Give Them a Reason to Be in the Room Before the Hall Opens.
Chris Sund is a keynote speaker for trade shows and expos who fills the general session and sends people into the exhibit hall energized. Organizers book his signature keynote, You Are Capable of More, his culture program for owner audiences, or Take Back Your Time with AI, which the NFBA booked for its 2027 Conference & Expo.
Where Trade Shows Book Chris
Trade show attendees came for the floor. The keynote has to be worth leaving it for, and has to tie to the industry in the room.
Opening General Sessions
The keynote that sets the tone and fills the room on day one.
Industry Expos
An AI or sales session rewritten with examples from your industry.
Owner and Dealer Tracks
Culture and retention for business owners walking the floor.
Breakfast and Lunch Keynotes
A shorter session that keeps people on site.
What Makes a Trade Show Keynote Work?
Trade show audiences are mixed: owners, sales reps, operators and suppliers. A generic talk loses them. The keynotes that work are tied to the pressures every business in the room shares: finding people, keeping them, selling more and getting time back.
Chris speaks to all of those as a sitting executive, with examples rewritten for each industry. Two associations have booked his AI session: MICA in October 2026 and NFBA in February 2027.
- A message tied to the pressures every business in the room shares
- Practical AI examples rewritten for your industry
- The SPARK drivers that help owners keep good people
- Sales and objection handling for reps on the floor
- Energy that carries into the exhibit hall
- One action each attendee takes back to the business
Proof: Associations That Booked Him
NFBA booked Chris for the NFBA Conference & Expo 2027 in Columbus, Ohio, and he delivered Take Back Your Time with AI at the MICA Fall Business Meetings.
He has delivered keynotes at the Definitive Healthcare sales kickoff for more than 800 attendees, the POWER Conference and the SIA Healthcare Staffing Summit.
Chris would be an incredible addition to any live audience! I’ve had the privilege of seeing Chris speak a few times now, including at our company’s Sales Kickoff in front of 800+ people (which he crushed). Each time he finds a unique way to connect with his audience on both a personal and professional level keeping everyone engaged and attentive.
I’ve had the pleasure of witnessing Chris Sund’s speaking engagements firsthand — and they are truly powerful. You leave not only inspired but equipped with practical leadership insights you’re eager to implement.
Programs for Trade Shows
Every session is customized to your industry.
You Are Capable of More
The signature keynote: people are capable of far more than they realize, and the gap closes when they stop waiting and take ownership.
Take Back Your Time with AI
A practical working session on handing repeated work to AI, then deciding where the saved time goes.
You Are Capable of a Better Culture
Build a workplace people never want to leave, with the five SPARK drivers.
You Are Capable of More Sales
The key to closing more deals, built on the LOCKS framework and the LAARC method.
Formats
Most organizers book an opening keynote; many add an education-track breakout on AI or culture.
Keynote
The opening or closing general session.
Breakout
An education-track session on AI, culture or sales.
Virtual
A virtual session for hybrid shows.
Who Books This Session
Related pages: Association Conference Speaker · Association Keynote Speaker · AI Speaker for Associations · Opening Keynote Speaker · Distribution and Dealer Speaker · NFBA Conference & Expo 2027
What Planners Ask About a Trade Show Keynote Speaker
Can Chris tailor the keynote to our industry?
Yes. Every session is customized, and for AI sessions the examples are rewritten for your industry.
Will Chris stay for the show?
He arrives the day before to check the room and is glad to stay for part of the show when the schedule allows. Ask when you send your date.
Does Chris speak virtually?
Yes. In-person sessions are his preference, and he also delivers keynotes and breakouts virtually.
How much does it cost to book Chris?
Chris quotes the speaking fee and travel together in one proposal, so the total is clear up front. Send your date, city and audience through the contact form and you will have availability and a quote within one business day.
You Are Capable of More
The bestselling book behind the keynote, and the 2026 Paris Book Festival winner in the How-To category. Ten principles for closing the gap between what a team is producing and what it is actually capable of.
Many hosts give every attendee a copy of You Are Capable of More so the message keeps working after the event. Bulk pricing and signed copies are available.
He Still Runs the Companies
Chris is President and COO of Uniti Med, GQR Healthcare and Nebula. He has spent the past decade in healthcare staffing, a business that runs on people, pace and morale, and he speaks two to three times a month alongside running his companies.
He took Uniti Med from startup to one of the largest healthcare staffing companies in the US: 10x revenue growth on the core brand, #3 on the Inc. Regionals list of the fastest-growing companies in the Midwest, and a Fortune Best Workplaces award along the way.
He is the bestselling author of You Are Capable of More, winner of the How-To category at the 2026 Paris Book Festival and built on original research with more than 200 working adults, 92% of whom said they were capable of more than they were doing. He writes for Inc. and Forbes.
Stages I Have Spoken On
Where Audiences Have Heard Chris
Conferences, company meetings and kickoffs where Chris has spoken.
MICA Fall Business MeetingsTake Back Your Time with AIDefinitive Healthcare SKOBoston, MA · 800+ sellersPOWER ConferenceOmaha, NESIA Healthcare Staffing SummitArlington, TXNATHO Annual ConferenceNationalemPower Breakfast LincolnOct 2026 · Handling ObjectionsAlso: Association Conference Speaker · AI Speaker for Associations · All Speaking · See all speaking engagements →
Fill the General Session
Tell Chris about your show. You’ll get a fast, straight answer on fit and availability.
Check Availability & FeesResponse within one business day · Speaker kit, bio & headshots