Sam Mahklouf
Sam Makhlouf, a U.S. Citizen, immigrated to the U.S. in 1976, attended college and gained a bachelor’s degree in economics from SUNY - Stony Brook, and an MBA degree from NYU at Dowling. Sam led a long career as innovator - with 17 patents in fields ranging from industrial design, hardware, consumer goods and software solutions, including one industry leader patent (first ever issued in its class) – and as entrepreneur, founding three companies based on his innovations. Sam also served as innovation, consumer engagement and business advisor and as mentor to other entrepreneurs and students at college and high school levels.
Sam has authored several pioneering reports on U.S. and global economic conditions, forecasting market behavior, new product innovations and demand, and automation, including this report proposing a unique innovative solution to America’s illegal immigration and economic crisis, a 1981 report that proposed a solution to the effects of displacing workers in factories due to automation, a 1984 report that forecasted the growth of China as a major global production center, new economic power and disruptor. In another 1982 report, Sam analyzed the use and forecasted the future popularity of laptop computers and a type of vehicle known today as SUVs, both of which dominate their respective sectors today. Sam has won several professional and social awards during and after college, including the Distinguished Community Service Award at Stony Book, and the 1998 Inventor of the Year Award by the International Inventors Hall of Fame.
Sam has served on corporate, professional and social associations boards and is currently serving on the Board of the School of Economics at Kennesaw University. Currently semi-retired, Sam continues to serve the community as mentor to innovators, startup entrepreneurs, and students. He also serves as business competition judge and mentor to students with the Champions for Learning organization.
Bob Peters
Throughout both his professional and personal life, Bob has devoted significant time and energy to supporting disadvantaged youth and underserved families in the United States and around the world.
For more than five decades, his service has included serving as board chair of the national organization Stand Up for Kids, as a board member and founder of Kroll, LLC’s Charitable Foundation, and as a mentor to young people through a range of nonprofit organizations. His work has reached communities in Chicago, his hometown, Stamford CT and Naples, Florida, his current home, including the Chicago Public Schools Career Academy, Champions for Learning, the Chicago All
Stars Project, and the Greater Naples Leadership Program.
In his professional life, Bob spent 30 years as a partner at KPMG, where he led several business units and served as both National Partner in Charge of the State and Local Tax Practice and Managing Tax Partner in Stamford, Connecticut. After
retiring from KPMG, he joined the international consulting firm Kroll, LLC, and went on to lead its Indirect Tax Group at the national level until retiring in 2024. Today, he continues to share his knowledge and experience as an independent financial and
tax advisor and expert witness on a variety of projects. Bob received his BS in Accounting, Cum Laude from Denver University, MBA in Finance from New York University, and executive MBA from Stamford University.
He enjoys skiing, is a former marathon runner, and now spends time long-distance
swimming.