RHYS MARTIN -- "ROUTE 66 CENTENNIAL IN 2026"
BIO -- The keynote speaker is Rhys Martin, author and photographer from Tulsa, Oklahoma. His love of travel was awakened in 2009 when he sold all of his possessions and left the country. For ten months, he lived out of a backpack and explored southeast Asia and Europe. When he returned home, it was with fresh eyes for his home state. As he drove the back roads of Oklahoma, Rhys discovered the significance of historic Route 66 to the greater American story. He has traveled all 2,448 miles of the Mother Road and continues to seek out the quiet Main Streets of the Midwest.
Rhys's travel writing and photography has been featured in numerous publications, including Tulsa People Magazine, This Land Press, Route 66 Magazine, Nimrod Journal, The Oklahoman and Tulsa World. He also wrote the book Lost Restaurants of Tulsa, which features the stories of nearly 50 iconic eating establishments from the city's past. Rhys is the President of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association and serves on multiple boards and commissions related to the Mother Road and its upcoming Centennial in 2026. He loves to connect with people and share his experiences.
AMY BIZZARRI -- "Culinary History of Route 66"
BIO: AMY BIZZARRI is a Chicago-based journalist, writer, and author, specializing in travel writing, with several books about Route 66.
PRESENTATION DESCRIPTION: Culinary History of Route 66.
SCOTT DAHL -- "Looking Ahead to the Route 66 Centennial in Springfield, Illinois"
BIO: SCOTT DAHL has served as Director of the Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau since August 2018. Prior to leading the SCVB, he was Regional Director of Membership for the Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association for sixteen years. Scott started his tourism career operating hotels for Equity Hotel Corporation in Illinois and Missouri. He has been active with the Springfield Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Springfield Inc., Medals4Mettle, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, and St. John’s Children’s Hospital.
Scott has lived in Springfield for 28 years with his wife, Brandi. They have two children, Nathan (20) and Kaitlyn (16). Scott enjoys time with family & friends, running and golf.
PRESENTATION DESCRIPTION: Looking Ahead to the Route 66 Centennial including the 11th Annual Miles of Possibility Route 66 Conference in Springfield, Illinois.
JIM FEATHERSTONE -- "The Secured Road"
BIO: JIM FEATHERSTONE is completely self-taught when it comes to technology and has been working in the field for over 30 years. He started teaching tech as the Education Coordinator for Casanova Information Services, giving his first class in 2018 at Ryburn Place in Normal, IL. Since then, he continues to learn and teach about cybersecurity.
PRESENTATION DESCRIPTION: Learn how to keep your digital life safe on Route 66 for the Centennial and beyond.
OLIVIA GOLASZEWSKI -- "The Secured Road"
BIO: OLIVIA GOLASZEWSKI'S bachelor’s degree is in Cybersecurity. She is a CNNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate) with a solid foundation in networking. She attended Cisco GSX (Global Sales Experience) in Las Vegas last August for training, networking and product updates. This summer, she interned at Northwestern Medicine Information Services. Olivia is passionate about learning and making cybersecurity easier to understand for everyone.
PRESENTATION DESCRIPTION: Learn how to keep your digital life safe on Route 66 for the Centennial and beyond.
TRACY & PETER FLUCKE -- "Looking at Historic Route 66 Through Bicycle and Pedestrian Eyes"
BIO: TRACY and PETER FLUCKE (pronounced FLU-key) are president and vice president of WE BIKE, etc., LLC, a Green Bay, Wisconsin, consulting firm that specializes in the areas of engineering, education, enforcement, and encouragement for walking, bicycling, and healthy communities.
The Fluckes are enthusiastic bicyclists, runners, and outdoorsmen. They bring passion to their work in helping communities and citizens improve pedestrian and bicycle safety and access by looking at the world through bicyclist and pedestrian eyes. Both are experienced and well-respected presenters.
Tracy and Peter have completed three unsupported cross-country bicycle trips on their tandem: Northern Tier – 2014 (4,362 miles); Mississippi River – 2015 (3,052 miles); Historic Route 66 – 2016 (2,603 miles). Tracy and Peter’s first book, Coast to Coast on a Tandem, chronicles their Northern Tier trip.
PRESENTATION DESCRIPTION: National Bicycle and Pedestrian experts Peter and Tracy Flucke of WE BIKE etc. will share experiences bicycling the country and historic Route 66 on a bicycle built for two.
