Author of A Strategy For Winning (Foreword by NCAA Football  Championship Coach Lou Holtz), dealing with motivation, human relations and performance improvement, Carl Mays has spoken at over 4,000 events. Clients include corporations, associations, sports teams, government entities, religious organizations and educational groups. Recipient of the National Speakers Association’s Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) designation in 1986, and Council of Peers Award for Excellence (CPAE) in 1993, Carl is a member of the Speaker Hall of Fame.

His other books (over a dozen) include: Are We Communicating Yet?, Winning Thoughts, People Of Passion, Anatomy Of A Leader, Hope For The World and You Can Do It. Carl writes a weekly newspaper column and blog, and has contributed to many print and online publications. With several recorded songs, he is a member of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP). His musical drama, The Clown, has been presented in over 2500 U.S. communities and on the British stage.

Carl’s commendations include Murray State University’s Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1990, and Religious Heritage of America’s 1987 Faith and Freedom Award that honors national communicators who contribute to the high ideals and values on which America was founded (presented to other notable communicators such as Paul Harvey, Dr. Norman Vincent Peale and Zig Ziglar).

Carl has also received commendations in New Orleans, Columbus, GA, and Gatlinburg, TN, for city-wide youth work. Among other recognitions, Carl was presented with special Certificates of Appreciation for his 2005 keynote address at the US Army Reserve Medical Symposium for deployed surgeons, and his 2006 keynote at Homeland Security’s Border Patrol Chiefs “Operation Jumpstart” Conference.

His community contributions include charter chairman of the Gatlinburg Board of Education, adult Sunday school teacher for 31 years, instructor of young athletes in spiritual and mental growth for 31 years, and host of the highly proclaimed Gatlinburg Veterans Day Program from 2003 to 2013.

He and Louise Mandrell co-hosted the Annual People Of Passion Conference for senior adults at the Louise Mandrell Theatre in Pigeon Forge, TN, the city in which Carl was a featured speaker at Dollywood’s Young Christians Day. He has also been a featured speaker, consultant and writer for the Southern Baptist Convention and North American Mission Board.

His education includes a Bachelor’s Degree in Oral/Written Communication and Psychology from Murray State University; Master’s Degree in Education and Communication from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary; and additional Study in Public Speaking, English and Creative Writing from University of Memphis. Born and reared in Humboldt, TN, he graduated from Humboldt High School. In 2015, the Humboldt Chamber of Commerce inducted Carl  into the Humboldt Hall of Fame.

Carl can be contacted at [email protected] or (865) 436-7478. Having spoken in every state and internationally, he has locations in Gatlinburg, TN (flying out of Knoxville McGee-Tyson Airport), and Flower Mound, TX (flying out of Dallas/Ft. Worth Airport).

“Those who can see the invisible can do the impossible.” (page 213 – A Strategy For Winning)

Note: Site is currently under renovation. Updated pages and blogs will return soon.

© 2000-2023 by Carl Mays