Events

Present Rick Harnish co-founded the High Speed Rail Alliance in 1993 with a passion for revitalizing the region he grew up in, lives in, and loves. The Alliance builds the political will for systemic change by advocating for integrated rail and transit networks connected by 200+ mph high-speed lines. By connecting cities, towns and airports, the high-speed trains will dramatically expand economic opportunities and slash carbon emissions. A native of the Chicago area, Harnish has been MHSRA’s executive director since 2001. His perspective on trains and transportation policy has appeared in Bloomberg, the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Politico, Governing, the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Magazine, Crain’s Chicago and many other publications, in addition to various NPR programs. He has achieved notable successes and progress in MHSRA’s three focus areas: advocacy, education, and research. Harnish’s work is informed by his strong commitment to researching and learning from global best practices. He has ridden high-speed trains—often in the context of leading small groups—in Belgium, China, England, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Spain, and Turkey, and he draws on a global network of colleagues with expertise in trains and transportation policy.

Lindsey Kerr is the Executive Director of LifeLine Pilots, a non-profit based in Peoria, Illinois but serving 10 states in the Midwest, including Michigan.  Since 1981, LifeLine Pilots has facilitated free air transportation to passengers with medical or humanitarian needs.  Medical care is expensive—oftentimes, life-saving procedures and surgeries can be prohibitively so.  Through volunteer pilots, LifeLine Pilots enables all patients to receive the most cutting-edge treatments from far-away hospitals.  Lindsey believes that everyone, regardless of income, should have equal access to healthcare.  By removing the transportation barrier, LifeLine Pilots helps to ease the financial burden put on families during times of medical uncertainty.  

Lindsey has dedicated her professional life to the non-profit sector.  Almost a year ago she brought her fundraising and communication skills to LifeLine Pilots and is helping the organization to expand its outreach, not just in the Peoria area, but through their 10-state region.  Lindsey will share with us who LifeLine Pilots is, the impact it has on its passengers and volunteers, and what you can do to help grow its outreach efforts.

Identity theft continues to be the fastest growing crime in the United States. The more you learn about it, the less vulnerable you are. The Wisconsin Bureau of Consumer Protection will explain the different types of identity theft, how to recognize it and how to prevent it – including information about Fraud Alerts and Security Freezes. Receive tips for safeguarding personal information and how to spot the red flags of a scam. Helpful brochures will also be available.

Biography

Francesca Johnson is an Agency Liaison for the Bureau of Consumer Protection within the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.  As the Agency Liaison based in the Milwaukee office, Francesca travels throughout southeastern Wisconsin to educate the public, businesses and law enforcement on the importance of privacy protection and data security. Francesca has over 12 years of state service in the combined areas of Unemployment Compensation, Fraud Investigations and Adult Education.