Lance Thonvold is a former professional pitcher for the Seattle Mariners and a Division I athlete from the University of Minnesota, where he earned the Teammate of the Year Award. A 2x author, husband, and father of three, Lance brings a powerful combination of elite performance experience and deeply personal transformation to every stage.

After achieving his lifelong dream of playing professional baseball, Lance’s career was suddenly derailed by three consecutive seasons of injury. What seemed like an ending became the beginning of a deeper journey—one that reshaped his identity, purpose, and perspective. Through years of physical and personal rebuilding, Lance discovered a message that now defines his work: you are not buried, you are planted.

Today, Lance speaks to students, athletes, organizations, and faith-based communities, helping individuals redefine their value beyond performance, navigate adversity with resilience, and step into a more grounded sense of purpose. His talks are known for their authenticity, emotional depth, and practical mindset shifts that leave audiences with lasting clarity and ownership of their growth.

Signature Keynote: Planted Not Buried

Every seed faces a dark season. That doesn’t mean it’s dead; it may be planted.

In this powerful keynote, Lance shares his journey from professional athlete to rebuilding his life through injury, identity loss, and redirection. Planted Not Buried challenges audiences to reframe adversity as a necessary stage of growth, not an outcome.

Rooted in identity, resilience, and purpose, this talk equips attendees to:

• Redefine their worth beyond results or external validation
• Develop resilience through uncertainty and setbacks
• Take ownership of their growth and future direction

This is more than motivation—it’s a mindset shift that helps people move forward with clarity, courage, and deeper roots.