From trafficking victim to TEDx Speaker…
Ria did not get a head start in life. Leaving home at 19 to escape being sexually abused and trafficked by her father, Ria shares her compelling story of transformation from trafficking victim to top leadership trainer and TEDx speaker, delivering a message of hope and inspiring audiences to remember that what happens to us doesn’t define us.
Ria understands first hand the frustration and challenges leaders face. Ria understands, from experience, the discouragement of vague, confusing, and theoretical “leadership” materials that don’t help you understand how to develop the team you want to lead and become the leader they want to follow. Ria understands the sacrifices of leadership and she believes leaders deserve simple and effective leadership tools that will help them be successful. Ria specializes in helping you Become the Leader You are Destined to Be.®
Ria, along with her husband Mack, (Founder of Blue-Collar Leadership®) has trained thousands of leaders across the country and internationally. Ria teaches leadership and success principles in a real, relatable, and practical way helping you become the leader you are destined to be.®
Ria is a certified leadership speaker and trainer, and holds a Master’s degree in Business, a Bachelor’s degree in Human Resource Management, and an Associates degree in Office Management, all with a 4.0 GPA.
Ria is the author of 21 books and journals on personal growth and leadership topics.
Highlights of Ria’s Journey:
- Speaking at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.
- Presented on Leadership at Yale University
- Sharing her story and about the work of helping sex trafficking survivors heal with Presidential Advisor Ivanka Trump and Attorney General Barr
- Appearing as a guest on Dr. Phil’s Primetime show as an advocate for survivors of sexual violence
- Teaching leadership for Prison Fellowship’s Warden Exchange Program for Prison Wardens both in the U.S. and internationally
- Certified John Maxwell Leadership Coach, Speaker, and Trainer
- TEDx Speaker
- Selected three times to speak on stage at International John Maxwell events
- Served with John Maxwell, training 20,000 leaders in Guatemala as part of the Leadership Cultural Transformation Initiative
- Published author of 21 books including Leadership Gems for Women and Beyond Bound and Broken
- Member of the Georgia Statewide Human Trafficking Taskforce
- Volunteer Speaker/Instructor for Wellspring Living (a nonprofit serving victims of human trafficking)
- Co-founded Top Story Leadership
- Leadership Lee County Alum
- Georgia and Alabama State Mountain Bike Champion 2011 & 2012
- Multiple Marathon (26.2 mile run) Finisher & Boston Qualifier
- Certified International Les Mills Group Fitness Instructor
- Invited to share the stage with Motivational Speaker Les Brown in Los Angeles, CA
- Mentored personally by Les Brown
- Earned three degrees with a 4.0 cumulative GPA, including her MBA from Auburn University Montgomery
- Certified as a Professional Coder, Healthcare Compliance Professional, and Professional Medical Auditor
- Promoted to Director of Regulatory Affairs and Compliance for a large hospital organization with responsibility for several million dollars in Medicare appeals, thousands of organizational policies, and compliance with state and federal regulations for hundreds of providers
- Served on the statewide Revenue Integrity Committee/Regulatory Auditors Committee
