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GREG LUCAS has been a California political writer and satirist for more than 20 years. He’s leveled his bipartisan wit and humor at Republicans and Democrats and, not infrequently, himself.
His blog, California’s Capitol – www.californiascapitol.com is often funny, occasionally insightful and well-read by denizens of what he refers to as the White Sepulcher. Greg has spoken to educators, business leaders and numerous trade associations about the good, bad and ugly of California politics. He has also counseled companies in improving their writing and communications. During 19 years covering the state Capitol for the San Francisco Chronicle, Greg wrote nearly 3,000 articles on everything from presidential politics to the introduction of prune burgers in school cafeterias. Greg has written about gambling, transportation, health care, growth, education and nearly every DBI — Dull But Important — issue that has confronted public policy makers over the past two decades. His most challenging job, however, was ride operator on Pirates of the Caribbean at Disneyland. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Communications from Stanford University and a Masters degree in Professional Writing — as opposed to amateurish writing — from the University of Southern California. But he has never let academics stand in the way of his education. |
| GEORGE WATTS is President and CEO of the National Chicken Council, the national trade association for companies that produce, process and market approximately 95 percent of the meat type chicken in the United States. The National Chicken Council is located in Washington, DC.
Prior to joining the poultry industry, Mr. Watts served as Administrative and Legislative Assistant for two Members of Congress. He received his degree from the University of Georgia, where he majored in journalism and minored in poultry science. |
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SHERRIE L. ROSENBLATT is the Senior Director of Marketing and Communications for the National Turkey Federation. She is Primarily responsible for providing services and conducting activities that increase demand for the turkey industries’ products by protecting and enhancing their ability to profitably provide wholesome, high-quality, nutritious products. Rosenblatt Joined NTF in 1998 as Director of Public Relations. Prior to NTF, Rosenblatt spent 15 years with the Food Marketing Institute, a trade association representing the supermarket industry, where she had various positions in the public relations department. Rosenblatt graduated from the University of Maryland with a Bachelors Degree in Family and Community Development. |
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MARILYN DOMPE has extensive experience in consumer and business-to-business marketing, public relations, event planning and issues management. As an independent contractor since 1989, she has handled consumer and foodservice PR efforts for a number of commodity boards and association including the Mushroom Council, California Tree Fruit Agreement, Sweet Potato Council, California Sheep Commission, California Grown Campaign, California Poultry Federation, as well as brands such as DiMare Company, Mann Packing, Maple Leaf Farms, Gold River Farms and R. Torre/Torani, Inc. Previously, Ms Dompe served as Deputy Director of Media Relations for Hill and Knowlton, Los Angeles. She was involved with strategic development and implementation of consumer media relations and public affairs programs for such clients as Sunkist Growers, Inc., Washington Apple Commission and Monsanto. Ms Dompe is a contributor to Flavor & The Menu Magazine a restaurant trade publication that reports on trends, forecasts, strategies and techniques as they related to the business of flavor. Ms Dompe graduated with highest honors from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. |
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MITCH HEAD is the senior campaign advisor on the Californians for SAFE Food-NO on Prop. 2 campaign. He also is managing director of the international public relations firm of GolinHarris where he helps clients worldwide manage activism issues.
Mitch has 30 years of experience on issues management at the local, state and federal levels. He has worked on environmental, animal welfare, international trade, and agricultural issues. He has a broad background with extensive experience in issues management, public affairs, international public relations, crisis communications, trade association management and public relations agency management. He has worked for clients such as Coca-Cola, Hershey’s, Dow, U.S. peanut farmers, Australian sheep farmers, National Cattlemen, and of course the U.S. egg industry. |
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Conference Entertainment JAY ALEXANDER, a master magician and comic, is one of the top corporate and society entertainers in the country. He has appeared on the Today Show, Good Morning America, MTV, and is a favorite on many local morning shows. Star of the award winning CD “Learn the Art of Magic,” Jay Alexander creates customized shows for Fortune 500 companies and is a consultant and co-author of many magic books, including The Coin Magic Book by Klutz Press. Jay Alexander is the great grandson of the legendary vaudeville performer, Gentleman Ben Darwin. As a child Jay Alexander found a trunk in his grandparents attic filled with magic and escaped. His interest in magic took off from there. At the age of fourteen he was honored to be the youngest recipient of the Society of American Magicians Gold Medal of Honor. Jay Alexander creates custom corporate presentations for trade shows, sales meetings, product rollouts, incentive dinners, gala banquets, and brand marketing events, to name a few. Jay works with the client to create a signature moment: he used Travelers Insurance’s trademarked umbrella to spear a chosen card out of the air; for the United States Postal Service, a week prior to the event Jay mailed a package to the conference director that held a $100 bill borrowed from the audience that same evening. Jay Alexander’s specialty is magically producing the guest of honor – the CEO may appear in place of a caged tiger, a burlesque dancer, or out of thin air. Jay Alexander uses a conference theme or corporate branding, combined with imagination, to design a one-of-a-kind experience. |
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