Dr. Alan Rosenblatt is a political and digital strategist, researcher and professor and probably the most social media-savvy non-millennial you’ve ever met. He is currently a Principal at turner4D and the Director of Digital Research at Lake Research Partners, where he uses his social media expertise to assist Democratic and progressive campaigns. Alan’s goal is to show people not just how to work social media, but how to use it strategically to build an engaged audience and influence changemakers. After graduating from Tufts with a B.A. in Political Science and Philosophy, Alan continued his studies in political science, earning an M.A. at Boston College and his Ph.D. at American University in the field. He began his work in digital strategizing and analysis back in 1995, when he created and taught one of the first-ever classes on the politics of cyberspace at George Mason University. Since then, he’s held many jobs relating to his research, teaching at the college level, running political blogs, and creating social media strategies. He says he is active on just about every social media platform that exists, so you’ll have an easy time finding him on Twitter at @Dr.Digipol.

Dr. Alan Rosenblatt is a political and digital strategist, researcher and professor and probably the most social media-savvy non-millennial you’ve ever met. He is currently a Principal at turner4D and the Director of Digital Research at Lake Research Partners, where he uses his social media expertise to assist Democratic and progressive campaigns. Alan’s goal is to show people not just how to work social media, but how to use it strategically to build an engaged audience and influence changemakers. After graduating from Tufts with a B.A. in Political Science and Philosophy, Alan continued his studies in political science, earning an M.A. at Boston College and his Ph.D. at American University in the field. He began his work in digital strategizing and analysis back in 1995, when he created and taught one of the first-ever classes on the politics of cyberspace at George Mason University. Since then, he’s held many jobs relating to his research, teaching at the college level, running political blogs, and creating social media strategies. He says he is active on just about every social media platform that exists, so you’ll have an easy time finding him on Twitter at @Dr.Digipol.

Ambassador Rick Barton currently teaches at the Woodrow Wilson School at Princeton University, where he serves as the co-director of Princeton’s Scholars in the Nation’s Service Initiatives and Ullman Fellowships.  He has served as an American ambassador to the United Nations and the Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees at the United Nations, and he was the first Assistant Secretary of State for Conflict and Stabilization Operations under former president Barack Obama.  He has led conflict management initiatives in crisis zones across the globe, in countries as diverse as Haiti, Iraq, Nigeria and Turkey. Ambassador Barton is dedicated to advancing peaceful democratic change. In business, politics and government service, he pursues this challenge by building organizations and partnerships that are: driven by mission and principles; committed to learning and mutual respect; and measured by impact. He believes leadership is most likely to be effective if there is a sincere effort to develop a common understanding of what is most important, a clear set of priority actions, an integrated team, independent measures of progress and tireless communication. Over the past twenty years, Ambassador Barton has worked in 40+ countries, engaging with local people and opportunities to catalyze progress. When you expand trust, seek innovation, and encourage ingenuity, risk taking is rewarded.

Ambassador Rick Barton currently teaches at the Woodrow Wilson School at Princeton University, where he serves as the co-director of Princeton’s Scholars in the Nation’s Service Initiatives and Ullman Fellowships.  He has served as an American ambassador to the United Nations and the Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees at the United Nations, and he was the first Assistant Secretary of State for Conflict and Stabilization Operations under former president Barack Obama.  He has led conflict management initiatives in crisis zones across the globe, in countries as diverse as Haiti, Iraq, Nigeria and Turkey. Ambassador Barton is dedicated to advancing peaceful democratic change. In business, politics and government service, he pursues this challenge by building organizations and partnerships that are: driven by mission and principles; committed to learning and mutual respect; and measured by impact. He believes leadership is most likely to be effective if there is a sincere effort to develop a common understanding of what is most important, a clear set of priority actions, an integrated team, independent measures of progress and tireless communication. Over the past twenty years, Ambassador Barton has worked in 40+ countries, engaging with local people and opportunities to catalyze progress. When you expand trust, seek innovation, and encourage ingenuity, risk taking is rewarded.

Madeline Rose is a Senior Global Advocacy Advisor at Mercy Corps, a global humanitarian and development NGO, where she works to create and implement public policies to solve some of the world’s biggest problems. She’s a policy expert and advocacy strategist with innovative problem-solving skills, evidenced by her success in designing Mercy Corps’ first globally coordinated advocacy campaign, which she now leads. Her current focus is passing a bill called the “Global Fragility and Violence Reduction Act of 2018” in the U.S. Congress that will help end violence in Guatemala, Nigeria, Iraq and many other conflict-affected countries. Madeline travels frequently and works with her Mercy Corps colleagues in countries around the world to find out what may be driving violence in their countries in order to identify solutions to stopping it. Madeline studied Diplomacy and World Affairs at Occidental College and during her time there, interned with the United Nations. After graduating, Madeline moved to D.C. and worked in the Capitol Hill office of former Rep. Mike Honda (D-CA) as a Legislative Correspondent and Staff Assistant. It was in Rep. Honda’s office that Madeline learned the value of mentorship and truly kicked off her career. Since then, she’s worked her way up at Mercy Corps, moving from policy advisor up to her current title. Where others focus on finding problems, Madeline focuses on creating solutions to make the world a better place.

