Touted as one of the Top Ten “Hottest” Chefs of 2011 by CNN’s, ManCave Daily, Cookbook Author, Celebrity Chef, Professional Speaker, Certified Nutritionist & and founder of Karma Chow, Melissa Costello has always had a passion for nutrition and healthy eating. Laden with multiple illnesses as a child, Melissa started to use food as medicine to help herself heal.

Her cookbook, The Karma Chow Ultimate Cookbook: 125+ Recipes for a Fit, Happy, Healthy You, contains simple and delicious recipes that make plant-based eating easy and accessible, for vegans and non-vegans alike. Her recipes have been featured in Women’s Health, Self Magazine, VegNews and more.

Melissa’s second book, The Clean in 14 Detox is slated to release in May of 2014. This revolutionary, food-based program teaches you how to recharge your life through eating a clean, plant-based diet, as well as break life-long habits that can sabotage your health & vitality.

Alex Niles was diagnosed with Stage IV gastric cancer in the fall of 2013, at age 30. He is the founder of CureWear, a lifestyle apparel line designed to provide comfort for cancer patients during treatment, while inspiring their friends and family. He is also writing a book geared towards younger cancer battlers, that sets forth his positive, activist approach to fighting the illness.

Alex holds an undergraduate degree from Drexel University, where he was a Division 1 scholarship athlete, and a graduate degree from Fordham University. His work has been featured in the NY Times, Huffington Post, and Psychology Today.

Joe Schrank has spent his life in and around active alcoholism. After stabilizing his own post-undergrad depression and alcoholism, he returned to school and studied clinical social work at Iona College and the University of Illinois. Following a tenure at Promises in Malibu, CA, Joe established the first sober living facility in New York City, Loft 107. Frustrated with the lack of media attention on the recovery community, Joe then founded TheFix.com with Maer Roshan. Most recently, Joe founded ReboundBrooklyn, an innovative treatment program, with Dr. Scott Bienenfeld, a prominent psychiatrist specializing in addiction.

Shane Snow is a New York City-based technology journalist and web entrepreneur, currently Co-founder and Chief Creative Officer of Contently. Originally from Idaho, he holds a master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University. A member of Sandbox Network and the Royal Society Of The Arts, Shane writes for WIRED Magazine and Fast Company, and has designed infogaphics for MTV, Gizmodo, and The United Nations. Shane has an unhealthy obsession with pizza and loves science, surprises, and pet ferrets.

Traci S. Campbell is a life coach, public speaker, author, radio host, IT consultant and founder of two organizations, the C.H.A.M.P. Community Project, and the “Beauty In / Beauty Out Tour”. The C.H.A.M.P. Community Project is a 501(c)(3) organization which aims to provide support to single parents and their children and teens. The “Beauty In /Beauty Out Tour” also known as BIBO Tour, seeks to recognize dynamic women demonstrating leadership in their communities..

Neena Nejad is an Iranian-American filmmaker and photographer. She has a background in photojournalism and travel photography. She studied film in Ventura CA. She is very happy to be working in a lot of different projects. Her background in photojournalism and travel photography led to her current projects, working on documentaries and Reality TV. Nejad loves the intimacy and art of documentaries. Nejad has worked for high profile networks like Oxygen, TNT, Bravo... Nejad is also an activist.

Amy Logan, a global women’s human rights activist, is the author of The Seven Perfumes of Sacrifice, a suspense novel about the search for the ancient, lost origins of honor killing in the Middle East, which she researched for a decade to uncover. Amy has presented her research on honor violence at global conferences from Los Angeles to Turkey and UN Women events. Amy is featured in and the Consulting Producer for “The Price of Honor”, and on the Advisory Board of the documentary film “Honor Diaries”.

Dhairya Pujara is the Founder and CEO of  Ycenter and author of an upcoming book "Dream or Job". He received his Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering from Drexel University’s School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems in 2012. He was awarded the Meritorious Service Award by Drexel University graduate student association and a special recognition for creative leadership. His first e-commerce startup at the age of 20, was selected as one of the top 1000 emerging businesses in India by "The Economic Times” in 2009.

Veteran residential specialist Victoria Shtainer is as creative as she is tenacious in hunting out the best properties for her clients. Along with her seasoned knowledge of the real estate market comes a thorough education of various neighborhoods for buyers who benefit from her expert, attentive guidance. Victoria's insight into the potential of properties begins way before they are actually built. Her in-depth experience with preconstruction enables her to visualize both space and possibilities in terms of aesthetics as well as value. Victoria's keen vision has helped homeowners and investors alike, not to mention herself and her husband who have developed commercial and residential projects - plus handled the litigations and sales for them - throughout Brooklyn.

Jason Lipshutz is an Inside Rising Star Panelist and associate editor at Billboard.com and single reviews editor for Billboard magazine. He is the editor of Billboard.com's Pop Shop blog, the co-host of its weekly Pop Shop Podcast and regular contributor to Billboard magazine. He is based in New York.

