Randy Lehman is the site manager for Limberlost State Historic Site, located in Geneva, IN. The Limberlost Cabin is the 1895 14-room Queen Ann style home of author and naturalist Gene Stratton-Porter. Randy has been the Limberlost site manager for the past 13 years and has done numerous programs about Gene Stratton-Porter's legacy both as a writer of fiction and non-fiction.

During his presentation Randy will talk about Mrs. Porter's place in American literature both today and in the past, what has kept her legacy alive, how she is perceived today, and why she remains an inspiration today to the next generation of naturalists and environmentalists.

Dennis Hensley (Keynote speaker) Dr. Dennis E. Hensley is the author of 53 books, including six novels, eight textbooks on writing, and books on futurism, motivation, time management, financial investing, and theology. He is director of the professional writing department at Taylor University. He holds four degrees in English, including a Ph.D. from Ball State University. Dr. Hensley is a staff columnist for MNB: Metro North Business Magazine and for Advanced Christian Writer. He is a recipient of the Indiana University "Award for Teaching Excellence" and the Elizabeth Sherrill "Lifetime Achievement Award for Speaking and Writing." He served as a sergeant in the United States Army, including a year of combat duty in Viet Nam, where he was awarded six medals. He and his wife of 40 years, Rose, have two grown married children, Nathan and Jeanette, and four grandchildren. Dr. Hensley's more than 3,000 published freelance articles have appeared in such publications as Reader's Digest, Essence, The Writer, People, The Detroit Free Press, and Downbeat, among many others.

Ron Kipfer (Author) Joel Johns (Pen Name). Ron Kipfer is an IT Consultant and lay pastor who enjoys working with young people. Over the years he ran into several students who were confused by the theory of evolution. After visiting with several he decided to write a novel about three high school students who were trying to decide the truth about the origin of life. His goal is to have students understand after reading the book that they have been created and certainly did not evolve from an unguided natural process.

Ron has been married to Linda for 38 years and they have 4 children and 5 grandchildren.

Mary Beth Weisenburger has been with DRG and Looking Back magazine since April of 2011. She has 25 years of experience in the marketing, advertising and publishing fields. In addition to her job as editor of Looking Back, she writes a family humor column and is a published author. She and her husband, two college-age kids, two dogs and various other critters live on five acres in the country, where she enjoys reading, writing and flower gardening.

Berne Literary Festival Director- Michael Kellermeyer, 24, is a 2006 graduate of South Adams High School. In 2010 he earned a Bachelor's in English from Anderson University, after which he began a Master's course in Literature at Ball State University. For the past two years, Michael has been teaching freshman writing classes at Ball State. Since 2007 he has self-published two novels and three novellas and "The American Unconscious," a collection of poetry and short stories

Austin Givens is a 24 year old graduate of South Adams High School. In 2010 he earned a Bachelor's in English from Indiana Wesleyan University. Austin, who has self-published several volumes of original poetry, is currently enrolled in the MFA program of creative writing in City College of New York. Living in Manhattan with his wife, Courtney, Austin is active in the New York poetry scene.