We welcome Right Worshipful Robert Johnson back to the Southeastern Masonic Education Symposium!  R∴W∴ Johnson’s presentation on Esoterics 101 at our 2020 symposium and Freemasonry – A History of Mystery at our 2022 symposium were hits. We look forward to what he will be presenting this year!

Bio: 

Philosophy is at the core of what Robert is after. Having grown up in Italy and being exposed to the culture and much of the renaissance art and literature, Freemasonry became a natural place for him to gravitate toward. He is an avid musician and writer. He’s written for several print magazines and blogs on subjects ranging from Firearms and Medical Ethics to Theology and Comparative Religions. Robert's primary studies are in philosophy and mathematics. He also holds an honorary Doctorate Degree in Philosophy in Religion. Currently, Robert works as an executive in the medical industry. He received his degrees from Waukegan Lodge No. 78, becoming Worshipful Master in 2014. He’s since served as both a District Education Officer and a District Deputy Grand Master. He currently serves on the Grand Lodge of Illinois' Education Committee and is the Grand Superintendent for the Allied Masonic Degrees for Illinois. He is also the author of How to Charter a Lodge: A No-Nonsense, Unsanctioned Guide and co-author of It's Business Time: Adapting a Corporate Path for Freemasonry, and The Master's Word, A Short Treatise on the Light, the Word and the Self. He has also republished other various works.

We welcome W∴ Christopher Burns to the Southeastern Masonic Education Symposium!  This will be his first time with us at our symposium and we look forward to his presentation! 

Bio: 

Chris owns a digital advertising agency in Sarasota Florida, DigiSphere Marketing. He was Raised a Master Mason in October of 2018 and has been very active in the Fraternity since joining.  He currently serves as President of the District 23 Master Mason Association, President of the Sarasota Scottish Rite Club, and Worshipful Master of Sarasota Lodge No. 147.  He is a member of Sahib Shrine, of all 3 bodies of the York Rite, and the Scottish Rite Southern Jurisdiction Valley of Tampa.  He currently serves the Grand Lodge of Florida as a Committeeman for General Services working on the Grand Lodge Marketing Reimbursement Program and as the District 23 Committee Chairman for Public Relations & Publicity.  W∴ Burns is also a co-host of the On The Level Masonic Podcast.

We welcome Brother Fred Packwood to the Southeastern Masonic Education Symposium!  This will be his first time with us at our symposium and we look forward to his presentation! 

Bio: 

Fred Packwood (Freddie Pack) lives in Sarasota Florida with his wife Kathleen, they together have six adult children and seven grandchildren (six of them girls). Freddie is known as a health and fitness enthusiast (Nut; Health & Fitness Nut), having completely reversed type two diabetes through diet and exercise one can understand why. He is also a member of the PCA (Prespiterian Church America) and is involved weekly in church activities. Having been involved with biblical studies for more than thirty years becoming a mason has been for him an exciting enterprise in discovery and further study. Having overcome major life challenges by the power and grace of God, Freddie is unequally equipped to address the future of the craft as well as life's ultimate questions.  He currently serves Sarasota Lodge No. 147 as their tyler and co-hosts the On The Level Masonic Podcast.

We welcome Brother Juan Sepúlveda back to the Southeastern Masonic Education Symposium!  This will be his second time with us at our symposium! His Applied Freemasonry: Ancient Teachings in Today's World presentation at our 2020 symposium was a hit.

Bio: 

