Pro Football Hall of Fame Running Back Emmitt Smith to Keynote at ICON 2022
We’re excited to report that professional football icon Emmitt Smith, one of the greatest ever to play the game, has joined the keynote speaker lineup for ICON 2022, taking place Nov. 13-15 at the Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas.
During his 15 seasons as a running back in the National Football League, Smith set records that still stand today. His impressive resume includes three Super Bowl championship rings with the Dallas Cowboys, induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2010 and his 2019 selection to the prestigious NFL 100 All-Time Team.
“Emmitt Smith is a proven leader, mentor and role model both on and off the football field,” noted Dr. Felicia Blow, APR, 2022 PRSA Chair. “And while he’s most widely known for setting rushing records, running successful businesses, providing educational opportunities to underserved youth and, yes, ‘dancing with the stars,’ he is also an expert communicator. The advice and counsel Emmitt will share will provide valuable insights to all strategic communications professionals, and we look forward to having him share his expertise and experience.”
In a conversation at ICON 2022 with Gary McCollum, an author, activist, mentor and former SVP and GM at Cox Communications, Smith will share winning strategies on a wide variety of topics. He will discuss how communications professionals can protect, manage and enhance brand reputation; resources and tools he uses to positively and strategically impact and develop his businesses and charities; and the DEI challenges and opportunities communicators face in today’s fraught political climate, among other subjects of importance to all practitioners.
After his playing days, Smith served as a football analyst and then took his television career a step further when he won the third season of ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars.” Smith also added author to his list of accomplishments, publishing “Game On,” which outlines the principles that helped him succeed both on and off the field.
Smith now runs several companies involved in real estate, construction and technology. He is active in charitable outreach in the Dallas area and on a national level, providing educational opportunities and unique experiences for underserved youth.
Last year, Smith became a co-owner of a NASCAR team partnering with Jesse Iwuji Motorsports for the 2022 NASCAR Xfinity Series season. A major theme of Smith and Iwuji’s partnership centers on STEM education for lower-income communities and diversity and inclusion initiatives within the sport of NASCAR.
At ICON 2022, Smith joins a dynamic keynote speaker lineup that also includes Academy Award-winning actress and trailblazing activist Marlee Matlin as well as award-winning journalist and bestselling author Katty Kay.