RON POLLACK is the Founding Executive Director of Families USA, the national organization for health care consumers. Families USA's mission is to achieve high-quality, affordable health coverage for everyone in the U.S.

Families USA's numerous reports and analyses - on such matters as health coverage for the uninsured and underinsured, Medicaid, Medicare, prescription drug issues, long-term care, and others - are frequently cited at Congressional hearings, in state legislatures, by the media, and by consumer organizations that Families USA works with all across the country.

-----

JAN SCHAKOWSKY is the U.S. Representative for Illinois's 9th congressional district, and the Keynote Speaker at Famlies USA Health Action Conference, beginning today through Saturday in New York City.

-----

Shortly after birth, GOVERNOR DAVID PATTERSON contracted a serious ear infection that spread to his optic nerve. The resulting damage left the newborn with no sight in his left eye and limited vision in his right. His loss of sight became an impediment to his early education in the New York City public school system, which insisted Paterson needed to be placed in special classes. "People are fond of saying of people with disabilities that they are just like everybody else," Paterson told the Associated Press in 2002. "But that's just something to say to make them feel better. When you have a disability you are not like everyone else. You are uniquely defined by a lack of vision."

David A. Paterson became New York's 55th governor on March 17, 2008. Governor Paterson left behind a legacy in Albany of sound fiscal management and a strong focus on job creation while protecting the state's most vulnerable during one of the most difficult economic periods in our nation's history. In total, the Paterson administration shaved $42 billion from the state deficit and was responsible for the creation of over 10,000 new jobs and the retention of more than 19,000 jobs in New York State.

Governor Paterson is nationally recognized as a leading advocate for the visually and physically impaired. He is a member of the National Federation of the Blind and he serves on the Board of the Achilles Track Club. Governor Paterson earned his bachelor's degree in History from Columbia University in 1977, and completed his J.D. at Hofstra Law School in 1982 and is currently a Visiting Professor at New York University.

Sara Soulati began studying EECP in 1996, more time than any other practitioner. She has witnessed the positive effects of EECP on many people-from the seriously ill at the end-stage of life and those considering open-heart surgery, to elite athletes and healthy people with few disease risk factors.

EECP: Enhanced External Counterpulsation (EECP�) is non-surgical, requires no medication and is a safe outpatient treatment option for people suffering from a diseased or weakened heart that includes angina pectoris (chest pain) and/or heart failure. Vasomedical, Inc. owns the registered trademark for EECP. At Global Cardio Care Centers, EECP is prescribed by a cardiologist for people with end-stage cardiovascular disease and also prior to heart-bypass surgery or angioplasty with stents.

Pat DiNizio is singer/guitarist with The Smithereens, who first performed in March 1980 in Hillside, N.J. His early influences were Buddy Holly and The Beatles.

"Listening to Buddy Holly, I realized this was what I wanted to do." -Pat DiNizio

Pat sent a cassette of the band's material to Enigma Records, which was distributed by Capitol/EMI. The executive, who signed them, was a fan of the band's when he was in college radio. The Smithereens finally had a record deal. ESPECIALLY FOR YOU was released in July 1986. GREEN THOUGHTS, 11 followed, all netting top 40 hits. It's said that Nirvana's Kurt Cobain listened to the Smithereens as he wrote 'NEVERMIND."

In all, the group's releasd nine albums, with titles that include GOD SAVE THE SMITHEREENS, ATTACK OF THE SMITHEREENS (RARITIES), A DATE WITH THE SMITHEREENS. The Smithereens have two gold albums, have sold 6 million albums worldwide. They have appeared on every major television show including SNL, Tonight Show and live on National Public Radio. Such memorable Smithereens songs as "Girl Like You," "Blood & Roses," and "Only A Memory" have become staples.

Lisa Lambe, Susan McFadden, Chloe Agnew and violinist Mairead Nesbitt make up the all-female singing sensation CELTIC WOMAN. CELTIC WOMAN debuted on Public Television in 2005 and they perform classic Irish songs on recordings and live performances world-wide. So far, they have sold over six million CDs and DVDs. Their Christmas Celebration CD was just certified RIAA Platinum.

