Chris D’Orso enters his 37th season with the Orlando Magic and serves as executive vice president of sales and operations. His responsibilities include overseeing the day-to-day operations of sales for the Kia Center including season, premium, suites, hospitality, partial, group and tourism sales as well as retail, and ticket operations for both the Orlando Magic and Kia Center.

A mainstay in the organization since the team’s inception, D’Orso joined the Magic in 1989 as the promotions/publicity coordinator. After two seasons in that capacity, he moved into the sponsorship sales department as a corporate account manager for the next three years. In 1994, D’Orso was promoted to the assistant director of marketing position, and in 1998 was promoted to director of marketing. He served as director of ticket sales and marketing from 1999 and was promoted to vice president of marketing and sales in 2002, a position he held for seven years. In 2012, he was named senior vice president of sales and operations and most recently was promoted to executive vice president of sales and operations in 2023.

D’Orso graduated in 1988 from Fairfield University with a bachelor’s degree in communications. He is currently on the board for both the Central Florida YMCA and the Make a Wish Foundation of Central Florida.

D’Orso and his wife, Christine, reside in Windermere, Fla., and have two sons, Harrison and Alex.

Dr. RyanSochol is a brilliant engineer and educator whose work bridges science, technology, and health. He leads the Bioinspired Advanced Manufacturing (BAM) Laboratory at the University of Maryland, where he and his team use cutting-edge 3D printing on the micro and nano scale to create innovations that can improve human health and medical care. Imagine building things so small they can work inside the human body — that’s the kind of technology Dr. Sochol’s lab develops!

He currently serves as the Interim Director of the Maryland Robotics Center and teaches in the Mechanical Engineering Department and the Institute for Systems Research. He’s also part of the Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices, where engineers and doctors team up to create life-changing medical technology.

Dr. Sochol earned his Ph.D. and M.S. from UC Berkeley and his B.S. from Northwestern University, and he even completed advanced research at Harvard Medical School and the University of Tokyo. Over his career, he’s received many awards for his research, innovation, and teaching — including being named an ASME Rising Star of Mechanical Engineering and receiving the NSF CAREER Award.

Through his work, Dr. Sochol inspires students to see how engineering, creativity, and compassion can come together to make a real difference in the world.

A native Mainer, Daniel Bernard is a Founding Partner and Operations Director at Madco3d, where he focuses on technology advancement and operational strategy. His career, which began in 1990, has centered on the commercialization of sustainable systems and green products. Bernard first gained national attention in the early 1990s—notably earning coverage from the Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and National Geographic—for launching an ecological catalog company that introduced items for sustainable living, including an electric/solar sports car and electric car conversion kits. This pioneering work led to collaborations with major firms like Coca-Cola and Hoechst-Celanese, as well as organizations such as the United Nations, Disney, and TED Talks. Today, Bernard leverages this deep background to helm Madco3d's operations in New Hampshire and its mission to automate construction and help solve the housing crisis. Under his direction, the company has expanded its manufacturing and research footprint, establishing two locations in New Hampshire, including a facility in a historic mill in Rochester and a second location at the University of New Hampshire, which houses a 60-foot track-based robot to boost production capability. A key achievement in his operational tenure has been overseeing the production of the first 3D-printed home in New England using 3d-printed sustainable concrete components, a project set to be unveiled in New Hampshire fall 2025. Beyond construction, Bernard continues his dedication to environmental innovation, collaborating with carbon reduction scientists, bioprinting experts, and academia on projects like repopulating the coral reefs. He is also an experienced professional narrator.

Damon Langlois is an internationally recognized sand sculptor, creative director, and industrial designer known for shaping large-scale narrative environments in a medium designed to vanish. He was Creative Director of the Remal International Sand Art Festival in Kuwait — one of the largest thematic sand art events ever staged — leading an international team in the creation of a monumental story-driven sand art installation that spanned the scale of a city block. Langlois recently authored the book Stories in Sand, chronicling the narratives of the Arabian Nights and the artworks and the Remal Festival.

In 2015 Langlois co-designed and directed, with Ted Siebert, the Guinness World Record tallest sandcastle at 45 ft 10 in — a record pursued in full acceptance that the achievement could be erased by wind or rain at any moment, and nearly was.

erased by wind or rain at any moment, and nearly was.

