Gloria Johnson, a State Representative for District 13 in the Tennessee House of Representatives, is a retired Knox County school teacher with 27 years' experience educating children with special needs. Rep. Johnson stood on the House floor with Rep. Justin Jones and Rep. Justin J. Pearson and was the only representative not expelled. Why?
 

In 2012, Gloria successfully ran for State House to give a needed voice for students, teachers and working families in Tennessee. She served in the 108th General Assembly as a strong advocate for public education, affordable health care, the Tennessee mountains and high-quality jobs with good wages. In 2015, Gloria went back to organizing across the state for the passage of Insure Tennessee — Governor Haslam’s version of Medicaid expansion.

She is currently the host of Standing Tall with State Representative Gloria Johnson — on The Tennessee Holler Podcast Network.

Debbi Dachinger coaches authors to write a highly engaging book and how to be interviewed on podcasts for massive results. For 15-years Debbi hosts the “Dare to Dream” podcast, which won the COVR best podcast award, nominated for People’s Choice Podcast and Webby awards, and WELP Magazine as one of the Top 20 Best Podcasts. Hear Dare to Dream with Debbi Dachinger on BBSRadio, Apple Podcasts, YouTube and all major podcast sites. Awards: Podcaster Icon of Influence, Broadcasting Industry Lifetime Achievement Award, inducted into the Who’s Who Hall of Fame for Entertainment, Successful Achievements from Voices of Women Worldwide, and Evolutionary Business Council Heart and Spirit Award. Debbi's greatest values are spirituality, community, galactic UFO/ET’s, travel, and self-development. She is a certified Shamanic Energy Practitioner, certified wine specialist, and the lead singer in the band: Lions Of Lyra.

Gemma McIlhenny was raised in West Philadelphia and attended Overbrook High School as a Fine Arts Major. Under the instruction of her mother and The Philadelphia Arts League Gemma developed a love of theater and acting, performing in various productions around the city. During her teenage years she volunteered in various community service based artistic endeavors. The primary focus was to allow inner-city youth a safe environment to express themselves through the arts . She later majored in Fine Arts at Philadelphia Community College before pursuing a career in law enforcement. Since then, Gemma has taught dance and drama with 'The Mount Airy Learning Tree'. She can be seen on network television shows such as her recurring role on New Amsterdam (NBC). As well as FBI (CBS), East New York (CBS), Power Book II: Ghost (Starz), Inventing Anna (Netflix), and many other film productions.

*Photo Credit Maggie Shirk Photography*

Laura G. Hanson is a former full-time SWAT operator with the Virginia Beach Police Department. After leaving the department Laura wrote a memoir, called Why I Went In, about the many ways trauma impacted her life. She spent many years feeling alone in the depths of her thoughts so she chose to write this book to help others resurface from the depths of their most painful experiences. 

She is a Certified High Performance Coach and currently works as a wellness coordinator with Virginia State Police. Laura believes first responders deserve to have a successful career while also having strong relationships and a healthy overall well-being. She’s on a mission to help first responders believe and achieve this reality. 

The Baseball Bluebook, established in 1909, is the oldest and most comprehensive directory for Baseball programs and contacts. We are now available for download on Apple iTunes and GooglePlay.

Peter M. Caliendo, Former USA Baseball National Team Coach and Skills Development Coach.

Pete brings unmatched experience and expertise to the development of baseball skills to players and coaches. His vast knowledge and worldwide presence has earned Pete immeasurable respect within the baseball community. His devotion to the game of baseball is greatly admired by those who have crossed his path.

