A Keynote Speaker for Your Destin Conference.
Keynotes, breakouts, and leadership workshops for the associations and companies that bring their people to the Emerald Coast.
Destin and the Emerald Coast are where a lot of southern and Midwest associations take their annual meeting when they want the beach right outside the ballroom. Chris Sund is a bestselling author and keynote speaker based in Fremont, Nebraska, who keynoted the AOHP Annual Conference in Tampa and is booked for the NATHO 2027 Annual Conference in New Orleans, and he has spent the past few years speaking at exactly these kinds of conventions and association meetings.
People remember the beach in Destin. The goal is for them to remember the morning session too.
Stages he has stood on, and is booked for.
The closest stages he has spoken on or is booked for, starting along the Gulf Coast.
NATHO 2027 Annual Conference
Booked: You Are Capable of More: A Leadership Workshop for the National Association of Travel Healthcare Organizations.
AOHP Annual Conference
The Spark Advantage: Motivating Today’s Workforce for Tomorrow’s Success, the keynote for occupational health professionals in healthcare. The full keynote video is on the event page.
Bloom on WFLA News Channel 8
On set in Tampa with host Amber Freeman on Tampa Bay’s daily lifestyle show, talking about You Are Capable of More.
TORCH/TARHC Fall Conference & Tradeshow
The Power of Small Moments for rural and community hospital leaders.
Built to host groups like yours.
Destin sits on the Emerald Coast of the Florida Panhandle, and the beachfront resorts along this stretch of the Gulf of Mexico are a regular choice for association annual meetings. Members want to come, and the evenings largely take care of themselves.
The resort meeting space is real. Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa in Miramar Beach, which calls itself the largest full-service beachfront resort near Destin, has about 40,000 square feet of meeting space and 590 guest rooms and suites. Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort’s Linkside Conference Center adds 15,000 square feet nearby. Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport, just under 16 miles from Destin, is served by Allegiant, American, Delta, and Southwest.
Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa
About 40,000 square feet of meeting space, 590 guest rooms and suites, and three beachfront decks overlooking the Gulf of Mexico.
Linkside Conference Center
A 15,000-square-foot conference center beside the resort’s Bayside area in Miramar Beach.
See the full media hub →A name your members may already know.
Chris has talked about You Are Capable of More on Bloom on WFLA News Channel 8 in Tampa, My KC Live on KCTV5 in Kansas City, and WOWT 6 News in Omaha, and he writes for Forbes and Inc. A familiar face makes it a little easier to fill the room at your Destin conference.
Five things a Destin conference gets from him.
Planning a multi-day convention is a lot of work, and the speaker should make it easier rather than harder.
- Travel that stays simple. Chris is based in Fremont, Nebraska, and speaks nationwide. He flies into Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport, just under 16 miles from Destin, and can arrive the day before so nothing depends on a same-day connection.
- More than one session on the same trip. Many conventions pair a general session keynote with a breakout or a half-day leadership workshop for managers. He did exactly that for the Iowa Health Care Association, and a full-day workshop is available too.
- Content your members can use on Monday. Every program runs the ten principles of You Are Capable of More, with practical tools for leading people, keeping good employees, and growing sales.
- Someone who leads a company today. As President and COO of Uniti Med and GQR Healthcare and COO of Nebula, he helped grow Uniti Med 10x in revenue in two years. He talks about leadership from inside it, not from a distance.
- A book for every attendee if you want one. Signed copies of the Paris Book Festival winner make a natural welcome gift or sponsor giveaway, and the free toolkit keeps the conversation going after everyone heads home.
On speaking at destination conventions
Built for the groups that gather here.
Each program below has its own page with formats and answers to the questions your committee will ask.
State Associations
Annual conventions, general sessions, and leadership tracks for statewide professional and trade associations.
HR & SHRM Conferences
State and chapter HR conferences on hiring, retention, and leading people well.
Healthcare
Hospital, long-term care, and healthcare association meetings, where Chris also leads companies that serve the field.
Banks & Credit Unions
Bankers association conventions, leadership retreats, and branch manager meetings.
Agriculture & Cooperatives
Commodity groups, cooperative annual meetings, and rural business conferences.
Utilities & Electric Co-ops
Statewide co-op meetings, manager programs, and member events.
Cities, Counties & Schools
Municipal league conferences, county association meetings, and education leadership events.
Company Retreats & Kickoffs
Leadership offsites and company kickoffs that bring the whole team to the Emerald Coast.
Sales Meetings & Award Trips
President's Club, top performer trips, and sales meetings built around a destination.
More Florida, Gulf Coast, and destination pages.
If your conference rotates between Destin and other cities in the region, or you are comparing destinations, these pages cover the rest of it.
Also serving Miramar Beach, Sandestin, Fort Walton Beach, and the wider Emerald Coast. If your venue is not named on this page, the answer is still yes.
Four movements. Ten principles.
Every session runs the same architecture as the bestselling book, which is what lets a chamber luncheon, a school assembly, and a company all-hands build on each other across a community.
The Foundation
Ownership and time. What is still inside your control in a year mostly spent reacting.
The Breakthrough
The comfort ceiling and the inner voice. The section every room goes quiet for.
The Standard
Truth over praise, and the hidden gear. Who in your life will actually tell you the truth.
