David Bornstein, Founder of Dowser.org

David Bornstein is a journalist and author who is working to advance the practice of solutions journalism. He created and co-authors the Fixes column in The New York Times Opinionator section, which explores solutions to major social problems. He is the founder of Dowser.org, a media site that specializes in solutions journalism. His books include How to Change the World: Social Entrepreneurs and the Power of New Ideas, The Price of a Dream: The Story of the Grameen Bank, and Social Entrepreneurship: What Everyone Needs to Know, as well as a forthcoming book which will highlight some key patterns in social innovation that have emerged over the past 20 years.  Mr. Bornstein has been an Avina Leader, a senior fellow at Civic Ventures, a founding board member of VisionSpring, a member of the Clinton Global Initiative and the World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Council on Social Entrepreneurship, and has received numerous awards for his books as well as his work in the fields of social entrepreneurship and human security. How To Change the World has been published in 21 languages and was described by Nicholas D. Kristof in The New York Times as “a bible in the field.” The Price of a Dream played a key role building global understanding about micro-finance and was described by the author Jane Jacobs as a “monumental work.” Mr. Bornstein has spoken with hundreds of audiences, and participated in seminal public events focusing on social entrepreneurship in Canada, Mexico, the United States, France, Spain, Germany, England, Ireland, Switzerland, Colombia, Argentina, Brazil, Singapore, Taiwan and China. He lives in New York.

Zoe Rodriguez, What I Thought I Saw

Zoë Rodriguez is a photographer and one of four collaborators of what I thought I saw, a book and traveling exhibit that explores the way we see people through an imperfect and highly personal visual lens. She is the founder of Pavlovian Design Group, a graphic design company, and Zoë Rodriguez Photography. She has exhibited her work in Salt Lake City, Park City, Utah, and New York City. Rodriguez comes from a long line of visual artists including photographer John Gilberto Rodriguez and muralist Mario Hernandez.

Jeff Dyer, Horace Beesley Professor of Strategy

Jeff Dyer (Ph.D UCLA) is the Horace Beesley Professor of Strategy at the Marriott School, Brigham Young University, and adjunct professor of strategy at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School.  Prior to his academic career he was a consultant and manager at Bain & Company.  Dr. Dyer is the only strategy scholar in the world to have published five times in both Strategic Management Journal and Harvard Business Review.  He was recognized by Essential Science Indicators as the fourth most cited management scholar from 1996-2006.  His Oxford book, Collaborative Advantage, was awarded the Shingo Prize Research Award and his article “The Innovator’s DNA” was the McKinsey Award runner-up for the best article in Harvard Business Review in 2009.  He is co-author of the best-selling book The Innovator’s DNA with Hal Gregersen and Clayton Christensen.  Dr. Dyer regularly gives speeches, consults, and conducts training programs in the areas of innovation and strategy.  Past clients include General Electric, General Mills, Intel, Johnson & Johnson, Harley Davidson, Medtronic and Sony.

Amy Albo, What I Thought I Saw

Amy Albo is a writer and one of four collaborators of what I thought I saw, a photo-essay book and traveling exhibit that invites people to deconstruct the layers of misconceptions, biases and stereotypes behind the initial glance. Albo has worked as a magazine editor and freelance writer in New York City and Salt Lake City for more than twenty years. She has a B.A. in English from Georgetown University and an M.A. in nonfiction writing from The Johns Hopkins University.

Christopher A. Mattson, BYU Mechanical Engineering Professor

Christopher A. Mattson is an Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Brigham Young University (BYU). He received his Ph.D. from the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He is the recipient of a National Science Foundation CAREER award focusing on designing for the developing world and has been awarded three US Patents. Prior to joining the faculty at BYU, Prof. Mattson was the Global Director of Engineering Design and Research at ATL Technology and a member of the company’s Executive Committee. While at ATL Technology, he led the design of products that have been used by over 15 million people around the world. He established and managed ATL Technology’s Silicon Valley office (1999-2000), and ATL Technology’s twenty-five person Engineering Design Center in mainland China (2004-2006). He has traveled extensively in Asia and Europe for engineering and manufacturing related business, and has lived abroad for 3.5 years.

Leigh M. VandenAkker, 2012 Utah Teacher of the Year

Utah’s 2012 Teacher of the Year and winner of Utah’s 2011 Golden Apple Award, Leigh is the co-author of Techniques for Tough Times, a curriculum created to aid classroom teaching of communication and anger management skills.  Leigh has trained teachers nationwide and her passion is supporting teachers by providing insight and training in classroom management.  With over 20 years of experience in the educational setting, Leigh has developed strategies and techniques that really work in today’s classrooms.  Her advanced education includes a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Utah, a M.Ed. degree from Utah State University, where her thesis study was, addressing the dropout rate, with an extensive study of what works and what doesn’t.  It also includes certifications in Criminology and Corrections, Special Education, and E.S.L.  In addition, she is a certified mediator through the University of Utah’s, Post Graduate Conflict Resolution Program.  Leigh is presently a full time teacher at East High School in Salt Lake City School District.

