Host
Valerie Smaldone is a 5-time Billboard Magazine Award winner and well known for her unprecedented success holding the #1 on-air position in the New York radio market. She has hosted, produced and created several nationally syndicated programs featuring in-depth interviews with top recording artists such as Elton John and Mariah Carey. She is an accomplished interviewer, always interested in procuring each individual’s unique story. Valerie has also been the “Voice” for numerous prestigious live events, e.g. The Clinton Global Initiative, The Emmy Awards, The Tony Preview Concert on CBS and many more. She is a sought after motivational speaker, and calling on her years of speaking experience, coaches individuals on their presentational skills. Additionally, she consults companies and experts on their brand strategy. Valerie is proud to be able to help others accomplish their personal goals.
Speakers
Having enjoyed an illustrious career that has cemented Colonel Ron Garan’s place as one of the world’s most influential individuals, the iconic father of three is a decorated NASA astronaut, fighter pilot and test pilot, a humanitarian, and a social entrepreneur. As part of a select group of individuals who have been fortunate enough to see the world from space, Ron champions his “orbital perspective” message to improve life on earth. Ron is celebrated not just for his research in space but also for his humanitarian contribution to life on earth. Ron has spent 178 days in space and has traveled more than 71 million miles during 2,842 orbits of our planet. He flew on both the US space shuttle and the Russian Soyuz spacecraft, where he accomplished four spacewalks. Ron also spent eighteen days at the bottom of the ocean during a research mission held in the world’s only undersea research lab, Aquarius. Later, Ron was assigned to the US Agency for International Development, leading the Unity Node project. The project’s task was to develop a universal, open-source platform, enabling humanitarian organizations to work toward mutual goals. In 2007, Ron co-founded Manna Energy Limited. From representing Manna as one of ten global innovators in the field of water purification during the inaugural Launch Water Forum to his role as advisor to the social business movement, Ron continues to work toward a cleaner, safer, and more peaceful planet.
Belgin Aksoy received her degree from Institute Hotelier Cesar Ritz in Switzerland. She has been in the tourism and hotel industry for 23 years. Her mission is to create a physically, mentally and spiritually better world for years to come. To that end, in 2004 she founded Richmond Nua Wellness Spa, Turkey’s first destination spa and one of Europe’s best-equipped and award-winning spas. She is a Member of the Board at Aksoy Group and Creative Director of Richmond Hotels. Belgin Aksoy supports health foundations, leads social wellness projects and speaks at international spa and wellness organizations. As the founder and initiator of Global Wellness Day, she intends to bring her vision to the world. She lives by the motto, “One day can change your whole life.” In 2016, Global Wellness Institute awarded her with “Leading Woman in Wellness”, the most prestigious award in the wellness-spa industry reaching up to economic growth of 4.2 trillion dollars. She has also been deemed to deserve “Most Influential Spa Leader” award by American Spa in the same year. In 2019, Belgin Aksoy was selected as the first non-French person to receive the “Personality of the Year” award by La Fédération des Professionnels du Bien-ētre. Belgin is fluent in English and Italian. 
Carina Preuß (33) loves and lives Ayurveda! She started jobbing in her family‘s 5***** Ayurveda Detox & Health Resort when she was 12 years old and is the General Manager today. Together with her team of 100 dedicated staff members, she changes the lives of thousands of guests to a healthier and more conscious way of living. Carina is also an Ayurveda Lifestyle Coach, Yoga Teacher and Laughter Yoga instructor and very much enjoys passing on her Ayurveda and spiritual knowledge through lectures, on Instagram (@meinayurvedalifestyle)and in her 5 weeks long Ayurveda Lifestyle Online course.
The California spirit is deeply rooted in Heidi Kuhn, as her pioneer family from the 1850’s taught her respect for the land and its people. The stewardship of the Earth is violated when landmines are planted, and the land is held hostage for future generations. Inspired by the peace movement on her campus at U.C. Berkeley during the 1970’s, she majored in Political Economics and set forth her footsteps for peace. Bridging borders from Alaska, Heidi was a CNN producer/reporter on the melting of the ‘ice curtain’ between US/Soviet Relations. In the midst of her career in journalism, while raising three children, Heidi was diagnosed with cancer. In 1997, she realized that ‘Cancer was a landmine, and landmines were a cancer to the Earth,’ and made a prophetic toast that the world may go from ‘MINES TO VINES’–replacing the scourge of landmines with bountiful vineyards and orchards worldwide. From the basement of her family home, she reached out to Napa Valley vintners to support her vision, which grew to the United Nations, World Bank, and international governments and leaders. For the past two decades, with support from her family, Heidi has truly planted the Roots of Peace on Earth.
