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Now Debate This Core Team
Now Debate This is produced by Pinnacle Performance Group (PPG), headquartered in Philadelphia, PA. Founded in 1992, PPG specializes in heritage education and heritage development programs.  Mary L. Hagy is Executive Producer of Now Debate This. Mary’s career has spanned public and private sectors, including seven years as a government executive in environmental management. As Director of Public Affairs for the U.S. Army Toxic and Hazardous Materials Agency (now the U.S. Army Environmental Command), Mary was dedicated to ensuring that the people in communities affected by past military operations had a meaningful voice in resolving the environmental problems that affected them and their families. In creating and implementing a national public involvement initiative, she advised commanders on the military bases to open doors to bridge citizens with scientists, engineers, government representatives and legislators. Mary and her staff welcomed community groups representing positive, productive change, working closely with state and federal regulators to develop legislative answers to difficult challenges. She involved the media to help inform and engage the public, and worked to create long-term solutions first for residents, and then cities, states and federal interests. In selecting the 2009 Now Debate This topic, ‘American Energy Independence,’ I see a new opportunity to galvanize the power of America’s youth to solve problems for people who are most affected by energy problems. If we create an adventure into the past for young people that invites innovative thinking to solve future problems, give them expert stewardship, and reward them with the opportunity to be heard, I believe they can discover the path to energy independence. Mary is committed to seeking answers to the future through the lens of history. She has been involved in youth programs for 10 years, working to inspire heritage appreciation in theatre as a writer and producer, and in heritage education as a producer of such programs as, “Touch History, Create Art,” and "Now Debate This," and as a mentor, coach and judge for National History Day Philly. Mary has produced many successful performing arts and film/television projects, many of which focus on American history. Her stage plays, “While Lincoln Lay Dying,” “In Sun and Snow,” and “Lost in the Archives,” explore the impact of the American experience. She is co-founder of the Civil War History Consortium in Philadelphia, a project to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the U.S. Civil War. She is co-founder of Lincoln 200: The Bicentennial Festival, a nationally-endorsed commemoration of Abraham Lincoln’s Bicentennial to be held in Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia, July 2-5, 2009. Mary earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia. She is a United States Army Veteran, decorated for meritorious service. Mary is one of the few civilians selected to serve on the United States Army Kuwait Emergency Recovery Team in Kuwait City during Desert Storm.  Rick Brundage, curriculum co-director for Now Debate This holds a Master of Public Affairs degree from Brown University and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Minnesota. Formerly a teacher in the Department of Communication Studies at Harker in San Jose, CA, Rick taught middle school and high school debate, speech, and mock trial. Rick has also taught at workshops for the National Debate Forum, the National Symposium for Debate, the National Debate Education Project, and the Yale Ivy Scholars Program. Sarah Gildea, curriculum co-director for Now Debate This has served as the Program Assistant for the Employment and Money and Politics grant-making programs at The Joyce Foundation in Chicago, Illinois, as a Research Assistant at the National Defense Council Foundation in Alexandria, Virginia, as well as an Intern with the United States Department of State Consulate General in Hamburg, Germany and the National Forensic League in Ripon, Wisconsin. She holds a Master’s degree in Public Policy from Universität Erfurt, Erfurt School of Public Policy in Erfurt, Germany and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Iowa.  Randy Brennan is the Now Debate This Director of Logisistics. As the daughter of an US Army Officer she was born in Landstuhl Germany and lived in Germany, France, Republic of China (Taiwan), and various locations in the United States. She joined the Federal Civil Service in 1972 at US Army Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD. Her career as a Civilian Executive includes many logistical and management assignements for the US Army and Army National Guard organizations in the United States and Europe. Now retired from Federal Service as a Senior Management Analyst, Randy was responsible for the transformation of the US Army from a focus on the wars of the Twentieth Century to a focus on Twenty First Century threats. Her final assignment was at Headquarters US Army Training and Doctrine Command, Fort Monroe VA in May 2008. During her work as a Senior Executive, Ms. Brennan’s management, analytical and organizational skills and knowledge were recognized by her assignment to solve problems at Army and National Guard activities in all 50 states and the US territories. During her free time Ms Brennan is busy working with Special Olympics and Boy Scouts and Girl Scout Activities. She currently resides in Newport News VA. Kassondra Cloos is a senior and fourth-year Parliamentary and Policy debater and debate co-captain at her high