Rockbridge Announces 2018 New Speaker Platform For RTRX

COLUMBUS, Ohio, July 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Rockbridge announced its roster of speakers for the seventh-annual RTRX (Rock the Road Experience) to be held August 2-4, 2018, in Columbus, Ohio, benefitting Pelotonia. RTRX is a leadership and innovation experience where attendees unite to network, be inspired and share a commitment to supporting cancer research.

RTRX18 speakers feature Doug Ulman, President and CEO of Pelotonia; John O'Leary, President / Author of Live Inspired; Jake Harriman, CEO of Nuru International; Jeni Britton Bauer, Founder and CCO of Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream; Chris Waddell, 13-time Paralympian and CEO of One Revolution; Joe DeLoss, Founder of Hot Chicken Takeover; Dr. David Cohn, Chief Medical Officer / OSUCCC.

RTRX features a fast-paced, high-energy format of speaker presentations called X-Talks. Based on the Ted-Talk format, the RTRX platform spotlights seven speakers who will share thoughts and insights on a variety of topics focused on leadership and innovation.

Rockbridge founded RTRX to unite business leaders and to provide an opportunity for strong networking, to be inspired, and to be immersed in purposeful change, all while sharing a commitment to supporting high-risk, high-reward cancer research. It's a social enterprise built to create transformative change across a diverse set of communities.

"The value of this leadership and innovation event is built around our triple-bottom-line: business, inspiration and purpose," said Jim Merkel, Rockbridge CEO and Rock the Road Experience founder. "RTRX is a passion for us. We put significant effort into creating an incredible experience for our guests. Attendees come away thinking differently, doing good and feeling great."

The event directly supports Pelotonia, the nation's largest cycling event benefitting cancer research. Over the last six years, RTRX has contributed more than $3.2 million to the cause. For its seventh year, RTRX has again set the bar high, announcing a goal of raising $1.1 million for Pelotonia.

RTRX18 SPEAKERS
As President and CEO of Pelotonia, Doug Ulman will update attendees on Pelotonia's mission, purpose, and status of cancer research fundraising. He is responsible for overseeing the strategic vision and direction of Pelotonia and also serves as an advisor to The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute.

John O'Leary will speak on inspiration. At age nine, he was severely burned on 100% of his body and was not expected to survive the first night. But he did. He then survived months in a hospital bed, dozens of surgeries, and years of therapy. His journey proved more empowering and rewarding than he could have ever imagined. It gave him strength and taught him compassion and understanding. John now lives to share his story and to spark the stories of others living boldly, so that together we can forge an extraordinary future by finding the possibility in the present.

Jake Harriman will discuss leadership and innovation. He graduated with distinction from the US Naval Academy and served seven and a half years as an Infantry and Special Operations Platoon Commander in the Marine Corps. Jake's experiences convinced him that the "War on Terror" can't be won on the battlefield alone. Jake left the military and enrolled at Stanford Graduate School of Business and created Nuru International. Nuru is a social venture committed to ending extreme poverty in remote, rural areas by offering locally-led training in agriculture, household savings, healthcare, and education.

Chris Waddell will talk about leadership. A 13-time Paralympic medalist and the first "nearly unassisted" paraplegic to hand-cycle to the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro, Chris is a world-renowned motivational speaker and the author of Things I Want to Remember Not to Forget and Is It Lonely Being a Four Leaf Clover? Waddell was inducted into the US Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame and the Paralympics Hall of Fame. The Dalai Lama honored him as an "Unsung Hero of Compassion."

Jeni Britton Bauer will address leadership and innovation. She founded Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams in 2002. Her "ahead-of-the-trend" vision—using whole ingredients and dairy from grass-pastured cows, rather than synthetic flavorings and commodity ice cream mix—coupled with inspired flavors, sparked the artisan ice cream movement more than a decade before it would become a top food trend. Jeni is a James Beard Award-winning author of two cookbooks and has been recognized by Fast Company as one of the most creative people in business.

Joe DeLoss will share his thoughts on innovation. In 2014 he founded Hot Chicken Takeover, a community business bringing together great food and great people. The menu is known for featuring juicy, perfectly fried chicken, that's rubbed with a secret cayenne-infused paste.  The business extends its mission by employing adults affected by poverty in a transformative work environment.

Dr. David Cohn will share critical mission updates on The James Cancer Hospital and how the funding from Pelotonia is making a difference in the lives of cancer patients. Dr. Cohn is the Chief Medical Officer at The James. He is a professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and director of the Division of Gynecologic Oncology at The Ohio State University College of Medicine since 2001.

CONNECTING TO RTRX
The event's web site, https://www.rtrexperience.com, provides a seamless "one-stop shop" experience for sponsors, attendees, riders and those wishing to make a donation.

Some of the website's functionality includes:

• Sponsor and attendee registration
• Easy payment options
• Rider information with a direct link to Pelotonia's website
• Mobile optimization for access using personal electronic devices
• Updated statistics such as speaker bios, videos, funds raised, attendee and rider counts

ABOUT ROCKBRIDGE
Rockbridge has been investing in and building brands for nearly 20 years. The business has made 223 hotel investments in 38 states worth $5.8 billion in capitalization. Rockbridge's continued success is a result of building a team and culture that is intensely collaborative, innovative, curious, and focused. These attributes are among a strong set that have positioned Rockbridge as a leading investor and partner. Rockbridge was just recognized as the top company in Central Ohio by size for its philanthropic efforts. Learn more about Rockbridge at www.rockbridgecapital.com.

FOLLOW-UP:
For interviews with Rockbridge executives or additional statements, please contact:

William Black
Director of Marketing
Rockbridge
614.403.8274
[email protected]

IMAGERY:
For high-res imagery of RTRX, please click here.

SOURCE Rockbridge