Chad Pregracke

As the founder of America’s only “industrial strength” river clean-up organization, Living Lands & Waters, Chad tells a compelling and funny story about growing up on the river and how his river experiences led to his unique vision to clean up the Mississippi River.

During his hour-long talk, Chad takes the audience out on one of the world’s greatest rivers – a journey filled with endless challenges and gripping adventures. His delivery is motivating, captivating, genuine and refreshingly spontaneous.

From the darkness of underwater shell-diving to the brightness of open-air community clean-ups, Chad’s tale embodies the importance of setting goals (one river and one piece of garbage at a time) and illustrates how determination hard-work and persistence pays off.

The river environment is relentlessly real and Chad brings the same up-front honesty to his presentation. Chad’s sincere enthusiasm is an uplifting wave for audiences of all ages as he relates his personal conviction to clean America’s rivers.

Chad empowers the audience with his fascinating story and genuine compassion to make a difference.

Chad Pregracke is the 2013 CNN Hero of the Year and President/Founder of Living Lands & Waters (LL&W), founded at the young age of 23. After spending his life growing up and working on the Mississippi River as a shell diver, commercial fisherman and barge hand he became appalled by the amount of garbage in the river and decided that if no one else was going to do something about it, he would.

Deciding to make working on America’s rivers his life’s work, Chad quickly became aware of the dangerous river conditions and extreme need for safety. Knowing the vital role of safety has helped Chad in building the only “industrial strength” not-for-profit river cleanup operation like it in the world. His hard work, leadership, positivity and can-do-attitude has not only rallied over 100,000 volunteers, but has been a key factor in keeping a strong team of people together. With five barges, three towboats, a crane, excavator, six workboats and coordinating up to 25 work vessels, Chad and his crew have removed 10 million pounds of garbage from our Nation’s great rivers with an impeccable safety record.

If you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind speaker with blue collar roots, Chad shares a personal compelling story that embodies leadership, work ethic, perseverance and teamwork with a strong emphasis on safety. Your audience will leave motivated and inspired by a true American hero.