At age 15, Jason Smith founded his first company, a residential landscape design and installation service, thanks to mentoring from other entrepreneurs in his community. By the time he graduated from college, his company had helped pay tuition for a dozen staff, each recruited away from passion-crushing employment in big-box stores or fast-food restaurants. Fueled by polymathic curiosity, Jason subsequently worked in a variety of industries: real estate, property management, nonprofits, trade associations, higher education, and now, medical device development. Jason’s wide-ranging experience enabled him to recognize something rare at Velentium: Most organizations lack the combination of insight, empathy, and investment guts required to do right by their staff, clients, and investors alike. He believes that 28 Days to Save the World will show leaders how to harmonize these “competing” interests to build more effective, resilient, and positive organizations. 28 Days to Save the World is the tenth published book Jason has helped author.
Kevin Smokler is the editor of Bookmark Now: Writing in Unreaderly Times (Basic Books), which was a San Francisco Chronicle Notable Book of 2005. His writing has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, the San Francisco Chronicle, Fast Company and on National Public Radio. He lives in San Francisco and is currently at work on a second book.
Jeffrey H. Smulyan serves as founder, CEO, and chairman of the board of Emmis Communications Corporation, an Indianapolis-based publicly traded diversified media company. A cum laude graduate of USC with a BA in history and telecommunications, Jeff earned a JD from the USC Gould School of Law, where he served as note and comment editor of the Southern California Law Review. He has served on the USC Board of Trustees since 2001.
Jeff is a former director of the National Association of Broadcasters, and a member of numerous civic boards and committees. As principal shareholder, he led a group that purchased the Seattle Mariners baseball team in 1989. In 1994, Jeff was named by the White House to head the U.S. Delegation to the Plenipotentiary Conference of the International Telecommunications Union. Smulyan resides in suburban Indianapolis with his wife Heather; he has three children—Samantha, Cari, and Bradley—and two grandchildren.
Molly Snodgrass, M.A., is a freelance writer and the study coordinator for the Longitudinal Assessment of Manic Symptoms (LAMS) study in the Psychiatry Department at the Ohio State University. Molly earned her B.A. in English and psychology and her M.A. in English at Indiana University. She has taught at both Indiana University and the University of Texas at San Antonio. She is pursuing a Ph.D. in clinical psychology.
Laurel Snyder the editor of Half/Life: Jew-ish Tales from Interfaith Homes (Soft Skull 2006), and the author of Daphne & Jim: A choose your own adventure biography in verse (Burnside Review Press) and a forthcoming book for children, Inside the Slidy Diner (Tricycle Press). She also edits the award-winning Webzine Killingthebuddha.com, and her country music writing has appeared in No Depression, Harp, Paste and the UTNE Reader. She lives in Atlanta.
Matthew Snyder, PhD, is a Professor at West Chester University and a licensed professional
counselor. He teaches courses in grief and loss, substance abuse, helping relationships, group
counseling, and theories and techniques of counseling. His research interests include working
with drug and alcohol counseling, case conceptualization, and working with resistant clients. Dr.
Snyder recently developed a new model of case conceptualization along with co-editor Lynn
Zubernis, and has published numerous articles and a textbook on case conceptualization and
effective counseling interventions. Prior to teaching at West Chester, Dr. Snyder worked in
private practice, inpatient settings, and substance abuse treatment centers, and enjoyed a long
stint as assistant director of a college counseling center for over fifteen years. Dr. Snyder also has
a private practice in Chester County, Pennsylvania.
Books by Matthew Snyder, Ph.D.
According to the baby book compiled by his mother, Bill Spangler wrote his first fan letter to a television show while he was in elementary school. (The show? “Romper Room.”) These days, his fan letters are being published by BenBella Books in volumes such as Farscape Forever and Star Wars On Trial, as well as this one. He has also written articles about pop culture for national magazines and original comic-book stories based on science fiction TV shows such as “Alien Nation” and “Quantum Leap.” Bill and his wife Joyce live in Bucks County, Pa., with two ferrets and a dog. Bill would like to thank his wife, Jon Plante, and Kathy Morrow for their help in pulling this essay together on a relatively tight schedule.
Catherine Spangler is the author of the award-winning Shielder series, futuristic romances that are literally out of this world. The latest book in the series, Shadow Fires, was a 2005 RWA RITA finalist for best paranormal book. Coming next is a dark and edgy paranormanl Sentinel series, set on current-day earth. Catherine grew up in Alabama and now resides in Texas with her husband and a menagerie of animals. You can visit her Web site at www.catherinespangler.com.
Rachelle Sparks worked as an award-winning journalist for a daily newspaper in Prescott, Arizona, where she wrote stories about the unforgettable “wish” families who became her inspiration for writing Once Upon A Wish. She then became a freelance writer for numerous publications, including Arizona Highways magazine and the Phoenix and San Francisco editions of 944 magazine, while touring the country to interview and capture the stories of the families featured in this book. She lives with her husband, Bobby, and their two sons, Andrew and Evan, in San Diego. This is her first book.
