LIVE2LEAD
Premier Community Leadership Summit
January 15, 2026

Indiana Wesleyan
1500 Windhorst Way
Greenwood, IN 46143
Johnson County

Anthony Trucks

Anthony Trucks is a former NFL player, motivational speaker, and identity shift coach. He uses his life experiences to inspire others to overcome challenges and reach their full potential. Football career: Trucks played for the Pittsburgh Steelers and in pre-season games for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Washington Redskins. In college, he led the PAC-10 in tackles for loss and quarterback sacks, earning 2nd Team All-Pac 10 honors. 

Tiffani Bova

Tiffani Bova, a prominent figure in business thinking, has consistently ranked among the Top 50 Business Thinkers worldwide for the past six years, reshaping our understanding of growth according to Forbes.

With nearly 30 years of experience as Salesforce’s former Growth and Innovation Evangelist, Gartner Research Fellow, and executive in start-ups and Fortune 500 companies, she’s influenced the tech industry. Her insights benefited major tech firms like Microsoft, Cisco, Salesforce, and more, expanding their market share and revenues. She’s a pioneer of cloud computing and has been featured in prestigious publications and hosts the podcast “What’s Next! with Tiffani Bova.”

Jesse Cole

Jesse Cole is the founder of Fans First Entertainment and owner of the Savannah Bananas. He’s fanatic about fandom and launched the Savannah Bananas with one mission: to spark a fan-focused movement. Whether at the ballpark, on social media, onstage delivering keynotes, in features for ESPN and Entrepreneur, or in his first book, Find Your Yellow Tux, Jesse continues to create fans all over the world.

The Bananas have sold out every game since their first season and have a waitlist for tickets in the thousands. They have entertained millions of fans in Savannah and at ballparks all over their country on their Banana Ball Tour.

Jesse is the proud inventor of Banana Ball and Dolce & Banana underwear and not-so-proud promoter of the Human Horse Race and Flatulence Fun Night. He’s a raving fan of his wife, Emily, his kids, and peerless promoters like Walt Disney, PT Barnum, and Bill Veeck. Jesse owns seven yellow tuxedos.

John Maxwell

is a #1 New York Times bestselling author, speaker, coach

and leader who has sold more than 34 million books. He is the founder of Maxwell Leadership®— a leadership development organization that has trained tens of millions of leaders in every nation. Having been recognized as the #1 leader in business and as the world’s most influential

leadership expert, Maxwell continues to influence individuals and organizations worldwide—from

Fortune 500 CEOs and national leaders to entrepreneurs and the leaders of tomorrow.

Craig Groschel

Craig is the founding and senior pastor of Life.Church, an innovative multi-site church and creators of the free YouVersion Family of Bible Apps. He’s a New York Times bestselling author and has written 20

books. Through the top-ranking Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast, he prompts innovative thinking in leaders at every level within a diverse spectrum of organizations. Under his leadership, Life Church is also a three-time recipient of the Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award, which is based on employee-submitted data and recognizes the most engaged

workplace cultures in the world.

Melahni Ake-Event HOST

Maxwell Leadership Coach, Speaker and Trainer

Founder, Everyday Leaders

Professional and Personal Growth Strategist 

is a dynamic and visionary leader passionate about driving positive change in the world. She graduated from Greenwood High School, where she was a catalyst for starting the first girl's softball team. She holds a Bachelor's and Associate's degree from UIndy in Business and Psychology. She is a certified speaker, coach, and trainer with John Maxwell's Maxwell Leadership Team and the first WHY Affiliate Coach in the US.  Her innate confidence and strategic mindset come from growing up playing ice hockey in an all-boys league for over twelve years and a twenty-five-year career in sales, sales training, and executive leadership in the medical device industry working with innovative thought leaders equipped her as a successful entrepreneur, community builder, and dynamic business strategist.  Melahni has founded and led several successful ventures and start-ups, leveraging her entrepreneurial spirit and strategic insight to create innovative solutions for today's challenges with Leadership, Communication, and Teamwork for personal and professional development. She works with the USAF, corporations, educators, non-profits, and entrepreneurs.

