Dr. Melody Bell, a personal finance expert, educator, and entrepreneur. She founded Financial Beginnings, now a national nonprofit helping thousands. She has over a decade of experience teaching higher education and was awarded Adjunct Professor of the Year by Portland State University. Melody designs inclusive financial education, provides business guidance, and also contributes to Investopedia's Financial Review Board,. Her mission stems from humble beginnings, driving her to empower the next generation in achieving financial well-being.

With over 20 years of higher education and financial wellness experience, Carissa Uhlman is a leading content creator for online financial education programs, blogs, and workplace wellness initiatives. Her recent work focuses on intersectionality and equity issues within personal finance, and she most enjoys using her communications background to make financial education understandable and accessible for all.

Ben Kirkpatrick, a U.S. Navy veteran turned digital marketing specialist, brings a wealth of experience in the field. With a B.S. in Marketing from Portland State University, he has accumulated over 5 years of valuable expertise in digital marketing and advertising. Ben's passion for fitness, travel, and personal finance was sparked during his time in the Navy. As a guest blogger for North Starr Consulting, he shares profound insights on his journey to financial freedom.

Dr. Kendra Coates is an award-winning educational leader, author, executive coach, consultant, and professor with twenty-five years of experience across the P-20 care and educational continuum. She consults and advises care and education professionals, schools, districts, organizations, and state governments across the U.S. in her Human-Centered Learning, Teaching, and Leading approach grounded in the Science of Learning and Development (SoLD).

Tyron Bussanich, a workplace conflict resolution consultant with 20+ years of experience, combines managerial expertise, practical wisdom, and theoretical knowledge to transform workplaces. He offers training in mediation, negotiation, conflict resolution, and leadership skills, using humor and empathy to address root causes effectively. Tyron emphasizes his commitment to continuous learning and staying at the forefront of conflict resolution practices. In short, he is a sought-after expert who blends theory with practice, humor, empathy, and adaptability to create positive work environments nationwide.

Nefertiti Beck, Founder of Yari & Co., has over 20 years of experience in education, program development and management, counseling, and DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) initiatives. These experiences have allowed her to develop the critical skills needed to provide excellent quality service to her counseling, coaching, and consulting clients.

Tim Walley, a business development guru, financial literacy advocate and digital marketing maven. Tim has 10 years of curriculum and content development. With an emphasis on creating engaging and relevant material intended to educate as well as entertain. Tim seeks to explore and develop how people of all backgrounds can be informed and empowered in a continuously evolving digital landscape.