No Barriers Summit

Kyle Maynard

Kyle Maynard is a motivational speaker, author, entrepreneur and athlete. Despite being born with arms that end at the elbows and legs near the knees, Kyle’s wrestled on the varsity of one of the best teams in the Southeast, set records in weightlifting, fought in mixed martial arts, and most recently became the first man to crawl on his own to the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa.

His story has been featured on ESPN, The Oprah Winfrey Show, Larry King Live, ABC’s 20/20, Good Morning America, HBO’s Real Sports and as a cover story in USA Today. He continues to inspire as the author of his book, No Excuses (2005), a New York Times bestseller.

Maysoon Zayid

Maysoon Zayid is an actress, professional standup comedian, and writer. She received a BA in Acting from Arizona State University and is the co-founder/co-executive producer of the New York Arab American Comedy Festival. Maysoon was a full-time On-Air Contributor to Countdown with Keith Olbermann, and has recently appeared on The Queen Latifah Show and Huffington Post Live. Maysoon is a recurring columnist at The Daily Beast and was a speaker at TEDWomen 2013.

Maysoon has appeared on Comedy Central, PBS, CNN, HBO, MTV, ABC, BBC, and had a feature role in Adam Sandler’s You Don’t Mess With the Zohan. As a professional comedian, Maysoon has performed in top New York clubs and has toured extensively at home and abroad. She was a headliner on the Arabs Gone Wild Comedy Tour and The Muslims Are Coming Tour.

Maysoon’s screenplay, LAW, was chosen for the Sundance Middle Eastern Screenwriters Lab. She was a delegate at the 2008 Democratic National Convention and named one of 21 leaders of the 21st century by Women’s Enews. She is the founder of Maysoon’s Kids, an education and wellness program for disabled and wounded refugee children. Maysoon was delighted to be a 2013 honoree of United Cerebral Palsy of NYC’s Women Who Care Awards and currently sits on the planning committee.

Amy Purdy

At 19, after experiencing flu-like symptoms, Amy was rushed to the hospital in a state of septic shock. En route, she experienced respiratory and multiple organ failure which caused her to lose circulation to her extremities. When she entered into the hospital she was given less than a 2% chance of survival, put on life support and placed into a coma. After multiple blood transfusions, and the removal of her ruptured spleen, doctors diagnosed Amy with Meningococcal Meningitis, a vaccine preventable bacterial infection. Due to the lack of circulation she had suffered doctors had to amputate her legs below the knee. She later received a donated kidney from her father a week before her 21st birthday.

After going through this life-altering experience, Amy challenged herself to move on with her life and attain goals that even those who have both legs struggle to achieve. Just three months after her kidney transplant, Amy entered the USASA National Snowboarding Championship where she won medals in three events. Today, she is one of the top ranked adaptive snowboarders in the world, and was the 2014 Paralympic Bronze Medalist. She is the only double leg amputee competing at the world class level.

Amy’s creativity, positive outlook and her never give up attitude have opened doors to many other opportunities including being featured in a Madonna music video, a lead actress role in an award winning independent film and multiple creative modeling projects including a photo shoot with musician and artist Nikki Sixx where her legs were custom made from steel to look like ice picks.

Amy has evolved into a powerful inspirational and motivational speaker who has literally been seen by millions of people and invited to share her story to audiences around the world.

Amy’s story and images have been featured in numerous national and international publications, and in 2012 she and her longtime boyfriend, Daniel Gale, raced around the world on The Amazing Race.

In May of 2013 Amy was named by the International Olympic Committee as one of the top 15 most marketable Para-athletes in the world.

Although Amy has numerous accomplishments, she is most proud of co-founding Adaptive Action Sports. Created in 2005, AAS is a non-profit organization which helps those with permanent disabilities to get involved in action sports. AAS has partnered with ESPN and runs “adaptive”action sport competitions at the summer and winter ESPN X Games. These events were instrumental in getting adaptive snowboarding added to the 2014 Paralympic Games. It was there that Amy reached the pinnacle of her athletic career, winning the Paralympic bronze medal as part of Team USA.

