HOLLIE MCKAY
available to speak on media strategy, investigative reporting, international policy, journalism, war, and conflict

HOLLIE S. MCKAY is an investigative and international affairs/war journalist for Fox News Digital, with over fourteen years of specialized focus on warfare, terrorism, and crimes against humanity.

Hollie has worked on the frontlines of several major war zones and covered humanitarian and diplomatic crises in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Syria, Iran, Turkey, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Burma, Russia, Africa, Latin America, and other areas.

Her globally-spanned coverage, in the form of thousands of print articles and essays, has included exclusive and detailed interviews with numerous captured terrorists, as well as high-ranking government, military, and intelligence officials and leaders from all sides.

She has spent considerable time embedded with US and foreign troops, conducted extensive interviews with survivors of torture, sex slavery and forced child jihadist training, refugees, and internally-displaced people to communicate the complexities of such catastrophes and war crimes on local populations.

Hollie’s columns have been featured in the Wall Street Journal and her writings referenced in innumerable mainstream publications and academic journals. Additionally, she has won numerous foreign press and humanitarian awards.

DAVID IMONITIE
available to speak on power of belief, self help, motivational topics and business

Known worldwide by fans as “Mr. Believe,” DAVID IMONITIE is an influencer, investor, consummate entrepreneur, and master of success who went from being a college dropout to earning his first million by the time he was 27 years old.

The creator of Believe Nation, a private digital community and revolutionary achievements platform for entrepreneurs who refuse to settle for average, David is committed to impacting the lives of one billion people who are ready to reach mastery levels of success, and rewire their lives for absolute freedom.

He has spent the last decade traveling the world, inspiring hundreds of thousands of business owners to transform their lives through the life-changing power of belief. An icon in the direct sales industry, David is the highest-earning African American network marketer in the world.

A man of faith and the son of pastors, David is also the founder of the I Believe Foundation. The foundation’s goals are to help millions of children that are growing up in impoverished communities. He and his two children call Houston home.

BETH PRATT
available to speak on nature, wildlife, national parks, conservation, environmental science

Beth Pratt-Bergstrom, wildlife advocate, author and California Director for the National Wildlife Federation.

Beth has worked in environmental leadership roles for over 25 years, and in two of the country's largest national parks: Yosemite and Yellowstone. As Regional Executive Director of the California Regional Center of the National Wildlife Federation, “I have the best job in the world” she says.

JOHN LONG
available to speak about adventure, the craft of writing, writing coaching

JOHN LONG was an original member of the legendary "Stonemasters," a core group of California climbers who lit the fuse on the modern adventure sports revolution. His incredible feats include the ‑rst one-day ascent of El Capitan in Yosemite Valley. Long describes himself as "a writer who just happens to get caught up in climbing and adventuring."

John Long has written over 40 books, with nearly three million copies in print. His literary short stories have been translated into many languages. He is the recipient of a National Book Award, the H. Adams Carter Literary Award from the American Alpine Club, and has won the Grand Prize at the Ban Film and Book Festival.

John Long has two beautiful daughters and two grandchildren. He currently resides in Venice Beach, California.

SEQUOIA SCHMIDT
available to speak on adventure, business, leaving your comfort zone, entrepreneurship, the publishing process

Sequoia Schmidt is a bestselling author, adventurer and speaker. Her debut book "Journey of Heart; A Sojourn to K2" was a finalist in the 2016 International Book Awards and chronicles Sequoia's journey through Pakistan to the mountain that claimed the lives of her brother and father; K2. Released in May 2018, Sequoia's highly anticipated second book "Changing Gears; Up's and Down's on the New Zealand Road" tells the story of her 2017, 28day solo cycle across New Zealand's South and North Island. She has been called "An Inspiration to young women of today" by Good Health Choices magazine, and "A writer to watch" by the Houston Chronicle. 

Whether it be skydiving, cycling or climbing in the Himalayas, Sequoia passionately follows her adventurous spirit and articulately writes about her magnificent journeys.

DON REARDEN
available to speak on writing, poetry, Alaska

Don Rearden is the author of the critically acclaimed novel, The Raven’s Gift (Penguin) a Washington Post Notable Selection for Fiction. In his review of the novel, Michael Dirda of The Washington Post called Rearden, “a master of suspense.” Rearden is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Writing at the University of Alaska Anchorage.

