About Larry Tracey
A common man, with an uncommon gift. From studying for the priesthood to being part of the pit crew for Evel Knievel, Larry has risen to the top the hard way.
Larry spent thirteen years learning hard lessons on what he calls a road of “personal destruction.” Amazingly, these life experiences propelled him to a road of “personal construction” that included Kent State University; nine years teaching in the classroom; three years developing Outreach and at-risk youth programming, five years as a counselor and founding Youth4Youth and Success Training Services, but most importantly, raising three sons.
As an educator, his students excelled to win U.S. Skills Competition at the state level for nine consecutive years. American Honda selected Larry from a national field of contestants to receive their 1986 Summer Educator Internship. For the past three years, Chicken Soup for the Soul Co-creator and America’s Success Coach Jack Canfield has mentored him.
Larry’s first book in the Seeds for Success Series, “The Secret of the Can”, was published in January of 2008. The second installment, “Keys for Success” will be available in the late of 2008.
Larry continues to work hard throughout Ohio and beyond, to bring leadership skills and much more through the Youth4Youth Program to our kids. He has quiet strength, optimistic spirit and the innate gift to connect with everyone he meets.
The development of Success Training Services was a spin-off of the Youth4Youth Program. It did not take Larry long to realize that the principles he taught youth, teachers and administrators would be valuable skills in the work place: team building; increased productivity; interpersonal and communication skills; respect and accountability, to name a few.
Larry is a six-year member of Toastmasters International. He recently competed in the semifinals of The World Championship of Public Speaking, held in Ottawa, Canada. He is also a member of Lorain County Prevention Connection and Chairman of the Youth Initiative for United Way. He has assisted Jack Canfield, co-author of the Chicken Soup for Soul Series at his Breakthrough to Success seminar trainings.