The ConnexFM | 2022 National Conference will feature sessions from some of the biggest stars in entertainment, the business world and the FM industry.
ConnexFM prides itself on delivering high-quality education and FM industry best practices to all members who attend its national conference each year. 2022 is no exception, and the ConnexFM | 2022 National Conference is stacked with big names who will share their stories and insights with attendees.
Here, we provide a bit of background on the influential speakers and performers you’ll see at the ConnexFM | 2022 National Conference.
Keynote Speaker – Earvin “Magic” Johnson
This year, Earvin “Magic” Johnson will be the Featured Keynote Speaker at the ConnexFM | 2022 National Conference. As an owner of a facilities management company, Johnson will share his experiences in the business world and how his career as an NBA superstar shaped his approach to life after basketball.
Johnson is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Magic Johnson Enterprises, an investment conglomerate that provides high-quality products and services that focus primarily on ethnically diverse and underserved urban communities. Having left the basketball court for the boardroom, Johnson parlayed the skills and tenacity he acquired on the court into a winning formula for his successful business ventures.
For the last two decades, Johnson has consistently turned heads with his unprecedented partnerships. In his early years as an entrepreneur, he forged an alliance with Sony Pictures to develop Magic Johnson Theatres. In 1998, he teamed with Starbucks to become the only franchisee in the history of the company, acquiring and eventually selling 125 stores in a lucrative move that further solidified his position in the business world. Both ventures served as catalysts for redevelopment in urban communities and are widely recognized as the corporate blueprint for engagement and success with urban consumers across America.
Still a commanding presence in the sports world, he made history in 2012 when he became Co-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, a Major League Baseball franchise that was purchased for an astronomical $2 billion dollars. It was the highest purchase price for any professional sports team at the time. He also co-owns the Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA, Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles Football Club and eSports franchise Team Liquid.
Johnson continues to expand his influence through a number of other investments. He currently has controlling interests in EquiTrust, a $20 billion financial services company, and SodexoMAGIC, a food service and facilities management company.
The Lansing, Michigan, native is constantly evolving and remaining relevant in a dynamic digital age by broadening his scope into infrastructure and technology. In 2015, Magic Johnson Enterprises and Loop Capital formed an alliance to create MJE-Loop Capital Partners. The firm raised a fund committed to investing millions of dollars in infrastructure improvement in the U.S.
Operating under the philosophy that true success is making others successful, he is one of the leading investors in a number of minority-owned tech companies that include Uncharted Power, an award-winning power and data infrastructure technology company; ShotTracker, a company that makes wearable technology for basketball players that helps track player and ball movement; Jopwell, a diversity and hiring recruiting platform; and MiTú, the Latino-fueled media brand and digital network that connects thousands of Latin content creators with viewers around the world. He is deliberate in his investment strategy to bring positive impact to the community.
Featured Speaker – Mandy Rennehan
In addition to Johnson’s session, Mandy “Bear” Rennehan is a featured speaker you will not want to miss at this year’s event. A longtime influential ConnexFM member, Rennehan has worked tirelessly to shake the public misconceptions some people have about the trades industry. She will show how blue-collar jobs can be lucrative and rewarding, which in turn will attract fresh faces and new approaches to help strengthen the industry.
Rennehan is called the “Blue-Collar CEO™” for her ability to seamlessly navigate between the white- and blue-collar worlds, and to respectfully “tell it like it is.” Not only is she the Host, Designer and Contractor of HGTV’s new show, “Trading Up,” Rennehan is a sought-after speaker, multiple award-winning entrepreneur, philanthropist, trade-industry ambassador and CEO/Founder of Freshco.ca.
Rennehan defies labels. The description she often gets is “refreshing.” Her (respectfully) uncensored honesty is matched by her quick wit, East Coast humor and big heart. It is impossible to remain unchanged after coming into contact with this authentic, self-taught and self-made powerhouse.
Her vision goes well beyond building successful businesses. She is “redefining the collar, blue™” and changing the answer to “what do you want to be when you grow up?” to help solve the massive skilled-trade shortage worldwide.
