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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Videos

No Yelling - WFMZ

Take Care of People

Wally on Success

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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

This speaker tailors this topic for each event. Please let us know if you'd like us to source a topic description.

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

Why Top Event Planners Use Story to Double Audience Engagement, with Bruce Turkel

Learn from Hall of Fame speaker Bruce Turkel how story transforms events from forgettable content into experiences attendees quote months later.

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New Year Planning Moves That Turn Events Into Strategic Levers (Not Just Calendar Fillers)

Design your New Year with intention using proven strategies from top thought leaders & transform your 2026 events from calendar fillers into meaningful moments.

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How Top Speakers Shift Attention to Their Audience and Increase Event Engagement

Learn from emcee Scott Bloom how shifting your attention from yourself to your audience creates transformative speaking experiences that drive real engagement.

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Creating Impactful Leadership with Gratitude: Lessons from Chris Schembra

Learn from keynote speaker Chris Schembra how gratitude transforms leaders and help them build a workplace culture that people want to be part of.

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7 Ways Gratitude Transforms Your Events (From Burnout to Breakthrough)

Gratitude isn't about being nice; it's a performance tool. Learn how to design events that help attendees feel seen, process hard years, and leave inspired.

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Best Artificial Intelligence Speakers for Retail & eCommerce Conferences (2026)

Discover the Best Artificial Intelligence Speakers for Retail & eCommerce Conferences and design AI agendas that grow revenue, CX, and loyalty.

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