We Book Celebrity Entertainers and Inspirational Keynote Speakers that offer presentations on Leadership, Change, Motivation, Business, and much more for Meetings, Conferences and Conventions.
As a family-owned business, our values and attention to detail are paramount to our success. It’s how we’ve built our reputation as the best speakers agency in the Twin Cities, and how we’ve maintained our presence across the country. Our longevity in the industry, coupled with our exceptional customer service has earned us trusting partnerships.
The Trusted Speakers Agency of the Twin Cities
Preferred Speakers has been working with Fortune 500 companies, trade associations, educational institutions, and non-profits for over 40 years. Exceptional customer service and experience matter. Meeting planning executives can trust Preferred Speakers to work by their side to research and book celebrity speakers, keynote speakers, professional entertainers. Preferred Speakers is a trusted Minneapolis-based speakers agency booking speakers and celebrities for corporate meetings, conferences, and conventions.
Find the Best Guest Speaker for Every Event
With access to the top professional speakers, experts, trainers, and celebrities in the country, Preferred Speakers works closely with meeting planners to research and book the best guest speakers for any event. Whether it’s a local keynote speaker in Minneapolis, MN, or a celebrity speaker from across state lines, we will work with you to ensure that your next event is a success.
Preferred Speakers- Meet the Team
SHEILA HARRIS
Sheila joined Preferred Speakers in 1986. Over the years, she has booked hundreds of speakers and entertainers and has become an expert at matching the right speaker with the right audience. Her vast knowledge of exceptional talent, and quick study of business, is a great asset when searching for the right talent. Experience matters!
She’s an award-winning member of MPI and has served on both the Board and several committees. She has also served on the MSAE Speaker Showcase committee.
In her spare time, Sheila loves to exercise and spend time with her husband and kids.
ANNIE SPIZALE
Annie came on board in 1991 and quickly distinguished herself by handling every detail with care. From contracts and logistics to interviews, book signings, and more, she’s on top of it.
In her free time, Annie loves spending time with her husband and three children and reading anything she can get her hands on. She is fascinated by stories—which is another way of saying she is fascinated by people. And that’s what this business is all about.
KATY BURKE-ADVISOR
Katy Burke is recognized as a growth-focused strategic visionary with a successful track record creating connections that drive consistent revenue opportunities, membership, and positive change in early-stage, for-profit, and non-profit organizations. Katy’s non-traditional career path gave her multi-dimensional and multi-faceted experience in leadership roles for a variety of industries, from television to manufacturing.
Matt Want
Over the past decade, Matt has provided administrative support for all kinds of busy people in all kinds of demanding positions. His work has helped them to find more time each day, relieve some of the stress that comes from overwhelming workloads, and save money by improving efficiency and providing assistance only when it’s required.
Matt was born and raised in Shepperton, Surrey. Shortly after he was born, he was diagnosed with a rare illness called biliary atresia, and because of this, he ended up having two liver transplants. He now lives in Angmering, West Sussex about ten minutes from the beach.
In his spare time, he is a massive geek. Matt loves everything Dr Who, Star Wars, and Lego related.
Matt is also a local Parish Councillor and is part of a local men’s mental health charity, MenWalkTalk.
Dina Vann
Dina knows the meetings and events industry … from all angles.
She began planning meetings and events in 1995. She’s been a content creator and editor since 1991, including corporate incentive promotions, meeting/event theming and programs, speech-writing, run-of-show guides, and pretty much everything in between. Dina joined MPI’s Tampa Bay Area Chapter in 2005 and shared her experiences and service as a board member and committee chair for many years. She is an active contributor to SPIN (Senior Planner Industry Network). It was also in 2005 that she incorporated her small woman-owned business (just like Preferred Speakers!), becoming an invaluable resource to some of the companies and organizations she had worked with for more than a decade, providing the same inspiration and creativity as an invaluable strategic partner. Through the years, she expanded her client roster, and all by WOM (word of mouth).
She’s hired speakers and entertainers. She’s seen how things can go horribly awry when others haven’t quite gotten the right fit. And she knows how satisfying it is when a client’s vision comes true with a memorable event, a motivating or life-changing experience for participants, and no (or as few as possible) behind-the-scenes glitches along the way.
When she’s not working, she can be found sharing her talents with nonprofits and proofreading billboards and company vehicles in Tampa, Florida. “It’s a sickness,” she says laughing.