Thursday Opening Session
INTENSE COMPETITION?
The “Keys to Perseverance” from the Iron Man of Major League Baseball
 Watch a video now 
Baseball’s “Most Consecutive Games Played” Legend
Cal Ripken is baseball's all-time “Iron Man.” He retired from baseball in October 2001 after 21
seasons with the Baltimore Orioles. His name appears in the record books repeatedly, most
notably as one of only eight players in history to achieve 400 home runs and 3,000 hits. In 1995,
Ripken broke Lou Gehrig's record for consecutive games played (2,130), and he voluntarily ended
his streak in 1998 after playing 2,632 consecutive games. Although he finished his career at third
base, this future Hall of Famer is still best known for redefining the position of shortstop.
Ripken's name has become synonymous with strength, character, endurance, and integrity. His philosophy of working hard,
playing with passion, and enjoying the game has made a tremendous impact on the sport, and on fans everywhere.
Ripken will be the Keynote Speaker at SSA’s Fall Conference (September 4-6 at the Rio All-Suites Hotel in Las Vegas). He’ll
impart some wit and wisdom as he shares invaluable tips on persevering in all walks of life. This may be a year of challenge
for us as storage owners, and Ripken’s advice should be invaluable to everyone.
In 2004, Cal and Bill Ripken collaborated on a book, Play Baseball the Ripken Way. The book, which was a bestseller,
serves as a comprehensive baseball instructional book for parents, coaches, and kids, and covers all aspects of the game,
including how to run an effective practice, and the Ripken philosophy of fun and good sportsmanship. Ripken’s newest book
is on the subject of sports parenting, Parenting Young Athletes the Ripken Way: Ensuring the Best Experience for Your Kids in
Any Sport.
Most recently, Ripken was named a special envoy for the US State Department, promoting teamwork and cross-cultural
communication.
Come to Vegas…and hear a real pro teach about perseverance, integrity, strength, character, and endurance! |
Friday Keynote Session
- Fresh from the GOP National Convention earlier in the week,
two of Washington's top political commentators give an up-to-the-minute
handicap of the 2008 elections.
After a political baptism as a college student working for Robert Kennedy’s 1968 campaign and a
tour of duty in the Peace Corps, Bob Beckel became a deputy assistant Secretary of State in the
Carter Administration, where he steered the controversial Panama Canal Treaties through Congress.
He then moved to the Carter White House to head the administration’s effort to press Congress into
passing the Mideast and SALT II Treaties. A contributing columnist for The Los Angeles Times during
the last three presidential campaigns, Beckel has been A regular guest on CNN’s Crossfire and
worked as a senior political analyst for CBS This Morning. He also co-hosted Crossfire Sunday with Lynne Cheney for three
years and was a guest host for Larry King Live. Currently, Beckel is the regular Democratic political analyst for Fox News
Channel’s Hannity & Colmes as well as for numerous other shows on Fox Cable. He is a syndicated columnist with
Tribune Media Services and teaches advanced political strategy at The George Washington University Graduate School of
Political Management.
Tony Blankley is a regular panelist on The McLaughlin Group and appears regularly on CNN’s
Crossfire, as well as MSNBC’s Hardball with Chris Matthews, Rivera Live, and Fox News’ Hannity & Colmes. He served President Reagan as a speechwriter and senior policy analyst, and later for
seven years as press secretary to Newt Gingrich during Gingrich's tenure as Speaker of the
House. After leaving Gingrich’s office in 1997, Blankley joined John F. Kennedy Jr.’s George
magazine as a contributing editor, writing a monthly column “Between the Lines." In 1999,
Blankley joined The Washington Times as a weekly political columnist. In 2005, his first book, The
West's Last Chance: Will We Win the Clash of Civilizations?, was on The New York Times bestsellers
list. |
Saturday Closing Session
“Self Storage Customers as Partners: Why Customer Service is NOT Enough”
After a political baptism as a college student working for Robert Kennedy’s 1968 campaign and a
tour of duty in the Peace Corps, Bob Beckel became a deputy assistant Secretary of State in the
Carter Administration, where he steered the controversial Panama Canal Treaties through Congress.
He then moved to the Carter White House to head the administration’s effort to press Congress into
passing the Mideast and SALT II Treaties. A contributing columnist for The Los Angeles Times during
the last three presidential campaigns, Beckel has been A regular guest on CNN’s Crossfire and
worked as a senior political analyst for CBS This Morning. He also co-hosted Crossfire Sunday with Lynne Cheney for three
years and was a guest host for Larry King Live. Currently, Beckel is the regular Democratic political analyst for Fox News
Channel’s Hannity & Colmes as well as for numerous other shows on Fox Cable. He is a syndicated columnist with
Tribune Media Services and teaches advanced political strategy at The George Washington University Graduate School of
Political Management. |
September 4, 2008
September 5, 2008
Tony Blankley
September 6, 2008