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Holding a special event in DC gives you access to some of the world’s most innovative thinkers, even beyond the political arena. The metropolitan region is home to the third-highest number of bioscience companies in the world, more than 50 colleges and universities and high-profile media outlets like The Washington Post, National Geographic, National Public Radio and XM Satellite Radio. Major corporations like Marriott International, AOL-Time Warner and Lockheed Martin are headquartered just a few miles from U.S. Capitol.
So how do you capture that intellectual star power for your next meeting? Start with your professional contacts, organization leadership and alumni networks. The right connections can help you save on speaker fees and can add a personal touch to your conference or event.
You can also enlist the help of a speakers bureau to help you secure the right speaker for your event. Here are a few good places to begin your search:
All-American Talent & Celebrity Network (1-800-MY-TALENT): Based in North Carolina, this speakers bureau can connect you with journalists Andrea Mitchell, Ben Bradlee and Bob Woodward; television personality Lisa Ling, and even Washington, DC native Mo Rocca.
Capital Speakers, Inc. (703-894-0604): A speaker consultancy, Capital Speakers takes a personal approach to each event, advising clients on speakers and entertainers to meet their objectives and interests. The firm has secured speakers like political satirist Mark Russell, 60 Minutes founder Don Hewitt and author Scott Turow.
Du Plain Enterprises & Speakers Bureau (703-992-0770): Interfaith and intercultural speakers are the specialty of the Falls Church, Va.-based company, whose roster includes Dr. Ben Chavis, president of the Hip Hop Summit Action Nation, and Julia Chang Bloch, the first Asian-American to be appointed U.S. ambassador, as well as noted authors Ken Burns and Kitty Kelley.
Leading Authorities, Inc. (1-800-SPEAKER): Located in DC, this agency’s featured speakers include Jack Kemp, Terry McAuliffe, Diane Rehm, Komen Foundation founder Nancy Brinker and Washington Post minority affairs columnist William Raspberry.
Keppler Speakers (703-516-4000): Founded in 1983, this locally-owned business connects event planners with speakers like author David Baldacci, Senator Tom Daschle, actor and author Ben Stein and Rita Dove, the United States’ first African-American poet laureate.
Speakers.com (410-897-1970): This website offers live support to help you identify a speaker to suit your needs. Or, if you have someone in mind, you can connect directly with the speaker or his or her agent to check availability and fees. DC-based speakers featured on the site include Jan Scruggs, a Vietnam War veteran who led the fundraising drive to construct the Vietnam Memorial, sociolinguist Deborah Tannen and Fox sportscaster James Brown.
Washington Speakers Bureau (703-684-0555): This Alexandria, Va.-based firm can help secure Washington notables like Madeleine Albright, Tucker Carlson, gymnast Dominique Dawes, author Richard Florida, Tom Ridge, George Stephanopoulos, former HP CEO Carly Fiorina and finance gurus The Motley Fool.
Universities: University professors can add insights to your panel discussions and deliver compelling speeches and presentations. Simply search on the university’s website for direct links to faculty who meet your needs. The directories are typically housed on each university’s media information page. Or, follow one of these shortcuts:
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