Rennehan is challenging the misconception that white-collar jobs are “better” or “more desirable” than blue-collar ones; society needs both collars.
Rennehan is also a lead advisor to the Canadian federal government’s national campaign encouraging apprenticeships and promoting the skilled trades as a career. She has a book coming out, “The Blue Collar CEO: My Gutsy Journey from Rookie Contractor to Multi-Millionaire Construction Boss,” which becomes available April 19, 2022, with Harper Collins Publishing.
Rennehan has received countless business awards, including:
· Canada’s Most Admired CEO
· Atlantic Business Magazine’s Top CEO for the Atlantic Provinces
· Toronto Region Board of Trade Business Leader of the Year, Top 25 Women of Influence
· The RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur “Momentum” Award
· Growth 500 Excellence in Innovation
· (WXN’s) Top 100 Most Powerful Women – Hall of Fame
· CGLCC–LGBT Business of the Year
· Atlantic Business Magazine’s Top 50 CEOs
Featured Speaker – Sherry Darden
Following her session, Rennehan will join Sherry Darden, a well-known advocate for diversity in the workplace, for a “fireside chat.” Less formal than your standard conference speech, attendees will listen in on a real conversation discussing the importance of opening the door to those who have been historically underrepresented in the trades and FM. The fireside chat will include surprise guests, as well, so be sure to make time in your schedule to attend.
Darden is owner and CEO of CIRSBY, LLC, a keynote speaking, training and consulting firm helping companies connect their people, processes and profit to a sustainable work culture.
A Kansas City, Missouri, native, Darden is a pioneering force in the ever-evolving culture quotient world. With over 21 years of experience as a coach and trainer, she brings “common sense thinking” and applications to her clients’ solutions.
She believes that you cannot nurture your profit without encouraging your people with professional development. For this very reason, her focus has been on diversity, equity and inclusion to create an impactful culture quotient.
After majoring in accounting, Darden transferred to the Dallas area, working for Marriott as an Assistant Controller. She holds a degree in human resource management. She has continued working as an instructor for various colleges across the nation since 1999.
The culmination of her expertise and her passion for educating makes Darden a sought-after corporate trainer and speaker. She leaves no stone unturned, building relevant and motivational education. A true storyteller by nature, she makes learning entertaining and memorable.
With over 150 international, national, regional and local speaking engagements each year, her events are guaranteed to make you laugh and cry and, in the end, provide you with information, motivation and the courage to think differently and create real change in your personal and professional life.
Closing Entertainment – Vanilla Ice
To cap off an amazing week of education and networking, attendees will be treated to a performance by pop-culture icon Vanilla Ice. He performed previously at the 2016 National Conference, and the buzz he generated had members clamoring to bring him back for another show. ConnexFM listened to its members and is excited to bring Vanilla Ice back to end ConnexFM | 2022 National Conference on a high note.
Robert Van Winkle, better known as his stage name, Vanilla Ice, exploded on the rap/pop music scene in 1990–91, selling 10 million albums in four months and hitting No. 1 on the Billboard charts with his hit single, “Ice, Ice Baby,” and No. 1 album positions. His worldwide album sales total over 25 million, and individual song sales total over 160 million — and are still selling.
Vanilla Ice has won two MTV Awards, a People’s Choice Award and was nominated for a Grammy.
He has starred and appeared in several movies and TV shows, including nine seasons as the host of “The Vanilla Ice Project,” a home remodeling show on HGTV. The show has been very well-received, winning The Factual Award for the Best Home TV Show.
Vanilla Ice has had great success in real estate, launching VanillaIceRealEstate.com. Here, he offers mentoring courses on real estate investments, as well as speaking on the subject at live events around the U.S.
Vanilla Ice has toured consistently throughout his career, performing all over the world. The last few years’ tour stops have included the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Great Britain, Ireland, Scotland, the Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, Russia, Dubai, Egypt, Turkey, South Africa and Australia.
Find Out More Online
For more information on all of the ConnexFM | 2022 National Conference featured speakers and performers, visit national.connexfm.com.