Patrick “Blake” Leeper

Overview:

We all face challenges and obstacles in pursuit of our personal and business dreams. For most of us, those are day to day frustrations to which we often attribute far more weight than we should. For others, like Blake Leeper, those obstacles include being born without legs. “Why me?!” – most people might lament if faced with such a daunting challenge, but not Blake. Instead, he chooses to take control of his own destiny every day by saying to himself, ‘Why not me? I’m strong enough for this! I’m smart enough for this! I can do this!’ And the boy who was not born to run has turned himself into one of the fastest men in the world. Listen to Blake share both his remarkable story and how the principles of perspective, accountability, teamwork and resilience have guided his life from disability, to extraordinary accomplishment.

BIO:

BLAKE LEEPER
Patrick “Blake” Leeper is an eight-time Paralympic Track and Field international medalist, world record holder and three-time American record holder. In June of 2018, running in a field of able-bodied runners, he shattered his own world record in the 400 meters, coming in at 44.42 seconds, becoming the fastest blade runner in history.

Born without legs from a congenital birth defect, Leeper did not start racing until 2010. It was at his first ever race that he caught the attention of the Director of High Performance for U.S. Paralympics Track and Field, who convinced his parents to let their son move into the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, California, where he started his habit of winning. That’s when Leeper left the University of Tennessee to embark on a journey that no one could envision for a kid from Tennessee born without legs. He began to run, and run fast, all over the world.

Leeper’s medal collection now includes one gold, six silver and one bronze. Over his career, he hopes to win more medals than any Paralympic athlete in track and field history, and perhaps more importantly, to become the first American track and field athlete to qualify for the able-bodied Olympic Games.

Now a seasoned veteran of the speaking stage, Blake Leeper regularly shares his inspiring story to audiences across the country and a vibrant example that indeed, Anything Is Possible. 

Moderator – Jennifer Silvis

Overview:

Panelists explore sustainability as it relates to the senior living industry and offer insight on how to approach meaningful change within your communities as well as how to begin the conversations with owners, supplier partners and residents alike.

Moderator: Jennifer Silvis, Content Director, Healthcare Design Magazine a subsidiary of Emerald X, LLC.

Panelists:
Albert Castaneda, Point Development/Arete Living – Chief Development Officer
Parker Lacy, Trilogy Health Services – VP, Facilities Management
Jeff Halper, Ryan Companies – VP, Procurement