Jay Payleitner

After completely failing as a sales rep for office machines and law books, Jay found a sweet niche on Michigan Avenue writing ads for airlines, beer, and other big name clients. (Including helping to name "SunChips" for Frito-Lay.)

After a decade or so, God's clear call led him to a freelance career scripting and producing thousands of radio broadcasts for Chuck Colson, Josh McDowell, fathers.com, Heritage Foundation, Salvation Army, Voice of the Martyrs, and other nonprofits.

As he approached 50, Jay reinvented himself again as a national speaker and best-selling author of more than 30 books including The Prayer of Agur, 52 Things Kids Need from a Dad, The Newlywed Year, and What If God Wrote Your Bucket List?

Jay’s books have been translated into ten languages and sold more than a half-million copies. He has been a guest multiple times on The Harvest Show, Moody Radio, Cornerstone TV, and Focus on the Family.

As a speaker—in more than 20 states and 3 countries—Jay has keynoted Iron Sharpens Iron and fundraising events, preached at weekend services, and led dozens of men’s retreats, women’s outreach events, and marriage conferences.

Jay served as Executive Director of Illinois Fatherhood Initiative and is co-founder of Benevolent ThinkTank.

Jay and his high school sweetheart, Rita, live in St. Charles, Illinois where they raised five awesome kids, loved on ten foster babies, and are cherishing grandparenthood.