Kimberly Clarice Aiken was Miss America 1994. Aiken was 18 years old when she won the coveted title, and was only the third woman of African descent to get the crown. Aiken used the plight of the homeless as her platform. Her year of service as Miss America helped generate public awareness about homelessness and brought a better public understanding... read full bio
It has been difficult and fulfilling for Dr. Williams to go from being an orphan and foster child to being a doctor of education, creator of a nonprofit, and author. Dr. Williams has demonstrated that ethics, perseverance, and devotion are necessary for success. He has worked as a direct care provider, foster parent, house parent, entrepreneur, founder of nonprofit and... read full bio
Stories help us examine and shape the world we live in. Stories give us hopeful answers and insights to questions no one person can answer on their own -- stories help us share our lives. This is what I love about being a writer. Jerdine Nolen received a B.A. in special education from Northeastern Illinois University and an M.Ed. in... read full bio
Ann M. Martin is the author of the popular teen series of books Babysitters Club. The wildly popular book series has sold over 125 million copies in print. The successful writer gets the ideas for her books from many different places. Some are based on personal experiences, while others are based on childhood memories and feelings. Since ending the BSC... read full bio
A speaker, writer, mother, comedian and actress, Kate Davis has the unique ability to find humour in any situation and to offer creative solutions to defuse the frustrations in the home and workplace. Kates generous insight and outspoken character, provides a powerful combination to help organizations empower their staff with effective tools for managing stress and sustaining motivation. An engaging... read full bio
Former model Denise Brown is now an activist who ardently speaks out against domestic violence; Ms. Brown has worked tirelessly to help pass a variety of legislative solutions for domestic violence, and she has traveled across the U.S. to speak on the issue. After her sister Nicole was tragically murdered and Nicole’s ex-husband O.J. Simpson was famously charged with her... read full bio
Psychologist, author and leading expert in family violence and legal domestic abuse, Dr. Jeanne King helps people break the cycle of abuse before it spirals out of control. In turning her own nightmare into a mission, she has devoted her life to being the voice for all those who have been silenced by abuse and by our legal system. King... read full bio
Bruce Degen has written and illustrated numerous award-winning books for children, among them Shirley's Wonderful Baby, Daddy Is a Doodlebug, and Jamberry. He has illustrated the highly acclaimed The Magic School Bus series by Joanna Cole, the ever-popular Jesse Bear books by Nancy White Carlstrom, and Jane Yolen's Commander Toad series. In addition to his career in children's books, he... read full bio
Mike Rucker is a former American football player who played in the NFL for eight seasons. Rucker’s football career began at the University of Nebraska. During his time on the Cornhuskers football team he was apart of the national championship teams of 1995 and 1997. Rucker finished his college career with 40 stops and was the fourth all-time tackler. During... read full bio
When I was young, I loved to draw and paint in my spare time. While studying art at the Rhode Island School of Design, I decided that I wanted to illustrate children's books someday. I began illustrating educational books and materials. A few years later, I was given my first picture book to illustrate. I was very excited! That book,... read full bio
Susan Rook brings more than 20 years of journalism and public advocacy to her work in photography. Her news background includes CNN and local news in New Orleans and Florida. She is a public speaker and workshop presenter specializing in media relations, public advocacy and health care issues. Her professional awards include: Panelist, 1992 Third Presidential Debate; 1992 National Student... read full bio
For more than 25 years, Renée Loux has been a pioneer in the plant-based food movement and the natural product industry. She has been a prominent specialist in the fields of multi-media communication to a large and diverse audience as a chef, author, restaurant, natural goods entrepreneur, culinary nutrition expert and educator, program and curriculum developer, TV host, journalist, consultant,... read full bio
A breast cancer survivor since 1993, Beverly Kirkhart is the author of My Healing Companion, and the co-author of the revised edition of Chicken Soup for the Surviving Soul: 101 Healing Stories About Those Who Have Survived Cancer. Designed to serve as a self-guided journal for anyone facing cancer (or any disease or disability), the book shares Kirkharts experiences coping,... read full bio
Since Emo Philips started doing stand-up comedy in Chicago, his unique style and brilliant material have made Emo famous around the world. Emo received his first big break on the Late Show with David Letterman, and has been back on many times since, captivating the audience many times over. He has also been a frequent guest on the Arsenio Hall... read full bio
A native of Lexington, NC, Coppley is rapidly becoming one of America's fastest growing, most popular and requested regional live acts, sharing the stage with artists such as Luke Bryan, Rodney Atkins, Joe Nichols, and more. With a long list of accomplishments that include: a contract to front the house band at America's largest country nightclub, Wild Bill's Atlanta,... read full bio
Spanish Duo" from Seville (Spain) plays flamenco music, Mexican Music, South American music, and pays tribute to Gipsy Kings, in our repertoire includes all the hits from them, and many more songs from other singers. Also we offer the group as a trio and quartet. The group can play in acoustic or with backing tracks recorded (of course the... read full bio
During her youth, Jett had no idea who her natural parents were, let alone that her daddy was Hank Williams, but from a very young age she demonstrated an unusual and natural talent for music, singing, and her guitar.. After years of futile effort, fortune smiled and Jett got proof-positive that Hank Williams was her father. Not only was he... read full bio
In an industry notorious for ego clashes, break ups over trivial artistic differences, and ever-evolving shifts in the public's often fickle tastes, smooth jazz super group Fattburger has escaped the depths of these inferior emotions to manage to keep their audiences over the decades. Their irresistible melodic blend of funk, blues, pop and Latin influences is often called The Sound... read full bio
"Undoubtedly the ""punkiest girl group of the sixties"", The Shangri-Las were formed by four young women from Queens, NY. Due to the untimely death of one of the girls, they performed as a trio. The group gained local fame with the imitation of then current hits. In 1964, The Shangri-Las came to the attention of producer George ""Shadow"" Martin, who arranged... read full bio
The best way to get inside Cathy Ladman's head is to see her live. As one of the country's top comedians, Ladman's show is a self-probing, anxiety-venting vehicle which draws laughter from exposing personal neurosis. She has not only appeared on The Tonight Show nine times, but was also the only female comic to appear on the last two Johnny... read full bio
