Dr. Kurke has established an international reputation as a highly motivating speaker and trainer.  He is co-principal of Kurke & Associates, Inc., a consulting practice based in Pittsburgh, PA that supports Dr. Kurke’s ability to deliver customized talks about creativity, strategy, and reframing reality.  The hallmark of his deliveries is the fact that the social world can be completely recreated when leaders understand simple principles.  In addition to his speaking engagements, he has created and delivered leadership development programs for the Fortune 500, the US Government, and numerous organizations of all kinds. Part of Dr. Kurke’s success in addressing leaders is his success as a leader himself.  He has been the President of the CEO Club of Pittsburgh, the President of his own consulting firm, and a phenomenally successful academic administrator in a series of roles.  His prestigious career in academe, concluded as the Academic Director of the MBA Programs, a Professor of Leadership and Strategy in the Graduate School of Business at Duquesne University, and an Adjunct Professor at the H. John Heinz III School of Public Policy and Management at Carnegie Mellon University—a post he retains.  It is noteworthy that Dr. Kurke conceived of, recruited a team, developed, and found funding for the world’s first accredited MBA program to integrate concepts of sustainability throughout the MBA curriculum.  He not only did this in one year, but at the end of 16 months that MBA program was ranked eighth in the world by the Aspen Institute.   He is the recipient of numerous teaching awards and has over 50 publications.  AMACOM published his book, The Wisdom of Alexander the Great: Enduring Leadership Lessons from the Man Who Created an Empire, in 2004.  It reached # 17 at Amazon.com in the history section, was featured at The Economist website, the Stanford University Business School Alumni website, is available in nine languages and appears on the recommended reading list for U.S. Army Officers. Dr. Kurke earned his BS from Stetson University and his MBA, MA, and Ph. D. from the Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell University.  He served on the faculties of Carnegie Mellon University’s Tepper Graduate School of Industrial Administration as well as the Babcock Graduate School of Management at Wake Forest University.  He has also held two international faculty appointments in Hungary and Italy.