Jeff "Odie" Espenship
Keynote Speaker: Workplace Leadership & Safety Expert; Founder & CEO of Target Leadership; USAF Fighter Pilot
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Jeff "Odie" Espenship Biography
Jeff “Odie” Espenship began flying at 14 years old, soloed at 16, and earned his private pilot license at 17, the youngest age allowed by the FAA. He attended the University of Georgia, where he was awarded a full academic scholarship by the Air Force ROTC, which also secured him a slot in USAF pilot training. After receiving his bachelor’s degree in political science, Espenship was assigned to pilot training at Vance AFB in Enid, OK. There, he earned his USAF silver wings and won the coveted “Commanders Trophy” as the overall top graduate in pilot training. He also received the T-38 Talon “Hard Charger Award” for his dedication to excellence and training.
Espenship went on to become a fighter pilot, flying the venerable A-10 Thunderbolt, affectionately known as the “Warthog.” He was stationed with the 18th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Eielson AFB in Fairbanks, AK, becoming one of the youngest 4-ship flight leaders in his squadron. He was also combat search and rescue qualified and won numerous Top Gun awards for air-to-ground bombing and gunnery. Espenship’s outgoing personality earned him the callsign “Odie,” named after the cartoon character Garfield’s sidekick.
After six years in the Air Force, Espenship was hired in 1992 as an airline pilot with Delta Air Lines, where he currently flies as an international Captain on the Airbus A350.
Espenship also flew a 1943 WWII vintage fighter/trainer T-6 “Texan” on the airshow circuit. In 2005, a tragic accident involving that aircraft took the life of his older brother. This significant event ignited the spark that led to the creation of Target Leadership, a company dedicated to inspiring personal leadership and impeccable safety in the workplace.
Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Jeff "Odie" Espenship and other top speakers and celebrities.
Jeff "Odie" Espenship Speaking Topics
Jeff "Odie" Espenship is a former USAF fighter pilot and one of the most sought-after safety speakers in the industry today. As a flight leader, he knows what it takes to operate safely in high-risk and sometimes dangerous work environments. In this dynamic presentation, Odie shares his experiences and relates them back to common workplace situations.
Maintaining a high level of performance means paying attention to the little things. Jeff “Odie” Espenship, founder of Target Leadership, personally knows the impact when leadership fails to execute safety fundamentals. By sharing his lessons learned as a United States Air Force fighter pilot, an air show performer, and an international airline pilot, his message in human behaviors has become one of the most sought after by companies worldwide. Odie gives an interactive, entertaining, yet powerful message on getting back to basics in life and leadership. It’s the little things that can take an organization from the cellar to stellar. Odie discusses setting high expectations, speaking up, listening to what is NOT being said, overcoming complacency (the silent killer), never assuming, and communicating to understanding, to achieve new heights in life and leadership.
Jeff "Odie" Espenship Videos
How do I book Jeff "Odie" Espenship to speak at my event?
Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Jeff "Odie" Espenship for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Jeff "Odie" Espenship, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Jeff "Odie" Espenship or any other speaker of your choice.
How much does it cost to book Jeff "Odie" Espenship for a speaking engagement?
Speaking fees for Jeff "Odie" Espenship, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Jeff "Odie" Espenship are $10,000 - $20,000 for live events and $10,000 - $20,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Jeff "Odie" Espenship, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
What topics does Jeff "Odie" Espenship speak about?
Jeff "Odie" Espenship is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Military, Personal Growth, Sales, Peak Performance, Overcoming Adversity, Inspirational, Change Management, Authors, Adventure, Human Resources, Resilience, Motivational, Leadership, Corporate Culture and Veterans.
Where does Jeff "Odie" Espenship travel from?
Jeff "Odie" Espenship generally travels from Atlanta, GA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.
Who is the agent for Jeff "Odie" Espenship?
AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Jeff "Odie" Espenship for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Jeff "Odie" Espenship for your next private or corporate function.
What is a full-service speaker booking agency?
AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Jeff "Odie" Espenship or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?
