The Keynote Your Members Will Thank You For
Chris Sund is a national keynote speaker and author of You Are Capable of More, trusted by national and state associations to open conferences strong, fill breakout rooms, and send members home with something they actually use.
Recently on association stages: NAHCR (two consecutive years), LeadingAge Illinois, AHCA, California Staffing Professionals, NATHO, AOHP, and health care associations in Colorado, South Dakota, Iowa, Montana, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin. See the full event list →
Built for the Realities of Association Events
Association planners answer to a committee, a board, and hundreds of members who chose to spend their time and dues with you. Chris makes that bet pay off. He does the pre-event homework on your industry’s pressures, tailors the message to your members’ world, and delivers a keynote that earns its spot on the post-event survey — which is why associations bring him back.
- An opening or closing keynote that sets the energy for the entire conference
- A message customized to your industry — not a canned talk with your logo on slide one
- Practical frameworks members apply the week they return to work
- Breakout and workshop formats that extend the keynote for deeper tracks
- A speaker who is easy to work with — clear AV needs, promo videos, and a planner page that answers everything
Signature Programs for Associations
Every program is customized to your members and conference theme. Popular starting points:
You Are Capable of More
The signature keynote on untapped potential — ideal for opening or closing general sessions.
You Are Capable of More: Leadership
How great leaders unlock the people around them — built for leadership tracks and executive audiences.
You Are Capable of a Better Culture
Build a workplace people never want to leave — the retention and engagement session members ask for.
The Power of Small Moments
Turning everyday interactions into loyalty and experience — a favorite for healthcare and service associations.
Association Audiences Chris Serves
In-person, virtual, and hybrid — general sessions from 100 to 800+, plus breakouts and pre-conference workshops.
What Association Planners Ask
Why do associations rebook Chris?
Because the keynote makes the planning committee look good. Chris customizes deeply to each association’s industry, delivers energy plus substance, and members rate the session as a conference highlight — NAHCR brought him back for a second consecutive annual conference for exactly that reason.
Can Chris do both a keynote and a breakout?
Yes — this is one of the most popular formats for associations. A general-session keynote sets the theme, then a breakout or workshop goes deeper with a smaller group. It maximizes speaker value for your budget and gives members two ways to engage.
How does Chris customize for our industry?
Through a pre-event discovery call and his own homework on your members’ world. As an executive who has lived healthcare, staffing, and workforce challenges firsthand, he speaks the language of operators — and adapts examples, openings, and takeaways to your association’s reality.
What does the association get for promotion?
Professional headshots, a tailored session title and description for your program, promo video clips, and a sample introduction — everything your marketing team needs to drive registration, available on the event planners page.
How far in advance should we book?
Association calendars fill 6–12 months out, and Chris’s spring and fall dates go first. Reach out early — he can hold a tentative date while your committee finalizes the program.
Make Your Next Conference the One Members Talk About
Tell Chris about your association, your members, and your conference goals. You’ll get a fast, straight answer on fit and availability.