She is a trained Auricular Acupuncturist, Reiki Master, and iRest yoga nidra practitioner, with many miles travelled in the healing field. A life-long student, she is currently furthering her qualifications in psychotherapy, trauma recovery, and Integrative Health Coaching. Jasmine is honored to be considered a Peace Ambassador for two ‘transform-action’ global SDG initiatives close to her heart, Roots of Peace and Dr. Scilla Elworthy’s The Business plan for Peace. In a former life, she spent 10 years as the Founder & Creative Director of award-winning fashion label, Jasmine di Milo. She lives in the UK with her partner and their 13-years-old daughter. When she is not knee-deep in the throes of motherhood, business, and study, she can be found freestyling around the dance-floor to her favorite tunes, much to the bewilderment of her beloved Papillion Leo.
1999-2012, Dr. Levin founded and served as CEO of Moonview Sanctuary, a highly respected treatment and research institute. Each Moonview program was created through the careful collaboration of modern medicine, psychology and neuroscience, together with ancient knowledge and healing spiritual practices from around the world. She brought together over 65 practioners to share their knowledge and initiate new modalities for customized care.
In 2014, Dr. Levin became a World Peace Advocate traveling the globe assisting in missions to accelerate the promise of peace as a legislative priority, nuclear disarmament, as well as, joining with spiritual leaders reimagining the ethos and education of our youth. Dr. Levin has lectured and advocated for a unified agreement on the culture of peace at US Capitol, Japan Parliament, UN NYC, UN Nairobi, and Israel Knesset.
Using her expert training in trauma, intuition and universal spirituality, Dr. Levin authored a Mobile App, HERE, to ameliorate trauma through interactive meditations utilizing color and music therapy, all based in cutting edge neuroscience.
HERE Global Relief gives its proceeds to sustain deployment of the HERE field model for crisis survivors to ease human suffering. HERE assists organizations who bring Internet-enabled HERE field devices to disaster areas, as well those organizations that aid the underserved and under resourced.
Molly Melching has lived and worked in Senegal since 1974 and founded the international NGO, Tostan, in 1991. Tostan, meaning “breakthrough” in the Wolof language of Senegal, implements a holistic, three-year empowering education program that has engaged over 3,000 rural African communities in cross-cutting themes of democracy, human rights and responsibilities, peace and security, problem-solving, hygiene and health, literacy, project management skills, and early childhood development. The program has supported millions of African adults and youth to achieve life-transforming results in the areas of governance, health, education, economic growth and the environment, and has led to more than 8,500 communities in eight African countries declaring their intention to abandon female genital cutting and child/forced marriage.
Molly and Tostan have received international recognition for their groundbreaking work in the areas of social norm change and human rights education and have received numerous awards including: The Conrad Hilton Humanitarian Prize, The Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship, UNESCO’s King Sejong Literacy Prize, and The Thomas J. Dodd Award for Justice and Human Rights. A New York Times best-selling book by acclaimed author Aimee Molloy, However Long the Night, vividly relates Molly and Tostan’s story and they are also featured in Melinda Gates’s 2019 book, Moment of Lift.
Prior to joining Roots of Peace in May 2018 as Senior Vice President, she served as the Director of Agribusiness, Trade and Health for the Corporate Council on Africa. Through her leadership, Ms. Sheikh helped developing countries around the world improve their agricultural systems thereby improving their standard of living and their capacity to engage in two-way trade. Before, she was the Deputy Administrator of International Trade Policy, the World Cotton Coordinator, and a Trade Analyst at the Office of Foreign Economic Policy.
Mrs. Sheikh holds a B.A . in History and Political Science with a minor in Economics from Notre Dame of Maryland University and an M.A. in International Relations from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in Washington, D.C. She currently serves on the Advisory Council of the Millennium Challenge Corporation and is a board member of The National Industrial Hemp Council.
Ms. Sheikh has numerous awards acknowledging her accomplishments, including the Presidential Meritorious Executive Award and the Presidential Rank Award.
Dr. Shruti Nada Poddar or Saudaryaambika is a Globally recognized Nada (Vibrational) Healer, a Musician, Educationist and Mentor, a Cultural Exponent and Teacher of Indian Wisdom and Intangible Heritage, a Poet, a Heritage Conservationist, and Entrepreneur. Dr. Shruti is Pioneer of the “Nada Vibronics” a Wellness Ecosystem, which uses various firms of Nada Yoga and Indic Vibrational technologies to heal and empower people Worldwide. She was awarded the Delhi Ratna Award in 2003 for her pioneering work with Spiritual healing sound and music, followed by an NRI award for enhancing international cultural relations. Dr. Poddar was conferred with an Honorary Doctorate in December 2017 for her Global Contributions in Education and Wellness. As a Global Educationist, she has conducted Mentoring workshops for thousands of teachers, administrators, and students in India and abroad.
