Speakers + Entertainment

The 2023 Walk On’s LIFE Conference will feature an impressive array of speakers, special guests, and entertainment. We are excited to announce the following individuals and so many more! Check back here for future updates!

SPEAKERS

Austin Hatch has an incredible life story of tragedy, loss, and triumph. Austin will share his story of surviving two plane crashes, enduring tragic losses, and persevering to become a member of the University of Michigan’s Basketball program. He will share his message of G.R.I.T. and thriving amid adversity to inspire others to overcome the adversity they face. We all face challenges every day, and Austin believes that it is his purpose to help others find ways to thrive amid them. 

Mike Abrashoff was the most-junior officer in the Pacific Fleet when he took command of the near-worst preforming ship. Twelve months later, the USS Benfold was the best ship in the entire Navy – using the same crew. The story of that stunning transformation has lessons for every organization: Leadership matters – and culture is everything. Mike’s written four books – his first, It’s Your Ship has sold over 1.3 million copies. 

ENTERTAINMENT

About Cole Swindell:

Country music superstar Cole Swindell released his fourth studio album, Stereotype, to massive success. The project charted three back-to-back, Platinum-certified, multi-week No. 1 hits: “Single Saturday Night,” “Never Say Never” (with Lainey Wilson) and, most recently, his five-week chart-topper “She Had Me At Heads Carolina” has garnered three ACM Awards for Single of the Year and Song of the Year (as songwriter and artist) and an iHeart Music Award for Country Song of the Year. In 2022 Swindell spent a total of 27 weeks in the Top 5 of the country singles chart with “Never Say Never” (8 weeks) and “She Had Me At Heads Carolina” (21 weeks). He released a special duet remix of his smash “She Had Me At Heads Carolina” featuring Jo Dee Messina which garnered an ACM Award nomination for Musical Event of the Year and is included on his new deluxe album Stereotype Broken, which also includes his current rising single “Drinkaby.” In the 10 years since his debut on Warner Music Nashville, Swindell has racked up an impressive 12 No. 1 singles as an artist – 13 as a songwriter – as well as 12 certified Platinum singles (one single at 3x Platinum and four at 2x Platinum), a Platinum-certified debut album (Cole Swindell), a Platinum-certified sophomore effort (You Should Be Here) and a Gold-certified third entry (All Of It). The Georgia hitmaker has over 5.2 BILLION global career streams. His massive, GRAMMY-nominated hit “Break Up In The End” was named the 2019 NSAI Song of the Year. Swindell earned two nominations (Musical Event of the Year and Music Video of the Year) for “Never Say Never” at the 56^th CMA Awards. Swindell officially became a headliner on his own in 2018 with his Reason To Drink Tours, and his 2022 Back Down To The Bar Tour. He is currently touring this summer with Thomas Rhett on the Home Team Tour and will again headline this fall on his Twelve Tour.