
PRESENTERS

KEYNOTE
JOHN O'LEARY
In 1987, John O’Leary was a curious nine-year-old boy. Playing with fire and gasoline, John created a massive explosion in his home and was burned on 100% of his body. He was given less than a 1% chance to live.
This epic story of survival was first showcased in Overwhelming Odds, the book his parents wrote in 2006. It was this book that first invited John to embrace his miraculous recovery and share it with the world.
Today, John inspires tens of thousands of people at more than 100 live and virtual events each year. He partners with companies and organizations across fields, such as: sales, healthcare, safety, marketing, finance, faith, education and insurance.
Consistently described as “the best speaker we’ve ever had,” John’s tireless schedule is a testament to the power of his message. His emotional storytelling, unexpected humor and authenticity make each presentation unforgettable.
John is a two-time bestselling author of On Fire: The 7 Choices to Ignite a Radically Inspired Life and In Awe: Rediscover Your Childlike Wonder to Unleash Inspiration, Meaning and Joy.
John’s award-winning Live Inspired Podcast has more than seven million downloads and enjoys world-class guests such as Brené Brown, Mitch Albom, Jackie Joyner-Kersee and Bob Costas.
Amazingly, John’s story is taking on a new form: a full-length feature film starring Joel Courtney, John Corbett, and William H. Macy. SOUL ON FIRE will be released in theaters nationwide on October 10, 2025.
Regardless of his professional accomplishments, John considers his greatest success to be his marriage to his wife Beth, their four children and his relationships with friends and family.

KEYNOTE
RORKE DENVER
Commander Rorke T. Denver has run every phase of training for the U.S. Navy SEALs and led special-forces missions in the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, and other international hot spots. He starred in the hit film Act of Valor, which is based on true SEAL adventures. His New York Times bestseller, Damn Few: Making the Modern SEAL Warrior, takes you inside his personal story and the fascinating, demanding SEAL training program. In his second book Worth Dying For: A Navy SEALs Call to a Nation, Rorke tackles the questions that have emerged about America’s past decade at war–from what makes a hero to why we fight and what it does to us. Rorke was most recently seen on FOX’s American Grit. The series followed 16 of the country’s toughest men and women as they faced a variety of military-grade and survival-themed challenges set in the wilderness.
As assistant officer in charge of BRAVO Platoon at SEAL Team THREE, he was deployed to SOUTHCOM, the Central and South American Area of Operations. His platoon was the “alert” SEAL team for maritime interdiction, hostage rescue, counter-insurgency, and counter-narcotics. As SEAL officer aboard, Denver led his group’s response to a murderous uprising in the Ivory Coast nation of Liberia, launching advanced-force operations, conducting hydrographic beach reconnaissance, and helping to get U.S. Marines safely ashore.
In 2006, Denver was officer in charge of BRAVO Platoon of SEAL Team THREE in Iraq’s Al Anbar Province in one of the most combat-heavy deployments of any regular SEAL team since Vietnam. Stationed in Habbaniya, his team conducted over 200 missions including sniper operations, direct assaults, special reconnaissance, and ground patrols. Denver’s team has been widely credited with propelling the “Tribal Awakening” that helped to neutralize Iraq’s insurgency. Denver was awarded the Bronze Star with “V” for valorous action in combat.
After returning to the United States, Denver was appointed flag lieutenant to Admiral Joseph Maguire, commanding officer of Naval Special Warfare, traveling to Afghanistan and briefing Congress on SEAL operations. In 2009, he became First Phase officer of SEAL Basic Training including Hell Week, then rose to Basic Training officer. He went on to run all phases of training including advanced sniper, hand-to-hand fighting, communications, diving, and language.
Denver is the founder of Ever Onward, a fresh, new brand designed to use Navy SEAL principles to call leaders to take action, to suffer, and to be bold so they can perform at their highest levels. He is a highly-sought after speaker to companies and organizations and provides numerous innovative products and services to help teams and individuals live and perform at higher levels.
Denver is an honor graduate of the United States Army Ranger School. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Syracuse University, where he was an All-American lacrosse player, and captain of the varsity lacrosse team. He earned a Master’s Degree in Global Business Leadership from the University of San Diego.

