Meet The Guests

Dan Jansen - 1994 Olympic Gold Medalist:

1994 Olympic gold medalist Dan Jansen is a symbol of strength, hard work and perseverance. He first captured the world's attention during the 1988 Winter Olympics. Hearts went out to him when the world learned that his sister, whose last words were ones urging him to victory, had died mere hours before his first race. He announced that he wanted to win as a tribute to her and as he stepped onto the ice, we cheered a little louder than normal. When he fell not once-but twice--we felt his pain as if it were our own.

After the 1988 Olympics, letters poured in from fans worldwide, President Reagan invited him to the White House, and the U.S. Olympic Committee honored him with the Olympic Spirit Award. The speed skating champion embodies the competitive spirit, and his story inspires us to reach for our own personal "gold".

Jansen continued to train and in 1989, he skated a personal best in the 500 meter, earning a silver medal at the Sprint Championships and two silvers at the World Cup. The following year, he won two silvers at the World Cup and this time, earned a gold at the Sprint Championships. The winning streak continued in 1991, when he won two World Cup gold medals.

In preparation for the 1992 Olympics in Albertville, France, he set a U.S. Track Record at the U.S. Trials again, won two gold medals in the World Cup and skated his career fastest 500 meter, breaking the world record. But again, the Olympic gold eluded his grasp. During his final chance in the 1994 Olympic games Dan told himself to relax and enjoy himself. His performance dazzled the spectators with a world record and an Olympic gold medal in the 1000 meter event. As he took his victory lap, there was not a dry eye in the arena.

Among numerous awards and honors he has received throughout the years, in 1995 Dan was awarded the Amateur Athletic Union's James E. Sullivan Award, presented annually to the outstanding athlete in the U.S. who exhibits the qualities of leadership, character, sportsmanship, and the ideals of amateurism. In honor of his sister, the Dan Jansen Foundation was established, contributing funds for Leukemia research, youth sports, and educational programs.

The youngest of nine children born to Harry and Gerry Jansen, a retired police officer and a retired nurse, Dan is a first class competitor. He is also a man who knows about dreaming big and the work, positive attitude, and strength it takes to make those dreams come true. As a public speaker, he uses his story to inspire others to turn their dreams into reality.

Career Highlights:

• 1994 Olympic Gold medalist in 1000 m. (Speed skating)
• Four time Olympic team member ( 1984,1988,1992,1994)
• Eight time World record holder in the 500m and 1000m
• 46 World Cup victories and more than 75 World Cup medals
• 20 World Championship medals
• Seven time Overall World Cup Champion
• Two time World Sprint Champion
• 2004 inductee into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame
• Named Skating Coach for the NHL Chicago Blackhawks in August 2005
• Announcer for the 2006 Winter Olympics on NBC

Speaking Topics:

Going For The Gold - With humor, sensitivity and candor, Jansen outlines the principles that supported him through the process of dealing with his losses and overcoming his obstacles, a process that he now understands is one of growth. The lessons he has learned from his own life experiences are the foundation of the life he lives today.

Roosevelt Pitt, Jr. - Founder and Owner of AMARA Entertainment LLC:

Roosevelt Pitt, Jr. is the founder and owner of AMARA Entertainment LLC and the creator of hundreds of characters for comic book related properties and children books. He has written children books, graphic novels and movie scripts for his company and others throughout his twenty year career. He enjoys speaking about the importance of creativity and the fundamentals of living a healthy life style.

He was born in Tarboro, North Carolina. Roosevelt attended undergraduate school at North Carolina A and T State University, where he majored in Computer Science and Technology. During those years he began his first publishing company U.P. Comics, where he self published his first book at the age of twenty. The book sold over ten thousand copies. Other books published by Roosevelt later such as "Purge" and "Purge, The Purification Agenda" have sold over a half a million copies world wide.

Roosevelt has been featured in Newsweek, USA Today, Business North Carolina and Entertainment Tonight for his outstanding publishing accomplishments.

Roosevelt is the author and co-creator of "Food Adventures with Charles the Chef" A book created to help children develop good eating habits. A loving and magical filled book of adventure, Charles the Chef brings back the fun to eating healthy.

Roosevelt is now on a regional tour. The tours are designed to introduce Charles the Chef to children through reading. Roosevelt will facilitate reading with a flair that kids pay attention to. He has a whimsical voice that kids find exciting and funny. At times he may take on the character of Charles the Chef himself. Depending on the attendance he may provide gifts such as Charles the Chef hats, trading cards and recipes that can be used at home to create nutritious snacks. When available he will be accompanied by Mshindo Kuumba, co-creator and artist of "Food Adventures with Charles the Chef." Mshindo is actually one of the many characters featured in the first book of a five book series. Mshindo owns an herbal foods market where customers shop for tasty spices.

