Speakers

Daniel Benoit

Daniel J. Benoit, Founder & Researcher

East Coast Bigfoot Researchers Organization

One who grew up in nature as a child playing and hunting with his father became quite familiar with Wildlife as the years went by the thought of Bigfoot wasn’t nothing He dwelt on or thought of but was heard of and was known to the back of his mind, but it was not till the seeing the Roger Patterson & Bib Gimlin footage analyzed and work on is when the curiosity struck and a great interest grew and is now a strong Desired passion for the love and research of Sasquatch.(read more)

Daniel Smith

Daniel "Boone" Smith, 63, from Glady, West Virginia is an avid member of the Bigfoot Researchers Organization. Smith claims to have seen sasquatches around five times.

Mike Familant

Mike has been been traveling across the country as a full‑time Bigfoot researcher, presenter, and producer of In the Shadow of Big Red Eye. What started as curiosity turned into a passion, and that passion turned into a life on the road — chasing stories, meeting incredible people, and exploring some of the most beautiful (and bizarre) places in the U.S.

From library talks and festivals to deep‑woods expeditions, Mike has met folks who’ve had experiences they can’t explain… and he's had a few of my own.

Class Title

Jeff Headlee and Willy McQuillian, ae members of @officialaimsteam AIMS (Appalachian Investigators of Mysterious Sightings) and stars of the Travel Channel's Mountain Monsters. Jeff brings years of research into Appalachian folklore and eyewitness accounts. Willy, a co-founder of AIMS, is a seasoned arborist, hunter, and expert trapper with deep knowledge of the Appalachian wilderness.

Diamond Jim Boardwine

Jim is a retired pipefitter, a Bigfoot seeker, and avid history buff.
Jim still resides on the 17th century family mountain in SW Virginia, and has spent his life in the woods. His first interest began as a child reading books with his first encounter at the age of 13 where he noticed his horse was acting skittish and tracked footprints to where he first saw the creature. Over the years, he has continued his search for evidence of Bigfoot.
He is the author of Mountain Man Stories of Bigfoot, and has appeared on both Mountain Man TV show on History Channel, and Civil War Journal. He encourages folks to have an open mind on the phenomena and always look at the evidence.

Dr. Mireya Mayor

Explorer. Scientist. Storyteller.

Dr. Mireya Mayor is a world-renowned primatologist, anthropologist, explorer, author, and television host known for leading expeditions into some of the planet’s most remote and mysterious environments.

From discovering rare species in Madagascar to investigating unexplained phenomena on Expedition Bigfoot, Mireya brings science, adventure, and discovery to audiences worldwide through television, live events, expeditions, and her online community, Explorer Society.

Whether speaking on stage, appearing on screen, or leading audiences deeper into the unknown, Mireya’s mission is to inspire curiosity, exploration, and a greater understanding of our world.

Ken Gerhard

Ken Gerhard is a widely recognized cryptozoologist (investigator of unknown animals). He states: "Two decades ago, cryptozoology became my life. My research has been featured on several TV programs including Missing in Alaska, Monster Quest, Ancient Aliens, The Real Wolfman, True Monsters, Unexplained Files, Legend Hunters, William Shatner's Weird or What? and Monsters and Mysteries in America. I'm also author of three, published books - A Menagerie of Mysterious Beasts, Encounters with Flying Humanoids and Big Bird! Modern Sightings of Flying Monsters and I'm co-author of Monsters of Texas (with Nick Redfern). I cherish all of the unbelievable experiences that I've had in my life, as well as my many remarkable friends around the world."

Aleksandar Petakov

Traveling across North America and the world, from the rugged mountains of Alaska to the depths of abandoned coal mines deep underground, Aleksandar has looked into various mysteries far and wide. This includes Cryptozoological creatures such as Sasquatch to aquatic legends like the Loch Ness Monster and the Lake Champlain monster and even mystery big cats. He has explored other strange phenomena such as UFO's and mystery lights as well as strange places ranging from the paranormal Bridgewater Triangle of Massachusetts to even the hermit kingdom of North Korea. He has created documentary films and series on these subjects, among others.

Aleksandar is a core member of Small Town Monsters, which is an independent production company that has been documenting unusual events across America for the last decade.

Aleksandar has been a guest on various radio programs & podcasts, as well as spoken at various conferences and events in the paranormal/cryptozoological realm, media related events, public libraries & other venues in New England & across North America.

Les O'Dell

Les O'Dell is a prominent paranormal investigator, author, and cryptozoological researcher recognized for his extensive work tracking Bigfoot sightings and regional cryptids across the Appalachian region. Grounded in a meticulous, analytical style, O'Dell is widely respected within the cryptozoology community for balancing open-minded exploration with a healthy dose of investigative skepticism.

Charlie Raymond

Charlie Raymond is the founder of the Kentucky Bigfoot Research Organization (KBRO) and a dedicated Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization (BFRO) investigator with over three decades of experience in cryptid research. A passionate, boots-on-the-ground investigator, Charlie has interviewed nearly 700 credible eyewitnesses across Kentucky, documenting encounters with a meticulous approach grounded in science and psychology.

With a degree in Psychology from the University of Florida, Charlie leverages his expertise in human behavior to assess the credibility of witness accounts, carefully discerning between authentic experiences and exaggeration. His commitment to ensuring the legitimacy of the encounters he documents has earned him respect in the field of Bigfoot research.

Unlike armchair researchers, Charlie spends almost every weekend immersed in the wilderness, leading private and public expeditions in pursuit of evidence and answers. Through years of dedication, he has amassed a wealth of knowledge, contributing valuable insights to the study of this elusive creature.

Charlie’s work has been featured on The Animal Planet, The History Channel, and The BBC. A captivating speaker, he frequently presents at libraries and Bigfoot conferences across Kentucky and the United States, using his engaging style to entertain, educate, and inspire audiences.

He is also the author of the highly successful book, Bluegrass Bigfoot: Encounters With The Kentucky Wildman, a fascinating collection of eyewitness accounts and investigative insights. Charlie regularly participates in book signings and events, continuing to share his findings and passion for unraveling the mystery of Bigfoot.

Turtleman

Ernie Brown, Jr. has been diving into murky Kentucky ponds in search of snapping turtles for nearly 40 years. Born and raised in Washington County, he spent his childhood exploring the woods and learning the ways of the animals that occupy them. Years ago he made Marion County his home and has lived here most of his life.

Brown caught his first caught his first snapping turtle, a 25-pounder, when he was just seven-years-old, after his father and uncle taught him the risky technique.

Since then, the legend of Turtleman has spread throughout the Blue Grass state and has afforded Ernie a career as an animal rescuer. At the age of 17, he caught his biggest turtle to date, aptly named the "Loch Ness Turtle," a monster snapper weighing close to 55 pounds.

At one time Turtleman caught an average of 300 turtles a year and had been injured more than 33 times.

Prior to devoting all of his time to rescuing and relocating wildlife, Brownworked several jobs, including cutting boards for whiskey and wine barrels, milking cows and working in construction. He currently lives off the land deep in the backwoods of Marion County.