Testimonials

I want to thank you for the most wonderful job that you did for Columbus Regional at Spirit Girls Night Out.  From beginning to end, you flat out delivered!  Your willingness to work before the event (even en route to our city) with our media partners was awesome, and your media segments generated excitement about our event.  What is truly noteworthy about you is that you not only commanded the stage during your performance, but you personally appeared and interacted with our audience during the event.  Many of the women who attended the event commented on your wonderfully witty and personable manner.  You warmed their hearts and inspired them before the performance even began!  Your presentation of "Who Hijacked My Fairytale" had a truly raw and honest quality that was endearing and motivating.  It was when the hands of many of the audience were raised and swaying, that I knew you had pulled on some heartstrings and touched some lives.  The occasional "amens" after your "bless your hearts" and "I'm just sayings"  only added to the inspirational and revival like atmosphere you created. Thank you again for sharing your stories with our audience and giving our event a fairy-tale ending.

LeDare Windham
Spirit of Women Coordinator
Columbus Regional Healthcare System
  

Kelly Swanson enjoys being a girl. She is a God-anointed spiritual tonic that delights women’s souls. Her dose of joy lightens every woman’s load. A lover of God’s word, Kelly shares His heart well by encouraging us to laugh at our present and smile at our future.
Denise Tolton
Director, Women's Ministries
Westover Church
Greensboro, NC
Phone: 336-299-7374 x3204
Email: dtolton@westoverchurch.com

"Funny," "fantastic," "truly unforgettable": these are only a few of the many rave reviews conference attendees shared about Kelly Swanson, a session and closing speaker at our 2009 Bakersfield Women's Conference.  Kelly quickly endeared herself to everyone with her hilarious storytelling, down-to-earth delivery, and caring attitude. Attendees couldn't get enough of her...A versatile performer capable of adapting to small and large crowds, Kelly easily engaged her audience from her first words...If you are looking for a speaker who is approachable, energetic, and a quirky combination of folk wisdom and southern charm, Kelly is your girl...I highly recommend Kelly for your next function; you'll leave the event ready to take on the world!
Colleen Bauer
2009 Chairwoman
Bakersfield Women's Conference 


"It was such a pleasure working with you for our recent Focus on You! Event. It was a huge success with our largest attendance ever! We had an enormous response to your program, with 490 ladies attending. We had to turn away 100 more due to capacity restraints. You were delightful with your southern charm, stories and characters. Our comment cards included so many positive comments about you and your wonderful program. It is truly a fun, hilarious program with a very positive message...something we all need! I want to thank you for being so nice to work with. You made everything so easy." 
Linda Skillman
Center for Women's Health
Shelbyville,  Indiana

 

"What a pleasure it was to have you with us for our Chamber Banquet. Your unique presentation style and vivid portrayal of characters was incredible."
Ginnie Currin
Executive Director
Granville Chamber of Commerce

 

WOW!! Kelly was an amazing speaker and left everyone gasping for more.  She has an uncanny ability to draw you into her stories as if you were there.  She personalized her content so that her speech/performance not only related to our audience but our industry as a whole.  Kelly leaves you with more than just a message, but with a renewed sense of energy.    I would highly recommend Kelly Swanson to any group that is looking to learn, laugh, get energized and ready to take on the world! 
Jill Settle
Univar USA

We had so much fun with Kelly. Her storytelling and sense of humor are definitely gifts from God. It felt so good to laugh,
and the message that she brought about pleasing God instead of pleasing the world is still in my thoughts. I would
highly recommend her services. We can’t wait to have her back.
Heidi Newman
Rockingham MOPS

 

In planning for our event, we have to be very careful as to who we bring in to be our guest speaker because they are representing our organization as well as themselves when speaking on our behalf.  We try to bring in speakers who will appeal to a broad audience and not offend anyone.  Kelly Swanson more than delivered! 
Read full testimonial 
Laura Smith, Executive Director, Literacy Volunteers – Pitt County
Greenville, NC  27858 - 252-353-6578 - laura@pittliteracy.org

 

I absolutely enjoyed every moment of the seminar and brunch yesterday. Your talk on adding humor to our workplace was very timely and I will incorporate more of it at my place of work. You are an excellent story teller and humorist. I hope you will honor us with your presence again. Thank you for a very enjoyable day.
Margaret Streeter – LV Board of Directors - Directory of IT Security - East Carolina University

