Kim Ratz MN Motivational Speaker picture inspirational hope skills to cope music humor and stories

Speaker, Trainer, Singer, Songwriter, Author

Kim Ratz

Helping people create more harmony in their own life,
and in their relationships with others ...

Kim's home page Video & Song Clips For Meeting Planners FAQs About Kim

To contact Kim:

Toll free: 866.KIM.RATZ
(866.546.7289)

952.938.4472
(Central Time Zone)

E-mail Kim at: kimratz@aol.com

3665 Woody Lane
Minnetonka, MN 55305


Kim belongs to the national speakers association and aspires to the highest ethics and standards as a professional speaker

Kim is listed in the Who's Who in Professional Speaking, and aspires to the highest ethics and standards as a professional speaker.


One client's comment:

Kim - Thank You! You helped us achieve exactly the kind of balance and tone we wanted in the opening keynote with your great stories and songs. Your two workshops were a hit and really gave the participants a lot to talk about, as well as put to use right away. Many people told me afterward that you really gave them new pause to be more hopeful and positive about both themselves, and how they work with others. I also understand you had two inquiries right after the conference from attendees who encouraged their employer to bring you in and share the program with the people they work with - that's a great indicator of the impact and value of your message. Thanks for being such a helpful asset to our members - we'll be in touch again I'm sure. - Tom Clancey-Burns, Community Action Partnership of Oregon


Kim is proud to sponsor:

July is National
Make a Difference
to Children Month


Music CDs, and
gift books for fathers to connect more deeply with their children...


PHOBIAS
Review this amazing list of over 100 common and not-so-common phobias...


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Privacy Policy:

I hate spam too, so out of respect for you I don't share your address or other information about you to ANYONE, EVER, and I collect only the e-mail addresses of those I communicate with directly. Period.


Clients & Comments

("*" means I worked with them more than once; All clients are in MN unless otherwise noted)

We assigned Kim to do a "triple header." He led us in a sing along around an evening bonfire at our cookout, did a keynote address and finished by doing two break out sessions. He responded by hitting a home run in each activity. Kim customized his presentations to focus on our conference theme. We know that he played a major role in having so many comments that this was undoubtedly WASBO's best Fall Conference. - Don Mrdjenovich, Executive Director, WI Assoc of School Business Officials

Adult Education - To read comments from these groups, Click Here

State/Regional associations: Delaware -- Iowa -- Indiana -- Michigan -- Minnesota -- Mountain Plains Regional (CO -- ID -- MT -- UT -- WY) -- Utah State Office of Ed* (ABE conference)
Local programs: Cambridge Area Learning Center -- St Paul GED Graduation

Community Education - To read comments from these groups, Click Here

State/Provincial/National associations: Alaska*** -- British Columbia -- Illinois Regional (IA -- IL -- IN -- MO -- KY) -- Multi-State Conference******* (IA -- MN -- ND -- SD -- WI) -- Minnesota*** -- Oklahoma -- Oregon** -- Texas** -- Wisconsin -- International Community Education Conference (Vancouver, Canada) -- Nat'l. Community Education Assoc.****** -- Natl. Council of State Community Ed Assoc.
Local programs: Anchorage (AK)*** -- Anoka-Hennepin* -- Buffalo -- Cass Lake Com. Adv. Council -- Chaska**** -- Delano Com. Adv. Council -- Eden Prairie -- Fairmont** -- Hastings -- Hopkins -- International Falls, Jordan** -- Juneau (AK)** -- Minnesota Dept of Ed CE Section -- Minnetonka -- Prior Lake-Savage*** -- Rochester* -- Roseville***** -- St Cloud***** -- St Francis* -- St Louis Park******* -- Stillwater******** -- South Washington County***** -- Waseca*** -- Westonka**** -- Winona*

Early Childhood (AEYC, ECFE, Head Start, Child Care Licensed Providers) - To read comments from these groups, Click Here

