Dr. Theresa Ashby
Business Oracle | Organizational Psychologist | Executive Advisor | Independent Scholar
Dr. Priya Shah
Pediatric Emergency Medicine Physician, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Dr. Richard Sheppard
Hematologist & Medical Oncologist, Sanford Roger Maris Cancer Center
Vice President, Women’s Health & Commercial Partnerships, Oura
Jill Angelo is a women’s health leader and entrepreneur on a mission to close one of the largest gaps in modern healthcare: care for women in midlife. As Vice President of Women’s Health & Commercial Partnerships at ŌURA, she is helping shape a new model of health—one where continuous biometric data empowers women to better understand and navigate their bodies through every life stage.
Jill is the founder of Gennev, the first nationwide virtual clinic dedicated to menopause care. Under her leadership, Gennev became a category-defining platform and was later acquired by Unified Women’s Healthcare, where she went on to lead virtual health across a national network of clinics.
Jill grew up on a cattle ranch in North Dakota—an experience that shaped her work ethic, resilience, and belief in building things that last. Today, she is a leading voice in women’s health innovation, focused on redefining how care is delivered. Her work sits at the intersection of technology, clinical care, and lived experience, with a singular goal: to help women not just live longer, but live better.
CEO, Co-Founder, iRobot & Familiar Machines & Magic
The Roomba and the Braava are the best known iRobot products and the foundation of our business, but today with smart homes coming online and connected devices all around us, there is so much more we can do. Together, we are working to build the next generation of intelligent, teaming and purpose-first robots.
In addition to robotics, my other big passion is STEM education. Back in 2010, I helped found National Robotics Week to raise awareness about robots and their important role in shaping the future of education, industry and the economy. Our hope and our goal is that these events might inspire the next generation of builders, inventors and problem solvers.
Former Governor of South Carolina & Nobel Peace Prize Recipient
David Beasley is an American politician, law professor, and the former executive director of the United Nations World Food Programme, receiving a Nobel Peace Prize in 2020.
Executive Director, Offutt Family Foundation
Rev. Dr. Terry A. Brandt believes that transformation happens when people create space for vision, risk holy experiments, and trust that something sacred can emerge in the process.
Terry’s path has never fit into a single category. He has been a pastor, entrepreneur, educator, and strategist, each role forming part of a lifelong commitment to bridging faith and innovation. He often describes himself as a “flipper and fixer,” not just of houses (his past time) but of systems, cultures, and stories that need new energy and vision.
Founder/Executive Director, Haven
A native of the upper midwest, Jen Burgard is a mom to two living children and one who lives solely in her heart.
Upon the death of her second child, she set out to fill a gap in accessibility to resources, support and community for others also experiencing trauma. With personal experience of her own and her newly formed network she launched Haven as a service to grieving parents in and around her region.
Today, Haven has touched thousands of families with their healing gifts, podcast content, and grief workshops. With a goal to bring awareness and understanding not only to child loss, but our grief culture in general, we are creating and building conversations around the vast Landscape of Loss.
Adolescent Psychologist and Parent Coach, Dr. Cam Consulting, LLC
Dr. Cam Caswell, PhD—“The Teen Translator”— is an adolescent psychologist, parenting coach, TEDx speaker, and host of the Parenting Teens with Dr. Cam podcast. With 20+ years of experience and a teen of her own, she blends science and real-life insight to help parents stop yelling, start connecting, and rebuild trust. Followed by more than 300K on Instagram, Dr. Cam is a go-to voice for parents who want proven strategies and compassionate support—not more guilt. Her mission is bold and clear: Empower parents. Uplift teens. Transform families.
Founder & Executive Director, The Gray Matters Collective
Haley DeGreve is the founder of The Gray Matters Collective, a national nonprofit she launched in 2018 while still a student at Augustana College.
What began as a campus initiative has grown into a movement recognized by the University of Michigan Depression Center, offering hope and healing to thousands. Haley has become a leading voice in youth mental health and suicide prevention. She has spoken at schools, workplaces, and community events, reaching over 50,000 people worldwide with her message of resilience.
