Speakers

Liz Truss served as the 56th Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, during which time in September 2022 she led the nation in mourning Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II as King Charles III acceded to the throne.

The Conservative MP for South West Norfolk between 2010 and 2024, she continuously held ministerial office for more than ten years between 2012 and 2022 and, after an initial spell as a junior education minister, sat at the Cabinet table in six different roles, prior to becoming Prime Minister: Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice; Chief Secretary to the Treasury; Secretary of State for International Trade; and Foreign Secretary – as well as Minister for Women and Equalities.

As Prime Minister she sought to implement her Plan for Growth, including a raft of tax cuts to kick-start economic growth and reforms to boost productivity. Regrettably these reforms did not command sufficient political and economic support and she reached the conclusion that she could not deliver the mandate on which she had been elected and stepped down.

Her Sunday Times best-seller Ten Years to Save the West was published in April 2024.

She is married to Hugh and they have two daughters.

*Dan will be making a special video appearance at the 2025 CEO Summit

Dan T. Cathy is chairman of Chick-fil-A Inc., an Atlanta-based fast-food chicken restaurant chain known as a leader in customer service and the home of the Original Chick-fil-A® Chicken Sandwich. He was previously the company’s chief executive officer, serving as CEO from 2013 until November 1, 2021, when his son Andrew T. Cathy became the third CEO in Chick-fil-A history.

The son of Chick-fil-A Founder S. Truett Cathy, Dan continues to build on his late father’s legacy as chairman, helping guide the business and supporting Chick-fil-A’s executive leaders. Dan is also involved in leadership development and the onboarding of new franchise operators and employees. And he serves as a passionate brand ambassador in Chick-fil-A’s hometown of Atlanta and other markets.

Now one of America’s largest family-owned businesses, Chick-fil-A posted strong, steady growth during Dan’s tenure as CEO. Today, Chick-fil-A’s franchise operators and their teams serve delicious, freshly prepared food in more than 2,600 restaurants in 47 states, Washington, D.C., and Canada.

As CEO, Dan enhanced Chick-fil-A’s reputation for customer service. Named the top fast-food restaurant in Newsweek’s 2019 America’s Best Customer Service report, Chick-fil-A also received multiple honors in QSR’s 2019 Reader’s Choice Awards including “The Most Respected Quick-Service Brand” and “Best Brand for Overall Experience.” In 2020, Glassdoor named Chick-fil-A one of the 100 best places to work.

Dan’s Chick-fil-A career began early. As a boy, he sang for customers and performed in radio ads for the chain’s original “Dwarf House” restaurant in Hapeville, Georgia. Before becoming CEO in 2013, Dan was president and chief operating officer for 12 years. His earlier roles include senior director of operations, vice president of operations and executive vice president.

Active in the Atlanta community, Dan is eager to serve his hometown by bringing people together and fostering new opportunities for those in tough circumstances. He is working to improve Atlanta’s Westside in partnership with other business leaders, nonprofits, charities and government agencies. A past chairman of The Carter Center’s board of councilors, Dan serves on the boards of the Georgia Aquarium, the Metro Atlanta Chamber, the Atlanta Committee for Progress, Eagle Ranch and Heritage Preparatory School.

A musician known to play his trumpet at restaurant openings and the Chick-fil-A Support Center, Dan also enjoys gardening and landscaping. A lifelong athlete, he has completed multiple marathons and recently took up cycling on his Chick-fil-A branded bike. In addition, he enjoys flying small planes and hitting the road on his motorcycle as a member of the “Moo Cow Bikers.”

A recipient of the Zig Ziglar Servant Leadership Award, Dan has been honored in Atlanta by the Urban League and the Council for Quality Growth. In 2022, he will become a Georgia Trustee, receiving the state’s highest honor as a model of selfless leadership. Dan holds a bachelor’s degree in business from Georgia Southern University and honorary degrees from Pepperdine University, the University of West Georgia, the HBCA Entrepreneur Summit, Anderson College and Carver Bible College.

Dan and his wife Rhonda have six grandchildren and two sons, both of whom work in the family business. Andrew, as noted previously, is CEO of Chick-fil-A, and Ross serves as vice president of DTC Enterprises.

Pat Gelsinger is a pioneering American engineer and business executive best known for his transformative leadership as CEO of Intel from 2021 to 2024. Born in 1961 in rural Pennsylvania, Gelsinger began his career at Intel at just 18, rising to become the company’s youngest-ever vice president and later its first Chief Technology Officer. He was the lead architect of the groundbreaking Intel 80486 processor and played a key role in developing technologies like Wi-Fi, USB, and Intel Core.

