Ben Bakken has recently accepted a senior position in the financial services industry after several assignments in real estate and commercial banking. His new firm has introduced him to “Conscious Capitalism” as not only a management theory, but also as a practical way to run a business. Tri-Star Trust Bank has been a pioneer in the movement to update capitalism as the most successful system in world history for continuing to enrich the lives of ordinary people. In order to continue its upward thrust, however, it must also continue to evolve as it has throughout history.

Since 1991, Thomas J. Bisacquino has served as the association’s President and CEO. Mr. Bisacquino directs NAIOP’s legislative activities on behalf of its membership in the federal, state, provincial and local arenas. Under his guidance and leadership, the headquarters staff is responsible for serving more than 20,000 members who are the developers, investors, and owners of industrial, office, retail, and multi-family properties throughout North America. Mr. Bisacquino is an active member of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), and serves as a national board member of REAP, the Real Estate Associate Program, a non-profit association dedicated to training minorities for careers in commercial real estate. 

Dr. Ed holds the chair as John and Roma Rouse Professor of Humanism in Medicine and is now Emeritus Professor of Humanism in Medicine and an Emeritus Consultant in Palliative Medicine. 

An award-winning author among many other honors, Dr. Ed was also named Outstanding Educator from the Mayo Clinic School of Continuing Medical Education and has received the Distinguished Mayo Clinician Award–Mayo Clinic’s highest honor.

Michael Daugherty is President & CEO of LabMD, an Atlanta-based clinical and anatomic medical laboratory with a national client base. LabMD specializes in analysis and diagnosis of blood, urine, and tissue specimens for cancers, micro-organisms and tumor markers. Mike founded LabMD in 1996 after 14 years in surgical device sales with U.S. Surgical Corp. and Mentor Corporation. He has spent most of the last decade defending his company against charges that it had deficient cybersecurity practices. The early years of his entering and fighting in Washington, DC, are recorded in his book, “The Devil Inside the Beltway”. In so doing, he has become the only litigant to challenge the basic authority that underlies more than 200 enforcement actions relating to cybersecurity and online privacy that the FTC has brought over the past 15 years. 

Thomas Donelson is the chairman of Americas PAC, a PAC that specializes in expanding the free market conservative coalition by spreading the message to demographics that rarely vote conservative, including Hispanics and African-Americans. Mr. Donelson has been involved in conservative Republican politics throughout the Midwest for the past three decades, including running the 1988 congressional campaign of Mary Ellen Lobb in Missouri’s 5th district against Democrat Alan Wheat. In addition to being a political activist, Mr. Donelson has authored seven books and written numerous articles. For the past decade, Mr. Donelson has worked with the late Richard Nadler, who founded Americas PAC and the American Majority Foundation. Mr. Nadler’s expertise have been to enlarge the conservative majority by researching methods to reach the investor class, minorities, and even challenged the conventional wisdom of climate change. 

Aaron Faucz is a leadership and organizational transformation professional who has helped companies establish human capital as a critical lever in accomplishing strategic business objectives. Over twenty years multi-sector experience leading strategically driven leadership and organizational transformation initiatives in fast-paced, multi-location organizations of all sizes. Faucz is also a dynamic and entertaining speaker who has presented to dozens of local and national audiences on a host of topics, including the future of work, the future of healthcare, disruptive innovation, the power of scientific thinking, the psychology of change, effective communication, engaging employees, understanding personality styles, data display and analysis, and performance improvement.

Eric Fedewa is a specialist in financing real estate projects, particularly commercial assets. His firm is headquartered in Washington D.C., national in scope, international in sourcing, and noted for innovative solutions to problem properties. Eric is a graduate of William and Mary College and the Harvard Business School. A noted amateur athlete, he is also father of four teenage daughters. 

Voice, a conservative political talk and entertainment program with call-in participation and expert guests. His guests include local and national personalities along with authors, syndicated columnists, and politicians. Larry is a public speaker, adjunct professor, doctoral candidate, and former banker who has also run for public office. Larry speaks to issues of today’s politics, smaller government, market economics, constitutional protections, media bias and, political corruptions. Larry is an Adjunct Professor at Utah Valley University and Brigham Young University-Idaho where he instructs courses in Organizational Behavior, Business Management, Finance, and Entrepreneurship.

James S. Gilmore III served as U.S. Ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation since June 25, 2019. Gilmore was the 68th Governor of Virginia (1998-2002).  He enlisted as a volunteer in the U.S. Army and worked as a counter-intelligence agent in then-West Germany after intensive language training in German, in which he became fluent. In 1974, Gilmore was awarded the Joint Service Commendation Medal for Service to NATO. After serving his country and receiving his law degree, Gilmore was elected as chief prosecutor for Henrico County and then Attorney General of Virginia in 1993. In 2003, Gilmore served as chairman of the Air Force Academy Board of Visitors.  He was the chairman of the Republican National Committee from 2001 to 2002. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, a frequent participant in the Center for the National Interest, and has lectured at the Potomac Institute on homeland security and terrorism issues.

Dr. Christian Coppeneur-Gülz is the leading German author, inventor and entrepreneur, whose application of AI to event marketing (trade shows) has transformed the German industry and positioned the fast-rising young entrepreneur as a thought leader in digitizing of marketing practices. Through acquisitions and creative technologies, he turned a small boutique firm into a major player on the German industrial stage. He has published three books and is a sought-after lecturer throughout Europe. 

There is one more aspect to Dr. Coppeneur-Gulz’ resume that brings us to tonight’s appearance. It is his unique perspective on the relations between American and German business worlds. In addition to his German doctorate, he also holds his MBA from the University of Southern California.