Conference Keynote Speaker in Chicago, IL
Opening and closing keynotes for Chicago conferences, conventions, and annual meetings
Chris N. Cheetham-West, MBA, is an international conference keynote speaker, former Google marketing manager, and author available for trade shows, association conferences, and corporate meetings across the Chicago area. His keynotes help attendees use AI in everyday work, communicate what sets their brands apart, and build stronger customer relationships. Chris tailors the session to the people in the room, from manufacturing leaders and distributors to association members and national sales teams.
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Keynotes for Chicago conferences and conventions
Planning a trade show at McCormick Place, an association annual meeting downtown, or a sales conference near O’Hare? Chris can build the keynote around what your attendees came to learn. At a manufacturing trade show, he could demonstrate how AI can turn a shift handoff into a list of follow-up tasks for supervisors to review. At an association conference, members could learn to describe their expertise more clearly in a LinkedIn profile or a networking introduction. At a distributor sales meeting, teams could practice turning a product feature into a reason for the customer to take the next meeting.
Conference keynote topics
The Future of Business
For annual conferences, industry summits, and audiences with a mix of roles
How is AI changing the way customers find businesses and the way teams work? Chris connects those shifts to decisions leaders and professionals are making now. Attendees leave with a clearer picture of what to watch in their industry and one opportunity they can explore in their own organization.
Explore The Future of Business keynote
AI in the Workplace
For conferences where attendees have different levels of AI experience
Through practical demonstrations, Chris shows how professionals can use AI to prepare for meetings, turn notes into action items, or make sense of information. Attendees learn how to give AI better instructions, review the output, and choose an everyday task where it could save time.
Future-Proof Your Marketing
For marketing conferences, business associations, and growth-focused events
Customers discover brands through search engines, social platforms, and AI tools. Chris shows how to make your business easier to find and evaluate across those channels. Attendees leave with ideas for making their content clearer, reaching the right audience, and measuring what’s working.
Explore marketing conference topics
Branding and Personal Branding
For leadership conferences, industry associations, and entrepreneur events
What do you want people to remember about you or your business? Chris shows attendees how to clarify what sets them apart and communicate it consistently, from their LinkedIn profile and website to the way they introduce themselves. Attendees leave with a clearer way to explain what they do, who they help, and why it matters.
Sales Growth Strategies That Drive Results
For sales conferences, kickoffs, and franchise conventions
Chris shares practical ways to ask better discovery questions, communicate value, and follow up with prospects. Attendees identify habits they can use to build trust and keep customer conversations moving between meetings.
Loyalty Unlocked
For customer experience conferences, service teams, and franchise groups
Chris shows how everyday interactions shape whether customers return and recommend a business. Attendees learn to spot friction in the customer journey and choose one interaction they can improve, from the first inquiry to follow-up after a purchase.
Explore the customer experience keynote
Leading in a Changing Work Environment
For leadership conferences, executive summits, and management meetings
Chris shares ways leaders can communicate clearly, set expectations, and keep teams connected when priorities or ways of working change. Attendees leave with practices they can use in their next team meeting or one-on-one.
Explore leadership and hybrid work topics
A keynote that fits your conference agenda
- Opening keynote. Introduce the conference theme and give attendees a shared question to explore throughout the event.
- Closing keynote. Connect ideas from the program to specific actions attendees can take back to work.
- Keynote with a breakout or workshop. Give attendees time to practice a skill from the main stage, such as writing a better AI prompt or reworking a sales follow-up.
- In-person, virtual, and hybrid events. Discuss session length, audience participation, and the setup for attendees joining remotely when planning the program.
Meet Chris N. Cheetham-West, MBA
Chris is an international speaker, author, and founder of Houston-based LR Training Solutions. At Google, he managed marketing programs for key products. He has presented in 48 U.S. states and internationally, including in Canada, Germany, and France. He is the author of Digital Marketing for Results and Leading in a Virtual World.
His presentations combine stories, practical business examples, and audience interaction. A leadership summit might explore how managers can help their teams adopt a new tool, while an association conference might focus on how industry trends are changing what members’ customers expect.
Hear from attendees
I learned quite a few new tidbits to take back to the credit union.
— Andrea D., marketing conference attendee
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Frequently asked questions
Does Chris speak at conferences outside downtown Chicago?
Yes. Chris is available for Chicago-area events, including meetings near O’Hare, in Rosemont, and in the suburbs. Include your venue or host city and the planned session format when you inquire.
Can Chris customize the keynote for our conference?
Yes. Share the event theme, attendee roles, and what you want people to do after the session. Chris can tailor the examples, audience activities, and takeaways to your industry and the audience’s experience level.
Can we pair a main-stage keynote with a breakout session?
Yes. An opening keynote can introduce a topic such as AI adoption or personal branding. A follow-up breakout can give attendees time to try a workflow or develop a message they can use in their next meeting.
How long is a conference keynote?
Share your agenda when you inquire. Chris can discuss how much time to set aside for the presentation, audience Q&A, and any follow-on breakout or workshop.
How much does it cost to book Chris for a conference?
Request a quote with your date, event location or virtual format, and preferred session. Include any additional sessions you’re considering so the quote can reflect the full program.
How do we check availability or request a proposal?
Share your conference name, date, Chicago venue or virtual format, estimated attendance, and the topics you’re considering. If your committee is still choosing a theme, tell Chris what you want attendees to take away so you can discuss which session fits.
Book a keynote speaker for your Chicago conference
Tell us who’s coming, what’s on the agenda, and what you want attendees to take back to work.
