Speakers
Nick Adams
Speaker
Born and raised in Australia, Nick Adams immigrated to America in 2016, with the United States government recognizing his ‘extraordinary ability.’ Nick’s first challenge came at sixteen months. He was diagnosed with Stage IV Neuroblastoma (a rare form of childhood cancer), and given just a five percent chance of survival. He defied the odds, with a tenacity that would become a hallmark of his life. This early adversity indelibly shaped his life. As Nick wrote: “It taught me to hope. It taught me to dream. That anything is possible. That no hurdle is too high, no burden too great and no obstacle insurmountable.
Alex Ayers
Speaker
Alex Ayers is Vice President of Public Policy with Schoening Strategies, a lobbying and political consulting firm in Washington, DC. Alex leads the policy team and represents several business groups and advocacy organizations on Capitol Hill including the Association of Mature American Citizens. With AMAC, Alex focuses on helping Congressional offices introduce legislation, add cosponsors and lobby Congressional leaders to bring AMAC supported legislation to the floor for votes. Alex has published papers and studies in various policy areas including taxes, energy, agriculture, and economics and has testified on tax policy. His research has been cited by organizations such as the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and the Tax Foundation
David Balat
Speaker
David Balat is the director of the Right on Healthcare initiative at the Foundation. He has broad experience across the healthcare spectrum with special expertise in healthcare finance. He is a former congressional candidate in Texas’ 2nd Congressional District and a seasoned hospital executive with more than 20 years of healthcare industry leadership and executive management experience.
Balat has earned the privilege of being invited to testify before the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Reform in Washington, D.C., and before various House committees in the Texas state Legislature. He is a published author and op-ed columnist in Newsweek, U.S. News & World Report, Real Clear Politics, and other news outlets. He is also an active speaker and commentator on matters of health policy.
Balat often volunteers to help families navigate their bills and how to understand their benefits. He serves as a board member for a nonprofit focused on educating legislators and the community about important matters pertaining to healthcare freedom.
Balat is a first generation American and the first in his family to graduate from college. He received his B.S. from the University of Houston and joint master’s degrees in business administration and hospital administration from the University of Houston – Clear Lake.
Robert Charles
Speaker
Robert B. Charles served in the Reagan and Bush 41 White Houses, as Assistant Secretary of State under Colin Powell, and counsel to the US House National Security subcommittee for five years; a former litigator, he taught law at Harvard University’s Extension School, recently authored “Eagles and Evergreens” (2018), and consults in Washington DC.
Jim Craig
Speaker
JIM CRAIG
Olympic Gold Medalist
Goalie, 1980 USA “Miracle on Ice” Hockey Team Owner, President & CEO of Gold Medal Strategies
Jim Craig is best known as the backbone of the 1980 Olympic Gold Medal Hockey Team, whose ‘Miracle’
win was voted by Sports Illustrated as the greatest moment in sports history of the 21ˢᵗ century.
Craig, who started every game in goal, was a leading figure in the team’s success. One of the
enduring images of the 1980 Games was of Craig, wrapped in an American flag, searching the stands
for his widowed father in order to share the gold-medal-winning victory.
Before the Olympics, Jim was an All-American goalie at Boston University, leading his team to a
NCAA national championship. After the ‘Miracle’ game, Jim went on to play professionally for three
NHL teams, where he sustained a career-ending injury while playing for the Minnesota North Stars.
He is enshrined in the Boston University Hall of Fame, the International Ice Hockey Federation Hall
of Fame, the United States Hockey Hall of Fame, and the United States Olympic Hall of Fame and is a
co-recipient of both the Lester Patrick award and the Sports Illustrated “Sportsman of the Year”
award. He is also a graduate of Boston University and earned his doctorate in humane letters from
Mercy College.
Following Jim’s professional hockey career, he transitioned his success into the corporate world as
a motivational speaker, powerful salesman and corporate consultant. He has been inducted into the
Sales Halls of Fame for two different companies, having increased a sales territory from
$300,000 to $50 million in annual sales. Following this role, Jim moved on to become the Vice
President of a promotional marketing agency. Under his guidance, the agency increased annual dollar
sales by 80 percent and its number of clients by 30 percent in just two short years.
For more than 30 years, Jim has inspired, instructed and provided strategic and winning direction
to some of the most prestigious companies across the world, including Kellogg’s, Bayer, Deloitte,
Bank of America, Coca-Cola, Procter & Gamble, and Disney, as the successful owner and president of
his company, Gold Medal Strategies. Jim has been selected three times as one of the top five
speakers on team building in the United States, and has evolved to not only deliver motivational
speeches, but host immersive corporate training programs that teach participants how to think
differently and believe in their possibilities. Jim is the co-author of the highly acclaimed
business book, Gold Medal Strategies: Business Lessons from America’s Miracle Team and recently
released his newest book and legacy piece, We Win! Lessons on Life, Business & Building Your Own
Miracle Team. His stories emphasize and inspire the idea that anything is possible when you
believe.
For more information, follow Jim on his social media channels: Facebook, Twitter, Personal Instagram, GMS Instagram
Diamond and Silk
Speakers
Lynette Diamond Hardaway and Rochelle Silk Richardson are biological sisters from North Carolina and President Trump’s most loyal supporters. In 2015 Diamond and Silk started as Video Vloggers and became Internet Sensations and Influencers.
After switching their party to Republican, they started the Ditch and Switch now movement urging others to ditch the Democrat party and Switch their party to Republican to vote for Donald J. Trump
Diamond and Silk are political commentators, opinionators, authors of a Best Selling book called Uprising, and public speakers delivering powerful speeches at CPAC, Liberty University, and a host of other major organizations and institutions.
They host Diamond and Silk Crystal Clear on Newsmax TV, and are the host of a weekly podcast called Diamond and Silk; The podcast Standing with the Silent Majority, as Conservative women, they voice their opinions about media bias and repetitive political tactics that Americans are tired of being subjected to. Diamond and Silk are not politically correct; they are politically direct.
