ROSS BERNSTEIN
MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER AND BEST-SELLING SPORTS AUTHOR
SPEAKER
The best-selling author of nearly 50 sports books, Ross Bernstein is an award-winning peak performance business speaker who’s keynoted conferences on four continents for audiences as small as 10 and as large as 10,000. Ross and his books have been featured on thousands of television and radio programs over the years including CNN, ESPN, Bloomberg, Fox News, and “CBS This Morning,” as well as in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times and USA Today. He’s spent the better part of the past 20 years studying the DNA of championship teams and his program, “The Champion’s Code: Building Relationships Through Life Lessons of Integrity and Accountability from the Sports World to the Business World,” not only illustrates what it takes to become the best of the best, it also explores the fine line between cheating and gamesmanship in sports as it relates to values and integrity in the workplace. As a working member of the media in his home state of Minnesota, Ross has a unique behind the scenes access to all of the local sports franchises in the area, including the Vikings, Twins, Timberwolves, Wild and Gophers. As such, he spends lots of his time in dugouts, club houses, locker rooms, and press boxes — and it’s here where Ross has met and interviewed thousands of professional athletes over the years. Ross and his wife Sara have a 12 year old daughter and presently reside in Apple Valley, MN.
AUTHOR
As a best-selling sports author, Ross has written nearly 50 books. His award-winning books have reached No. 1 multiple times in the sports category on Amazon.com, and twice he has reached the Top 10 overall in the world for his books “The Code” and “Perseverance.” Over the years, Ross has appeared on thousands of TV, radio, print and on-line media outlets as a guest and sports expert.
PUBLISHER
As a publisher, Ross has self-published many different titles under his Bernstein Books Publishing umbrella. In addition, Ross also does private label publishing and ghost writing for various celebrity clients with whom he chooses to work with. Ross interviews hundreds of celebrity athletes and media personalities every year for his various book projects, and invariably he is asked to write and publish many of their books. As such, Ross will write and publish their books, turning their life stories into “motivational biographies” that are then used out on the speaking circuit.
TELEVISION
In addition to doing numerous TV interviews annually, Ross is also a regular contributing on-air analyst for NBC Sports. The two programs Ross primarily contributes to are “NHL Rivals” and “NHL Top 10” — both highly rated and shown throughout the U.S. and Canada.
MOTION PICTURE & DOCUMENTARY FILM PROJECTS
Ross’ best-selling book “The Code” inspired the 2013 feature film “The Last Gladiators,” by Academy Award winning director Alex Gibney. Ross worked as a consultant on the project and was also featured on-screen, which debuted at the Toronto Film Festival and then played in theaters throughout North America. Ross also worked as a producer and was featured extensively on-screen for the 2009 documentary “Unspoken Rules,” which was also based on his book “The Code.” Produced by award-winning Infinity Films, out of Vancouver, the movie was shown extensively on the SuperChannel throughout Canada.
Ross has worked as a consultant, contributor and on-screen talent with several production companies over the years on a variety of motion picture, television and documentary film projects. Among them include: HBO (consultant: 2010 feature “Broad Street Bullies”), Disney (consultant: 2003 feature “Miracle”), History Channel (consultant: 2008 documentary about the “Miracle on Ice” for the “Our Generation” series), Northland Films (contributor and on-screen talent: 2008 documentary “Pond Hockey”). Ross has also optioned a couple of his books for movie projects, including “The Sheikh of Baghdad,” which was picked up by 3 Arts Entertainment, out of Los Angeles. This project is currently pending.
SCREEN-PLAYS
Ross has a handful of treatments for feature films that are based on his books. The one that he is most excited about and is currently shopping is entitled: “The Bullies.” The movie is based on the hilarious true life story of the 1978 Birmingham (Alabama) Bulls, of the now defunct World Hockey Association, which set a modern day professional hockey record for the most fighting penalty minutes... ever. Ross decided that this story had to be told after writing biographies with Glen Sonmor, the coach of the team, and Dave “Killer” Hanson (of the movie “Slap Shot” fame), who was one of the many enforcers on the team. “Glen’s Goons,” as they were known, fought their way to the top that year en route to changing the rules of the game. This story is about more than just hockey, however, it is also a poignant look at just how the rebel WHA took on the mighty NHL in a classic David vs. Goliath battle that ultimately changed antitrust laws in sports forever. An amalgam between “Slap Shot,” “Bull Durham” and “Miracle,” this movie simply has got to be made. Stay tuned!
PERSONAL
Ross and his wife Sara, who met at the University of Minnesota and have been married for 20+ years, have a 12 year old daughter and presently reside in Apple Valley, Minn. A downright sports fanatic, Ross — despite the fact that he has broken more than 20 bones — continues to play hockey as much as humanly possible. He is also an avid golfer and skier, and has run seven marathons to-date… still in hot pursuit of that elusive sub-four-hour finishing time.
CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS
Ross is extremely proud of the fact that he has worked closely with dozens of charitable, non-profit and philanthropic organizations and events over the past two decades, which have raised millions of dollars for various causes. Ross currently serves as the President of the Board of Directors of the Herb Brooks Foundation, a cause that is especially near and dear to his heart. Whether its playing in or serving as a corporate sponsor in celebrity golf or hockey tournaments; attending charity galas and balls; donating money or books to fundraising events; or setting up charitable foundations for his many book subjects and clients — Ross believes strongly in giving back. As an author and speaker, Ross has donated countless hours to a handful of non-profit charitable organizations, and participated in several strategic fundraising initiatives.
Ross has also written and published several books for charitable organizations in which he strongly believes. In the Fall of 2009, Ross proudly donated complimentary copies of his coffee table book “Maroon & Gold Forever: Celebrating 125 Years of Gopher Football” to every season ticket holder in conjunction with the grand opening of TCF Bank Stadium. In addition, Ross created a series of books for both the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame and the University of Minnesota “M” Club Hall of Fame. Both books, “The M” and “The Hall,” were given away as gifts at their respective organization’s annual gala induction dinners, with proceeds from sales going directly to the organizations.