The current CD, BELIEVE features 17 classic selections, such as: Bridge Over Troubled Water, The Water is Wide, You'll Never Walk Alone and Ave Maria.

The begin their BELIEVE US tour in Nashville on February 3rd, and end up in Las Vegas on April 29th, before they head back to Europe.

Dick Summer is a veteran of literally thousands of national commercial campaigns. All across America, people are familiar with his uniquely comfortable "Raw Silk" voice. For many years, he was also a top New York, Boston and National Network broadcaster.

Random House and Bantam Books have published five of DICK's "Lovin' Touch" books. He personally oversees every projects he produces. Some of his other duties include changing his shirt when he spills spaghetti sauce on it, flying the family airplane, and bringing Barbara "The Wonder Winch" flowers.

Kevin Atunes is a musical designer from Boston, who spent the last year in the recording studio working with the original multi-track masters, remixing and reimaging over 40 of Michael Jackson's greatest recordings, for the new Cirque du Soleil spectacular "MICHAEL JACKSON, THE 'IMMORTAL' WORLD TOUR."
The 2-disc CD set includes over 100 minutes of Michael's original recordings and never-before heard alternate tracks, that have been reimaged to match screen images and live action on stage by Cirque du Soleil cast members. It also comes with a souvenir show booklet.
Besides this project, KEVIN is working with Madonna on the Superbowl 46 Half Time Show, has been keyboardist and musical director for The New Kids On The Block, Marky Mark, Britney Spears, Nsync and Justin Timberlake. He has performed on all the major music award shows including The Billboard Music Awards, The Grammy's , The Blockbuster's Music Awards and has also performed on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

Jonathan Bloom, journalist and author of American Wasteland, talks about our growing food waste issue in the United States and what individual households can do to help fight it

YOWZA is a free mobile application for your iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, or Android phone that provides you with mobile coupons, deals, and discounts

GREG GRUNBERG was born 1966 in Los Angeles, California and started his acting career as early as 1990, appearing in multiple guest roles on television. His screen debut saw him play a minor role in the television movie Stolen: One Husband. He had several guest appearances afterwards; these include roles in Melrose Place, Flying Blind, Baywatch, Ned and Stacey, Murphy Brown, Alright Already, Relativity and Mike Hammer, Private Eye. He made his film debut in 1993, playing a bit role in the sci-fi horror flick Future Shock. His other films during the time include Headless!, The Pallbearer, Dinner and Driving, Picture Perfect and BASEketball.

His first major television role came in 1998, when he played the role of business-minded Sean Blumber in the television series Felicity. This marked the first of his numerous collaborations with producer J.J. Abrams, who he is a close friend of; they knew each other since kindergarten. Grunberg starred in another Abrams project in 2002 in which he played CIA field agent Eric Weiss in the spy drama Alias. Abrams also cast him for a proposed series, The Catch, where he plays the lead role of a bounty hunter. The series was never picked up by networks, although a pilot was shot. His most recent collaboration with Abrams was in Lost, where he was given a small role as the pilot of the ill-fated Oceanic Flight 815.

As Webroot's first chief demand officer, Chris Benham is responsible for the company's global marketing and communications operations and brand strategy. Bringing two decades of high technology marketing experience to the role, Benham was previously vice president of Corporate Marketing for Webroot. He also held several marketing leadership positions at Symantec Corporation, including creative director, director of Strategic Marketing, director of Consumer Marketing, and vice president of Global Marketing Communications.
During his nearly 11-year tenure at Symantec, Benham helped create the company's yellow corporate identity and managed the Norton and Symantec brands, helping to establish both as the number one brands in their respective categories. Benham has also been vice president of Corporate Marketing for Entercept and Wyse Technologies, and has held marketing positions with Sun Microsystems and Tandem Computers. Benham earned a Bachelor of Science in Advertising and a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Kansas.

Drew Ramsey, M.D. is an assistant clinical professor of Psychiatry at Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons. His clinical work focuses on the treatment of depression and anxiety with a combination of psychotherapy, lifestyle modification, and psychopharmacology. His interests lie in using the modern psychological concepts and the latest brain science to help people live their healthiest, happiest lives.