“Get Up” Speaking reviews

You are doing it wrong if you don’t have Marc Hayford come to your school and talk to your students. He has an innate way of speaking to our youth and actually having them LISTEN.

In today’s technology driven society, where Facebook, Snapchat and Instagram are running our kids, our students need that face to face connection more than ever. They come from all walks of life and are dealing with so many pressures at home and at school, they need all the support and motivation they can can get.

I have to be honest, when Marc came to my school for Career Day, I was concerned that the students wouldn’t relate or respond to his message. I teach some difficult students and I thought they may brush him off and disconnect like they often do with me in the classroom. I couldn’t have been more wrong. Students that don’t usually participate in class or were known as the ‘difficult’ kids were actually asking questions and actively listening to what Marc had to say. I had teachers from other classes, and even the principal, come in to my class because they heard Marc was ‘so good!’ His message may be simple and what we have all heard before, that YOU can do anything you put your mind to, but the way Marc delivers it is unmatched.

Marc is approachable, hilarious, sincere and honest. He speaks in a way that allows students to open up and let their guard down. When students feel confident to raise their hand in a room of middle schoolers and ask ‘how do you reach your goals if you come from nothing?’, you know you have struck a cord.

Please do your school and your students a favor right now and book Marc Hayford…He is truly making a difference everywhere he goes.

Lauren Morrison
Collegium Charter School


Most recently we had Marc at Tamaqua high school and middle school to speak to our students. His ability to blend a great message, along with some things students can take away from that message personally is rare.

Our students raved about his presentation, and how positively motivated they were after. As a principal and now assistant superintendent, you can tell when your students capture something in their minds. I can assure you that every student who was part of the presentation, took something back with him personally, to positively affect their lives.

Dr. Stephen Toth
Assistant Superintendent of TASD


You must hire Marc Hayford for your next speaking engagement. Our global audience really loved Marc and how truly authentic and motivating he was. His “ Get Up” talk on establishing a growth mindset and having the courage to keep going everyday was just exactly what our colleagues needed. We loved having you Marc and we can’t wait to have you return in 2024.
Stacy Hubiak
Senior Director, Training & Learning Management
Teva Pharmaceuticals


Motivational Speaker Marc Hayford swept into the Wallington Elementary Schools with his fun and attention-grabbing speaking programs. Mr. Hayford conducted a number of age appropriate presentations for both our primary and intermediate students at both schools that centered upon building self-esteem, making good choices, following your dreams, and sticking with a goal until it is achieved.

Mr. Hayford spoke from the heart in talking about his own struggles and experiences in his efforts to have a happy and productive life. His presentations were very dynamic as he engaged the students with his animated, and heartfelt discussions.

Mr. Hayford also had to the opportunity conduct a motivational talk with our professional staff at the schools, stressing the importance of “always understanding the needs of the children” in making their classroom programs the best they can be.

His main message; “stick with your dreams” and “never give them up!” He stressed that many of the aforementioned thoughts also helped him to become a successful adult in life.

Mr. Hayford is a successful public speaker, radio disc jockey and book author with the publishing of his new book entitled “Get Up”, containing stories about utilizing your own gifts to be a better person for yourself and others.

Mr. Hayford is a very energetic speaker who has a way of making everyone feel good about themselves.”

Nancy Giambrone
Principal, Frank W. Gavlak and the Jefferson School Annex


Your talk was inspiring, poignant, moving and uplifting. I have received countless comments on how powerful your talk was to the group. At last count at least ten Judges have bought additional copies of your book “Get Up!” to give to their friends and families.

Quite often in our discipline we tend to get jaded and complacent, your talk hit on several inspiring points that motivated the group to Get Up and attack each day. The only complaint I received was that I did not allow enough time for your talk. Keeping twenty five Judges, that had just been through twelve plus hours of planning, interested and asking for more is truly an amazing feat.

Marc, you were the highlight of the retreat, I cannot thank you enough for your unbridled passion and inspiring message. Looking forward to your next book!

Honorable Michael J. Cabry, III
President
Special Court Judges Association of Pennsylvania


Marc’s experience with business, sports, music industry, speaking, writing a book, and much more is all a part of what makes him a wonderful speaker and person. However, something that is not measurable on a resume or experience is his ability to be entertaining, approachable, and full of contagious positive energy. Marc has this undeniable quality that shines and is a gift to whoever is in his audience!!
I am forever grateful that my students got to hear Marc speak and I look forward to hearing about how many other lives he will touch!

Nichole Cavallaro
Ocean Township HS


At the end of the seminars, all of the audience, including myself walk out of a Marc Hayford self improvement class feeling much better then when we entered the room.

As a head football coach, if Marc lived closer to Wallington, NJ I would hire him onto my staff in a heartbeat as he has the ability to encourage people to believe in themselves but more importantly to set out and attack their plan of actions that are needed to conquer any obstacles and reach their goals.

I highly recommend Marc Hayford to be a motivational speaker for all audiences.

Barry R. Blauvelt
Head HS Football Coach
State Champion Wallington Panthers


When we were searching for a motivational speaker for our Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition, Marc Hayford was suggested by one of the coalition members.  No one knew who Marc was at the time so a couple of members did some research on-line and reported back to coalition members that he would be a “perfect fit” to bring to our community.

Subsequently, I set up a phone interview with Marc and as the saying goes, “the rest is history.”

I was so impressed with Marc and his story about how he came to write the book “Get UP”  I just had to invite him to speak to the community.

During that phone interview Marc promised to send me a copy of his book and after I read it I knew that his passion for excellence, his personal striving for success in all that he does, came through loud and clear!

After negotiating and making arrangements with Marc to come to our little corner of Connecticut, the day he showed up he immediately did a live radio interview on our local station.  He filled the airwaves with his positive and upbeat messaging in a style all his own.  This was the start of a three day whirlwind tour of the small segment of Connecticut known as “The Quiet Corner.”  With Marc Hayford, it wasn’t “quiet” for very long!

After the radio interview Marc went on to appear that evening at a local restaurant, following up the next day with two presentations, one at our regional Community College and at the Putnam Science Academy.  On his third day in the area Marc spent the morning at the Hale YMCA Youth & Family Center, speaking to members. To end his time in the area, Marc was hailed by the Middle School Students in Thompson, CT., where his positive messaging challenged them to be better. and do better at every task they would face in life.

Marc was able to adjust his presentations to every audience.  He made an impact on the community evidenced by several comments I’ve received, “When will that guy who wrote the book “Get UP” be coming back?

Romeo Blackmar
Program Director-Substance Abuse Prevention
Hale YMCA Youth & Family Center
(Formerly Putnam PRIDE Drug Free Community Coalition)