In the Spring of 2014, Amy inspired millions of fans with her stunning performances on ABC’s Dancing With The Stars, eventually becoming the show’s runner up.She followed that by sharing her remarkable story on a national tour alongside Oprah Winfrey, as part of Oprah’s The Life You Want Tour.

Next up was the release of Amy’s memoir, “On My Own Two Feet”, which quickly became a NY Times Best Seller and has since been published in numerous languages around the world.

In February, Amy was featured in a critically acclaimed Superbowl commercial along with Muhammad Ali on behalf of Toyota. Later that month she drove the pace car at the Dayton 500.

Amy is now in the process of launching her own clothing line, The Amy Purdy Collection, in partnership with Element Eden (due out for Spring 2016).

Mandy Harvey

Mandy Harvey is an award winning singer, songwriter and motivational speaker. A Vocal Music Education major at Colorado State University, Mandy lost her residual hearing in 2006-2007 at age eighteen due to a connective tissue disorder that effected her nerves and left the program. She pursued several career options, including education, but returned to music in 2008, her true passion could no longer be denied. She quickly became a regular performer at various venues and has released three albums thus far. Though her hearing loss is profound, her timing and pitch are perfect and her passion is tremendous. With support from friends, family and her faith, Mandy continues to find joy in music.

In 2011, Mandy won VSA’s Top Young Soloist Award and lived a personal dream of performing at the Kennedy Center in DC. She continues to perform around the United States and has been recently featured on NBC Nights News, Katie Couric, Canada AM, The Steve Harvey Show, and the Los Angeles Times. In addition to performing and speaking, Mandy has become an ambassador to both No Barriers USA and Invisible Disabilities with a mission to encourage, inspire and assist others to break through their personal barriers.

Grant Korgan

After sustaining a spinal cord injury that left him paralyzed from the waist down, adventurer Grant Korgan—who had never encountered a slope he couldn’t ski or a jump he couldn’t land on his snowmobile—refused to balk at his new condition because he still had a mission in store. Ten years prior, when his best friend and climbing partner passed away in an avalanche, his parents entrusted Korgan with their son’s equipment, entreating him to continue climbing for him. Spurred by his commitment to his friend as well as the support of his wife Shawna, Korgan found the strength to rise from his wheelchair and reclaim his active lifestyle, becoming the first spinal cord-injured athlete to ski 80 miles in Antarctica’s South Pole. Today, he is the emerging face of spinal cord recovery and heralds his message of choosing positivity through adversity so that we may all climb a mountain for someone we love.

Korgan chronicles his injury and road to recovery in Two Feet Back, the first in a series of three autobiographies.

His South Pole expedition was filmed as part of noted director Steven Ziig’s documentary The Push: A South Pole Adventure. Korgan’s challenge was intended to help raise money for the California-based nonprofit High Fives Foundation, which helps injured winter athletes recover and get back to their sport. It also supports the Reeve Irvine Research Center, a science research facility at the University of California-Irvine devoted to the study of the repair, regeneration, and recovery of function after spinal cord injury.

Most recently, Korgan launched a childhood obesity awareness campaign, for which he plans on climbing Yosemite’s Half Dome along with a group of children selected through a video contest.

In enthralling multimedia presentations, Grant Korgan plunges his audience into his skiing, snowmobiling, and kayaking expeditions by sharing multi-angled, HD footage of his various experiences—including his fateful snowmobile accident. His keynotes are universally applicable to all individuals and organizations—from healthcare professionals to athletes to corporations—inspiring all to believe in the enduring power of the human spirit. “We are all survivors,” Korgan says. “Although my body has been broken, my spirit never will be.”

