Jerry Schemmel

Jerry Schemmel is a former major-market sports broadcaster turned motivational speaker whose life and career reflect resilience, endurance, and the power of perspective. After more than 30 years behind the microphone—including long tenures with the Denver Nuggets and Colorado Rockies—Schemmel transitioned from broadcasting to focus on inspiring audiences through his personal story and hard-earned insights.

A motivational speaker for over 25 years, Schemmel draws from three defining aspects of his life: surviving a commercial airline crash, his decades-long broadcasting career, and his pursuits as an ultra-endurance cyclist. He is the author of “Chosen To Live,” a memoir that recounts his survival of the 1989 United Airlines Flight 232 crash and the profound impact it had on his outlook.

Schemmel’s message centers on a universal truth: everyone experiences a “plane crash” in life—moments of adversity, loss, or unexpected challenge. While each person’s experience is different, he emphasizes that setbacks do not define us. Instead, they present an opportunity for growth, resilience, and transformation.

Through candid storytelling and compelling lessons, Schemmel encourages audiences to confront hardship with courage, to rise after being knocked down, and to emerge stronger than before. His presentations resonate across industries, offering a powerful reminder that even life’s most difficult moments can lead to renewed purpose and possibility.