Meet the Speakers
Gregg Davis - As the director of health care industry research at the Bureau of Business and Economic Research at The University of Montana, Dr. Davis examines the state’s health care markets, trends, costs and other high visibility topics. A former economics faculty member at Flathead Valley Community College, Davis directed the Center for Business Information and Research and chaired the Division of Social Sciences. He earned an undergraduate anthropology degree and an economics master’s degree from The University of Montana and a mineral resource doctorate from West Virginia University. Following his graduate studies, he worked as a health economist for the Health Systems Agency in Helena. Throughout his career, he has specialized in conducting economic impact studies, including regional and wage studies for both the public and private sector
Stephen Sofie – Dr. Sofie joined the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering in the College of Engineering at Montana State University in 2005. He is an assistant professor in the department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering. He received a doctorate in materials science and engineering from the University of Washington in 2002. Dr. Sofie’s area of expertise is innovative ceramic processing, and applications which range from medical ultrasound imaging to solid oxide fuel cells. Prior to joining MSU, he investigated solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) systems at the NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio. He was voted outstanding Mechanical Engineering Professor in 2008 and was nominated for the Presidents Excellence in Teaching Award in 2009.
Kim Plewes - A passionate human rights activist, Ms. Plewes has dedicated her life to helping others and inspiring and empowering your people worldwide. She became involved with children’s rights in 1998, when she first learned about the realities of global inequality at age 12. Now a seasoned motivational speaker, Plewes has addressed over 50,000 adults and young people across North America, Europe, Asia A lecture series February – March and the Middle East. An active volunteer, she has travelled to over 35 countries helping to build schools and homes, teach English and meet with young people. During her time as an international youth coordinator with Free The Children, Plewes helped develop and implement curricula for several of Free The Children’s programs, including Life in Action and O Ambassadors, a joint project of Oprah’s Angel Network and Free The Children. Together, these programs have directly impacted more than 1 million young people throughout North America. She also helped launch Free The Children’s California office along with its youth engagement programs and strategies. Karen Adams – Dr. Adams
Karen Adams – Dr. Adams serves as an assistant professor of political science at The University of Montana, specializing in international relations and national security. She earned an undergraduate degree from Stanford University in political science and economics as well as a master’s degree and Ph.D. in political science from the University of California-Berkeley. She has taught at UC-Berkeley, Los Alamos National Laboratory and Mills College. She was assistant professor of political science at Louisiana State University and taught one summer semester in Paris, France. She came to Missoula in 2004.
David Hopkins – Mr. Hopkins is a motivating young leader, emerging entrepreneur, keynote speaker and published writer. He is co-author of a new book on social entrepreneurship called The Tactics of Hope: How Social Entrepreneurs are Changing the World, which supports and inspires individuals of all ages to move from passion to action tackling social and environmental challenges. His interest in environmental and sustainability issues began when he was a student at Middlebury College in New Hampshire where he was the Director of the International Affairs Center of the Roosevelt Institution, the nation’s first student think-tank devoted to public policy reform. He graduated cum laude in international studies, politics and economics. He has worked with communities in Cambodia, France, Tanzania and Greece and today resides in San Francisco.