Jim Knight
Keynote Speaker, Author, Global Training Expert Who Teaches Companies How to Attain "Rock Star" Status
SPEAKER FEE RANGE: $15,000–$20,000 [FEE NOTE]
TRAVELS FROM: Florida
RELATED TOPICS: Achievement & Performance, Branding & Marketing, Business Author, Business Growth & Change, Consumer Engagement, Corporate Culture & Employee Engagement, Corporate Motivation, Entrepreneur, Experiential, Future of Work, Hospitality & Tourism, Humanitarian & Philanthropy, Leadership Management, Musician, Professional Development, Teamwork & Team Building, Teamwork & Team Building, Youth Advocacy
Renowned keynote speaker, author, and training and development expert Jim Knight teaches organizations of all sizes how to attain their own “rock star” status. Known for his signature spikey hair, Jim’s programs are high energy, engaging, and memorable. He is the author of Culture That Rocks: How to Revolutionize Your Company’s Culture (featured in Entrepreneur Magazine as one of the “5 Books That Will Help You Transform How You Do Business”) and Leadership That Rocks: Take Your Brand’s Culture to Eleven and Amp Up Results.
Renowned keynote speaker, author, and training and development expert Jim Knight teaches organizations of all sizes how to attain their own “rock star” status.
Although his illustrious career started at Gatorland Zoo in Florida (he has scars to prove it), Jim cut his teeth in the hospitality training industry and eventually led Global Training for Hard Rock International for two decades. Jim’s customized programs show how to amp up organizational culture, deliver world-class differentiated service, and build rock star teams and leaders.
Jim’s role at Hard Rock involved many facets of organizational training including creating and managing all staff and management training materials and programs; facilitating Hard Rock’s corporate university; overseeing management training locations; producing training videos; directing company e-Learning initiatives; facilitating leadership transitions; and traveling to properties to deliver onsite classes and measure company standards.
Jim put his experience and creativity to work, which has consistently developed cutting-edge training concepts. During his time with the Hard Rock brand, his team won coveted Telly Awards (Guest Service in 2000, Menu Rollout in 2007, Harassment & Discrimination Prevention in 2008); garnered Training Directors Forum’s 1998 prize for “Reengineering Training”; and won Brandon Hall’s Gold Best in Class Award for their “Service Recovery” e-Learning course.
Jim Knight was also recognized by Training Magazine as representing one of the Top 125 training companies in the world out of all industries & businesses. He has since been featured in Forbes Magazine, Inc. Magazine, Fast Company, Entrepreneur Magazine and Fox Small Business News.
Jim has a music degree in Vocal Performance & Education and taught in the Florida public school system for 6 years. He is a lifetime member of CHART (an Association of Hospitality Trainers); previously sat on the Certification Governing Board of the National Restaurant Association; and started a local training forum & networking group (The Training Summit: CHART's 1st Regional Training Forum) with over 100 active members in Central Florida, to share best practices and discuss common issues with other industry professionals.
Jim is the best-selling author of Culture That Rocks: How to Revolutionize Your Company’s Culture, a how-to business book designed to amp up a brand in any industry. Entrepreneur Magazine listed the book as one of the "Top 5 Books That Will Transform Your Business". Jim's second book, Leadership That Rocks: Take Your Brand's Culture to Eleven and Amp Up Results, which helps new and up-and-coming leaders develop proven and effective skills, launched in 2021 as an amazon #1 Best Seller. Jim's next book, Service That Rocks: Create Unforgettable Experiences and Turn Customers into Fans, releases October 2022.
A portion of Jim's book sales, podcast revenue, speaking fees and training program proceeds goes to No Kid Hungry to eliminate childhood hunger in the U.S. and Cannonball Kids' cancer, which funds innovative, accessible research for children fighting cancer with better treatments, quality of life, and options for those told they have run out of options.
Although his illustrious career started at Gatorland Zoo in Florida (he has scars to prove it), Jim cut his teeth in the hospitality training industry and eventually led Global Training for Hard Rock International for two decades. Jim’s customized programs show how to amp up organizational culture, deliver world-class differentiated service, and build rock star teams and leaders.
Jim’s role at Hard Rock involved many facets of organizational training including creating and managing all staff and management training materials and programs; facilitating Hard Rock’s corporate university; overseeing management training locations; producing training videos; directing company e-Learning initiatives; facilitating leadership transitions; and traveling to properties to deliver onsite classes and measure company standards.
Jim put his experience and creativity to work, which has consistently developed cutting-edge training concepts. During his time with the Hard Rock brand, his team won coveted Telly Awards (Guest Service in 2000, Menu Rollout in 2007, Harassment & Discrimination Prevention in 2008); garnered Training Directors Forum’s 1998 prize for “Reengineering Training”; and won Brandon Hall’s Gold Best in Class Award for their “Service Recovery” e-Learning course.
