

Solutions
Keynote Speakers

Kevin Harkins, Ph.D.
Co-Founder and CEO of Harkcon, Inc.
Dr. Harkins is the CEO of Harkcon, Inc. and has more than 30 years experience leading and consulting across a broad-spectrum of human performance improvement areas in the public and private sectors. His primary focus has been professional development including peak performance mindset, leadership development, management, occupational job task analysis, job specialty design, competency modeling and training design & development.
Dr. Harkins co-founded Harkcon, Inc. in 2005 and has led the company through more than a decade of high productivity and steady expansion. Harkcon has won multiple awards for growth, innovation, and new project development and has been recognized by Inc. Magazine as one of the fastest growing businesses in America for seven consecutive years. Harkcon’s clients have included the U.S. Coast Guard, Dept. of Homeland Security, Dept. of Energy, Dept. of State, Dept. of Commerce, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Liquid Robotics, and Kaiser Permanente.
Dr. Harkins is recognized as a subject matter expert in discerning the nature of work and creating an environment where people thrive. This expertise is founded upon knowledge of how the mind works, group dynamics and what leadership, cultural and job-related features are necessary in the workplace to help people be at their very best. He has led significant projects with many government agencies and private sector organizations. He is currently leading a now seven-year major effort at the Federal Bureau of Investigation to conduct Job and Critical Ability Analysis of several highly complex job specialties; the purpose of which is to determine a member’s readiness and ability to perform.
Part of Harkcon’s vision has been, when and where appropriate, to spawn new businesses, giving people with a particular passion the ability to realize their dream while leveraging the lessons learned in Harkcon and while initially under the protective wing of a supporting organization. Of particular note are two examples: Dr. Harkins directed the launch of Harkcon Academy, a high end training and professional development center of excellence. Additionally, as an equal partner / owner with the other members of Harkcon’s senior executive team, Dr. Harkins helped launch and actively participates in activities related to the 6 Bears & a Goat Brewery in Fredericksburg, VA . The Brewery is home to Harkcon Academy’s Training-on-Tap Program, where various organizations use the brewery to hold meetings, off-sites and training; where sessions are followed by a free beer and tour of the brewery.
Dr. Harkins is a retired U.S. Coast Guard Officer having served for 24 years including seven years at sea on three ships including as Commanding Officer and Operations Officer, and while ashore, as Chief, Military Personnel Policy and Standards Division.


Each of us, individually, is extremely valuable, and our work is fundamentally important to our very existence as humans. Our labor gives us purpose and meaning. Leaders, managers and supervisors need to understand this important concept, and treat their workforce with the utmost respect and dignity."