Alexander Tertychnyy is the owner of the Green Flow Hotel in Russia. From 2010 until 2015, Alexander was the President of NTS Holding PLC, Russia’s leading railway company. His interest in a healthy lifestyle increased progressively and he started to visit healing programs all over the world. After gaining valuable insights he decided to leave the rail business. Collaborating with the best psychologists and nutritionists in the country, his aim was to establish a program that will help people to change their habits. In December 2016 , Alexander opened his first Healing Hotel and plans to open more resorts in other picturesque parts of Russia and Europe employing the same concept. He is a true pioneer in Russian Hospitality.
Born in the Far East Bronislav Vinogrodsky graduated from the Faculty of Oriental Studies of the Far Eastern State University. He has been studying ways and techniques of forming concepts, meanings and devices of consciousness on the postulates of «The Book of Changes» and is an expert on China and traditional systems of healing. Bronislav is advisor of several major Russian corporations in regards to their activities in China and a strategic management consultant. His research on creative thinking, the study of the Book of Changes as well as the Chinese culture have lead him to diverse cultural and artistic activities. Bronislav is the author of numerous articles and interviews in various publications.
Ken Redcross, MD, is founder of Redcross Concierge, a personalized medical practice designed to enhance the patient-doctor relationship while providing convenient access to a full spectrum of healthcare services and holistic and wellness counseling. As one of the first full-service concierge, personalized medical practices in the United States, Redcross’ patient portfolio includes C-level business executives, athletes and professionals in the entertainment industry, as well as individuals from all walks and stages of life including college students, young professionals, busy parents and retirees. His focus on developing the patient-doctor bond is a unique characteristic of his concierge services that allows for a more strategic and customized approach to each patient’s healthcare plan. With extensive on-camera experience with major national television shows including “The Doctors,” “The Insider” and E! Entertainment Television, Redcross frequently shares his expertise in managing everyday health challenges to a broad audience. He has also authored numerous consumer-focused health articles for MSN Latino and Everyday Health.
Kjell A. Nordström is a world-renowned management mastermind, international best-selling author and considered the “enfant terrible” of the business world. He is also one of the most extraordinary and most impressive speakers: Kjell’s speeches are witty, dynamic, provocative, interactive and always on the cutting edge. In 2009 he ranked number 23 among the most influential economists of the world; within Europe, he is in the top five. His books sold hundreds of thousands of times and have been translated into 35 languages. Kjell’s thesis: the customers have regained power in the new, confusing and information-overloaded world. They either want the cheapest or something very special. Imitating leading companies, therefore, ends in “creative impotence”. Kjell gained his doctorate at the Stockholm School of Economics, also taught there for many years and focuses his research and consulting activities nowadays on corporate strategy, multinational corporations and globalization.
Robert D. Henry Architects (RDHA) is an international “wellness design” firm prioritizing wellbeing for its users, promoting personal health and longevity. Founder Bob Henry was inducted into Hospitality Design’s Platinum Circle for innovative wellness design for both hospitality and residential projects and is called the “sensuous architect for serenity”. The design firm integrates the (5) senses in their work, while creating an experiential journey for guests. RDHA integrates evidence-based design systems to promote the quality of air, water, natural light, noise mitigation, and human centric comfort for a sustainable future. Clients include: Mandarin Oriental, Canyon Ranch, Steve Wynn, Setai-NY and the royal family of KSA. Bob regularly presents to hospitality and wellness conferences internationally. RDHA strives for an architecture that not only looks good, but feels, sounds, and even smells good.
Stephen Kennedy Smith, three-time recipient of the Danforth Award, is now the principal at Park Agency – Joseph P. Kennedy Enterprises, the Kennedy family office and the editor of JFK- a Vision for America. Stephen lectures at the Sloan School of Management in the visionary investing program and is a fellow at the Connection Science Group at MIT. He is currently involved as a board member, advisory board member or partner in a number of health care and technology businesses, including Locomobi transportation, The Marwood Group- a healthcare-focused strategic advisory firm; Pear Therapeutics, a digital health care company, Resolute Bio, and New Frontier Bio. His current investment and business focus is scaling innovative healthcare and neuroscience companies. Stephen is a board member of the John F. Kennedy Library and The Joseph P Kennedy Foundation. He was Deputy Campaign Manager for Senator Edward Kennedy during his Presidential and Senatorial campaigns and continues to be active in Democratic politics. Today, Stephen Smith is the co-founder and vice president of the World Leadership Alliance, an organization of business and political leaders that promotes democracy, international understanding, and trade.
Dr. Vikrant Sharma motto is spreading love & smiles on everyone’s faces. He has strong roots in Ayurveda and Yoga with a Master’s degree focused on Ayurvedic Medicine/Ayurveda from Rajeev Gandhi Gov. Post Graduate Ayurvedic College – Paprola. With his compassion towards healing, he applies his holistic healing techniques to comfort guests and spread smiles wherever he travels. He is an experienced Wellness Consultant with a demonstrated history of working in the health and wellness industry.