Jose Rene Martinez

Jose Rene “J.R.” Martinez is an American actor, author, motivational speaker, and retired U.S. Army soldier. In March of 2003, Martinez was deployed to Iraq. In April he sustained severe burns to over 34 percent of his body when his humvee hit a roadside bomb. Since his recovery, Martinez has since become a highly sought-after motivational speaker. He has traveled around the country speaking about his experiences to corporations, veterans groups, schools and other organizations.

Martinez began his acting career on the Emmy Award winning daytime drama All My Children. Since then he’s appeared on numerous television shows. Many remember best him as the season 13 champion on Dancing with the Stars. He is the author of the New York Times bestseller “Full of Heart: My Story of Survival, Strength, and Spirit”. In addition to his support of No Barriers, Martinez serves as a spokesperson for Operation Finally Home, as well as for the Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors, Glasswing International, Free the Children, and the Viscardi.

Erik Weihenmayer

In 2001, Erik Weihenmayer became the only blind person in history to reach the summit of Mount Everest. In 2008, he completed his quest to climb the Seven Summits—the highest mountain on each continent—when he stood on top of Carstensz Pyramid, the tallest peak in Australasia.

Additionally, he has ascended dozens of major peaks, rock walls,and ice climbs around the planet. These include the first blind ascent of the 3,000-foot Nose of El Capitan in Yosemite, the Marmolada in the Italian Dolomites, a difficult alpine climb of spectacular Alpamayo in Peru, Alaska’s Mt. Huntington and an ascent of Losar, a rarely-climbed 3,000-foot frozen waterfall in Nepal.

In September 2014, Erik and blinded Navy veteran, Lonnie Bedwell, kayaked the entire 277-miles of the Grand Canyon on the Colorado River, considered one of the most formidable whitewater venues in the world. Erik and Lonnie used the platform of their journey to encourage thousands of followers to take the No Barriers Pledge, a commitment to live a No Barriers Life.

Inspirational Speaker

Erik is one of the most sought after speakers in the world. Despite losing his vision at age 13, Erik has become an accomplished climber, paraglider, skier, and kayaker who has never let blindness interfere with his passion for an exhilarating and fulfilling life. Clearly, his accomplishments demonstrate that one does not need to have perfect eyesight to have extraordinary vision.

Erik brings audiences a powerful message about harnessing the power of adversity to use it as fuel for greatness. He emphasizes the importance of building a strong “rope team” and illuminates how to develop a No Barriers Mindset.

Erik’s speaking career has taken him around the globe, from the 2005 APEC Summit in Chile to the 2009 Presidential Inaugural celebration in Washington DC. The last few years, Erik spoke to major companies in London, Dublin, Moscow, Berlin, Hong Kong, Beijing, and Abu Dhabi as well as across the United States. He has shared speaking platforms with luminaries such as Secretary Colin Powell, President Bill Clinton, and Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Books, Media and Films

In addition to being a renowned adventurer and speaker, Erik is also the author of the book, Touch the Top of the World, which has been published in twelve languages. The book was made into an A&E movie and released on DVD by Sony.

Erik’s second book, The Adversity Advantage: Turning Everyday Struggles Into Everyday Greatness, shares hard-earned lessons and practical advice for using adversity as fuel for growth and innovation.

He currently in the process of writing a third book on the No Barriers Life.

Erik’s adventures have earned him dozens of awards, magazine covers, and TV appearances. He’s received the ESPY, Nike’s Casey Martin award, and the Helen Keller Lifetime Achievement award. He’s appeared on NBC’s Today Show and Nightly News multiple times, Oprah, Good Morning America, Nightline, and the Tonight Show. He was featured on the cover of Time, Outside, Parade and Climbing magazines. Erik has also carried torches for both the Summer and Winter Olympic Games.

Farther Than the Eye Can See, the documentary of his Everest ascent, is ranked by Men’s Journal as one of the top 20 adventure films of all time. The film won first prize at 21 international film festivals and was nominated for two Emmy awards. In 2004, Erik and six Everest team members trained a group of blind Tibetan students and then led them to 21,500 feet on the north side of Everest. Blindsight, the documentary of the ascent, won People’s Choice Awards at the Los Angeles, London, and Berlin Film Festivals, and was released in theaters in 2007 to major accolades from film critics.

