Charlie Cook is widely regarded as one of the nation’s leading authorities on U.S. elections and political trends. In 1984, at the age of 30, he started The Cook Political Report, an independent, nonpartisan newsletter that The New York Times once referred to as “being regarded as authoritative by both parties,” while legendary CBS Evening News anchor Bob Schieffer has called it “the bible of the political community.”
In addition to lecturing, Charlie continues to write his weekly column for National Journal, while also serving as a political analyst for the publication. He is also a co-author of the 2020, 2022, and 2024 editions of The Almanac of American Politics.
Al Hunt, in the Wall Street Journal, referred to Cook as “the Picasso of election analysis.” The late David Broder of The Washington Post, long considered "the Dean of the Washington political press corps," once wrote that Charlie Cook is “perhaps the best nonpartisan tracker of Congressional races.”
Charlie has appeared on ABC World News Tonight, CBS Evening News, and on ABC’s This Week — as well as several other leading news programs. He has also made more than a dozen appearances on NBC’s Meet the Press — the longest-running show on television — and was initially recruited for the show by then-host Tim Russert in the early 1990s. Over the years, he has served as an Election Night analyst for CBS and CNN — including many election nights on Decision Desk in New York.
In 2010, Charlie was the co-recipient of the American Political Science Association’s prestigious Carey McWilliams award to honor “a major journalistic contribution to our understanding of politics." In 2013, Charlie served as a Resident Fellow at the Institute of Politics at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government.
For speaking engagements, Charlie is represented by Leading Authorities Inc, and has been for more than 30 years.

Chris has transformed hiring and development in the workforce. As a former military officer and seasoned HR manager, his journey began with a vision to redefine job search methodologies. This vision led to the creation of "The Human Search Engine," a groundbreaking approach embraced by the US Congress as a national standard. But the evolution didn't stop there. With substantial shifts in workforce dynamics and demographics, Chris recognized that organizations cannot continue to search for and hire talent the way they have for the past 40 years. Knowing this, he redefined the talent acquisition process. This process is a unique recruiting strategy that will reduce your turnover rate. Chris will then help you retain and develop that talent, growing the next generation of leaders in your company. His book, Winning the War for Talent, isn't just a publication; it's a manifesto for change, guiding over 3,500 organizations nationwide.
Today, as organizations grapple with unprecedented challenges in hiring and retaining top talent, his role transcends into a business trainer and coach. Chris is a strategist, an innovator, and a trusted advisor, reengineering the structure of talent management. Through customized, process-based solutions, he empowers CEO’s, leaders, and organizations to not just fill positions, but to cultivate work environments where talent thrives and business objectives are surpassed.
As an award winning Keynote speaker, a Subject Matter Expert, and a top speaker for Vistage, the mission is clear: to equip organizations with the tools and insights to win their own wars for talent. In this era of constant change, traditional methods falter. Chris’s expertise doesn't just fill gaps; it reinvents how organizations perceive and nurture their most valuable asset – their people.
It's time for a paradigm shift. Let's redefine success together.

Jane Clark serves as the Senior Vice President of Operations at NationaLease, bringing nearly 15 years of dedicated service to the organization. In her current role, she oversees Member Services, including Reciprocal Service, Purchasing, Meetings, and National Account Support. Jane strategically manages resources, cultivates strong member relationships, optimizes costs, and fosters collaboration within NationaLease supporting groups.
Prior to joining NationaLease, Jane served as the Area Vice President for Randstad, showcasing leadership in the recruitment services industry. Her professional journey also includes management roles with QPS Companies, Pro Staff, and Manpower, Inc.
Jane holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from North Central College and a Master of Arts in Communication from Northern Illinois University, reflecting her commitment to continuous learning. Her proven leadership and strategic vision contribute significantly to NationaLease's operational efficiency and the delivery of exceptional member services.

Ken Davis is the Founder of Greentree Advisors, a consulting company to the global vehicle industry. Prior to establishing the company in 2018, Ken spent 31 years with Eaton PLC, most recently as Vehicle Group President. During his time spent in this role, he helped generate $3.5B in group revenue, managed 46 facilities in 15 countries, and led eight joint ventures for the industrial manufacturer. With almost four decades of experience in the global vehicle industry, Ken serves as a member of several joint venture boards of directors, including Eaton Cummins Automated Transmission Technologies, Southwest Michigan First, and Gilmore Car Museum. He received a BS degree in General Management from Purdue University and an MBA from the University of Michigan.

An experienced supply chain executive and spokesperson, Joseph K Gallick is a prominent leader in the truck leasing, maintenance and logistics industry. A graduate of Montclair State University, Gallick has served as a corporate liaison with numerous business and academic partnerships including the Penn State University Center for Supply Chain Research where he was the 2010 recipient of the Penn State University Robert D. Pashek Award for his contributions to the logistics and transportation fields. Gallick is also a member of the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals, Truck Rental and Leasing Association, National Private Truck Council, as well as various industry trade organizations.

