Chad Pregracke

Chad Pregracke

Keynote Speaker: Founder of Living Lands & Waters, CNN's Hero of the Year for 2013, Environmental Speaker & Bestselling Author

Chad Pregracke Biography

Chad Pregracke is the internationally named 2013 CNN Hero of the Year, founder and president of Living Lands & Waters; a nonprofit river cleanup organization, author and professional public speaker. He is proof one person can make a difference.

Best known for starting out as a young man in East Moline, Illinois wanting a cleaner waterway, Pregracke has become the champion for the Mississippi River. Growing up on its banks, he worked as a commercial shell diver during his early years, experiencing the river from the bottom up. Sometimes spending 10 hours a day in the depths and current of the pitch black waters, he crawled nearly 150 miles of the river bottom over six years. Pregracke saw its beauty and was frustrated by the neglect. At the age of 17, he decided to clean it up. Twenty-five years later, Pregracke and his Living Lands & Waters crew have organized and led over 1200 community cleanups on 23 rivers in 21 states and removed over 12.8 million pounds of garbage. Pregracke had an idea that evolved into a movement that has helped to restore one of America’s greatest icons, the Mississippi River.

Pregracke has been recognized by former President, George W. Bush as a national “Point of Light.” He received a standing ovation at the Kennedy Center from all four living former U.S. Presidents for his inspirational message on dreaming big, taking action, persevering, leading and collaborating. He has been the keynote speaker for college graduations, business conferences and events, classrooms, nonprofit organizations and more. Named “America’s Hardest Working Person” by Mitchum, Pregracke’s enthusiasm, sense of humor and passion amplifies his story and entertains audiences. Ultimately, his message inspires people to believe they can make a difference.

Pregracke currently lives and works with his wife Tammy dividing his time between life on the Teamwork barge and their home in East Moline, IL.

Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Chad Pregracke and other top speakers and celebrities.

Chad Pregracke Speaking Topics

Results, Not Rhetoric: How to Mobilize Your Team

Pregracke has learned to navigate political as well as physical landscapes, responding to challenges and opportunities with grace and precision. Recounting his personal journey from wide-eyed teenager to entrepreneur, he shares the pitfalls and serendipity he encountered while creating a mobilizing, one-of-a-kind nonprofit organization.

From the Bottom Up: One Man’s Crusade to Clean America’s Rivers

In this inspirational story, Pregracke takes us from the pitch-black depths of the Mississippi to its surface. His personal journey to restore pride in one of our nation’s greatest treasures motivates others to do the same.

Chad Pregracke Videos

Environmentalist Wants To Turn Old I-80 Bridge Into Crossing F
Spring Equinox Speaker Chad Pregracke
2013 CNN Hero of the Year Chad Pregracke

How do I book Chad Pregracke to speak at my event?

Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Chad Pregracke for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Chad Pregracke, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Chad Pregracke or any other speaker of your choice.

How much does it cost to book Chad Pregracke for a speaking engagement?

Speaking fees for Chad Pregracke, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Chad Pregracke are Below $10,000 for live events and Below $10,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Chad Pregracke, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.

What topics does Chad Pregracke speak about?

Chad Pregracke is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Environmental Policy, Environment, Entrepreneurship, Sustainability, Climate Change, Earth Day, Environmental Activism, Environmental Science, Energy, Conservation, Science, Animals & Wildlife, Business and Finance.

Where does Chad Pregracke travel from?

Chad Pregracke generally travels from East Moline, IL, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.

Who is the agent for Chad Pregracke?

AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Chad Pregracke for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Chad Pregracke for your next private or corporate function.

What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Chad Pregracke or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.

Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.


Chad Pregracke is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Environmental Policy, Environment and Entrepreneurship. The estimated speaking fee range to book Chad Pregracke for live events is Below $10,000, and for virtual events Below $10,000. Chad Pregracke generally travels from East Moline, IL, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Jasmine Crowe-Houston, Jamie Margolin and Chris Turner. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Chad Pregracke for an upcoming event.

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 07/02/2024.

Chad Pregracke Speaking Topics

  • Results, Not Rhetoric: How to Mobilize Your Team

    Pregracke has learned to navigate political as well as physical landscapes, responding to challenges and opportunities with grace and precision. Recounting his personal journey from wide-eyed teenager to entrepreneur, he shares the pitfalls and serendipity he encountered while creating a mobilizing, one-of-a-kind nonprofit organization.

  • From the Bottom Up: One Man’s Crusade to Clean America’s Rivers

    In this inspirational story, Pregracke takes us from the pitch-black depths of the Mississippi to its surface. His personal journey to restore pride in one of our nation’s greatest treasures motivates others to do the same.

Chad Pregracke Videos

Environmentalist Wants To Turn Old I-80 Bridge Into Crossing F
Spring Equinox Speaker Chad Pregracke
2013 CNN Hero of the Year Chad Pregracke

Chad Pregracke Reviews

  • The whole experience was great! I really appreciated chatting with Chad before the conference so he could learn more about our industry and our audience. Chad received a standing ovation at our show, and I've heard nothing but great things about his keynote.
    North American Society for Trenchless Technology - May 02 2023

Chad Pregracke News

  • How do I book Chad Pregracke to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Chad Pregracke for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Chad Pregracke, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Chad Pregracke or any other speaker of your choice.
  • How much does it cost to book Chad Pregracke for a speaking engagement?

    Speaking fees for Chad Pregracke, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Chad Pregracke are Below $10,000 for live events and Below $10,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Chad Pregracke, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Chad Pregracke speak about?

    Chad Pregracke is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Environmental Policy, Environment, Entrepreneurship, Sustainability, Climate Change, Earth Day, Environmental Activism, Environmental Science, Energy, Conservation, Science, Animals & Wildlife, Business and Finance.
  • Where does Chad Pregracke travel from?

    Chad Pregracke generally travels from East Moline, IL, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.
  • Who is the agent for Chad Pregracke?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Chad Pregracke for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Chad Pregracke for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Chad Pregracke or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
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