James K. Glassman to Keynote Opening Luncheon of 2011 Steamboat Institute Freedom Conference on Friday, August 19, 2011

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, Colo., Aug. 9, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Honorable James K. Glassman, a leading journalist, economist, diplomat and author, will be the keynote speaker for the opening luncheon of the Third Annual Steamboat Institute Freedom Conference on Friday, August 19, 2011.

"We're honored to have one of the most brilliant conservative thinkers – Jim Glassman – join us for our third-annual conference. He's a true visionary, and I know our guests will be fascinated by his wealth of knowledge about the economy as well as his extensive experience in journalism, government, and business sectors," said Jennifer Schubert-Akin, Steamboat Institute chairman and founding board member.

During his hour-long luncheon keynote address, Glassman will address the topic, "The Power of Freedom: Unleashing Human Potential," and offer his ideas on a range of subjects, from the U.S. economy to the quest for freedom by people in the Mideast, Latin America, and other parts of the world.

Said Glassman: "America is facing tough economic times, but we've proven time and again that we have what it takes to weather the storm if we remain true to our founding principles.  I'm honored to have this opportunity to speak at The Steamboat Institute, which is dedicated to the ideals of our founding fathers."

Glassman is the founding executive director of the George W. Bush Institute, a public policy institute dedicated to the universal principles of freedom, opportunity, responsibility, and compassion. The George W. Bush Institute seeks to improve the human condition through education reform, global health, human freedom and economic growth; empowers women through all its work with the Women's Initiative, chaired by former First Lady Laura W. Bush; and honors the sacrifices and service of our troops and their families through the Military Service Initiative. Glassman also hosts the television program "Ideas in Action," which airs weekly on PBS stations across the country and online at www.ideasinactiontv.com. Glassman served as the Under Secretary of State for Public Affairs and Public Diplomacy under President George W. Bush, and was also chairman of the Broadcasting Board of Governors. He founded The American, published by the American Enterprise Institute, where he also served as senior fellow for 12 years. In addition, he has been published in the most prestigious newspapers across the country, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Forbes, U.S. News and World Report, and The Atlantic, and among others. He was written three books, Dow 36,000 with co-author Kevin Hassett, The Secret Code of the Superior Investor, and most recently, Safety Net: The Strategy for De-Risking Your Investments in a Time of Turbulence.

The conference moderator will once again be Tony Blankley, of the Washington Times newspaper and Townhall Magazine. Jonah Goldberg, founding editor and editor-at-large of National Review Online, will be Friday night's keynote dinner speaker.

Other distinguished speakers include: U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (FL); Steve Moore, senior economics writer for the Wall Street Journal; Kate Obenshain, vice president of the Young America's Foundation; Jason Mattera, editor of Human Events; Amy Oliver, host of The Amy Oliver Show (1310 KFKA-AM); Kevin Jackson, author of "The Big Black Lie" & founder of theBlackSphere.net; and Lt. Col. Steve Russell, Oklahoma state senator and author of "We Got Him!," about the hunt and capture of Saddam Hussein.

The conference will include four panels: an Attorneys General panel that will discuss the effects of Obamacare and right-to-work issues with Attorneys General Alan Wilson (SC), John Suthers (CO), and Greg Zoeller (IN); a freshmen panel with U.S. Congressmen Todd Rokita (IN) and Joe Walsh (IL); a health care reform panel with Grace-Marie Turner, president of the Galen Institute, Hal Scherz, M.D. founder of Docs4PatientCare, and Robert Goldberg, Ph.D., vice president of the Center for Medicine in the Public Interest; and energy and free market solutions with editor-in-chief of "A Line of Sight," former U.S. Congressman Bob Beauprez (CO); John Harpole, founder and CEO of Mercator Energy, and former Governor of Wyoming, Jim Geringer, now director of Environmental Systems Research Institute.

The conference will conclude with a dinner tribute to the Rocky Mountain USO on Saturday, August 20.  Special guests will include Rocky Mountain USO Director Joe Aldaz and Peter Brookes, senior fellow with the Heritage Foundation and decorated Navy veteran. The USO, founded in 1941, integrated the efforts of multiple agencies to support and lift the spirits of U.S. troops around the world.

The Steamboat Institute Board of Directors includes Chairman Jennifer Schubert-Akin, Vice Chairman Rick Akin, Anne Lowe, Gary Hofmeister, Kirsten Fedewa, and Kelly Victory, M.D.

"We're so pleased that The Steamboat Institute continues to attract some of the greatest conservative leaders of our generation. We are looking forward to a robust exchange of ideas at our summer conference, August 18-20th, in the beautiful ski resort community of Steamboat Springs, Colorado," said Schubert-Akin.

For more information and to register for the 2011 Steamboat Institute Conference, please visit: www.steamboatinstitute.org.  Sponsorship opportunities are also available.

For more information, contact Kirsten Fedewa at 202.365.6936 or [email protected].

SOURCE The Steamboat Institute