Testimonials
Real Stories. Genuine Impact. Hear What Others Have to Say.
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I am honored to be able to share a short summary of my time working, learning, and interacting with Josh. He is one of the finest leaders that I have been around over my 25 years of working with teams.
What makes Josh unique is that he truly cares about others and has helped me and others in our company to take the time to get to know people at a much deeper level…what makes them who they are, what’s important to them, understand people beyond what’s on the surface or the things they do at work. Josh understands better than anyone that the way you move people is through human interaction and caring not targets and metrics – this is something he helped me adapt to.
He’s special and I can say that he is one of the most remarkable people that I have ever known. Every touchpoint I had with Josh left me more inspired and motivated than prior to our connections.
Don Freeman
President, WernerCo
Josh Rizzo is a great American! He hosted the most powerful business dinner I have ever attended, which included laughter, tears, and everything in between. In addition, he provided a heartfelt and emotionally charged presentation to nearly a thousand of our most important leaders and this was exquisite. If you haven’t heard him, it’s a must.
Kevin Hilton
CEO, Ironworkers Management Progressive Action Cooperative Trust (IMPACT)
I think everyone who meets Josh immediately sees his energy, passion, concern for those around him, and a servant’s heart. But, at his core Josh is searching to be his best self, that place where a person understands their purpose, is challenged, is loved, and can find peace. And I believe Josh finds purpose in helping others be their best selves.
Whether it’s an organization trying to understand their team and get the best out of them, veterans trying to find their way, or an individual trying to find purpose or clarity, Josh has that innate ability to connect with people on a personal level and help people break down boundaries. Through his own challenges and successes as an individual, corporate, and military leader Josh has compelling perspective to share. Josh has been involved in my business for several years, and we couldn’t be more pleased. I consider myself privileged to call Josh a colleague and friend.
Jacob Snyder
COO, ENERFAB
Josh Rizzo is a highly engaging, thoughtful but also thought provoking and super caring individual. His presentation drove every attendee from our organization to become emotionally engaged. All the feedback we received from our team members was extremely positive. They became more connected in those couple of hours than ever before, and our company (more importantly our team) is better from it.
I strongly recommend working with Josh and allowing him the transparency to share his story, his objectives and his value with you and your company. Doing so will create a profound and positive impact!
Jim Sever
CEO, PSD Crane & Rigging
Raw. Genuine. Heartfelt.
The first adjectives that come to mind about Josh. So, I have never met another human being that works so hard to make themselves and the world a better place. I’m a person who has lived a good number of years in life and has worked in the corporate world in sales and in the world of sports as a coach.
Josh exemplifies true and raw love through relationships, teams, individual accouters and to each person he meets. His charisma is incredible. And if you shut the light off and didn’t see him but just his words. You would be moved.
Sherri Murrell
Director of Sales, Vacasa – Former Division I Head Basketball Coach
Josh’s integrity, commitment, and dependability are exemplary. He is always willing to help, to offer meaningful insight and to listen when you need him to. Josh does this all while consistently executing at the highest level.
Josh goes beyond what is required of him and in every interaction we have. I come away feeling as though he not only understands what is important to me, but, more importantly, takes a personal approach that demonstrates how much he cares about what we’ve discussed.
Christopher Ferrara
Client Development Director – Private Wealth Management, UBS:
Josh brings a “one of a kind” approach to everything he does. With the focus clearly centered on, as Josh would say “the humans,” he reminds everybody around him of the key ingredients to performance, success, and fulfillment, both for the individual and the organization.
Whether it be organizational culture, team building, goal setting, or bringing a set of internal and external partners together to achieve a common mission, he approaches these challenges with high energy and equal doses of passion and compassion.
Brian Kagen
Global CMO, WernerCo
I have known Josh for a little over five years, but it feels like I have known him for a lifetime. Upon meeting Josh, I felt an immediate connection to him, as he is one of the most authentic, down to earth leaders you will ever meet. I’ll never forget during our first encounter, Josh shared his life story with me. I was taken aback by his authenticity, and willingness to share not only his accomplishments, but his struggles and challenges with a complete stranger.
Josh is a great leader of people and a terrific human being that cares deeply about making a difference in life. I can ensure you that his energy and passion for life will inspire you!
Jim Caudill
CEO, JPW Industries
Josh Rizzo is a force of nature! I’ve known him for over two decades and his passion is infectious and only matched by his love for his brother and sister Veterans when it comes to their mental health and well-being.
Honorable Patrick J. Murphy
Former Congressman, Secretary of the Army
When the name Josh Rizzo is mentioned, I immediately smile and become disarmed. Josh is the most genuine, passionate person I know. He always speaks from his heart – and from a place of true care and concern about his fellow humans. Josh is the most excited and content in life when he helps people realize their true talents and value. He is passionate about mental and physical wellbeing and finding your true self.
Josh is a fantastic storyteller, often drawing on his past experiences and the obstacles he has overcome. I am truly blessed to call Josh a friend and confidant.