Ben Ferguson
Speaker
At 13, Ben Ferguson became the youngest radio talk show host in the country, and the youngest nationally syndicated host at 20. Ferguson published his first book, a political work, “It’s My America Too,” published by William Morris/Harper Collins.
Lee S. Gross, MD
Speaker
Lee S. Gross, M.D.
Founder, Epiphany Health Direct Primary Care
President, Docs 4 Patient Care Foundation
North Port, FL
Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Dr. Gross is a graduate of The Ohio State University and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. He was elected chief resident of his family medicine residency program at University Hospitals of Cleveland.
After years in private practice in Florida, he and his colleagues had an “epiphany” about an affordable health care solution, free of insurance and government intrusion. Now, a Direct Primary Care revolution is sweeping across the nation, providing access to health care for those who have been neglected by the system for decades.
Dr. Gross is a pioneer in the Direct Primary Care delivery model, frequently speaking at national meetings, conducting media interviews about free-market health care innovations and writing articles for national publications. He is a health care consultant to physician practices, medical organizations, insurance groups, hospitals and private businesses. He is consulted by lawmakers and policy leaders on local, state and federal health policy initiatives, including formal testimony for the United States Senate and consultation with leadership at CMS, HHS, Labor, Treasury and The White House.
He serves as the president of the Docs 4 Patient Care Foundation, a national health policy think tank of practicing physicians committed to the establishment of an American health care economy which preserves the sanctity of the physician-patient relationship, promotes quality care, supports affordable access to care for all Americans and protects patient’s personal health care decisions.
D4PCF is the leading educator of DPC physicians. It has trained over 1,000 physicians in the Direct Primary Care delivery model through grant-supported national conferences since 2016.
Dr. Gross serves on the Board of Trustees of an HCA Hospital and as a Delegate to the Florida Medical Association. He is President of his county Medical Society. He is appointed to the FMA Council on Medical Economics and Practice Innovation. Dr. Gross is a recipient of HCA’s Frist Humanitarian award. He has received the Free Market Medical Association’s Beacon Award for his leadership in healthcare market reforms.
John H. Ramsey
Speaker
John H. Ramsey
Senior Fellow, Reason Foundation
John H. Ramsey has been a Senior Business Executive and a Management Consultant for over forty years. He is writing the book WE THE PEOPLE AND OUR MONEY. The subtitle is WHAT WE MUST DO TO FIX OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
Mr. Ramsey was a founding shareholder of a global management consulting firm organized and pledged to combine the best of independent local profit centers with the worldwide resources of a large multinational company. Mr. Ramsey served as the firm’s first Chairman and helped guide the organization’s growth to approximately 100 consultants in 34 offices in 21 countries worldwide, including U.S. offices in Boston, Chicago, Houston, Miami, New York, Newark, San Diego, and Washington, D.C. The firm continues today, and is active on six continents, thirty years after its founding.
From 2011–2015 Ramsey was an adjunct Management Consultant with two large Florida community foundations, providing consulting services to numerous nonprofit organizations in the greater Gulf Coast, Florida area. From July 2008 until September 2010 Mr. Ramsey was a consultant to, and part-time Chief Financial Officer of, a nonprofit scientific research institute in Sarasota.
From 1972-1983, and again from 1998-2000, Mr. Ramsey held various executive positions in finance, including Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of a large California food manufacturing company; Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of a diversified mid-western financial services company; Senior Vice President for Lending of a major Florida financial institution; Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of a multi-state mortgage corporation; and Director of a commercial bank. In these capacities, Mr. Ramsey was instrumental in developing and implementing strategic and operating plans, raising $60 million in the public and private capital markets, and acquiring or starting six companies.
From 1963-1972 Mr. Ramsey was an officer in the Air Force, where for three years he was a project manager in a large defense system acquisition. He also directed a major analysis of return on investment and progress payments for the Defense Department’s Industry Advisory Council. Mr. Ramsey was nominated for the rank of Major in 1971. Mr. Ramsey is also a decorated Vietnam Veteran. His decorations include The Air Force Commendation Medal and The Bronze Star.
John Ramsey earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Tufts University, where he was a Dean’s List student and a member of two honorary societies. He received a Masters in Business Administration with Distinction from Harvard Business School. Mr. Ramsey was selected for the Leadership Cleveland program in 1981 and was listed in Who’s Who in America for fifteen years. He is currently a member of The Leadership Sarasota Alumni.
Mr. Ramsey is married to Jo-Anne Sheldon and has three children, two stepchildren, four grandchildren and two step-grandchildren.
Palmer Schoening
Speaker
Palmer Schoening is part of our AMAC Action team in Washington DC and is Chairman of the Family Business Coalition which fights for lower taxes on family owned and operated businesses. The Family Business Coalition helped push Congress to double the amount of families protected by the death tax in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and has helped to repeal several state death taxes entirely. Palmer and his team help small business and advocacy organizations like AMAC Action understand and influence the DC policy making process. Palmer and his colleague Alex Ayers help advance AMAC Action’s priorities on Capitol hill, participate in key coalitions and conservative meetings, assist with media including articles and interviews with members of Congress, and help develop AMAC’s government affairs capabilities.
Nick Adams
Alex Ayers
David Balat
Robert Charles
Jim Craig
Diamond and Silk
Ben Ferguson
Lee S. Gross, MD
John H. Ramsey
Palmer Schoening
Speakers
Nick Adams
Alex Ayers
David Balat
Robert Charles
Jim Craig
Diamond and Silk
Ben Ferguson
Lee S. Gross, MD
John H. Ramsey
Palmer Schoening
Nick Adams
Speaker
Born and raised in Australia, Nick Adams immigrated to America in 2016, with the United States government recognizing his ‘extraordinary ability.’ Nick’s first challenge came at sixteen months. He was diagnosed with Stage IV Neuroblastoma (a rare form of childhood cancer), and given just a five percent chance of survival. He defied the odds, with a tenacity that would become a hallmark of his life. This early adversity indelibly shaped his life. As Nick wrote: “It taught me to hope. It taught me to dream. That anything is possible. That no hurdle is too high, no burden too great and no obstacle insurmountable.
