Hansen, Mark and Kevin S. Ferber

MARK HANSEN relates to struggles in adolescence because he struggled through tough events in his own life. Mark was hit by a car while riding his bike, which put him in a coma for the next eight days, paralyzed the left side of his body and caused seizures for the next nine years. Mark had to learn how to walk and talk again. His mother was told by a psychologist that he would never be college material. He was also told by his doctor that he would never be able to drive a car. Mark was on medication for nine years and was constantly teased by students. Mark is a successful businessman in real estate, and a former school board member. Mark is a graduate of Florida Atlantic University with a degree in communications.

Mark Hansen has an extensive entrepreneurial background and gave his first speech in 1991 to a group of middle school students. Since then, Mark has given over 1,300 seminars, appeared on radio and television programs and written a book entitled An Ark for Learning, which was used in many middle schools as a learning guide for students and teachers. In addition, Mark has been a real estate professional for the last 13 years and ranks consistently in the top three percent nationally.

Mark has received numerous awards, which include the Nido Qubein Scholarship Award from the National Speakers Association, and the Dorothy Finkelhor Award from the Florida Speakers Association. He was inducted into the National Society for Collegiate Scholars at Florida Atlantic University, and Mark won the Excellence in Education award from Northwood University. In 2012, he received the Palm Beach State College Martin Luther King Leadership Alumni Award.

Mark is an enthusiastic crusader for what is possible and is driven to make the world a better place. Mark's accomplishments set an example for what can be accomplished even when others say you can't.

KEVIN S. FERBER, a Senior Solution Director for Managed Services with Oracle Corporation, has worked extensively with Mark Hansen. Together they have devoted over 30,000 hours to study, research, lecturing and writing on education, values and character development for youth. Kevin lives in Parkland, FL with his wife Pamela and their two children Kelly Sarah & Kenneth Sean.