Erik was featured in the award-winning film, High Ground, which was released in 2012. This powerful movie documents a team of injured veterans, led by Erik and his Everest team, as they embark on a Himalayan climbing expedition, and along the trail struggle to heal mentally and spiritually from the devastating wounds of war.

A documentary film about Erik and Lonnie’s historic Grand Canyon Expedition is in currently in production to be released in 2016.

Chris Klein

Chris Klein is a voice to those that have none and helping hand to those with disabilities, even though he was born with cerebral palsy and uses augmentative communication to help him interact with the rest of the world. Chris used his first augmentative communication device when he was 6 years old. This allowed him to be mainstreamed starting in third grade, and opened doors that nobody thought were achievable.

Chris is a graduate of Hope College and has studied at Western Theological Seminary. This has allowed him to speak at churches, conferences, retreats, and schools. Chris travels all around the country sharing his story, and his unique perspective of how God uses his weakness to shine God’s light. Chris has been published in Christianity Today. This has led him to start writing Lessons from the Big Toe. It is his faith journey and provides unique insights regarding God, people, and the importance of community. It challenges the reader to see these concepts from a different perspective and examine these in their walks of faith.

Over the past four years, Chris has been working closely with people that use AAC. He has recently been elected president of USSAAC (United States Society of Augmentative Alternative Communication). He has realized that the AAC community has a real need for a mentor program, and this has led him to form an organization called BeCOME AAC. It stands for Building Connections with Others through Mentoring and Education about AAC. BeCOME AAC is committed to assisting persons with speech disabilities live in fulfilling way. BeCOME: AAC believes that the cornerstone to a full life is derived from the ability to participate in meaningful relationships with others and engage in everyday social interactions a fully ratified participant. In order to address this primary objective, BeCOME AAC is focused on providing tools and services to people with and without speech disabilities in order to enable and enhance communication leading to social integration. Specifically, BeCOME AAC will develop and distribute educational materials and provide mentoring services to persons with speech disabilities. This has opened new opportunities for Chris to present at different assistive technology conferences and universities across the country. He has been to Spain, Portugal, and is going to Toronto this summer to speak at the International Society of Augmentative Alternative Communication conference.

Mike May

Mike May has been a pioneer in new product and business development since 1980. He has a Masters’ degree from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. He worked for the Central Intelligence Agency as a Political Risk Analyst, for the Bank of California in automating wire transfers and cash machines and for TRW starting a new business area. Mike’s start-up ventures have included developing the world’s first and only Laser Turntable, inventing a portable heating cushion for sports and medical applications and starting 2 companies in adaptive technology including Sendero Group in 1999, which released the first ever accessible GPS for the blind. Vice-President Gore said at the White House in 1996, “it won’t be long before we see Mike and others wearing GPS devices on their wrists.”

Mike has met 4 Presidents including President Obama and several of his cabinet members to discuss national initiatives on adaptive technology.

Mike was a member of the White House delegation to the 2010 Paralympics and has been inducted into the US Association of the Blind Hall of Fame. A book based on Mike May’s life, Crashing Through, by bestselling author, Robert Kurson, was released in May 2007 and a major movie by Stone Village Pictures is in the works.

Marshall Davis Jones

Marshall Davis Jones believes in connection. As a traveling teaching artist and speaker he can be found between worlds. He can be at your local high school or a conference hosted by Will.I.Am. At a poetry bar in your neighborhood or a NASA test launch.

Marshall has performed for numerous colleges, high schools and universities and has participated in think tanks for companies large and small and is often brought on as a communications expert.

Marshall has been a voice over talent, a narrative consultant on two documentaries (one winning the Kaiser Permanente Thrive Award) and has appeared on National TV with TV Ones Verses and Flow, and has also hosted workshops across the states and abroad in other countries. Defying language barriers, he believes that there is a poem in everyone, if they know where to look.