Her podcast, Surviving the Suck, ranks in the top 10% globally for mental health.
Mental Health Clinician, Founder of EmpowerU, Author
Katie Kelley Dorn knows what it means to walk through hard seasons—and to find hope on the other side.
A licensed marriage and family therapist, school counselor, entrepreneur, author, and mother of seven, Katie has spent her career helping young people and families develop the skills needed to navigate life’s challenges with confidence and resilience.
Her personal journey took an unexpected turn when her beloved sister died after a courageous battle with cancer, and Katie and her husband became parents to her sister’s three young daughters. That experience deepened her belief that resilience is built—not given—and that hope often arrives through the people who simply show up.
Katie is the founder and former CEO of EmpowerU, an evidence-informed mental health education company that helps schools teach students practical skills for emotional regulation, thought management, and psychological resilience.
She is also the author of Magnolias in Winter: Finding Hope in Life’s Hard Seasons, a memoir about grief, faith, family, and the extraordinary power of community to carry us through life’s hardest moments.
Whether she’s speaking on a stage, working in schools, or gathering around a kitchen table, Katie’s mission remains the same:
To help people find hope, build resilience, and believe in what’s possible.
CTO, Pivot Bio
Frey earned a Bachelor of Science degree in horticulture from The Pennsylvania State University (University Park), and a Master of Science degree in plant breeding and plant genetics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He holds a Ph.D. in plant biology and biotechnology from the University of Delaware and Dupont/Pioneer. In addition, in 2018, Frey completed an MBA at the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business. Widely published, he has received dozens of patents on seeds, plant health, and packaging, as well as developed new genetic technologies for crop yield and disease resistance.
Director (emeritus), Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation
Gordon Hartogensis is an American businessman, investor, and government official. He served as the director of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) from 2019 to 2024. In May 2025, he received the Public Service Award from the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans (IFEBP) for his leadership of the PBGC during the multiemployer pension crisis.
Tom Huynh University
I have been in the nail salon industry for over 20 years, and more recently took the professional walleye fishing world by storm by being one of the first to use the newest technology to win multiple pro events and championships. I have taken what I have learned and developed the first ever online fishing curriculum to teach everything I am learning. In one year, I have enrollees in more than 40 states and globally.
Co-founder, CEO, Aigen
Kenny Lee is the co-founder and CEO of Aigen with the mission is to regenerate earth with robotics and AI, starting with breaking agriculture’s dependency on chemicals. He has a wonderful family with two kids and is married to his childhood sweetheart. With an MBA from MIT in sustainability and data analytics, he is pioneering AI-driven tools that empower farmers to enhance productivity and sustainability. Through this journey, he has also learned how to farm on small acres—from planning, seeding, weeding to harvesting and selling veggies and flowers at a farmer’s market.
Aigen’s Element robots, which are self-sustaining, solar-powered, and autonomous, provide farmers with alternatives to herbicides for crop protection. Using AI, Aigen delivers greater crop insights with temporal and spatial intelligence, helping improve farm management and implement sustainable agriculture.
Founder / Photographer, Community Collage
Josh Madson is a dynamic, prolific photographer/director/DP who works internationally from various home-bases in LA, NYC and Tokyo. Josh was born and raised in Minnesota before relocating to Los Angeles in 2005. During the pandemic, Josh relocated back to Minnesota to be closer to family. Shortly after returning to Minnesota Josh’s family decided to move to Mankato. Josh now considers it to be a home away from home outside of his primary residence in Los Angeles.
Community Collage is a national nonprofit public art initiative that transforms portrait photography into collective murals celebrating belonging. We create immersive pop-up photo studio events where participants are not just photographed, but are made to feel part of something bigger. These portraits are then assembled into large-scale public murals displayed in prominent community spaces, creating a powerful visual reminder of connection and belonging.
