Jeff "Odie" Espenship
Keynote Speaker: Top Workplace Leadership & Safety Expert, Author of "Target Leadership" & USAF Fighter Pilot
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Jeff "Odie" Espenship Biography
While Jeff "Odie" Espenship originally hails from Lake City, FL., he spent most of his childhood among the kudzu and red clay of Georgia. Espenship chose the University of Georgia for his higher education and enrolled in the prestigious Air Force ROTC program.
Due to his demonstrated leadership and officer skills in cadet corps officer training, Espenship was awarded a full academic scholarship and a USAF pilot training slot. After receiving his Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, Espenship spent a year cheating certain death and destruction earning his USAF pilot wings. He won the coveted “Commanders Trophy” as the overall top graduate of his pilot training class. Espenship also won the pilot training T-38 Talon’s “Hard Charger Award” for overall dedication to excellence and training.
Espenship became a USAF fighter pilot flying the venerable A-10 Thunderbolt, also known as the “Warthog.” He was stationed with the 18th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Eielson AFB in Fairbanks, Alaska.
While there, he qualified as one of the youngest 4-ship flight leaders in the entire squadron. He served as an instructor and was also combat search and rescue qualified. He won numerous Top Gun awards for air-to-ground bombing and gunnery. Odie was selected to attend The Air Force’s formal leadership training college for young officers, Squadron Officers School. Odie graduated in the top 7% of the entire school of over 400 officers.
Due to Espenship’s outgoing, personable, always smiling, eager to please personality, his squadron mates quickly gave him his call sign “Odie ” aptly named after the popular cartoon Garfield’s sidekick. Now, few people know Espenship by his first name…but simply call him “ODIE.”
After 6 years of dedicated service in the Air Force, Odie decided to fulfill another lifelong dream by becoming an airline pilot. He began his career with Delta Air Lines in 1992. He qualified on The Boeing 727, 757, 767, and McDonnell Douglas MD-11. He also was a line-oriented flight engineer instructor on the Boeing 727. He completed numerous Crew Resource Management Courses, including “Cockpit 2000” given to pilots by United Parcel Service. Odie continues to hone his flight skills as an international airline pilot, flying the Airbus A350.
Amid his tenure as an airline pilot, Odie also flew a 1943 T-6 “Texan” on the airshow circuit. A tragic accident took the life of his brother, as well as the life of the pilot. This significant event in Odie’s life ignited the spark that helped create what Target Leadership is today. From those humble beginnings in 2003, Odie and his team have grown Target Leadership into a well recognized brand for Culture-Leadership-Safety training among the nation’s top Fortune 500 companies including ExxonMobil, The Southern Company, John Deere, and Chevron.
Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Jeff "Odie" Espenship and other top speakers and celebrities.
Jeff "Odie" Espenship Speaking Topics
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, Authors, Adventure, Human Resources, Resilience, Motivational and Leadership.
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.
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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.
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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 Rudy Ruettiger, Amelia Rose Earhart and Jim Davidson. 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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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.
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Leadership Safety: Be Accountable, not held accountable. There is a difference
VIDEO
Jeff "Odie" Espenship Videos
REVIEWS
Jeff "Odie" Espenship Reviews
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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
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