Monica’s goal is to transform teachers, leaders, and schools from seeing education as an ordinary job into an extraordinary adventure. Genta feels that every person who walks into a school deserves to love their experience! She is a believer in finding awesome and celebrating life every day! Genta is full of energy, full of passion, and full of love for helping others on their journey in life and learning.

She is a classroom teacher of 14 years, the author of five books including the best seller, 180 Days of Awesome, an international educational consultant and keynote speaker. Monica’s TED Talk has been viewed by educators from all over the world. She has earned a master's in Curriculum & Instruction and a master's in Educational Leadership & Administration and is a National Board Certified teacher.

In her free time, she enjoys long road trips, accomplishing new challenges, eating unique pizzas, and impromptu dance parties. She is pumped to share her life and experiences with you and is confident you will laugh along the way. Monica lives in Illinois and is surrounded by loving friends and family.

Founder and CEO of This Side of Hope, Stanley Leone Jr., is a product of trauma who shares his personal experiences in a way that inspires and encourages audiences to embrace adversity by taking responsibility for their own happiness. He is author of No Place Like Hope, a Reader’s Favorite 5 Star Review Winner, a selected contributor to Executive Speeches Publication and a 2014 Phi Delta Kappa James Umstatt Outstanding Leader in Education Award Winner. He is a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional,an approved administrative recertification professional development provider for the state of IL through the Illinois Principals Association (IPA), and has been named Business Partner of the Year for numerous school districts throughout his career. He has presented to more than a million people over the course of his 23-year career as a motivational speaker/presenter working in classrooms, schools, districts, youth service institutions, prisons, juvenile detention centers, foster care systems, colleges and universities as well as non-profits and churches. In 2005, Stanley served as the national spokesperson for the United States Navy “Accelerate Your Life” Campaign and in 2007 was featured on the pre-game show of the Super Bowl. He has keynoted some of the largest educational conferences in the country including AASA, NASSP, NAESP, as well as dozens of state-level conferences. He received his undergrad degree in English Literature, Magna Cum Laude, his MEd, Summa Cum Laude, and is currently completing his PhD of Psychology in Behavioral Analysis.