Headshots
High-resolution at 300 DPI. Available in three crops for different layout needs.
Speaker bio
Available in short (100 words) and long (250 words) versions for different formats.
Khary Penebaker is a keynote speaker, advocate, and entrepreneur who built a commercial roofing company from the ground up to $35M+ in revenue and 180 employees. After losing his mother to suicide as an infant, he channels his story of resilience into keynotes that challenge audiences to lead with authenticity. He has spoken at the DNC Convention, been featured on CNN, MSNBC, and HuffPost, and served as DNC Representative for Wisconsin from 2017 to 2023. His topics include leadership under pressure, mental health advocacy, racial equity, and community building.
Khary Penebaker is a keynote speaker, entrepreneur, and advocate whose work sits at the intersection of resilience, leadership, and justice. He built Penebaker Enterprises from a $1.5M regional roofing operation to a $15M full-service commercial contractor, then went on to lead Roofed Right America to $35M+ in revenue with 180 employees across multiple markets.
Khary lost his mother to suicide when he was just 20 months old. That early experience of loss and the resilience required to rise from it have become the foundation of his most impactful keynotes. He does not shy away from the hard parts of his story, and audiences recognize the difference.
In 2016, he ran for Congress in Wisconsin's 5th District. From 2017 to 2023, he served as DNC Representative for Wisconsin, representing the state at the national level. He served as Board President of Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin C4 from 2021 to 2024 and is an active Everytown for Gun Safety Wisconsin Fellow.
Khary has been featured on CNN, MSNBC, PBS Wisconsin, HuffPost, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, and Wisconsin Public Radio. He brings 88+ media appearances and a 82,600+ social following to every event. His speaking topics include leadership under pressure, mental health and firearm suicide prevention, racial equity in business, community building, and resilience after adversity.
Speaker one-sheet
A single-page PDF summarizing Khary's topics, stats, and contact info. Designed for event planners and program directors.
Speaking topics
Four core areas Khary speaks on, each grounded in direct experience.
Drawing from his experience running a $35M construction company as a Black entrepreneur, Khary speaks frankly about building equitable organizations in industries that have historically excluded people of color.
Khary lost his mother to suicide at 20 months old. He speaks on firearm suicide prevention, the gap between mental health need and access, and what it means to build advocacy from personal loss.
What it actually takes to lead through crisis, scale a company through setbacks, and build teams that perform under pressure. Practical, direct, and grounded in real business experience.
From running for Congress to serving on national boards, Khary speaks on the mechanics of building movements, earning community trust, and turning advocacy into lasting institutional change.
Key stats
Context for event programs, introductions, and press materials.
Social links
Direct links to Khary's active profiles for tagging, embedding, and follow-up.
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