Jim Knight was also recognized by Training Magazine as representing one of the Top 125 training companies in the world out of all industries & businesses. He has since been featured in Forbes Magazine, Inc. Magazine, Fast Company, Entrepreneur Magazine and Fox Small Business News.
Jim has a music degree in Vocal Performance & Education and taught in the Florida public school system for 6 years. He is a lifetime member of CHART (an Association of Hospitality Trainers); previously sat on the Certification Governing Board of the National Restaurant Association; and started a local training forum & networking group (The Training Summit: CHART's 1st Regional Training Forum) with over 100 active members in Central Florida, to share best practices and discuss common issues with other industry professionals.
Jim is the best-selling author of Culture That Rocks: How to Revolutionize Your Company’s Culture, a how-to business book designed to amp up a brand in any industry. Entrepreneur Magazine listed the book as one of the "Top 5 Books That Will Transform Your Business". Jim's second book, Leadership That Rocks: Take Your Brand's Culture to Eleven and Amp Up Results, which helps new and up-and-coming leaders develop proven and effective skills, launched in 2021 as an amazon #1 Best Seller. Jim's next book, Service That Rocks: Create Unforgettable Experiences and Turn Customers into Fans, releases October 2022.
A portion of Jim's book sales, podcast revenue, speaking fees and training program proceeds goes to No Kid Hungry to eliminate childhood hunger in the U.S. and Cannonball Kids' cancer, which funds innovative, accessible research for children fighting cancer with better treatments, quality of life, and options for those told they have run out of options.
- Building a Rock Star Team: How to Find, Develop, and Keep Brand Ambassadors to Produce Iconic Results
This program is effectively designed to highlight best practices in every area of the Employee Life Cycle. Key strategies include how to tap into the needs of today’s talent pool and innovative ways to create, maintain, or revive a strong employee culture, regardless of its current state.
Key points include:
• Understanding the Drivers of Today’s Workforce
• Finding and Retaining Top Talent
• Overhauling Onboarding
• Revolutionizing Training Concepts
• Designing Effective Collateral
• Embracing Technology
• Amping Up Communication
• Utilizing Performance Management Tools
• Realizing the Power of Storytelling
• Fostering Mentorship and Development
• Celebrating Philanthropy
All business results (good and bad) occur because of human behaviors. This program explores specific strategies to empower, inspire, and elevate your employees, creating a team of rock stars for your organization. - Service That Rocks: Create Unforgettable Experiences and Turn Customers into Fans
Every business has competitors. And how you set yourself apart from those competitors will determine whether your customers will fall madly in love with you…or not.
This high-energy, interactive, and visual keynote presentation teaches how to differentiate your organization from the rest to become the business of choice.
Key points include:
• Becoming Customer Obsessed
• Delivering Personalized Experiences
• Avoiding Acceptable Mediocrity
• Eliminating 4-Letter Words
• Creating Raving Fans
• Building Mental Shelf Space
• Writing Yourself into the Story
• Increasing Value Proposition
Immersed in the spirit of Rock ‘n Roll, this edu-taining program will deliver thought-provoking best practices to create mind-searing customer obsession. - Culture That Rocks: How to Amp Up and Revolutionize Company Culture
This high-energy keynote presentation focuses on individuals, departments, and entire companies who are charged with creating, maintaining, and revolutionizing an organizational culture. The program delves into every area of a company’s environment and reveals realistic solutions for systemic change.
Key points include:
• Defining Company Culture
• Understanding Heritage vs. Culture
• Identifying 3C Employees
• Creating Brand Ambassadors
• Amping Up Communication
• Enhancing Employee Engagement
• Handling Organizational Change
• Developing Resiliency
Regardless of your company’s cultural history or status, this program will inspire attendees to take up the challenge of enhancing their organizational environment. - Leadership That Rocks: Top Initiatives to Immediately Amp Up the Brand and Deliver Desired Results
This impactful keynote presentation is effectively designed to provide leaders of any level, practical and tactical initiatives to create an iconic business - internally and externally.
Key points include:
• Producing a Virtuous Environment
• Hiring Rock Stars
• Enhancing Employee Engagement
• Creating an Army of Giants
• Amping Up Communication
• Fostering Mentorship and Accountability
• Becoming Heart-Centered
• Developing Emotional Bank Accounts
This program will deliver rapid-fire best practices that any leader can immediately put into practice, starting them down the path to rock star success. Edu-tainment will be served.
There's no way to leave one of Jim's sessions without feeling energized, inspired & ready to start a cultural revolution in your organization.
-Alan Schaefer, Founder, Banding People Together
-Alan Schaefer, Founder, Banding People Together
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