Desert Town Hall, presented by The H.N. and Frances C. Berger Foundation, today announced the four speakers confirmed for the 2020 season. Taking place at Renaissance Indian Wells Resort & Spa, each speech is at 6:00 p.m., beginning January 20, 2020, and continuing with one speech per month through April.
“We’re excited to announce the line-up of speakers for our 28th season of Desert Town Hall,” said Keith Goff, President of the Board of Directors for Desert Forum, Inc., the nonprofit organization that produces the acclaimed speaker series. “In 2020 we bring the world to town with renowned speakers. We’ll hear about current political realities, reflect on sports in America, learn lessons on the
U.S. Presidency, and thrill to documentary images of some of nature’s most awe-inspiring creatures.”
Desert Town Hall is the premier lecture series in Indian Wells that presents leaders in politics, business, science, media, the arts, and more. This year the line-up includes:
Trey Gowdy on January 20. Attorney and former federal prosecutor who served as the U.S. Representative for South Carolina’s 4th congressional district from 2011 to 2019.
Bob Costas on February 23. Award-winning sportscaster, currently with MLB Network, where he does play-by-play and hosts an interview show called Studio 42 with Bob Costas. He is known for his long tenure with NBC Sports from 1980 through 2018, and for many Emmy awards.
Jon Meacham on March 23. Writer, reviewer, and presidential biographer. A former Executive Editor and Executive Vice President at Random House, he is a contributing writer to The New York Times Book Review, a contributing editor to Time magazine, and a former Editor-in-Chief of Newsweek.
Paul Nicklen on April 9. Canadian photographer, filmmaker, and marine biologist who has documented the beauty of our planet for over 20 years. As an assignment photographer for National Geographic magazine, Nicklen captures imaginations with his brand of documentary photography.
Desert Town Hall is produced by Desert Forum, Inc., a nonprofit 501(c)(3) educational corporation. A portion of the cost of the ticket is tax deductible. The lecture series is sponsored by a number of local companies, organizations and philanthropic individuals.
Serving as officers for 2019-2020, the 28th season, are: President Keith Goff (Rabobank), Immediate Past President Andy Clark (111 Wealth Management), Vice President Judy Vossler, Vice President Brian Harnik (Roemer & Harnik LLP), Treasurer Bill Powers, and Secretary Phillip K. Smith, Jr. (Sunrise Company).
Members of the Board of Directors are: Jerry Fogelson (Fogelson Properties), and Christoph Roshardt (Renaissance Indian Wells Resort & Spa), and Scott Bailey (Desert Sands Unified School District).
Staff for the series includes Becky Kurtz, executive director; Maria Cross, director of operations; Gina Irwin, executive assistant; Lauren Nugen, program assistant. Nearly 40 dedicated volunteers, many of whom have been with the series since its inception in 1993, help to make the series a success every year.
Sponsors of the series include the presenting sponsor, The H.N. and Frances C. Berger Foundation, along with The City of Indian Wells, The Desert Sun, Renaissance Indian Wells Resort & Spa, Rabobank, Roemer & Harnik LLP, Sunrise Company/Toscana Country Club, West Coast Turf/Foster-Gardner, Inc., and Valentine-Dougherty- Clark/111 Wealth Management Group.
A limited number of season tickets are available, beginning at $400 for all four speakers. Visit www.deserttownhall.org or call (760) 610-2852. Follow Desert Town on Facebook and Twitter.
