ABOUT AL
Al Walker is president of Al Walker and Associates, Inc., a multi-disipline human resource development firm dedicated to helping businesses and individuals solve problems through professional speaking, training, consulting and coaching services. Al and his organization specialize in results-oriented training programs. They have conducted over 2000 training clinics, workshops, seminars and programs for organizations in the United States, Europe, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. Al is a masterful teacher and is nationally recognized for his unique, fun-loving, humorous approach to speaking and teaching.
Al is a 13th generation South Carolinian who grew up around some very bright people who were well educated yet could spin a yarn with the best of them. OK, a couple of them went to Clemson but the other Furman, Citadel, Lander, Winthrop and Carolina grads were bright enough to keep the overall smarts fairly high. Al is the first generation on both sides of his family not to have been raised on a farm but he spent many a summer working on his grandparents dairy farm outside of Edgefield, SC plus, his daddy made sure Al knew how to plow with a mule, a skill Al says he's never needed but if he ever does, he's ready. Al earned a business degree from the University of South Carolina in 1969. After graduation, since his family had been involved with residential development and housing construction, he joined a residential building and development corporation...not the family business, but a competitor. Within two years as head of sales and marketing, the firm was the highest dollar volume residential builder in South Carolina. During that time, Al was strongly encouraged to attend a Dale Carnegie course and had no idea when he signed up that he was destined to have a long, successful career in the speaking and training and development industry. He soon joined the Dale Carnegie training organization full time and for five years sold and taught their programs throughout South Carolina. He quickly became one of the top-rated instructors in the organization. In October, 1981, he started his own company and began offering public training classes in his hometown of Columbia, SC. Bob James, one of Al's mentors told him about a meeting he had attended and told Al he should join that organization. Al had never heard of The National Speakers Association (NSA) but because he had so much respect for Bob, he joined in 1982. Today, he and his organizations international client list for which he has spoken or conducted training, includes Kellogg's, Michelin, Southeastern Freight Lines, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Wal-Mart, and a virtual ton of National, Regional and State Associations in such areas as Agriculture, Education, Credit Unions, Chambers of Commerce, Non-Profits, Banking, Insurance, Food Services, Supermarkets, Convenience Stores, Hospitals, Health Care, Mining, and on and on. Al’s articles on leadership, sales, customer service and personal development have appeared in professional publications throughout the world.
He is a former Regional Vice President for Sales and Marketing Executives International from which he earned the designation Certified Sales Executive. He served on SMEI’s Foundation Board of Directors. Al is past president of the National Speakers Association and has served as Chairman of the NSA Foundation Board of Trustees. He is currently the Chair of the Professional Speakers Benefit Fund (PSBF). He has earned the designation of Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) from NSA and his NSA colleagues inducted him into the prestigious Council of Peers Award for Excellence (CPAE) Speakers Hall of Fame which is the highest recognition in professional speaking. There are less than 150 CPAE’s in the world today. Al's colleagues recognized his service to the speaking industry by awarding him "The Cavett", the National Speakers Association’s highest and most cherished award presented annually to the member who has rendered exceptional service to the speaking industry and the association. He has also received the Master of Influence Award for the impact his speaking has had on others around the world.
In addition, Al says his biggest claim to fame is being the husband of Margaret Walker, Father to Amy & Janna, Father in law to Eddie and Pat, Grandfather (Pop) to Madison, Bella and Liza, son to Bee Walker and brother to Anne, Tim and Wes Walker. He owns golf clubs, tennis racquets, fly rods and a set of horseshoes, none of which he does very well but has a great time participating in those activities. He's active in his church and in Rotary where he is a Paul Harris Fellow.
Al is a 13th generation South Carolinian who grew up around some very bright people who were well educated yet could spin a yarn with the best of them. OK, a couple of them went to Clemson but the other Furman, Citadel, Lander, Winthrop and Carolina grads were bright enough to keep the overall smarts fairly high. Al is the first generation on both sides of his family not to have been raised on a farm but he spent many a summer working on his grandparents dairy farm outside of Edgefield, SC plus, his daddy made sure Al knew how to plow with a mule, a skill Al says he's never needed but if he ever does, he's ready. Al earned a business degree from the University of South Carolina in 1969. After graduation, since his family had been involved with residential development and housing construction, he joined a residential building and development corporation...not the family business, but a competitor. Within two years as head of sales and marketing, the firm was the highest dollar volume residential builder in South Carolina. During that time, Al was strongly encouraged to attend a Dale Carnegie course and had no idea when he signed up that he was destined to have a long, successful career in the speaking and training and development industry. He soon joined the Dale Carnegie training organization full time and for five years sold and taught their programs throughout South Carolina. He quickly became one of the top-rated instructors in the organization. In October, 1981, he started his own company and began offering public training classes in his hometown of Columbia, SC. Bob James, one of Al's mentors told him about a meeting he had attended and told Al he should join that organization. Al had never heard of The National Speakers Association (NSA) but because he had so much respect for Bob, he joined in 1982. Today, he and his organizations international client list for which he has spoken or conducted training, includes Kellogg's, Michelin, Southeastern Freight Lines, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Wal-Mart, and a virtual ton of National, Regional and State Associations in such areas as Agriculture, Education, Credit Unions, Chambers of Commerce, Non-Profits, Banking, Insurance, Food Services, Supermarkets, Convenience Stores, Hospitals, Health Care, Mining, and on and on. Al’s articles on leadership, sales, customer service and personal development have appeared in professional publications throughout the world.
He is a former Regional Vice President for Sales and Marketing Executives International from which he earned the designation Certified Sales Executive. He served on SMEI’s Foundation Board of Directors. Al is past president of the National Speakers Association and has served as Chairman of the NSA Foundation Board of Trustees. He is currently the Chair of the Professional Speakers Benefit Fund (PSBF). He has earned the designation of Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) from NSA and his NSA colleagues inducted him into the prestigious Council of Peers Award for Excellence (CPAE) Speakers Hall of Fame which is the highest recognition in professional speaking. There are less than 150 CPAE’s in the world today. Al's colleagues recognized his service to the speaking industry by awarding him "The Cavett", the National Speakers Association’s highest and most cherished award presented annually to the member who has rendered exceptional service to the speaking industry and the association. He has also received the Master of Influence Award for the impact his speaking has had on others around the world.
In addition, Al says his biggest claim to fame is being the husband of Margaret Walker, Father to Amy & Janna, Father in law to Eddie and Pat, Grandfather (Pop) to Madison, Bella and Liza, son to Bee Walker and brother to Anne, Tim and Wes Walker. He owns golf clubs, tennis racquets, fly rods and a set of horseshoes, none of which he does very well but has a great time participating in those activities. He's active in his church and in Rotary where he is a Paul Harris Fellow.
