STARS National Conference

Slap Happy

Comedy

Joe

Kessler

2013 Speakers

With "JK" for initials you'd expect a future in comedy. Joe uses humor and a fast-paced, animated style every time he hits the stage. He brings over 12 years of speaking and comedy experience from performances at places like House of Comedy (Mall of America) and Comedy Sportz (Minneapolis, MN). He has traveled doing stand-up comedy tours and motivational speaking all over the country and has thrilled audiences with his unique style. Joe has also starred in nationwide commercials and advertisements for Walmart, Best Buy, Target, Subaru, Red Robin and Volkswagen.

Slap Happy Comedy is the tri-fector of comedy, entertaining audiences through improv, stand-up and video sketch comedy. Clean, clever, upbeat, funny and for the whole family, college, student group and company party. One of the greatest elements of a Slap Happy show is that the audience helps create the comedy through their suggestions and participation. Slap Happy has performed all around the country in front of audiences as small as 20 and as large as 10,000. Erik Gascoigne and Joe Kessler make up Slap Happy which is based out of Minneapolis, MN.

Innovative, Independent with Individuality are the words that best describe MESHELLE "The Indie-Mom of Comedy". MESHELLE is a wife, mother, and sought after comedienne.

This graduate of Bowie State University and a former Temple University Doctoral level student has appeared on Nickelodeon, STARz, BET & many other films.

Tory’s joyous enthusiasm leaps out through every word. His primary message is that a positive attitude and a will to succeed can overcome any challenge. He draws from the experiences of his own difficult childhood to encourage students not to let their struggles define them, but to focus on their goals and to make small positive changes that will add up to life transformation.

Meshelle

Tory

Gant

LaMarr Darnell Shields is a powerhouse whose advocacy for youth, and those who work with them, is known nationwide. His passion and message of successful living stimulate the minds, hearts and actions of men, women and youth to help them cope with adversity and create success in their personal, professional and spiritual lives.

This bilingual activist, author, educator, public speaker, social entrepreneur and Master Teacher, according to Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr., “speaks truth to power because he fights on behalf of children whose plight seems to always get lost in political rhetoric.”

LaMarr Darnell

Shields

Are you ready to laugh till your stomach hurts? Josh Sosa will be the conference MC and he is ready to bring his high-energy and hilarious sense of humor to #SNC2013! But this funny man is more than a motivator. He brings practical life-changing practices to everyday life. Refusing to adhere to the status quo Josh empowers individuals to develop healthy and productive relationships. From his life experiences of being a star high school quarterback to becoming a loving husband and father of three children, Josh has the ability to relate with individuals in all facets of their lives.

Josh

Sosa

Our Host MC