BuzzFeed:No, That’s Not “So Gay” Ash Beckham gives a kick-ass presentation how to deal with derogatory phrases like “That’s so gay.” She even has flowcharts! Everybody loves flowcharts.
Bestselling Author of Permanent Midnight and I, Fatty
1
2
3
4
5
/
1
2
3
4
5
Ash was fantastic. Throughout the event—even during the weekend—folks were pinging me about how pleased they were. Six of the nine campuses were present. MUCH more participation this year compared to last.
Thanks for everything.
Andrew Aquino Project and Office Manager University of Alaska - Fairbanks
Title
/
Bestselling Author of Permanent Midnight and I, Fatty
1
2
3
4
5
/
1
2
3
4
5
Ash was incredible! We'll definitely be reaching out to try and bring her in the future. Thanks a bunch!
Brittany L. Stanton, M.S. Student Engagement Coordinator Penn State DuBois
Title
/
Bestselling Author of Permanent Midnight and I, Fatty
1
2
3
4
5
/
1
2
3
4
5
Ash was a fantastic addition to our LGBTQ+ Summit! Her message was relevant, entertaining, and informative for our audience. It was clear that the youth and adults in the audience enjoyed her visit based on the laughter that ensued, and the many photos taken after her presentation! Everything went well and she was simply wonderful to have speak at our event.
Kayla Oberstadt OMK/Older Youth Development Program Manager The Ohio State University
Title
/
Bestselling Author of Permanent Midnight and I, Fatty
1
2
3
4
5
/
1
2
3
4
5
When it comes to addressing the things that matter most to any company’s diversity and inclusion efforts, adding an Ash Beckham TED Talk video is not just an effective supplement to your core message. Ash Beckham’s words are your core message that you can then build a workshop or presentation around. So imagine how much more valuable it was for us here at GameStop to have Ash Beckham herself agree to come to San Antonio to address the GameStop leadership teams and share a series of stories that are useful, relatable, funny and thought-provoking. Ash beautifully arranged these separate stories to drive and support each major point she was making as her slides progressed. Even better, Ash did all this without sacrificing any of her authenticity. We trusted her and she trusted us - and everyone was better for it.
Erik Henriksen Director of Compensation and Benefits GameStop
Title
/
Bestselling Author of Permanent Midnight and I, Fatty
1
2
3
4
5
/
1
2
3
4
5
Ash was absolutely amazing! Her talks with the students before and after the presentation left an impression. They are still talking about it. Audience members came up and thanked us for bringing her to Appalachian State. We could not have asked for a better program.
Jana Vise Associate Director for Student Programs Appalachian State University
Title
/
Bestselling Author of Permanent Midnight and I, Fatty
1
2
3
4
5
/
1
2
3
4
5
Ash showed up on 1/19 early in the morning and attended our morning address speaker... This alone shocked a few of us, simply because we’d never had a keynote show interest in other elements of the celebration. We realize that time schedules are tough, but right from the start Ash never made us feel like she was just “squeezing this in” before heading off to another speaking engagement. Leading up to the event, she was very easy to exchange info with through email, which was great. We also had a student with a hearing impairment who asked if Ash could wear an additional mic receiver so that the student could hear the presentation. There was never a question asked, it was just, “absolutely, no problem.” We had some technical difficulties at the start of her presentation, and she rolled with it very well. After the presentation, she stayed around to take questions, meet students, take selfies with them, and sign autographs. We had a small reception for her with dinner and she made it a point to go around to each of the dinner tables and spend some time with everybody. Ash was by far the best keynote we’ve ever had for this celebration. And thanks to Kirkland for helping make it happen.
Don Austin Assistant Director of Community Service Ithaca College
Title
/
Bestselling Author of Permanent Midnight and I, Fatty
1
2
3
4
5
/
1
2
3
4
5
I watched Ash Beckham light up the faces of PFLAG members with her high-energy presentation of an edgy but respectful monologue. Ash has the ability to cross generations with her fast-paced humor. Her use of projected images brings a smile to support her powerful message that calls for us to change our behaviors and be more accepting of ourselves and of one another.
Jean Hodges National Vice-President Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG)
Title
/
Bestselling Author of Permanent Midnight and I, Fatty
1
2
3
4
5
/
1
2
3
4
5
Ash was wonderful! I have never worked with a more enthusiastic, student-focused, caring speaker before Ash. She was incredible, and it was such a joy to have her at our event. There is absolutely no negative feedback; she helped us through a technical difficulty, she gave an amazing keynote speech, and she took an immense amount of time to get to know each student individually. If anyone ever asked, I would highly recommend Ash to go to their campus or event. Thank you for your help making her visit go seamlessly. I am happy to serve as a reference if anyone ever contact information for people who have worked with Kirkland Productions or Ash.