State/Regional associations: CA Assoc for the Ed of Young Children -- Florida Dept of Ed (Even/First/Head Start Conference) --IL Assoc for the Ed of Young Children -- KY Head Start* -- MI Head Start -- MN Assoc of Licensed Family Child Care Providers*** -- MN Child Care Resource & Referral Network -- MN Head Start -- MO Head Start -- North Metro ECFE Consortium -- OK Dept of Human Svcs, Child Care Licensing State Conference
-- Region 2 Head Start (NJ -- NY -- PR -- VI)
-- Region 7 Head Start (IA -- KS -- MO -- NE)*
-- Region 8 Head Start (CO -- MT -- ND -- SD -- UT -- WY)
Local programs: Absaroka Head Start (Worland, WY) -- Anoka Hennepin ECFE -- Brooklyn Center ECFE* -- Carver-Scott ECFE Consortium* -- Dakota County Licensed Family Child Care Assoc* -- Eden Prairie ECFE -- Kentucky River Foothills (Richmond, KY) -- Lee County (FL) -- LeSueur-Henderson ECFE* -- Minnetonka ECFE -- NICAO Head Start, Mason City IA -- North Metro ECFE Consortium -- Scott County Licensed Family Child Care Assoc -- Tioga County Head Start (NY) -- Twin Cities Professional Nannies -- Waseca ECFE

Education Office Professionals

State/National associations: MN Assoc of Education Office Professionals -- Nat'l. Assoc. of Education Office Professionals

Higher Education - To read comments from these groups, Click Here

State/Regional associations: MN Collection Assoc* -- Pacific Assoc of College Registrars -- Upper Midwest Assoc of Coll Registrars & Adm Officers
Local Colleges, Universities & Community Colleges: Central Lakes CC -- Century College* -- Hennepin Tech. Coll.* -- Inver Grove CC -- Oregon Coast CC (Lincoln City, OR) -- Tulsa CC (OK) -- Univ of MN, Dept of Kinesiology* -- Univ of MN, Office of Financial Assistance -- Univ of MN, Speech Dept.* -- Univ of St. Thomas*

Parenting Conferences - To read comments from these groups, Click Here

State associations: MN Head Start Parent Workshop -- MN PTA* -- Nat'l. Assoc of Partners in Education (MN)
Local programs: Burnsville Parent Conference -- Hastings Youth First Initiative -- Indian Education Parent Board, Anoka S.D. -- MN Valley Mothers of Multiples -- Rosemont/Apple Valley/Eagan Parent Conference -- Successful Parenting (NC) -- Wayzata Parent Forum

School Administrators - To read comments from these groups, Click Here

State/National associations: Confederation of Oregon School Administrators -- MN Secondary School Principals -- MN Elementary School Principals* -- Nat'l. School Public Relations -- Oregon School Public Relations -- Wisconsin School Public Relations
Local/intermediate school district administrative teams: Anchorage (AK)* -- Anoka-Hennepin -- Chaska* -- Eden Prairie -- Green River Reg'l Educ Coop (KY) -- Inver Grove Hts. -- International Falls -- Lane Ed Services Dist. (Eugene, OR)* -- New Prague -- West Bend (WI) -- Willamette Ed. Serv District (Salem, OR)

School Age Care (SAC) - To read comments from these groups, Click Here

State Associations: CO Assoc Quality School Age Programs -- MN School Age Care Alliance*
Local programs: Colorado Springs Area (CO) After School -- Eugene (OR) 21st Century Com Lrng Ctrs -- Fridley SAC -- Griggs/Steele County (ND) 21st Cent. CLC -- Hopkins Kids & Co* (volunteer) -- Mound Westonka -- NE Metro SAC Consortium* -- NE San Antonio (TX) SAC -- Northside Ind (SAT, TX) SAC -- Osseo Area SAC -- Prior Lake-Savage SAC -- Robbinsdale Area SAC -- Westonka -- White Bear Lake SAC

School Boards - To read comments from these groups, Click Here

State/Provincial associations: Alaska -- Minnesota -- Saskatchewan

We sure appreciated and enjoyed your presentation today, and we've already received many positive comments from staff too. We also appreciate the time and effort you put into creating a presentation that our staff knew was meant for them. You made time to meet with us in the summer to discuss our plans for the overall event so you could better determine what you could do to help most ... You conveyed an understanding and appreciation for, and the value of, the work our staff do and the difference we make to our learners ... You provided relevant and timely reminders of skills, attitudes and choices we can use when we deal with the many challenges we face with our students, and in today's schools ... Your stories and songs were fun and engaging ... And the song you wrote just for us was awesome! What a fun and effective way to start your program - you really got and held their attention! Every program, service and facet of our department was included in your lyrics - you really made every employee feel needed, important and valued -- exactly what we asked you to do, and what we hoped for. Thanks for helping us put the "Spotlight on Student Services." - Ann Kern, Student Support Services, Osseo, MN School District

