ManTalks finds and features men and women who are making a difference in their community by giving them an open forum to share their autobiography, biggest challenges, keys to success and lessons in relationships, health, intimacy, entrepreneurship and more. By connecting men with high performing mentors and authentic content, they intend to create the space for the modern man to evolve and thrive. They do this by engaging men in powerful, authentic and transparent dialogue designed to help them build a more authentic relationship with themselves and with other like-minded men and women. Women are more than welcome and encouraged to join us during this event.
The ManTalks Chicago launch event on November 7th will focus on the idea of mentorship, and each speaker will introduce to you the various ways mentorship has affected them, plus how they are, and how you can, utilize mentorship to cultivate positive social change. Learn about who they are below.
Jonny Imerman is a young adult cancer survivor who strives to make sure no one fights cancer without the support of someone who has already triumphed over the disease. After being diagnosed with testicular cancer at the age of 26, Jonny decided to found Imerman Angels, a non-profit organization, which carefully matches a person touched by cancer (a cancer fighter or survivor) with someone who has fought and survived the same type of cancer (a Mentor Angel). Imerman Angels now has more than 6,000 cancer survivors and more than 1,500 caregivers in its network, and has been featured by dozens of news organizations including The Wall Street Journal, Harpo Radio’s “Oprah and Friends” with Dr. Oz, CNN, TEDx, The Huffington Post, Men’s Health, National Public Radio (NPR), Sirius XM Satellite Radio’s “Doctor Radio” - Channel 81, NBC5 Chicago, CBS2 Chicago, ABC7 Chicago, ESPN Radio Chicago, Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, Crain’s Chicago Business, Detroit Free Press, LIVESTRONG Quarterly, CancerToday, CURE Magazine, and Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing.
Bryant Shannon joined iMentor Chicago as a founding Program Manager, playing a critical role in the start-up phase as the organization launched its first regional site. As iMentor continues to grow in Chicago, Bryant facilitates and supports the development of relationships between over 100 mentor mentee pairs, providing them with the skills and resources that lead to healthy and supportive relationships, college readiness, and college success.Before iMentor, Bryant taught on Chicago’s south side at Gary Comer College Prep, one of the top performing non-selective middle schools in the city. Before his work in Chicago, Bryant also taught in underserved schools in Indianapolis as a Teach For America Corps member, while also earning his Masters of Arts Degree in Teaching. Bryant has a passion for working with students and shattering intergenerational cycles of poverty through targeted mentoring and support.
Benjamin Ritter, MBA, MPH, is a leader in the fields of public health and interpersonal dynamics, and provides individual professional, life, dating, and relationship consulting services. He is the founder of "LIVE for Yourself", a personal and professional life crafting process, author of The Essentials, host of the LIVE for yourself podcast, co-host of the Suave Lover podcast, host of "A Dose of Advice" through Dose.com, and a freelance expert and writer who has worked for The Huffington Post, TheGoodMenProject, ManTalks, Elite Daily, Bustle, Examiner.com, and more. He is interested in the role that personal alignment effects success, happiness and relationships, which is also the focus of his doctoral research at Pepperdine University.
Connor Beaton is the Founder of ManTalks. Originally from Edmonton, Alberta, Connor comes from an exciting (and eclectic) background ranging from the world of opera to technology sales and management. Connor is a leader, with a dynamic personality, unstoppable energy and charisma which has made ManTalks the success it is today. Connor is passionate and committed to developing others and giving them the tools to create top-performing teams and organizations. Connor has a strong vision for the future of ManTalks, and it is through his leadership that the team strives for success. He is a great listener, constantly curious, fascinated by human performance and always pushing himself and those around him to be their best.