Alex Ayers
Speaker
Alex Ayers is Vice President of Public Policy with Schoening Strategies, a lobbying and political consulting firm in Washington, DC. Alex leads the policy team and represents several business groups and advocacy organizations on Capitol Hill including the Association of Mature American Citizens. With AMAC, Alex focuses on helping Congressional offices introduce legislation, add cosponsors and lobby Congressional leaders to bring AMAC supported legislation to the floor for votes. Alex has published papers and studies in various policy areas including taxes, energy, agriculture, and economics and has testified on tax policy. His research has been cited by organizations such as the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and the Tax Foundation
David Balat
Speaker
David Balat is the director of the Right on Healthcare initiative at the Foundation. He has broad experience across the healthcare spectrum with special expertise in healthcare finance. He is a former congressional candidate in Texas’ 2nd Congressional District and a seasoned hospital executive with more than 20 years of healthcare industry leadership and executive management experience.
Balat has earned the privilege of being invited to testify before the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Reform in Washington, D.C., and before various House committees in the Texas state Legislature. He is a published author and op-ed columnist in Newsweek, U.S. News & World Report, Real Clear Politics, and other news outlets. He is also an active speaker and commentator on matters of health policy.
Balat often volunteers to help families navigate their bills and how to understand their benefits. He serves as a board member for a nonprofit focused on educating legislators and the community about important matters pertaining to healthcare freedom.
Balat is a first generation American and the first in his family to graduate from college. He received his B.S. from the University of Houston and joint master’s degrees in business administration and hospital administration from the University of Houston – Clear Lake.
Robert Charles
Speaker
Robert B. Charles served in the Reagan and Bush 41 White Houses, as Assistant Secretary of State under Colin Powell, and counsel to the US House National Security subcommittee for five years; a former litigator, he taught law at Harvard University’s Extension School, recently authored “Eagles and Evergreens” (2018), and consults in Washington DC.
Jim Craig
Speaker
JIM CRAIG
Olympic Gold Medalist
Goalie, 1980 USA “Miracle on Ice” Hockey Team Owner, President & CEO of Gold Medal Strategies
Jim Craig is best known as the backbone of the 1980 Olympic Gold Medal Hockey Team, whose ‘Miracle’
win was voted by Sports Illustrated as the greatest moment in sports history of the 21ˢᵗ century.
Craig, who started every game in goal, was a leading figure in the team’s success. One of the
enduring images of the 1980 Games was of Craig, wrapped in an American flag, searching the stands
for his widowed father in order to share the gold-medal-winning victory.
Before the Olympics, Jim was an All-American goalie at Boston University, leading his team to a
NCAA national championship. After the ‘Miracle’ game, Jim went on to play professionally for three
NHL teams, where he sustained a career-ending injury while playing for the Minnesota North Stars.
He is enshrined in the Boston University Hall of Fame, the International Ice Hockey Federation Hall
of Fame, the United States Hockey Hall of Fame, and the United States Olympic Hall of Fame and is a
co-recipient of both the Lester Patrick award and the Sports Illustrated “Sportsman of the Year”
award. He is also a graduate of Boston University and earned his doctorate in humane letters from
Mercy College.
Following Jim’s professional hockey career, he transitioned his success into the corporate world as
a motivational speaker, powerful salesman and corporate consultant. He has been inducted into the
Sales Halls of Fame for two different companies, having increased a sales territory from
$300,000 to $50 million in annual sales. Following this role, Jim moved on to become the Vice
President of a promotional marketing agency. Under his guidance, the agency increased annual dollar
sales by 80 percent and its number of clients by 30 percent in just two short years.
For more than 30 years, Jim has inspired, instructed and provided strategic and winning direction
to some of the most prestigious companies across the world, including Kellogg’s, Bayer, Deloitte,
Bank of America, Coca-Cola, Procter & Gamble, and Disney, as the successful owner and president of
his company, Gold Medal Strategies. Jim has been selected three times as one of the top five
speakers on team building in the United States, and has evolved to not only deliver motivational
speeches, but host immersive corporate training programs that teach participants how to think
differently and believe in their possibilities. Jim is the co-author of the highly acclaimed
business book, Gold Medal Strategies: Business Lessons from America’s Miracle Team and recently
released his newest book and legacy piece, We Win! Lessons on Life, Business & Building Your Own
Miracle Team. His stories emphasize and inspire the idea that anything is possible when you
believe.
For more information, follow Jim on his social media channels: Facebook, Twitter, Personal Instagram, GMS Instagram
Diamond and Silk
Speakers
Lynette Diamond Hardaway and Rochelle Silk Richardson are biological sisters from North Carolina and President Trump’s most loyal supporters. In 2015 Diamond and Silk started as Video Vloggers and became Internet Sensations and Influencers.
After switching their party to Republican, they started the Ditch and Switch now movement urging others to ditch the Democrat party and Switch their party to Republican to vote for Donald J. Trump
Diamond and Silk are political commentators, opinionators, authors of a Best Selling book called Uprising, and public speakers delivering powerful speeches at CPAC, Liberty University, and a host of other major organizations and institutions.
They host Diamond and Silk Crystal Clear on Newsmax TV, and are the host of a weekly podcast called Diamond and Silk; The podcast Standing with the Silent Majority, as Conservative women, they voice their opinions about media bias and repetitive political tactics that Americans are tired of being subjected to. Diamond and Silk are not politically correct; they are politically direct.