Storm Chaser
Storm Chaser, Filmmaker, and Flight RN Ryan Mauk turns the most violent skies on Earth into gripping, cinematic stories. Known for racing straight into the jaws of supercells and tornadoes, he captures nature’s fury with breathtaking clarity. As the creator of The Rear Flank docuseries, Ryan delivers an unflinching look at the raw power of storms—where danger, beauty, and human determination collide. His work has been called “Netflix-worthy,” a front-row seat to chaos that few dare to face, and even fewer can capture.
Co-Founder, ABLE Games
I am a 9 year NFL veteran that has recently retired. As my NFL career was taking off I wanted to use my platform to help the community of Fargo. I had the privilege of working with the Special Olympics in college. It ignited a passion for a segment of the population that gets over looked. With the help of TNT and Kim Pladson we started Able games. This is an all inclusive fitness completion that gets chair athletes, athletes with Down Syndrome, and Crossfit Games athletes on the same floor.
Senior Fellow, Heartland Forward
Cara Osborne MSN, CNM, ScD is a nurse midwife who holds a Masters in Nursing from Vanderbilt, and a Masters and Doctorate in Public Health from Harvard School of Public Health. She spent her early career as a clinician, nursing professor and perinatal epidemiology researcher. She has spent the past three years as a professor of practice in Entrepreneurship at the University of Arkansas Sam M Walton College of Business, starting businesses and advising start-ups. She is a technical advisor to Diana Health, a venture backed comprehensive maternity care solution based in New York, founder of Blaize and Brooks Bourbon, Managing Partner at Native Spirit Holdings and a maternal health subject matter expert for Ingeborg Initiatives.
Owner, Pietig Farms & Pietig Book-Works
Pietig and her husband operate Pietig Farms, a fifth-generation farm, where they raise corn and soybeans. She owns and operates Pietig Book-Works, a tax and accounting business. Pietig also serves as treasurer for Morgan Memorial Foundation, Inc., a nursing home and assisted living facility. Pietig was elected to the AgCountry Board in 2015; her current term ends August 31, 2027.
A fifth-generation farmer and a record-holding powerlifter with world and American titles
Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution
Tony Pipa is a senior fellow in the Center for Sustainable Development at the Brookings Institution. Pipa launched and leads the Reimagining Rural Policy initiative and hosts the award-winning Reimagine Rural podcast. He also provides expertise on U.S. global development policy and local implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), reflected in the work of the SDG Leadership Cities Network.
Business Oracle | Organizational Psychologist | Executive Advisor | Independent Scholar
YouTuber
Scott is a North Dakota native who turned a camera and a sharp sense of humor into 135 million views and counting. He has been making people laugh online since 2008 and shows no signs of slowing down. He is also a musician with multiple albums to his name, proving that the best creators rarely stop at just one thing.
Founder & CEO, Constellation Fund
Andrew Dayton is the founder and CEO of the Constellation Fund, a Minnesota-based foundation dedicated to effective poverty alleviation. Constellation deploys rigorous data and analytics to identify, fund, and empower the people and organizations making the greatest measurable impact on poverty in the Twin Cities.
Survivor Advocate & Author
Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar in Synthetic Biology, University of Georgia
Scott Jackson is the Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar in Synthetic Biology. His research focuses on the application of genomic tools to describe and understand the structure and function of plant genomes for crop improvement. He is a member of the Institute of Bioinformatics and an adjunct professor for the Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics and Genomics.
He is Associate Editor for: The Plant Journal and Molecular Plant.
Trainer and Consultant, MelKai Consulting, LLC
Melissa Kaiser is a nationally recognized consultant, trainer, and speaker specializing in anti-human trafficking, multidisciplinary team building, and wellness for professionals in high-trauma fields.
With over 15 years as a social worker, she has worked alongside first responders and helping professionals to improve victim outcomes through trauma-informed, person-centered practices. She pioneered a human trafficking and victim/witness program and has helps rescue missing and exploited children across the country.
Melissa was a nominee for YWCA’s Women of the Year and is the voice behind Secrets of a Social Worker (swsecrets.net), where she shares honest insights on resilience, growth, and the human side of helping others. Her mission is to help those who protect and serve others remain resilient, connected, and effective while spreading kindness, offering support, and making someone’s day whenever she can.
