has accumulated from his keynote audiences. Each story is heartbreaking. Each story is filled with the shame and regret from not intervening in a moment of need. Each story points to the pain we carry with us for the rest of our lives…pain that determines whether we will ever stick our neck out again and show courage. Pain that impacts our own confidence and self-esteem.

Now, as a filmmaker-turned-advocate, Mike delivers hope for a new world through this movement. He speaks frequently for organizations, campuses, companies and communities — delivering his powerful, yet challenging, keynote to audiences of all sizes. When not speaking, he is writing, training others, or creating the next big thing.

In 2015, Mike was designated a Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) by the National Speakers Association. The CSP is the speaking profession’s international measure of professional platform competence.

(Super) Ewan Drum

Super Ewan is a Metro Detroit based hero serving food, clothing and necessities to his homeless and needy Super Friends for over two years now. His sidekicks include his mom & dad, younger siblings, exchange student and grandparents. Each month Super Ewan helps approximately 150-200 people.

When he takes off his infamous red cape, he is Ewan Drum, 9 year old fifth grader at New Haven Elementary. Ewan enjoys riding his scooter, playing video games and is the goalie for his soccer team, the Dill Pickles. He resides with his parents (James and Angela), little sister (Feenie), little brother (Crosby), Spanish exchange sister (Julia), his grandma (Mary) and Porkchop the wonder dog!

Ellie Jacques

As a child, Ellie believed she was destined to save the world. But as she grew up, the world conditioned her to believe that she was unworthy of the heart that beat in her own chest. The pressure of the status quo intensified in college where she sough solace in substance abuse, a reckless pursuit of validation, and a tough-as-nails exterior. She graduated, convinced that she was destined for mediocrity.

She became connected to the heroism community in 2014 and two years later she has transformed. Ellie credits her current well-being to the development of heroic consciousness: awareness of and the use of the hero’s journey as a tool to navigate the world. She now shares what she has learned with service providers, youth, parents, and teachers in personal development trainings. She uses the hero’s journey to provide a meaningful framework for abstract concepts such as “leadership”, “self-efficacy”, “optimism”, and “resilience”, giving this less tangible knowledge a greater context of utility and applicability for individuals. She has taught heroism in Flint, Michigan, one of the poorest and most racially segregated places in America, as well as in Geelong, Australia and has successfully co-founded two Hero Towns that currently operate in Flint and Geelong. These organizations continue to service clients through heroism education programs today.

She wishes to drive the research behind her conviction that heroic consciousness can save the world by empowering individuals to be their own heroes - to create positive change, make values-driven decisions, and cope effectively - as well as act heroically on behalf of others.

Samantha Swords

Samantha Swords

Samantha is an artist, craftsperson, fighter and performer from Wellington, New Zealand, who grew up in the Blue Mountains, NSW. She works in the film industry and has been involved with world-renowned special effects facility Weta Workshop since 2008, on productions including The Hobbit, Superman: Man of Steel, The Chronicles of Narnia, District 9 and Elysium. Productions outside of Weta include The Interview and Warcraft.

She has worked with prop-making, armour construction, model-making, miniatures, large-scale sculpture, set construction, set dressing, painting, costume construction (especially leatherwork), creature-making, prosthetics, casting and molding, and metal-smithing.

She is a passionate outdoor adventurer, and also is an experienced swordswoman. She studies the weapons, armour and martial arts systems of medieval Europe. In 2013 she won the longsword division of the Harcourt Park Jousting Tournament. She has traveled and trained internationally, and has been an instructor of medieval martial arts since 2012. 

Janina Scarlet

Janina Scarlet

Dr. Janina Scarlet is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist, a scientist and a full time geek, employes at the Center for Stress and Anxiety Management in San Diego, CA. as well as Sharp Memorial Hospital, Veterans Medical Research Foundation, and Alliant International University. She uses Superhero Therapy to help patients with anxiety, depression, and trauma. Dr. Scarlet has presented her work at many professional psychological conferences, as well pop culture conventions, such as the San Diego ComicCon, WonderCon, and many others. She has been interviewed about her work on numerous podcasts, as well as CW, and Huffington Post Live.

Twitter @shadowquill
Facebook: facebook.com/Shadow.Scarletl,
superhero-therapy.com

Erin Sehnert

Erin Sehnert

Erin Sehnert graduated from the University of Michigan School of Social Work with a concentration in Social Policy and Evaluation, focusing her personal studies on disaster relief and recovery. She has served as a member of AmeriCorps NCCC, where she was involved in community disaster recovery and engagement projects in Louisiana and Mississippi post Hurricane Katrina, such as building homes and cooking meals for up to 800 volunteers. Post-Katrina, Erin volunteered and led several trips to the Gulf to gut, clean, and build homes.

She is currently working at the National Center for Disaster Preparedness in New York City, assessing long-term resilience attributes for Gulf Coast communities affected by the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. She is also working with New York City's governmental departments to create performance measures that increase preparedness levels and more efficient response efforts for the city. In addition, she is working to connect the center's research findings at the national level, advocating for the implementation of programs and policies that further aid vulnerable populations when disaster strikes.

Ryan LaFontaine

Ryan LaFontaine

Ryan LaFontaine has been active in running and managing the LaFontaine Automotive Group; 22 franchises and 16 different locations throughout metro Detroit area since his graduation from Northwood University.  WXYZ-TV recognized Ryan LaFontaine as an Official Partner of "Going Green" in 2008 in achievement of the LaFontaine's Gold LEED Cadillac/Buick/GMC location in Highland, Silver LEED Chevrolet in Dexter and Volkswagen of Dearborn locations. In his continued efforts to support environmentally friendly dealerships, Ryan LaFontaine recently announced plans to build a new, "state-of-the-art" Ford dealership in Birch Run which will hold a Silver rating for Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design. Ryan is heavily involved in the community, LaFontaine Amphitheater Major Community Sponsor (2014-2015 Opening May 28, 2015) and currently serves as the President of the Detroit Auto Dealers Association.

Ryan, a cancer survivor himself, has been a Childhood Cancer speaker and presenter and is currently heavily involved in his own non-profit, U Can Cer Vive, dedicated to fundraising for cancer research and giving cancer patients a second chance. Ryan, with the help of his family, raised 1 Million Dollars between 2010-2014 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and in 2014 he was awarded Man of the Year.