Troy Evans

Ex-Bank Robber, Author, and Inspirational Speaker on Turning Failure into Success

Topics: Inspirational & Motivational, Resilience, Change, Mindfulness, Personal Development, Storytelling, Success, Future of Work, Employee Engagement, Health & Well-Being, Professional Development, Business

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Biography

On November 12, 1992, Troy Evans was sentenced to 13 years in Federal Prison. He was convicted of five armed bank robberies, in three states, over a six-month crime spree, and was sent to the Federal Correctional Complex in Florence, Colorado. His neighbors included such notorious criminals as Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols. Troy was released on December 13, 1999, over seven and one-half years later.

Despite the obstacles that only prison can produce, Troy was determined that his time behind bars would not be wasted time. Education would be his saving grace. After six months of filling out applications, writing essays, begging, pleading, and selling, Troy landed his first scholarship for one class. That was a beginning, and when Troy walked out the doors of prison he carried with him two degrees, both obtained with a 4.0 GPA and designation on the Dean’s and President’s list.

Troy is now a motivational speaker who shares his story and lessons learned with audiences of all ages. Since his release, Evans has taken the Corporate, Association and Education platforms by storm with his motivational keynote speeches. Audiences are stunned by his endurance, accomplishments and remarkable personal transformation. With straightforward, real life examples, Evans shows how the keys to his success in prison are the keys to his success today, and how these lessons can be applied to escaping the “prisons within ourselves.” He renews an appreciation for what is really important in all of our lives and motivates each and every person to overcome adversity, adapt to change, and to realize their full potential.

With young people, Evans speaks openly on the dangers of drug use, peer pressure and the power of responsible decision-making. His student motivational speaking grabs the attention of today’s youth by sharing what he witnessed within the harsh environment of a Federal Prison and illustrates how his years of incarceration can be linked to the decisions he made as a teenager. Teen audiences are left with a wide-eyed understanding of “consequence” and a realization that the decisions they make today have the potential to alter their entire life.

Speech TopicsExpand each topic to learn more

From Desperation to Dedication: The Strength to Believe

This program rejuvenates audience members and revives their vision and purpose. Troy shares his stories of failure and success to demonstrate the power that we all have within when we have the strength to believe and the vision to see the potential in ourselves and our personal and professional relationships. In today’s ever-changing world, the emotional drain can be intense and disillusionment can lurk around every corner.

Troy Evans’ story serves as an example of what happens when your professionals have the strength to believe. Audience members will walk away with real insight into overcoming adversity, adapting to change and pushing themselves to realize their full potential.

Internal Prisons: The Thief of Productivity and Quality in our Workforce

It is Troy’s belief that prison does not necessarily mean steel bars and razor wire. That we all have “prisons within ourselves,” prisons that are just as confining as the one that held him for 7.5 years. Prisoners to fears, addictions, depression, overeating, overworking, bad relationships-the list could go on and on. What does this have to do with management? Only when we ourselves, as well as those we bring into our companies, are “whole” personally can we all become better professionally. His program encourages managers and employees to be proactive in their work, not reactive. Reactive people let the environment dictate what they do and, in a sense, protect them. He shows business professionals how they can become better people, and what is truly important in their lives. Only then can they become the most they can be on the job. He also touches on diversity in the workforce-relating the importance of employing ex-convicts.

From Desperation to Dedication: The Success of an Educated Ex-Con

Every day, teachers and school administrators hold our children’s futures in their hands as educators, surrogate parents, wardens and counselors. The emotional drain can be intense and disillusionment can lurk around every corner. Troy’s story serves as an example of what happens when your educators have the strength to believe. Faced with the ever-increasing role of educators and the fear and discouragement of recent headlines, this program rejuvenates teachers and administrators and revives their vision and purpose.

Troy Evans shares his stories of failure and success with members of these noble professions to demonstrate the power they wield when they have the strength to believe and the vision to see potential and value in every
student

Choice, Challenge and Consequence: The Teenage Years

With young people, Troy speaks openly on the dangers of drug use, peer pressure and the power of responsible decision-making. He grabs the attention of today’s youth by sharing what he witnessed within the harsh environment of a Federal Prison and illustrates how his years of incarceration can be linked to the decisions he made as a teenager. Teen audiences are left with a wide-eyed understanding of “consequence” and a realization that the decisions they make today have the potential to alter their entire life.

Testimonials

Troy changed himself. As a result, his stories and talk will immediately and effectively change every audience member. I want everyone to hear him and his important message that I love.

– Mark Victor Hansen - Co-Creator, #1 New York Times Best-Selling Series Chicken Soup for the Soul

Wow! I have to tell you how powerful your presentation was at our monthly meeting. I could see how our members were transfixed on your story and message.

– Keely Fagen - Executive Director / South Carolina Society of Association Executives

Mr. Evans is one of the strongest guest speakers we have had over the years. I applaud Mr. Evans both as a speaker and a man.

– Terry Haggerty - Phoenix Union High School District

Your presentation was absolutely the highlight of our conference! You had the audiences’ attention from the moment you stepped on stage. It was by far the best presentation we have had over the years.

– Betsy Larson - Conference Director / Kentucky State Council, Society for Human Resource Management

Troy’s history as a student-athlete and then to drugs, bank robberies, federal prison and then to success through education is a compelling story. The audience of bankers was held at full attention as he told how he came to rob banks and how he selected his victims. His story of overcoming adversity with determination is a valuable motivation to adults.

– Jim Simpson, Dacotah Bank