Phil created Bob the Tomato and Larry the Cucumber as a 25 year-old Chicago-based computer animator, searching for ways to integrate his faith and his filmmaking. 

His groundbreaking children’s series, VeggieTales, has sold more than 65 million copies, been featured in major magazines and newspapers and even spoofed by Saturday Night Live and The Simpsons.

At the peak of Phil’s success, everything turned upside down. Phil lost his company, his characters, his dream.

Rather than losing hope, Phil found himself with a ministry he never expected – a ministry to anyone who has lost a dream.  Phil detailed the dramatic rise and fall of his dream and the lessons learned in his book, Me, Myself & Bob.

Phil has produced What’s in the Bible? – a 13-part DVD series walking families all the way through from Genesis to Revelation. Phil is also a frequent radio guest on Family Life Radio, Focus on the Family, Moody Radio and others.

Phil continues to live in the Chicago area with his wife Lisa (aka Junior Asparagus).

As the former director of customer and employee relations at TCC, the largest Verizon Authorized Retailer in the nation, Ryan McCarty is no stranger to empowering employees through a powerful cultural movement.

Under Ryan’s guidance through TCC’s “Culture of Good,” which enables others to do good in their communities for the value of the investment rather than the return on investment, TCC donated $1 million to Riley Hospital for Children; provided 250,000 backpacks full of school supplies to children; gave away supply packs to 5,000 teachers; and contributed $100,000 in grants to organizations focused on improving the environment.

Ryan created Culture of Good, Inc. to inspire other businesses to create truly altruistic programs that make the world a better place.

Ryan believes in order for a company’s Culture of Good to be successful and meaningful, giving back must be ingrained in the foundation of its core values. Through Culture of Good, Inc. Ryan helps other organizations engage the hearts of their employees and empower them to make the changes they wish to see in their communities.

Lena Crouso holds a doctorate in Multicultural Christian Counseling from Andersonville Theological Seminary and holds two Education degrees in Leadership and Curriculum Design from University of Central Florida and Stetson University. Currently she is completing a second doctorate in Transformational Leadership and Culture from The Bakke Graduate University. She is also an ordained elder in the Church of the Nazarene and she and her husband Kendall lead a house church movement in their community. 

She is a part of the Indiana Wesleyan University community where she serves as the Executive Director for the Office of Intercultural Learning and Engagement on the IWU-Marion Campus. As a professor of Intercultural Studies, she is affiliate faculty for the School of Theology and Ministry and the John Wesley Honors College.

In addition, she leads the All India Wesleyan Alliance Initiative for the University. 

Her research and writing focus on intercultural, holistic pathways of community reconciliation for domestic and international equity and justice. 

Dr. Crouso is a “third culture kid” and a daughter of Indian Immigrants. She spent her formative years growing up in India.

A diverse life path has given Lena a heart and mind for the empowerment of all people through intercultural understanding and a desire to lead people in spiritual, emotional and social transformation and freedom.

She is compelled by the two greatest commandments and desires to bring a deeper understanding to the question:  “Who is my Neighbor?” through research, courses, seminars, dialogue and advocacy.  

She has been a presenter, consultant and advocate on issues of race, diversity, equity and justice…seeking to build two way bridges of reconciliation, opportunity and hope in the arenas of higher education, the Church and community.

She and her husband are the joyful parents of three grown daughters, Kayla, Chloe, and Addie all who share a love for Christian service here and in India.

Dr. Scott Livingston is the founder and president of Livingston Consulting Group, specializing in leader development and executive coaching for companies such as Genentech, Purdue Pharma, Dover Manufacturing, Credit Suisse, The Institute for Health and Human Potential, and Manulife Financial.

Scott received his undergraduate degree in pharmacy at Drake University, MBA from the University of Illinois at Springfield, and Masters and Doctorate in Organizational Leadership from Indiana Wesleyan University. Scott gained his practical leadership experience at Eli Lilly holding several roles; his final assignment prior to launching his consulting company was head of leadership development for the United States.

Scott’s book, Seven Secrets of an Emotionally Intelligent Coach is now in its third printing. His most current writing is a chapter in a book being published in December of 2015 along with Dr. Ken Blanchard titled Roadmap to Success, where he writes on “Developing Wisdom in Organizational Leaders."

Scott is married to Kimmy Jo who is a Children’s Pastor. They live in Orlando, Florida and have 3 adult (most of the time) children and one absolutely precious granddaughter.