Lecture Panel
Richard Louv
Keynote Speaker
Richard Louv is a futurist and journalist focused on family, nature and community. The author of seven books, his most recent title, "Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder" (Algonquin) has received widespread praise from nature organizations and the world media.
He is a columnist for The San Diego Union-Tribune and has written for The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Christian Science Monitor and other newspapers and magazines. Louv also served as a columnist and editorial advisory board member for Parents magazine, as well as a commentator on Monitor Radio. He is an advisor to the Ford Foundation's Leadership for a Changing World award program and the Scientific Council on the Developing Child, and a Visiting Scholar at the Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University. A partner in The Frameworks Institute and a member of the Citistates Group, an association of urban observers, Louv also helped found Connect for Kids, the largest child advocacy site on the World Wide Web.
Louv has appeared on the CBS The Morning Show, Good Morning America, Today, Donahue, Bill Moyers' Listening to America, NPR Morning Edition, NPR Fresh Air, NPR Talk of the Nation, PBS NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, and many other national and regional programs. The United Nations commissioned his monograph on fatherhood for the U.N. Year of the Child, and he has spoken before the National Policy Council in the White House. Louv speaks frequently around the country.
He is married to Kathy Frederick Louv and is the father of two young men, Jason, 23 and Matthew, 17. He lives in San Diego and prefers fishing to writing.
Julie Isphording
Moderator
Talk Show Host, The Healthy Stuff
Julie Isphording is a former Olympic runner and member of the first ever women's Olympic marathon team. Julie is now an award-winning syndicated radio talk show host of her own show - The Healthy Stuff - heard on 55KRC (550am) and online, author of two books and a gifted motivational speaker. She has given more than 2000 speeches to corporations, at conventions and in schools across the country, including Procter & Gamble and McDonald�s, and received many awards for her "healthy" community service efforts. She is the executive director of the Thanksgiving Day 10k Run/Walk where she is sure that at least 12,000 people are healthy and happy. Julie owns her own marketing communications company, On Your Feet, writes a syndicated monthly column, and plays every day.
Christopher Bolling, MD
Panelist
Medical Director, Obesity Treatment Program Cincinnati Children's Hospital
Dr. Bolling is Associate Professor of Pediatrics in the Department of General and Community Pediatrics and the Division of Cardiology at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center (Cincinnati, Ohio). Dr. Bolling conducts research in behavioral interventions to treat and prevent obesity in children and adolescents. He is also medical director of the obesity treatment program at Cincinnati Children's Hospital.
He has twelve years of practice experience in general pediatrics in Northern Kentucky and is involved extensively in practice based research initiatives. Dr. Bolling completed his training in Pediatrics at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center after graduating from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine.
Connie Brockman
Panelist
Education Director, Cincinnati Nature Center
Connie Brockman is Education Director for�the Cincinnati Nature Center.�She holds a Masters degree in Natural Resources/Environmental Education from the University of Wisconsin, and a BA degree in Environmental�Studies from Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota.� She taught at nature centers in several states prior to moving to Cincinnati 11 years ago to work at the Cincinnati Nature Center.� Her background includes work in volunteer management, strategic planning, curriculum development, and interpretive programming. She has presented at national professional conferences and served on a�national�nature center consultation team. Despite�being a transplant to�Ohio, Connie has developed a strong sense of place as she�nurtures her own land,�which is a "Certified Backyard Habitat"�under�a�program by� �National Wildlife Federation.� Connie�has helped guide Cincinnati Nature Center's current focus on children and their adult mentors, and has spent significant time working to understand the motives behind an individual's commitment to environmental action.
Debbie Gardner
Panelist
Author and "Courage Coach"
Debbie Gardner was a deputy sheriff for the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office for eight years. Her husband, Mike Gardner, was a 28 year veteran sergeant of the Cincinnati Police Division and training captain for the Warren County Sheriff's Office. Together, the Gardner's are the founders of the Survive Institute, a company offering personal protection seminars. Drawing upon their years of experience in law enforcement, the Gardners teach that courage, not fear, is the best self-defense. Their clients include Kelly Services, IBM, Procter & Gamble, General Motors, Young Presidents' organization and many others.
Debbie and Mike are the co-authors of "Raising Kids Who Can Protect Themselves" (McGraw-Hill).