Madeline Rose is a Senior Global Advocacy Advisor at Mercy Corps, a global humanitarian and development NGO, where she works to create and implement public policies to solve some of the world’s biggest problems. She’s a policy expert and advocacy strategist with innovative problem-solving skills, evidenced by her success in designing Mercy Corps’ first globally coordinated advocacy campaign, which she now leads. Her current focus is passing a bill called the “Global Fragility and Violence Reduction Act of 2018” in the U.S. Congress that will help end violence in Guatemala, Nigeria, Iraq and many other conflict-affected countries. Madeline travels frequently and works with her Mercy Corps colleagues in countries around the world to find out what may be driving violence in their countries in order to identify solutions to stopping it. Madeline studied Diplomacy and World Affairs at Occidental College and during her time there, interned with the United Nations. After graduating, Madeline moved to D.C. and worked in the Capitol Hill office of former Rep. Mike Honda (D-CA) as a Legislative Correspondent and Staff Assistant. It was in Rep. Honda’s office that Madeline learned the value of mentorship and truly kicked off her career. Since then, she’s worked her way up at Mercy Corps, moving from policy advisor up to her current title. Where others focus on finding problems, Madeline focuses on creating solutions to make the world a better place.

Larry Cohen is the Founder and CEO of Axis Promotions, a full-service marketing agency, based in New York City, focused on brand development in the promotional products marketplace. Larry started Axis Promotions in 1992 at his kitchen table, after he saw a need for disposable binoculars for the NBA, and managed to sell the NBA on that idea.  Larry graduated from Duke University as pre-med with a B.A. in Political Science because he thought he was going to head off to medical school. But after a conversation with a college mentor his senior year, Larry decided to change course and eventually went to the University of Pennsylvania law school. Today, Axis Promotions is an award-winning agency with five locations across the country serving clients from Zappos to Nickelodeon to Jet Blue to the USA Network.  Axis Promotions specializes in brand development in the promotional products marketplace. Axis has been named Counselor Magazine’s Top 40 Distributors 5 years in a row, Promo Marketing Magazine Top 40 Distributor, and PPB Greatest Companies to Work For.

Larry Cohen is the Founder and CEO of Axis Promotions, a full-service marketing agency, based in New York City, focused on brand development in the promotional products marketplace. Larry started Axis Promotions in 1992 at his kitchen table, after he saw a need for disposable binoculars for the NBA, and managed to sell the NBA on that idea.  Larry graduated from Duke University as pre-med with a B.A. in Political Science because he thought he was going to head off to medical school. But after a conversation with a college mentor his senior year, Larry decided to change course and eventually went to the University of Pennsylvania law school. Today, Axis Promotions is an award-winning agency with five locations across the country serving clients from Zappos to Nickelodeon to Jet Blue to the USA Network.  Axis Promotions specializes in brand development in the promotional products marketplace. Axis has been named Counselor Magazine’s Top 40 Distributors 5 years in a row, Promo Marketing Magazine Top 40 Distributor, and PPB Greatest Companies to Work For.

Dylan Gambardella is the co-founder of Next Gen Summit and previously co-founded Students4Students.  He is an accomplished entrepreneur, speaker, investor, and activist. The 22-year-old Duke University alumnus has addressed global audiences at events including TEDx, Yale University, and UCLA, and is passionate about supporting young people in creating lasting, positive impact in our world.   Dylan was born and raised in Westchester, New York and graduated as the valedictorian of his high school class.  While at Duke, he majored in Economics and Public Policy and was named a Melissa & Doug Scholar and was elected as Senator for the student body. Dylan was also a member of the Duke Basketball Practice Team and a Director of Campus Enterprises, Duke’s oldest student-run company.   Dylan was the 2017 recipient of the New York Wunderkind award.  But Dylan’s entrepreneurial journey began at age 17 when he co-founded Students4Students, a higher-education consulting firm designed to provide applicants an advantage in the collegiate admissions process. After successfully helping over 120 clients in the first two years, Dylan co-founded Next Gen, where he aims to support innovation by providing the resources young entrepreneurs need to change the world.  To date, Dylan and Next Gen have hosted thousands of attendees at more than a dozen events across the country - including the international Next Gen Summit - and have attracted an online network of over 5,000 young entrepreneurs.

Dylan Gambardella is the co-founder of Next Gen Summit and previously co-founded Students4Students.  He is an accomplished entrepreneur, speaker, investor, and activist. The 22-year-old Duke University alumnus has addressed global audiences at events including TEDx, Yale University, and UCLA, and is passionate about supporting young people in creating lasting, positive impact in our world.   Dylan was born and raised in Westchester, New York and graduated as the valedictorian of his high school class.  While at Duke, he majored in Economics and Public Policy and was named a Melissa & Doug Scholar and was elected as Senator for the student body. Dylan was also a member of the Duke Basketball Practice Team and a Director of Campus Enterprises, Duke’s oldest student-run company.   Dylan was the 2017 recipient of the New York Wunderkind award.  But Dylan’s entrepreneurial journey began at age 17 when he co-founded Students4Students, a higher-education consulting firm designed to provide applicants an advantage in the collegiate admissions process. After successfully helping over 120 clients in the first two years, Dylan co-founded Next Gen, where he aims to support innovation by providing the resources young entrepreneurs need to change the world.  To date, Dylan and Next Gen have hosted thousands of attendees at more than a dozen events across the country - including the international Next Gen Summit - and have attracted an online network of over 5,000 young entrepreneurs.