Ben Ferguson
Speaker
At 13, Ben Ferguson became the youngest radio talk show host in the country, and the youngest nationally syndicated host at 20. Ferguson published his first book, a political work, “It’s My America Too,” published by William Morris/Harper Collins.
Lee S. Gross, MD
Speaker
Lee S. Gross, M.D.
Founder, Epiphany Health Direct Primary Care
President, Docs 4 Patient Care Foundation
North Port, FL
Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Dr. Gross is a graduate of The Ohio State University and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. He was elected chief resident of his family medicine residency program at University Hospitals of Cleveland.
After years in private practice in Florida, he and his colleagues had an “epiphany” about an affordable health care solution, free of insurance and government intrusion. Now, a Direct Primary Care revolution is sweeping across the nation, providing access to health care for those who have been neglected by the system for decades.
Dr. Gross is a pioneer in the Direct Primary Care delivery model, frequently speaking at national meetings, conducting media interviews about free-market health care innovations and writing articles for national publications. He is a health care consultant to physician practices, medical organizations, insurance groups, hospitals and private businesses. He is consulted by lawmakers and policy leaders on local, state and federal health policy initiatives, including formal testimony for the United States Senate and consultation with leadership at CMS, HHS, Labor, Treasury and The White House.
He serves as the president of the Docs 4 Patient Care Foundation, a national health policy think tank of practicing physicians committed to the establishment of an American health care economy which preserves the sanctity of the physician-patient relationship, promotes quality care, supports affordable access to care for all Americans and protects patient’s personal health care decisions.
D4PCF is the leading educator of DPC physicians. It has trained over 1,000 physicians in the Direct Primary Care delivery model through grant-supported national conferences since 2016.
Dr. Gross serves on the Board of Trustees of an HCA Hospital and as a Delegate to the Florida Medical Association. He is President of his county Medical Society. He is appointed to the FMA Council on Medical Economics and Practice Innovation. Dr. Gross is a recipient of HCA’s Frist Humanitarian award. He has received the Free Market Medical Association’s Beacon Award for his leadership in healthcare market reforms.
John H. Ramsey
Speaker
John H. Ramsey
Senior Fellow, Reason Foundation
John H. Ramsey has been a Senior Business Executive and a Management Consultant for over forty years. He is writing the book WE THE PEOPLE AND OUR MONEY. The subtitle is WHAT WE MUST DO TO FIX OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
Mr. Ramsey was a founding shareholder of a global management consulting firm organized and pledged to combine the best of independent local profit centers with the worldwide resources of a large multinational company. Mr. Ramsey served as the firm’s first Chairman and helped guide the organization’s growth to approximately 100 consultants in 34 offices in 21 countries worldwide, including U.S. offices in Boston, Chicago, Houston, Miami, New York, Newark, San Diego, and Washington, D.C. The firm continues today, and is active on six continents, thirty years after its founding.
From 2011–2015 Ramsey was an adjunct Management Consultant with two large Florida community foundations, providing consulting services to numerous nonprofit organizations in the greater Gulf Coast, Florida area. From July 2008 until September 2010 Mr. Ramsey was a consultant to, and part-time Chief Financial Officer of, a nonprofit scientific research institute in Sarasota.
From 1972-1983, and again from 1998-2000, Mr. Ramsey held various executive positions in finance, including Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of a large California food manufacturing company; Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of a diversified mid-western financial services company; Senior Vice President for Lending of a major Florida financial institution; Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of a multi-state mortgage corporation; and Director of a commercial bank. In these capacities, Mr. Ramsey was instrumental in developing and implementing strategic and operating plans, raising $60 million in the public and private capital markets, and acquiring or starting six companies.
From 1963-1972 Mr. Ramsey was an officer in the Air Force, where for three years he was a project manager in a large defense system acquisition. He also directed a major analysis of return on investment and progress payments for the Defense Department’s Industry Advisory Council. Mr. Ramsey was nominated for the rank of Major in 1971. Mr. Ramsey is also a decorated Vietnam Veteran. His decorations include The Air Force Commendation Medal and The Bronze Star.
John Ramsey earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Tufts University, where he was a Dean’s List student and a member of two honorary societies. He received a Masters in Business Administration with Distinction from Harvard Business School. Mr. Ramsey was selected for the Leadership Cleveland program in 1981 and was listed in Who’s Who in America for fifteen years. He is currently a member of The Leadership Sarasota Alumni.
Mr. Ramsey is married to Jo-Anne Sheldon and has three children, two stepchildren, four grandchildren and two step-grandchildren.
Palmer Schoening
Speaker
Palmer Schoening is part of our AMAC Action team in Washington DC and is Chairman of the Family Business Coalition which fights for lower taxes on family owned and operated businesses. The Family Business Coalition helped push Congress to double the amount of families protected by the death tax in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and has helped to repeal several state death taxes entirely. Palmer and his team help small business and advocacy organizations like AMAC Action understand and influence the DC policy making process. Palmer and his colleague Alex Ayers help advance AMAC Action’s priorities on Capitol hill, participate in key coalitions and conservative meetings, assist with media including articles and interviews with members of Congress, and help develop AMAC’s government affairs capabilities.
Presenters
Rebecca Weber
Rebecca Weber was born and raised on Long Island, New York, the fourth child of five in a family steeped in the values of faith, family and freedom. While attending college, Rebecca joined her family’s business, Hometown Insurance Agency.
At Hometown Insurance, Rebecca progressed through a variety of responsibilities, reaching her current position of Chief Executive Officer in 2009. Some of her accomplishments include the achievement of VIP status with The Hartford Insurance Company and Elite status with Travelers Insurance, both prestigious distinctions in the insurance industry.
Rebecca is a Chartered Property Casualty Agent (CPCU) and a member of The Alternative Board, where she has earned multiple achievement awards for outstanding leadership. Along with her substantial career involvement in the insurance industry, she has been able to apply her strong sense of values to the formation and development of the Association of Mature American Citizens (AMAC).
