Andrew Neil Skadberg, Ph.D.
Dr. Skadberg's professional career and experiences have involved many roles and responsibilities in rural economic development, environmental conservation and tourism. Over time, Dr. Skadberg has gained recognition as an expert on rural issues and solutions, the development of technology tools and the use of the Internet for the development of information and educational resources to support business development, with an emphasis on the "rural - urban nexus". Before returning to Texas A&M, Andy helped found AdventGX, a start-up tourism consulting company that spun out of Texas A&M University. Andy's work focuses on developing pragmatic, sustainable solutions for rural economic diversification, environmental conservation, experiential education with an ultimate goal to improve people's quality of life.

Samuel Lankford, Ph.D.
Samuel is the Director of the Sustainable Tourism and Environment Program (STEP) at the University of Northern Iowa. He holds a PhD in Tourism Planning and Development and a Master in Urban Planning from the University of Oregon, as well as MA in Recreation and Park Planning and a BA in community planning from California State University, Chico. He has been a practicing planner in both staff and consulting roles in California, Oregon, and Hawaii, and conducted over 60 market research studies in those states and other countries. Sam Lankford specializes in tourism and recreation development

Stephen V. Simpson, Ph.D.
Steven Simpson is the Chair of the Department of Recreation Management and Therapeutic Recreation at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.  He teaches courses in outdoor recreation, philosophy of leisure, research methods, and recreation leadership.  His writing focuses on experiential education, environmental philosophy, and leadership. He is the former editor of the Journal of Experiential Education and has written over 50 articles on experiential education, outdoor recreation, and environmental ethics. His two books that provide a foundation for our experiential education approaches are: Leader Who Is Hardly Known: Self-less Teaching From the Chinese Tradition and The Processing Pinnacle: An Educator’s Guide to Better Processing

Sarah Ford 
Sarah Ford holds degrees in English and Philosophy, with emphasis on writing and environmental studies. She is currently an independent journalist, writing numerous articles on creative endeavors, environmental initiatives, and new models for individuals and communities coming together to improve the quality of life for all.  She is also the owner of QC Collective, a small business featuring the arts and crafts of her friends and community members. Other projects include elected and appointed public offices, volunteering with numerous environmental organizations, and serving as an AmeriCorps member for two years with Big Brothers Big Sisters. 

Desmond Donald Green
Desmond Green is a Research Psychologist with over 35 years of experience. After graduate studies in Psychology, Philosophy and Theology he spent the next 25 years doing post graduate work with Prof. Ross Mooney of Ohio State University and Milton Senn M.D., Founder of the Yale Child Study Clinic.

Founder of the Reverence For Life Foundation (RFLF) in Jamaica, W. I., Green successfully implemented this program in Jamaican penal institutions in 1994. Positive effects of the RFLF model is evidenced in the rate of recidivism, which was reduced from 90% in 1995 to 30 % in 2000 as well as the dramatic reduction in prison violence that continues to be the report from all institutions.

Ray Tabata, Ph.D.
recently retired as Educational Program Specialist for the Program in Medical Education for East Asia, Office of Medical Education. He oversees workshop planning and logistics, activity planning, database maintenance, website management, and desktop publishing. His areas of responsibility include faculty development workshops, student exchange programs, and special projects. Previously he was active in the tourism industry creating one of the first ecotourism associations in the world fostering a huge influx of new "niches" in the industry focused on environmental consciousness and awareness of impacts and opportunities.

He graduated from the University of Hawaii in Honolulu with a B.B.A. (Accounting) and M.A. degrees in Urban & Regional Planning and Geography. In May 2002, Mr. Tabata retired from the University of Hawaii Sea Grant College Program as an extension agent.

Mike Fritsch, President, ZOOM LBS 
Mike is an experienced Corporate and Program Manager with over 35 years of experience and is President of ZOOM Information Systems and ZOOM LBS. 

Yvette Dubel
is applying Art Based Solutions and Research in Innovation Consulting - Founder of Context Magazine, currently multimedia carbon neutral magazine where luxury embraces responsibility. Magazine as vehicle connects responsible service providers and sustainable luxury services/products with empowered customers. Advancing Community Change Management: Context Magazine explores magazine as conceptual vehicle in art while also giving attention to helping businesses using commitment to social responsibility, purposeful service and meaningful innovation as a value distinction.

Goals:
to provide Innovation Jump-Start Discovery Sessions for Small and Mid-sized Businesses as an introductory offer to be engaged businesses and organizations interested in helping to develop regional editions of Context magazine digital and print with recycling program as part of marketing/branding campaign to explore opportunities for private commissions (including developing magazine and event concepts to meet your needs and assisting in its creation/delivery), R&D and group collaborations and to discover opportunities to advance Cultural Fusion Art as Philosophy.