Dr. David Horsager, D. Litt, CSP, CPAE is the CEO of Trust Edge Leadership Institute, Trust Expert in Residence at High Point University and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of The Trust Edge, The Daily Edge, and Trusted Leader. He is also the creator of the Enterprise Trust Index™, and director of one of the nation’s foremost trust studies, The Trust Outlook.

Horsager has advised leaders and delivered life-changing presentations on six continents, with audiences ranging from Delta, FedEx, and Toyota to the New York Yankees, MIT and the Department of Homeland Security.

His work has been featured in prominent media such as Fast Company, Forbes, and MSNBC. Through speaking, training, consulting, and coaching, David and his team at Trust Edge Leadership Institute make it their mission to develop trusted leaders and organizations. With his trademark 8 Pillar Framework, David breaks trust down into tangible steps that can be leveraged right away to build a high-trust culture—because high-trust leaders and organizations bring out the best in their people and get measurable results.

Jake Jacoby has been the President and Chief Executive Officer of TRALA since January 2015. Before that position, Jacoby worked as TRALA’s top lobbyist, as the Vice President of Government Relations on a number of issues both before Congress and in the states. He also established TRALA’s first political action committee, TRALAPAC, which has been a great benefit for TRALA’s advocacy efforts over the past three years. Prior to joining TRALA, Jacoby operated his own consulting company which specialized in trucking and transportation matters.

Jim joined ACT Research in June 2014. He is well known in the commercial vehicle industry and the broader transportation community for his analytics, his insights, and imaginative, yet down-to-earth management presentations.
Jim previously was Vice President and Chief Economist with Eaton, a position he held since 1996. He retired from Eaton after a 29-year career there, serving various roles in planning, treasury, and economics functions. Prior to joining Eaton, Jim had held consulting and management positions with Chase Econometrics and with Burroughs Corporation.
Jim holds an MBA in finance and a BA (honors) in economics from the University of Chicago. He has served on the Board of Directors of the National Association for Business Economics and has won recognition from both the Wall Street Journal and USA Today for top economic outlook from their respective panels of 50 economics forecasters.

Tom has more than 40 years of transportation-related experience in a variety of public relations, journalism, and lobbying capacities. Tom began his career with the American Trucking Associations in 1978. In 1984, he joined the Private Carrier Conference and two years later was promoted to Executive Director. In 1989, he joined Fleet Owner as Washington Editor, where he worked before taking a job as the Director of Public Affairs for the Georgia Ports Authority. He rejoined Fleet Owner in 1995 as Editor and served in a similar capacity with Randall Publishing until June 2001 when he started his own strategic marketing communications company. He joined NPTC in his current role in January 2007. He obtained his CTP designation in 1997.

An industry leader with over 30 years of experience, Dean Vicha's success in the truck leasing industry comes from the principals of personal responsibility, unrelenting perseverance and confidence focused on the growth of the customers, members, and business partners of NationaLease.

Vicha began his career with NationaLease as a National Account Executive for the Midwest in 2005, where he substantially grew the National Account Program to more than $447 million in term sales. In 2008, he became Vice President of Member Services, executing a strategy that provided a sustainable competitive advantage to NationaLease members and growing the membership base. In 2010, Vicha became the Vice President of National Accounts, leading that team to a record-breaking year in sales. In 2012, Vicha was named President of NationaLease, where he helps members increase their market share and decrease their cost of business. In the last decade, he has grown the company in terms of size and scope. Today, NationaLease has more than 1,000 locations and a fleet count of over 184,000 throughout the United States and Canada.

In his downtime, Vicha enjoys spending time with his wife, Whitney and children Riley and Brendan and playing golf or attending a sporting event. Vicha is a 1992 graduate of Illinois State University.

Kyle Warner is the Transportation and Compliance Manager at Packard Culligan Water, where he plays a pivotal role in overseeing the fleet, compliance, and safety strategies essential for the company’s operational success. His primary focus is on enhancing efficiency and ensuring strict adherence to regulatory standards.
Kyle earned his degree in Transportation and Logistics Management from the University of Wisconsin, Superior. This educational background laid the foundation for his career in the transportation industry.
Prior to his tenure at Packard Culligan Water, Kyle gained valuable experience working for UPS. He began his career as a driver and progressively advanced to roles in operations management, where he was responsible for overseeing UPS centers in St. Cloud and Maple Grove, Minnesota.
Kyle's expertise in managing complex transportation networks and his unwavering commitment to safety and compliance have established him as a key asset in streamlining operations and driving the success of his organization. His skill in managing the complexities of transportation logistics guarantees that Packard Culligan Water runs smoothly and efficiently.
Outside of his professional life, Kyle is a dedicated father to his two young children, Irish twins Banks (2) and Sutton (1). He enjoys a range of outdoor activities, including boating, hunting deer and pheasant, and playing in a beer league hockey team.