2026 KEYNOTE SPEAKER
KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Professor Jeffrey Rosen
BIO:
Jeffrey Rosen is the CEO Emeritus of the National Constitution Center, a professor of law at the George Washington University Law School, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), and a contributing editor of The Atlantic. He was previously the legal affairs editor of The New Republic and a staff writer for the New Yorker.
Rosen is the author of the New York Times bestsellers The Pursuit of Happiness and Conversations with RBG. His new book is The Pursuit of Liberty: How Hamilton vs. Jefferson Ignited the Lasting Battle Over Power in America.
Rosen is a graduate of Harvard College; Oxford University, where he was a Marshall Scholar; and Yale Law School. He is an elected member of the American Philosophical Society and the American Law Institute. In 2024, the French government recognized him as a Chevalier in the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.
DATE: Saturday, September 19, 2026
TIME: 12:30 pm
LOCATION: Town Park • Grand Lake, CO 80447
SUBJECT: "Pursuit of Happiness and America at 250"
For America 250, bestselling author and CEO Emeritus of the National Constitution Center, Jeffrey Rosen, explores the principles at the core of the American Idea. In his book, The Pursuit of Happiness, he shows how the Founders embraced the classical definition of happiness as being good rather than feeling good, the pursuit of long term virtue rather than short term pleasure. In The Pursuit of Liberty, Rosen shows how the clashing visions of Hamilton and Jefferson balance liberty and power in a debate that continues to define—and divide—our country: Jefferson championed states’ rights and individual liberties, while Hamilton pushed for a strong Federal government and a powerful executive. Drawing on both books, Rosen will explore how Americans of different perspectives have continued to embrace the core principles of the American Idea – liberty, equality, government by consent, and the pursuit of happiness – even as they have disagreed about how to balance those principles throughout American history.
2026 SPEAKERS
SPEAKER: Professor Rob Natelson
BIO:
BIO: Rob Natelson is Senior Fellow in Constitutional Jurisprudence at three policy centers: the Independence Institute and Centennial Institute in Colorado, where he works on national and Colorado issues, and the Mountain States Policy Center, where he addresses Montana issues. A former constitutional law professor, he has written widely on American constitutional law and history.
His research into the Constitution's meaning has been cited 41 times by Supreme Court justices since 2013---one of the highest total for any legal scholar in the nation.
Rob also has extensive experience in business, journalism, politics, and outdoorsmanship, and is a frequent guest on broadcast media.
DATE: Monday, September 14, 2026
TIME: 5:00 pm
SUBJECT: "Celebrating the Constitution"
LOCATION: Grand Lake Center - 301 Marina Dr.
SPEAKER: Brandon Wark, Free State Colorado
BIO:
Brandon Wark started Free State Colorado as a platform to elevate Liberty Activists, candidates for office and discuss important issues the media neglects. Brandon is a third-generation Colorado native, former legislative aide, host of Northern Colorado Liberty on the Rocks and dedicated champion to make Colorado a Free State.
Information about the talk: One of the goals of the US Government as outlined in the Preamble to the Constitution is to "secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and Posterity." But this requires each of us to exercise our civic duty to be active participants in our government. Brandon explores how Coloradans have successfully fought for the Blessings of Liberty and how a "new era of citizen activism" is needed.
DATE: Tuesday, September 15, 2026
TIME: 12:00 Noon
SUBJECT: "Citizen Activism & Securing the
Blessings of Liberty"
LOCATION: Grand Lake Center - 301 Marina Dr.
SPEAKER: Dr. Kevin Portteus
BIO: Professor of Politics and Director of
American Studies for Hillsdale College
Dr. Kevin Portteus joined the faculty of Hillsdale College in 2008 and is the Lawrence Fertig Professor of Politics and Director of American studies at Hillsdale.
He previously taught at Belmont Abbey College near Charlotte, NC and Mountain View College in Dallas, TX. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree, summa cum laude from Ashland University, majoring in political science and mathematics, and took his Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in politics from the Institute of Philosophic Studies at the University of Dallas.
His research interests are in the political thought of the early American republic, the administrative state, and the nature of the modern American regime.
His work has appeared in numerous of scholarly and mainstream publications, including American Political Thought, The Journal of the Abraham Lincoln Association, Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society, American Greatness, American Mind, The Federalist, Forbes, and Human Events. Dr. Portteus contributes to numerous Hillsdale College programs, including the Center for Constructive Alternatives, Hostel, Freedom Forum, Ladies for Liberty, Hometown Luncheons, K-12 programs, and more. He has been married to Rebecca since 2003 and they have 3 sons and a daughter.
DATE: Tuesday, September 15, 2026
TIME: 5:00 pm
DETAILS: Livestream Presentation
SUBJECT: "The Moral Conditions of Liberty and Citizenship"
LOCATION: Grand Lake Center - 301 Marina Dr.
