We Get To®Inspire Speaker Series
After surviving two plane crashes and experiencing unimaginable loss, University of Michigan Basketball alum, Austin Hatch, spent months in a coma and had to relearn how to walk and talk.Through his G.R.I.T. (Growth Mindset, Resilience, Integrity, and Team First) framework, he fought his way back to achieve his dream of playing basketball at U of M.
Today, he shares a message of resilience, perspective, and purpose. Join us to learn more about the Get To Foundation and hear Austin’s inspiring message. This year’s events will be held in Detroit and Grand Rapids.
We Get To Inspire 2026 Speaker Series with Austin Hatch
We Get To Inspire Series 2025 Keynote Speaker
Chris Singleton is a former professional baseball player whose life was forever changed by an unimaginable personal tragedy. Choosing love over hate, Chris transformed his pain into a powerful mission—becoming a nationally renowned speaker, author, and advocate for hope, unity, and racial reconciliation. His message has inspired audiences everywhere, from Fortune 500 boardrooms to professional sports arenas.
Through his work, Chris reminds us that even in the face of heartbreak, we each have the power to bring people together, foster understanding, and create positive change. His story is a testament to resilience, the strength of the human spirit, and the belief that love is stronger than hate.
How the "Get To" attitude changed a life
2024 Speaker Series
Damon West is a former college quarterback, sentenced to life in prison, who transformed his life while incarcerated. Now a world renown motivational speaker, best-selling author, and college professor, Damon shares his powerful story of redemption, resilience, and the transformative power of a positive mindset.During his time in prison, Damon embraced the philosophy of becoming a "coffee bean"—influencing and changing his environment rather than letting it change him. In a way, Damon shifted his perspective from “have to” to “get to", embracing the chance turn adversity into something positive.
The Opportunity of a Lifetime
Jon Gordon’s best-selling books and talks have inspired readers and audiences around the world. His principles have been put to the test by numerous Fortune 500 companies, professional and college sports teams, school districts, hospitals, and non-profits. He is the author of 27 books including 14 best sellers and 5 children’s books. His books include the timeless classic The Energy Bus which has sold over 2 million copies, The Carpenter which was a top 5 business book of the year, Training Camp, The Power of Positive Leadership, The Power of a Positive Team, The Coffee Bean, Stay Positive, and The Garden. Jon and his tips have been featured on The Today Show, CNN, CNBC, The Golf Channel, Fox and Friends and in numerous magazines and newspapers. His clients include The Los Angeles Dodgers, Campbell’s Soup, Dell, Publix, Southwest Airlines, Miami Heat, The Los Angeles Rams, Snapchat, Truist Bank, Clemson Football, Northwestern Mutual, West Point Academy and more.
2023: Learn How To Live “Get To®”
As a part of the We Get To Inspire speaking series, the Get To® Foundation hosted Jon Gordon, National Bestselling Author & Keynote Speaker at Lawrence Tech University on Tuesday, October 17 2023. The event was FREE to all area 600+ students, coaches, teachers and families in attendance.
We are so grateful Jon could share his message with our group and leave a profound impact on all who were able to attend. His message emphasized the power of positive leadership and teamwork to overcome the challenges in our lives, finding the "Get To" spirit in each moment we encounter.
2022 Keynote Speaker John O'leary
Reflections from our 2022 Keynote Speaker John O'leary
Words to live by...
John shared his lifechanging story with hundreds of students and and families in Detroit in August 2022. His words left us all "on fire" to live a more intentional, joyful, and impactful life.
Here are a few words about the event from John:
"Last night, I had the honor of joining hundreds of student-athletes and their families just outside of Detroit at an event put on by the Get To® Foundation.
The Get To® Foundation honors the life and legacy of Ben Jones who passed away in a car accident in August 2020 at the age of 30. Ben was a loving son, a caring brother, a trusted friend, and a hard-working football player and coach. And while that alone is worthy of celebration, what made Ben so special was the approach he took toward all areas of his life.
A specific motto of Ben’s life was “get to….”
His unwavering outlook was not that he “had to” do something, but that he had the opportunity and chance to “get to” do something special. It was a feeling of hope, a want to go into battle, and drive to take something on with enthusiasm.
My friends, ‘getting’ to do something is so much more liberating than ‘having’ to do something. So often in life, though, that simple notion of “I get to” degrades into “I have to.” I HAVE to go to work. I HAVE to make dinner. I HAVE to pick up the kids from school. I HAVE to forgive him or her.
But how would our lives- and the lives of those around us- be positively impacted if we looked at obligations and obstacles not as challenges to overcome but as opportunities to celebrate?
I GET to go to work.
I GET to make dinner.
I GET to pick up the kids from school.
I GET to forgive him or her.
Today, let’s model Ben Jones’ legacy.
Let’s shift our perspective from “Have To” to “Get To.”
It will change the thoughts, words and actions we take after.And it’s sure to make our tomorrow even better than today."
