Dave Stevens to keynote Southwest Florida Blue Chip Community Business awards

Dave Stevens, motivational speaker, has been selected as the keynote speaker for the 24th Annual Southwest Florida Blue Chip Community luncheon. Sponsored by McGriff Insurance Services and BB&T Bank, the event will take place on Thursday, Nov. 1 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort and Spa and will recognize small business owners in Lee, Collier and Charlotte counties who have overcome adversity to achieve success.

From the beginning, the odds were stacked against Stevens; He was born with two flipper-like appendages where his legs should be to a 15-year old biological mother. But a rough start didn’t define his story. At age 2, after being adopted as an infant, the Shriners provided Stevens with artificial legs—kickstarting his journey and love of sports. Fast forward, Stevens was a record-setting three-sport athlete in high school and college, playing football, baseball and wrestling and also played football for Team USA—with no legs.

In 1996, Stevens made professional sports history, signing a 3-week minor league contract with the St. Paul Saints becoming one of the few players to ever pinch hit for Darryl Strawberry. Now, as a highly sought after professional motivational speaker who shares his inspirational story with audiences worldwide, Stevens proves physical limitations don’t have to limit your dreams or reality and that you can overcome any obstacle and live your “impossible” dream.

Following his accomplished athletic career, Stevens worked at ESPN for more than 20 years as the assignment desk manager, then as a coverage editor. Here, he has had to opportunity to cover 14 Super Bowls, three World Series, three NCAA Final Fours, and various other sporting events. Stevens is an ambassador athlete for the Dave Clark Foundation, which hosts baseball clinics for disabled children nationwide and co-hosts a Celebrity Amputee Golf tournament yearly in Orlando. He is also a five-year member of the Wounded Warrior Amputee Football Team, playing as Quarterback and Defensive Lineman. Last year, Stevens began co-authoring his autobiography with Karen Holt.

For more on Stevens go to: davestevensspeaks.com.

For information on the Blue Chip luncheon or to submit an application, please contact Stacey Mercado at (239) 433-7189 or SMercado@mcgriffinsurance.com.