The Truth Behind the Motivational Speaker with the Stranger-than-Fiction Story… He may not be the poster boy for firearms safety, but he sure can tell a story. Meet Ken Futch, professional speaker, humorist, career coach, author and survivor of his own life. As president of Ken Futch and Associates, an Atlanta-based training company that teaches organizations and individuals how to turn situations into opportunities and opportunity into success, Ken has trained more than 100,000 people in seminars held throughout North America and Europe.

Ken founded his company in 1986 after 11 years in sales and management with at&t, where he bested a group of 6,000 salespeople to become the No. 1 revenue producer, which led to his selection as the top instructor at AT&T’s prestigious National Sales School in Denver, CO. A past president of the Georgia Speakers Association and a former Toastmasters International humor champion, he delivers more than 100 high-impact programs each year for such internationally recognized companies as Aflac, Coca-Cola, GE, Lockheed, PepsiCo, Sony, USF&G, Volvo and, of course, AT&T.

Though he counts his education as starting at his father’s ESSO station in his native Burgaw, N.C., Ken graduated from the University of North Carolina with a bachelor’s of science in business administration.A believer in lifelong learning, he has worked through the years to continue his education. After being drafted out of college into the U.S. Army, Ken graduated from Officer Candidate School and successfully served as a combat platoon leader in Vietnam. And in 1993, he earned the designation of Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) from the National Speakers Association, a five-year education and experiential process.He is the author of Take Your Best Shot, a book that uses his most famous mishap—accidentally shooting himself in the head—as a springboard for teaching readers how to “turn situations into opportunities.” Published in 2005, the book weaves Ken’s multiple experiences into a tapestry of career and life advice.