Alina Geslison & Grace Dayton, National Twin Fiddling Champions

Alina Geslison is a native of Provo, Utah. Alina graduated from Timpview High School and is now a junior at BYU in Provo, Utah. Alina plays fiddle, bass, and mandolin. Alina has won several state fiddle championships in Utah and is the current young adult and Grand Champion State Fiddler. Grace Dayton is a Senior at Timpview High School in Provo, Utah. She has been playing classical violin since the age of three and started fiddling at nine years old. Grace is the current junior state fiddle champion. At the National Oldtime Fiddle Contest in Weiser, Idaho, Grace has also won Best Female Entertainer twice, Fanciest Female Fiddler and Best Costumed Fiddler with Alina. Alina and Grace are the current national Twin Fiddling champions.

Greg Van Kirk, Co-Founder and Executive Director, The New Development Solutions Group

Greg Van Kirk is an Ashoka Lemelson Fellow and the co-founder of The New Development Solutions Group. This includes Community Enterprise Solutions, Social Entrepreneur Corps and NDS Consulting. These are all ventures whose mission is to design and implement innovative responses to long-standing development challenges. His team is now focused on expanding the reach of their award winning “MicroConsignment Model” globally. Greg was recently chosen as an “Ashoka Globalizer” and as a member of the Clinton Global Initiative. He has served as an economic development consultant for organizations such as USAID, Chemonics, VisionSpring, Soros Foundation, Church World Service, IDB, Water For People and Fundacion Paraguaya. Greg also contributes time as “Social Entrepreneur in Residence” and has recently worked with Columbia University, Indiana University, University of San Diego, Arizona State University, New York University and Marquette University. He is as well the co founder of The Center for MicroConsignment at Miami University. Greg began working in rural small business development as a Guatemala Peace Corps volunteer in 2001. Greg worked in investment banking for five years before arriving in Guatemala. Two deals he led at UBS during this time won “Deal of the Year” honors from “Structured Finance International” magazine. Greg is a graduate of Miami University and currently lives with his family in New York City.

Travis Pitcher, Founder of Good Line

Travis graduated from BYU with a degree in Media Arts and International Development.  He worked in television and doing corporate work before starting his own company, Good Line.  He feels that the best stories are to be found on the ground in the social sector and Good Line’s speciality is telling those compelling, human stories.  He is the father of twin boys and has the ‘best, most supportive wife ever’.  When he is not traveling around the world with Good Line, he enjoys his time at home in Provo.

Jessamyn Lau, Peery Foundation

Jessamyn Lau joined the Peery Foundation as its first staff member in May of 2009. Her contributions as Program Leader have been vital towards shaping the foundation’s strategy and developing programs. Additionally, she is responsible for strengthening the foundation’s portfolio and directly supporting existing grantees. Jessamyn was part of the founding Ashoka U team, and continues to utilise her experience gained at Ashoka U in her hands-on role as an Advisory Board Member of BYU’s Ballard Center. Jessamyn has a BA in Fine Arts from the University of the Arts London and an MBA from Brigham Young University.

Eduardo Zanatta, The Academy for Creating Enterprise

Eduardo Zanatta is a senior studying Business Finance at BYU. He is an Italian citizen, grew up in Brazil, and served as a missionary in the New Jersey Morristown Mission. He has worked for The Academy for Creating Enterprise (ACE) as its International Development Coordinator for two years and interned at the ACE campus in Mexico City last summer. He has also done internships at the UK Parliament, Credit Suisse UK, and Goldman Sachs NY, and he is now a part-time employee at Innosight, LLC. He has recently accepted a full-time offer from the firm in Boston and will be attending the Harvard Business School (MBA Program) starting in 2014. 

Wilfried Eyi, University Impact Fund

Wilfried is a Senior in Finance at the Marriott School of Management (MSM) at Brigham Young University (BYU). He is a member of the MSM-Invesment Banking Club, and is currently the MSM Student Council Vice President over Clubs. Wilfried is from Gabon, Central Africa and is planning on being a front-row player in the economies of the African nations. After graduation, he will be heading to Goldman Sachs & Co. in their Investment Banking Division, and will be working in Investment Banking until his MBA. Wilfried came to learn about impact investing through the Students for Social Entrepreneurship program in the Ballard Center. He is currently an Associate at the University Impact Fund where he is getting a clearer picture of social entrepreneurship. He enjoys sports, outdoor activities, service activities, and spending time with the people he cares about.