We appreciate the great experience working with both you and Ash.
Kristin Koch, Coordinator of Student Involvement North Carolina State University
Title
/
Bestselling Author of Permanent Midnight and I, Fatty
1
2
3
4
5
/
1
2
3
4
5
Ash is someone who we can relate to, we can laugh with and we can even order pancakes from. Her video "Coming Out of Your Closet" is amazing because she is not afraid to discuss all our secrets, no matter what they are, and she wants us to look them straight in the eye and say, 'I can do this, I can come out.' Anyone can make a change and Ash Beckham is positive proof of that.
Jill Ventrice Teacher & Parent
Title
/
Bestselling Author of Permanent Midnight and I, Fatty
1
2
3
4
5
/
1
2
3
4
5
Nothing but great feedback. Everyone really enjoyed the vulnerability and personal storytelling that she always shares so elegantly.
I did a personal introduction for her, sharing my personal story from her first time at Danone, and how she’s impacted me so much since then.
Hayley Hatfield NORAM Learning Manager Danone North America
Title
/
Bestselling Author of Permanent Midnight and I, Fatty
1
2
3
4
5
/
1
2
3
4
5
The session was wonderful! Ash is an authentic person who illustrated important aspects of inclusive leadership by sharing personal experiences to bring the learning to a relatable format. Thank you for the opportunity!
Adam Slaton Chief Learning Officer American International Schools in the Americas
Title
/
Bestselling Author of Permanent Midnight and I, Fatty
1
2
3
4
5
Eugenia Virtual Keynote Attendee US Government Bureau
/
1
2
3
4
5
We just wrapped with Ash, her presentation was great! A lot of engagement and truly just a powerful presence, no surprises there. Thanks for all your help in the lead up to today's event, please pass a thank you to Ash from the Thuzio team.
Ethan Vandeventer Member Services Coordinator Thuzio: Sports Media & Events
Title
/
Bestselling Author of Permanent Midnight and I, Fatty
1
2
3
4
5
/
1
2
3
4
5
I had the chance to listen to Ash Beckham’s presentation on Inclusive Leadership and all I can tell you is that it was great. Not only she was knowledgeable of so many aspects of what diversity in a work environment and social life entails, but also I learned about how entrepreneurial skills can improve inclusiveness at the work place. The contexts and the tips she shared can relate to anyone. I would definitely recommend her as a speaker to any organization or business.
Ana Virtual Keynote Attendee US Government Bureau
Title
/
Bestselling Author of Permanent Midnight and I, Fatty
1
2
3
4
5
/
1
2
3
4
5
Ash’s presentation “The Art of Inclusive Leadership” was as humorous as it was impactful. Her anecdotes, and the way she adapted them to a foreign audience, reinforced her message that inclusivity is a journey filled with setbacks and laughable (but teachable) moments. In particular, I found her message to cut across national and cultural barriers. Sure, Ash is an icon in the LGBTQ+ community and her experiences stem from that lens but she’s also able to connect with people who struggle to be included due to other factors. That’s the beauty of her presentation, that it includes everyone and we’re all better because we’re all different.
Josh Virtual Keynote Attendee US Government Bureau
Title
/
Bestselling Author of Permanent Midnight and I, Fatty
1
2
3
4
5
/
1
2
3
4
5
Ash’s session was amazing. Exactly what we were hoping for when we reached out to you. She was engaging, tailored a bit to the brainy Lockheed crowd, and did a lot of chatting with attendees at lunch. We were so thrilled to have her as part of our event.
Gretchen Peacock Senior Manager of Collaboration in Corporate Engineering and Program Operations Lockheed Martin
Title
/
Bestselling Author of Permanent Midnight and I, Fatty
1
2
3
4
5
/
1
2
3
4
5
We’ve had great feedback from our customers- they thoroughly enjoyed her talk and found it inspiring. Thank you!
Elizabeth Loveday Corporate Marketing PM Microsoft
Title
/
Bestselling Author of Permanent Midnight and I, Fatty
1
2
3
4
5
/
1
2
3
4
5
Everyone who attended absolutely loved the performance, and we feel it went extremely well. Ash really took into account the specific ideals of our club, and tailored her performance to best suit them. She clearly did her part in terms of learning about the student body and the environment of WPI. We thought the polls/audience interactions were the highlight of the performance - they really made the performance personal and hit closer to home, and we are so glad to have had Ash!
