A recovering perfectionist, lifelong learner, and survivor of life’s trials and tribulations.

Jennifer’s leadership and personal development expertise have been highly sought after by companies around the world. With over 12 years of experience as a consultant helping high-performing individuals at various multinational Fortune 500 companies, her efforts have positively influenced nearly 50,000 leaders across cultures, countries, and industries.

Jennifer’s undergraduate and graduate degrees are focused on behavioral change and as a thought leader, she is frequently requested as a speaker and consultant. She has spoken at conferences and led workshops in over 18 different countries.

Drawing from her background in science and collective expertise, Jennifer helps you develop into the very best version of yourself and learn how to thrive.

Since 1991, Chuck Thies has been headquartered in Washington, D.C. He leads, advises and
supports advocacy, political and PR campaigns, corporate affairs projects, NGO operations,
special events and a variety of other endeavors.

In high-profile, high-pressure roles or behind the scenes in an advisory manner, Chuck brings to
all projects a depth of expertise and poise gained by working across a breadth of subject
matters with skilled and diverse people from around the globe. His professional travels span the
United States, China, France, Israel, Kenya, Mexico, Morocco, The Netherlands, Palestine,
Portugal and Sweden.

Chuck is a skilled writer and communicator. He has appeared on television, co-hosted a weekly
radio program on WPFW, written a weekly column for NBC Washington and has been quoted or
published in numerous outlets, including The New York Times, Washington Post, Politico, Los
Angeles Times, CNN, Fox News, San Francisco Chronicle, Des Moines Register, The Atlantic,
Washington Times, Washington Examiner, Detroit News, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, The Village
Voice, Boston Phoenix, Washington Blade, Washington City Paper, The American Prospect,
Wired, techPresident, Washingtonian, Washington Business Journal, DCist and elsewhere.
Chuck’s experience and expertise in event management is far-reaching, from promoting and
coordinating large-scale rallies on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. and in Central Park,
New York City to providing comprehensive meeting and exhibition services for businesses,
NGOs and technical associations around the world. Chuck has also served as a vice-president
for one of the world's premier conference, exhibition and event management firms, The
Congrex Group.
 

Asil Toksal receives and transmits transformational energy and spoken wisdom from higher and non-dual sources of consciousness. This benevolent energy and wisdom is an unconditional gift intended to support humanity’s evolution.  Asil channels the Elohim, a collective consciousness that has been instrumental in the proliferation of life, they are “the architects of this reality, of space and time, of the material experience, of consciousness.” Asil also embodies an archangelic being named Emmanuel who serves as an ambassador to humanity on behalf of higher consciousness. Asil authored the book, Transmission: Awakening in a Time of Transition: Vol. 1, an autobiographical account of his journey. The goal of both aspects of Asil’s work is to assist in the evolution of consciousness in humanity. He travels globally to do this work. 

Tom Julian

              714.270.1603

Charles “Chuck” Hughes serves as the Executive Director of the Gary Chamber of Commerce. His mission, along with that of the Chamber is to attract new business, retain existing businesses and to promote and further develop all of the business interests in the City of Gary.

During his very diverse and productive career, Mr. Hughes served as a Gary Fire Official for 34 years reaching the rank of Battalion Chief and the department’s Public Information Officer. He worked as a member of the media doing both radio and television. He was the host of the popular “Sound Off” program on W.W.C.A. radio for several years in addition to serving as the evening newscaster. He was the 4^th black on-air person hired full time at W.W.C.A. behind only the legendary Lucky Cordell, Vivian Carter and Jesse Coopwood. He later was named as the first black play-by-play announcer and that was followed by his being named the first black Sports Director at that station. Next, he ventured into Chicago television where he served for 12 years as Producer and host for the popular television talk show “Dimensions” seen weekly on W.P.W.R. and U.P.N. Channel 50 in Chicago.

Chuck also served with distinction for 16 years as a member of the Gary City Council at an At-large position. During that time he served two terms as President, two as Vice-President and each year served as the Council’s Public Safety Chairman. He is credited with founding several community programs such as the Gary Midnight Basketball Program, the “No Workshops, No Jump shots” program, the Local and Chicago media anti-violence initiative and bringing the owners of Taser to Northwest Indiana to expose local Law Enforcement to non-fatal techniques.

Chuck’s council success enabled him to serve as the Education Chairman for the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns. National recognition included his being selected as first Vice-Chair and then Chairman of the National League of Cities Public Safety and Crime Prevention Committee  being the only person from Northwest Indiana to ever serve in that capacity. Next Mr. Hughes was asked to serve on the prestigious National League of Cities Board of Directors, where only a couple of other people from Northwest Indiana had ever previously served.

In addition to his duties as Executive Director of the Gary Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Hughes recently served as the Board Chairman for the Gary-Hammond East Chicago Empowerment Zone. Currently he serves as a member of the Indiana University Executive Council, the I.U. Chancellor’s Community Engagement Committee, the Indiana University School of Business Advisory Board, the I.U. SPEA Advisory Committee, Northwest Indiana Chamber Executives Association, the Regional Development Corporation Board of Directors, Ivy Tech Society of Innovators, the Indiana Black Expo Board of Directors, Friends of the Gary Airport and the Salvation Army Board of Directors. Among his many affiliations are the National Association of Black Journalists, Firefighters Local 359, Indiana Association of Fire Firefighters, Retired Fire and Police Association, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. and the I CHANGE NATIONS 3M Project Global Initiative.

Chuck has received numerous honors and recognition for his work in the community and on behalf of its citizens. Those include;  the prestigious Indiana University Outstanding Alumnus Award, Pi Alpha Alpha National Honor Society Award for Public Affairs and Administration, Lifetime Achievement Award from The National Civil Rights Library, induction into the National Civil Rights Library Hall of Fame, Honorary Doctorate degree in Philosophy in Humanities from United Graduate College and Seminary International, appointed a Goodwill Ambassador by Golden Rule International, I Change Nations Award as a Human Conservation Solutionist, creator of the internationally acclaimed Community Civility Counts initiative, a campaign that earned him recognition from Ambassador Dr. Clyde Rivers at the Gerald R. Ford presidential Library in Grand Rapids Michigan and later on the U.S. Capitol Hill, Outstanding Individual Award from the Mayor’s Office on Disabilities, and the Lakeshore Classic event that spotlights our student athletes and that also attracts national dignitaries to Northwest Indiana.

Chuck Hughes is a graduate of Gary Roosevelt High School where he was a stellar atlete, has a Certificate of Graduation from Midwestern Broadcast School and a Bachelors and Masters Degree in Public Affairs from Indiana University. He is married to Dr. Danita Johnson Hughes and the father of 3 daughters.