SPEAKER: Allen Thomas, III
BIO:
BIO: Allen Thomas is a Colorado native, husband to his high-school sweetheart, and father of two boys. He serves Colorado audiences as a featured author and frequent guest host on The Kim Monson Show, where he has written more than 60 articles exploring America’s founding principles, civic character, and the habits that keep a republic free. Allen holds a B.S. in Environmental Engineering and an M.S. in Environmental Science and Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines, both earned in 2012, and is a 2018 graduate of the Leadership Program of the Rockies. He has emceed Northern Colorado’s “Blessing of Liberty” celebration three times. Allen is also a featured teacher on a the Kim Monson Community where his course breaks down The Federalist Papers.
One of his convictions is increasing civic education one citizen at a time. The Federalist Papers explain why our constitutional structure channels conflict, guards liberty, and asks every citizen to practice self-governance. His talks turn those first principles into clear language and simple practices that students and adults can use at home, in school, and in the community.
DATE: Wednesday, September 16, 2026
TIME: 5:00 pm
SUBJECT: "The Lost Art of Constitutional Persuasion -
What Publius Can Teach Us About Changing Minds Without Changing the Constitution"
LOCATION: Grand Lake Center - 301 Marina Dr.
SPEAKER: Laddie Coburn, Captain US Navy (Ret.)
“Constitution and the Warrior”
BIO:
Laddie Coburn was born in Lansing, Michigan, in 1943 and moved to a small ranch near Tucson, Arizona, with his parents when he was five years old. He went through secondary schools in Marana, Arizona, and graduated from high school in 1961 as valedictorian of his class. He was nominated by Senator Barry Goldwater to attend all military academies upon graduation from high school and was selected to attend the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, from which he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering in 1965. He was commissioned as a Navy Officer and attended naval aviation flight training in Pensacola, Florida, in 1966.
He was assigned to RA-5C Vigilante flight training in 1966, and after receiving his Wings of Gold as a Naval Flight Officer and Bombardier/Navigator, he served in the U.S. Navy aboard aircraft carriers as a TACAIR Naval Flight Officer from 1967 through 1989, where he specialized in military avionics and electronics, including radar and electronic warfare systems. His military assignments included operational tours flying RA-5C reconnaissance aircraft from the USS SARATOGA (CVA-60) and the USS RANGER (CVA-61) in combat in Vietnam in 1968-1969. For shore duty, he attended the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California from 1969-1972, where he received two Master’s Degrees in engineering (MSAE and MSEE) and a Professional Engineers Degree (AeE) in Aeroelectronics in 1972.
He then returned to operational flying in EA-6B and EKA-3B electronic warfare aircraft aboard three large-deck aircraft carriers, including the USS NIMITZ (CVN-68). After an overseas shore tour with the Office of Naval Research, Branch Office London, he returned to Washington DC, where he served from 1980 to 1989 as an Aeronautical Engineering Duty Officer (AEDO) in the Naval Air Systems Command headquarters and field laboratory scientific and engineering billet assignments. He was promoted to Captain USN in 1986 and assigned as a Program Manager for the Fleet Electronic Warfare Support Group (FEWSG) EC-24/EC-135 RDT&E electronic warfare aircraft operating from naval shore stations world-wide.
After retirement in 1989, Mr. Coburn worked as a defense contractor program manager and senior engineer on a variety of military classified programs, including naval aviation RDT&E aircraft and weapon systems. For ten years he served as company vice president and directed the field office in Lexington Park, Maryland. He specialized as a radar technology analyst and aircraft survivability engineer for tactical jet aircraft programs. Now retired, for leisure activities he enjoys hiking, fishing, boating, and kayaking in the summer and alpine and Nordic skiing in the winter in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado.
DATE: Thursday, September 17, 2026
TIME: 12:00 Noon
SUBJECT: "Our American Heritage"
LOCATION: Grand Lake Center - 301 Marina Dr.
SPEAKER: Dr. Thomas Krannawitter, Ph.D.
BIO: Dr. Thomas L. Krannawitter is the founding president of Waypoints—a teaching system for high schools based on primary source documents and key ideas of liberty—and proprietor of the Substack Zetetic Questions.
He sits on the Mackinac Center’s Board of Scholars, the
Scholarly Advisory Board at The Gilder Lehrman Institute of
American History, and he is a member of the National
Association of Scholars.
He holds a Ph.D. from the School of Politics & Economics at the Claremont Graduate University. He has taught undergraduate and graduate classes at Claremont McKenna College, Hillsdale College, Ashland University, and George Mason University.
He was formerly Vice President at The Claremont Institute, where he helped launch The Claremont Review of Books in 2001.
He’s been one of the principal instructors for the Leadership Program of the Rockies for over twenty years, where he directs the Defenders of the Declaration of Independence
program, and he frequently advises businesses and charitable organizations on communications, employee culture development, branding, and fundraising.
He is currently teaching the Elite Leadership Program within J.R. Butler, Inc, one of the nation’s top commercial glass and fenestration companies. Dr. Krannawitter has testified before state legislatures, though he doesn’t put much faith in politicians. That’s why he focuses on teaching citizens, helping teachers, students, business owners, employees, and others to improve our modern American culture through persuasion and moving stories. Americans
won’t get principled constitutional policies from their government until they demand politicians who are principled constitutionalists.
