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Dr. W. Michael Cox is formerly Chief Economist and Senior Vice President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, where he served for 25 years advising the President on monetary and other economic policies. He holds the unique distinction of being the Federal Reserve System's only Chief Economist in history.

He is widely published in the nation's leading business press, Fed publications and academic journals. He is the author of numerous op ed articles for The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, USA Today, Financial Times, and Investor's Business Daily, and his work has appeared in virtually every major newspaper and magazine worldwide.

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Marina Leight serves as GOVERNING's Associate Publisher for Infrastructure. She directs GOVERNING's expansion in the infrastructure, water, energy, waste and transportation verticals by developing new business, strategic relationships and policy and management-oriented programs for state and local government officials. She'll also coordinate on new content and product strategies while directing sales, marketing, and research operations for GOVERNING in the infrastructure area.

Leight has a diverse background in business development having also served as e.Republic's V.P. for Strategic Initiatives for GOVERNING working closely with strategic partners and public sector advisory boards, overseeing the content and execution of GOVERNING events and the development of GOVERNING's expanded range of business opportunities. As well as having served as Vice President of Education, developing the Converge media platform and the Center for Digital Education where she was responsible for running its award-winning magazine, leading website, custom publishing, research projects and high-level events in national jurisdictions.

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James Oberstar was born on September 10th, 1934 in Chisholm, Minnesota. His father, Louis Oberstar, was an iron ore miner, and his mother, Mary, worked in a garment factory to supplement the family income while she raised him and his two brothers.

In college Oberstar worked in the open pit mines to pay for his education. He graduated Summa Cum Laude from the College of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1956, with a double major in French and Political Science. He continued his education at the College of Europe in Bruges, Belgium, Laval University in Quebec and Georgetown University in Washington. From 1959-1962 he worked at the U.S. Naval Mission to Haiti, teaching French and Creole to U.S. Marine Corps personnel and English to Haitian military.

In 1963 Oberstar began working for Rep. John Blatnik from Minnesota's Eighth Congressional District. When Rep. Blatnik retired in 1974, Oberstar sought and won his first term in the House of Representatives. The people of Northeast Minnesota returned him to Washington for 17 more terms; he ended his career as the longest-serving Member of Congress in Minnesota history.

In the 36 years he served in the House, Congressman Oberstar became the body's leading expert on transportation policy. He was a champion of safety in all modes of travel, and a fierce advocate for federal investment in our national transportation infrastructure.

Although his time in Congress has ended, Congressman Oberstar continues to be active in transportation, as a speaker, lecturer and consultant.

He resides in Maryland with his wife, Jean, but still travels frequently back to his home state. He is chairman of the advisory board for the Humphrey School of Public Affairs' Center for Excellence in Rural Safety at the University of Minnesota, and is a Visiting Scholar at both the Humphrey School and the University of Minnesota-Duluth.

Congressman Oberstar is a member of the board of directors of Geronimo Wind Energy of Edina, Minnesota, and the board of International Student House of Washington, D.C. He serves as Senior Advisor to Global Traffic Technologies, LLC, of St. Paul, Minnesota, and consulting firm, NSI, of Washington. He is also an Advisor to medical technology firm GeaCom, Inc., of Duluth, Minnesota.

Because of his life-long love of the French language and the French people, and his efforts in Congress for improved understanding and relations between the United States and France, Oberstar was awarded the rank of Commander in the National Order of Merit (Commandeur dans l'Ordre National du M?rite) by the French government in June, 2012.

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Rick Snyder is a political newcomer and a proven reformer. He has demonstrated a collaborative, creative approach to delivering efficient and effective government. In this opening conversation, you will hear how Michigan is undergoing a culture change that focuses on results rather than taking credit or placing blame.

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Erin Waters is publisher of GOVERNING, a division of e.Republic, where she oversees GOVERNING's editorial content and production teams as well as the GOVERNING Institute, the magazine's in-house research team, business development and sales across key market segments in the state and local government space; including finance, management, technology, workforce, health and human services, infrastructure and transportation.

Prior to being named publisher, Waters served two years as associate publisher during which time she focused on business development and expansion across the GOVERNING platform. Prior to joining GOVERNING, Waters worked for National Journal and Congressional Quarterly, where she first managed the digital media platform and later handled advocacy advertising sales across print, online and event properties. A graduate of Rice University, Waters lives in Washington, D.C.

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