October 23, 2023 - The Global Salesian Leadership Symposium (GSLS) is a hallmark of the Salesian Leadership Initiative (SLI), a school-wide value-added service for every student. The St. Francis student body is a diverse group from a variety of socio-economic, racial, ethnic, and religious backgrounds. It is widely recognized as a premier, Catholic, college-preparatory school for young men who desire a rigorous academic experience. The school’s motto is “Be Who You Are and Be That Well.” It is not just a slogan but a passionate way of living life that helps every student realize their greatest potential. All St. Francis juniors and seniors will be in attendance, as well as other students, men and women, from other regional Catholic and public high schools, as well as a delegation of students from our Oblate school in Annecy, France. GSLS provides students with an opportunity to experience a professional development and networking event, mingle with thought-leaders, and hear directly from industry experts
Goal of the Salesian Leadership Initiative
The SLI inspires future leaders of self and others. It promotes the acquisition and practice of the skills, virtues, and motivation students need as future husbands, fathers, citizens, employees and employers. The Initiative engages the entire community: students, faculty and staff. It involves teacher training and follow up, appropriate additions and adjustments to current course and extracurricular activities, formation, expert coaching, alumni mentoring, group activities, service trips, individual and group reflection and integration and outcomes assessment. In addition, qualified juniors and seniors may elect to participate in a more focused, community based, leadership program.
Keynote Speakers
Damon West Damon West, M.S. Criminal Justice, is a former adjunct college professor, internationally known keynote speaker and Wall Street Journal best-selling author of The Coffee Bean: A Simple Lesson to Create Positive Change, which Forbes’ listed in the “Top Twenty Books You Need To Read to Crush 2020.”
At 20 years old, he was a Division I starting quarterback at the University of North Texas when he suffered a career ending injury. He turned to hard core drugs to cope with the disappointments of life. After graduation, he worked in the United States Congress, was a national fundraiser on the U.S. Presidential campaign and eventually trained to be a stockbroker for the United Bank of Switzerland (UBS). One day at UBS, he was introduced to methamphetamines; he became instantly hooked - and the lives of so many innocent people would forever be changed by the choices he made in order to feed his insatiable meth habit.
After a fateful discussion during his incarceration with a seasoned convict, Damon had a spiritual awakening. He learned that, like a coffee bean changing with the application of heat and pressure, he was capable of changing the environment around him. Armed with a program of recovery, a renewed faith, and a miraculous second chance at life, Damon emerged from over seven years of prison a changed man. His story of redemption, grit and determination continues to inspire audiences today.
Dr. Marvin Whitfield is the founder of Blue Force Training Teams and serves his community as the CEO of Big Brothers Sisters of NWO. Before moving to the private sector, Dr. Whitfield served as a Team Leader and Senior Instructor on a Department of Defense contract and conducted numerous training missions for the United States Army Intelligence Center of Excellence Training Division. His previous work experience also included more than two decades of law enforcement, where he served as a Police Officer and later a Police Commander. These experiences were utilized for training local public safety agencies and community partners in the areas of security, leadership development, and communications.
McKenna Reitz is a sought after TEDx speaker, an award-winning high school AP Psychology teacher, and an alopecia warrior who empowers others to reframe life’s challenges into gifts and opportunities so they can lead with confidence and purpose. After losing all her hair due to Alopecia, McKenna uses her journey of having this autoimmune disease to help others overcome the loss by resetting the mindset of their “loss” into growth and opportunities. She is an inspirational force, helping world-class teams succeed, time and again, in the face of great challenges and change. McKenna has been featured in Forbes, Woman’s Day, USA Today, Yahoo! News, U.S. News & World Report, Good Housekeeping, Business Insider, VeryWell, MindBodyGreen and featured on Good Morning America, The Jennifer Hudson Show, Good Day DC, Good Morning Washington, theList, and Cheddar News.
Breakout Speakers
Allison Armstrong, Chief of Toledo Fire & Rescue Department
Debra Ball, Director of People & Talent at Toledo Museum of Art
Mike Bell, former Mayor and Fire Chief for the City of Toledo
Bryan Blair, VP & Director of Athletics at University of Toledo
Dasa Dzierwa, AVP at ProMedica Foundation
Ann Ebbert, CEO & President at Cherry Street Mission Ministries
Derick Gant '84, Financial & Business Advisor at Gant Group LLC
Matt Knaggs '02, Regional Sales Director at Zilliant
Neil Neukam, EVP & GM at Toledo Walleye Hockey Club
Brad Rieger, CEO at Cooper-Smith
Matt Zmuda '13, Midwest Area Scout at Detroit Tigers