The Purpose
Finishing, and leaving people better. The close, and the one people bring up afterward.
A book your members take home.
An Amazon bestseller and a 2026 Paris Book Festival winner. Convention sponsors often underwrite copies, which turns a giveaway into something members actually keep.
You Are Capable of More: A No-Excuses Guide to Becoming Your Best Self. An Amazon bestseller from Game Changer Publishing, with a foreword by Ben Newman, and the winner of the How-To category at the 2026 Paris Book Festival.
Ten chapters across four movements. The free companion toolkit includes a discussion guide, a self-assessment, and a thirty day challenge, none of it gated behind an email address. Associations use it for welcome bags, sponsor giveaways, and leadership book studies after the convention.
The feedback speaks for itself.
At our Leadership Exchange workshop, Chris was able to energize the room, spark conversations, and encourage connections throughout the event. Attendees spoke of how impactful their conversations were, reinforcing just how powerful these moments of connection can be. We are incredibly grateful for Chris and the lasting impact he is making on our community’s future leaders.
Chris Sund’s speaking engagements are truly powerful. His engaging style draws the audience into the conversation, creating a relaxed atmosphere that encourages learning and reflection. You leave not only inspired but equipped with practical leadership insights you’re eager to implement. Chris is a thoughtful, intentional leader who uses his influence to positively impact everyone he encounters.
Chris was an outstanding speaker and a highlight of our 2025 Patient Experience Recognition Dinner. He took the time to deeply understand our organization, our culture, and our specific goals — and thoughtfully personalized his presentation. His message resonated across all roles. Our staff genuinely loved his delivery. We could not recommend him highly enough.
Chris’s Leadership Experience session was one of the highlights of the CSP Conference. His ability to blend real-world experience with authentic storytelling made it relatable and impactful. He was approachable, genuine, and generous with his time. I left inspired, energized, and equipped with insights I continue to reflect on.
Chris consistently brings a wealth of knowledge, insight, and practical advice to every presentation. At our NAHCR Conference he led two impactful sessions, acknowledged the real challenges we face, and shared valuable strategies. His deep understanding of our audience and commitment to the profession elevate the value he brings to every engagement.
At our Leadership Exchange workshop, Chris was able to energize the room, spark conversations, and encourage connections throughout the event. Attendees spoke of how impactful their conversations were, reinforcing just how powerful these moments of connection can be. We are incredibly grateful for Chris and the lasting impact he is making on our community’s future leaders.
Chris Sund’s speaking engagements are truly powerful. His engaging style draws the audience into the conversation, creating a relaxed atmosphere that encourages learning and reflection. You leave not only inspired but equipped with practical leadership insights you’re eager to implement. Chris is a thoughtful, intentional leader who uses his influence to positively impact everyone he encounters.
Chris was an outstanding speaker and a highlight of our 2025 Patient Experience Recognition Dinner. He took the time to deeply understand our organization, our culture, and our specific goals — and thoughtfully personalized his presentation. His message resonated across all roles. Our staff genuinely loved his delivery. We could not recommend him highly enough.
Chris’s Leadership Experience session was one of the highlights of the CSP Conference. His ability to blend real-world experience with authentic storytelling made it relatable and impactful. He was approachable, genuine, and generous with his time. I left inspired, energized, and equipped with insights I continue to reflect on.
Chris consistently brings a wealth of knowledge, insight, and practical advice to every presentation. At our NAHCR Conference he led two impactful sessions, acknowledged the real challenges we face, and shared valuable strategies. His deep understanding of our audience and commitment to the profession elevate the value he brings to every engagement.
Midwest-based. Speaking nationwide.
Chris Sund is a keynote speaker and the bestselling author of You Are Capable of More, winner of the How-To category at the 2026 Paris Book Festival.
He is President and COO of Uniti Med and GQR Healthcare and COO of Nebula. He helped grow Uniti Med 10x in revenue in two years and earn the number three ranking on the Inc. Regionals list of the fastest-growing companies in the Midwest, while the organization earned Fortune Best Workplaces recognition.
He writes for Forbes and Inc. and serves as Vice President of the NATHO Board of Directors. He lives in Fremont, Nebraska, and speaks for associations and companies across the Midwest and nationwide.
Details your committee will ask for.
Destin planners ask these.
Does Chris travel to Destin?
Which Destin-area venues does Chris speak in?
Can Chris do a keynote and a breakout at the same conference?
What kinds of groups book Chris for Destin events?
How do we check availability?
What he speaks about.
Every program runs the ten principles of You Are Capable of More, built for the specific room.
You Are Capable of More
The flagship keynote behind the book.
LeadershipLeadership Keynote
Leadership as the multiplier.
SalesSales Keynote
For sales meetings, kickoffs, and award trips.
RetentionEmployee Retention Speaker
Why people leave, and what actually keeps them.
CultureCulture Keynote
Build a workplace people never want to leave.
AIAI Keynote & Working Session
Take Back Your Time with AI, live and hands-on.
FloridaFlorida Keynote Speaker
The whole state, city by city.
DestinationDestination Event Speaker
Resort conventions, retreats, and incentive trips.
NationwideAll Locations
Every state and international.
Bring Chris to Destin.
Send your dates, the venue, and what your members are working on. You will get availability and a plan back within one business day.