About Ralph

Ralph Heath is an author, consultant, and keynote speaker specializing in innovative leadership, marketing, and wellness.

His best selling first book, Celebrating Failure: The Power of Taking Risks, Making Mistakes, and Thinking Big, was published by Career Press in 2009, and is widely credited with identifying failure as a crucial first step toward success.  Celebrating Failure has been translated into five languages. Ralph is currently writing his second leadership book sharing insights on persuasion.  He writes a blog called Thoughtful Leadership and Marketing.

 

Ralph is President of Synergy Leadership Group. Synergy Leadership Group helps company’s brand themselves by telling authentic stories about their culture and products. 

Strategic and creative business leadership

Ralph is past president and founder of Ovation Marketing, an independent ad agency that was twice named to INC magazine’s list of America’s 500 fastest growing companies.  Ovation worked with some of America's most iconic brands including Budweiser, Betty Crocker, Microsoft, Hershey, State Farm, Smuckers, and World Book.  

Ralph is a John Caples International Award winning copywriter and was recognized as Direct Marketer of the Year by the Midwest Direct Marketing Association.

Speaker, educator, and community leader

Ralph is a motivational/keynote speaker and 18 year member of the National Speakers Association. He has taught advertising and marketing courses at the University of Wisconsin.

He earned his B.S. in mass communications from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. He is currently president of La Crosse Promise and past-president of Mississippi Valley Conservancy and Human Powered Trails, organizations dedicated to sustaining natural environments.

He helped found the La Crosse Fitness Festival and serves on the board of the Outdoor Recreation Alliance (ORA).

In 2011, Ralph received the "Jim Gokey Model Citizen Award" from Chileda Institute.

Elite age group athlete and fitness advocate

Ralph has been honored as a four-time Triathlon All-American by Triathlete magazine and the U.S.A. Triathlon Association.

He is a two-time finisher of the Hawaii Ironman and routinely competes in cycling and running races.  He has been a silver and bronze medal winner in Wisconsin cycling.