A novelist, screenwriter, and poet, recent honors include an Alaska Literary Prize, a Contributions to Alaska Literacy Award, a Rasmuson Project Award, a University of Alaska Innovate Award, and the Anchorage Reads Novel of the Year. He co-authored the best-selling memoir Never Quit (St. Martins) and wrote the young adult adaptation of Never Quit (St. Martin’s / Scholastic). His latest co-written work, is Warrior’s Creed (St. Martins). Rearden lives in an undisclosed mountain location with his wife, two kids, and an abundance of bears.

Check out: www.donrearden.com

CLAIRE CHITHAM
available to speak on health and well-being, the entertainment industry, and chronic diseases

Actress Claire Chitham has been free from Crohn’s Disease for 20 years. She tells her story about suffering from a chronic and ‘incurable’ bowel condition while starring on national television and shares how she has learned to stay on top of her health and vitality ever since.

TONY TRIPODO
available to speak on corporate finance, financial strategy

Anthony ‘Tony’ Tripodo is an accomplished executive with more than 35 years of experience in the energy industry, leading companies at both the board and management level. Tony possesses extensive board-level experience serving on audit, compensation, compliance and governance committees, as well as chairing audit and compliance committees. Tony’s experience on both an executive and board level has involved companies with a broad global reach for both publicly traded and private equity held companies. Tony currently serves as Executive Vice President and Senior Advisor, as well as a member of the board of directors of Helix ESG, a leading on-shore energy service company listed on the NYSE.Named by the Houston Business Journal as CFO of the Year in 2014 in recognition for his efforts in successfully navigating Helix through the financial and industry crisis of 2008. Tony graduated Summa Cum Laude from St. Thomas University, and currently resides in Houston, Texas with his wife and 5 children.

MIKE DAMANTE
available to speak on music, journalism, cryptozoology, UFOs and the extraterrestrial

Mike Damante is an author, journalist and award-winning educator currently based out of Houston, Texas. He has authored two non-fiction books on UFOs and the unexplained: Punk rock and UFOs: Cryptozoology Meets Anarchy, and Punk rock and UFOs: True Believers. Damante has appeared on TV and radio programs like Spectrum News Austin, Fox 26 Houston, Coast to Coast AM, Open Minds TV and various other outlets. As a former music journalist at the Houston Chronicle, Damante has interviewed some of the biggest names in music in blink-182, Childish Gambino, Judas Priest, Aerosmith, Alkaline Trio, Bad Religion, AFI, Rob Zombie and others. He currently continues his music coverage on the MIKED blog at blog.chron.com/miked, and his UFO research at www.punkrockandUFOs.com. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his wife, exercising, watching hockey and living a plant-powered lifestyle.

RANSON SHEPHERD
available to speak about the cannabis business, marijuana, entrepreneurship, business

STEPHANIE MOSES
available to speak on mental health, destigmatization of minorities in mental health, therapeutic practice

Stephanie L. Moses is a practicing therapist and dedicated mother and wife from Midland, Texas.  Through her book, In Session, she seeks to break stigmas and help women of all cultures and backgrounds understand that therapy is for everyone and that all women, no matter what their background or ethnicity, can seek professional help when difficult times arise.

Following the publication of her first book In Session, and its success, Stephanie inspired her daughter, Austin to write a book as well. Austin’s short children's story was published by Di Angelo Publications in early 2020.

A.D. ULTMAN
available to speak on political theory, extremism, cognitive science, international politics

A.D. Ultman grew up on a farm on the Great American Plains, surrounded by the species that populate Animal Town. He was educated at leading public universities on the East and West Coasts, studying cognitive science and political theory. He began his career as a U.S. Senate staffer and then spent eight years building and leading a successful corporate market research and consulting practice in Washington, DC. He resigned his position and traveled around the world in 2017. Since then, he has been an independent writer and teacher. He holds a B.S. in psychology and political science and a M.A. in political science.

GRIOT (BOSCO & KO)
available for live performances, prose and poetry

Two very different paths led two very different people to the same place: the land of opportunity (Los Angeles). Although they did it differently (one dropping out of college and working an unfulfilled job, the other graduating and working in an unfulfilled career) their journeys led them through similar situations, obstacles and victories. Their life experiences and truths fuel the content of their storytelling. College brought them together and pursuing their passions in life keeps them together. Bosco, the passion-driven prose and Kay Oh, the purpose-driven poet make up the drama-comedy that is Griot (gree-o).