Molly Cox
Molly Cox is a speaker, improv actor and the co-author of the book, Improvise This! How to Think on Your Feet so You Don't Fall on Your Face. (Hyperion 2002).

She writes the humor column for the Minnesota Chapter of the National Speakers Association and is on the Editorial Advisory Board of the National Speakers Associaiton. She is the former G.M of an up-scale athletic club and director of sales and marketing for two hotels. As a trainer and consultant to both the athletic and country club industries, she has worked with organizations nationally to build their teams and provide professional service.

Currently she is the owner and creative director of Strongcoffeeink, a card and gift line for women. Her greeting card line, Careerchik, has won her accolades from the Pioneer Press and a Louie Nomination from the National Greeting Card Association.

Dick Kopplin
Dick Kopplin graduated from the University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire and started his career in the golf business by managing private clubs in Wisconsin and Minnesota. He continued his thirty-five year career as general manager and vice president of operations for some nationally recognized clubs like Castle Pines, Desert Mountain and PGA WEST.

The last twelve years of experience were gained while serving as vice president or senior director of clubs for companies, which involved multi-club responsibilities. The companies have included KSL Recreation Corp. in LaQuinta, California, Desert Mountain Development Company in Scottsdale, Arizona and Castle Pines in Denver, Colorado. Additionally he has served on the Executive Committee for nine PGA and Senior PGA Tour events.

He has also "opened" five golf courses and four clubhouses, working closely with the architects and construction firms. He presently serves as president of KOPPLIN SEARCH, INC., an executive placement company specializing in the private club industry.

Ralph Jacobson
For more than twenty-five years Ralph provided innovative solutions for Fortune 50 organizations as well as emerging growth companies in a wide variety of industries. For the last sixteen years he has been the Principal of The Leader's Toolbox and Synthesis Consulting, Inc. He has held executive Human Resource positions with Medtronic, Crosfield Dicomed, and General Growth Center Companies.

Ralph has written extensively in the areas of leadership and organization change. His book, Leading for a Change: How to Master the Five Challenges Faced by Every Leader, published in 2000, was named one of the top business books by mgeneral.com. The book created the framework to build The Leader's Toolbox methodology. He has contributed to The Change Champion's Field Guide, and published articles in The American Management Association's, MWorld, American Executive, Chief Learning Officer Magazine, and American College of Physicians journal.

In 2007, Ralph was recognized by Executive Excellence magazine as one of the top ten leadership developers in the country. He was also recognized by the magazine in 2005 as providing one of the most innovative leadership development solutions.

Ralph has served as adjunct faculty at the University of St. Thomas for more than ten years. He has taught in the Executive MBA program and is currently teaching in the Physician's Leadership College.

Ralph has been a featured speaker at numerous professional conferences. He is a member of the National Speakers Association and the World Wide Association of Business Coaches.

Ralph received the American Express Quality Award for his consulting work. He was an examiner for the Minnesota Quality Award. He holds advanced degrees in psychology and human resources from The Ohio State University and the University of Minnesota.

Ralph resides in Minneapolis, Minnesota with his wife of 29 years.

Stephen Barth
Stephen Barth, author of Hospitality Law and coauthor of Restaurant Law Basics, is an attorney, the founder of HospitalityLawyer.com and the annual HospitalityLaw Conference series. As a professor at the Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management, University of Houston, he teaches courses in hospitality law and leadership. He has over twenty years of experience in hospitality operations, including line positions, management, and ownership.

He is a member of the State Bar of Texas. He is also a mediator and a strong proponent for alternative dispute resolution.

Stephen's articles on legal and leadership issues appear regularly in Lodging Hospitality, Club Management, GlobalChefs.com, National Hotel Executive, and HospitalityLawyer.com. He speaks regularly on many issues for the National Restaurant Association, the American Hotel & Lodging Association, the Club Managers Association, the National Association of Catering Executives, National Business Travel Association, the Texas Hotel and Lodging Association, CHEERS, and many other hospitality associations and hospitality management companies, including Four Seasons, Hyatt, Hilton, Choice, Best Western Hotels, Intercontinental and Wyndham Worldwide.

His presentations focus on positive leadership techniques and methods for preventing liability in the hospitality industry. He assisted the National Restaurant Association in developing its Safety and Security Seminar and its Responsible Service of Alcohol program. Other presentations developed by Stephen include STEM the Tide of Litigation; Positive Leadership for Positive Performance; A Model for Reducing Worker's Compensation Costs for the Hospitality Industry; Enhancing Your Presentation Effectiveness; Managing Your Emotional Energy; and Legal Updates for Lodging, Restaurant and Club Operations.

He is a member of a select group of instructors worldwide designated by the Educational Institute of the American Hotel & Lodging Association to teach its Certified Hospitality Educator (CHE) program.

Stephen earned his Law degree, Master of Arts in communications and a Bachelor of Arts degree with honors in economics from Texas Tech University. In 1995 he was recognized by the City of Houston for his accomplishments as a faculty member at the University of Houston, and in 1996 he received the Dean's award for Teaching Excellence at the Conrad N. Hilton College, University of Houston. In 1998 Stephen was awarded the University Teaching Excellence Award, the highest recognition of teaching bestowed by the University of Houston. In 2000 he received the University of Houston's Distance Education Award. In 2001 he launched HospitalityLawyer.com. In 2002 he initiated the Annual HospitalityLaw conference series. In 2003 Stephen launched the Electronic Journal of Hospitality Legal, Safety and Security Research. In 2007 he was the recipient of the Hilton College Outstanding Teacher award.