School Business Officials - To read comments from these groups, Click Here

ASBO Chapters in: Alaska -- Colorado -- Idaho -- Manitoba -- Minnesota -- Montana -- New Brunswick -- Wisconsin
Local programs: St Louis Park SD Business Office --

School Nurses/School Nutrition - To read comments from these groups, Click Here

State associations: GA School Nurses Assoc -- PA Assoc of School Nurse Practitioners -- School Nutrition Assoc of AZ -- WI Nutrition & Fitness Conference
Local programs: Chaska -- St Cloud -- Shakopee -- Mound-Westonka -- SW Metro Consortium

Teachers and other Education Specialists - To read comments from these groups, Click Here

State/National associations: Education Minnesota -- Exeter (Reading, PA) -- MO Career & Technical Ed -- Region 10 (MN) Quality Assurance Project -- User Network in Technolgy Education (Nat'l.) -- Upper Midwest SASI Computer Assoc -- WI Student Councils -- WY Interdisciplinary Educators Conference*
Local programs: Minneapolis Transitions Plus (Secondary Special Ed) -- Osseo Special Services -- SW/WC MN Education Service Coop*

Youth Development/Leadership/Service Programs - To read comments from these groups, Click Here

National/State/Provincial associations/conferences: Business Professionals of America-MN (High Sch. & College)* -- Central MN Assoc of Student Councils -- Distributive Education Clubs of America-MN (High Sch. & College)* -- National Youth Leadership Council -- Northern Lights Youth Leadership Summit (BC, Canada) -- Northland Foundation Youth Conference -- Utah Service Learning Conference
Local programs: Anoka County Youth First Mayors Prayer Breakfast -- Braham HS -- Brooklyn Center HS -- Cambridge HS -- Collab Educ Serv Assoc 7, Green Bay (WI) -- Juneau Alt HS -- Princeton HS

Schools & School Districts: - To read comments from these groups, Click Here
(Note: Unless specifically noted, these clients collectively involve virtually every group of people who work in schools, including: Teachers, Principals, School Board members, Custodians, Secretaries and Receptionists, Special Education, School Nurses, Social Workers, Classroom aides and Paraprofessionals, Buildings & Grounds, Food Services, School Bus Drivers, MIS & Technology Specialists, Career Educators, Librarians, Superintendents ... These clients requested presentations at all-staff events, Back-to-School fall rallies, parent conferences, volunteer recognition events, facilitating planning projects, and workshops for members of various school committees ...

Anoka-Hennepin (Bus Drivers) -- Battle Lake* -- Buffalo* -- Caledonia -- Chaska -- Fairmont -- Garden Valley (Winkler, MB, Bus Drivers & Bldgs & Grds) -- Jordan -- Juneau (AK)* -- Klamath Falls (OR)* -- Minnehaha Academy (Advisor/Advisee Trng) -- Moorhead -- Osseo Teachers -- Paiedea Academy Charter School -- Prior Lake-Savage* -- Rochester -- Roseville* -- Salem-Keizer (OR- two elementary school openings)* -- Shakopee -- Shattuck-St. Marys (Advisor/Advisee Trng) -- Spring Lake Park HS -- St. Cloud (Bldgs & Grds) -- St. Francis* -- St. Louis Park* -- St Michael / Albertville -- South Washington County* -- Stillwater* -- Waseca* -- Western (Morten, MB, Bus Drivers & B&G) -- Westonka Bus Drivers
-- Jordan, Prior Lake-Savage & Shakopee School Districts - Develop a Collaborative Plan to Improve Integration of Students and Staff.