After a decade-long executive stint at EMC and VMware—where he was ranked America’s top CEO by Glassdoor—Gelsinger returned to Intel to spearhead a bold turnaround. His tenure saw strategic investments in U.S. semiconductor manufacturing, including two $20 billion fabs in Arizona, and a renewed push to reclaim leadership from rivals like TSMC, AMD, and Nvidia.

A devout Christian and philanthropist, Gelsinger co-founded Transforming the Bay with Christ and supports global humanitarian efforts. He holds multiple honorary doctorates and serves on national advisory boards, including President Biden’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.

Doug DeVos is an advocate for opportunity and freedom for all. He is Co-Chair of the Board of Directors for Amway, the world’s largest direct-selling company. He served as President of Amway for more than 16 years.

Doug is a global ambassador for entrepreneurship and a devoted philanthropist, locally and nationally. He’s Chairman of Stand Together’s Frederick Douglass Society, an organization committed to helping people realize their potential by addressing society’s biggest challenges. He is also Chairman of the Board for the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia and is involved in numerous Michigan business and civic organizations.

Doug is a passionate sailor and serves as Principal of the American Magic, a professional sailing franchise. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from Purdue University’s Krannert School of Business and played on the Purdue football team. Doug and his wife, Maria, are active members of the Keystone Community Church. They have four married children and four grandchildren and counting.

Lieutenant General, US ARMY (Retired) Michael T. Flynn is a subject matter expert in Diplomacy, Statecraft, Foreign Policy, Strategy Formulation, Defense, Intelligence, and other areas of national and international security. He served more than 33 years in the Army, Joint, and Special Operations Forces, with multiple overseas combat tours.

He is the author of 7 books, two are best sellers. He holds three master’s degrees, an honorary doctorate and currently serves as the Chairman of America’s Future, which is among the nation’s oldest non-profits.

His military career culminated as the Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency and the nation’s highest serving military intelligence officer. Additionally, he served the 45th President of the United States, President Donald J. Trump, as the nation’s 25th National Security Advisor.

General Flynn is the recipient of numerous military awards and decorations as well as law enforcement, intelligence community and several non-profit lifetime achievement awards.

He is married, with two sons and several grandchildren.

Ken Eldred is an investor, apostolic church leader, and founder/CEO of Living Stones Foundation. Ken is also an elder at Yoido Full Gospel Church. Currently Ken focuses his efforts on non-profit projects via Living Stones Foundation and Living Rock Foundation, two charitable entities he endowed, as well as several start-up ventures. He is Chairman of United in Purpose, an organization dedicated to fostering spiritual renewal in America.

Ken is also working on the growth and development of several innovative companies in the field of social media and technology. Ken was instrumental in organizing support within the evangelical community in 2016, aiding President Trump’s successful campaign. Many report this evangelical aid made the difference in Trump’s election. Other political endeavors included acting as Finance Chairman of Mike Huckabee’s presidential campaign.

As an entrepreneur, Ken has founded numerous successful companies, including Ariba Technologies, Inc. (now SAP Ariba). Ariba was the first internet business-to-business company to go public and was valued as high as $40 billion. He also founded and lead Inmac, the first direct-mail computer products company, which went public in 1987 and later merged with MicroWarehouse.

Ken was named Silicon Valley “Entrepreneur of the Year” in 1988. Internationally, Ken was co-founder and director of Epicenter Technologies, a call center based in India which grew to 3000 employees. He was also an early investor in Wumart, now China’s largest indigenous retailer, and Anapass, a South Korean chip company, which is traded publicly on KOSDAQ.

Ken was profiled in Executive Influence by Christopher Crane and Mike Hamel, and he is co-editor of On Kingdom Business (2003), which earned a coveted Christianity Today Book Award. He is the author of God is at Work (2005), named the top book by the Business as Mission Network and now is translated into seven languages, as well as The Integrated Life (2010), which is used at several universities as a text. He speaks at Christian business meetings, faith-based organizations and has been interviewed on CBN, Family Talk, and other broadcast programs.

Ken spent time as a visiting Fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institute. He holds B.A. and M.B.A. degrees from Stanford as well as a Doctor of Laws from Belhaven University. He and his wife, Roberta have been married since 1971.

Jack Hollis served as chief operating officer and executive vice president of Toyota Motor North America (TMNA). He was also president of Toyota Motor Sales. Mr. Hollis preferred the simple title of “Team Captain.” In this role, Hollis oversaw Sales, Marketing, TRD, Product Planning, Customer Service, Demand and Supply, Manufacturing and Product Support for the Toyota and Lexus brands in North America. Hollis has held many roles including vice president of the Scion division, group vice president of Toyota Marketing, group vice president and general manager of the Toyota Division, senior vice president of automotive operations, executive vice president, sales.

Hollis holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Stanford University. He was also a member of Stanford’s NCAA National Baseball Championship team and the Cincinnati Reds for two seasons.

