Dr. Ivan Misner is the Founder and Chief Visionary Officer of BNI and is also an author, a humanitarian and expert in the field of business networking. Dr. Misner travels the world discussing referral networking and personal and professional development. He has been featured in the New York Times, the L.A. Times, the Wall Street Journal and on networks such as CNN and MSNBC. Named “One of the Top Networkers to Follow” by Forbes Magazine, Dr. Misner has written over 24 books and has taught business management at several universities. In 2016, Dr. Misner was awarded the John C. Maxwell Leadership Award. He is also the past recipient of the Red Cross “Humanitarian of the Year” award and is the co-founder of the BNI Foundation. Dr. Misner also sits on the University of LaVerne Board of Trustees. When Dr. Misner isn’t traveling or giving speeches, he enjoys spending time with his wife Elisabeth on Lake Austin and exploring vineyards across the globe.