 

Kelly is definitely one of my favorite people to work with. I will always remember when I started out in radio my second show I had Kelly on, her contribution that day put me on the map. I learned so much from her in just twenty minutes. She is witty funny sweet and insightful, she knows how to help people communicate more effectively thorough helping them understand how to install humor and story into their conversations. She has a special gift that benefits all that are exposed to her work. The world would be a better place if there were more Kelly’s. 
Joseph F. Price - The Reaching Peak Radio Show –Tampa, Florida

 

There I was, getting ready for one of the most important speeches of my career—a talk that in many ways could change my life forever.  I had all the material needed to create a wonderful talk, but something was missing.  I was spending too much time telling my points, rather than sharing my stories. I use to think that stories were for storytellers. Now I know that all great speakers ARE storytellers.  Kelly has the ability to help you turn your points into magical story moments that not only send a message, but captures your audience’s heart.  Kelly Swanson is my secret weapon, and I wouldn’t leave home without her! 
Francine Ward -Attorney, Speaker  www.esteemableacts.net
 

After  seeing your performance at the Ashe Arts Center last night, I have found myself remembering and chuckling throughout the day. Your performance looked seamless and flawless to me. I admired the way you engaged your audience and carried all of us to the height of hilarity, and then down to the poignancy of living, and then back to hilarity. Throughout the show, your authenticity and sincerity came through. Seeing you was a life-changing experience for me.      
Sherry Winebarger-Houck

 

I would highly recommend Kelly for a very unique, side-slapping yet meaningful presentation. She will have your audience sitting on the ends of their seats hanging on her every word.   
Robin Phillips-Hauser, Wilkes Community College

 

The Film Advisory Board is pleased to announce that “Aunt Vyrnetta...and other stories from Cedar Grove CD” has received our Award of Excellence tribute. Kelly, to denote your phrase "southern stories of humor and grace" most certainly describes your thoroughly down home humor that exudes joyful chuckles in all of us. The magical way stories of Cedar Grove are spun captures your attention. Aunt Vyrnetta is storytelling entertainment at its best.
Janet Stokes, Executive Director - Film Advisory Board, Hollywood, CA

Kelly Swanson is a gem among storytellers.  Her unique style, her wonderful effervescence, and her skill in bringing memorable characters to life provide a storytelling experience that is like no other.  She has charmed and enlightened myself and my college students with her sensitive and skillful storytelling and her substantive, informative workshops.  Her enthusiasm is contagious.  I defy anyone to come away from a session with Kelly and not feel transformed by the experience.  We highly recommend her to anyone who wants to learn more about the art of storytelling by hearing her talk about it and by seeing her  embody it.           
Dr. Tallant, Professor of Communication and Performance Studies UNCW

 

Kelly is great! She opened the Pink Ribbon Luncheon for High Point Regional with a laugh and kept us in stitches throughout the performance. Kelly closed with a laugh and a good message to warm the heart. Her message really rings out that you can touch the hearts of so many, even the ones you don't know with a laugh or with a smile.
Julie Samuels, High Point Regional Health System

 

After seven years of producing The Best of Our State, it becomes increasingly difficult to find funny, unique and original storytellers. Kelly Swanson fit all three, and delighted attendees with her bright spirit and high energy.
Amy Jo Wood, Marketing Director,Our State Magazine

 

You are a wonderful writer and an excellent presenter. You kept everyone on the edge of their seats wondering what was coming next.       
Carolyn Huggins, Furniture Capital Chapter American Business Women's Association

 Kelly Swanson's presentation at the National Speakers Association Annual Conference, 2009, was a highlight of the convention for me!  Her sincerity and quick wit, balanced with an in-depth message, made this speaker unforgettable.  As a professional humorist/motivational speaker myself, I fully appreciate Kelly's talent.  This woman is outstanding!
Dolly Marting
www.dollymarting.com

 

Her "Down Home" style is warm and reminiscent of a female Mark Twain.
Terri Rollins, 2002-03 President, North Carolina Storytelling Guild

 

I laughed so hard I had trouble pouring the water.                                        
Banquet Waiter

 

References are available upon request.