Elizabeth Morris
VP, Human Resources – Ignite
Josh has been an inspiration to me personally and professionally. When the world went crazy as Covid, shutdowns, and the unknown gripped the nation, Josh stayed calm. His mind wasn’t focused on him but rather how he could help his fellow man. What could he do to help and lead the industry during these troubling times.
Sometimes in life the simplest answer is the right one and Josh simply started a conversation and offered an open mind and a platform to express your thoughts, feelings, and fears. These became known as Safety Socials that Josh held on a weekly basis. What started as a very small group, grew into multiple sessions of dozens of safety professionals.
Although we discussed some work topics, the focus was always on our wellbeing and mental health. Josh’s leadership ability and his true sincerity is what made this work. Josh wasn’t doing this to benefit himself. He was doing this because he has a giant heart and is willing to share his pain and journey to help guide others. Josh and his mission of selfless caring changed me and made me a better person and a stronger leader for my family and company. It’s an honor to know him and I’m really glad I got to be in that first small group on a Safety Social.
Ricky Reams
VP of Safety and Quality, Murphy Company
Josh is an inspirational Leader that has always put others before himself – A sounding board for many in this industry! His Leadership has touched and mentored many over the years in his travels – challenging others to inspire and lead; in their own way; by being themselves and understanding the importance they are to the mission they are serving at the time.
Josh was the keynote speaker of the Milwaukee Tool Health and Safety Summit in 2022 – he challenged us all to think about the importance we all serve as leaders, the responsibility we have to ourselves for self-care, and the importance to Lead from the heart focusing on the human side of the business rather than always focusing on title or status. His presentation is powerful! It was an impact to the entire summit and left many of the leaders re-evaluating change for self-care and the processes they lead by.
Josh is a true Inspirational Leader in the industry! His leadership and passion for people, human wellness, and the mission of trade safety will be an impact to many in the construction industry for many years to come.
Justin Azbill
National Director EHS, Milwaukee Tool
First and foremost I would like to say, in a person’s lifetime there a very few people that you come across that absolutely rock your world, someone that every time that you see them, regardless of your mood, they bring a smile to your face, a warm tug to your heart!!
I would like to call it a God moment, when approximately ten years ago at a TAUC conference in New Orleans, Louisiana I ran into this young, energetic fella pushing fall protection and jobsite equipment for Werner co. At first, me just thinking that this guy was being super nice trying to make a sell.. little did I know a day later we would be paired together playing in a golf scramble that has started a bond of brotherhood that simply can’t be explained.
Him from the streets of Brooklyn to me an old Kentucky farm boy, to share such a kindred spirit doesn’t sound possible. Though we live from the North West coast to small town southern Ohio apart it doesn’t change a thing.. and to me when I think of you Josh Rizzo, I think of Passion, Love, Brother, Drive and a Big Fricken Heart that has a way of spilling over from time to time!! I thank the Good Lord Above for allowing us to cross paths and forever changing our lives!!!
John C. Stevens
President, Thermal Solutions Inc.
Josh Rizzo is an infectiously authentic human being. He is, at the same time, both compassionate and tenacious, and places building real connections with others above everything else. Selfishly, I wish we could afford him so that he could join our team.
Daniel Hogan
Impartial Secretary / CEO, NMAPC / TAUC
I would consider Josh to be one of the most compassionate and authentic leaders I have had the pleasure to work with. Professionally and personally, I am comforted by the fact that I know he would be there for me if ever the opportunity arises. I sincerely admire his relentless commitment to inspiring and empowering others. Simply put, Josh makes our industry better.
Tim Speno
CEO, E2E Summit – Former Milwaukee / Dewalt Executive
I first met Josh at a safety conference 8 years ago in Chicago, IL. Josh and I started talking and getting to know one another. Now, being from Eastern Kentucky and Josh being from Brooklyn, I wasn’t sure where this would lead. But now after spending time with Josh and getting to know him like a brother, Josh is one person that I believe in. Josh goes out of his way to make sure that the people around him understands that he is who he says he is. Josh is a man of God, a person who truly loves life and a person who loves people. Always with a smile on his face, ready to laugh with you or cry with you but always sincere.
My company recently had an employee who was going through some challenges in his life, I had just attended a conference where Josh had been a guess speaker on mental health and suicide awareness, so my thought process was let’s get Josh to come and deliver his message not only to the person that was struggling but deliver his message to the entire facility. My, oh my, the impact that this man had on the people at this facility was unbelievable. I looked around the room wanting to see the reactions from the people who were attending, all eyes were on Josh and the message that he was delivering. Just from the engagement that I witnessed was breath taking and you could tell that Josh’s message was coming from the heart.
I said all of that to say this “Josh Rizzo is a man of integrity, who cares, full of love, and a person who I am very proud of and a person who I have the privilege of calling my brother.”
Calvin Clark
VP EHS, ENERFAB
Josh Rizzo has been an industry colleague for several years, and I knew him only by reputation as a high performing leader and executive in the safety community. When we met, he was transitioning from a senior leadership role at a globally recognized company. I tried my very best to hire him to run our BD and sales team, but I failed, as he had big plans for his life and how he needed to grow in his journey with a focus toward helping others. Although I’ve never “worked” with Josh officially, nor had any commercial relationship, I have grown so much by being invited into his circle of trust. Josh facilitates an open, honest, vulnerable and genuinely ‘real’ discussions with an invited community of mostly safety leaders.
