Karl Rove
Keynote Speaker

Karl Rove served as Deputy Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor to President George W. Bush. Mr. Rove oversaw the strategic planning, political affairs, public liaison, and intergovernmental affairs efforts of the White House. He was also Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy, coordinating the White House policy making process.

Karl Rove was the architect of the President’s 2000 and 2004 campaigns and, for the 18 years before the start of the 2000 campaign, president of Karl Rove + Company, an Austin, Texas-based public affairs firm that worked for Republican candidates, non-partisan causes, and non-profit groups. His clients have included over 75 Republican U.S. Senate, Congressional and gubernatorial candidates in 24 states, as well as the Moderate Party of Sweden.

The Colorado native attended the Unversity of Utah, George Mason University and the University of Texas at Austin.

Chuck Leavell,
Second Keynote Speaker

Chuck Leavell has been pleasing the ears of music fans for more then 30 years. His piano and keyboard work have been heard on the works of Eric Clapton, the Rolling Stones, George Harrison, The Allman Brothers Band, The Black Crowes, Train, and many other prominent artists. His association with the Stones has been a long one, beginning back in 1982 and still going strong. He is also an artist in his own right, with several successful solo CDs in circulation.