Pete started his baseball career at the World Famous Mickey Owen Baseball School where he started as a student, then became a counselor and at the young age of 17 began his coaching career with the 12 u program. During this time he met, who would become his great friend and mentor Dick Birmingham. Dick was instrumental in Pete’s start in baseball as a coach/instructor and continual development as a coach. Later Pete because the Director of Baseball instruction for the 12 U Baseball program along with coaching the high school age teams. Along with his student/counselor/coach responsibilities Pete studied at the Mickey Owen Umpire School under minor league umpire, Carl Lewton and he umpired over 100 games each summer. After 10 years at Mickey Owen Pete started a satellite program in the Chicago land area called Baseball Schools USA, a division of Mickey Own Baseball School. He set up over 25 schools throughout the Chicago land area which averaged over 60 players a camp. In the next expansion program Pete headed up two other states for Baseball Schools USA. These schools were standardized with special technology, standardized wording, drills, fundamentals and lots of fun games to keep the consistency of the program.

Pete is currently the President of Caliendo Sports International, a worldwide baseball company that trains individuals, teams, coaches, parents and deals in professional baseball operations worldwide. Pete's company takes teams, coaches, players and parents all over the world to experience international and cultural experience. Training volunteer coaches has been a specialty of Caliendo Sports International for over 35 years. Pete is a large proponent of a national certification program for volunteer coaches for the purpose of long term development of players. His 35 plus years of training coaches around the world continues by being a volunteer as Vice president of the International Sports Group a non profit organization which host coaches training programs around the world for over 25 years.

As a skills development coach, Pete has provided hundreds of youth coaches training programs throughout the world. To support this knowledge base, he has produced 5 baseball instructional tapes (“Coaching Made Easy”) used as a benchmark resource by coaches across the country. Along with his partner in Canada he has developed an on line coaches certification program. Pete presented twice at the National High School Coaches Clinic as well as 14 additional high school Association Clinics in the USA and has presented in 20 separate countries.

For over 7 years Pete taught a one week coaches certification class in Mexico for the Mexican Baseball Federation in Mexico City. He currently ran a one week certification class in Hong Kong for the Hong Kong Baseball Association.

As of 2009, Pete is heading up the Great Lakes Region for (NTIS) USA Baseballs National Team Identification Program for possible national team players. The Great Lakes Region consists of 5 states, Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Tryouts for potential national team players are held in each state at the ages of 17u, 16 u, 14 u, 13u and 11 under. Pete administers workouts throughout the states to identify possible national team players.

As Director of Baseball Operations and Coach for the Schaumburg Flyers, a professional independent team based in Illinois, Pete had over 26 players sign with major league organizations. The Flyers made it to the play offs in their opening season. As Player procurement Director for the North Shore Spirit, Pete put together the full roster of 22 players that went on to the Northeast World Series.

Internationally renowned, Pete served as the Director and Coach of The Pan Am Baseball Association, a pilot program started by the former CEO of USA Baseball Dick Case. This organization won 3 gold and 3 silver medals for the USA in the Pan Am Games, including the Gold over Cuba. From the six year program of 16 year old players it had produced over 22 players in the major leagues. After the six years USA baseball made the program an official USA Baseball 16 u national team program. His experience also includes coaching the Belgium Baseball Federation National Team and the 1999 Team USA, a team with professionals that competed in Australia's Intercontinental Cup the year before the Olympics in Australia. Pete also served as Director for USA Athletes International's Baseball Operations. While living in Europe, Pete became an associate scout with the Toronto Blue Jays for International Scout for the Blue Jays Wayne Morgan.

In January 2011 Pete received the American Baseball Coaches Association Meritorious award. The ABCA is the largest baseball organization of college and high school coaches in the U.S.He attributes his success in life to his parent’s upbringing of him and his brother Paul. “My parents made the ultimate sacrifice coming to the USA at a very young age from Italy, not knowing anyone so that my brother and I would have a better life”. His continual support comes from his parents Sam and Vivian, Brother Paul and beautiful wife Beverley who is always there to encourage him and assist him in any way. Jordan his step daughter has been a big part of his life in watching her grow up to be a bright young beautiful women. He continues to receive encouragement from his aunt in Italy and says without family no man can accomplish anything.

