Hamline University

David Schultz, Ph.D., JD, is a Distinguished University Professor in the Departments of Political Science, Environmental Studies, and Legal Studies at Hamline University. He is also an adjunct professor of Law at the University of Minnesota and at the University of St. Thomas. A four-time Fulbright scholar who has taught extensively in Europe and Asia, and the winner of the Leslie A. Whittington national award for excellence in public affairs teaching, David is the author of more than 45 books and 200+ articles on various aspects of American politics, election law, and the media and politics, and he is regularly interviewed and quoted in the local, national, and international media on these subjects including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, the Economist, and National Public Radio. His most recent books are Constitutional Precedent in US Supreme Court Reasoning (2022), Handbook of Election Law (2022), and Presidential Swing States (2022). Prior to teaching, Professor Schultz served as a city director of planning, zoning and code enforcement, and as a housing and economic planner for a community action agency. David is on the ACS Minnesota Advisory Board and is former executive director of Common Cause Minnesota and a former vice-president for the Minnesota and South Texas chapters of the American Civil Liberties Union. He is licensed to practice law in Minnesota and before the US Supreme Court.

Author of the book "The Richest Man in Town"

V.J. Smith is a professional speaker and published author. He graduated from South Dakota State University in 1978 and spent the decade of the 1980s working for the Allied Signal Aerospace Company in Kansas City. He returned to his alma mater in 1990, working for six years in the SDSU Athletic Department. He was appointed Executive Director of the SDSU Alumni Association in 1996. In January 2007, he left that position to pursue a career in professional speaking. Smith travels the country and makes over 100 speaking appearances a year. He has spoken in more than 500 schools throughout the country.

Meeting and Conventions Magazine named V.J. as one of the favorite speakers of meeting planners throughout America.

He is the author of the best-selling book, “The Richest Man Town.” The book details Smith’s relationship with a little old man who ran a cash register at a local Walmart. “That guy changed my life,” Smith says.

Smith is a two time finalist in Toastmasters' International's “World's Championship of Public Speaking.” He is also the author of, ”Can You Hear What I See?” and “Jackrabbit Tales.”

Smith served in the South Dakota State Senate 2019-2023 and is the President of Life's Great Moments located in Brookings, SD.

Grand Valley State University - Seidman College of Business

Chris is a CPA with the heart of a teacher. He is an associate professor of accounting with Grand Valley State University's Seidman College of Business. He also serves as a senior manager and director of education for Hungerford CPAs + Advisors. Chris has been serving tax and accounting needs of closely held business and individuals since 1998. He has also owned and operated several of his own businesses throughout his career.

Chris develops and presents a variety of continuing professional educational programs that focus on accounting/auditing and ethical guidelines for the everyday accountant. He is a frequent discussion leader for the MICPA and other state society organizations in live and webinar-based models.

CEO & Owner, Kassi Rushing Consulting

Kassi Rushing Builds Places People Want to Work. She specializes in connecting the people, processes and resources necessary to make culture your competitive advantage. Since 2002, Kassi has been bridging the strategies between business and people. She has spent the last 15+ years of her career working within the accounting profession transforming workplace culture, building high performing teams, developing leaders and leadership pipelines with future ready skills, designing intentional employee experiences, and crafting communication strategy to accelerate success. Kassi previously served as the director of people growth and engagement for a Top 50 public accounting firm from 2007-2020. There, she directed the strategy, teams and budgets for: recruiting, onboarding and new hire experience, ongoing team member development, leadership pipelines, internal communication, and internal coaching. She was a special advisor to the executive partner, chair of the personnel committee, and served on the steering committee for improving sense of belonging. 

Kassi earned her Bachelor of Arts in communication with an emphasis in public relations from Mississippi State University and her Master of Science in corporate communication and public relations from Mississippi College. She holds the Accreditation in Public Relations from the Public Relations Society of America and her Certificate in Diversity & Inclusion from the Yale School of Management. Kassi is sought after consultant and speaker within the profession, and serves as a strategic partner, facilitator and designated Thought Leader with the AICPA-CIMA's Business Learning Institute. Kassi is a wife, working mom, caregiver to aging parents, and owner of Kassi Rushing Consulting.