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BRAD MELTZER – named as one of Hollywood Reporter’s “25 Most Powerful Authors” in 2014 alongside such literary titans Lauren Hilenbrand, Stephen King, and George R.R. Martin – is the Emmy-nominated, No. 1 New York Times bestselling author of The Lightning Rod and 12 other bestselling thrillers. He also writes nonfiction books, including The Nazi Conspiracy: The Secret Plot to Kill Roosevelt, Stalin, and Churchill and the Ordinary People Change the World kids’ book series, which inspired the PBS KIDS television show Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum. He is also one of the only authors to have his books appear on bestseller lists for fiction, nonfiction, advice, children’s books, and comic books, the latter genre bringing him a prestigious Eisner Award.

Meltzer is the host of Brad Meltzer’s Decoded on the History Channel, and is responsible for helping find the missing 9/11 flag, a discovery documented on his show Brad Meltzer’s Lost History. His recent commencement address at the University of Michigan has been called “one of the best of all time.”

PATTI SMITH’s extensive achievements as an author, performer, and recording and visual artist are acknowledged worldwide.

Released in 1975, Smith’s first recording, Horses, was inducted into the National Recording Registry at the Library of Congress in 2010. Her subsequent albums include Radio Ethiopia; Easter, which features Because the Night, written with Bruce Springsteen; Wave; Dream of Life, which includes People Have the Power, written with her late husband, Fred Sonic Smith; Gone Again; Peace and Noise; Gung Ho; Trampin’; Land; Twelve; Banga; and Outside Society. She is a four-time Grammy Award nominee, a Golden Globe nominee for the song “Mercy Is,” and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2007.

Smith received the prestigious National Book Award in 2010 for her bestselling memoir, Just Kids, which chronicles her deep friendship with photographer Robert Mapplethorpe and the evolution of their work. Her other books include Witt, Babel, Woolgathering, The Coral Sea, Auguries of Innocence, Collected Lyrics, M Train, Devotion, and Year of the Monkey. Her most recent book, A Book of Days, which features 365 images and reflections, was published in 2022. Her photographs, drawings, and installations have been exhibited in galleries and museums worldwide.

Smith’s received a 2020 literary service prize from PEN America, a “Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres” from the French Ministry of Culture, an ASCAP Founders Award for lifetime achievement, the Katharine Hepburn Medal from Bryn Mawr College – recognizing women whose contributions embody the drive and work ethic of the celebrated actress –  Sweden’s Polar Award, an international acknowledgement for significant achievements in music, and the Burke Medal for Outstanding Contribution to the Arts in Trinity College, Dublin, among other honors.

At present, Smith writes, performs, and lends support to human rights issues and environmental groups. She resides in New York City.

JONATHAN CHARIFF’s career is marked by a series of significant achievements and leadership roles within the automotive industry.

His impact at the helm of South Motors and Vista Motors has been transformative, as he’s integrated family values into the business ethos and focused on strategic problem-solving to drive growth. He sold nine of the 10 franchises earlier this year, achieving a record valuation for these brands in the United States. And as legislative chair of the South Florida Auto Dealers Association and an executive board member of the Florida Auto Dealers Association, he has been at the forefront of representing the interests of the auto industry. During his tenure he has overseen critical legal defenses for the state association, demonstrating his commitment to the industry’s well-being.

During Jonathan’s time with South Motors, the company was a steadfast supporter of the Miami Book Fair contributing more than $325,000 to the event since 2012. South Motors has been one of the Miami Book Fair’s largest and longest standing local corporate sponsors.

Chariff’s interests in boating, fishing, and traveling reflect a life philosophy that values adventure and excellence – a philosophy he has instilled within his family and business practices. He and his wife, Jacquline Dascal-Chariff, reside in Miami Beach with their daughter, Gabriella.

Known as “Jan Mapou,” JEAN-MARIE DENIS, an accomplished playwright and the artistic director and founder of Sosyete Koukouy of Miami, is a foundational figure in the Haitian American cultural community. Born in Les Cayes, Haiti, he is celebrated for his dedication to preserving Haitian culture and promoting the Kreyòl language.

Mapou’s journey as a cultural advocate began in Haiti, where he was a significant proponent of the Haitian Creole language. In 1965, he co-founded the Mouvement Créole Haïtien to promote and educate people about Haitian Creole. His activism led to his four-month imprisonment by the Duvalier regime in 1969. In 1972, he moved to the United States, first settling in New York before moving to Miami in 1984. In Miami, he founded Sosyete Koukouy to preserve Haitian culture through education and cultural presentations. Since 1985, the organization has been instrumental in promoting traditional Haitian music, dance, and folklore in the United States. In 1990, he opened Libreri Mapou in Miami’s Little Haiti. The bookstore, which also serves as a cultural center, boasts the nation’s largest inventory of titles on Haitian culture and history. It hosts rehearsals, language classes, storytelling sessions, and various community events, making it a hub of cultural activity.

Mapou’s work extends into various cultural and initiatives, including the Little Haiti Book Festival, which he founded. Originally known as the Haitian American Book Fair, the festival was renamed when he partnered with Miami Book Fair to expand its reach and impact. His work around this beloved annual event reflects his lifelong commitment to preserving and promoting Haitian heritage in Miami and beyond by providing a platform for Haitian literature and cultural expression. His legacy inspires and influences the next generation of Haitian artists, writers, and cultural advocates.