Gaylord Texan Resort,
Grapevine, Texas

The Gaylord Texan is conveniently located in Grapevine, Texas, just six minutes from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.

W. Michael Cox Senior Vice President and Chief Economist Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas

Author of the Bank’s annual report essays on rising American living standards and the New Economy, Cox advises the Bank president on monetary policy and economic issues and heads the free enterprise research group. His reports have received extensive attention from leading publications, including the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, USA Today, Los Angeles Times, Forbes, Fortune, Business Week and Investor’s Business Daily.

Cox’s ability to make plain sense out of difficult economic issues has made him a frequent guest on national radio, television and Internet programs, including CNN, Voice of America and National Public Radio. University students make up one of Cox’s favorite audiences. He has taught economics at Southern Methodist University since 1985. His 25 years of university teaching also include Virginia Tech, the University of Rochester and the University of Western Ontario.

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Craig Hall Chairman and Founder Hall Financial Group

A lifelong entrepreneur, Craig has been actively involved in the creation and development of a variety of businesses. He founded Hall Financial Group over 35 years ago at the age of 18 with $4,000 saved from small enterprises started at age 10. Today, Hall Financial Group is a diversified finance and investment company with interests in the United States and Europe.

Hall’s entrepreneurial start-up experience is extensive. He is currently developing a unique 162-acre office park in Frisco, Texas, and two state-of-the-art wineries in Napa Valley, California. His structured finance group is actively funding unique real estate projects in the hospitality, multifamily and office market sectors spearheaded by other local entrepreneurs. He recently purchased and renovated two boutique hotels in Paris and the Radisson DFW South in Irving, Texas. Hall is the author of five books and the recipient of numerous prestigious awards.

Jack F. Williams Professor Georgia State University College of Law Atlanta

A frequent lecturer in the areas of bankruptcy, accounting, corporate governance, tax policy and homeland security and terrorism, Williams has served as a commentator on CNN, CNN Radio, Fox News, CSPAN, NBC Nightly News, ABC Evening News, Dateline, The Today Show, CNBC, MSNBC and has been quoted in numerous newspaper and magazine articles.

Williams' teaching and research areas encompass many areas, including Bankruptcy, Corporate Lending, Merger and Acquisitions, Corporate Finance, Tax, and Terrorism and Homeland Security. He completed his tenure as the 2001 American Bankruptcy Institute Robert M. Zinman Scholar in Residence in Alexandria, VA. He is currently a consultant with BDO Seidman, LLP in Atlanta and New York. Professor Williams has testified before the House and Senate Committees on bankruptcy, corporate and tax legislation. Williams is the author of three books and numerous articles on related topics.