She is a wife, daughter, athlete, founder, co-founder, board member, author, co-author, leadership podcast host, content creator, social media influencer and advocate, community builder, entrepreneur, and visionary leader who believes in using her voice to make a greater impact. She resides on the south side of Indianapolis with her husband, Joe. 

Melahni is a dedicated advocate for social causes and actively engages in her community and philanthropy. Her unwavering commitment to social impact has earned her recognition as a change-maker and a role model. Melahni Ake is a true catalyst for change; her journey is a testament to the difference one can make in the world once you take that first action step. 

Katie Stahlhut Event CO-HOST and Event Sponsor

Maxwell Leadership Coach

Owner, Stage 1 Dance Academy

Katie Stahlhut has the distinct honor of carrying on Ms. Beverly’s legacy of dance excellence. Ms. Beverly passed the torch after 55 years of ownership. Katie has been a part of Stage I Dance Academy since elementary school. She was privileged to be a part of Stage I’s Performing Company and participated in many excellent performance opportunities during her time as a dancer. Katie has a degree in Business Management from the Kelley School of Business. She is also a graduate of Leadership Johnson County’s class of 2018.

Her passion is providing a nurturing environment for children to develop as not only dancers, but young ladies and gentleman. Her priority is maintain a high standard for morals and values. She does so by continuing to provide quality training with age appropriate movement and costuming. Her favorite aspect of dance is giving back to the community by performing at nursing homes and other community opportunities. Katie feels blessed to have the opportunity to be a positive role model in today’s youth.

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Joe Ake Event CO-Host and Media Sponsor

Maxwell Leadership Coach

President, JoeAkeStudios, LLC

Strategic Media Mentor

Joe is a highly recognized media producer who creates, produces, and teaches media and broadcasting from idea to execution. He is a director and producer for commercial branding media projects with industry leaders in healthcare, nonprofits, finance, media technology, and more.

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Locally, you may find this team contributing to the community through LIVE media streaming and broadcasting, podcast productions, teaching technical and supporting media productions, and community events, including Everyday Leaders, Stage 1 Dance Academy, Top Floor Women, Aspire Johnson County Chamber Coffee Connections, Leadership Johnson County, and more.

Renae Furnee, Keynote Speaker, Executive Director, Resources of Hope

Renae is a Christian wife and mother of three. After attending college for a Printing and Publishing degree and a fulfilling a 12 year career in the Print Manufacturing Industry, Renae and her husband began a family while simultaneously owning a national consultant firm in the print industry. While co-running this business, Renae kept busy with her in-home daycare, advancing in her local MOMS® Club Chapter and being repeatedly elected Treasurer of her HOA. Renae's passion has always been geared toward  children's mental & physical health, which led her to focus on Foster Care, where she found Resources of Hope. In 2018, Renae started volunteering at ROH in The Closet. She made her way to Executive Assistant and was elected Executive Director August of 2020. Her experience as a foster, kinship and adoptive mother has given her insider perspective. Renae’s vision for Resources of Hope can be witnessed through her daily dedication and love for every child & family she meets.

Juiia Reynolds, Keynote Speaker,

Community Relations Specialist, Greenwood Public Library.

Julia Reynolds has always had a heart for literacy.  After receiving her Bachelors and Masters Degrees from Indiana State University, she spent 14 years as the school librarian for Greenwood High School.  In 2015, she received the Outstanding School Librarian Award in Indiana. 

She now works as the Community Relations Specialist at Greenwood Public Library, where she oversees all library fundraising events and fosters relationships between the library and Johnson County business, non-profit, and government leaders.  In 2024, she was one of 300 United States citizens chosen to decorate the White House for Christmas.  Julia currently lives in Greenwood, Indiana with her husband and two sons, ages 12 and 14.  She believes it is never too late to chase your dreams and that librarians can be stylish.

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