Mostly ‘tough guys.’ I use this term as these are heart and love driven meetings, but speak to real business and personal issues, and quickly go deep. It’s not for the faint of heart but also never feels forced. Every time I learn something about myself and get to give my thoughts to help others. I’ve found my performance as a leader, husband and father have improved through these experiences. I can’t think of a person who understand more about the connection between emotional and practical performance.
Josh embodies the, yes over used but appropriate, quote of ‘put your own oxygen mask on first so you can help others’. If you get the chance to connect with Mr. Rizzo, in any way, I can’t recommend that experience enough.
Michael Zalle
CEO, Yellowbird
I had the privilege and honor to work with Josh Rizzo as a teammate at All American Leadership this past year. When Josh joined the team, I was immediately struck by his enthusiasm, compassion, and a deep desire to empower everyone on our faculty team. In good and challenging situations, Josh shares his leadership perspective with rich stories from his military career in the Iraq War and his work across multiple communities and industries.
Josh inspires and provides insights into what is possible when developing leaders of character and high-performing organizational cultures. What I appreciate the most is his willingness to be vulnerable, which opened doors for me to share my thoughts and feelings. Having a trusted teammate that can speak about mental health was more valuable than words can say.
I highly recommend Josh to any organization that values leadership development, behavioral integrity, and mental well-being.
Toni Clubb
Former President and CEO, All American Leadership
Josh Rizzo is a transformational presenter. Through a mix of industry expertise, personal experience, and high emotional intelligence, Josh is able to connect with people on a personal level. I have seen Josh present several times, both in small and large settings.
The MCAA hired Josh to keynote our landmark conference celebrating 20 years, and to focus on mental health. His contribution to our industry is without equal and I’d recommend him to any group looking for an authentic & candid leader.
Raffi F. Elchemmas
Executive Director, EHS – MCAA
Having met Josh nearly a decade ago, his purpose, energy and focus have stayed sharp and never wavered. His passion to serve, inspire and empower others are the first things you sense when you meet him. It is always about you, never about him, and I have never come away from a conversation or meeting of any kind with Josh where I didn’t feel energized after. When the chips are down, and the path forward is fraught with challenge or risk, Josh Rizzo is the person I want on the line with me.
Rob Nielsen
CEO, All American Leadership
Josh is passionate about people feeling the best they possibly can mentally and physically and that is demonstrated by his grounded, mind-heart connection approach. Josh wants you to operate as your highest, truest self and provides tangible takeaways that are approachable and simple to integrate into one’s daily habits. His ability to connect with those he is talking to exemplifies his leadership and ability to influence. He has a genuine desire for you to succeed and the feeling is palpable.
Candice Woodward
General Manager – Illinois, Brown & Foreman
“Josh Rizzo is an authentic leader. His background gives him a unique perspective on mental health, how to lead, and the impact culture has in our communities. His optimism on life in general is contagious, and each interaction I’ve had with him personally has made me rethink how I see the world.
That time I told him my family and I were coming to Bend (Sunriver) on vacation, and he invited us all over to his house (including my in-laws) where he was already hosting a company retreat with these amazing speakers/Division I female coaches was such a cool and unique experience… my wife and I still talk about it to this day. That’s not something a “normal” person might do… but it was incredible.
Todd Mustard
Executive Director – National Electrical Contractor Association – Oregon
Josh Rizzo is an inspiring and thought-provoking speaker with a drive to leave a positive influence on everyone he interacts with. His impactful presentation to our team was met with tears, laughter, and a takeaway that no one in our organization will soon forget. Josh touched every person in the room on a personal level and left us with a resounding message: to embrace the power and responsibility we have to care for ourselves, as well as each other.
After every interaction with Josh I am a better person and leader and strongly recommend him to any organization or group.
Rich Brown
Executive Vice President – Ideal Contracting
Josh spoke about mental health and leadership at my company headquarters in the Spring of 2023. I stumbled upon the Zoom invite on our website and as a fellow combat vet was inclined to attend. Since then, Josh has opened himself up to me as he has for so many. Through countless conversations and group chats I’ve gained more than I can express in words. Josh is a shining example of what a loving, passionate and genuine human being should be. I’m incredibly grateful that we crossed paths and for the first time in a long time am excited for what lies ahead.
Josh stood out when I heard him speak because he’s me up there, he’s the guy I deployed with, the guys I work with. Maybe the CEOs and corporate types want the big keynote speaker with thousands of online followers. Not me, I want the guy that’s been in the mud, the guy that speaks to my heart from his, the guy that sticks around to learn about the individuals and not only connects but stays connected. Josh isn’t just a guy I heard speak about mental health and leadership, he’s a friend, a mentor, a brother.
Jason Willits
Union Fire Protection Specialist – JF Ahern