April 22, 2026
Schedule of Events:
| 7:30 am | Doors Open |
| 8:30 am | Welcome and Opening Ceremonies - Joel Zeff, Emcee sponsored by Marco |
| 9:00 am | First Speaker PAUL LONG – sponsored by RESPEC |
| 10:10 am | Networking Break |
| 10:40 am | Second Speaker KELLY CARDENAS – sponsored by Synchrony |
| 12:00 pm | Lunch on your Own |
| 1:15 pm | Third Speaker TAMI EVANS – sponsored by Black Hills Energy |
| 2:45 pm | Networking Break |
| 3:15 pm | Fourth Speaker MARVELLESS MARK – sponsored by Black Hills Federal Credit Union |
| 4:20 pm | Closing Remarks |
| 4:30 pm |
End Program |
Joel Zeff
2026 Day of Excellence emcee
Marco
2024 Day of Excellence speaker Joel Zeff is back as the 2026 Emcee! Joel is a force of nature, a catalyst for change, and a master of turning mundane corporate events into unforgettable experiences. With a unique blend of improvisational comedy, business acumen, and contagious enthusiasm, Joel has been electrifying audiences across the nation for over two decades.
His career is a search for fun and passion. Since 1997, Joel has inspired audiences from Wells Fargo to Samsung to KPMG and even the IRS. Yes, the IRS. From his first jobs delivering the hometown newspaper and cleaning up trash at a suburban movie theater, to his professional career in journalism, public relations and corporate communications, Joel realized that fun and passion were essential to success.
Joel connects to his audience with humor that has them laughing so uncontrollably that their mascara runs, their cheeks hurt, and their bellies ache.
Joel's secret weapon? The power of TA DA! This simple yet profound concept is at the heart of his message, encouraging individuals and organizations to celebrate everyday successes, foster a culture of positive support, and unlock their full potential for collaboration, innovation, and productivity.
Paul Long
RESPEC
Paul Long - speaker, author, podcaster and master of shenanigans - developer of Fundamism, simply defined as the FUNdamentals of a F.U.N. and optimistic lifestyle. When implemented, Paul's philosophy has been proven to reduce attrition, attract great talent, improve customer experience and drive employee engagement. Paul is not only great in discussing operational growth theory, but in his corporate leadership experience he's also seen success putting his FUNdamentals into practice.
He travels the world delivering high-content keynotes and training to Fortune 500 companies, government agencies and trade associations. His engaging, inspirational and unbridled energetic style is unlike any speaker you've experienced before. Paul's thought-provoking content, tactical solutions for growth and humor that rival that of a stand-up comedian, consistently generates outstanding feedback from participants.
As the author of Fundamism: Connecting to Life Through F.U.N. Paul guides you on how to live your whole life-at work and at home-with joy, FUN and fulfillment as the driving force.
Paul will challenge you to move beyond the traditional avenues of achieving happiness - money, title, status - and develop your own core values that create fulfillment both at work and home.
Kelly Cardenas
Synchrony
Kelly Cardenas is a nationally celebrated keynote speaker, leadership strategist, and the voice behind The VIBE with Kelly Cardenas-a movement transforming leadership and life one inchstone at a time. With the heart of Oprah Winfrey, the humor of Jimmy Fallon, and the intellect of David Letterman, Kelly blends soulful storytelling, actionable insight, and irrepressible energy to create experiences that leave people inspired and aligned.
A former military brat turned entrepreneurial powerhouse, Kelly built a career from $250-a-week service jobs into a multimillion-dollar national brand, teaching the transformative power of alignment. When your heart, mind, and skills sync, your VIBE becomes irresistible. He's the creator of The VIBE Method™, a framework that helps leaders, teams, and organizations cultivate culture, boost performance, and generate measurable ROI by focusing on how people feel, not just what they do.
His signature talks, podcasts, and workshops combine humor, soul, and strategy, leaving audiences with practical tools and an unforgettable VIBE that fuels growth, connection, and impact. Kelly's work is guided by his core philosophy: real service begins when people feel seen, gratitude is contagious, and culture will always eat strategy.
Tami Evans
Black Hills Energy
Returning DOE speaker, author, and levity leadership expert, Tami Evans is known as "The Human Exclamation Point." Tami helps professionals squash stress, foster communication, and cultivate levity in leadership, proving that success doesn't have to feel heavy. Whether you're aiming for better retention, culture cohesion, or bottom-line results, Tami's "use it now" insights will leave your team inspired, empowered, and ready to Live Lighter.
From her roots as a corporate manager, university professor, and communications specialist to her creative stints as a professional actress and fashion designer, Tami's unique background fuels her ability to connect with diverse audiences.
With over 20 years of experience, Tami has worked with powerhouse organizations like Microsoft, Raytheon, Dove Chocolate, The New York Times, and Nissan to enhance leadership skills, boost employee engagement, and drive collaboration. Her philosophy is simple: when people laugh, they listen. When they listen, they learn. And when they learn, they level up their performance.
Marvelless Mark
Black Hills Federal Credit Union
Mark Kamp, known as Marvelless Mark, fuses rock concert energy with business brilliance, inspiring teams to ignite passion, boost collaboration, and shatter the status quo. As a CEO, best-selling author, award-winning sales pro, and Las Vegas headliner, he brings decades of expertise to help organizations elevate performance.
Mark has rocked global stages across 24 countries for Fortune 500 Companies like American Express, AT&T, Coca-Cola, and McDonald's, with features on ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, HBO Max, and TEDx.
His book, Opportunity Rocks, reveals the strategies that keep rock legends on top - insights businesses can use to drive innovation, teamwork, and sustained success. Mark's high-energy, interactive keynotes deliver practical, easily applied takeaways, perfect for you.
More than just a speaker, Mark is an experience. He ensures every event strikes the perfect chord, leaving attendees energized, connected, and ready to turn their performance up to 11.