Eventually Kelly qualified and became a navy test pilot, but he still didn’t think he had what it took to become an astronaut. When one of his colleagues was filling out the application for an astronaut, however, Kelly decided to file one as well.

Both Scott and his twin brother Mark would eventually be selected for NASA’s astronaut program. Kelly went on to spend a year in space at the international space station. “The human body was made to live in gravity and odd things happen when you live without gravity,” he explained of his 340 days in space.

“A year is not short, but it was very rewarding,” he added. “But being in space is hard.”

Importance of teamwork

Kelly said he learned to live with very little stuff — even wearing the same pants for six months. He stressed the importance of teamwork from those on the ground as well as with his fellow Russian astronauts who shared the space station with him, and explained how it transfers over into every aspect of life.

“If we can dream it we can do it if we are willing to focus and develop a plan and work towards it,” he concluded. “Teamwork makes the dream work and the sky is not the limit.”

Mike Rowe said that meaningful work is something to which everyone aspires. (Photo: P.Harman/propertycasualty360.com)

The value of hard work

Television personality and the former host of the Dirty Jobs television show, Mike Rowe, opened the second day and shared how he got the idea to launch what would become the most popular show on cable television.

He shared a graphic but humorous story about reporting from the sewers of San Francisco for the show Evening Magazine.

“I was on sensory overload — it’s bad down there. It’s so much worse than you think,” he laughed. “It hits you like a palpable thing in the face,” he said as he described standing in about 18 inches of a “chocolate tide” that was flowing with extreme purpose. “I kept thinking, ‘All smells are particulate,’” he added.

That unforgettable experience would be the impetus for the Dirty Jobs show, where Rowe would interview a series of workers across the country who do unglamorous jobs most people would never consider. He’d spend the day with them — sharing their experiences and actually doing the work like castrating lambs, cleaning bison skulls, gathering alligator eggs and raising pigs to name a few.

Rowe also discussed the profound skills gap in this country that led him to create the mikeroweWORKS Foundation and the Profoundly Disconnected campaign.

“I get to talk to all kinds of folks — we have to do something to reconnect with work,” he shared. “I can’t drag the country through the sewer, but we need a wake up call. There is great dignity in all work.”

The foundation gives away work ethic scholarships. “We’ve given away $4 million in scholarships. Most scholarships are based on academic achievement, athletics and other factors. We reward work ethic,” he said.

Exhibitors were creative when it came to attracting attendees to their booths. (Photo: S. Moynihan/PropertyCasualty360.com)

Adventurer and team builder Robyn Benincasa, delivered the opening keynote address on the third day, sharing her experiences as an adventure racer, San Diego fire fighter and three-time Guinness world record kayaker.

Education sessions tackled topics ranging from the impending talent gap and cyber security to using technology to overcome today’s business challenges and the impact of driverless vehicles.

The exhibition hall featured approximately 200 vendors offering a wide range of product solutions and services.

A winged stilt walker greeted attendees into the exhibit hall on opening night. (Photo: P. Harman)

The IASA exhibit hall was full of valuable services and products for attendees. (Photo: P. Harman)