Erica Friel ACCESS Member Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Title
/
Bestselling Author of Permanent Midnight and I, Fatty
1
2
3
4
5
/
1
2
3
4
5
Ash was incredible, as always. I am constantly blown away by her ability to hilariously engage on large stages while also personally engaging one-on-one with students. Thanks again for all of your help.
Elliott Kimball Assistant Director of the Office of Intercultural Engagement University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Title
/
Bestselling Author of Permanent Midnight and I, Fatty
1
2
3
4
5
/
1
2
3
4
5
Denver Online High School loved having Ash Beckham at our biggest college and career readiness event of the year called Planning for Success. She was honest, thoughtful, and spoke authenticity into our students, weaving in our theme and intent for the day's event. She was courteous to our scheduling needs and budget restraints, stayed after the event to connect with event attendees, incorporated interactive polls that supplied information about our school we could use later, and even sent a follow-up thank you note. She is a great person with a great message. The managing agency was also very helpful and worked efficiently to get all necessary paperwork covered, ensuring we had all that we needed for a successful day. We would definitely recommend them in the future!
Kaci Sintek Community Development Coordinator Denver Online High School
Title
/
Bestselling Author of Permanent Midnight and I, Fatty
1
2
3
4
5
/
1
2
3
4
5
This is the second year we brought Ash to campus and she did not disappoint. She has a natural ability to connect with the audience and is able to talk about difficult topics with ease.
Michele Jenkins Associate Director Radford University
Title
/
Bestselling Author of Permanent Midnight and I, Fatty
1
2
3
4
5
/
1
2
3
4
5
Ash was absolutely fantastic, the lecture was intimate as it was a holiday but the people who did attend could not have raved about her more. She was such an addition to the campaign and said some incredible things during her lecture. We hope to bring her back to our school at some point to have her speak again to a wider audience. It was amazing, thank you for all your hard work and dedication to making this event a success.
Samantha Simonds Events Assistant, Special Events California State University-Northridge
Title
/
Bestselling Author of Permanent Midnight and I, Fatty
1
2
3
4
5
/
1
2
3
4
5
Ash was wonderful. Her message was exactly what our students needed/wanted to hear. They would have sat there all night listening to her. We went to dinner afterward with some of my students and they were enthralled. She spent time talking with students after the presentation and it was clear they felt listened to. Students are still talking about her.
Jeannie DiClementi, Psy.D. Associate Professor of Psychology Indiana University-Purdue University Ft. Wayne
Title
/
Bestselling Author of Permanent Midnight and I, Fatty
1
2
3
4
5
/
1
2
3
4
5
Having Ash Beckham present to two audiences in Portland, Oregon was exciting, inspiring, and entertaining. The dialogue has continued months following her thought-provoking, engaging and relatable presentation.
Debbie Caselton, Chair Diverse and Empowered Employees of Portland (DEEP)
Title
/
Bestselling Author of Permanent Midnight and I, Fatty
1
2
3
4
5
/
1
2
3
4
5
[Ash] was brilliant! Loved her lecture, the dinner had such great conversation that appealed to the students and we loved her presence! Thank you so much!
Angela Cuva Assistant Director of Student Affairs Penn State Berks
Title
/
Bestselling Author of Permanent Midnight and I, Fatty
1
2
3
4
5
/
1
2
3
4
5
Ash was awesome!!! We loved her! Ash’s presentation was funny, open, honest, and very engaging. It was very well received.
Meghan Walter, P.E. President Equality USDA
Title
/
Bestselling Author of Permanent Midnight and I, Fatty
1
2
3
4
5
/
1
2
3
4
5
We’ve heard great feedback about Ash! She was an amazing way to start our year off! One of our students said they “felt so seen and heard” in response to her! She was so great!!
Sara Triplett Coordinator of Student Programming Weber State University
Title
/
Bestselling Author of Permanent Midnight and I, Fatty
1
2
3
4
5
/
1
2
3
4
5
WOW, truly an inspiring and powerful morning! On behalf of The Academy and Campus Talent Acquisition teams, thank you for your time, authenticity, and the education around inspiring us all to be Inclusive Leaders, and the power of having real conversations and allyship.
This session has certainly been a highlight of the week, and we are grateful for your words of wisdom, dedication, and passion brought into today’s conversation.
Thank you for your partnership and support in our entry level talent and campus programs, and we look forward to partnering again soon!
Jessica Nodelman VP, Talent Acquisition Program Manager Bank of America
Title
/
Bestselling Author of Permanent Midnight and I, Fatty