Fight Choreographer, Fortress Hill
Best known for martial arts action, the 4x ISKA World Champion in self-defense has appeared in numerous films as an actor, stuntman, fight choreographer, and weapons consultant, including Lethal Weapon 4, Blade, and Netflix’s #1 Plane, which starred Gerard Butler.
James has also worked on multiple documentaries as a stunt coordinator, action designer, self-defense expert, and firearms instructor, featured on the Discovery Channel, History Channel, MTV, and more.
The internationally known martial artist’s humanitarian efforts extend with Rock Self Defense in Egypt, Ukraine, Brazil, and Sri Lanka’s nationwide Stop Harassment of Women campaign, “S.H.O.W.” The appointed ISKA Youth Ambassador has taken it a step further, utilizing his influence and expertise to produce innovative initiatives that strengthen the Autism community through Dragonfly ASD and provide access to online martial arts training, Kick Punch, for the private school and homeschool communities.
Tammy Miller is the former Lieutenant Governor of North Dakota and the former CEO of Border States, a 100% employee-owned electrical distributor. She also served as Chief Operating Officer in the Governor’s Office and has held leadership roles across the public and private sectors. Miller holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and an MBA from Minnesota State University Moorhead. She currently serves on several corporate and nonprofit boards and is an advocate for employee ownership, workforce development, and domestic manufacturing.
Adm. Stuart Munsch, a native of North Dakota and a 1985 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy Annapolis, Maryland, with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering. While at the U.S. Naval Academy, he was brigade commander of his class and an All-American and national champion pistol shooter. He was selected for a Rhodes Scholarship and attended Oxford University and earned a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts in Philosophy, Politics and Economics.
Owner / Founder, Nelson Treehouse & Supply
Pete Nelson transformed a childhood dream—a simple tree fort built with his father in New Jersey—into a movement that reconnects people with the natural world through pioneering sustainable architecture and elevated living.
As founder of Nelson Treehouse, Pete has redefined what’s possible when imagination meets craftsmanship among the branches. His innovative designs have elevated treehouses from childhood playgrounds to sophisticated spaces for living, working, and healing.
Through Animal Planet’s “Treehouse Masters,” Pete brought elevated living to millions worldwide, inspiring new relationships with nature and evoking childhood nostalgia. His expertise is showcased in six acclaimed books on treehouse design and through his robust social media following, which serve as both practical guides and sources of inspiration.
But Pete’s true mission extends far beyond building structures. In a world where we spend most of our time indoors and online, he champions a philosophy that views treehouses as gateways to wonder, mindfulness, and environmental stewardship. Through Nelson Treehouse vacation rentals across the United States and his high-quality treehouse hardware line for DIYers, he empowers others to discover the transformative power of time spent among the canopy.
As treehouse design evolves into a recognized architectural practice, Pete champions a compelling vision: that our path forward leads up into the branches and back to our fundamental connection with the living world.
Join Pete as he explores how ascending into the trees can ground us in what matters most.
President, North Dakota Petroleum Council
Ron Ness is the President of the North Dakota Petroleum Council (NDPC). Ness, with more than 25 years with the Petroleum Council and more than 36 years of career experience, under his leadership and commitment to energy development, North Dakota oil production has increased from just over 80,000 barrels of oil per day to over 1.1 million barrels of oil per day. Ness has been instrumental in driving the state energy policy and research, including the Legacy Fund, Oil and Gas Research Council, Outdoor Heritage Fund, and the Clean Sustainable Energy Authority.
Reporter, columnist, and podcast host, Forum Communications & Plain Talk Podcast
Rob Port was a pioneer in political blogging in North Dakota, founding SayAnythingBlog.com in 2003. Before beginning his writing career, he spent 10 years working as a private investigator specializing in insurance fraud, accessing public records, and criminal defense.
He publishes digital and print columns covering North Dakota government and politic in publications across the state, and also hosts the Plain Talk podcast along with his co-host Chad Oban.
