KEN BISSON, Chair

Ken Bisson (Angola, Indiana) has been active in the libertarian movement for more than two decades. He was a founding member and an early Chairman of the Advocates. In 1998, he ran for Indiana State Representative as a Libertarian, and for U.S. House in 1996. Ken was elected to the Libertarian National Committee in 1998 as the Region 3 Representative, and in 2000 as an At-Large Member. From 2001 to 2004, he served as Vice Chair of the U.S. Libertarian Party. Professionally, Ken is the medical director of Cameron Hospital, and the president of a company that provides trained staff for medical facilities. 

MARSHALL FRITZ, Founder

Marshall Fritz (Fresno, California) founded the Advocates in 1985 and remains on the Board to this day. He is also the creator of the world-famous "World's Smallest Political Quiz" (based on an original concept by David Nolan). In 1994, Marshall founded the Alliance for the Separation of School & State, which works to end state, federal, and local government involvement in K-12 schools. Previously, he served as president of the Pioneer Christian Academy and as executive director of the Libertarian Party of California. Marshall began his career at IBM in computer sales and design.

SHARON HARRIS, President

Sharon Harris (Rydal, Georgia) has been president of the Advocates since 1995. As the principal spokesperson for the Advocates, she conducts media interviews, hosts communication workshops, speaks to libertarian groups, and lectures before college political science classes. Harris has been active in the libertarian movement for more than three decades. She was co-founder of the Libertarian Party of Georgia in 1972 and a candidate for Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture in 1994 (winning over 300,000 votes). Before joining the Advocates, Sharon ran a book indexing business for 17 years. She has a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism and a Master's Degree in Counseling and Educational Psychology.

JAMES W. LARK, Vice Chair

Jim Lark (Free Union, Virginia) has been a friend and supporter of the Advocates since its earliest days. An assistant professor in the Systems Engineering Department at the University of Virginia, Jim also served as the Earhart Foundation Visiting Fellow at the Center for Research in Government Policy and Business (University of Rochester). He was the Chair of the U.S. Libertarian Party (2000-2002), secretary of the Jefferson Area Libertarians, and advisor to libertarian student groups at the University of Virginia. When not homebrewing beer or following British Premiership League soccer, he helps organize libertarian student groups around the country.

CAROLE ANN RAND, Secretary

Carole Ann Rand (Buford, Georgia) is a former Chair of the Advocates' Board of Directors, and was the second president of the Advocates (1991-1996). Active in the libertarian movement since 1980, she was the first woman to appear on the ballot for governor of Georgia (1990) and was a candidate for U.S. House (2002). An acknowledged expert in libertarian communication, Carole is the author of the audiotape speeches "Campaigning for Outreach," "Make Your OPH a Success," and "The Ear Is Mightier Than The Mouth." She works as chief financial officer for Food Partners, a wholesale food brokerage company.

PAUL SCHMIDT, Treasurer

Paul Schmidt (Johnson City, Tennessee) is the creator of the Advocates' original Web site and served for many years as the Advocates' Webmaster. He was also an Advocates Chapter President and multiple winner of the prestigious "Advocate of the Year" Award. In 1996, Paul was the Libertarian candidate for U.S. House (District 1) in Tennessee, and is a past chair of the Tri-Cities Libertarian Party in that state. Professionally, he is president of Action Web Creations, a company that provides Web site design, Internet marketing, and Web hosting services.

GEORGE SCHWAPPACH

George Schwappach (Dade City, Florida) has been on the Advocates Board since the beginning, and served as Chair at one time. He was founder and first president of the Advocates initial chapter, "Chapter One," in Ohio. He is a past chairman of the Taylor County Libertarian Party in Florida, was campaign manager for Debra Monde's bid for U.S. House (17th District) in 2000, and was a Libertarian candidate for State Representative in 2002. He is CFO of Florida First Development, which builds residential communities, commercial and shopping centers in Florida and Georgia. Married to Michelle Schwappach, he is the father of six private-schooled children.