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OTHER GROUPS & ORGANIZATIONS:

Kim's workshop with our staff was exceptional and received the highest ratings from our staff. His presentation was done in a way that got information across in a manner that staff could understand and remember and was done with a great sense of humor and in a manner that was respectful, enjoyable and memorable. At the end the staff not only heard the messages Kim was presenting, but it resonated with them. Even weeks later, and that's what REALLY makes it worth the time and investment - Thanks, Kim! - Mike Fieldman, Exec Director, Umpqua Community Action Network, Roseburg, OR

Community Action Agencies - To read comments from these groups, Click Here

State/Regional/National associations: CAMIS-MN (Com Action Mgmt Info Systems) -- Nat'l. Community Action Partnership -- Community Action Directors of OR -- Region 8 & 10 Community Action Conference***
Local programs: Albany (NY) Community Action Partnership -- Bi-County Community Action Partnership (Bemidji area) -- Community Action for Suburban Hennepin -- Heartland Community Action Agency, Willmar -- Lakes & Pines Community Action Council -- Umpqua Community Action Network, Roseburg, OR -- Western Community Action

Government Agencies/Social Services - To read comments from these groups, Click Here

State/National associations: MN Assoc of County Social Services Administrators -- MN Assoc Public Safety Communication Officers (911) -- MN Public Works Assoc -- Natl Assoc of State Veteran Homes -- North Central Public Safety (911) Communication Officers Reg. Assoc (IA -- KS -- MN -- MO -- ND -- NE -- SD -- WI) -- OR Employment & Training Assoc* -- US Bureau of Land Management, DC Office* -- WI Natl Emergency Numbers Assoc
Local programs:FIG - So MN Homes for Disabled, Eagan (City of) -- Hennepin County Government* -- Medford, OR Job Council -- MN Veterans Home, Mpls -- Skills First - St. Paul Welfare to Work* -- St Paul School to Work Partnership

Health Care/Health Related - To read comments from these groups, Click Here

State/Regional associations: MN Dietetic Assoc -- Seaside (OR) Wellness Conference
Local programs: Allina Hospitals & Clinics, Dept of Surg. Svcs. -- Anoka County Community Health Dept -- Cancer Fundraising Benefit, St Paul -- (CUPES) Community / University Partn'shp for Health & Educ Serv -- Fairview-University Medical Center -- Lakeview Hospital -- Park Nicollet Clinics - Methodist Hospital -- REM Northstar -- St Peter Regional Treatment Center* -- St Joseph Immanuel Hospital, Mankato

Parks & Recreation - To read comments from these groups, Click Here

State/National associations:Alaska Recreation & Parks Assoc* -- Minnesota Recreation & Parks Assoc* -- Nat'l. Recreation & Parks Assoc -- South Carolina Recreation & Parks Assoc
Local programs: Aurora (CO) Park & Recreation Dept -- Star of the North Games, Minnesota

Service Organizations - To read comments from these groups, Click Here

Aberdeen (SD) YMCA -- American Singles Assoc -- American Volunteer Assoc, SE WI Chapter -- Faith Presbyterian Church, Minnetonka -- Fargo (ND)-Moorhead YMCA -- First Presbyterian Church, Mankato -- Lennox Senior Center, St Louis Pk -- Northwest YMCA, New Hope -- Meadowbrook Collaborative, St Louis Park -- Plymouth Rotary -- Ridgedale YMCA, Minnetonka* -- Roseburg (OR) Interagency Training Network -- Roseville Area Senior Center -- Singles All Together -- St Patricks Catholic Church -- Stillwater Community Collaborative -- Stillwater Rotary

Businesses & Professional Services: - To read comments from these groups, Click Here

American Business Women Assoc* -- Brooklyn Center Chamber of Commerce -- Ernst & Young -- Honeywell, Inc. -- Klondike Gold Dredge, Skagway (AK) -- Mankato Professional Development Assoc -- Midwest Dairy Assoc -- PLM, Inc. -- Professional Secretaries Int'l -- Cancer Club (the) -- Twin Cities North Chamber of Commerce -- TwinWest Chamber of Commerce* -- Wenger Corp.

Travel & Hospitality - To read comments from these groups, Click Here

State associations: Alaska Travel Industry Assoc
Local organizations: Anchorage, AK Convention & Visitors Bureau -- Bayview Event Center

"I want to thank you for the time, effort and energy you put into the presentation at our summer sales meeting. It was the perfect message, given in just the right way, at just the right time. I've heard many comments over the last several weeks about the concepts and techniques you discussed. It's not often I get this much positive feedback about guest speakers! In this day of increased expectations and 'doing more with less', lots of things come at us that can be a little tough to swallow. It's good to have folks like you that can provide insight, clarity, hope, reassurance and little humor to wash it all down." - Michael Ferch, Inside Sales Manager, Wenger Corporation

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Kim's home page Video & Song Clips For Meeting Planners FAQs About Kim