MARK ROLING
COTTINGHAM & BUTLER
Mark Roling is the Senior Vice President in the Transportation Group at Cottingham & Butler. As Senior Vice President and co-practice leader of the Transportation division, Mark’s primary role is to oversee sales, marketing and service functions within the division. Mark’s area of expertise includes Property & Casualty coverages and alternative risk solutions, as well as, developing and executing sales strategy for the practice. Prior to becoming the Vice President, Mark was the Chief Sales Officer for three years, where he facilitated the delivery of value to clients by sales executives in all divisions. He was also a Sales Executive and Sales Manager in the Transportation Division for five years.

JOSEPH BAIOCCO
WILSON ELSER
Joseph Baiocco is a trial attorney with more than two decades of experience defending complex claims across the trucking and transportation, retail, and hospitality sectors. He represents clients from initial claim through final resolution, whether by settlement, dispositive motion, trial, or alternative dispute resolution. Joe regularly litigates in state and federal courts in New York and Connecticut and manages matters nationwide, frequently obtaining pro hac vice admission to represent clients in jurisdictions across the country.
Joe is often engaged at the earliest stages of high-exposure matters, including immediately following catastrophic incidents. He coordinates rapid-response efforts such as accident investigations, expert retention, and interactions with law enforcement and regulatory agencies, positioning clients for early case assessment and the development of effective litigation strategies. In addition to his hands-on casework, Joe advises clients on broader risk and claims management, overseeing loss portfolios and providing strategic guidance through claim review processes.
Known for his disciplined approach to litigation management, Joe focuses on efficiency without compromising results. He works closely with clients to evaluate cases early, define clear objectives, and implement practical, cost-effective strategies. Through consistent communication and proactive planning, he ensures clients remain informed and well positioned throughout the life of each matter.
Prior to joining Wilson Elser, Joe served as a prosecutor in New York City, where he gained significant courtroom experience that continues to inform his litigation practice today.

DEAN CROKE
DAT
Prior to joining DAT Solutions as a Market Analyst, Dean was Chief Insight Officer at FreightWaves where he led the freight market intelligence team of Market Experts. Prior to that he was Vice President of Data Products at Spireon where he helped develop new telematics data products in the trucking, passenger automotive and insurance markets. Dean also ran Lancer’s long-haul truck insurance business after spending many years as Vice President of Omnitracs Analytics (formerly Qualcomm) where he developed Data Science technologies including machine learning, complex business rules engines and data analytics for transportation companies.
Croke was one of the original founders of Atlanta-based FleetRisk Advisors (purchased by Qualcomm and now called Omnitracs Analytics) and has 35 years of experience in data analytics, transportation, supply chain management, mining and insurance risk management. Originally from a family-owned and operated trucking business in Australia, Dean is still actively involved in the trucking business and having completed nearly 2 million miles in Australia as a long-distance truck driver, Croke also owns a 379 Peterbilt show truck known as “The Grumpy Pete” (an ex-Werner fleet truck) and still holds a U.S. Commercial Driver License(CDL) making him uniquely experienced in the field of data science, supply chain management, risk management and human performance.
Prior to FleetRisk Advisors Croke worked at Lancer Insurance in New York City in 2003 where he developed the widely acclaimed “Risk Never Sleeps” sleep management program for commercial drivers – a unique approach to managing sleep as opposed to fatigue. Croke has held a number of senior positions at Boston-based Circadian Technologies Inc., global insurer Allianz, regional insurer OAMPS, and was also General Manager of the Australian Trucking Association (ATA) where he played a key role in the development of the TruckSafe and Fatigue Management Program – both alternative compliance programs which have been evidenced in the FMCSA’s recent “Beyond Compliance” initiative.

