KOSTA GARA is the quintessential American entrepreneur, but the lifestyle he enjoys today, living on the shores of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, is a million miles from his humble beginning. As a young, aspiring student, Kosta was awarded a nationwide scholarship to a Canadian university, however, a year before he was to earn his engineering degree, he followed in the footsteps of such legends as Steve Jobs and Bill Gates and took a leave of absence from the university to pursue his dream of starting his own marketing company.

In 2001, Kosta founded his second venture, a unique, creative and innovative virtual platform to bridge sales and marketing within the digital world. This technological breakthrough launched his direct-selling, software business, generating millions in sales. Five years later, at the age of 33, Kosta retired. Two years later, finding retirement unfulfilling, he partnered with his best friend to co-found an energy drink company that today operates in over 30 countries with sales in excess of $200 million in just six years. Beyond his private ventures, Kosta’s extensive portfolio includes Regional Sales Director and General Manager with two Fortune 500 companies, managing hundreds of employees with millions of dollars in sales.

As President of three privately held companies, Kosta’s passion for staying at the forefront of innovation could not be quelled and, in 2011, founded Vionic, https://vionic.com/. As CEO of Vionic, Kosta works closely with his highly talented, tech-savvy team to strategically position his vision of Vionic becoming a premier software company in the blossoming world of social media marketing. His corporate mission is to develop and integrate cutting-edge marketing technologies that will revolutionize the social media world.

Kosta has resided in 9 countries, traveled to 46 countries, and visited 196 major cities around the globe. These experiences inspired him to launch his Global Konnoisseur E-magazine, that advises travelers where to find the best restaurants, hotels and attractions on every continent. Kosta is co-author of two highly-acclaimed books that hit the number one spot at Amazon and Barnes & Noble and has been featured in a half-dozen international magazines and major publications. He is in the process of releasing his long-anticipated memoir.

In his spare time, Kosta enjoys playing tennis, an intense game of ping-pong, running, working out, and reading books that satisfy his thirst to discover the world.

Peter Zalewski is a nonpracticing licensed real estate broker, consultant, and special contributor to the Miami Herald and a real estate columnist for The Real Deal magazine.

Zalewski founded Condo Vultures® in 2006 based on using public records to better assess the South Florida real estate market at a time of uncertainty.

Under Zalewski's direction, the Condo Vultures® concept has developed into five companies working independent in South Florida.

Condo Vultures® LLC is a analytics firm that distributes a weekly newsletter, publishes books, and hosts seminars dealing with the real estate topics of the day.

Condo Vultures® Realty LLC is a licensed Florida real estate brokerage that represents buyers to acquire distressed assets.

CVR Realty™ is a licensed Florida real estate brokerage that represents sellers in real estate transactions.

The Condo Ratings Agency™ is focused on grading the economic condition of nearly 1,000 associations in South Florida's seven largest coastal markets.

CraneSpotters.com™ - in conjunction with the Miami Association Of Realtors - provides extensive information and maps on South Florida's Preconstruction Condo Market.

Max Christensen, also known as Lama Ngakpha Dorje (Tibetan), Ching Fung Dao Shr (Chinese Taoist), Sifu Max, has dedicated his life to studying, understanding, and bringing forth a wealth of traditional spiritual and esoteric practices from around the world.

His path towards spiritual life and understanding began early, in his youth. At age six he embarked on his journey and commenced studies with Wudang Master Wu Xiao Deng of Hubei province, studying traditional Wudang Taoism, Baqua, Qigong and Daoyin methods and practices in order to strengthen his body, mind, and spirit.

His thirst for knowledge and understanding of Spiritual truths inspired him to travel around the world and led him to study with many traditional teachers from diverse cultures.

It is from his travels, diverse experiences, and in-depth studies, that Max draws on and presents time tested, esoteric root practices, through his KUNLUN NEI GUNG™ System.

In addition to his extensive education and training in the Taoist arts, Max is also trained in Shamanic studies. Having spent time with the Mongolian Blue Wolf Shamanic tradition, where he learned the traditional way of the Shaman, Max enjoys teaching the Shamanic arts.

His work with the Mongolian tradition also led him to the way and healing methods of the Apache and Navaho traditions and membership in the medicine path of the Red Willow Society in New Mexico. He is trained in Hawaiian Lomi Lomi Lapa’au from the PeleKu and KaneLu traditions and has also received empowerment of the Santig Dorje Phurba from Ralo Rinpoche. Of the Nyingma order of Tibetan Buddhism, Ralo Rinpoche gave him the title “Ngakpha Dorje” which identifies him as one who has the power to awaken dormant powers within.

With an association of over twenty years with his most recent teacher from the Shang-ching Taoist tradition of Southern China, Max has learned and teaches the extraordinary Taoist alchemical practices, which lead to the gold dragon body attainment.

