Senior Economist with the National Center for Policy Analysis

A dynamic, world-class economist who communicates his insights in a captivating and entertaining manner, Dr. Barry Asmus has been named by USA Today as one of the five most requested speakers in the United States. As a Senior Economist for the prestigious National Center for Policy Analysis, Dr. Asmus does more than just speak on policies, he is actively involved with their implementation. With over twenty-five years experience on the speaking platform, Dr. Asmus presents a powerful picture of America’s future, both here and abroad.

Jeff Bauer is a Trend Expert Specializing in Healthcare. With 35 years as a professor and consultant, Dr. Bauer is a nationally recognized expert on key trends that shape the future of health care.

Trend researcher and economist Alan Beaulieu, a senior analyst, economist and a principal of the Institute for Trend Research (ITR®) since 1990. Mr. Beaulieu has been consulting and advising companies throughout the US, Europe, and Japan on how to plan for and prosper through the business cycle.

Michael Beschloss has written nine books on American Presidents.  The New York Times Book Review has called him “clearly the most widely recognized Presidential historian in the nation.”  Newsweek has called him “the nation’s leading Presidential historian.”  The International Herald Tribune has called him “a national treasure.”

Comedian and Impressionist Steve Bridges has been doing his right-on impression of President Bush for audiences across the nation. And while he’s not really the president, most people are hard pressed to tell them apart. He's also the country's most talented Bill Clinton and Arnold Schwarzenegger impersonator.

Todd Buchholz “lights up economics with a wickedly sparkling wit,” says the Associated Press.  He recently jousted with James Carville and Ben Stein, and Successful Meetings Magazine named him one of the “21 Top Speakers for the 21st Century.”  His editorials in the all Street Journal correctly forecast the 2001 slowdown in the U.S., and the New York Times has turned to him to decipher terrorist threats and the job market. BusinessWeek raved about his book Market Shock, which warned of the quicksand facing the stock market. Buchholz entertains his audiences and shows them how to thrive in a challenging economy, while gearing up for future prosperity.

The Capitol Steps have been telling it like it is for over 25 years. They're a troupe of Congressional staffers-turned-comedians who travel the country satirizing the very people and places that once employed them. The Steps perform over 500 shows a year all over the country.

Financial keynote speaker Frank A. Cappiello is best known to television audiences as a long-time panelist on Wall Street Week. He is also the President of McCullough, Andrews & Cappiello, Inc., a large investment counseling firm with offices in San Francisco, CA and Baltimore, MD. He is one of the country's leading financial analysts, an expert on the national economy and a recognized authority on investments. His background in economics is extensive: formerly the Chief Investment Officer for an insurance holding company as well as Research Director of a major stock brokerage firm.

With intelligence and clarity, Dr. Chimerine examines the issues and trends of current and future economic situations and how they will directly affect your organization, industry, or geographic region.

Eleanor Clift writes on the Washington power structure, the influence of women in politics and other issues.  She is currently assigned to follow the jockeying over policy and politics in the Republican-controlled Congress, and the emerging contenders for the 2008 presidential nomination in both the Republican and Democratic parties.

Cuban defector and successful technology consultant Ariel Coro presents a compelling and motivational keynote on imagination and ingenuity under difficult circumstances. His experiences will help your audience learn how to adopt a “never give up” attitude, and to appreciate the resources at our disposal many take for granted.

An Emmy, duPont-Columbia, and Gracie Allen Award-winning journalist and the youngest state judge to ever be elected in Texas, Catherine Crier joined Court TV’s distinguished team of anchors in November 1999. She served as Executive Editor, Legal News Specials, in addition to hosting Catherine Crier Live, a fast-paced, live daily series, covering the day’s “front-page” stories.

Susan Dentzer is the editor-in-chief of Health Affairs, the nation’s leading journal of health policy.

Hugh Downs has enjoyed a distinguished 64-year career in radio and television as a reporter, newscaster, interviewer, narrator and host. A longtime anchor of ABC's primtime news magazine "20/20," he is one of the most familiar figures in the history of the medium. He hosted PBS' "Live from the Lincoln Center" for a decade, helped launch "The Tonight Show" in 1957, anchored "The Today Show" from 1962 to 1971, and has broadcast numerous specials and documentaries. In 1985, he was certified by the Guinness Book of World Records as holding the record for the greatest number of hours on network commercial television. In the course of his career he has broadcast from every continent and both poles. Downs left "20/20" in September 1999 to write and lecture.

On August 9, 1974 Gerald R. Ford assumed the reins of the presidency following the resignation of Richard Nixon. Suddenly, Steve Ford was thrust into the role of "First Son". Steve's unique perspective on life as the President's son encompasses a broad range of fascinating subjects: being 18 years old and having 10 Secret Service agents as constant companions. His father's pardon of President Nixon to help put an end to the infamous Watergate affair.

