FORT COLLINS - Mark Hoog's biggest fear is public speaking.

But that hasn't stopped the airline pilot-turned-presenter from giving hundreds of speeches during the past three years. How does he overcome his terror?

With passion.

In his early years, Hoog's passion was for flying the friendly skies.

"All I ever wanted to do was be a pilot," he said.

Hoog graduated "flight-ready" from a college business program with a specific emphasis on the airline industry, and became the youngest pilot ever hired by United Airlines. He's spent the last 18 years with United as a pilot and trainer, responsible for training crews all over the world.

But Hoog's life passion underwent an overhaul after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. The event was traumatic for the nation, for the airline industry and for Hoog personally. It was in the events of that fateful day that he lost a personal friend and mentor - Captain Jason Dahl, pilot of United Flight 93 - the man who with two little questions inspired Hoog to be the best he could be in life.

"After 9/11, I retreated into a shell," he said, although he continued to fly.

And it was while in this shell that Hoog began to look in on himself. He began to write what would later become a children's book series called The Growing Field.

At the time, though, Hoog was "just typing what was in my head." He wrote six stories in a matter of two months - one time writing the entire story in the margins of the New York Times while waiting at an airport to depart.

The stories didn't go into print, though. They went into a desk drawer where they simmered for two years. Finally, Hoog's wife pushed him to do something with the tales.

Rather than take the traditional agent-publisher route, Hoog and his wife decided to self-publish the first book in the series - "Your Song."

"Our goal was just to speak and sell the book locally," the Fort Collins-based author said.

But the Growing Field and Hoog's popularity grew by word of mouth and he soon found himself traveling the country. At first, his focus was on speaking to elementary school-aged children, but it soon grew to middle and high school, parents groups and businesses.

No matter what the audience - kindergartner or CEO - the message is the same:

"I hope they leave understanding that their life can be anything they want it to be," he said. "And today is the day to take the steps to get there."



Part of Bixpo Speakers Series

Hoog will share his inspirational message - along with the two questions that inspired him in his career and life - with Northern Colorado business people on Sept. 20 from 10 to 11 a.m. as part of the Bixpo Speaker Series.

Bixpo is the largest annual business networking event on the Northern Front Range, hosted by the Northern Colorado Business Report, Boulder Business Report and Wyoming Business Report. This year's event will be held Sept. 19 and 20 at The Ranch in Loveland at Interstate 25 and Crossroads Boulevard.

The Speakers Series takes place on Thursday morning in the McKee 4-H Pavilion at The Ranch. The $49 admission fee includes, in addition to Hoog's presentation, a talk by B. Joseph Pine II, internationally acclaimed co-author of "The Experience Economy" and the soon-to-be-released "Authenticity," and professional business coach Susan Graham's discussion of how "Everything is Negotiable."

Wednesday morning of Bixpo is devoted to the Front Range Economic Update, a chance for event attendees to hear from three panels of local experts about the state of the Northern Colorado economy. Admission is free, but pre-registration is required for the sessions to be held in the McKee Pavilion.

More than 200 exhibit booths will be open for business-to-business interaction all day on both days in the First National Bank Exhibition Hall at The Ranch. This is the third year the Business Reports have hosted Bixpo.

This year's Bixpo presenting sponsor is Bank of Choice. Other sponsors include Banner Health, EKS&H, Water Valley, Kennedy and Coe LLC, Hewlett-Packard Co., Professional Document Management, CBS 5, Sounds of the Rockies, Regent Communications and KUNC 91.5 FM.

For more information, visit www.bixpo.com.