Ambassador Alexander Tah-Ray Yui is Taiwan’s Representative to the United States, a role he assumed in December 2023. He has over 35 years of experience in diplomacy and previously served as Taiwan’s Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2021 to 2023.

His past overseas assignments include serving as Taiwan’s Representative to the European Union and Belgium, as well as Ambassador to Paraguay from 2015 to 2018. Ambassador Yui has held various leadership roles within Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, focusing on Latin American, European, and global affairs.

Throughout his career, he has worked to expand Taiwan’s global partnerships and strengthen its international presence. His extensive experience includes postings in New York, San Salvador, and Geneva, reflecting his commitment to advancing Taiwan’s foreign policy goals.

Ambassador Yui received a BA in politics and foreign languages and a MA in Spanish literature from Texas A&M University.

Jack Brewer is the Lead Director at The GEO Group, Inc.

Brian Wesbury is Chief Economist at First Trust Advisors L.P. Brian has been a member of the Academic Advisory Council of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. In 2012, he was named a Fellow of the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas, TX, where he worked closely with its 4%-Growth Project.

His writing appears in various magazines, newspapers, and blogs and he appears regularly on business TV, radio shows, and on podcasts talking about the economy and financial markets.

In 1995 and 1996, Brian served as Chief Economist for the Joint Economic Committee of the U.S. Congress. The Wall Street Journal ranked Brian the nation’s #1 U.S. economic forecaster in 2001, for his prediction of recession, USA Today ranked him as one of the nation’s top 10 forecasters in 2004 and Consensus Economics ranked First Trust’s economics team the #1 most accurate forecasters of the U.S. economy in 2022.

Brian began his career in 1982 at Harris Bank in Chicago. Former positions include Vice President and Economist for the Chicago Corporation and Senior Vice President and Chief Economist for Griffin, Kubik, Stephens & Thompson.

Brian received an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg Graduate School of Management and a BA in Economics from the University of Montana. McGraw-Hill published his first book, The New Era of Wealth, in October 1999. His second book, It’s Not As Bad As You Think, was published in November 2009 by John Wiley & Sons.

In 2011, Brian received the University of Montana’s Distinguished Alumni Award. This award honors outstanding alumni who have “brought honor to the University, the state, or the nation.” There have been 267 recipients of this award out of a potential pool of 91,000 graduates.

Ash Shrivastav is the Managing Partner of Uma Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm investing in technology companies. He is also a Venture Partner at Buckhill Capital LP, where he spent over six years as a Principal, sourcing, evaluating, and leading investments in various companies and funds.

Ash has sourced and led investments in notable companies such as Last Country Inc. (Tucker Carlson Network, ALP), Perplexity AI, Anthropic, Primer Microschools, Hydra Host, Pigeon, Enduring Ventures, Revere VC, Worldly, Mill, Para, Goodr, and Decent, among others.

Ash has driven over 300,000 miles across 46 U.S. states and has lived in Houston, Boston, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, Cambridge (UK), and Nepal. He has a keen interest in ancient history, deep tech, and faith and religious philosophy.

Jeff Hoffman is an award-winning global entrepreneur, proven CEO, worldwide motivational speaker, bestselling author, Hollywood film producer, a producer of a Grammy Award winning jazz album, and executive producer of an Emmy Award winning television show. In his career, he has been the founder of multiple startups, he has been the CEO of both public and private companies, and he has served as a
senior executive in many capacities. Jeff has been part of a number of well-known successful startups, including Priceline.com/Booking.com, uBid.com and more.

Jeff is the Chairman of the Global Entrepreneurship Network, which works with entrepreneurs in 200 countries, as well as being a founding board member of The Unreasonable Group, whose portfolio companies have raised over $11 billion in funding and have positively impacted more than one billion lives worldwide. He is also on the Advisory Board of CEED Global, the Centers for Entrepreneurship and Executive Development, teaching entrepreneurship globally in developing countries. Jeff has supported the White House, the State Department, the United Nations, and similar organizations internationally on economic growth initiatives and entrepreneurship programs.

KENT V. PEARCE, a Managing Director – Private Wealth Manager with The Pearce Group at Merrill along with his associates, form one of the firm’s most distinguished Private Wealth Management teams. With office locations in Towson, Maryland and Palm Beach, Florida, The Pearce Group serves a national clientele, providing comprehensive and holistic wealth management to affluent individuals and businesses.

