Meet Our Speakers
Meet the scientists, economists, artists, filmmakers, Olympic Medalists, entrepreneurs, CEOs, US Presidential and Congressional advisors and more.
Ph.D., Economist
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Dr. Melese is Professor Emeritus Professor at the Naval Postgraduate School. He has served as advisor to NATO, Congressional Budget Office and U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Marketing Executive
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Ms. Fernandez has been in senior leadership positions in Fortune 500 hi-tech companies. She served as Director of Global Executive Marketing at VMware and an executive role in at Cisco.
Ph.D., Physicist
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Dr. Hogan is a physicist who founded a USA based environmental science think tank. He has served on the National Academy of Sciences, advising the President and Congress on environmental issues.
Artist
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Perlmutter’s paintings have been featured in LA’s Pacific Design Center and in homes of celebrities and art collectors internationally and shown in New York, Beverly Hills, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles.
Coach & Consultant
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Katie Bruzzone is a life coach, innovation consultant, and creator on a mission to creatively and strategically design solutions to the world's most complex problems.
Monterey County, CA, Sheriff
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Sheriff Nieto has over 33 years in law enforcement. She is the first elected Latina Sheriff in the history of California. Earlier she was Police Chief in Marina, CA.
US Olympic Medalist
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James Ferguson is a seasoned Business Executive and Olympian. He has managed Global Sales and Marketing in Mexico, Hungary, Japan, Germany, and France.
Ohlone Tribal Chair
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Ms. Sayers, a Mutsun/Ohlone; as a tribal leader she has extensive knowledge of Ohlone heritage including specialized skills in historic herbal medicine and art.
Filmmaker
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Stephen Altman is a production designer and art director best known for Gosford Park, Ray and Gross Pointe Blank films. He is a Hollywood Academy Award nominee.
Real Estate
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Scherner is experienced in alternative real estate investment analyses, and has also operated his own real estate development company.
Ph.D. Economist
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Dr. Henderson is a fellow with the Hoover Institution, and a senior fellow of the Fraser Institute. He served as a senior advisor to the US President in energy and health policy.
Public Service
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Ms. Nohrden has spent 25 years as a family advocate and community leader. Her extensive public service has included family liaison in the juvenile justice system.
Ph.D., Marine Biologist
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Gary W. Lopez is a scientist, filmmaker, author,and fine art astrophotographer.He collaborated with explorer and filmmaker Jacques Cousteau as a writer and producer.
Ph.D., Meteorologist
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Professor Schramm served at the World Meteorological Organization, a UN Agency. He also served at the UN and was the head of an office of the National Ocean Service.
Poet
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Sayers-Roods is a Mutsun-Ohlone and Chumash California Native. Kanyon’s art has been featured at the De Young Museum, The Somarts Gallery and Gathering Tribes.
Filmmaker
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Buffo produces educational videos, documentaries, and event videography; he is Carmel’s #1 ranked videographer as rated by Lens of the New Peninsula.
Entrepreneur
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Ms. Epperson has founded two small businesses. She is an expert in the US Constitution and was a U.S. Congressional California District 19 Candidate.
Meteorologist
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Thomas Lee is a ret. scientist for the US Government; he has spoken in France, the UK and South Korea. He was chair of the Committee on Satellite Meteorology and Oceanography.
Ph.D., Youth Entrepreneurial Expert
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Dr. Gibbs is an entrepreneur and internationally recognized speaker on international negotiation and process redesign. He taught at Penn State & the University of Texas.
Luxury Real Estate
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Michele specializes in luxury coastal properties. In Hollywood Hills, she is a part of the entertainment community of artists & filmmakers, and expert on power undergrounding.
Radio Broadcaster
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King is a senior executive experienced in computer systems and finance. His background includes work in France, Italy, Dominican Republic, and Mexico.
Author
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Samuels is an American author. He ran the Future of Freedom Conference series in Southern California, and was president of the Rampart Institute in Santa Ana, CA.
Ph.D., Charter Schools
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Forman founded John Adams Academy, a 4500+ scholar K-12 charter school in Roseville, CA and further schools in Lincoln, El Dorado Hills, and an online school.
CFO
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Snodgrass has served as the CFO of Granite Rock; broad public service: President of Cabrillo College Foundation; Chair, Dominican Hospital Community Board.
Pension Expert
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Quinnert has served as President of Ad Compensation, Inc. San Francisco, CAd staff in accounting and information technology. He previously served at Arthur Andersen.
Painter and Sculptor
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René is an internationally noted painter and sculptor, known for powerful and emotive female figurative works that explore vulnerability, and human connection. Her figures often depict ballerinas, and express beauty extant in all beings.
Producer, Director, CEO
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Artist, producer, and director, Founder and CEO of Carmel Dance Festival. Contemporary dance performer and co-founder of a world-renowned non-profit organization.
Sculptor and Painter
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Sculptor and painter, notable for unique designs in bronze and steel media. Voted best sculpture gallery in Carmel, California.
Psychologist
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Dr. Quinn Kennedy earned a PhD in Psychology, widely published in the field of Cognitive Aging; her work is featured in NPR, New York Times and Science.
Psychologist
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Graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, Dr. Dotson is a psychologist with a career as U.S. Air Force Officer, leadership instructor, human relations professor and radio broadcaster.
Photographer
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Internationally noted photographer with dozens of one man exhibitions. In collections of Chicago Art Institute, Crocker Museum, Stanford Museum, Corcoran Gallery, Washington DC.
Writer
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Nicole Dorfman is a community leader, writer and business owner. She has a Master of Social Work degree from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.
Venture Capitalist
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Danny Bernstein is the Managing General Partner of HawkTower, an early-stage venture capital firm focused on Underleveraged California, including the Central Coast.
Venture Capitalist
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Claudia Worthington Hess, AAA (Appraisers Association of America) MBA is a certified fine art appraiser in the SF Bay area.
Certified Financial Planner™
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Ken Cranstone is a Certified Financial Planner™ working in an independent wealth management organization in Monterey, California.
Radiation Biophysics
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Dr. Nelson is experienced in nuclear power plant operations and radiation effects.
Nuclear Energy Expert
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Joseph Curl is experienced in nuclear power, and has also served as electric grid operator for the U.S. western region.
Photographer
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Michelle Magdalena Maddox is a noted California Central Coast photographer and magazine publisher.
Physicist
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Robert Campbell is a physicist with experience in high technology R&D, with focus on seawater desalination.