The lasting legacy of Larry Ketelaars (Inspiring Speakers founder)

28d (edited) • 🔔 #Wins

Today, I want to take a moment to honor someone who shaped not only a business, but my life.

Larry Ketelaars, founder of Inspiring Speakers Bureau, passed away on April 17th, 2026. He was my stepfather, my mentor, my business partner, and one of the most influential people I will ever know.

Larry built Inspiring Speakers Bureau from the ground up in the late 1990s. Through sheer persistence, optimism, and (most crucially) his belief in people, he guided this business through some of the toughest periods in modern history.

Inspiring Speakers survived and adapted through 9/11, SARS, the 2008 financial crisis, and COVID—times when many in the speaking industry didn’t make it. Larry never lost faith. He never lost purpose. He just kept moving forward.

In 2017, Larry entrusted me with the business and passed the torch. But he never stepped away in spirit. Up until his final days, he remained a powerful and invaluable mentor, guiding me, challenging me, and continuing to shape the direction of Inspiring Speakers.

Everything I know about this business (and much of what I know about life) came from him. He taught me the ins and outs of the professional speaking world, but more importantly, he taught me about people. About human connection. About branding and marketing with integrity. About building real client relationships. About conducting yourself ethically, even when it’s difficult.

Larry was an incredible leader. He led with positivity. With optimism. With a mindset that no matter what was happening externally, there was always a way forward. That attitude became the backbone of this business.

Throughout his career, Larry had the privilege of working with some of the greatest voices in the world—Les Brown, Robin Sharma, Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Robert Kiyosaki, Dr. Wayne Dyer, and many more. But what stood out most wasn’t just who he worked with—it was how he showed up. With humility. With consistency. With genuine care.

Larry was legally blind. He had only about 5% of his vision. And yet, I’ve always said—he was the most observant man I’ve ever known. Because he paid attention. He listened. He noticed what others missed. He recognized people for who they truly were. Larry saw more than most people, in both a literal and metaphorical way.

One of the biggest lessons he instilled in me was persistence. Never give up. No matter how hard things get. No matter how many setbacks you face. Keep going. Adjust, learn, grow—but don’t stop.

Any success I achieve in business is a direct result of Larry’s mentorship and the years we spent working side by side. That’s something I carry with me every single day.

On a personal level, I’m incredibly grateful. Grateful for the time we had. Grateful for the lessons. Grateful for the example he set—not just as a businessman, but as a person.

To this community: if there’s one thing I hope you take from Larry’s life, it’s this—build with purpose, lead with positivity, and never quit. The challenges will come. That’s guaranteed. But so will the opportunities—if you keep showing up.

Larry, thank you for everything. I’ll carry this forward.

Drew

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