In 2011, Rebecca formed AMAC Senior Resources Network, Inc. as a vehicle to offer AMAC members guidance and choice with their health-care insurance options. AMAC Senior Resources Network has been recognized as one of the top 10 producing agencies in since 2014.
Rebecca is Editor in Chief of the AMAC Advantage, the magazine of The Association of Mature American Citizens, and spearheads AMAC’s business development and employee training initiatives. Her seasoned business background and sense of personal integrity are driving forces in AMAC’s rapidly developing success.
Dave Weber
Dave Weber is one of the key driving forces behind the Association of Mature American Citizens. Since 2007, he has labored passionately to build the foundation of what has emerged as a leading advocate for America’s older citizens, and has made enormous personal commitments to AMAC’s mission.
After graduating from Sayville High School in 1994 and while completing studies at The State University of New York and Suffolk County Community College, Dave joined his family’s independent insurance agency—Hometown Insurance in Bohemia, New York—where he quickly became an integral part of the firm’s internal operations. During the ensuing 18-year period, he became a subject-matter expert in the Personal Insurance industry, applying this knowledge and experience to the building and mentoring of the network of sales and service teams that would propel Hometown to success.
Dave is a Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) Candidate, and is a licensed Property and Casualty, Life, Accident and Health Broker in the State of New York. In 2003, Dave’s accomplishments were recognized with the coveted “High Achievement Award” from Travelers Insurance.
Dave left Hometown Insurance as Vice President in April, 2012 and dedicated himself to AMAC in a full-time capacity. Serving as AMAC’s Chief Operating Officer, Dave managed the establishment of the organization’s New York, Florida, and New Mexico offices, coordinating the operational and administrative tasks necessary to build what has become a well-functioning business network.
A large part of Dave’s present role with AMAC includes acting as Chief Marketing Officer, creating new benefits for members, such as AMAC’s Roadside Assistance and Auto Insurance programs, and developing and maintaining relationships with AMAC’s business and service partners. Dave also leads the efforts of AMAC’s Membership Services and Information Technology teams, and both of which are key to the organization’s thriving operation.
Dave’s work with AMAC, coupled with his belief in the free enterprise system, has helped position the organization to in the forefront of advocacy for America’s seniors.
Kurt Meyer
Kurt Meyer is an executive with over twenty-three years of corporate management experience. He began his career in the defense industry then entered the financial services sector. His entrepreneurial business acumen and success in leading corporate expansion efforts compelled him to establish Strategic Business Network, Inc., in 2006, a management consulting company. In 2007, Mr. Meyer was fortunate enough to meet Dan Weber and the rest of the senior management team at AMAC. After consulting for the company, Mr. Meyer joined the AMAC family in March 2015 as their Vice President of Strategic Partnerships.
As a community leader, Mr. Meyer has served on the Board of Directors of several non-profit organizations including: The Better Business Bureau of Central New England, Inc., The Long Island Works Coalition, The Children’s Sport Connection, and The Alzheimer’s Association, Long Island Chapter. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Alzheimer’s Disease Resource Center and the LIU Post Alumni Association. In December 2013, Mr. Meyer was accepted into the National Association of Distinguished Professionals, a national association comprised of executives and professionals throughout the United States. Mr. Meyer currently resides in Fort Salonga, New York with his wife, Lynn and their two sons.
Carl F. Hohsfield Jr.
Carl F. Hohsfield Jr. is a key part of AMAC’s leadership team—a multi-talented professional with a drive and enthusiasm that leads to results. As Vice President of Sales, his combination of passion and marketing expertise allow him to contribute substantially to the continual expansion of AMAC’s slate of member benefits.
Carl earned a BA in Communications and Journalism, with emphasis in Public Relations from the University of New Mexico while also participating as a collegiate athlete playing baseball. This gave him a foundation on which he quickly built a results-oriented track record in business. His focus and accomplishments in customer service and business operations in the insurance industry served him well in building a reputation with small and medium-sized companies, enabling him to specialize successfully as a licensed individual and group benefits agent.
While building his career in the insurance industry, Carl became aware of AMAC and its growing prominence as an organization dedicated to the well-being of older Americans. In 2012, he made the decision to lend his voice to the organization’s rapidly expanding constituency, signing on to play a key role in growing AMAC’s member benefits division.
One of Carl’s early tasks at AMAC was to establish a presence in the state of New Mexico, following which he began to assume broader involvement in the organization’s insurance business lines. His responsibilities now include development of AMAC’s market reach in the area of health insurance and Medicare related products.
Carl’s enthusiasm and character resonate well with AMAC’s membership base, as well as with younger American’s so vital to our country’s future. His universal appeal is paving the way for him to effectively build a well-developed slate of choices in products and services.
In addition, Carl serves his community by expanding AMAC’s grassroots efforts both locally and nationally, attends and participates in national educational webinars and seminars, and continues to coach baseball and football at the youth level.
Carl resides in New Mexico with his wife Shelby and two children.
Bob Carlstrom
Bob leads AMAC Action, the advocacy affiliate of Amac, Inc, and brings a credential that is a blend of senior executive business, government, politics, communications, and media.
In business, he:
• Co-founded, built and lead as Chairman and CEO one of Washington’s largest independent government (policy, legislative, and regulatory), international and public relations and federal marketing consulting firms.
• Rebuilt a management investment team and refined the strategy to undertake a roll-up in the metals finishing component of the parts manufacturing industry, acquiring in a concurrent M&A transaction 6 operating companies in 5 states having $90MM in sales and 1300+ employees, then served as interim COO during which the company achieved a first year growth rate of 13% with a $102+ MM in sales revenues and 12% EBITDA.
• Served as the Managing Director of the Government Strategies practice of a major NYSE-traded business consulting firm.
• Served as “market maker” and generated as Vice President for Political Marketing well over a $100 million of the cable industry’s political ad sales in the 2012 elections for its central sales agency alone.