BRUCE MEHLMAN
MEHLMAN CONSULTING
Bruce Mehlman leads the bipartisan firm he founded after serving at senior levels in politics, policy and business. Mehlman Consulting helps Fortune 500 companies and innovative startups understand, anticipate and navigate the everevolving policy environment and trends likely to impact the global marketplace.
A highly sought-after speaker, Mehlman frequently presents to Boards of Directors, global conferences and strategic planning sessions. Mehlman is an adjunct business school professor with the Washington Campus and has lectured on “winning business–government relations” at the Harvard Kennedy School, Yale School of Management and Georgetown University, among others.
Mehlman’s quarterly updates on political trends are widely-read by business leaders and political observers across the country and have been frequently covered in leading publications, including the Washington Post, Axios, Politico, CNN, Fortune, the Daily Caller and UVA Center for Politics. Bruce’s Age of Disruption Sunday Substack reaches tens of thousands of readers in business, government, and investment.
Mehlman previously held the post of Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Technology Policy, having been nominated by President George W. Bush and confirmed by the U.S. Senate in 2001. Before Commerce, he worked as the lead tech and telecom lobbyist for Cisco Systems, Policy Director and General Counsel to the House Republican Conference under Rep. J.C. Watts (R-OK) and General Counsel to the National Republican Congressional Committee.
Mehlman is widely regarded as an expert in running issue campaigns, managing Csuite associations and developing strategies that achieve impactful policy outcomes. He concurrently serves as Executive Director of the Technology CEO Council and Co-Chairman of the Internet Innovation Alliance

SCOTT CORNELL
TRAVELERS
Scott Cornell, VP, National Practice Lead, Transportation and Crime & Theft Specialist, has been with Travelers for 24 years and currently leads the Cargo/Transportation division. Prior to his current role, he conducted investigations for 29 years, specializing in cargo theft and transportation, internal theft, embezzlement, and corporate investigations.
Scott lead the effort in creating a fully dedicated cargo theft unit for Travelers in [2005], known as the Special Investigations Group (SIG). He is also a co-inventor of multiple patented processes for methods and systems that provide customized risk mitigation and recovery solutions to insurance customers. He and the SIG team regularly partner with law enforcement and cargo task forces nationwide. Since 2009, the SIG team has recovered over $100 million in stolen cargo for Travelers clients.
Scott currently serves as the Chairman of the Transported Asset Protection Association (TAPA).
He is a recognized expert in cargo theft and prevention, having been an instructor and speaker at numerous industry engagements, including the American Trucking Associations (ATA), International Association of Special Investigation Units (IASIU), Miami Dade PD Cargo, Midwest Cargo Summit, Texas Cargo Summit, Trucking Industry Defense Association (TIDA), Truckload Carriers Association (TCA), Transportation Loss Control (TLC), Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA), and the National Cargo Theft Law Enforcement Summit.
Scott's expertise has been featured in prominent media outlets such as CNBC, CBS MoneyWatch, Vice TV, NBC News Now, Yahoo Finance and the New York Post.

DEREK BENNER
OUR RESCUE
Derek is proud to serve as the CEO of Our Rescue. Formerly the Chief Mission officer, overseeing international and domestic Operations and Survivor Care teams, he brings expertise gained from a 30-year career in federal law enforcement that includes leading Homeland Security Investigations within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), an organization of more than 10,000 law enforcement personnel (7,000 special agents who are assigned to 30 Special Agent in Charge offices in major cities, over 182 other field offices throughout the U.S. and 68 overseas locations). Derek led the creation of the DHS Center for Countering Human Trafficking, the first unified, inter-component coordination center for countering human trafficking. He also served as Managing Director, Federal Law Enforcement and Commercial at Thomson Reuters Special Service, LLC.

GREG FEARY
SCOPELITIS
Greg Feary is president and a managing partner of the Scopelitis Law Firm. He focuses on laws regarding transportation and related industries, including independent contractor issues, legislation, insurance, corporate structure designs, and contract matters. He also serves as a primary contact for mergers and acquisitions due diligence work and advises on corporate structure and risk mitigation issues.
He has created and counseled many captive insurance companies. Additional services Feary provides include:
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Auditing independent contractor programs
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Providing legislative support on independent contractor issues
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Counsel regarding alternative risk programs, including single and group captive insurers, risk retention groups, and various self-insurance and self-insured retention programs
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Insurance audits
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Supervision of litigation in the areas of premium disputes and specialized transportation insurance coverage controversies, including those involving occupational accident insurance
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Designing independent contractor programs
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Defending independent contractor disputes
