Jonna Sanders is a Colorado-raised beekeeper and Military Spouse (Go Navy!). She grew up with a parent with severe injuries as a result of a Traumatic Brain Injury. Her professional background includes a decade spent in the field of Mental Health, working directly with children and teens with mental illness.

Following a career change, Jonna earned a M.A. in International Security Studies, then spent twelve years working for the U.S. Department of Defense, mainly in the Middle East. She also spent several years working in combat zones in Afghanistan and Iraq. Jonna has been a vocal advocate for adaptive beekeeping for women, Veterans and the disabled.

Dr. Krisztina Christmon is a passionate advocate for sustainable agriculture, environmental conservation, and beekeeping. Born and raised in a farming family in Hungary, Krisztina is motivated by a strong commitment to tackle issues related to rural waste, plastic pollution, and climate change. Krisztina studied ecology in the UK, and earned a Ph.D. in Entomology in the United States. Along this transformative journey, Krisztina’s PhD research on Varroa mites has already made significant contributions to honeybee science. Dedicated to environmental education, Dr. Krisztina Christmon brings academic expertise and a passion for investing young minds with the importance of environmentalism, fostering a sustainable future for bees and our planet.

Deacon John P. Vidmar, PhD, is a social scientist by training (PhD in Public Policy Analysis), and is the permanent Deacon at the Slovenian Catholic Mission in Lemont, IL, in the Archdiocese of Chicago. He is a board member for a diaconal ministry, Hopes On The Way, which serves as second responders to natural disasters. He also serves as the Honorary Consul for the Republic of Slovenia for the State of Illinois. Vidmar was on the staff at the Survey Research Laboratory at the University of Illinois, and was a lecturer in various academic departments. Deacon Vidmar is a prominent Illinois beekeeper, managing colonies at the Slovenian Catholic Mission in Lemont, IL.