In public affairs and communications, Bob has represented major corporations, industries, associations, and coalitions before Congress and various Administrations, as well as in the communications strategies arena, including crisis communications.
In government and politics, Bob served as a senior executive in the Reagan White House Office of Management and Budget where he coordinated and directed the Administration’s interagency review and analysis, including the development, of a broad range of legislation. He has also served on the national and state finance committees of a presidential, candidate, several Members of, or candidates for, Congress, as well as the campaign manager for a gubernatorial candidate. In 2016, he co-chaired a national coalition for the election of President Trump and Vice President Pence.
Active in community and civic affairs, Bob is a Member of the Board of Directors for the Second Genesis Foundation, which is focused upon prevention of drug abuse and addiction.
Bob is a graduate of Augustana College (IL) with an advanced degree from The American University in Washington, DC. In addition, Bob studied law at Wayne State Univ. Law School.
Andy Mangione
Andy Mangione served as AMAC’s point person on Capitol Hill in 2012 through 2014. In 2013, he created and led a national grassroots outreach platform, the AMAC Action Delegate Program, establishing the foundation, structure and procedures for the program that today features hundreds of volunteer advocates throughout the United States.
As Senior Vice President for AMAC’s advocacy arm, AMAC Action, Andy leads outreach activity across the country and also represents the interests of the Association’s membership in Washington, DC.
Andy is very involved in charting the policy course for AMAC Action and the subsequent execution of legislative strategies. He also represents AMAC as a national spokesperson, frequently writes for all AMAC media and contributes to national online publications and other media.
Andy’s professional background encompasses progressive sales and marketing positions within the medical device, pharmaceutical and managed care sectors of the health care industry. He has worked for Fortune 100 companies Pfizer and Humana in addition to medical device manufacturers Invacare and Oticon.
Andy holds a Bachelor’s degree in Management from Malone University and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Lake Erie College.
Jennifer Bengtson
Jennifer was born in Honolulu, Hawaii and raised in Central Florida. She has a strong entrepreneurial spirit from over 20 years in the real estate industry as an award-winning agent and owner of a boutique real estate firm in Central Florida. Over the years her aptitude grew to include residential, commercial, property development, and new construction working with private parties, corporate entities, and governmental agencies. As a small business owner, she refined her strong organizational and management skills then took this experience to a large multi-media organization to lead a team of highly successful advertising sales executives, focusing primarily on the real estate industry, government agencies and political advertisers.
Guided by conservative roots, Jennifer has always taken her responsibility to be an informed constituent and voter very seriously. Her work with various agencies over the years provided her a unique perspective into government overreach, inefficiency, wastefulness, and lack of budgetary concerns. This amplified her belief in the need for a strong conservative voice in Washington and in her own back yard. Upon introduction to Dan Weber, the Founder and President of AMAC, The Association of Mature American Citizens, she knew she had found her calling.
In her role as Vice President of Operations and Advocacy for AMAC Action, Jennifer oversees all grassroots advocacy endeavors at the local district level and supports efforts in Washington, D.C. She is responsible for managing the daily activities of the AMAC Action offices headquartered in Lady Lake, Florida and collaborates with AMAC and AMAC Action leadership on policy and setting legislative priorities. She is responsible for managing the growth of the grassroots organization and pursues this mission with tenacity and determination. As a Mother and Grandmother, she is driven to leave a legacy of liberty and patriotism to future generations.
Gerry Hafer
After earning his A.S. Computer Science degree from Pierce College in Philadelphia, Gerry began what would be a 30-year career in the Electric Utility Industry in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Along the way, he completed his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration at Alvernia University in Reading, Pennsylvania, graduating Magna Cum Laude in 1992. Retiring in 1997 as Information Technology Director for the utility, he served as Development Director for a manufacturing consortium in Pennsylvania, and then embarked on a second career as Business Manager for a regional law firm in southeast Pennsylvania. In Florida, he has served as a Consultant and Adjunct Instructor at Lake Sumter State College in 2004, and later at College of Central Florida. In addition, he served as a Consultant at Sumter Electric Cooperative, handling a variety of management training, professional development, and technical responsibilities. Since late 2012, he’s been providing consulting and professional services to the AMAC organization. Gerry is a National Social Security Advisor, certified by the “National Social Security Association, LLC.”
Russell Gloor
After serving in the U.S. Army in the early ‘60’s, Russell started his professional career in computing technology at Pan American World Airways in New York City, where he was Superintendent of Communications Research and Development until he left Pan Am to become Director of Management Information Systems for the Travel Division of American Express Company. His background and experience in computers led him to join IBM, where he enjoyed a very successful career in sales and engineering management and project management, ultimately leading him to an appointment as the executive responsible for IBM Global Services’ worldwide quality assurance program.
Russ retired from IBM in 2003 and enjoyed 10 years of retirement before rejoining the workforce with AMAC in 2013. After several positions in AMAC’s membership services department, Russ transferred to AMAC’s Small Business Solutions unit as SBS’ Operations Manager in Florida, until 2016 when the need to be with family called him back north. Russ continues to work as a Business Consultant to several AMAC departments, including the AMAC Foundation where, as a Certified Social Security Advisor, he provides assistance to seniors approaching their Social Security benefits enrollment decision.
Rebecca Weber
Dave Weber
Kurt Meyer
Carl F. Hohsfield Jr.
Bob Carlstrom
Andy Mangione
Jennifer Bengtson
Gerry Hafer
Russell Gloor
Speakers
Rebecca Weber
Dave Weber
Kurt Meyer
Carl F. Hohsfield Jr.
Bob Carlstrom
Andy Mangione
Jennifer Bengtson
Gerry Hafer
Russell Gloor
Rebecca Weber
Rebecca Weber was born and raised on Long Island, New York, the fourth child of five in a family steeped in the values of faith, family and freedom. While attending college, Rebecca joined her family’s business, Hometown Insurance Agency.
