Lew, Carbonaro, Elko Headline Annual Meetings at Forum 2026

Jack Lew returned to Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs after serving as United States ambassador to Israel in the Biden administration. Previously, he served as the 76th secretary of the treasury and White House chief of staff in the Obama administration. Earlier under President Obama, he served as deputy secretary of state for management and resources and director of the Office of Management and Budget, a position he also held in President Clinton’s cabinet. Lew started his White House service in the Clinton administration as special assistant to the president. In that position, he played a lead role in designing AmeriCorps.

In the private sector, Lew served as managing director and chief operating officer for two different Citigroup business units. Prior to that, he was executive vice president and chief operating officer of New York University, where he was responsible for budget, finance and operations and served as a professor of public administration.

Lew began his career in Washington in 1973 as a legislative aide. From 1979 to 1987, he was a principal domestic policy adviser to House Speaker Thomas P. O'Neill, Jr., when he served the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee as assistant director and then executive director.

Michael Carbonaro, best known as the star and executive producer of the hit series, “The Carbonaro Effect” on truTV, has also made frequent television appearances in shows such as “Happily Divorced,” “30 Rock,” “Grey’s Anatomy” and “CSI Miami.” A performing magician since his youth, Carbonaro studied experimental theater at New York University and then entertained audiences through a variety of theatrical mediums, including hidden-camera magic, which he later showcased frequently on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.”

Following his frequent late-night appearances, Carbonaro launched his hit comedic series, “The Carbonaro Effect,” where he performs inventive tricks on unsuspecting members of the public who are unaware that he is a magician. Whether posing as a coffee shop barista, museum curator or seemingly unremarkable store clerk, Carbonaro’s illusions leave real people bewildered and families at home laughing out loud.

In 2016, Carbonaro embarked on his first theater tour with the widely acclaimed show “Michael Carbonaro Live!” and launched his current live show “Carbonaro: Lies on Stage” in 2021. Carbonaro continues to showcase his unmatched blend of humor and charisma along with inventive illusions, cementing himself as one of the most dynamic entertainers of his generation.

Kevin Elko received his bachelors in biology education and coaching from California University of Pennsylvania. He then went on to West Virginia University where he received two master’s and a doctorate and was later inducted into West Virginia University Hall of Fame.

Elko has consulted with various NFL teams, including the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Dallas Cowboys, the Philadelphia Eagles, the Miami Dolphins and the New Orleans Saints. In college sports, Elko has worked with seven BCS National Championship Football Teams, including the University of Miami, Louisiana State University, the University of Alabama and Florida State University.

In the business world, Elko focuses on helping organizations in the areas of leadership, goal setting and various other motivational topics. His corporate clients have included New York Life Investments, ING Group, Tyson Foods, Abbott Labs, LPL Financial, Morgan Stanley, Bank of America, Merrill Lynch and Sun Life, just to mention a few.

Elko is the author of seven books, including “The Pep Talk: A Football Story About the Business of Winning,” “Touchdown!: Achieving Your Greatness on the Playing Field of Business (and Life)” and “The Sender: A Story About When Right Words Make All the Difference.”