Founder & CEO, keepwith
Megan is a natural superconnector and the founder of keepwith, a company redefining how people build relationships, more securely, intelligently, and meaningfully. After a career in financial services regulatory compliance, she saw firsthand the importance of trust, security, and safe relationships at scale, inspiring her to build keepwith.
She earned her BA from Bryn Mawr College and her JD/MBA from Albany Law School and Union Graduate College. Megan is a member of the Economic Club of Chicago and an alumna initiate of the Alpha Omicron Pi Fraternity. She is currently leading groundbreaking work in North Dakota, helping safely connect citizens across the state—a project that began with a simple Google search.
When she’s not building her company, Megan is raising her curious 11-year-old daughter, logging miles on her Peloton, and living by the belief that meaningful connection, like wellness, is built through daily practice.
Pediatric Emergency Medicine Physician, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Priya Shah, MD is a pediatric emergency medicine fellow at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). She earned her medical degree from Harvard Medical School and completed her pediatric residency training at CHOP.
Her academic interests include medical education and legislative advocacy surrounding child injury prevention. She believes all children deserve safe spaces in which they can learn, grow, and play freely.
Dr. Shah has shared her injury prevention work through oral testimony at Philadelphia City Council, presentations at local and national conferences, as well as letters published in The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times.
Dr. Richard Sheppard is a board-certified and fellowship-trained specialist in hematology and medical oncology, treating blood cancers and disorders such as leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and myelodysplastic and myeloproliferative neoplasms. He trained at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and is especially experienced in cellular therapies and stem cell transplants for patients facing some of the most complex diagnoses in cancer care.
Dr. Sheppard’s approach centers on patient-centered, shared decision-making — translating complex medicine into clear, practical language so patients understand and help guide their own care. Outside the clinic, he stays grounded through running, weightlifting, and time with his family.
Instrumental Artist and Performer, The Piano Says It Better
David Snyder is a pianist and composer redefining what the piano can be—turning it into a cinematic, electrifying storytelling experience. Blending virtuosic playing with bold improvisation and humor, his music moves from intimate emotion to explosive intensity, capturing audiences in seconds.
From sold-out performances across the country to viral videos seen by millions, he has built a reputation for making the piano feel fresh, unpredictable, and alive. As the creator of the one-man piano show, “The Piano Says It Better,” he crafts immersive, story-driven shows that inspire audiences to rediscover creativity and find their own musical voice.
His mission: to prove that music isn’t just something you play—it’s something that can change your life.
Gary Tharaldson, CEO & Founder, began his hospitality career by purchasing his first hotel in Valley City, North Dakota, in 1982. Following this acquisition, he expanded into developing hotels across regional markets. In 1987, he sold nine Super 8 motels, generating a net profit of over $5 million.
He continued to acquire and develop hotels, eventually growing his portfolio to more than 350 properties. This success earned him a place on the Forbes 400 in 1997. In 2006, Tharaldson sold 140 hotels to Whitehall Global Real Estate (a division of Goldman Sachs) for approximately $1.25 billion. Prior to this transaction, his company was the largest privately held hotel company in the United States.
American Contemporary Artist
Robert has been painting the world around him since he was ten years old, and the world has been paying attention ever since. Known for large-scale freehand murals across Los Angeles and beyond. His art doesn’t just decorate walls. It tells the story of the people who live in front of them.
Co-Founder & Drummer, Van Halen
Alex co-founded one of the greatest rock bands in history alongside his brother Eddie, and spent five decades behind a kit that redefined what drums could do. Widely regarded as one of the greatest drummers of all time, there are few people on earth who have built something that large.
David has been the voice and the swagger out front of Van Halen since the band’s earliest days, splitting his time between the microphone and the air above it. His performance doesn’t just front the band, it tells the story of what rock and roll is all about.
CEO, GreenLight Biosciences
Dr. Andrey J. Zarur, President and CEO, co-founded GreenLight Biosciences in 2008 to develop advanced biological solutions to overcome some of the biggest challenges faced by the human race, including sustainable food production, response and preparedness for pandemics, and global access to effective human health.