At Hometown Insurance, Rebecca progressed through a variety of responsibilities, reaching her current position of Chief Executive Officer in 2009. Some of her accomplishments include the achievement of VIP status with The Hartford Insurance Company and Elite status with Travelers Insurance, both prestigious distinctions in the insurance industry.
Rebecca is a Chartered Property Casualty Agent (CPCU) and a member of The Alternative Board, where she has earned multiple achievement awards for outstanding leadership. Along with her substantial career involvement in the insurance industry, she has been able to apply her strong sense of values to the formation and development of the Association of Mature American Citizens (AMAC).
In 2011, Rebecca formed AMAC Senior Resources Network, Inc. as a vehicle to offer AMAC members guidance and choice with their health-care insurance options. AMAC Senior Resources Network has been recognized as one of the top 10 producing agencies in since 2014.
Rebecca is Editor in Chief of the AMAC Advantage, the magazine of The Association of Mature American Citizens, and spearheads AMAC’s business development and employee training initiatives. Her seasoned business background and sense of personal integrity are driving forces in AMAC’s rapidly developing success.
Dave Weber
Dave Weber is one of the key driving forces behind the Association of Mature American Citizens. Since 2007, he has labored passionately to build the foundation of what has emerged as a leading advocate for America’s older citizens, and has made enormous personal commitments to AMAC’s mission.
After graduating from Sayville High School in 1994 and while completing studies at The State University of New York and Suffolk County Community College, Dave joined his family’s independent insurance agency—Hometown Insurance in Bohemia, New York—where he quickly became an integral part of the firm’s internal operations. During the ensuing 18-year period, he became a subject-matter expert in the Personal Insurance industry, applying this knowledge and experience to the building and mentoring of the network of sales and service teams that would propel Hometown to success.
Dave is a Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) Candidate, and is a licensed Property and Casualty, Life, Accident and Health Broker in the State of New York. In 2003, Dave’s accomplishments were recognized with the coveted “High Achievement Award” from Travelers Insurance.
Dave left Hometown Insurance as Vice President in April, 2012 and dedicated himself to AMAC in a full-time capacity. Serving as AMAC’s Chief Operating Officer, Dave managed the establishment of the organization’s New York, Florida, and New Mexico offices, coordinating the operational and administrative tasks necessary to build what has become a well-functioning business network.
A large part of Dave’s present role with AMAC includes acting as Chief Marketing Officer, creating new benefits for members, such as AMAC’s Roadside Assistance and Auto Insurance programs, and developing and maintaining relationships with AMAC’s business and service partners. Dave also leads the efforts of AMAC’s Membership Services and Information Technology teams, and both of which are key to the organization’s thriving operation.
Dave’s work with AMAC, coupled with his belief in the free enterprise system, has helped position the organization to in the forefront of advocacy for America’s seniors.
Kurt Meyer
Kurt Meyer is an executive with over twenty-three years of corporate management experience. He began his career in the defense industry then entered the financial services sector. His entrepreneurial business acumen and success in leading corporate expansion efforts compelled him to establish Strategic Business Network, Inc., in 2006, a management consulting company. In 2007, Mr. Meyer was fortunate enough to meet Dan Weber and the rest of the senior management team at AMAC. After consulting for the company, Mr. Meyer joined the AMAC family in March 2015 as their Vice President of Strategic Partnerships.
As a community leader, Mr. Meyer has served on the Board of Directors of several non-profit organizations including: The Better Business Bureau of Central New England, Inc., The Long Island Works Coalition, The Children’s Sport Connection, and The Alzheimer’s Association, Long Island Chapter. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Alzheimer’s Disease Resource Center and the LIU Post Alumni Association. In December 2013, Mr. Meyer was accepted into the National Association of Distinguished Professionals, a national association comprised of executives and professionals throughout the United States. Mr. Meyer currently resides in Fort Salonga, New York with his wife, Lynn and their two sons.
Carl F. Hohsfield Jr.
Carl F. Hohsfield Jr. is a key part of AMAC’s leadership team—a multi-talented professional with a drive and enthusiasm that leads to results. As Vice President of Sales, his combination of passion and marketing expertise allow him to contribute substantially to the continual expansion of AMAC’s slate of member benefits.
Carl earned a BA in Communications and Journalism, with emphasis in Public Relations from the University of New Mexico while also participating as a collegiate athlete playing baseball. This gave him a foundation on which he quickly built a results-oriented track record in business. His focus and accomplishments in customer service and business operations in the insurance industry served him well in building a reputation with small and medium-sized companies, enabling him to specialize successfully as a licensed individual and group benefits agent.
While building his career in the insurance industry, Carl became aware of AMAC and its growing prominence as an organization dedicated to the well-being of older Americans. In 2012, he made the decision to lend his voice to the organization’s rapidly expanding constituency, signing on to play a key role in growing AMAC’s member benefits division.
One of Carl’s early tasks at AMAC was to establish a presence in the state of New Mexico, following which he began to assume broader involvement in the organization’s insurance business lines. His responsibilities now include development of AMAC’s market reach in the area of health insurance and Medicare related products.
Carl’s enthusiasm and character resonate well with AMAC’s membership base, as well as with younger American’s so vital to our country’s future. His universal appeal is paving the way for him to effectively build a well-developed slate of choices in products and services.
In addition, Carl serves his community by expanding AMAC’s grassroots efforts both locally and nationally, attends and participates in national educational webinars and seminars, and continues to coach baseball and football at the youth level.
Carl resides in New Mexico with his wife Shelby and two children.
Bob Carlstrom
Bob leads AMAC Action, the advocacy affiliate of Amac, Inc, and brings a credential that is a blend of senior executive business, government, politics, communications, and media.
In business, he:
• Co-founded, built and lead as Chairman and CEO one of Washington’s largest independent government (policy, legislative, and regulatory), international and public relations and federal marketing consulting firms.
