Biography
Barbara Schaefer and Liz Parrish are renowned authors, instructors and sled dog mushers, and bring all that together for your audience to provide a presentation your group will never forget!
Liz & Barb's keynotes and seminars are based on life experiences with sled dogs which deeply connect with audiences. They use powerful metaphors to convey real-life obstacles and achievement. Liz & Barb bring to your group a unique mix of incredible inspiring stories of determination and perseverance against impossible odds, as well as readily applicable key learnings your group can put to use immediately. In their inspirational messages, your audience will learn how to focus to build confidence and release fear, and how to unleash their potential, how to connect with their passion and drive, and how to achieve their personal and professional goals.
What Clients are Saying:
“You only have to spend a few minutes with Liz as she tells her life stories to feel the magic. From the history of an injured puppy who found the heart and courage to become a lead dog in the Iditarod, to the real-life reminiscences of a woman who survived cancer as a child and who lives with multiple physical challenges, Liz captures the rapt attention of young and old alike in both formal and informal presentations.
Most of the Alaskan huskies on her team are bigger and stronger than Liz. But Liz and her story of what it took for her to train her own team and qualify for the Iditarod is truly bigger than life itself. Prepare yourself for an amazing adventure—even more magnificent because it is a real success story that had a most unlikely beginning.”
Jan Kelley, Activites Program Manager, Running Y Ranch Resort, a JELD-WEN company
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"Barbara, Your enthusiasm and knowledge is wonderful. Our conference attendees were delighted with your energy and inspired by your message. We at the Foundation appreciate the high level of expertise and professionalism you bring to your presentations and to your work in the field. In addition to your abilities as a speaker, you engage both audience and clinic participants with your excitement, attention to detail, and team building skills. It is always a pleasure working with you!"
Eileen Burke-Trent, Executive Director Fourteen Angels Foundation, Inc.
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Who are Barb Schaefer and Liz Parrish and what do they bring to your event?
Barbara Schaefer has devoted over 22 years to breeding, training and running champion Siberian Huskies for show and as sled dogs, while simultaneously pursuing a successful career in management with Pacific Gas and Electric and Swift Communications. Her dogs have won numerous awards and accolades, including one of her dogs being chosen to play the lead dog “Maya” in the Disney movie Eight Below.
Barb and her dogs are featured on Discovery Channel’s Animal Planet “Breed All About It, Siberian Husky” and can be seen on Comcast’s “Profiles” and in numerous magazines including Life, Sierra Heritage and Sierra Alive.
To see further details on the numerous awards given Barb and her dogs please visit our speaking website.
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Liz Parrish accomplished a successful high-tech career in a variety of start-up and large corporation management positions when she was smitten with the mushing addiction. She started training her house pets to be sled dogs in 1998; ten years later she started and finished the 2008 Iditarod with her own team that she trained from scratch as a celebration of her 50th birthday.
From a challenging start beating childhood cancer, chronic health conditions such as scoliosis, fibromyalgia and clotting disorders, and zero sled dog experience, she developed a lifetime of learnings and skills to accomplish her dream…with the wholehearted help of her incredible sled dogs.
More details on Liz’s personal and professional background can be found on our speaking website.
Praise for their newest book, Be the Lead Dog:
“These fascinating tales from the sled dog trail illustrate the universality of the principles of success—from the Iditarod to the board room. I relearned some valuable lessons reading it.”
Jack Canfield, featured teacher in The Secret, co-author of The Success Principles, and co-creator of the #1 New York Times bestselling Chicken Soup for the Soul® series
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"Be the Lead Dog is a great book and is filled with stories and key takeaways that will make you and your organization more effective than ever before. Being the lead dog is truly the way to go…and Barbara and Liz will show you how to get there!”
Jonathan Sprinkles, Voted Speaker of the Year (APCA), Voted Mentor of the Year (Walt Disney Company), Voted Marketer of the Year (JMI, Inc) www.JonathanSprinkles.com
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“As a former Marine, I thought I was pretty tough…that was until I was introduced to Liz & Barb! With hard-hitting tips taken directly from their experience training sled dogs, Be the Lead Dog is both a practical and inspirational guide to becoming a passionate, effective leader at any level. Get this book & read it. After dog-earing the transformational strategies (pun intended), then apply them & see the difference this book makes in your relationships, your business, and your life!”
Ed Rush, Former Marine Corps F-18 Pilot, Speaker, Author, & Coach, www.EdRush.com
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More Client Testimonials:
“Liz was, by far, one of the best speakers we ever had at a Becoming an Outdoors-Woman workshop in Oregon and I would recommend her to anyone else who is looking for a dynamic speaker who can totally engage the audience with her adventures, personal achievements and total passion...one of the most inspirational and motivation presentations I ever heard!”
Nancy Smogor, Oregon BOW Program Director
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“Liz Parrish is a dynamic speaker and community partner. Without a doubt, Liz Parrish has an enthralling story to tell, and has the ability to engage an audience, young and old. Those who hear her story will be inspired to pursue their own dreams, in spite of personal adversity.”
Wendy Millard, Past President, Kiwanis Club of Klamath Falls
