Lola Gillebaard is an exceptional entertainer with southern charm and gutsy style. Lola inspires audiences all over the world using clean "real-life" humor with a heart-felt message. Lola will make you laugh until you cry, only to make you laugh all over again. Featured clean comedian of the Improv, regular humorist for Crystal Cruises, and hot charity fundraiser for community events, Lola captivates your guests with her personal humor magic... From Conventions to Workshops, from Women's' Conferences to Teacher In Service Days, Hospital Nursing Seminars to Corporate Retreats, Lola is at home with people of all ages and all walks of life.

For over 20 years, Lola Gillebaard has been helping organizations recognize the connection between humor, health and happiness, and on-the-job productivity. Corporate & Association meeting planner's organizations benefit from Lola's successful programs which include "coping with negativity in the work place". As a cancer survivor, Lola knows first-hand how humor can positively impact a patient's ability to heal. She uses this knowledge to inspire Health Care Providers to use humor in their work.

Lola is the recipient of many prestigious awards, including the Reader's Digest Writers Award , and recently the Outstanding Women Award from the American Association of University Women. She was honored with the Unsung Heroines Award presented by the VFW - Veterans Of Foreign Wars. She is also a member of the University of California - Irvine Susan Samueli Health and Wellness Board.

Some of Lola’s Most Requested Programs:

Life's Funny That Way
A program that bridges conflict with humor through common ground. Lola shows how to use the magic of humor to take a second look at difficult times…like raising 4 sons…Lola says, “All my boys were raised in a broken home. They broke everything is sight!”

Growing Old Disgracefully
A program that realizes growing older is a fact of life, but growing old is an attitude. Lola talks about the various changes of aging with humor and spirit. In Lola’s show, she talks of the stages of aging, “you know your growing older when…your favorite evening cocktail is Vodka and Metamucil. I call it bombs away!

Humor in Business is Serious Business
A program illustrating that laughter can help create a more productive work atmosphere. Lola brings a serious topic to a humorous note when she says, “2% of the people out there were created to irritate the rest of us.”

Today's Tragedy can be Tomorrow's Humor
A program that shows how each setback in life only makes you stronger. The trick to falling down is getting back up. Lola brings her real-life stories to life with humor when she speaks of her bout with cancer, ”I spent the whole day taking my clothes off only to put them back on again… kind of like my honeymoon only not as much fun!”

Zapping Negativity
A program that gives you strategies for improving difficult workplace relationships and helps you find out how to create a more positive atmosphere and overcome negativity in your office or organization. Lola gives you tips like, “Give a negative person a compliment…(“ I like the way your socks match!”) It stuns them into silence.”

Laughter is the Handshake of Good Communication
A program depicting the benefits of lightening up in the workplace, how humor serves as a powerful tool in business. Or as Lola says, “The most important thing you can ever wear is…the expression on your face.”

How to be Assertive without being a Bully
A program pointing out the difference between being assertive and being aggressive. Lola illustrates how humor is the lubricant that eases the friction between people. Or as Lola says, “Know when not to react.”

How to Communicate without using a Bullhorn
A program showing through personal examples and audience involvement creative ways to attain a listener's full attention. One way Lola does this is when she says to the audience, “How many of you woke up this morning, looked in the mirror…and burst out laughing?”

The Booby Prize
A humorous program that focuses on the challenge of dealing with cancer. As a cancer survivor, Lola knows first-hand how humor can positively impact a patient's ability to heal. She uses this knowledge to inspire Health Care Providers to use humor in their work.

Lola is witty, charming, serious and funny when speaking to an audience about the good times, the sad times and the difficult times that life brings us. Lola's unique delivery blends real-life stories, comedy, and wisdom into an entertaining program that promotes humor, even in the most trying situations. Her "lessons in life" provide valuable tools that can be used long after the presentation is over. After all, if this 70+ year old lady can make it through 17 major surgeries, four boys, three career changes and nearly 50 years of marriage and still say "Life is Good !" then just think what she can do to motivate your group!

Since she's got the benefit of many years of life experience, her genuine wisdom, insightful perception, and easy-going style appeals to a wide range of people, of all age categories. You can be assured that Lola's original style of humor, sometimes quirky and off-beat, can relieve stress and rejuvenate the audience while emphasizing the importance of a positive outlook on life, at any age.

Lola says, "At my age, I'm just getting started...and having fun too! Being "old" is a state of mind that I have no time for, nor accept. There's too much to do getting ready for my next party. Won't you join me?"

Your audience will be challenged to find more humor in their own lives, especially in the work place. Lola says, "Humor doesn't eliminate the problem, but it puts the problem in a different perspective in order to focus on a solution." Lola will show the attendees why laughter is so important for good communication, while tailoring the program to her client's specific needs.