Richard Lopez is freelance Consultant and Event Program Manager for The Food Network's South Beach Wine & Food Festival (SOBEWFF). With over 10 years in the events/entertainment industry; from managing events and award ceremonies with 1,000+ attendees to currently managing People Operations of 1,300+ volunteers comprised entirely of Millennials. Richard has been featured on BizBash, Telemundo Un Nuevo Dia, Slacker Radio, and was named by PostPlanner.com as part of the Top 22 Influential Millennials of our Time.

Lee Fox is the founder of PeerSpring.com, a new peer-to-peer network which unlocks funding for young social entrepreneurs. She also serves as a consultant to brands and nonprofits that wish to engage a younger demographic in their civic engagement, CSR, cause-branding and social impact initiatives. By specializing in what motivates people to "give" -- be that of time, expertise, financial support or with social media contributions, Lee speaks nationally about generational trends, drivers of popular culture, emerging social finance vehicles, digital currencies and the future of philanthropy.

Greg Call served four years in the United States Marine Corps as a Ground Intelligence Officer. He deployed to Afghanistan and Africa in support of Operation Enduring freedom. Prior to the Marine Corps, Greg earned a graduate degree in managerial accounting from Michigan State University. Following graduation, Greg worked in corporate management consulting and is a Certified Public Accountant in the State of Michigan. Greg is currently the Founder/CEO of PatriotMove, a tech start-up providing free services for the military community.

Kaeya Majmundar is an undergraduate at Emory University in Atlanta, GA and serial entrepreneur most known for her appearance on ABC’s Shark Tank Season Finale. Her current products are BZbox, a collapsible storage box, Handykap, a physical therapy product, and Ringlee, a jewelry customization website.

Kathy Gruver is an award-winning author and the host of the national TV show based on her first book, The Alternative Medicine Cabinet (winner Beverly Hills Book Awards). She has earned her PhD in Natural Health and has authored two books on stress: Body/Mind Therapies for the Bodyworker and, just published, Conquer Your Stress with Mind/Body Techniques (Winner Beverly Hills Book Awards, Finalist for the USA Best Books Award).

She has studied mind/body medicine at the famed Benson-Henry Institute for Mind-Body Medicine at Harvard Medical School and pursued further education at The National Institutes of Health. Gruver has been featured as an expert in numerous publications including Glamour, CNN, WebMD, Prevention, Men’s Health, Huffington Post, Yahoo.com, Ladies Home Journal, Massage and Bodyworks Magazine, and Massage Magazine.

Rashida Thomas serves as an Internal Audit Consultant at CVS Caremark where she is responsible for assessing controls around the security, availability, and integrity of the organizations IT environment. She also serves as an Adjunct Professor and Community Externship Coordinator at Richland College for the Community Pharmacy Technician Program.

Rashida received a B.S. in Soil, Environmental and Atmospheric Sciences from the University of Missouri-Columbia, a M.B.A from

Lindenwood University, a M.A. in Management and Leadership from Webster University and is a Certified Pharmacy Technician. Rashida currently blogs at thecubelifechronicles.com to bring exposure to things she has seen or encountered in the workplace and also offer tips that will help individuals excel in Corporate America.

George Perez studied drums and percussion at Boston’s Berklee College of Music in the mid-1980’s and followed it up with a successful career as the drummer in the Boston Indi rock band, 6L6, recording three Top 30 albums in the CMJ college charts as well as several tours across America.

After 6L6 disbanded in the late 1990’s, George changed his creative focus and relocated to the New York City area, where he went onto become a produced playwright and screenplay analyst for producer/director Lee Daniels of “Lee Daniels’ The Butler” and “Precious” fame.

In 2011, George teamed up with his friend, director Mohammad Maaty, to create “The Life,” an independently produced scripted drama series that helps raise awareness to the fight against child sex-trafficking in America.

Andrew Hemingway is a NH native and technology entrepreneur running for Governor. He is a problem solver who throughout his career has brought forward innovative solutions and turned those into successful businesses. Andrew is the first Millennial to run for Governor in the country, and is proud to be leading the next generation of leaders.

George Srour, 30, is the Founder and Chief Dreamer of Building Tomorrow, Inc. (BT). Srour attended the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, VA, where he graduated in 2005 with a major in Government and International Relations. Upon graduation, Srour was awarded the James Monroe Prize for Civic Leadership and the inaugural William E. Simon Fellowship for Noble Purpose. Using both awards, Srour started BT from an unused room in his parents’ house in the fall of 2005.

Kimberly Moffit is one of Canada's most experienced media/television relationship experts and the proud founder of KMA Therapy. She currently appears on Canada's most watched programs including Canada AM, CBC's The National, E!News, E!Talk Canada, and Breakfast Television.

As a Toronto-based relationship therapist and expert, Kimberly offers a fun yet informed psychological perspective on relationships, and provides practical advice for families, parenting, and psychological topics. Kimberly is a regular speaker for Queen's University's MBA and Women in Leadership Programs and a frequent lecturer at the University of Waterloo. Her appearances focus on how to improve relationships, finding inner confidence, embracing entrepreneurship, and cognitive-behavioral strategies to dating and marriage.