Visiting Speakers   

Join Visiting Speaker Len Ferman, Creativity and Innovation Professor, for an engaging presentation as he takes participants on a journey through time—50, 60, 70, even 100 years into the past. Len will share captivating insights into three of the most compelling human-interest stories about legendary athletes he has researched. Through his storytelling, these heartwarming tales of greatness will come vividly to life, offering inspiration and a glimpse into the extraordinary lives of these remarkable individuals.

Tired of feeling like our state is the butt of every joke about stupid criminals and weird people? Here are some ways Florida's actually better than any other state. From Apalachicola to Zolfo Springs, we're spectacular. Join us as you learn more about the "Florida" truth.

Don't be a victim! Join the Office of the Attorney General, State Attorney for the 5th Judicial Circuit Bill Gladson, Marion County Sheriff's Office, Seniors vs. Crimes, and others for an in-depth, educational symposium on how to prevent yourself from becoming a target and victim of crime. Discussion will include cyber and crypto crime, other financial crime, exploitation, and what our local law enforcement and prosecutors are doing to help keep you from becoming a target and educating you on what to do if you become a victim of crime.

Presenters will include:

• Ashley Moody, Florida Attorney General
• Bill Gladson, State Attorney for the 5th Judicial Circuit
• Whitney Mackay, Bureau Chief, Office of the Attorney General
• John Paul, Senior Assistant Statewide Prosecutor
• Kathy Savor, Forfeiture Practice Manager
• Blain Goff, Senior Assistant Attorney, Cyber Fraud/Financial Exploitation
• Marion County Sheriff's Office Representative
• Seniors vs. Crimes Representative
• Stephanie Bergen, Statewide Coordinator for the Senior Protection Team

Join this timely, important discussion and learn how to protect yourself and other family members from criminals. Be Safe- Educate.

Based on newly available information, the son of famed U-2 pilot Francis Gary Powers presents the facts and dispels misinformation about the Cold War espionage program that turned his father into a Cold War icon. One of the most talked-about events of the Cold War was the downing of the American U-2 spy plane piloted by Francis Gary Powers over the Soviet Union on May 1, 1960. On his return to the United States, Powers was exonerated of any wrongdoing while imprisoned in Russia, yet, due to bad press and the government's unwillingness to heartily defend Powers, a cloud of controversy lingered until his untimely death in 1977. Now his son, Francis Gary Powers Jr. and acclaimed historian Keith Dunnavant have written this new account of Powers' life based on personal files, audio tapes, letters, and the transcript of his father's debriefing by the CIA that had never been previously available. During this program Gary will talk about his 30 years of research to set the record straight in regards to the misinformation surrounding the U-2 Incident.

Note: This program will focus on the individual book, but will have some overlap with Letters From a Soviet Prison and Private Correspondence of CIA U-2 Pilot Francis Gary Powers.

Francis Gary Powers Sr. was a CIA U-2 pilot who was shot down in the midst of the Cold War, on May 1, 1960, while flying in Soviet airspace. After his capture, he was tried for espionage and then served nearly two years in a Soviet prison until his eventual release in exchange for Soviet Colonel Rudolf Abel, a senior KGB spy who was caught in the United States in the late 1950s. During this program Francis Gary Powers Jr. will talk about his father's letters to and from prison as well as the journal he kept while incarcerated. Reading excepts from this primary source document, Gary will explain what it was like for his father to be shot down over the Soviet Union, interrogated by the KGB, and ultimately exchanged for a Soviet spy.

Note: This program will focus on the individual book, but will have some overlap with Spy Pilot: Francis Gary Powers, the U-2 Incident, and a Controversial Cold War Legacy.

Join Kenneth Colen, President of On Top of the World Communities, LLC to hear the history of On Top of the World. Learn how the company got its start, its growth, the corporate philosophy, and where OTOW is headed in the future.

This course is designed for beginners with no technical background. You'll learn about the history of artificial intelligence and its development over time. You'll see examples of how AI is used today to change and improve our daily lives. We'll introduce you to different areas within AI, such as how computers can learn from data and understand human language. Finally, we'll explore the latest trends and challenges in AI, helping you understand what the future might hold for this exciting technology.

The instructor will be presenting remote.

Dr. Evelyn Kelly and her daughter, Natalie, have been traveling since 1993. Since then, they have traveled to seven continents, eighty-eight countries and fifty states. To share their amazing life journeys with everyone, Dr. Kelly and Natalie co-wrote a book called Have a Love Affair with Travel: Your Ticket To An Exhilarating Life.

Join this presentation and hear a bit about the places they have visited, the stories they have to tell, and a few tips and tricks to others about travel. They will give their definition of the difference between a tourist and traveler, and also a few tidbits of becoming a smart traveler, not just a casual tourist.