school in Providence, Rhode Island. Kassondra participates in Harvard Model United Nations and attended the international conference in Boston in December 2008. She is currently pursuing her life-long goal of becoming a writer by reporting and interning for the Rhode Island Catholic Newspaper, as well as her high school’s paper, The RamPage. In her role of Student Reporter and Intern, Kassondra will assist in spreading the word about Now Debate This, to ensure teenagers across the country know this scholarship opportunity and unique history debate adventure is available to them. Kassondra also will lead discussions, facilitating dialogue about debate, history, civics, discourse, and achieving energy independence. Kassondra will also report about the developments of the 2009 program throughout its duration on this Web site, Confab, and our YouTube, and SchoolTube channels. Kassondra was an active participant in Now Debate This 2008. Check out her contest video and Confab profile.National Forensic League Partner Team J. Scott Wunn has been the Executive Director of the National Forensic League since 2003. He earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree from Graceland University in 1993 and his Master's Degree in Communication Studies from the University of Northern Iowa in 1999. He began his career with the National Forensic League as a forensics coach and classroom instructor in 1993. During his 10 year coaching career, Mr. Wunn's students experienced great success including several national finalists and the 2002 national championship in humorous interpretation. Mr. Wunn is a diamond coach and a member of the Key Coach Society of the Barkley Forum for High Schools. During his current tenure as the Executive Director of the League, Mr. Wunn is most proud of the advancements the NFL has made in coach education programs, community related program development, alumni engagement, and communication and cooperation among the leadership of the League. Adam Jacobi, NFL Coordinator of Programs & Coach Education is former one diamond coach of three NFL champions at his alma mater, Rufus King High School (WI). Mr. Jacobi has been a consulting educator for the NFL/US State Department’s International Debate Exchange Program, has taught Congress at the Florida Forensic Institute, and wrote the textbook, Student Congress Debate. He won the Wisconsin Forensic Coaches' Association (WFCA) 2006 Coaching Excellence Award, he sat on the executive committees of the WFCA, Wisconsin Debate Coaches’ Association (president, 2006-2007), Southern Wisconsin NFL District, and for Congress at the National Debate Tournament of Champions (TOC). Jacobi serves on the Board of Directors of the professional theatre company, Milwaukee Shakespeare. At NFL, he assists District Chairs with growth strategies, develops and evaluates curricular materials, and serves as liaison to outreach initiatives such as The People Speak. Prior to teaching, Mr. Jacobi was a legislative aide to a Milwaukee alderman, an assistant account executive with a public relations firm, and has managed several political campaigns at the state and local level. He graduated with a BS in Communication from Carroll University. Jennifer Billman, NFL Coordinator of Public Relations and Marketing holds a Master’s degree in Communication from Western Kentucky University and BA in Communication from Western Kentucky University, where she was a 4-year member of their forensic team and a Scholar of the College. Jennifer was the Top Speaker in Lincoln-Douglas debate at the 2005 National Forensic Association National Tournament and the 2003 Kentucky State Champion in Parliamentary Debate. Jennifer has taught at Bradley University, the Western Kentucky University Summer Forensic Institute, and the University of Iowa Summer Coaches’ Institute. Cherian Koshy, NFL Coordinator of Information Technology Service had a successful high school NFL career at Apple Valley High School (MN) where he was the State Champion in LD debate, Central Minnesota District Champion in extemp, and a National Finalist in Student Congress. Cherian has coached extempers as well as LD and congressional debaters to championships and final round appearances at NFL and NCFL Nationals, as well as the Tournament of Champions. His students have also won the Barkley Forum, St. Mark's, and the MBA, University of Iowa, and Greenhill Round Robins. He is the co-author of An Introduction to Lincoln Douglas Debate. Prior to joining the League, Cherian was involved in a variety of occupations including the State Director of the Toxics Action Center in Connecticut and the Fund for Public Interest Research Minneapolis office, campaign manager for several state and federal political campaigns in Minnesota, an Emergency Medical Technician, as well as an officiant for two NFL coaches' weddings. Cherian has been with NFL since 2008 where his responsibilities include directing and managing information technology strategic plans, policies and programs for the administration of the National Office services, district tournament contests, Web site communications, and management of information services to accomplish NFL goals and objectives.PrivacyAny personal information collected from the Competition (including from an Entry) shall be used and disclosed only in a manner consistent with the consent given by Entrants at the time of Entry, with these Official Rules, and with the Privacy Policies which can be found at www.youtube.com/t/privacy and www.NowDebateThis.com. All Competition information is collected in the United States. 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