Vision Builders National Conference Association

FOCUS AREAS: Education, Healthcare and Parenting
October 20-21, 2009

Double Tree Hotel
2651 Perimeter Parkway
Augusta, Georgia 30909

Georgia’s 2nd Largest City

Benjamin Solomon Carson, Sr., M.D.
Benjamin S. Carson, Sr.,M.D., had a childhood dreamof becoming a physician.
Growing up in a single parent homewith dire poverty, poor grades,
a horrible temper and low self-esteemappeared to preclude the realization
of that dream until his mother, with only a third-grade education,
challenged her sons to strive for excellence. Young Ben persevered and
today is a full professor of neurosurgery, oncology, plastic surgery and pediatrics
at the JohnsHopkins School ofMedicine.He has directed pediatric
neurosurgery at the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center for nearly a quarter
of a century and is nowthe Benjamin S. Carson, Sr.,M.D. andDr. Evelyn Spiro, R.N. Professor of
Pediatric Neurosurgery.
Carson holdsmore than 50 honorary doctorate degrees.He is amember of the AlphaOmega
AlphaHonorMedical Society, theHoratioAlger Society ofDistinguishedAmericans andmany
other prestigious organizations. In 2001, Carson was named by CNN and TIME Magazine as
one of the nation’s 20 foremost physicians and scientists. That same year, he was selected by
the Library of Congress as one of 89“Living Legends”on the occasion of its 200th anniversary.
He is also the recipient of the 2006 SpingarnMedal which is the highest honor bestowed by
theNAACP. In February 2008, Carsonwas presentedwith the Ford’sTheatre LincolnMedal by
President Bush at theWhite House. In June 2008, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of
Freedomby the President, which is the highest civilian honor in the land.
Carsonwas recognized in November 2008 by U.S. News &World Report and Harvard’s Center
for Public Leadership as one of “America’s Best Leaders.”On February 7, 2009, themovie entitled
Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story premiered on TNT and is based on his memoir. He is
president and co-founder of the Carson Scholars Fund, which recognizes young people of all
backgrounds for exceptional academic and humanitarian accomplishments. He also cofounded
Angels of the OR,which provides grants to assist familieswith non-coveredmedical
care expenses involving both adult and pediatric neurosurgery.
His is the author of four books: GiftedHands, THINKBIGand TheBigPicture, Take TheRisk: Learning
to Identify,Choose, and LiveWithAcceptable Risk. Carson has beenmarried for over 30 years
to his wife, Candy, and is the father of three sons. And yes, his mother, Sonya Carson, who
made all this possible, is alive and well.

Stephen G. Peters, CEO/President, The Peters Group
Over his 28 years in education, Stephen has been a classroom teacher,
assistant principal, principal and director of secondary education.Most of
his experiences have been in schools that made significant growth in
short periods of time thus, resulting in bothNational and State Blue-Ribbon
distinction. Stephen is founder of the nationally recognized Gentlemen’s
& Ladies Club programs which provide options for thousands of
at-risk and honor students throughout theUnited States. Stephen is currently CEO& President
of The Peters Group, a national education consulting company. The Peters Group has a track
record of creating, and sustaining success in schools, and districts by supporting educators
through a 3-step process of teaching and learning.
Stephen is author of the best-selling book Do You KnowEnough AboutMe To TeachMe,which
is being used throughout the U.S. as an effective tool for reaching disadvantaged and at-risk
youth. His newly released book is also a best-seller Teaching toCapture and Inspire all Learners
(Corwin Press) andwill serve as a catalyst for changing and sustaining school culture. Stephen
is a contributing author for the Educational Leadership series Engaging Every Learner (Corwin
Press). In his book, Inspired To Learn:WhyWeMust Give Children Hope, Stephen not only outlines
his vision for the children in our schools he goes on to share howhe and his staff turned
their vision into operational strategies.
Peters has served on panels as an education expert with former U.S. Secretary of Education,
Dr. Rod Paige inWashington, D.C. He also serves on university business advisory boards and
Investment Group advisory boardswhere he is president. Hismentoring and self-empowering
program,TheGentlemen’s Club, has been featured onTheOprahWinfrey Showaswell as
“America, America,”which broadcasts to twomillion viewers in Portugal and Brazil.

This entry was posted and is filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.