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2011 Pillars of America Speaker Series
Vernice Armour, April 20, 2011: Vernice, aka “FlyGirl,”knows a little something about focus, commitment, and defying the odds. After accomplishing her dream of becoming a police officer, she decided, at age 24, to become an Officer in the Marine Corps and a combat pilot. Only 3 years later, she was the United States Marine Corps’ first African American female pilot and, shortly after, wasrecognized as America’s First African American Female Combat pilot by the Department of Defense. Upon completion of two combat tours in Iraq as an AH-1W Super Cobra Attack Helicopter pilot, Verniceleft the military and launched VAI Consulting and Training, LLC to promote the Zero to Breakthrough™ Success Model. Today, her passion is helping organizations and individuals by effectively leveraging leadership, diversity and innovation! Vernice Armour’s dynamic style and presentation methods have inspired hundreds ofpeople. Among her many accomplishments, Vernice has been recognized as a pioneering pilot, including her commanding role in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). She was also the first African American woman on the Nashville Police Department's motorcycle squad, CampPendleton's 2001 Female Athlete of the Year, two-time titleholder in CampPendleton's annual Strongest Warrior Competition, and a running back for the San Diego Sunfire women's professional football team. Vernice is currently working on her first book, Zero toBreakthrough™
Scott Greenberg, April 27, 2011: After graduating from UCLA in 1992, Scott Greenberg accepted a scholarship to attend NYU graduate film school. Within one semester, doctors discovered a softball-sized tumor in Scott’s chest and diagnosed him with cancer. Inspired by his grandmother, a “Schindler’s List” holocaust survivor, Scott beat the disease and went on to run the Los Angeles Marathon to raise money for cancer research. After starting his own screenwriting consultancy in Hollywood, Scott was asked to combine his knowledge of storytelling with his experience managing adversity to keynote a leadership conference. The response was incredible, and further requests for Scott to speak poured in. He is published in Chicken Soup for the College Soul. In addition, he has written three of his own books on leadership. Scott has also employed his leadership techniques in his own “Edible Arrangements” franchise in West Hollywood, CA. In 2010, Scott won the “Best Customer Service” award out of 972franchisees worldwide. Scott’s passion for providing nuts and bolts advice to audiences is apparent the second he picks up a microphone. Poignant stories, hilarious anecdotes combined with practical, substantive messages always leave crowds buzzing with excitement.
Jim “The Rookie” Morris, May 4, 2011: Jim’s Cinderella story serves as a testimony to the power of dreams with their ability to inspire and to transform human life. Growing up as a, lonely kid with his parents fighting and struggling to make ends meet, Jim's saving grace as a kid was his love for baseball. Jim couldn't get away from home soon enough and signed a pro baseball contract with the Milwaukee Brewers. After a series of injuries, he retired from minor league baseball, got married, raised a family, got his college degree at the age of 29, taught high school, and coached baseball. When his struggling high school team came from behind to win the District Championship, Jim honored a bet he had made with the team to tryout for a major league baseball team. His meteoric rise from a 35-year -oldsmall-town high school teacher to a flame throwing major league pitcher in three months made cinematic history with the release of The Rookie, starring Dennis Quaid. This heartwarming and unforgettable Disney blockbuster about chasing one’s dreams and keeping one’s promises won the first annual ESPY for Best Sports Film of the Year and has been rated one of the greatest baseball movies ever. Today, Jim lives with his family near San Antonio and travels the country as a top motivational speaker. His story has become an inspiration to anyone interested in living his or her dreams. He also gives baseball lessons to kids.