If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
Jeff "Odie" Espenship is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Military, Personal Growth and Sales. The estimated speaking fee range to book Jeff "Odie" Espenship for live events is $10,000 - $20,000, and for virtual events $10,000 - $20,000. Jeff "Odie" Espenship generally travels from Atlanta, GA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Jim Davidson, Amelia Rose Earhart and Libby Gill. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Jeff "Odie" Espenship for an upcoming event.
SPEAKING TOPICS
Jeff "Odie" Espenship Speaking Topics
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Leading Indicators: It's the Little Things
Jeff "Odie" Espenship is a former USAF fighter pilot and one of the most sought-after safety speakers in the industry today. As a flight leader, he knows what it takes to operate safely in high-risk and sometimes dangerous work environments. In this dynamic presentation, Odie shares his experiences and relates them back to common workplace situations.
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Lead with Excellence
Maintaining a high level of performance means paying attention to the little things. Jeff “Odie” Espenship, founder of Target Leadership, personally knows the impact when leadership fails to execute safety fundamentals. By sharing his lessons learned as a United States Air Force fighter pilot, an air show performer, and an international airline pilot, his message in human behaviors has become one of the most sought after by companies worldwide. Odie gives an interactive, entertaining, yet powerful message on getting back to basics in life and leadership. It’s the little things that can take an organization from the cellar to stellar. Odie discusses setting high expectations, speaking up, listening to what is NOT being said, overcoming complacency (the silent killer), never assuming, and communicating to understanding, to achieve new heights in life and leadership.
VIDEO
Jeff "Odie" Espenship Videos
BOOKS
REVIEWS
Jeff "Odie" Espenship Reviews
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Great experience and outstanding speaker!
Merck & Co. Rahway GES Safety Council - Nov 14 2024 -
I had never worked with your company before this event. Everything went very well. Jeff was the perfect choice for this year's theme and event. Your team was timely and helpful in getting things arranged. I appreciate your entire company for helping us create a successful event!
Bennett International Group - Jan 30 2017 -
Jeff is an excellent presenter and his message relates to a broad range of people. I met Jeff in 2009 and have heard his presentation many times. I also reccomend his resources for your employee training. Jeff 'Odie' Espenship is a great choice for your program.
Unknown - Mar 27 2011 -
Jeff Espenship and his Target Leadership team have consistently delivered the most powerful, enlightening, and interesting safety leadership message for our next level leadership forums. We have retained Jeff Espenship for an unprecedented 4 years now. The reviews I receive from the senior leaders in each class has always been, "the best they've ever seen"
Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO) - Jun 14 2010 -
I hired Odie to do a 30 presentation roadshow throughout the entire country for all ExxonMobil US Production. It has been a sincere pleasure working with him and his team! I am grateful for the impact of his message and I have consistently received great feedback from the audience members at all levels. Thanks again for your help in raising safety awareness at USP.
ExxonMobil US Production - Jun 14 2010
FAQS
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How do I book Jeff "Odie" Espenship to speak at my event?
Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Jeff "Odie" Espenship for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Jeff "Odie" Espenship, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Jeff "Odie" Espenship or any other speaker of your choice. -
How much does it cost to book Jeff "Odie" Espenship for a speaking engagement?
Speaking fees for Jeff "Odie" Espenship, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Jeff "Odie" Espenship are $10,000 - $20,000 for live events and $10,000 - $20,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Jeff "Odie" Espenship, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent. -
What topics does Jeff "Odie" Espenship speak about?
Jeff "Odie" Espenship is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Military, Personal Growth, Sales, Peak Performance, Overcoming Adversity, Inspirational, Change Management, Authors, Adventure, Human Resources, Resilience, Motivational, Leadership, Corporate Culture and Veterans. -
Where does Jeff "Odie" Espenship travel from?
Jeff "Odie" Espenship generally travels from Atlanta, GA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. -
Who is the agent for Jeff "Odie" Espenship?
AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Jeff "Odie" Espenship for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Jeff "Odie" Espenship for your next private or corporate function. -
What is a full-service speaker booking agency?
AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Jeff "Odie" Espenship or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us. -
Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?
If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
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All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.