From Barcelona, to Trinidad, El Salvador and beyond, Marshall wants to open the world to the craft. Now, here on the beautiful Island No Barrier stage he has the opportunity to share this gift with you.

Lauren Darensbourg

Program Director, I Can Do It, You Can Do It! Manager, Strategic Partnerships for Minority & Underserved Populations President’s Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition

Lauren joined the President’s Council in April 2010 to cultivate and manage strategic, health-lucrative partnerships to improve health outcomes for racial and ethnic minorities as well as individuals with disability. In this role, Lauren leads all disability and minority health-related activities and initiatives including coordination of I Can Do It, You Can Do It!, a national health promotion model that empowers children and adults with disability to be healthy and active; establishment of public and private partnerships which support inclusion and improve access to physical activity and sport opportunities; participating in speaking engagements; and frequently leading physical activity segments on behalf of the Council. Lauren joined the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in May 2008 as an Oakridge Institute of Science and Education (ORISE) Fellow at the Office of Minority Health, where she contributed to the National Stakeholder Strategy for Achieving Health Equity, the National Partnership for Action to End Health Disparities, and the A Healthy Baby Begins With You initiative. Lauren earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and Chemistry as well as a Masters degree in Public Health from Florida A & M University. She is committed to leading a healthy lifestyle and does so by playing recreational sports, working out regularly, and eating lots of fruits and veggies.

Eric Melvin

Eric Melvin is a passionate and engaging inspirational speaker, author and artist widely known as the award-winning and innovative trainer of “Angelyne the Amazing DEAF Cattle Dog.” Currently aligned with his canine companion and for decades prior, Eric is an enthusiastic advocate for people and animals with disabilities.

Overcoming challenges with strength and compassion is in Eric’s DNA. When he was 14 he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. The lifelong chronic illness worried Eric at first but was not unfamiliar as his mother had been stricken with adult onset diabetes a few years earlier. Despite his fears and complicated adolescent years with diabetes, Eric surpassed his barriers by staying positive playing sports, participating in extracurricular activities, while maintaining a B average. In high school Eric went on to earn a scholarship in his pursuit of a career in creative services and communications. He went on to graduate from Regis University.

Prior to Eric’s inspirational speaking career and influential work with Angelyne, Eric’s career led him to success while working for an award-winning commercial radio station, being a published writer and running a small business supporting young artists and musicians. One milestone for Eric during those years was planning a successful concert series benefitting a school music education program.

Together, working hand in paw, Eric and Angelyne (born congenitally deaf) created a unique and influential deaf dog communication, training and inspirational program, giving over 450 inspirational public presentations nationwide since their start. Angelyne responds to over 60 cues including hand signals, touch, lights, body language, facial expressions and vibrations. Eric and Angelyne are also known for their dedication to character education and compassion development in schools and youth programs.

Eric and Angelyne career highlights include 11 dog talent show victories, stories in 3 books, TV appearances, an invitation to audition for “America’s Got Talent” and speaking engagements at pet expos and other organizations dealing directly with people and animals with disabilities. They have also shared educational and entertainment stages with famous animal advocates as Joel Silverman, Shorty Rossi, Guy Gilchrist, Wendy Francisco and many more.

Eric’s lives life to the fullest despite his barriers with diabetes and he strives to inspire others to surpass their barriers. Ironically, over a decade ago, the success, positive attitude and will power Eric strived for to defeat diabetes began dramatically affecting his body and life. When people meet Eric they don’t suspect he is living with many diabetes related invisible disabilities including poly neuropathy, a collapsed / deformed foot, osteoarthritis in his feet and macular degeneration in his eyes.

Eric acknowledges that our society appears to see people from the outside-in but he believes our society should see people for who we are from the inside-out! Eric and Angelyne’s story and presentation will warm your heart and mind as well as inspire you to surpass your barriers!