Dr. Krannawitter’s research and published writings have ranged from politics to history to constitutional law to economics to social commentary, from specific historic events to timeless philosophic questions.
His 2008 book, Vindicating Lincoln, was featured by The History Book Club and endorsed by the United States Lincoln Bicentennial Commission.
His 2014 book, Crisis of Our House Divided: A Guide To Talking Politics Without The Noise, applies the lessons of Lincoln to our challenges today. His most recent book,
Save the Swamp: Career Guidebook for Budding Bureaucrats, is different. Swamp is funny. It’s satire. Feel free to check out Dr. Krannawitter’s author page at Amazon.
Currently, Dr. Krannawitter is finishing a civic primer titled, Tragedy & Triumph: The American Founding and the Greatest Anti-Slavery Movement in History.
Dr. Krannawitter has received many research fellowships throughout his career, including the H.B. Earhart Fellowship (which puts him in the company of other Earhart Fellows such as Friedrich Hayek, Milton Friedman, Thomas Sowell, Larry Arnn, and Ed Feulner).
He was a Winston Churchill Society Fellow, a Henry Salvatori Fellow at the Heritage Foundation, a Richard Weaver Fellow at the Intercollegiate Studies Institute, and the recipient of a John M. Olin Foundation Fellowship.
Dr. Krannawitter grew up in Hays, Kansas, where he wrenched on cars in his father’s full service Phillips 66 gas station. He can be tempted occasionally with a cigar or a peaty Scotch, or both. He is married and he has three children. He is a romantic about baseball, though most people think he roots for the wrong team.
It’s not unusual for him to arrive at professional events with fur from his English Cream Golden Retrievers adorning his suit: When the choice is between staying tidy and
smooching his dogs, he smooches the dogs.
DATE: Thursday, September 17, 2026
TIME: 5:00 pm
SUBJECT: "A Citizen’s Guide to the Constitution. What Every American Should Know About Our Fundamental Law"
LOCATION: Grand Lake Center - 301 Marina Dr.
SPEAKER: Nick Hegge
National Constitution Center
BIO:
Nick Hegge serves as an inaugural member of the National Constitution Center’s Civic Education for Rural and Remote Communities (CERRC) Fellowship. He brings sixteen years of classroom experience to his work in Lincoln, Nebraska, having taught Government, Civics, and dual-credit American History at Conestoga Public Schools and Logan View Public Schools in rural Nebraska. A 2020 James Madison Fellow, Hegge has served on the National Constitution Center's Teacher Advisory Board since 2018, and has long worked to connect rural students to their communities through mock trial, athletics, and civic engagement.
DATE: Friday, September 18, 2026
TIME: 11:00 am
SUBJECT: Youth Appreciation Day Event
The Constitutional Convention & Trivia Contest
(Grade 6-12)
LOCATION: Grand Lake Center - 301 Marina Dr.
SPEAKER: Mary McGhee
The Daughters of the American Revolution / Mountain Rendezvous Chapter NSDAR
BIO:
Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Regent of the Mountain Rendezvous Chapter in Evergreen, CO.
Among the many activities our DAR chapter does are service projects like highway litter cleanups, we raise funds & award college scholarships, expand genealogical resources, educate school children and honor patriots of yesterday and today.
Education: Mathematics Degree from Vanderbilt University. Computer Science Masters Degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University. “Integrating Finance and Marketing” leadership certification from Wharton Business School.
Volunteer Affiliations: Evergreen Rodeo volunteer and Evergreen Parks and Recreation Board current 1st Vice President and former President.
Private Sector Employment: Taught freshman calculus at Vanderbilt University. In 1983 she was hired by Electronic Data Systems as part of an expanding group of women system engineers writing system software for food & beverage, health care, sales and marketing at Fortune 100 companies.
She was promoted to Business Partner and translated manufacturing & marketing needs into computer programs for J&J Hospital Services, Coors Brewing Company, BASF Chemicals, Blue Cross Blue Shield and AT&T.
Government Sector Employment: In 2006 Mary accepted a job as a Senior IT System Auditor with the State of Colorado Division of Gaming. For the last 20 years she has been working with casino operators in Black Hawk, Central City and Cripple Creek to enforce state regulation for IT best practices, accurate tax reporting, software field trials and responsible casino gaming.
Extra Curricular: Mary completed the NYC Marathon twice (1992 and 1993), is local trail runner, YMCA and university pool lifeguard for 7 years. Volleyball player and referee. Horseback rider/trainer/teacher - jumped the US Equestrian Team cross country course at Gladstone NJ, and certified Scuba Diver with over 200 salt water and wreck dives.
DATE: Friday, September 18, 2026
TIME: 5:00 pm
SUBJECT: "DAR and the Creation of Constitution Week"
LOCATION: Grand Lake Center - 301 Marina Dr.