During his 30-year career with Merrill, Kent has been recognized as one of America’s leading financial advisors by BARRON’S and FORBES. In 2025, Kent was ranked #35 on the FORBES “America’s Top Wealth Advisors” list. In addition, he was ranked #1 in Maryland – Baltimore on the FORBES “Best-In-State Wealth Advisors” list for 2025. (Both lists published on April 8, 2025. Rankings based on data as of June 30, 2024.). Kent was also named Top 50 on the BARRON’S “Top 100 Financial Advisors” list for 2025 (Published annually Mar – May. Rankings based on data as of December 31 of prior year.). Kent currently holds the #1 ranking in Maryland on the BARRON’S “Top 1200 Financial Advisors” list for 2025. (Published on March 7, 2025. Rankings based on data as of September 30, 2024.).

Kent’s 19-member team has over 250 years of combined experience and has consistently strived to offer stellar investment advice, and guidance as well as customized financial strategies to affluent individuals and families, corporate executives, business owners, foundations/endowments, private & public companies, and professional athletes/ entertainers. The Pearce Group at Merrill Private Wealth Management was recently recognized as one of the Top 100 teams listed on both the FORBES “America’s Top Wealth Management Teams – Private Wealth” list for 2024, and the BARRONS “Top 250 Private Wealth Management Teams” list for 2025. Additionally, the team has been recognized as the #1 Ranked Wealth Management Team in Maryland – Baltimore on the FORBES “Best-In-State Wealth Management Teams” list for 2025. (Published on November 13, 2024, May 9, 2025, and January 9, 2025, respectively. Rankings based on data as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2024).

Kent presently serves as a member of the CEO Club of Baltimore, the Living Classrooms Foundation Board of Directors and is also a founding member of Merrill’s National AGN (Advisor Growth Network) Board. Kent has also previously served as a member of the University of Maryland St. Joseph’s Medical Center Foundation Board, as well as the President’s Advisory Board at McDaniel College.

Kent received a MBA degree from Mount Saint Mary’s University in Financial Management, as well as a BA degree from McDaniel College with a dual concentration in Economics and Finance. Lastly, Kent was the recipient of Merrill’s prestigious David Brady Award (2018) recognizing him for his devoted commitment to his clients, colleagues and community best represented through character and integrity.

The Minister was born in Jerusalem, Israel and got his BA in Social Sciences and economics from Bar Ilan University, and his MA in social sciences specializing in international economic influence from the University of Haifa. He is also a graduate of the Israeli national defense college.

Before his current position, Minister Noach Hacker has served as board member and Vice President to one of Israel’s largest telecommunication companies. Prior to that, he held various roles in the Ministry of Finance, including Deputy Director of the Budget Department. In this capacity, he led significant economic reforms, orchestrated the construction and approval of the Israeli budget in the government and Knesset, and spearheaded various economic legislations. Since 2022, Minister Hacker has been the Minister of Economic Affairs at the Israeli Embassy in the United States and the senior representative of the Israeli Ministry of Finance in the US. Among his responsibilities, he leads the Joint Economic Development Group with the US and manages economic policy relations between the US and Israeli administrations. He is happily married and a father of four.

T’Neil Walea and her husband Tyler serve as Pastors of First Church in Pearland, Texas where they live with their three children, Paisley, L’Wren, and York. T’Neil is Director of Innovative Technology for the Federal Government at Microsoft where she helps integrate artificial intelligence and quantum computing into Federal agencies. As an international speaker, leadership consultant, and technology expert, she helps the Government navigate technological advancements.

She previously worked as IBM’s Chief Technology Officer for Global Governments, where she also focused on artificial intelligence and quantum computing.

With a strong background in team building and technology leadership, she is passionate about helping teams develop a healthy culture and adopt cutting-edge leadership and technology strategies. She loves mentoring and helping young women find their place in STEM-driven industries.

Saeed Amidi is a seasoned investor and executive with over 30 years of experience growing businesses in numerous industries, including real estate, bottled water, packaging, and technology investing. Following the early success of his various businesses, The Amidi Group initially purchased a building in Palo Alto, deemed the “Lucky Building,” and decided to rent the extra office spaces to startups including Google, Logitech, PayPal, and Danger.

As the CEO and founder of Plug and Play, Saeed applies his passion for the tech industry daily by working with forward-thinking partners and the best global startups to facilitate positive change worldwide. Since Plug and Play’s launch in 2006, the company has worked with over 50,000 startups, made over 1,500 investments, and boasts over 30 unicorns including Dropbox, PayPal, Lending Club, N26, and Honey.

In the midst of all his entrepreneurial pursuits, Saeed never lost sight of what matters most: family. He has encouraged the importance of building strong relationships both personally and professionally. His contributions to the technology industry and charitable efforts supporting disruptive startups have made him a notable professional in many circles.

John T. Hewitt is an American businessman and CEO of Loyalty Brands Inc. He leverages his 55 years of experience and expertise in franchising, business management, strategy, and new venture development. He is the founder of three successful companies that have collectively opened over 10,000 franchises in the tax preparation and business services industry in the USA and Canada.