Combat operations, covert action, clandestine intelligence missions, Rick Francona brings over twenty-five years of political-military experience in the Middle East to his analysis of the challenges for American foreign policy in this volatile yet critical region.

Proving time and again that funny doesn't have to be blue. Wanna laugh? Frank King's corporate comedy is clean, clever,and customized to your group, industry, and/or event. In addition to doing straight standup comedy, he also does impersonations of Bill Clinton, John McCain, and Joe Biden.

Morton Kondracke is the Executive Editor of Roll Call and a Fox News Commentator. As a journalist for 45 years, 40 of them in Washington, he has covered nearly every phase of American politics and foreign policy.

Greg Mortenson is the co-founder of nonprofit Central Asia Institute, Pennies For Peace, and co-author of #1 New York Times bestseller ‘Three Cups of Tea’. Mortenson is a living hero to rural communities of Afghanistan and Pakistan, where he has gained the trust of Islamic leaders, military commanders, government officials and tribal chiefs from his tireless effort to champion education, especially for girls.

Betsy Myers served as the Chief Operations Officer, a senior adviser and the National Womens Chair for Obama for America, Barack Obama's Presidential campaign.  Prior to this appointment, Myers was the Executive Director of the Center for Public Leadership at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government. She was the first Director of the White House Office for Women’s Initiatives and Outreach as Deputy Assistant to President Clinton, the President's senior adviser on women's issues.

Rich Natole was born in the Bronx, New York to first generation Italian- Americans who moved to Redwood City, CA when he was three years old. Rich's early dreams were on the Little League Field- winning the City Championship as an all-star Shortstop. After discovering an amazing talent for mimicry, the dream shifted to a life-long passion for show biz. Classmates at Sequoia High School soon recognized the funny guy in their midst and Rich Natole - The Class Clown - was asked to do everything from star in the school shows to announce the football games as Howard Cosell.

Erik Peterson is a specialist on demography and population, and speaks on geopolitical and country risk assessment; international trade and finance; international business strategy and global strategic planning.

The Environment, Sustainability, and the Economy: Keynotes with Jeremy Rifkin

Jeremy Rifkin is president of the Foundation on Economic Trends and the author of seventeen best-selling books on the impact of scientific and technological changes on the economy, the workforce, society, and the environment. His books have been translated into more than thirty languages and are used in hundreds of universities, corporations and government agencies around the world.  His most recent books include The Hydrogen Economy, The European Dream, The End of Work, The Age of Access, and The Biotech Century.

Emmy Award-winning journalist Charlie Rose has been praised as "one of America's premier interviewers." He is the host of "Charlie Rose," the nightly PBS program that engages America's best thinkers, writers, politicians, athletes, entertainers, business leaders, scientists and other newsmakers. Called "TV's most addictive talk show" and "the last refuge of intelligent conversation on television," Rose strives to provide an intimate atmosphere for showcasing smart conversation.

Terry Savage is a nationally recognized financial authority and television personality. Her book, The Savage Truth on Money was named one of the "ten best money books of the year" by Amazon.com. It has joined her previous books - Terry Savage's New Money Strategies and Terry Savage Talks Money - on the best-seller lists. And The Savage Truth On Money was made into an hour-long television special program airing on PBS stations across the country.

David L. Smith has the education, experience and proven track record to reassure audiences he knows what he is talking about. A Dartmouth- and Stanford-trained economist, futurist and market strategist, Smith’s views have intrigued audiences for 24 years in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Europe and Japan. A seasoned, compelling speaker, Smith’s informative and entertaining presentations provide stimulating, thought-provoking economic and financial insight, accurate forecasts and profitable strategies highly customized to meet the needs of diverse audiences.

Ben Stein is probably the closest any man comes these days to being a true renaissance man. His financial and economics work was cited in the efforts of the recent Nobel prize winner in Economics, George Akerlof.

Chief Economist Diane Swonk is one of the most quoted economists in the financial press. She is seen regularly on national and international television and her commentary can be read in top financial news publications throughout the world. With more than 20 years experience in financial services, Diane has proved to be an invaluable resource for policymakers and business leaders from Washington to Tokyo.

Economic futurist Jeff Thredgold has been helping people understand the tangled maze of the economy and financial markets for more than three decades. With a unique ability to "cut though the fluff," he leads his audience on a slightly irreverent, up-to-the-minute "tour" of the economy, financial markets, education, government, and a sneak preview of the future.

Jack Uldrich is a renowned global futurist, independent scholar, sought-after business speaker, and best-selling author. His books include the best-selling, The Next Big Thing is Really Small: How Nanotechnology Will Change the Future of Your Business, and the award-winning, Into the Unknown: Leadership Lessons from Lewis & Clark's Daring Westward Expedition. His latest book is The Exponential Executive: Eight Essential Elements for Exploiting the Emerging Economy.