John and Mark X Cronin, co-founders of John's Crazy Socks, are heading to Phoenix, AZ for a series of speaking engagements. If you live in the Phoenix area, they invite you to come join them. You can meet John and take photos with John.
John and Mark bring a message of inclusion – showing what people with differing abilities can do – and inspiration – demonstrating how we can overcome obstacles to achieve great things. When meeting with self-advocates, their families, and supporters, they speak of hope and encouragement. When meeting with business leaders, policy makers and elected officials, they demonstrate the contributions that people with differing abilities can make and show how hiring people with differing abilities is not altruism, it is good business.
John Cronin is not only an entrepreneur and keynote speaker, but he also happens to have Down syndrome. “I want the world to know that I have Down syndrome, but Down syndrome never holds me back,” said John.
“These talks are personal for us,” said Mark. “We share John’s experiences growing up as well as our journey in bootstrapping John’s Crazy Socks from a start-up into the world’s largest sock store. We can show first-hand how businesses do well by doing good and how hiring people with differing abilities – more than half our colleagues have a differing ability – gives us a competitive advantage.”
Join John and Mark When they Speak with the Down Syndrome Network Arizona
Come meet John and Mark when they speak with the Down Syndrome Network Arizona on Monday, August 28 at 6:30 p.m. at the DSNetwork Building (1445 E Guadalupe Road, Tempe, AZ 85283-3953).
“I love meeting with self-advocates,” said John.
Mark said, “We value the opportunity to meet with self-advocates and families of people with Down syndrome. We share our experiences and want them to know they are not alone, that there is hope, that there are opportunities and things are getting better.”
The talk is FREE and open to the public, though you need to register in advance. You can register by clicking here.
Giving the Keynote Address at the Arizona SHRM Conference
On Tuesday August 29, the father-son team will give the morning keynote address at the Arizona State Conference for the Society of Human Resource Management (AZSHRM). Later that morning, John and Mark will lead a breakout session on hiring people with differing abilities.
“There are more than 20 million people with a disability who are ready, willing, and able to work out looking for a job right now. We want the people who lead the hiring, the HR professionals, to know how hiring people with differing abilities gives business a boost,” said Mark. “We are members of SHRM and know the value of the leadership that the HR professionals provide.”
To learn more about the Arizona SHRM Conference and to register to attend, you can click here.
“We love what SHRM does,” said John. “We speak at many SHRM events across the country and work with SHRM as part of the CEO Commission on Disability Employment.”
Speaking withGigi’s Playhouse Phoenix
John and Mark will cap off their visit to the Phoenix area by speaking with self-advocates and their families at Gigi’s Playhouse in Scottsdale. GiGi’s Playhouse is a nationwide network of Down syndrome achievement centers that offer over 50 different therapeutic, educational, and career development programs for individuals with Down syndrome of all ages, their families, and the community. GiGi’s Playhouse helps participants thrive through building educational, developmental, fitness, fine and gross motor, social-emotional, and speech and language skills.
“GiGi’s Playhouse provides vital services for the Down syndrome community and beyond and the Phoenix program is one of the largest in the world. The work they do is so impressive,” said Mark X. Cronin.
“We look to support GiGi’s Playhouse every chance we get,” said John. In fact, John participates in programs with GiGi’s Playhouse Long Island and John’s Crazy Socks have been longtime supporters of the GiGi’s Playhouse in New York City and on Long Island.
Travelling to Phoenix, Arizona
John loves traveling and wants to visit all 50 states. His trip to Arizona will mark the fortieth state he has visited and the twenty-seventh state where he has spoken.
“I am looking forward to all the new people we will meet,” said John.
Keynote Speakers: Inspiration, Inclusion, and Impact
You can have John and Mark speak to your organization or school. They share their entrepreneurial story of how a young man with Down syndrome together with his father created what is today the world’s largest sock store with a mission to spread happiness. Their speaking engagements bring laughter, tears and inspire people to see what is possible for each of us to achieve. They have spoken in person at events across Canada, the United States and Mexico and virtually at events around the world. They have spoken at events for Microsoft, EY, Bank of America, the Special Olympics, and the National Down Syndrome Society, among others as well as dozens of colleges and universities.
If you would like John and Mark to speak at your event, please visit the speaker’s pages at our website or contact them at Speaking@johnscrazysocks.com.
About John’s Crazy Socks
John’s Crazy Socks was inspired by John Lee Cronin, a young man with Down syndrome, and his love of colorful and fun socks—what he calls his “crazy socks.” He and his father, Mark X. Cronin, started the company as a social enterprise with a mission of Spreading Happiness™. With more than 4,000 socks, John’s Crazy Socks is now the world’s largest sock store. More than half their employees have a differing ability, and their Giving Back program has raised over $635,000 for charity partners like the Special Olympics, the National Down Syndrome Society, and the Autism Society of America. Most of all, they are Spreading Happiness™.
For more information about John’s Crazy Socks, visit our webpage, Facebook page, Instagram account, TikTok or YouTube channel. You can also contact us at 631-760-5625 or via email at service@johnscrazysocks.com.