Pete is currently the President of Caliendo Sports International, a worldwide baseball company that trains individuals, teams, coaches, parents and deals in professional baseball operations worldwide. Pete's company takes teams, coaches, players and parents all over the world to experience international and cultural experience. Training volunteer coaches has been a specialty of Caliendo Sports International for over 35 years. Pete is a large proponent of a national certification program for volunteer coaches for the purpose of long term development of players. His 35 plus years of training coaches around the world continues by being a volunteer as Vice president of the International Sports Group a non profit organization which host coaches training programs around the world for over 25 years.

MARYON KING

At just 25-years-old, singer and songwriter Maryon King is emerging as one of pop’s most exciting new talents. Born in Calarasi, Moldova, raised in Padova, Italy and London, and now based in Los Angeles, Maryon’s musical journey has been anything but linear. Her story is one of grit, determination and compelling natural talent.

She first fell in love with music at the age of eleven when she saw Madonna performing “Hung Up” on MTV. Her parents encouraged her to follow a more traditional, less-risky path, but Maryon was undeterred. She spent her teen years sneaking out to singing lessons, without the knowledge of her parents, and learning to play guitar. At the age of 18, Maryon acquiesced with her parents’ wishes and headed to university in London to study languages but secretly switched her degree to music within a few months.

Buoyed by steadfast determination and undeniable talent, Maryon immersed herself in the London music scene. Over the last 5 years, she’s written in London, Los Angeles and Paris, working with The Stereotypes, Pam Sheyne, Aaron Forbes, Martin Luke Brow, Adj Buffon and Gez O’Connell to find and perfect her left-of-center pop sound. With a knack for heartfelt lyricism, irresistible melodies and a soulful voice that belies her youth, Maryon has quickly revealed herself as a promising new act to watch.

Last year, she released her debut single, “Hustler,” and followed it up with two more songs, “Flatline” — which has already amassed over 500K streams — and “New Life.” And Boys Will Be Boys which is at almost 1 M streams.

Now settled in LA, she has shared her debut single, ‘Back to Strangers,’ from her EP a collection of songs that see Maryon rising from the ashes of heartbreak, stronger and more confident than ever before. “I want to make the listener feel less alone in a world that’s so chaotic and uncertain,” she says. “Music saved me and I hope my songs can be a relief in someone else’s life.”

In addition to her own music, Maryon has also co-written and vocaled songs for Afrojack, Martin Jensen and Tiesto, performed on Sigala’s sold out tours in the UK and Ireland, and opened for BEKA on her sold out UK tour.

CHRIS KISSINGER

Chris Kissinger is CEO of Image Factory Productions (Los Angeles, CA), A longtime music industry veteran and himself a former performer (80’s rockstar), he has had the pleasure of working with most of the biggest music stars of the past 40 plus years and he is often the top directorial choice of performing artists such as The Steve Miller Band, Jack Johnson, Crosby, Stills, and Nash, and Jackson Browne. Since 2001, Kissinger has been a video IMAG expert, music photographer, media content creator, and video & production manager for popular music and entertainment venues across the country.

He created, designed, and implemented the video IMAG systems for 7 national venues including the Greek Theater LA, Hollywood Bowl, and Shrine auditorium. He has directed and shot national entertainment promos such as the GLEE 3D movie commercial, David Crosby Live From The Troubadour in Concert DVD, Musicians United, The Fab Four Symphony, and He has been published in Rolling Stones for his 5 years of dedicated visual work with Kristen Stiles for the Autism speaks Light up the Blues concert Benefit series hosted by Jack Black, and video production of plays with academy award winner Tim Robbins.

Working in robotics brought him to a last minute creation with Sweedish House mafia and The Weeknd in 2002 for Coachella ..and is currently working with Alanis Moresette ( world tour) and Barry Manilow ( US).multi screen visuals.

Chris has been called “the entertainment master” because he is known for his gift to not just provide exceptional service, but a vivid visual experience, and emotional impact through sound, lighting, and image for both his clients and the audience.

His cutting edge & innovative approach to event & video production transforms any venue, event, or product into an electrifying & attention-grabbing experience through his unique creativity & team of dynamic dream makers, that cuts through the red tape to move his clients from an idea, to vision, to reality, and finalizing senses seducing results!