Mark Skousen is a financial economist, university professor, and author of over 25 books. Dr. Skousen was recently listed as one of the top 20 living economists in the world and is known as "America's Economist." In 2018, Steve Forbes presented him with the Triple Crown in Economics for his work in theory, history, and education. Dr. Skousen is a Presidential Fellow at Chapman University in California, where he received the "My Favorite Professor Award" in 2019. He has worked for the government (CIA), non-profits (president of FEE), and runs FreedomFest, "the world's largest gathering of free minds," every July. He has also taught economics and finance at Columbia Business School and Columbia University. Since 1980, Dr. Skousen has been editor-in-chief of Forecasts & Strategies, a popular award-winning investment newsletter (www.markskousen.com). His other products include Five Star Trader, Fast Money Alert, Home Run Trader and TNT Trader. Dr. Skousen's bestsellers includeThe Making of Modern Economics, Investing in One Lesson, and The Maxims of Wall Street. Based on Dr. Skousen's work,The Structure of Production (NYU Press, 1990), the federal government began publishing in Spring 2014 a broader, more accurate measure of the economy, Gross Output (GO), every quarter along with GDP.

Jo Ann Skousen is the associate editor of Mark Skousen's Forecasts & Strategies and co-author or editor of two dozen books on economics and finance. She teaches English literature and writing at Chapman University in Southern California and was a featured teacher in the HBO documentary, "University of Sing Sing." Mrs. Skousen served as the presentation coach for two inmate-directed TEDx programs at Sing Sing. She is also the founding director of the Anthem Libertarian Film Festival, now celebrating its tenth anniversary, and is co-producer of FreedomFest, an eclectic conference that attracts nearly 250 speakers and 2,500 attendees each year.

John Prevas is an author, educator, and mediator. He was scholar in residence and assistant professor of classics at Eckerd College from 2001 until 2011, and since 2015 has been visiting professor of classics at the University of South Florida, Sarasota. His most recent book is Hannibal's Oath, (Hachette, 2017). Among his other books are the New York Times best seller, Power Ambition Glory, (Crown, 2009), co-authored with Steve Forbes. Envy of the Gods (De Capo, 2004), Xenophon's March, (De Capo, 2002), and Hannibal Crosses The Alps (De Capo, 2001).

Jeffrey M. Verdon, Esq. is the managing partner of the Jeffrey M. Verdon Law Group, LLP, a Trust & Estates boutique law firm located in Newport Beach & Redwood City, California. Mr. Verdon's law firm has been representing affluent families and business owners to solve their complex and vexing wealth transfer challenges focusing on comprehensive estate planning with asset protection for more than three decades and is internationally recognized as an expert in his field. Mr. Verdon teaches his audiences how to increase their wealth through minimizing their taxes and protecting their family legacies with prudent asset protection strategies.

Valerie Durham has served as the conference director for FreedomFest since 2015, bringing together her background as a libertarian, marketing and project manager, and professional dance artist. Training as a dancer since the age of three in ballet, jazz, and modern, she is one of a few master artists in the world who specializes in the art of Isadora Duncan, known as mother of modern dance. Ms. Durham has performed professionally in New York as well as around the US and in Europe with Isadora Duncan repertory and her own original choreographies. She is the founder of the Isadora Duncan International Symposium and spearheaded the first digital archive of Isadora Duncan's life and legacy. With a Master's degree in dance and a Bachelor's degree in public relations, Valerie has worked in marketing for Phillips Publishing and run her own business in marketing, multimedia, and project management.

Michael Sheppard presently serves as a partner and director of investor relations for Treasure Investments Corporation and CEO/chairman of Nevada Mining Company. As former president of the America Cancer Society in Wisconsin, he has raised millions of dollars for charities conducting live auctions using donated Ghiglieri fine art since 1998. Mr. Sheppard has raised over $400,000,000 as president of the National Community Foundation and is a nationally known speaker on estate planning. Recently, he negotiated an international partnership with the renowned Ferdinando Marinelli Foundry in Florence, Italy, granting Treasure Investments the exclusive right to produce the world's only pure silver Pieta by Michelangelo.