• Rebuilt a management investment team and refined the strategy to undertake a roll-up in the metals finishing component of the parts manufacturing industry, acquiring in a concurrent M&A transaction 6 operating companies in 5 states having $90MM in sales and 1300+ employees, then served as interim COO during which the company achieved a first year growth rate of 13% with a $102+ MM in sales revenues and 12% EBITDA.
• Served as the Managing Director of the Government Strategies practice of a major NYSE-traded business consulting firm.
• Served as “market maker” and generated as Vice President for Political Marketing well over a $100 million of the cable industry’s political ad sales in the 2012 elections for its central sales agency alone.
In public affairs and communications, Bob has represented major corporations, industries, associations, and coalitions before Congress and various Administrations, as well as in the communications strategies arena, including crisis communications.
In government and politics, Bob served as a senior executive in the Reagan White House Office of Management and Budget where he coordinated and directed the Administration’s interagency review and analysis, including the development, of a broad range of legislation. He has also served on the national and state finance committees of a presidential, candidate, several Members of, or candidates for, Congress, as well as the campaign manager for a gubernatorial candidate. In 2016, he co-chaired a national coalition for the election of President Trump and Vice President Pence.
Active in community and civic affairs, Bob is a Member of the Board of Directors for the Second Genesis Foundation, which is focused upon prevention of drug abuse and addiction.
Bob is a graduate of Augustana College (IL) with an advanced degree from The American University in Washington, DC. In addition, Bob studied law at Wayne State Univ. Law School.
Andy Mangione
Andy Mangione served as AMAC’s point person on Capitol Hill in 2012 through 2014. In 2013, he created and led a national grassroots outreach platform, the AMAC Action Delegate Program, establishing the foundation, structure and procedures for the program that today features hundreds of volunteer advocates throughout the United States.
As Senior Vice President for AMAC’s advocacy arm, AMAC Action, Andy leads outreach activity across the country and also represents the interests of the Association’s membership in Washington, DC.
Andy is very involved in charting the policy course for AMAC Action and the subsequent execution of legislative strategies. He also represents AMAC as a national spokesperson, frequently writes for all AMAC media and contributes to national online publications and other media.
Andy’s professional background encompasses progressive sales and marketing positions within the medical device, pharmaceutical and managed care sectors of the health care industry. He has worked for Fortune 100 companies Pfizer and Humana in addition to medical device manufacturers Invacare and Oticon.
Andy holds a Bachelor’s degree in Management from Malone University and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Lake Erie College.
Jennifer Bengtson
Jennifer was born in Honolulu, Hawaii and raised in Central Florida. She has a strong entrepreneurial spirit from over 20 years in the real estate industry as an award-winning agent and owner of a boutique real estate firm in Central Florida. Over the years her aptitude grew to include residential, commercial, property development, and new construction working with private parties, corporate entities, and governmental agencies. As a small business owner, she refined her strong organizational and management skills then took this experience to a large multi-media organization to lead a team of highly successful advertising sales executives, focusing primarily on the real estate industry, government agencies and political advertisers.
Guided by conservative roots, Jennifer has always taken her responsibility to be an informed constituent and voter very seriously. Her work with various agencies over the years provided her a unique perspective into government overreach, inefficiency, wastefulness, and lack of budgetary concerns. This amplified her belief in the need for a strong conservative voice in Washington and in her own back yard. Upon introduction to Dan Weber, the Founder and President of AMAC, The Association of Mature American Citizens, she knew she had found her calling.
In her role as Vice President of Operations and Advocacy for AMAC Action, Jennifer oversees all grassroots advocacy endeavors at the local district level and supports efforts in Washington, D.C. She is responsible for managing the daily activities of the AMAC Action offices headquartered in Lady Lake, Florida and collaborates with AMAC and AMAC Action leadership on policy and setting legislative priorities. She is responsible for managing the growth of the grassroots organization and pursues this mission with tenacity and determination. As a Mother and Grandmother, she is driven to leave a legacy of liberty and patriotism to future generations.
Gerry Hafer
After earning his A.S. Computer Science degree from Pierce College in Philadelphia, Gerry began what would be a 30-year career in the Electric Utility Industry in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Along the way, he completed his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration at Alvernia University in Reading, Pennsylvania, graduating Magna Cum Laude in 1992. Retiring in 1997 as Information Technology Director for the utility, he served as Development Director for a manufacturing consortium in Pennsylvania, and then embarked on a second career as Business Manager for a regional law firm in southeast Pennsylvania. In Florida, he has served as a Consultant and Adjunct Instructor at Lake Sumter State College in 2004, and later at College of Central Florida. In addition, he served as a Consultant at Sumter Electric Cooperative, handling a variety of management training, professional development, and technical responsibilities. Since late 2012, he’s been providing consulting and professional services to the AMAC organization. Gerry is a National Social Security Advisor, certified by the “National Social Security Association, LLC.”
Russell Gloor
After serving in the U.S. Army in the early ‘60’s, Russell started his professional career in computing technology at Pan American World Airways in New York City, where he was Superintendent of Communications Research and Development until he left Pan Am to become Director of Management Information Systems for the Travel Division of American Express Company. His background and experience in computers led him to join IBM, where he enjoyed a very successful career in sales and engineering management and project management, ultimately leading him to an appointment as the executive responsible for IBM Global Services’ worldwide quality assurance program.
Russ retired from IBM in 2003 and enjoyed 10 years of retirement before rejoining the workforce with AMAC in 2013. After several positions in AMAC’s membership services department, Russ transferred to AMAC’s Small Business Solutions unit as SBS’ Operations Manager in Florida, until 2016 when the need to be with family called him back north. Russ continues to work as a Business Consultant to several AMAC departments, including the AMAC Foundation where, as a Certified Social Security Advisor, he provides assistance to seniors approaching their Social Security benefits enrollment decision.