Murray Banks
Business Audience & Education Audience Presentations
Murray Banks has been a speaker and trainer since 1984 creating a niche with custom tailored presentations. While all speakers aspire to personalizing their presentations, Murray developed that skill as an educator, teaching at every level from grade school to graduate school! His ability to identify the needs of each person and zero in on…
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Full Bio
Murray Banks has been a speaker and trainer since 1984 creating a niche with custom tailored presentations. While all speakers aspire to personalizing their presentations, Murray developed that skill as an educator, teaching at every level from grade school to graduate school! His ability to identify the needs of each person and zero in on best practices for their learning have served him well for researching an organization, reading his audience and creating an interactive presentation.
Murray was a passionate teacher. In 1982 he was honored as Vermont’s Teacher Of The Year for Physical Education and in 1983 received the Outstanding Educator Award from the national association, EDA/AAHPEHRD. He taught in a city school district, a small rural school and a major university; coached teams that won state championships and teams that never won a game; and 40 years later is still coaching youth sports in his community.
At the same time he was achieving educational honors, Murray was winning his first of four National Championships in the Triathlon. He took a sabbatical in 1984 to train and race internationally, work on an advanced degree in educational leadership and co-author a textbook. Two times he has been one of the top finishers in the Ironman Triathlon World Championship in Hawaii.
This break from public education enabled Murray to blend two passions – racing at the highest levels and teaching outside the structure of a classroom. His audiences now get the best of both worlds… a dynamic, interactive teaching style and focused, world class mindset.
As his speaking career became more demanding, Murray retired from triathlons but kept his hand in athletics with ski racing. At age 50, racing the finest skiers from Europe and Scandinavia, Murray won the masters World Championship in cross-country skiing. Now in his early 60’s, he still competes among the top in his age division at the masters skiing world championships.
Murray lives in the beautiful Green Mountains of Vermont in the summer and in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado in the winter.
Murray’s two sons are elite mountain guides based in Chamonix, France and Crested Butte, Colorado. Jeff and Steve are among a handful of Americans with the IFMGA/UIAGM international guiding license so Murray enjoys ski mountaineering expeditions with them that often find their way into his presentations. The elements of risk, adaptability and toughness are natural connections to Murray’s message as organizations work through tough and changing economic times.
Successful speakers are skilled storytellers. Murray draws on his teaching skills, athletic success and business savvy to engage his audience and weave a message that is easily applicable to their own work and personal lives.
Testimonials
Ernie was perfect for our Elders Conference at Little River Casino Resort in Manistee, Michigan. We will definitely be using PDA again!
LITTLE RIVER BAND OF OTTAWA INDIANS
Our speaker was great and the crowd enjoyed her! She was very engaging. Thank you again PDA for the great list of suggestions!
MEDTRONIC
Everything went great! and our speaker was wonderful! Thank you so much for all your help PDA! Looking forward to the next one.
UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI – KANSAS CITY
I hope that this message finds you well. We had a phenomenal time with Atsuko this past Thursday. We wanted to just let you know how amazing she was. All those that were in attendance thoroughly enjoyed her and had nothing but amazing things to say about her. Thank you for working with us to make sure this happened!
BAYLOR UNIVERSITY CAMPUS
We had a fantastic day with Inge! She was very engaging with all those that attended. Her personal stories about the holocaust were very special and we were moved that she was willing to share them with everyone. Thank you again, PDA for all your hard work and dedication to make this program such a success!
SALT LAKE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Dear PDA Group, Thank you so much for your hard work in scheduling our speaker! From the moment we reached out to you the first time, you worked with us on all details and logistics and kept us up-to-date on the progress. Thank you for all your hard work on making our event such a success! We couldn't have done it without you and your team!
SAP COMPANY
Thank you again, Dr. Kimbrough, for a great presentation, our attendees are still talking about it!
CAMPUS LABS
Dr. Henry Lee's presentation was entertaining, insightful and wise. I, and everyone at Pfizer, especially appreciate the remarks you directed about following your passion and preparing yourself to excel. Thank you, everyone, at PDA for helping to make this happen!
PFIZER
The event was successful! I received many messages expressing how awesome, outstanding and inspiring Ms. Webb-Christburg's speech was."
DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. MEMORIAL BREAKFAST, BOSTON, MLK SPEAKER
Everything went well. Atsuko was very easy to work with and the students enjoyed her performance! Thank you again for your recommendation and I hope to work with you again in the future!
CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
Dr. Novello left this morning after a very successful event on our campus! Thank you PDA Group for your help from the first phone to the last you were with us every step of the way.
GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY
Jordan Carlos was very very entertaining! A majority of students who answered the event survey indicated they really enjoyed Jordan and definitely will bring him back!
WESTERN CAROLINA UNIVERSITY
On behalf of myself and my organization Entertainment Unlimited the Campus Programming Board of Ferris State University, we thank you PDA and Dan for a successful event!! Dan was magnificent! Students really enjoyed the presentation. I know I did. Can't wait to bring in more programs with PDA Group.
FERRIS STATE UNIVERSITY
It was a great pleasure to work with PDA Group! The communication was always prompt, friendly and helpful. We loved the speakers and events we booked through Mr. Peter Walker (PDA Group).
WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
Thank you, Peter, for all your help, you'll be happy to know that the event went incredibly well! Aneesa Ferreira was by far one of the best speakers we've ever had!
FURMAN UNIVERSITY
Topics
Recharge, Reenergize & Refocus
Leadership Under Pressure: Focus in Our Leadership, Balance in Our Lives
The Trouble with The Future Is, It’s Not What It Used to Be! Strong Leadership in Changing Times
Tough Times, Tough Teams
Recharge, Reenergize & Refocus
With several years of doom and gloom behind us, audiences are ready for a keynote that is uplifting and loaded with skills for leadership, change, and balance. Recharge, Reenergize & Refocus offers hilarious visuals, poignant stories, clever video, and specific key points that resonate on a personal level for each person in the audience. Murray Banks also provides highlights via web links or as a unique tent-style handout.
Leadership Under Pressure: Focus in Our Leadership, Balance in Our Lives
Educational leaders are between the proverbial “rock and a hard place” with high-stakes testing and accountability on one side, and a challenged and frustrated faculty on the other. Educator Murray Banks’ keynote highlights the leadership skills that foster a climate of success for our faculty, staff, and students: enthusiasm, focus, positive problem solving, and optimism. He delivers four skills for staying focused under pressure and taking care of ourselves so we can also take care of business. It is a subject that fascinates everyone and Banks delivers it with a medley of science, inspiration, and humor. You’ll get his 10/90 Rule to keep meetings on target and learn why you may need to go to the “B.A.R.”
The Trouble with The Future Is, It’s Not What It Used to Be! Strong Leadership in Changing Times
In a world of change, educators like stability and consistency. But with high-stakes testing, a tough economy, and transitioning Baby Boomers, that means pushing teachers out of their comfort zones. Banks presents skills and motivation to be agile, resilient, and adaptable. You’ll love his “Lava Lamp Philosophy” for school change and parodies on our change resistant colleagues who have contracted “Psychlosclerosis!”
Tough Times, Tough Teams
These are tough times and successful school districts need tough teams – colleagues who pull together, work hard, stay positive, and are resilient. Banks is tough on those in the comfort zone, empathetic with hard workers, and funny with everyone as he provides four skills for spirit, morale, and teamwork. And, you’ll take away his solution for Group Griping and his “Richter Scale of Stress” – both will keep your faculty and staff focused on student and school district success!
Videos
MURRAY BANKS CAG
Murray Banks Education Video
Books
News
Testimonials
The applause are still ringing in my ears. Thank you again for a terrific presentation. Thank you!!! Murray Banks really delivered and I am so appreciative of the fact that he was able to really relate to the group—his presentation was by far the best yet!! It was truly a pleasure having him join our group and I thank him for taking the time and energy to learn about us and, as a result, bring home a message that will resonate for years to come. What a joy!
Long Fence
It was fabulous! All I could think of after I met him and during his presentation was “Heather was right again!” He was exactly what you said about him and more. Not only was he one of the nicest people I have met but his presentation was exactly on point with where we are with our changes, customer service focus, etc. THANK YOU for pushing this when we were all over the map.
Sylvan Learning Inc.
His closing keynote was right on target and was by far the highest-rated closing speaker we have ever had!
Ohio School Improvement Institute
Thanks again for a fantastic start to our meeting. Our speakers continued to quote Murray throughout the event and our guests continued to chat about his message and recall his humor. I’m sure I can find ways to work the message into our employee communication.
Woods Equipment Company Managers meeting
I especially appreciated all of the personal touches that he included in your presentation. This is out of the ordinary for many speakers and it made such a difference to our leadership team.
Pasadena I.S.D.
Your keynote set a positive, inspirational tone for the rest of the conference. Every one of our staff felt included in your very personalized message; even the usual cynics came away with valuable insights that will ultimately lead us to greater institutional effectiveness!
State University of New Year
Murray – You nailed it! I really thought the delivery and energy were perfect for our team. I couldn’t have written the script any better myself. Thanks again, it was exactly what we needed.
COO, Executive VP, PS Business Parks
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