Jo Cavender served eight years with a Washington DC firm as Vice President of Training and Research prior to the startup of her own company in 1991, Speakers Connection, Inc. She holds an M.A. and B.S. in marketing and post secondary education and was a marketing and fashion merchandising instructor for 10 years. Jo is active at various levels of service in the International Association of Speakers Bureaus (IASB) from serving on the Board of Governors, to President in 2000. She received the top two awards in the industry: the Palmer Award in 2003, for outstanding contributions to the industry; and the Dottie Walters Helping Hands Award in 2002, for dedication and support to the industry. Jo has also served on the Ethics Committee of the IASB and was the only bureau owner to ever serve on the National Speakers Association (NSA)-Ethics Committee, a 3500-member organization. She regularly contributes to NSA's annual convention through panels and training sessions. Jo is one of the founding members of Women of Vision-Columbia Chapter (in conjunction with World Vision Intl) and served on the WOV-national board with a dedicated focus on raising funds for water wells in Africa and the establishment of microenterprise programs in Peru and other third world countries to create loan programs and offer business training for women-owned small business enterprises.

Karen Kendig founded Speakers Network in 1987, a national bureau booking speakers and celebrities. Before starting Speakers Network, Karen managed talent promotion at NBC-TV for over ten years, with responsibility for "The Cosby Show", "Today", "Saturday Night Live" and daytime soap operas. She also headed east coast media tours for the network's "movies of the week" and booked talent for the "Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade". Karen served as the network liaison with the NBC affiliates across the country and developed promotional news spots with Tom Brokaw and affiliate anchors. She also managed promotion for the on-air talent during a "Today Show" cruise on east coast and a week-long tour throughout the United States. Before joining NBC-TV, Karen produced a musical that was performed throughout the state of Ohio for three years, including a performance at the famous Ohio Theatre to open the Republican state convention. Following her role as producer, she held leading roles in the national touring company of the musical, Grease, performing throughout the US and Canada. She also appeared in the national tour of "Stop the World, I Want to Get Off" and the production of "Applause," with Dorothy Collins. Karen is a past president of the International Association of Speakers Bureaus. She currently serves on the board of directors of the Thurber House, and is active with many arts organizations. In addition, she regularly counsels healthcare organizations on promotional activities.

Larry Cavender joined Speakers On Healthcare in 2006 after having served as Vice President of Speakers Connection since its inception in 1991. Prior to entering the bureau business, he was the News Director for an NBC affiliate TV station in Memphis TN. He received his B.S. and M.S in marketing from the University of Memphis. He was also a founding member of the Acacia Fraternity. Career highlights include teaching high school and coaching a high school golf team, feeding his personal passion. If you don't find him in the office, check out the closest golf course and feel free to join him!