Biography

Book Wally Adamchik through The Keynote Curators.

When you work with Wally Adamchik, you get the accrued knowledge of a lifetime dedicated to leadership and improvement – both organizational and personal.

In his youth, Wally Adamchik often worked with his father and brother in construction. Both master craftsmen, they insisted upon and produced top-quality work. He learned more about excellence and first-rate performance from his mother, who was the first woman to referee a basketball game at Madison Square Garden. His parents encouraged him to achieve and he now encourages others to do the same.

In his senior year at the University of Notre Dame, Wally was the mascot—that’s right, he was the Leprechaun. Win or lose. Rain or shine. Home or away. Wally put 100 % of himself into the game. This same level of commitment defines his work today. His total focus is on meeting your needs and delivering tailored solutions to make a positive and lasting effect on your business.

As an Officer of Marines, Wally Adamchik deployed throughout the world to participate in training, peace-keeping, and combat operations. First, as commander in a tank battalion and then, as the pilot of AH-1W Super Cobra attack helicopters, he sought out the challenging assignments. His years in the Corps honed his motivational and training skills. His influence remains in a legacy of Marines who provide inspired leadership for this country and for their organizations.

Seeking a new challenge, Wally entered the hyper-competitive private sector to apply his leadership philosophy to the pursuit of operational excellence in business. He was recognized for superior performance and award-winning leadership at two national restaurant companies. At the same time, he earned his Master of Business Administration degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

The next step up was a move into consulting and speaking. As a Senior Consultant with FMI, management consultants to the construction industry, his clients recognized his solutions as practical, profitable, and powerful.

He founded FireStarter Speaking and Consulting in response to demands from organizations for relevant and effective leadership development. He understands the Fortune 500 firm as well as he does the family business and is able to modify his approach to make an impact in both.

Wally recognizes that a good presentation is one that galvanizes the audience. If people are not inspired to use the material and take action, then the speech was merely entertainment.

Practicing what he preaches about family balance and quality of life, Wally Adamchik believes that true change only happens when you make a true commitment. He understands the importance of scheduling time for the things that truly matter: his family, his friends, his clients, and his own personal interests (golf and exercise). This total approach to life gives you a complete speaker who connects with your audience on a human level and sparks a fire in them–the fire that leads to great achievement.

Contact us for Wally Adamchik’s fees and availability.

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Speech TopicsExpand each topic to learn more

NO YELLING: The Nine Secrets of Marine Corps Leadership You MUST Know To WIN In Business

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Leadership Takes GUTSS!

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Don't Just Survive, Thrive

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The Success Triangle

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Testimonials

Wally has lots of energy, is passionate, and keeps your attention.
– Christy Kovac, President, Sheridan Construction
At first I was a bit skeptical... but you were able to slowly rule over my skepticism with your candid stories, accurate information on ‘true’ leadership and your closing statement. “Here are the tools; I have not given you application but merely the tools to be great leaders.” Your stories about the next generation and not forcing them to “pay their dues” really struck a chord as well as your analysis of generation Y and their constant need for information…
– Dan Cullen, JP Cullen & Sons, Inc.
Thanks so much for being with us... You clearly moved many folks and the commitment sheets that we are getting back are better than we had expected.... Thanks so much for the tremendous amount of effort that you put into the presentation. We fully realize what a valuable contribution this was.
– Laura Barrett, Board Member, Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests
Fantastic, interesting, well worth my time.
– Derek Wortham, Vice President, H&H Insurance
Your energetic speaking style and well-polished presentation captured the attention of the entire audience of nearly 300 Coast Guard personnel...Your familiarity with the Coast Guard and our missions was evident, as you incorporated service history and factual information in your presentation... Your sincere, heartfelt presentation certainly contributed to the overall readiness of this command. Thanks again!
– Captain Mike Moore, USCG, Commanding Officer Aviation Training Center, Mobile, Alabama
Enjoyable, knowledgeable, and thought-provoking presentation delivered with finesse.
– Brian Newsome
Content was great and on-track for the association. Wally is a not-to-miss speaker.
– Rob Krzys, Trenchless Technology Magazine

Booksby Wally Adamchik

No Yelling

Construction Leadership From A to Z

For Meeting Planners

Blog Posts

How a Simple Apology Can Spark Healing and Mental Health Conversations

Learn how a heartfelt apology shared by Johnny Crowder can help you break stigma and ignite life-changing conversations about mental health and self-compassion.

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An Astronaut’s Guide on Leadership and Innovation Lessons on Earth

Explore how former NASA astronaut Dr. Leroy Chiao’s experiences in space unlock insights on leadership, innovation, and resilience for teams on Earth.

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The Future of Event Keynotes: Personalization, AI, and Interactive Storytelling

Find out how event personalization, AI-driven insights, and interactive storytelling are revolutionizing keynote speeches with business futurist Greg Verdino.

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The Power of Play: Why Entertainment Is Essential for Engagement

“Entertainment is the emotional glue that connects people to ideas.”—Robert McKee, storytelling expert There’s a shift that happens the moment someone laughs. Shoulders loosen. The room lightens. The noise of the outside world fades just...

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Designing Events That Spark Lasting Connections

Discover Wendy Porter’s proven WPE Planning Process for crafting live, virtual, and hybrid events that foster genuine connections, boost engagement, and drive ROI.

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The Best Diversity and Inclusion Speakers

Why are diversity and inclusion speakers some of the most transformative voices on stage? Because inclusion is no longer a box to check; it’s a culture to create. From boardrooms to classrooms, arenas to virtual...

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Blog Posts

 

How a Simple Apology Can Spark Healing and Mental Health Conversations

Imagine if a single, mental health–focused apology could dismantle stigma, validate someone’s pain, and launch...

Read More

An Astronaut’s Guide on Leadership and Innovation Lessons on Earth

In the boundless vacuum of space, leaders face challenges that dwarf anything encountered on Earth....

Read More

The Future of Event Keynotes: Personalization, AI, and Interactive Storytelling

Imagine a keynote at your next event that feels designed just for your audience—where every...

Read More

The Power of Play: Why Entertainment Is Essential for Engagement

“Entertainment is the emotional glue that connects people to ideas.”—Robert McKee, storytelling expert There’s a...

Read More

Designing Events That Spark Lasting Connections

Imagine stepping into an event where every detail is designed to foster genuine human connection—from...

Read More

The Best Diversity and Inclusion Speakers

Why are diversity and inclusion speakers some of the most transformative voices on stage? Because...

Read More