Luke Zahm, Restaurant Owner & Host of Wisconsin Foodie PBS 

Luke Zahm is a Wisconsin chef, restaurant owner, and host of PBS’s Wisconsin Foodie, known for celebrating the people, places, and local foods of the Driftless Region. As owner of The Driftless Cafe in Viroqua, he has built his work around connecting farmers, diners, and communities through a deep commitment to local and sustainable food. His community engagement extends beyond the kitchen through tourism, conservation, and advocacy work that supports Wisconsin’s rural communities, local economy, and natural spaces. 

Dasha Kelly Hamilton, Author

Dasha Kelly Hamilton is an award-winning author, performance artist, and creative change agent whose work spans poetry, essays, fiction, and live storytelling. A former Poet Laureate of both the City of Milwaukee and the State of Wisconsin, she has also performed with The Moth and HBO’s Def Poetry Jam and led arts engagement initiatives internationally as a U.S. Embassy Arts Envoy. She brings a nationally recognized voice to conversations on race, class, equity, and the power of the literary arts. 

 Jason Kotecki, Artist & Certified Speaking Professional

Jason Kotecki is an artist who speaks. Really, really well! A master of wit & whimsy, he is an expert at helping people “Escape Adulthood,” in order to beat burnout and create lives with adventure, meaning, and joy. Jason uses his extraordinary artistic gifts, combined with humor and memorable storytelling, to spark intentional thinking that re-energizes people to reclaim passion for doing their best work. 

Aaron Boyd, Illustrator & Author

Aaron Boyd is a Wisconsin-based illustrator and author who knew from childhood that he wanted to create children’s books, inspired by the artists he discovered at his local library. After graduating from the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design, he built an award-winning career illustrating dozens of books and now shares his own stories through both words and art.