Biography

John “Izzy” Israel is an internationally requested speaker on youth achievement. His ability to connect with audiences through laughter and personal stories makes him a must on every youth program. After experiencing several reality checks as a young person, John knows a thing or two about perseverance.

He was, and is today, an avid skateboarder. Although several of John’s friends never even graduated high school, John finished with honors and was accepted to Gonzaga University in Washington state. After almost dropping out of college to pursue a career in professional skateboarding, John learned the value of hard work and discipline. As a 19 year old, John obtained a job as a salesman for Cutco knives. He earned several scholarships from the company based on sales performance allowing him to cover his tuition and graduate with a degree in Exercise Science/Kinesiology.

John was inducted into the Cutco Hall of Fame at 24 years young (the top 0.1% in company history). He is most known for his ability to network, and has been asked to speak and train college students all over the country on entrepreneurial skills.  He is co-author of Cutting Edge Sales, and is currently completing his 2nd book How to Skate Through College: Your Personal Cheat Sheet to College Success