John McElligott Speaking Fee: $20,000 to $30,000

John McElligott has always been passionate about improving the quality of life for others. As a Marine, he served as a combat engineer during 9/11, specializing in demolitions, explosives, construction, and engineering. He also served as a SAW (squad automatic weapon) gunner and eventually became a squad leader. John was honorably discharged with the rank of Sergeant. As Co-Founder of Royal Square Development and CEO of the Squared Collective, John led initiatives in technology, marketing, community engagement, and investor relations. He played a pivotal role in business and economic development, helping the company grow from 4 to nearly 40 employees in just 18 months. John contributed to acquiring and developing more than 50 properties in downtown York, including projects such as the $1.65 million Bond Building and the $14 million Market Street Revitalization. Before co-founding Royal Square, John served as CEO and Founder of two tech startups. He graduated from the Benjamin Franklin Technology Partners Techcelerator program, with his company being the only one in its cohort to secure investment funding. A sought-after national speaker, John focuses on the impact of exponential technology, robotics, and artificial intelligence on rural and third-tier cities. Three years ago, he left Royal Square and currently serves as President of "The Fortress Initiative," CEO of "The Fortress Academy," and CEO of "York Exponential," a collaborative robotics company. He is also the lead on the York Plan 2.0 Innovation District, a proposed 250,000-square-foot robotics and technology campus in downtown York, Pennsylvania. John is professionally recognized as a Vision Caster and Technical Futurist, with a primary passion for the rise of third-tier cities. He believes emerging technologies represent a tremendous opportunity for all citizens and feels a strong responsibility to expose communities to robotics and technology, ensuring no one is left behind.