Hewitt is also an author of a best-selling book, iCompete: How my Extraordinary Strategy for Winning Can be Yours, and a recipient of multiple awards and honors, including the 2005 Entrepreneur of the Year by the International Franchise Association. His mission is to help aspiring entrepreneurs achieve their dream of business ownership and prosperity. He does this by creating and growing a synergistic group of franchise businesses and services that work together to provide customer loyalty, repeat business, and financial stability.

Kevin Bush is a General Partner at KMB Family Partnerships LLC, where he leads investments in the SaaS, Real Estate, and Managed Services spaces. He is also a Founder/Partner and Board Member of Leadline, Inc. and the former President and Founder of Source4Teachers & MissionOne Inc., d/b/a as Educational Staffing Services (ESS).

Encompassing more than 20 years of experience in the human capital space, Mr. Bush drove the strategic growth trajectory of S4T/ESS from start-up to a top-line successful business generating over 350mm+ in top-line revenue, leading to the company’s first acquisition by Nautic Partners of Rhode Island in 2015. Today ESS is the industry standard in K-12 managed services and a trusted partner to over 1,000 school districts Nationally. Mr. Bush served on the Board of Directors of ESS until December 2021; his tenure concluded with year-over-year revenues almost tripling from 2015.

As President of S4T/ M1 (ESS), the company received many accolades under Mr. Bush’s direction: Forbes Best Large Employers 2017, 2018, 2019 Inc. 5000 2015 Staffing 100 Fastest Growing US Staffing Firms 2016 Future 50 Award 2014 Best Places to Work 2014 Philadelphia Business Journal, Entrepreneur of the Year 2013 Philadelphia Business Journal Top 100 Greater Philadelphia Company 50 Fastest Growing Companies, NJBIZ 2013 NJBIZ, Business of the Year 2013 EY Entrepreneur of the Year, 2014 South Jersey Biz, Fastest Growing Companies 2013 40 under 40, multiple national business publications 2011, 2012, 2013 NAACP Business Leader of the Year 2012

Throughout his career, Mr. Bush has been a top producer with Global Fortune 500 companies Sodexo (OTCMKTS: SDXAY) and Aramark Corporations (NYSE: ARMK), both global leaders in Food Services and Facility and Maintenance. Mr. Bush attended Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA, and currently resides in Naples, FL with his wife Christa, and their two children Ryan & Sophia whom both attend The Village School of Naples

Sebastian Harris is the Founder and Managing Partner of Sandbox Fund and Aranova Capital, private investment funds focused on values-driven venture and structured finance. He co-founded PSQ Holdings (NYSE: PSQH), guiding it from inception to a $350M IPO in just 2.5 years. Sebastian is pursuing a master’s in International Relations at Liberty University and is passionate about principled innovation, faith-driven entrepreneurship, and building businesses that create cultural and economic impact. He lives in San Diego with his wife, Claire, and their dog, Tucker.

Gregory A. Petroff, Esq. is the managing partner of the Princeton, New Jersey office of Reitler Kalas & Rosenblatt LLP, a national corporate transactional law firm. Gregory is a seasoned corporate lawyer and skilled negotiator who centers his practice on mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance and general business and corporate matters. He guides clients throughout the corporate life cycle – from startup through acquisition.

He is adept at sizing up all aspects of a complex transaction and crafting innovative solutions to protect his clients from legal risk and get the deal done.
Gregory has served as lead counsel on transactions ranging from early stage to over $1.3 billion in deal value. He counsels senior executives, management teams, venture funds and private equity firms on a wide range of legal matters including, mergers and acquisitions of public and private companies; private equity and venture capital financings; securities offerings, reporting and disclosure; corporate governance; fund formation; and general business strategy and transactional tax planning.

Gregory is also a seasoned entrepreneur and owner of several business in various industry sectors. He is a frequent speaker on topics relating to venture capital, private equity, mergers and acquisitions and corporate tax. He has published numerous articles on these and other subjects. He is chairman emeritus of the Miss America Foundation and chairman of the Board of Trustee of Ambassador Christian Academy, Allenwood, New Jersey

Prior to joining Reitler, Gregory was an equity partner with Fox Rothschild, an AM Law 50 law firm, where he served as co-chair of the Technology, Life Science and Venture Finance Group and chairman of the firm’s Exempt Organizations Tax Practice. Gregory also served as the judicial law clerk to the Hon. John A Ricciardi, P.J.S.C., Hon John P. Arnone, J.S.C. and the Hon. Paul F. Chaiet (New Jersey Superior Court – Monmouth County Vicinage).

Gregory is a graduate of Georgetown University Law Center, LL.M.; New England School of Law, J.D.; Monmouth University (M.B.A.) and Liberty University (B.S,). Gregory also studied economics and international business at Oxford University, Wyckliffe Hall.