Langlois is a multi-time world champion in both solo and team sand sculpting, with top finishes at elite competitions across Europe, North America, and Asia. In parallel, he maintains an active career in industrial design, shaping products and user experiences — a discipline that directly informs the precision, workflow, and narrative clarity of his sand work.

What survives the sand sculpture is not the shape itself but the experience.

Dr. Robert “Neal” Mills is a board-certified physician executive and a distinguished graduate of the University of Tennessee’s Physician Executive MBA program. With over two decades of experience spanning healthcare strategy, population health, and innovative delivery system transformations, Dr. Mills is an accomplished leader dedicated to advancing quality initiatives that align with the quadruple aim.

At the Inspiring Children Foundation, Dr. Neal leads efforts to create and sustain the organization’s groundbreaking endowment, leveraging his extensive expertise in healthcare finance, strategic partnerships, and value-based designs to support youth and families in achieving their fullest potential.

Prior to this, Dr. Neal served as Managing Director and Global Chief Medical Officer at Goldman Sachs, where he developed global clinical governance structures and mental health strategies across diverse regions. He has also held prominent leadership roles at Aon and Moda Health Plan, where he pioneered transformative solutions in virtual care, pharmacy coalitions, and evidence-based population health strategies, delivering multimillion-dollar cost savings and enhancing patient outcomes.

Dr. Neal has been a sought-after speaker across nearly all 50 states, known for his ability to translate complex healthcare innovations into actionable strategies for diverse audiences. His professional affiliations include leadership positions with the National Business Group on Health, the Oregon Healthcare Leadership Council, and various advisory boards.

Dr. Neal is also deeply committed to community service, having served on multiple nonprofit boards, including the Inspiring Children Foundation, where he combines his healthcare expertise with a passion for mentorship and youth empowerment.

Josiah Alipate is a digital evangelist, storyteller, and social media influencer known online as “The Real Coach Josiah.” With over a million followers, he inspires people around the world through faith-based motivation, fitness, and personal growth. Josiah uses his powerful short videos to share messages about hope, purpose, and living with passion — reminding students that with faith and discipline, anything is possible.

Senior Vice President, Post Production — Universal Television / NBC

Richard Winnie is a media production executive with more than 25 years of experience in television, film, and post-production. At NBC/Universal, he oversees large-scale post production workflows, creative editorial teams, and project delivery for network and streaming content.

Throughout his career, Richard has led high-profile series, collaborative cross-department initiatives, and complex post pipelines, working with editors, visual effects teams, and producers to bring stories to life. He’s passionate about mentoring emerging talent, pushing creative boundaries, and building efficient, high-quality workflows in a fast-paced industry.

When he’s not working, Richard loves exploring new storytelling formats, staying current on editing and post-tech trends, and sharing insights with students and professionals.

Matteo Curseri is a 22-year-old actor from Brescia, Italy. Acting is his life: since childhood he dreamed of cinema, exploring other lives beyond his own. A former Mater Academy Dual Diploma student, Matteo went on to study acting in Milan and began working on short films and movie sets. In 2025, he starred in his first leading role in the film "Le Vie dell’Acqua", directed by Fabio Masi and presented at the Venice International Film Festival. Alongside his artistic path, he is pursuing a Master’s degree in Cinema Engineering in Turin, combining creativity with technical knowledge to become a well-rounded actor in the evolving world of storytelling.

Born in 1961, Alexis d'Hérouville is a direct descendant of Alexis de Tocqueville, the renowned French philosopher and historian. Raised at the Château de Tocqueville, he graduated from the Institut d'Études Politiques (SciencesPo Paris) and works as a banker in Paris at the Banque Publique d’Investissement. Committed to preserving and transmitting Western cultural and intellectual heritage, Alexis d'Hérouville works closely with his brother, Jean-Guillaume, to perpetuate their mother's legacy, MarieHenriette de Tocqueville, the last direct descendant bearing the Tocqueville name.

