One-Handed Inspiration: Speaker Mike Bolland

As an event organizer, it will be you who shines the most for bringing Mike onboard to speak at your event. His ability to entertain, inspire, and connect with the audience can make your event a resounding success and leave a positive and lasting impression on all attendees.

Inspirational Story: Mike Bolland's personal journey and triumph over adversity as a one-handed individual can be deeply inspiring for the audience. He can share powerful insights about resilience, determination, and the ability to overcome challenges, motivating attendees to embrace their own obstacles with a positive mindset.

Unique Perspective: As a one-handed individual, Mike Bolland offers a unique perspective on life and work, which can provide valuable insights into breaking barriers. His experiences can help attendees develop a greater understanding and appreciation for the diverse talents and capabilities that exist within our society.

Humor and Entertainment: Being a comedian, Mike Bolland brings a delightful sense of humor and entertainment to his keynote presentations. Humor can make the event more engaging, enjoyable, and memorable for the audience, ensuring that the message resonates and sticks with them long after the event is over.

Engaging Communication Style: Mike's background in comedy means he has developed excellent communication skills and stage presence. He can captivate the audience, keeping them engaged throughout the event, and effectively delivering his message with impact.

Versatility: As a keynote speaker, Mike Bolland can adapt his presentation to fit the specific theme and goals of the event. Whether it's a corporate event, conference, or a more intimate gathering, he can tailor his talk to suit the audience and the occasion.

Positive Brand Association: Hiring Mike Bolland as a keynote speaker can enhance the event's reputation and create positive brand associations. The event organizer can showcase their commitment to empowerment, which can reflect well on their organization or brand.

Memorable Experience: Attendees are more likely to remember an event when they have been moved, entertained, and inspired. Mike's unique combination of motivational speaking and comedy can create a memorable experience that leaves a lasting impression on the audience.

Social Impact: By inviting a one-handed keynote speaker, the event organizer can contribute to social impact by raising awareness about disability and creating a more compassionate society.

Mike Bolland is a congenital amputee of the right hand – which means he was born without a right hand. He was born in Montclair, New Jersey and spent his early years in beautiful Hazlet, NJ. There he attended Beers Street School. Fitting for a guy who would later develop a “Two Fisted Drinker” beer mug (more on that later). The Bolland family moved to Arizona around the time Mike was eight years old.

Soon after moving to Arizona, fate presented him with an unexpected opportunity. Mike was chosen to play the role of Danny in the movie "The Trial of Billy Jack." The movie, which was the third highest grossing film of 1974, is now considered by many to be a cult classic and his role proved to be pivotal.

In 1978 Mike started his bowling journey when a good friend of his asked him to join a bowling league. He was 13 years old and really never picked up a bowling ball. By the time he turned 16, he had won his first state bowling title, which granted him a spot in the prestigious Coca-Cola Nationals in Washington, D.C. It marked his first significant trip away from home.

Mike's passion for bowling continued to grow, leading him to compete in his first PBA event, the Tucson Open, in 1986. He earned his amateur spot that year and repeated the feat in 1988 by winning both entry tournaments. In 1989, he achieved a groundbreaking milestone by officially turning pro, becoming the first person born without a hand to join the PBA.

Mike still has a lot of great memories from his bowling days. His highest finish in a PBA event was second in the 1989 Central Valley PBA Open in Merced, Calif. on the Regional Tour, and he has cashed on the PBA National Tour. However, Mike could never secure a full time sponsor to stay on tour. With the lone exception of bowling the US Open on a whim in 2001, Mike has not bowled since 1992. He never bowled to be a league bowler; he only aspired to be on tour. With that possibility fading, so did his desire to bowl.

Following the conclusion of his bowling career, Mike embarked on a new path and found himself at Discount Tire. They gave him an opportunity to prove himself by offering him an unpaid/unofficial stint at one of their stores. Within half a day, he demonstrated his capabilities, and he was soon offered a full-time position. Over the years, Mike's career flourished and he moved to the corporate where he had major roles, from overseeing the eBusiness/web area to leading Digital Marketing and initiating their Social Media presence, Intranet site, and Customer Experience area.

In 2016, Mike faced his toughest battle yet – cancer. After enduring surgery and radiation, he has remained cancer-free for over six years, believing that these challenges only serve to make a person stronger.

The cancer experience profoundly impacted Mike, leading him to consider a larger purpose beyond his career. In 2022, he retired from Discount Tire to give back to the amputee community. He started a nonprofit named "Joe & Marie Bolland’s Helping Hands" with a mission to provide amputees with the prosthetics they need to live a full life. Additionally, he launched the nationally acclaimed "We’re Not Stumped Amputee Podcast," dedicated to sharing the life stories of amputees.

After conquering cancer, Mike also delved into stand-up comedy, performing across Arizona and the Southwest. In addition to comedy, he invented the "Two Fisted Drinker" beer mug, which holds three patents. Mike manages every aspect of the business single-handedly, from designing the website and securing products to managing finances and creating packaging. The mug has garnered high ratings on Amazon, bringing him immense joy knowing that his creation brings smiles to others as a cherished gift.

Though not a 'must have", Mike would love nothing more than to showcase some of his past accomplishments, which includes his movie role and his many television interviews. When possible, the ability to play this content to an audience is always appreciated.