Matt Cole serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Strive and Chief Investment Officer of Strive Asset Management, where he is leading Strive’s focus as a transformative Bitcoin-company. With a vision to integrate Bitcoin into the portfolios of everyday Americans and institutional investors alike, Matt is pioneering efforts to democratize access to Bitcoin Bonds and expand Bitcoin from a single asset into a fully recognized asset class.

A long-time Bitcoin investor and advocate, Matt brings years of experience in institutional asset allocation, having led research on integrating Bitcoin into public pensions. His conviction that Bitcoin is the ultimate asset class for delivering return opportunities and hedging against the long-term risks of the global fiat debt crisis, inflation, AI innovation, geopolitical tensions, and regulatory overreach drives Strive’s mission to make Bitcoin a cornerstone of modern investment strategy.

Under Matt’s leadership, Strive has been at the forefront of the Shareholders First movement—playing a vital role in the landmark victory over ESG and DEI, and helping reshape the financial landscape to prioritize capitalism, meritocracy, and shareholder-first principles. He is now applying the same laser focus to delivering innovative Bitcoin solutions and transforming how Americans interact with Bitcoin, making it accessible, practical, and central to their financial futures, while Strive remains committed to empowering investors through its pro-shareholder focused equity ETFs and actively managed Fixed Income ETFs.

Matt’s expertise in Bitcoin and finance has earned him industry-wide recognition. He has been widely published and quoted in major outlets, including The Wall Street Journal, The Hill, Bloomberg, Financial Times, and Semafor. He has appeared on leading platforms like Fox Business Network, Bloomberg News, and several prominent Bitcoin podcasts, where he shares his deep insights on capitalism, meritocracy, and the transformative power of Bitcoin.

Prior to Strive, Matt was a Portfolio Manager at CalPERS, where he oversaw over $70 billion in actively managed Fixed Income portfolios. Notably, during his tenure, the portfolios he managed consistently met or exceeded benchmark performance every single year.

Jeffrey Hayzlett is a global business celebrity, esteemed speaker, and former Fortune 100 C-Suite executive, recognized for his bold strategies, marketing brilliance, and entrepreneurial spirit. With a career that spans decades, Hayzlett has left an indelible mark on businesses of all sizes—from startups to global enterprises—by driving transformational change and leveraging innovative leadership.

As a pioneer in using corporate platforms to elevate brand visibility and drive revenue, Hayzlett earned the title of “The Celebrity CMO” by Forbes for his groundbreaking work in marketing and media. During his tenure as a Fortune 100 officer, he demonstrated the power of executive leadership in influencing enterprise growth through innovative branding and communication strategies.

Hayzlett is also a prolific speaker, captivating audiences from the age of eight, when he first took the stage as the emcee of his second-grade play. Since entering professional speaking in his 20s, he has delivered hundreds of keynote speeches annually, sharing his expertise with leaders worldwide. In 2015, he was inducted into the National Speakers Association’s prestigious Hall of Fame, joining an elite group that includes General Colin Powell, Zig Ziglar, and Ken Blanchard.

Currently, Hayzlett hosts the widely acclaimed podcast and TV show, All Business with Jeffrey Hayzlett, on C-Suite Radio and C-Suite TV. He has also appeared on nearly every major global news network, including NBC, CBS, ABC, FOX, CNBC, MSNBC, Canada’s CBC, and the UK’s BBC, as well as networks in Israel, China, Japan, and beyond.

As a four-time best-selling author, Hayzlett has penned transformative business books such as The Mirror Test, Running the Gauntlet, Think Big Act Bigger, and The Hero Factor, offering actionable insights for leaders striving to make a meaningful impact. His thought leadership extends beyond the page, with his dynamic speaking engagements energizing audiences to embrace change, drive growth, and foster innovation.

With accolades that include induction into five business halls of fame, Hayzlett stands as one of the most sought-after business minds in the world. Whether advising executives, appearing as a media commentator, or mentoring the next generation of leaders, he embodies a relentless commitment to helping others succeed.

Drawing inspiration from his cowboy roots, Hayzlett brings grit, determination, and a no-nonsense approach to everything he does—making him a true maverick in the ever-evolving world of business.

Randy Linville is a seasoned executive, author, and spiritual guide whose journey bridges boardrooms and prayer rooms. From Kansas farmland to global agribusiness, Randy has lived the tension between profit and purpose—and emerged with a blueprint for transformation.

As former CEO of The Scoular Company, he led strategic expansion and industry collaboration, later driving private equity investment in agriculture. Today, he serves as Managing Director of ClearSight Ventures for family holdings.