What people Are Saying

" You, Lola, are the rare and remarkable combination of a professional speaker, comedienne, and an extraordinary storyteller. You managed to once again wow the audience with your unique sense of humor, and perspective that touched each and every one of us who listened to you.”
-- Dan Maddux, American Payroll Association

"OUTSTANDING! EXCELLENT! INSPIRATIONAL!” Are the words found over and over again in Lola's testimonial letters from clients who used Lola as their Keynote Speaker. This affirmation was recently received from Mended Hearts Inc.; “Your marvelous use of humor when talking about your own experiences with serious illnesses captivated the audience. We laughed and learned with you. Your impact on our convention was felt after your presentation when our president, Donna DeLesse showed up with a red nose. Without prompting, the audience shouted in unison, ‘I'm Awesome!’. Lola, you are totally awesome!”
-- Brian Pearl, Speakers Chairperson, Mended Hearts Convention 2000

Partial Client List

American Heart Association
American Society for Training and Development
American Sugarbeet Growers Association
AOA - Auxiliary Organizations Association
Arthur Andersen & CO.
ARV - Assisted Living
ASRT - American Society of Radiologic Technologists
Assistance League of Saddleback Valley
AWED - American Woman's Economic Development
Belk
BI 75th - Braille Institute
BIA - Building Industry Association of Southern Cal.
BLOOMERS - National Breast Cancer Organization
Braille Institute - Auxiliary of Orange Coast
BREA - Chamber of Commerce
Brea Community Hospital
Brunswick Defense
Burglar and Fire Alarm Association
CAADS - California Assoc. for Adult Day Services
CACM - California Assoc. of Community Managers
California Lutheran University
California Society of Hospital Pharmacists
CAPPO- CA Assoc. of Public Purchasing Officers
Carl's Jr. - Carl Karcher Enterprises, Inc.
Cassette Express
CCAC - City Clerks Association of California
CCI - Control Components INC.
Center Club
Central Illinois Adult Education Service Center
Charter 100 - Orange County
City of Los Angeles
City of Riverside
City of San Bernardino
City of Santa Ana
Coastline Community College
Community Senior Services
Crystal Cathedral Women's Ministry
Crystal Cruises
Cypress College
Downey Community Hospital
Fountain Valley Chamber of Commerce
Fountain Valley Regional Hospital and Medical Center
Freedom Village Secure Life Care Retirement
Fullerton Chamber of Commerce
Giorgio Beverly Hills
Glendale Community College
Good Neighbors Club of Capistrano Valley
Hat Connection
High 12 International
HOAG -Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian
HOLLAND - Holland Southwest International, INC.
Horstman's Hallmark Centre's
Huntington Beach City School District
IBM - International Business Machines Corporation
IIA - The Institute of Internal Auditors
IRS - Internal Revenue Service
Irvine Chamber of Commerce
John Douglas French Center for Alzheimer's Disease
KD Products
Ladies Auxiliary to the VTW
LAPD - Peer Counseling Newsletter
Linkage Profitable Strategies for Business
LMA - Lockheed Management Association of California
LONTOS - Lontos Sales & Motivation, Inc.
Los Angeles Police Department
Manor Care - Nursing Center
Metro Los Angeles Association Executives
Minolta

Monarch HealthCare
NACE - National Autobody Congress and Exposition
National Businesswomen's Leadership Association
National League of American Pen Women California
NEA - National Erector's Association
Nevada Power Company
Newcomers Club of Irvine
NMA - National Management Assoc. City of Burbank
NSA - National Speakers Association
OCEA - Orange County Employees Association
Oncology Biotech
California Organization of Executive Nurses
Orange County Savings And Loan League
Oregon, Idaho, and Montana State Club
Queen of the Valley Hospital
Lakewood Regional Medical Center
Retired Public Employees' Association of California
Robert F. Kennedy Medical Center
ROP - North Orange County
Saddleback Community College District
Saddleback Valley YMCA , Adult Day Care Center
Saint Joseph Hospital Adult Health Care Center
Sales and Marketing Executives of Los Angeles
SAM - Society for Advancement of Management
San Antonio Community Hospital
San Pedro Peninsula Hospital
Seaboard Medical Association
Shea - Arentzen Nursing Symposium
Simi Valley Unified School District
Small Business Development for Women
So. California Conference for Women Business Owners
Southern California Council of Activity Coordinators
Super Shuttle
Teamworks
The Guilds of the Center
The Hospital of Good Samaritan
The Improv
The Inside Edge Foundation for Education
The National League of American Pen Women, Inc.
The Turbomachinery Laboratory
The Wellness Community
The Westin South Coast Plaza
The William Lyon Property Management Company
The Women's Pavilion at South Coast Medical Center
The Writers and Publishers Club
The Writers Club of Leisure World
U. S. Trust Company, N.A.
UCLA - University of California, Los Angeles
University of California, San Francisco
UNOCAL 76
Venezia Productions
Virginia Mort Associates
Western Medical Center
Rotary International
Western States Conference for Pharmacy Residents, Fellows and Preceptors
Women's Cancer Task Force
Central California Women's Conference
WWPSA - World Wide Pet Supply Association
World President's Organization