 
Links with the United States 
The Tocqueville family has maintained close ties with the United States for many years. 
The Tocqueville Prize, established in 1979, has recognized prestigious American laureates, including: 
- David Riesman (1980) 
- Daniel Bell (1999) 
- Colin Powell (2006) 
- Zbigniew Brzezinski (2010) 
- Henry Kissinger (2018) 

The prize jury consisted of prominent figures, including Stanley Hoffmann and Lawrence Wylie, and 
was successively chaired by Raymond Aron, Valéry Giscard d’Estaing (former French President), and 
Alain Juppé (former French Prime Minister). 

The Tocqueville Conversations 
Since 2018, Alexis d'Hérouville has participated in organizing The Tocqueville Conversations, an 
annual event that brings together 300 participants from around the world at the Château de 
Tocqueville. This event, co-organized by the Tocqueville Foundation, Le Figaro, and the Atlantic 
Council, aims to discuss the challenges facing Western democracies. 

Lectures and projects 
Alexis d'Hérouville gives lectures on Alexis de Tocqueville and other prominent figures in French 
history. He also proposes travel projects to the United States, focusing on analyzing American 
democracy in light of Tocqueville's work, Democracy in America. 

US Travel Project 
This project consists of a series of lectures and meetings with Americans from diverse backgrounds, 
aiming to provide a French perspective on current American democracy. 
The objectives are to: 
- Analyze the evolution of American society since Tocqueville 
- Reflect on the challenges facing American democracy 
- Establish links between the French and Americans 

The "outputs" of this project could include: 
- Filmed debates broadcast in episodes 
- A book to be written at the end of the trip 
This project will provide a deeper understanding of the issues facing American democracy today and 
strengthen ties between the two countries

Dr. Quinton is an Associate Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. He is also a board-certified forensic pathologist and a medical examiner for the Southern Minnesota Regional Medical Examiner's Office. Prior to 2019, he was the Deputy Chief Medical Examiner and Director of Forensic Pathology fellowship training program for the Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences in Dallas, Texas. Dr. Quinton has published and lectured extensively in the field of forensic pathology, with a focus on child fatality and forensic pathology education. He is currently a member of the Executive Committee of the National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME) and Chair of the NAME Educational Activities Committee.

As chief storyteller and podcast host at the Science History Institute, Alexis oversees our award-winning Distillations digital content platform, which includes building out a strategic vision for our magazine, podcasts, and social media storytelling. She is also cohost of the Distillations podcast.

Alexis also served as director of Innate: How Science Invented the Myth of Race, a National Endowment for the Humanities-funded podcast and magazine project that explores the historical roots and persistent legacies of racism in American science and medicine.

She completed her undergraduate degree at Temple University, studying psychology and European history, and earned her master’s degree in humanities from Arcadia University, where her focus was history, philosophy, and religion.

Alexis is known for her lively history talks and tours in Philadelphia. She previously served on the boards of Young Involved Philadelphia and the New Jersey Council for the Humanities. In 2015 she was nominated for Geek of the Year by the Philadelphia Geek Awards.

Alexis is a member of the Science History Institute’s Leadership Team.

Ms. Yarbrough is Professor of Government and Gary M. Pendy, Sr. Professor of Social Sciences, with teaching responsibilities in political philosophy and American Political Thought. She was a Woodrow Wilson Dissertation Fellow and has twice received research fellowships from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Her first award as a Bicentennial Fellow resulted in the publication of American Virtues: Thomas Jefferson on the Character of a Free People (Kansas, 1998). Following up on this research, she has edited The Essential Jefferson (Hackett, 2006). Her second N.E.H. grant was part of a "We the People" initiative that supported research on Theodore Roosevelt and the American Political Tradition (University Press of Kansas, 2012), which won the Richard E. Neustadt Award for 2013 (awarded annually by the American Political Science Association (APSA) for the best book on the Presidency). Ms. Yarbrough is the author of numerous articles and essays in American political thought and public policy, as well as other topics in political philosophy. Her current research involves a study of the political thought of Alexis de Tocqueville in relation to major American political figures. She has served on the editorial boards of The Review of Politics and Polity and currently serves on the editorial board of American Political Thought. She was President of the New England Political Science Association in 2005, and recently completed a Senate-confirmed appointment to the National Council of the National Endowment for the Humanities. In 2021, Ms. Yarbrough was awarded the Henry Salvatori Prize for her scholarly work and public service in upholding the principles of the American Founding.