Dr. Bornemann has been Director of the Carter Center Mental Health Program since 2002.  This Program, founded by former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, is an international effort focused on improving mental health treatment and fighting the stigma surrounding mental illness.  Prior to his work at the Carter Center, Dr. Bornemann held many leadership positions in public mental health including senior adviser for mental health at the World Health Organization and deputy director of the Federal Center for Mental Health Services.

Brian Dyak is a pioneer in the field of education through entertainment.  Twenty five years ago, he founded the Entertainment Industries Council to bridge the gap and develop communication between the entertainment industries (television shows, movies, comics) and health and social policy issues.  In the area of mental health and substance abuse, the Entertainment Industries Council hosts the Prism Awards an annual awards ceremony that recognizes feature films and television shows that have accurately depicted mental illness and substance abuse issues.  The Prism Awards are broadcast on FX Network as well as several other television networks.  Additionally, the Entertainment Industries Council provides guidance, educational and depiction materials to creators in the entertainment industry who are interested in accurately portraying mental illness and substance abuse.

Dr. Videka holds degrees in social work as well as nursing and is the Dean of New York University Silver School of Social Work.  She has been a leader in the field of social work education for several years including positions as President of the National Association of Deans and Directors of Social Work, President of the Institute for the Advancement of Social Work Research, and Commissioner of Accreditation for the Council on Social Work Education.  Dr. Videka is a widely published author in areas including mental health practice effectiveness, child neglect, parenting, and social work research and education.  Additionally, she has been selected as a visiting scholar to several foreign universities. 

Founded in 1948, Fountain House is a psychosocial club where individuals with mental illness receive support from each other in a community setting.  Aside from creating this model of addressing the needs of individuals with mental illness, Fountain House has trained thousands of others in starting their own psychosocial clubs in communities throughout the United States.  Additionally, Fountain House recently partnered with acclaimed actress Glenn Close in creating the anti-stigma campaign Bring Change 2 Mind.  Kenn Dudek has been President of Fountain House since 1992 and prior to taking that position he was instrumental in the creation of over 20 psychosocial clubs in his community.

Mike Fitzpatrick is the Executive Director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness or NAMI.  Perhaps the largest grassroots mental illness advocacy organization in the United States, NAMI has more than 1,000 local affiliates throughout the country.  NAMI provides peer to peer educational classes on a variety of mental health topics, local, state, and national mental health policy advocacy, and also fights the stigma surrounding metal illness with its annual NAMI Walks that happen throughout the country.  Prior to his position at NAMI, Mike held senior management positions in state government, nonprofit agencies and the private sector where he developed successful education, employment, housing, outreach and rehabilitation programs.

Bill MacPhee was diagnosed with schizophrenia at age 25 and suffered through a deep depression for a few years until battling back and retaking control of his life.  He founded SZ Magazine, the first ever magazine devoted exclusively to issues surrounding schizophrenia.  Published quarterly, SZ Magazine now has over 10,000 subscribers in the United States and Canada.  Bill gives inspirational talks throughout North America about his experiences and triumphs over schizophrenia.  Bill has received multiple awards for his work including the Golden Jubilee Medal of Queen Elizabeth II, NAMI New York State Distinguished Media Award, and most recently the Center for Addiction and Mental Health Transforming Lives Award.

Frederick J. Frese III, Ph.D. is a psychologist with over forty years experience in public mental health care and is presently coordinator of the Summit County Recovery Project, serving recovering consumers in the Akron area. He is also a consumer, diagnosed with schizophrenia as a young Marine Corps officer. Despite his disability, he was able to gain a degree from the American Graduate School of International Management in Phoenix, AZ; and a doctorate in psychology from Ohio University. Fred founded the Community and State Hospital Section of the American Psychological Association and is past president of the National Mental Health Consumers' Association. He has authored many articles and book chapters and has lectured widely on the subject of schizophrenia including an appearance as a panelist on the PBS special Minds on the Edge.