When it comes to finding
someone to man the lectern and inspire the troops, speaker
bureau representatives from across the country say the following
five personalities are among the most popular at the moment.
* Lance Armstrong,
seven-time Tour de France champion and cancer survivor. Topics:
building a winning team, overcoming obstacles, making every second
count. Bureau: Nonexclusive. Base fee: More than $100,000
* John Battelle,
author and co-founder of Wired magazine. Topics: marketing
and consumer trends, technology and strategic development. Bureau:
Keppler Speakers, (703) 516-4000; www.kepplerspeakers.com. Base fee: $20,000-$25,000
* Marcus Buckingham,
author, co-founder of StrengthsFinder.com, to help employees
identify and measure their skills. Topics: maximizing productivity,
leadership. Bureau: nonexclusive. Base fee: $55,000
* Paula Deen, chef,
star of The Food Network’s Paula’s Home Cooking. Topics:
women in business, entrepreneurship. Bureau: nonexclusive. Base
fee: $30,000-$50,000
* Steven D. Levitt,
co-author of Freakonomics (HarperCollins). Topics:
counterintuitive drivers of economics, how to achieve goals in a
competitive world. Bureau: Harry Walker Agency, (646) 227-4900; www.harrywalker.com. Base fee: $60,000