CONNIE MARTIN -- "The Underground Railroad in Illinois"
BIO: CONNIE MARTIN is a retired middle school Language Arts teacher of 32 years, a 35-year Aqua Fitness Master Trainer, Senior Fitness Instructor, mother, and G-Ma to four grandkids. She earned a BA from Illinois State University with a Thesis in Integrating African American History in Educational Curriculums. Connie finds joy in sharing the secret codes and hidden messages in generational quilt patterns used over 200 years ago by abolitionists and freedom seekers to signify escape routes to Canada. She shows how quilts were used to warn of dangers, indicate how transport might occur, and who might help as "Friends" on the Underground Railroad.
Connie's mother, Dr. Clarice Boswell, wrote a book, Lizzie’s Story: A Slave Family’s Journey to Freedom, the foundation of the presentation, and then created and performed this family presentation for 16 years.
PRESENTATION DESCRIPTION: The Underground Railroad in Illinois.
BOB NAVARRO -- "Heritage Corridor Destinations and the Route 66 Centennial"
BIO: BOB NAVARRO is currently the President and CEO of Heritage Corridor Convention and Visitors Bureau. In this role since 2006, Navarro administers a viable destination marketing program for the Illinois and Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor region that is designed to achieve economic development through tourism, marketing, promotion, and development. He previously served as Director of Housing Services at U.S Equities Realty, where he worked to open the 18-story University Center in the Chicago loop that houses students from Columbia College Chicago, DePaul University, and Roosevelt University. Navarro also served as a facility manager for the DuPage Children's Museum and began his career at Illinois State University as an assistant director. He is a founding member of the Illinois State University's Latino Alumni Network and a former chairman of the Illinois Council of Convention and Visitors Bureaus.
Navarro earned his Doctor of Philosophy from Illinois State University.
PRESENTATION DESCRIPTION: Heritage Corridor Destinations and the Route 66 Centennial.
GREGORY T. PEERBOLTE -- "Joliet History, Prison, and Attractions"
BIO: GREGORY T. PEERBOLTE is the Chief Executive Officer of the Joliet Area Historical Museum.
PRESENTATION DESCRIPTION: Joliet History, Prison, and Attractions.
DAVID J. SCHWARTZ -- "The Road to the Centennial: Photographic Reflections of Two Decades Along Rout
BIO: DAVID J. SCHWARTZ is a Lakewood, Ohio–based photographer and storyteller whose life and creative work have been deeply shaped by Route 66. His connection to the road began in 1988, when a Depeche Mode cover of “(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66” sparked a fascination with its mythology, landscapes, and enduring mystique. It wasn’t until 2004 that he first traveled the road himself — and what began as a visual exploration of the American landscape soon evolved into a long-term commitment to documenting the people and places that define the Mother Road’s soul.
David is the Lead Editorial Photographer for ROUTE Magazine and the founder of Pics on Route 66 (picsonroute66.com), a growing archive of fine art print and licensable imagery celebrating the life and legacy of the highway. He creates fine art images that have been exhibited nationally and licensed for books, editorials, and private collections. His latest series, Nurtured by the Mother Road, on display at Buck Atom’s, Cosmic Curios in Tulsa –reflects his deep commitment to telling the quieter, often overlooked stories of resilience and connection found along Route 66
PRESENTATION DESCRIPTION: For over 20 years, I’ve followed my heart down Route 66, capturing what I’ve found — one frame, one story at a time. In this visual presentation, I’ll share photographs and reflections from across the decades — places I’ve returned to again and again, stories that have stayed with me, and scenes that have either endured or vanished with time. As the road nears its 100th year, I’ll explore what I’ve seen change, what’s remained, and what I believe is worth preserving as we head toward the Centennial.
JOHN WEISS -- "Illinois Route 66 Preservation Efforts"
BIO: JOHN WEISS has been the chairman of the Route 66 Association of Illinois Preservation Committee since 1993 and received the John Steinbeck award for preservation accomplishments. He was among the first to be placed on the Kingman, Arizona, Route 66 Walk of Fame, which honors those who have saved Route 66. Additionally, John has been inducted into the Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame and received their Ambassador award.
John has conducted talks and bus tours of Route 66 for more than 30 years and is the author of the only travel guide of Illinois Route 66, now in its 10th updated edition.
John believes that, “What we are enjoying today is the history of yesterday, but what we do today will become the history of tomorrow.”
PRESENTATION DESCRIPTION: Thirty-plus years of extraordinary efforts by John Weiss and numerous enthusiastic volunteers have resulted in remarkable preservation of the road. What’s next for Illinois Route 66 preservation?