Leadership. Sports. Faith.
Excellence is forged, not gifted.
Leadership. Sports. Faith.
Excellence is forged, not gifted.
Leadership. Sports. Faith.
I help people and organizations pursue excellence, purpose, and resilience by embracing the journey — not just the outcome.
I'm Dave VanEpps, a leader, storyteller, and athlete. I’m also on a lifelong mission to make a positive, kingdom impact on every person I meet.
I speak to churches, teams, and organizations about endurance, faith, and leadership – drawing from real-world leadership experience, endurance sports, and Scripture to help people persevere, grow, and finish well.
As a leader, I've spent the last three decades working in middle-to-senior leadership, executive leadership, and the c-suite. I've been recognized as one of the "Top 10 Visionary Tech Leaders" by CIO Views. I also serve as the Chairman of the Board for the Southeast Michigan Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
Sports have been a part of my DNA since an early age. In the last 15 years, I have completed 18 marathons, 6 ultramarathons, and 8 full-distance Ironman triathlons.
My faith life has included multiple mission trips, a visit to Israel, ordainment as an Elder, and graduate-level education at Moody Theological Seminary. My greatest passion is my family. I love being a husband to a wonderful wife, a father to amazing children and their spouses, and a grandparent to my growing family.
Transformational Leadership, I've Been There!
" Dave knows firsthand what it takes to make a complete transformation occur in every aspect mind, body and spirit. " ~Cindy Crandell, Functional Medicine
"Dave is one of the most driven and inspired individuals I have ever had the pleasure to work with. His extraordinary journey is one for the books. It will help anyone with his or her own personal development and growth in an inspiring, passionate, life-fulfilling kind of way.”
~Carly Secoy, Dietitian
Speaking Engagements
I've had the pleasure of being a featured speaker for a variety of faith-based, athletic, and leadership audiences.
As a leader, I speak at conferences, and I'm routinely invited to speak at corporate events (Software Excellence Alliance, Pitt Agile, Systems Engineering Community of Practice, and more). I also conduct regular training sessions where I'm honored to speak to audiences of both up-and-coming and seasoned leaders, new and experienced employees, and teams looking to achieve their potential.
In sports and faith, I regularly speak to teams and coaches, both privately and as part of broader events, including through the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
I welcome the opportunity to motivate and inspire your organization!
Sample Speaking Engagements
Life Lessons from the Race Course
- Have the courage to try
- Seek a higher purpose
- Believe in miracles
- Life's a team sport
- Turn lemons into lemonade
- Patiently persevere
- Have a winning attitude
Victims to Victors
Victims to Victors frames career uncertainty as a defining leadership moment, challenging individuals and organizations to choose between a victim mindset that reacts to change and a victor mindset that rises through it. Using resilience as the differentiator, I argue that uncertainty is not an obstacle to be feared but a proving ground for growth, ownership, and adaptability. The talk calls leaders to help themselves and their teams move from passivity to agency—shifting from “what’s happening to me?” to “what will I do with this?”—and equips them to navigate disruption with clarity, confidence, and forward momentum rather than fear. Check out a sample at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0T7gU8F-9qw.
There Are No Bad Experiences, There Are Only Experiences
Based on their lack of material wealth, I expected Haitians to be depressed and downtrodden. Instead, I learned a few life lessons about finding joy in all circumstances. Some people choose to be victims of their circumstances, while others use adversity as a way to rise above and beyond. The winners in life find ways to adapt, adopt, and overcome all circumstances to prevail.
Storytelling: Stories from the Saddle on YouTube
#StoriesFromTheSaddle
Check out #StoriesFromTheSaddle - a series of short, motivational, and inspirational videos.