Brother Sepúlveda is a professional artist and award-winning public speaker whose main topics of interest include the practical application of the teachings of Freemasonry and the development of men into gentlemen. Bro:. Sepulveda is the host of The Winding Stairs Freemasonry Podcast and  was a co-host of The Masonic Roundtable. He is also the Lodge Historian of Orange Blossom Lodge No. 80 in Kissimmee, Florida. Member of The Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, S.J. Orient of Florida, Valley of Orlando. Eureka Chapter No. 7 R.A.M., Orlando Council No. 5 R.&S.M., Olivet Commandery No. 7 K.T. Brother Sepúlveda is the founder of The Gentlemen’s Brotherhood, a company dedicated to inspiring men to become the best possible version of themselves. For over a decade, he has been using his words and his paint brushes to share stories that can inspire people to live a life worth emulating. As an award-winning speaker, Juan Sepúlveda is regularly invited by organizations to speak about personal development, manners, civility, relationship-building, effective customer service, and inspiring leadership. In 2014, as a result of his efforts to help good men become even greater men, The Governor of Kentucky, Steven L. Beshear, decorated Juan Sepúlveda as a Kentucky Colonel, the highest title of honor bestowed upon a civilian by the State of Kentucky. Today, Juan Sepúlveda lives with his wife and two sons in Kissimmee, Florida, where he continues to follow his dream of having a positive impact on others through his voice and his brush.

We welcome Brother John “Coach” Nagy back to the Southeastern Masonic Education Symposium!  Brother Nagy’s presentation The Perfect Quest at our 2020 symposium and The Apprentice Toolbox for our 2022 symposium were hits. We look forward to what he will be presenting this year!

Bio:

Brother John S. Nagy is a 32 Degree Mason , Lodge Musician , recipient of the 2014 Duane E. Anderson Award for Excellence in Masonic Education and Masonic Education provider to Lodges that support his efforts to share. John has spoken, trained and facilitated at Blue Lodges , Grand Lodges , Table Lodges & Festive Boards , Research Lodges and Grand Lodge Breakout Sessions , Leadership Conferences , Scottish Rite Valleys , Masonic College Convocations and ZOOM calls throughout the United States and Canada. He has been engaged in speaking activities since 1989. He is also author of the “Building Better Builders Series” of Uncommon Masonic Education books and videos. John’s books: Building Hiram, Building Boaz, Building Athens, Building Janus, Building Perpends, Building Ruffish, Building Cement, Building Free Men, The Craft Unmasked! The Uncommon Origin of Freemasonry and its Practice, The Journeyman Papers, A Brother Asks – Volume 1 and The Craft Perfected! Actualizing our Craft, The Light in the Garden, his videos, his interviews and his Uncommon Masonic Education Workshops cover aspects of Masonry designed to Build Better Builders. His materials have been Grand Lodge authorized for use as supplemental Masonic Education. Coach Nagy’s materials are used to instruct Blue Lodge, Scottish Rite and York Rite Candidates in Symbol Recognition, Understanding and Application. His efforts help reveal to his Brothers what is hidden behind the Craft’s Masonic veils. Professionally, John is a multi degree Professional Business Coach and Technical Advisor who provides support to business professionals throughout the professional world. He has been in the coaching field since January 1989, running his own coaching practice since that time. Coach Nagy is also a Florida State Certified County Mediator and he was at one time one of two Mediation Services Coordinators for the 13th Judicial Circuit of Hillsborough County. He has been actively and professionally engaged in Mediation work since 1995.

We welcome W∴ Daniel Molina back to the Southeastern Masonic Education Symposium!  W∴ Molina's presentation on Hiramic Meditations: how Freemasonry Crafts a Stoic Lifestyle for our 2022 symposium was a hit.  We look forward to what he will be presenting this year!

Bio: 

W∴ Daniel Molina served as Worshipful Master of Hibiscus Lodge #275 in 2020 and 2021. As well, for Florida’s 27th Masonic District, Daniel is the Committeeman for Masonic Education for Right Worshipful Adrian Castro. He is a member of the Scottish Rite Valley of Miami; he is a member of Mi-Am-I Grotto; in 2021, he was the Chapter Dad of South Miami DeMolay Chapter, and he is now a DeMolay advisor at large for the state. Outside of the Craft, Daniel won the FCSAA award for best fiction story in the state of Florida for his short story titled “Elevator.” In 2020, he wrote the Forward for the Reflective Freemason: A Journaling Experience published by the First Three Knocks Masonic Podcast. He was the guest editor for the Fraternal Review’s June 2021 issue discussing Stoicism and Freemasonry and he was the guest editor for the May 2022 issue discussing the Taxil Hoax.  He has appeared on various podcasts including the First Three Knocks Masonic Podcast and the Fraternal Review.