Damon West Speaking Fee: $10,000 to $20,000
Speaking Fee:
$10,000 to $20,000
Travels From:
ABI - Abilene
Travels From:
ABI - Abilene
Primary Topic Category:
Inspiration / Motivation / Overcoming Obstacles
Primary Topic Category:
Inspiration / Motivation / Overcoming Obstacles
Secondary Topic Category:
Company Culture / Employee Engagement / Teamwork
Secondary Topic Category:
Company Culture / Employee Engagement / Teamwork
Damon West Speaker Profile: At A Glance
Damon West, M.S. Criminal Justice, is a college professor, nationally known keynote speaker and best-selling author (with best-selling author and motivational speaker Jon Gordon) of The Coffee Bean: A Simple Lesson to Create Positive Change. His first book and autobiography, The Change Agent: How a Former College QB Sentenced to Life in Prison Transformed His World, was published just three years after his release from a Texas maximum-security prison.
Division 1 starting quarterback Damon West got a career-ending injury that would put in motion a chain of events that included addiction and a subsequent 65-year prison sentence due to methamphetamine-related crimes. While in a Texas maximum-security prison, West underwent an unbelievable transformation after holding a single conversation with another inmate. This developed into his "Coffee Bean" philosophy of learning that, just as the coffee bean changes the environment in which it is boiled, we can change our environment from within.After serving more than seven years, West came out with only one thing in mind: sharing his redemption story. He traveled the world and eventually rose to global prominence, becoming a motivational speaker who spoke about things that have power and how people can rise above adversity to make a real difference in the lives of others. His clientele is among big corporations like Walmart and State Farm, as well as sports teams such as the Dallas Cowboys and Clemson Tigers. His story has inspired thousands, from college students to corporate executives.West is also a best-selling author; he co-wrote the book "The Coffee Bean: A Simple Lesson to Create Positive Change" and the autobiography "The Change Agent: How a Former College QB Sentenced to Life in Prison Transformed His World". He is deeply involved in philanthropy, co-founding the Be A Coffee Bean Foundation and supports many community-based initiatives.West's lifework goal is to inspire and offer ways for others to make life work in their environments, be it personal or corporate, through resilience, positive thoughts, and a commitment to personal growth.