His book, Plan of Action, distills decades of leadership into four phases—Reboot, Resolve, Respond, Recharge—helping leaders move from metrics to meaning. Randy’s voice resonates with those seeking significance in success and clarity in calling. PlanOfActionBook.com

A lifelong learner and nonprofit board member, he champions the idea that capitalism, guided by faith, is a powerful force for common good and human flourishing.

Mamadou Baldé is the Market Leader and Managing Director for CBRE’s Pittsburgh, PA and West Virginia operations. In this role, he is responsible for real estate sales and support professionals throughout Pittsburgh, PA and Charleston, WV. He serves as the strategic manager for all Advisory Services lines of business, including Property Management, Advisory & Transaction Services, Capital Markets, Occupier Outsourcing, Project Management and Valuation & Advisory Services.

Mr. Baldé oversees business operations and manages client relations, new business development and related services for the market. He drives growth within the Pittsburgh office for teams, clients and individual professionals through leadership that embodies CBRE’s core values and sustains a positive workplace culture.

Prior to joining CBRE in 2021, Mr. Baldé was President of Fulani Millwork, Inc. and was a Developer-In-Residence with ACTION-Housing. He also brings Office Brokerage experience from his time as Vice President and In-House Counsel at the Pittsburgh office of an International Commercial Real Estate Services Company. Prior to that, Mr. Baldé practiced law at a Pittsburgh regional law firm.

Mr. Baldé is a graduate of Liberty University School of Law where he earned his Juris Doctorate and his Bachelor of Science in Finance. He is active in the Pittsburgh community, where he serves on the Board of The Salvation Army of Western PA, Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, Neighborhood Allies, Young President’s Organization (YPO), VisitPittsburgh and Pittsburgh Historical Landmark Foundation (PHLF)

Mr. Kouplen has served as President of the Company since April 1, 2008 and is one of the principal organizers of Regent Capital Corporation. He is also the Chairman of the Board of Directors, President and Chief Executive Officer of Regent Bank. Mr. Kouplen was formerly with Grand Bank, serving as President and Chief Operating Officer and a member of the Board of Directors. He serves on the Executive Loan Committee, the Strategic Planning-Executive Committee and Nominating and Governance Committee. Mr. Kouplen previously served as Oklahoma’s Secretary of Commerce & Workforce Development and holds many local and statewide leadership positions.

Nate Fischer is the founder and CEO of New Founding, a venture firm focused on critical civilizational problems. New Founding’s venture fund backs early-stage startups across sectors. Its direct ventures include RidgeRunner, which is developing an elevated rural community in Southwestern Appalachia, and Volis, which helps construction, mining, and industrial companies with data- and AI-enabled transformation.

Nate also co-founded American Reformer, which promotes a vigorous Christian response to contemporary cultural challenges; and the State Leadership Initiative, which advances red state digital and economic sovereignty.

Nate previously co-founded a real estate investment firm that grew to more than $1 billion of assets, and has a variety of other entrepreneurial and investment experience. He graduated from Calvin College and Harvard Law School, and is a Claremont Lincoln Fellow. He lives in Dallas, TX, with his wife and five children.

Hanna Tomory built and leads Palantir Technologies’ commercial business in Canada, and engages on strategic projects in the US and globally. Previously, she did Palantir’s first commercial initiatives in the Switzerland, Germany, and Mexico, and launched new industry solutions in the United States. She studied dual Masters in Industrial Engineering and Theology at the University of Toronto —complementing physics with metaphysics— and conducted research in Bioelectronics at ETH Zurich. An investor in and advisor to multiple corporations, Hanna has also co-founded several nonprofit foundations across Europe and North America. She is married and lives with her husband on their MapleShire ranch in Toronto, Canada, where they welcome 1000s of families every year for maple syrup infused family fun.

Spencer Patton is a Tennessee-based entrepreneur who successfully grew his business from $0 to over $100 million in less than ten years. He is the founder of multiple companies in the logistics industry and is widely recognized as an authority in e-commerce and logistics. Spencer also leads the Patton Foundation, which champions entrepreneurship across Tennessee. His commentary has appeared in various media outlets, including Bloomberg, Reuters, Fox Business, The Washington Post, NASDAQ.com, Business Insider, and The Wall Street Journal.

Spencer started his career managing investments, focused on commodities trading. In 2013 he launched Patton Logistics and served as an independent service provider to FedEx Ground. In the following 10 years, Spencer grew to become the largest contractor to FedEx Ground in the United States. Along the way, he built a network of other logistics-related businesses including Route Consultant and Hello Truck Lease. With deep expertise in investments, e-commerce, and entrepreneurship, Spencer regularly comments on logistics events in the national media and serves as an expert witness in logistics litigation.