Martyn Ashton

Martyn was a World Champion Mountain bike trials rider for over 20 years. Representing the mighty World conquering Volvo Cannondale team in the 90s, and since 2002 with the popular UK clothing brand Animal.

Over the years Martyn has inspired millions of people in with his amazing balance and riding skill in countless live shows, magazine features and online videos.

In September 2013 an accident whilst performing in a live show left Martyn paralysed from the waist down. His strength of character and positive attitude since has been hugely uplifting for all who have followed his story.

– World Mountain Bike Champion

– 4 x British Mountain Bike Champion

– 50 million YouTube views (Road Bike Party 1/2/3, Back on Track)

– Guinness World Record (Mountain Bike high jump)

– Mountain Bike Hall of Fame

John Masters

John Masters, a Colorado native, has traveled all over the world, but always seems to find his way back to his home in the Rocky Mountains of Northern Colorado. As an Airborne Ranger in the United States Army, John became very familiar with the deserts of both Afghanistan and Iraq, then as part of the N0 Barrier’s Family has participated in expeditions ranging from climbing volcanoes in Ecuador to summiting glaciers in Peru. John has recently returned from a journey as an Assistant Expedition Leader helping guide 11 wounded warriors up Gannett Peak, the highest mountain in Wyoming, and is now preparing to embark on a new adventure empowering the Grand Canyon Veteran Wilderness Expedition Team to break through barriers, find their inner purpose and contribute their very best to the world.

Cory Remsburg

Sergeant First Class Cory Remsburg was born in Phoenix, AZ, and moved to St. Louis, MO, where he graduated from Ritenour High School.

Cory became interested in the U.S. Army Rangers while in high school and enlisted in July 2001. He attended Basic Training, Airborne School, and the Ranger Assessment and Selection Program at Fort Benning, GA, before being assigned to 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, with whom he deployed multiple times to both Iraq and Afghanistan.

In October 2009 in Afghanistan, SFC Remsburg was on his tenth deployment, conducting a combat operation with his squad, when he was very seriously wounded by an improvised explosive device. He was rescued and rendered immediate lifesaving medical care by his fellow Rangers.

Due to the seriousness of his injuries, he was airlifted to Bagram Air Field for surgery and then medically evacuated to Landstuhl, Germany, and ultimately transferred to Bethesda Naval Hospital. He was treated for acute medical injuries and spent many months recovering before being moved to outpatient status and continuing his daily occupational, physical, vision and speech therapies in Tampa, FL, and Phoenix, AZ.

Throughout the past 5 ½ years, and following several dozen surgeries, Cory has made remarkable progress, participating in local, state, national and international events, inspiring others to “keep pushing on” when challenged by personal events. In January 2014, he was highlighted by President Obama during the State of the Union Address.

Cory retired in May 2015, and is settling in his new home in Gilbert, AZ, with his service dog, Leo. Cory continues several rehabilitation programs locally as he pursues his goal to become independent again. He refuses to be defined by his injuries, and searches for opportunities to challenge him and reach new milestones.

Jeremie Thomas

Jeremie “Phenom” Thomas is a 25 year old hip-hop Recording Artist, Producer and Point Guard for the Miami Heat Wheels wheelchair basketball team.

He goes by the name Phenom when recording as a solo artist and producing other artists in his recording studio. Through his music, Jeremie promotes what he coins the “Ten4Life” movement, to inspire others to be an inspiration and make an impact on the world. His style style and powerful lyrics spread positive messages so others know that despite your challenges or even having disability, you are great and have the potential to make a difference in the world if you go work hard enough.

Hunter & Braden Gandee

Sports Illustrated recently recognized 16-year old Hunter Gandee, with it’s very first High School Athlete of the Year award for his efforts to support his little brother Braden, who has Cerebral Palsy and is unable to walk. Hunter has carried Braden on his back, walking miles and miles with hundreds of people to raise money to build an inclusive playground in their community where Braden can play safely.