Sam Adams

Sam Adams offers three corporate keynote presentations. The first is titled, 'Seeing Your Success Through My Two I's.' The second is, 'Race To A Finish Line.' The third is, 'PRESS PASS.' Each presentation offers insights to Sam’s professional careers in journalism and entertainment. Both include anecdotes from Sam's career encounters with championship-winning sports figures and award-winning entertainers.

Pro Football Hall of Famer John Elway offered the following tribute for Sam's book titled, 'If You Don't Believe Me: Lessons Learned From Listening To The Greats': "Through the ups and downs of an NFL career, I developed great trust, respect and appreciation for Sam. Blending an uncanny ability to mix humor with keen insight and knowledge, Sam is a one-of-a-kind storyteller." 

Sam has more than 30 years of experience as a sports journalist, both in newspaper and television. In 2003, the Colorado Association of Black Journalists named Sam its Print Journalist of the Year award recipient. In 2019 Sam became the first African-American sports journalist ever inducted to the Hall of Fame for the prestigious Denver Press Club, the nation’s oldest press club. He has reported on many of the world's premier sporting events - from Olympiads to Super Bowls.

When Sam speaks to audiences about the importance of attaining goals and reaching higher levels of success, it's done so from personal experience. At age 30 in 1990, Sam quit his job as an insurance company office clerk so he could pursue a goal of becoming a full-time sports writer. 

The Denver Post hired Sam full-time in 1992. Within the next 10 years he reported on four Super Bowls, two Olympiads, an NHL Stanley Cup Finals, one NCAA basketball Final Four and a record-setting world heavyweight championship boxing match, working for The Post, Charlotte Observer and Rocky Mountain News.

In June 2009, at age 49 Sam made a full-time career transition to standup comedy. That year he was a prize winner at the Great American Comedy Festival. He has headlined shows across America, and opened for Grammy Award-winning performers - a list which includes Gladys Knight, Al Jarreau and David Sanborn. Video clips from Sam's 2017 Dry Bar Comedy special have attracted more than 40 million social media views world-wide. His second special for Dry Bar Comedy was released in 2022.

On pages and stages, Sam Adams has made an impact on his professions. And he continues to leave favorable impressions with his audiences across the country.

SEEING YOUR SUCCESS THROUGH MY TWO I's

Two I's: Impact. Impression. In this entertaining presentation, Sam utilizes his storytelling skills and career experiences to emphasize the importance of making a memorable 'IMPACT'' while leaving a favorable 'IMPRESSION' for your business success and personal endeavors.

The key takeaways from this presentation are: 

Preparation

Passion

Professionalism

Persistence vs. Patience

Preparation

RACE TO A FINISH LINE

This presentation captures Sam’s unique perspectives on diversity, and the delicate and volatile topic of race relations. By relating his personal experiences, which range from the high school he attended in Cleveland, Ohio to reporting on the Olympic Games from Sydney, Australia, Sam's storytelling inspires audiences to seek common ground, whether talking about or being confronted by racism. This presentation is suitable for all settings.

The key takeaways from this presentation are:

Recognize "Blind Spots" 

Acknowledge "Hurdles" 

Confront "Deafness"

Extend "Baton"