Spencer is a born and raised Tennessean. He attended Montgomery Bell Academy and graduated from Vanderbilt University with degrees in economics and psychology. Spencer is married to Carli Patton, his college sweetheart, and they’re raising four children and two dogs against a backdrop of joyful (and frequently loud) chaos. Rooted in the Nashville community, Spencer participates in a variety of committees and boards including the Williamson County Red Cross, the Williamson County Chamber of Commerce, C12 Forums, Barefoot Republic, National Addiction Specialists, HealthBreak, and Focus on the Family. He is also a little league umpire, a tutor for underprivileged youth, and a servant in the Mobile Dental Unit initiative at his church.

As head of enthusiast brand management at Ford, I’m blessed to lead the Bronco, Bronco Sport and Mustang team in sales, market share, P&L, brand marketing and customer experience. More importantly than that, through many successes and failures in my thirty-one year career at Ford, Jesus Christ saved my life! I’m married to the love of my life, Cindy, and we have two kids, Kate and Zach, who both graduated from LU. I love everything that Liberty stands for and am grateful that God introduced us to the LU family – Go Flames🔥

Bridger runs two investment funds with over $260 million of aggregate portfolio AUM. He also co-founded Fund Launch an incubator that has launched 300+ funds across the world, who’s clients manage over $4.8 billion AUM. Fund Launch was also recently listed #2652 of Inc 5000 fastest growing companies

Edwin Poots is the longest serving member of the Northern Ireland Assembly. He has a wealth of experience having been a Minister in the Departments of Environment, Health, Agriculture, Culture and Sport. Edwin is currently The Speaker. Edwin has been been married to Glynis for 37 years and together they have 4 adult children 2 of which serve God as missionaries in Brazil and South Africa. They have 4 precious grandchildren Edwin enjoys farming, Glynis and himself have each given over 30 years as youth leader and Sunday School teacher.

Lindsey B. Nicholas serves as President of International Roofing Corporation, a 36-year-old commercial roofing and waterproofing firm in Virginia. In this role, she oversees strategic planning, financial management, business development, and operational execution, guiding the company’s continued growth and industry leadership.

International Roofing pioneered vegetative roof systems in the Central Virginia market and continues to expand its capabilities and reach. Uniquely, International Roofing has completed several U.S. Embassy projects around the world. Lindsey is a licensed Class A contractor and has served on the Board of Directors for the Virginia Association of Roofing Professionals. She is also active member of the National Roofing Contractors Association, participating in its exclusive Future Executives Institute.

Lindsey is a graduate of Virginia Tech with a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies and a minor in Spanish. She loves traveling the world with her husband and two sons.

Jeff is a mergers and acquisitions partner with extensive experience representing: (1) private equity sponsors, venture capital funds and strategic acquirers in their investments and acquisitions; (2) founders, companies and sellers in raising liquidity and exits; and (3) executives and management teams on their compensation and incentive equity arrangements.

In addition to leveraged buyouts and minority investments, Jeff works with investors and companies in venture capital financings and serves as outside general counsel to founders, businesses and portfolio companies.

Jeff has represented over 50 searchers and search fund holding and operating companies in all aspects of entrepreneurship through acquisition: forming search funds (traditional, self-funded, holding company, committed capital), searcher and investor economics, search acquisitions, add-ons and exits.

Prior to joining the firm, Jeff worked for over a decade at large international law firms (including Ropes and Gray’s private equity practice, Sidley Austin’s M&A practice and Goodwin Procter’s search fund practice) and clerked at the Delaware Court of Chancery. At Michigan Law, Jeff was on law review, national finalist in Jessup moot court and founded the Michigan Journal of Private Equity and Venture Capital.

Richard Zhang is currently at Google Deepmind on the Vizier team and is a co-creator of OSS Vizier, working on hyperparameter/prompt/data/agent optimization, Reinforcement Learning, and theoretical machine learning. He also explores AI alignment, counterfactuals/fairness, and the intersection of Faith and AI, believing that AI can be used to explore and strengthen one’s faith.

He stewards the Global Christians in AI (CHAI) community, where AI practitioners, academics, theologians, and entrepreneurs come together monthly to discuss relevant topics in the intersection of Christianity and AI. Richard graduated with a PhD in Applied Mathematics and Computer Science from UC Berkeley, where he was advised by Prof. Satish Rao and Prof. Nikhil Srivastava. Previously, he graduated from Princeton University’s Great Class of 2014.

Bryce McDonald is Head of Operations at Western Trail Capital, an investment holding company focused on deploying AI in small businesses. He graduated from Harvard with an AB in philosophy, started his career at McKinsey Dallas, and last year helped build Volis, a Palantir partner that delivers custom AI solutions to industrial businesses. Bryce focuses on helping companies navigate the future of AI by understanding where it excels—and where human judgment remains essential.