JoJo Stewart is an accidental progressive rural activist and blogger who lives deep in the heart of the Ozarks. As the Supreme Court trashed a 50-year body of law in…
Mary Kay Roth is the retired director of Communications for Lincoln Public Schools, and prior to that, was a reporter for newspapers in Nebraska, Florida and New York. She is…
Mike Lux is a proud native of Lincoln, Nebraska, where most of his family still lives. He has had the joy of being married to Barbara Laur since 1983. Mike…
Jane Fleming Kleeb is the Chair of the Nebraska Democratic Party, a DNC Executive Committee Member, and the President of the Bold Alliance–a network of grassroots organizations working in rural…
Bob Anderson has represented wineries and growers on land use, water, and ecological issues affecting their business interests in Sonoma County, California for three decades. He served for two terms…
Michael Bowman is a Colorado agriculturalist and longtime advocate for federal policies that strengthen rural communities and focus on alternative crops, natural resource sustainability, soil health, renewable energy, and environmental…
Neilson (Neil) C. Conklin has devoted his career to the intersection between agricultural and economic policy. He retired as President of the Farm Foundation in 2016, having served in the…
David Engelken is a writer, musician, experienced urban community organizer, and retired public school Spanish teacher. Engelken is intrigued by writing and organizing for rural and urban cross-alliances that create…
Julie Gammack is an Iowa native and the organizer of Julie Gammack Productions. She is the creator of the Okoboji Writers Retreat, the Midwest's premier event for those interested in developing…
James “Jim” Golden has a tremendous service history working on both the federal and state levels. He is particularly interested in using his experience to help voters understand how they…
Beth Hoffman was living the good life: she had a successful career as a journalist and professor, a comfortable home in San Francisco, and plenty of close friends and family.…
Joyce Hunter is the Executive Director of the Institute for Critical Infrastructure Technology (ICIT), a cybersecurity think tank, and is Founder and President of the Open Data STEAM (Science, Technology,…
Sean Kennedy is the founder of Megawatt Photovoltaic Development, Inc (Megawatt) and the developer of the Johnson County Solar Triangle, one of Iowa’s largest solar energy projects. As the managing…
Barbara Leach is the Founder and President of My Rural America Action Fund and a skilled political leader. A native of Atlantic Iowa, she is a former co-owner and manager…
Barry Piatt grew up on a small-town farm in Iowa. He has worked in Iowa as a political reporter. When he was just 15, he covered the troubled 1968 Democratic…
Denise Rathman has served as the Executive Director of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) – Iowa Chapter since 2013. Prior to working for NASW Iowa, she worked on…
Howard Park grew up the son of a preacher in the small town of Glencoe, MO (population 145) during the 1960s, before Glencoe was enveloped by St. Louis suburbs. Park…
Joe Rothstein has managed campaigns, developed strategies, and produced media for Democratic Party candidates for more than thirty years. His firm, Rothstein & Co, has worked for more than 200…
Jody Severson is an independent political, communication, and advertising consultant who lives in Rapid City, South Dakota. His political clients have included presidential candidates, U.S. senators (including former Majority Leader…
Daniel (Dan) A. Silverstein is the principal for Heuristic Management, where he specializes in strategic advice on private sector engagement, capital markets activities, and impact investments in agricultural and economic…
Caren Wilcox is a government and business executive in the food and agriculture arena. Currently, she is interested in introducing industrial hemp into the sustainable agriculture and processing environment of…
Lloyd E. Wright is a farmer and retired USDA employee with 37 years of service with the Agency. Wright served as an advisor to the Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack…
Joan B. Yim has been a leader in community-based planning and intermodal transportation for over 40 years. In 1993, President Clinton appointed her as the US Department of Transportation’s Deputy…
Jessica Zufolo has been at the forefront of investment, expansion and adoption of broadband internet in rural and tribal communities for the past 30 years. Currently, she is Vice President…
