Dr. John L. Renne is an associate professor and director of transportation studies at the University of New Orleans. He is also the Managing Director of The TOD Group (www.theTODgroup.com), a company that specializes in Transit Oriented Development (TOD) and developing a 21-acre TOD along the Gold Line in Adams County, Colorado. Dr. Renne has been invited to speak on panels about transportation, land use and sustainability by President Bill Clinton and Secretary of USDOT Ray LaHood. He is an author and editor of 'Transport Beyond Oil: Policy Choices for a Multimodal Future' (2013) and 'Transit-Oriented Development: Making It Happen' (2009), which is the first international book specifically on TOD and has been endorsed by former U.S. Presidential Candidate and Governor Michael Dukakis. Dr. Renne is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP). His research focuses on transportation and land use planning, including livable communities, sustainable transportation, and evacuation planning. Dr. Renne has written extensively and has lectured around the globe on these issues. Dr. Renne has led multiple projects for the Transportation Research Board of the National Academies, the Federal Transit Authority, the State of New Jersey, the State of Western Australia, and the New Orleans Regional Planning Commission.

Richard Florida is the author of The New Urban Crisis (2017), and several best-sellers, including the award-winning The Rise of the Creative Class. He is a researcher and professor, serving as university professor and director of cities at the Martin Prosperity Institute at the University of Toronto. He is also founder of the Creative Class Group which works closely with companies and governments worldwide.