Max Christensen has taught over 10,000 people worldwide, and continues to teach small group classes for those interested in learning and cultivating the ancient knowledge and practices, while discovering the mysteries of these arts.

Some of the traditions that Max has training in:

* Apache and Navaho tradition; medicine path of the Red Willow Society in New Mexico.
* Taoist tradition of the Shang-ching and Wudang.
* Shamanic tradition of the Blue Wolf clan of Mongolia.
* Peleku and Kanelu tradition of Kauai, Hawaii.
* Esoteric practices of Egyptian yogic tradition.

BEN BLUM is a 13 year old documentary filmmaker who lives in San Rafael, CA. He is an 8th grader at Saint Mark's School, also in San Rafael. His latest video, Data Obsession, focuses on the overuse of government surveillance in the U.S, and won second place in the national C-SPAN StudentCam competition; out of over 5,000 people. In addition, he runs a highly acclaimed Youtube channel, which has accumulated over 1.1 million views and 4,000 subscribers.  His channel can be accessed at https://www.youtube.com/user/interactivevideos5   He is passionate about U.S. history, current events, and foreign affairs.  Currently, he is working on a documentary relating to human rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

Ben's school - Saint Mark's - is so proud of Ben and wants everyone to know that Ben is a product of his environment as you can tell from Saint Mark's description:

"For over a decade Saint Mark's media and information literacy program has fostered in students the ability to understand information, interpret meaning and communicate with others across multiple forms of media, from novels to news, from writing an essay to producing a video. This innovative program, honored by the National Association of Independent Schools with a Leading Edge Award, raises students' awareness of how mass media influences individuals and society.

Students learn to identify and deconstruct the codes and conventions media use to sell, persuade, entertain and educate. They also learn fundamental critical thinking, communication, research and technology skills, along with how to use the power of voice to make a difference in the world."

Please visit Ben's Youtube Channel to view his award winning CSPAN StudentCam film and other works:  https://www.youtube.com/user/interactivevideos5

MARK KLEIN is the whistleblower who exposed AT&T’s participation in the National Security Agency’s illegal warrantless spying on millions of Americans.  Klein grew up in New York City and in 1962 entered Cornell University’s School of Engineering. As the 1960s exploded in social upheaval he was moved with his generation to investigate society and graduated in 1966 with a B.A. in history. Later he returned to technical school, obtaining certificates in electronics and computers which led to employment in computer manufacturing in the 1970s.  He was hired by AT&T in 1981 as a communications technician and worked for the company for over 22 years. In 2003, he discovered the illicit NSA installation in San Francisco and three years later brought it to public attention. He retired from AT&T in May 2004, and now lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife.

ABOUT MARK KLEIN'S BOOK: Wiring Up The Big Brother Machine...And Fighting It

Whistleblower Mark Klein tells the story of the illegal government spying apparatus installed at an AT&T office by the National Security Agency, and his battle to bring it to light and protect Americans’ 4th Amendment rights. After the New York Times revealed in 2005 that the NSA was spying on Americans’ phone calls and e-mail without Constitutionally-required court warrants, the Bush administration openly defended this practice which also violated the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. All details of the highly secret program remained hidden from the public—until Klein came forward. A technician for over 22 years at telecom giant AT&T, Klein was working in the Internet room in San Francisco in 2003 and discovered the NSA was vacuuming everyone’s communications into a secret room, and he had the documents to prove it. He went to the media in 2006, and then became a witness in a lawsuit brought against the company by the Electronic Frontier Foundation.

CAREY WEDLER is the girl whose Youtube video went viral with near a million hits in a week's time.

Her video WATCH IT NOW shows her torching her Obama Shirt and ennumerating many reasons why she feels Obama betrayed her and millions of Americans who voted for him.  Please also see Carey's latest video: How I became a "self-hating Jew" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLDE4mRwfSQ

As you can see by the bio below, Carey is more than just a pretty face:

CAREY WEDLER is a political activist, writer, and blogger born and raised in Los Angeles. After several misadventures in Hollywood and the film industry, she began writing a book about the inanity of the media, celebrity culture the effects both have on young girls and women. In the process, she became an active libertarian, raising awareness about government violence, corruption, collusion with corporations,and intrusion into the lives of individuals all over the world.

To combat these ills, she promotes peace,non-violence, voluntary interaction and love for all of humanity (she's also a yoga teacher-in-training). Her book will be released later this year as she continues to produce Youtube videos, blogs, and popular enthusiasm to stand up to egregious, shameless violations of human rights.

On May 2, 2013, Ann Hume Loikow of D.C. Statehood - Yes We Can! testified before the D.C. Council's Government Operations Committee on the need for the D.C. Office of Policy and Government Affairs to actively work with D.C. statehood activists on passage of the New Columbia Admission Act and on the need for the Council to enact Bill No. 20-0171, the District of Columbia Statehood Advocacy Act of 2013, to properly fund our statehood effort and compensate our statehood delegation.