A Keynote Speaker for Your Okoboji Conference.
Keynotes, breakouts, and leadership workshops for the associations and companies that bring their people to the Iowa Great Lakes.
Okoboji and the Iowa Great Lakes are where a lot of Iowa and upper Midwest groups go when they want a meeting that feels like time at the lake. Chris Sund is a bestselling author and keynote speaker based in Fremont, Nebraska, within driving distance of Okoboji, and he has spent the past few years speaking at exactly these kinds of state conventions and association meetings, including the Iowa Health Care Association.
People remember the evening on the lake at Okoboji. The goal is for them to remember the morning session too.
Rooms he has already stood in.
State conventions and association meetings across Iowa, South Dakota, and Nebraska, closest to Okoboji first.
South Dakota Health Care Association
The Leadership Exchange workshop, an interactive leadership experience for long-term care leaders and healthcare administrators from across South Dakota.
Crawford County Memorial Hospital
The Power of Small Moments: Turning Good Care Into Great Experiences, the keynote at the hospital’s recognition dinner.
Iowa Health Care Association
Two sessions at one statewide convention for long-term and post-acute care leaders from across Iowa: The Power of Small Moments keynote and the You Are Capable of More: Leadership workshop.
Nebraska Cooperative Extension Association
The You Are Capable of More leadership workshop for University of Nebraska Extension faculty and staff at their statewide conference.
Built to host groups like yours.
Okoboji sits in the Iowa Great Lakes, about 100 miles east of Sioux Falls, and it is a summer destination for much of the region. Arnolds Park Amusement Park, the lakes, and the golf courses are the reason members say yes to a conference here, and the evenings largely take care of themselves.
The main conference property is the Lake Okoboji Resort & Conference Center on Highway 71, which many planners still know as Arrowwood Resort & Conference Center. It has more than 30,000 square feet of event space across nine rooms, from a 16-person boardroom to a ballroom that seats more than 500, and it sits on a 27-hole golf course. The closest major airports are in Sioux Falls and Sioux City, and most Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Minnesota groups drive in.
Lake Okoboji Resort & Conference Center
Long known as Arrowwood. More than 30,000 square feet of event space in nine rooms, with a ballroom that seats more than 500, on a 27-hole golf course.
See the full media hub →A name your members may already know.
Chris has talked about You Are Capable of More on Dakota News Now in Sioux Falls, Iowa Live on Local 5 in Des Moines, 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 Okoboji conference.
Five things an Okoboji 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, so Okoboji is a drive north rather than a flight, which keeps travel costs down. He can arrive the day before so nothing depends on same-day travel.
- 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 lakes.
Sales Meetings & Award Trips
President's Club, top performer trips, and sales meetings built around a destination.
More Iowa and destination pages.
If your conference rotates between Okoboji and other cities in the region, or you are comparing destinations, these pages cover the rest of it.
Also serving Arnolds Park, Spirit Lake, Milford, and the wider Iowa Great Lakes region. 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. A drive to Okoboji.
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., is a Maxwell Leadership Certified speaker, trainer, and coach, 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.
Okoboji planners ask these.
Does Chris travel to Okoboji?
Which Okoboji venues does Chris speak in?
Can Chris do a keynote and a breakout at the same conference?
What kinds of groups book Chris for Okoboji 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.
IowaIowa 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 Okoboji.
Send your dates, the venue, and what your members are working on. You will get availability and a plan back within one business day.