ABOUT

From adversity to advocacy, my work is rooted in lived experience. I am a motivational and inspirational speaker, resilience coach, and author shaped by life with a visual disability.

This is not just a story. It is a journey of transformation. It is about choosing purpose in the face of pain and discovering how one step forward, no matter how small, can create ripples of change in countless lives.

Before the diagnosis. Before the journey.
But even then—I had a story to tell.

Turning Struggle Into Strength

I am Caleb Summerfelt, a motivational and inspirational speaker, resilience coach, and storyteller based in Washington State, with a soul shaped by grit, grace, and gratitude. I have worn many hats, from CIO to author, speaker, and disability advocate, but none more important than choosing to rise through the hardest parts of life. Born with a visual disability that was not diagnosed until high school, I had to relearn how to read, write, and reclaim my path forward.

I served as Governor of Rotary District 5020 in 2023-2024 after more than two decades in technology and organizational leadership, including serving as a chief information officer. Today, my work brings together leadership, resilience, creativity, disability advocacy, and service.

For more than twenty years, I have worked at the intersection of design, storytelling, and strategy, leading projects that blend bold creative vision with human-centered purpose. From national branding campaigns to large-scale exhibits and immersive storytelling installations, I bring messages to life through design that connects.

As President of Great Bowerbirdling Design and founder of NSB Design Works, I help mission-driven organizations visually express their purpose. Through branding, publications, and custom-built experiences, I bridge strategy and emotion to create meaningful impact. Earlier in my career, I served as Chief Information and Creative Officer at Superior Systems Inc., leading cross-functional teams across design, technology, logistics, and marketing.

I have experienced exclusion, setbacks, and deep personal loss. Each twist in the road brought greater clarity and a deeper calling. The Other Side of Struggle, my book about leadership, resilience, and choosing to move forward, reflects that journey and invites others to reframe adversity as a path to purpose. It is written for anyone facing life’s hard moments, especially those living with hidden disabilities or feeling underestimated.

Whether I am speaking on stage, coaching creative leaders, or writing behind the scenes, my message remains the same.

Your difference is your strength. Your story has the power to change lives, beginning with your own.

Where the Road Led Me

My journey has always followed two paths: creativity and resilience.

Whether leading companies, designing immersive experiences, or mentoring through Rotary leadership, I have used every chapter to grow as a speaker, disability advocate, and coach for purpose-driven change.

Here is a look at where that path has led me so far.

Education

  • Master’s Degree, Engineering Technology Management — Washington State University (2013–2016)

  • Master of Architecture (MArch) — Washington State University (2010–2012)

  • Bachelor of Science, Architecture — Washington State University (2007–2010)

Certifications

  • Logistics and Supply Chain Management
  • TOC Strategic Thinking Process Program “Jonah”
  • Constraints Management
  • Project Management

Publications

  • Seeing and Making in Architecture: Design Exercises

Career Timeline

  • President, Great Bowerbirdling Design (2022–Present)
    Creative leadership firm specializing in brand storytelling, experiential design, and nonprofit engagement.

  • President, NSB Design Works LLC (2019–Present)
    Fabrication and strategic design company supporting mission-driven clients with bold, physical solutions.

  • Owner, N Lazy S Bar (2001–Present)

  • Rotary District Governor, Rotary International District 5020 (2023–2024)
    Leadership mentor, keynote speaker, and advocate for Rotary Foundation giving and global impact.

  • Public Image Coordinator, Rotary International Region 34 (2025–2026)
    Strengthening storytelling across Zones 33/34, supporting club visibility and engagement.

  • CIO, CCO & Director of Purchasing/Acquisitions, Superior Systems Inc. (2003–2023)
    Led cross-functional teams combining IT, creative, procurement, and strategy.

  • Purchasing Agent, Superior Systems Inc. (2012–2013)

  • Lead Draftsman, Superior Systems Inc. (2004–2006)

  • Draftsman, Superior Systems Inc. (2003–2004)

  • Design Editor, The Olympian (2004–2006)

    The road led here. And honestly?
    I wouldn’t trade a step of it.

    MESSAGE IN MOTION FEOM AN INSPIRATIONAL SPEAKER

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    Our greatest strength is not perfection. It is perseverance. It is the ability to stand back up after life knocks us down and to keep moving forward when everything tells us we should not.

    Perseverance is choosing hope when fear is louder. It is finding purpose in the pain and courage in the unknown. It is not just about surviving. It is believing that what you have lived through matters.

    Your story, even unfinished and unpolished, can still lead others forward. Your next chapter may be the one that brings it all into focus. Let’s walk that story together.

    - Caleb Summerfelt

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    I’m creating something personal—filled with stories, struggles, and the moments that shape who we are. If you like big questions, surprising detours, and what it means to keep moving forward, you’re in the right place.

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