Roosevelt's reason for creating Charles the Chef grew through his experience with relatives who have struggled with obesity. He witness first hand how unhealthy eating habits were passed on to their children. His goal is to help break the cycle by sharing with children the importance of eating healthy and being active without leaving out the fun. Charles the Chef also helps parents by easing the resistance they may encounter when trying to introduce healthy foods to their kids.

Roosevelt currently resides in Pilot Mountain, North Carolina with his five children.

Mshindo Kuumba I - Artist:

Mshindo Kuumba I. is mostly well known for his enduring attention to detail and the "Afro-centric" look to his work. "Africa being so instrumental in civilizing the world, I found it peculiar that a strong positive image of Africans is largely absent from contemporary media. Since my youth I wanted to build a career addressing this discrepancy."

Born in 1964, Mshindo largely a self developed talent moved through his early years developing each aspect of his art one skill at a time. "I was fascinated by art that looked realistic and photo realism." Studying one aspect of the process at a time allowed Mshindo to develop strong foundation skills that would become the hallmark of "The Mshindo I. look". Moving from pencil techniques to ink, color pencil and airbrush in that fashion allowed for lengthy study with each technique. Some of the early influences was; his Father, older brother, Mike Bonum (the after school teacher who he did his first painting with), Frank Frazetta, Amsel, Keith Pollard, Neal Adams and many others whose names were not know. just the fantastic lessons in their work.

After high school and a three year infantry medic stint, Mshindo ventured out into the world as a freelance artist selling tee shirts with a newly acquired airbrush at a flee market while living on Oahu Hawaii. It is here he met a Rastafarian named Bongo I Fareed who would change his entire life! He was the true African influence that not only taught Mshindo to be an entrepreneur, he lead him to the waters of African culture which Mshindo drank freely from. He stressed the need for self knowledge, self education and the truth of the Africans place in the world historic view.

Returning to the states in 1985 Mshindo continued to vend and grow a reputation for being a "true artist." He began to attract clients like The Salvation Army, The NYC Fire and Police Dept., McDonalds, and V.I.M. store chain. Celebrities and educators were also apart of this long list such as; Bobby Brown, Vertical Hold (including Angie Stone), Arrow, Mathew St. Patrick, John Henrik Clarke, Leonard Jefferies, Queen Afua and Baba Heru. Mshindo's talents were also noticed by comic companies like; A & B, Ania, Brainstorm, Continuity, Defiant, Valiant, Broadway, Crusade, Kevlar, Amara and DC comics.

Currently Mshindo is honing his digital skills to complete yet another learning cycle in his over 20yr. experience. He is working on self publishing and reproductions of his astonishing work.

Beth Horn aka "Venom" - American Gladiator - Writer:

Beth Horn was born on December 2, 1976 in Chicago, Illinois.

Beth took up gymnastics at the age of 7 and loved the sport. During her freshman year in high school, she participated in a gymnastics competition and tore her ACL and meniscus. During her stint in rehab, she discovered the world of weight training. She went on to attend Ball State University (graduated in 1995) and spent two years on the gymnastics team while there. During her first season on the team, she blew out her ACL on her other knee. After college, she started personal training and has been doing it ever since.

She yearned to get back into competing and decided in 1998 that she would enter fitness competitions and become a fitness model. She was coached by Bob Dixon and her first two events in competition she won the overall and went to the national level. She placed third three times in a row, and missed turning professional by one spot each of those times. She was determined to become the National Fitness Champion and even wrote that on a note card, carrying it around with her everywhere she went, and in 2000, her hard work and determination paid off, as she did indeed become the National Fitness Champion of 2000.

She turned pro and started working for Weider Publications and represented the various fitness magazines. She work for Weider the next five years and was hired by them as a contracted athlete.

Beth is also an author, having penned the book titled “The Natural Way - The Holistic Guide To Total Mind-Body, Health & Fitness“. While promoting her book, she met her future husband Bruce Butler. He is a marathoner, personal trainer, ski instructor, and triathloner. They instantly clicked.After competing in a figure competition in September 2007, she heard about the American Gladiator auditions, and is having a successful run on the NBC show.

Cindy Silver, MS, RD, LDN - Lowes Foods Corporate Nutritionist:

Cindy Silver, MS, RD, LDN has been the Corporate Nutritionist for Lowes Foods for 11 years. She offers creative nutrition education programs for customers of all ages. These include the Be A Smart Shopper! Program for 4-12 year olds, healthy heart shelf tags, practical tips and recipes on Lowes Foods website, a new diabetes store tour and the toll free nutrition hotline. Cindy is easy to reach at 1-800-311-2117 or cindynutrition@lowesfoods.com. You may view her website content at www.lowesfoods.com by clicking on Food and Nutrition and then... visit our nutritionist.