George Siegal

George gave the Bell Lecture at Western Kentucky University in November this year. He arrived the day before and spent all day speaking with our classes before the lecture in the evening. He was an amazing speaker with an incredible story to tell. Built to Last: Buyer Beware is a testament to the tendency of humans to be reactive instead of proactive. In vivid brush strokes it shows that people are never ready for inevitable disasters, and once they occur the knowledge gained has a very limited shelf life. George is a great public speaker with a message that resonates. He really wants to change the world and human behavior. We have had some outstanding speakers at the Bell Lecture over the years, but for my money, George was head and shoulders above the rest. I say this because of the compelling message he delivered and his willingness and ability to connect one-on-one and with large audiences.
Warren Campbell
Verified
George is a gifted storyteller with the ability to take a complex issue and make it palatable, relatable to the audience. It’s not about “dumbing things down” or simplifying. George explained the broken industries of home building, code enforcement/building codes and property insurance. And then he did what few speakers can do: connect the dots from REALITY to RELEVANCE. (Why should the viewer care about this? How does it impact them short term & long term? Why is this truly relevant to them?) We loved having him on our public affairs show on WEDU in the Tampa Bay / West Central Florida media market and look forward to having him on again in the future! Lissette Campos, Host & Moderator Florida This Week WEDU PBS
Lissette Campos
Verified
George is a natural and gifted speaker, and was a huge success at the Climate Action NOW Monthly Film Festival in Fairfax, Virginia in February 2025, where we had more than 240 ticketed seats. Since not all outstanding film directors are outstanding speakers, as the organizer of a sold out event, I was a bit apprehensive, and had to take a risk, hoping for the best. The audience was beyond thrilled with George's engaging personality, wonderful sense of humor, excellent story telling, and genuine interest in audience questions. He had tireless energy, never losing his charming smile while speaking in front of a large audience, as well as with countless people lined up to meet George one-on-one before and after the show. His down to earth nature, yet sophisticated style, enables him to connect well with all types of people. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
Noreen Wise
George Siegal has a deep understanding of building design and construction issues and how they relate to storm hazard vulnerability. His films are informative and enlightening and represent a road map for anyone proposing to build a home in an area that is at risk from storm and flood hazards. As a long-time floodplain manager and former NJDEP Commissioner, I would refer to George's work as required viewing for people who want a first-hand view of how to design and construct a home that is built to last, and how to avoid pitfalls that can result in unnecessary damages, costs and misery.
Mark Mauriello
Verified
George is a talented storyteller who not only produces world-class films and documentaries, but is also very engaging on a personal level. I recently hosted him on the GeoTrek podcast and he clearly articulated his passion for people to be better informed about decision making when buying a home in high-risk areas. His down-to-earth perspectives and ability to articulate complex topics using common language make George a valuable asset for education and engagement in the disaster preparedness/ resiliency industry.
"Hurricane Hal" Needham
Director of Extreme Weather and Disaster Science
GeoTrek
Smarter, Safer Housing: A Conversation with Documentary Filmmaker George Siegal
04/11/2025
Verified
George is an excellent communicator who is very passionate about his vision to see people become better educated and informed before they buy a home in a disaster-prone area. He was a guest on The National Tropical Weather Conference, where he provided engaging insights he gained from an extensive career in the weather industry, and from the two films he produced. I strongly recommend George as an engaging speaker who is able to clearly communicate complex topics to a broad audience, and relate well to both industry professionals and the public.
"Hurricane Hal" Needham
Director of Extreme Weather and Disaster Science
GeoTrek
National Tropical Weather Conference
05/11/2025
Verified
This film is a much-needed educational and awareness asset that everyone should see. You never know when disaster will strike you or your community, and preparedness is key. We had the pleasure of featuring this well-made documentary film at our annual conference this year, and it was very well received. Our guests' reactions showed they were engaged, and the applause at the end confirmed their appreciation for the quality of the information and the film. I would highly recommend screening this film at your group event and supporting the valuable message. Preparedness is key. Not all structures are built to last. And you really don't know what you think you know. Buyer Beware!
Nancy Dominguez
Verified
His talk about the construction related to natural disasters was great. I am a professor teaching construction management students. I had an opportunity to invite him to my classroom; my students and he had great conversations.
Mi Sun An
Verified

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