Preeminent Polar Explorer
Ann Bancroft is one of the world's preeminent polar explorers and an internationally recognized leader who is dedicated to inspiring women, girls and audiences around the world to unleash the power of their dreams. Through her various roles as an explorer, educator and sought-after speaker, Bancroft believes that by sharing stories related to her dreams of outdoor adventure, she can help inspire a global audience to pursue their individual dreams.
Author, TV Host, Consumer Advocate
Say the name "Erin Brockovich" and you think, strong, tough, stubborn and sexy. You also might think of the Oscar-winning film by the same name. A rebel, a fighter, someone who is an advocate for truth--that's Erin.
Futurist, Author, Future Trends, Speaker
Acclaimed global futurist, speaker, and best-selling author, Jack Uldrich is frequently asked, “What will the future look like?” His response is, “Predictably unpredictable.”
Joel Sartore is a photographer, speaker, author, teacher, conservationist, National Geographic Fellow, and a regular contributor to National Geographic Magazine.
Award-winning documentary filmmaker
An award-winning documentary filmmaker, Ken Burns has directed film projects such as The Civil War, Baseball, The West, The War, and The National Parks: America's Best Idea, all of which were developed for PBS. The late historian Stephen Ambrose said, "More Americans get their history from Ken Burns than any other source." While The New York Times has called Burns "the most accomplished filmmaker of his generation."
Environmental Advocate, Host of The Promised Land
Majora Carter is a leading urban revitalization strategy consultant, real estate developer, and Peabody Award winning broadcaster. She is responsible for the creation & implementation of numerous green-infrastructure projects, policies, and job training & placement systems.
Nationally-known TV meteorologist and Entrepreneur
Paul Douglas is a nationally-known and respected TV meteorologist and serial entrepreneur, founder of 6 companies in the last 20 years. His previous company, Digital Cyclone, was the first high-tech business to put a software application on a cell phone (2001). In 2007 Douglas sold Digital Cyclone to Garmin for $45 million. Inventor of “EarthWatch” in 1991, Douglas received a patent on the world’s first 3-D weather graphics technology, licensed to hundreds of TV stations worldwide, used by Steven Spielberg in the movies Jurassic Park and Twister.
Outdoors Storyteller, Writer, TV Producer
As a journalist, Ron Schara has been sharing the great outdoor experience with his readers for nearly three decades. Seeing through the eyes and lives of others, his material has captured the attention of tens of thousands of fresh air enthusiasts by putting them as close to the subject’s setting as a reader or viewer can be. Over the years, as his newspaper and television popularity has grown, Ron’s personality has become more a part of the fabric of the Midwest’s outdoor community.