Lorie M. L. Karnath, MBA, Ph.D. (hon.), FI '89
President
The Explorers Club

Lorie M.L. Karnath is an author, philanthropist and explorer.  She has traveled the world in search of answers to some of the planet’s most elusive questions.  She has lived in and journeyed to most of the remote places on Earth.  Ms. Karnath has led numerous Explorers Club flag expeditions, including flag 81 European White Stork migration. Post expedition, the White Stork project teamed with the Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union to raise funds for land purchases and the construction of a stork sanctuary to preserve food sources during nesting. In tandem with the project, Ms. Karnath wrote The Return of the Storks, illustrated by artist Enrique Martínez Celaya. She has published six books on science and exploration, including Nobel Journey. She donated the proceeds from her most recent book Verwegene Frauen (Audacious Women: Female Spirit of Discovery and Exploration of the World) to The Explorers Club.

 Lorie Karnath and her husband, Robert Roethenmund, MI ‘77, have established schools and orphanages in Myanmar and a hospital in Northern China. She is a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and a founding member of the RGS in Hong Kong.  Ms. Karnath has served on international science and education boards. She received a B.A. from Fordham University, an MBA from INSEAD (France) in International Finance, and a conferred honorary Ph.D. from Shenandoah University.

 As the 37th President of The Explorers Club, Lorie Karnath initiated The Lowell Thomas building campaign, Preserve a Brick, to restore the historic landmark headquarters. The capital campaign has raised more than $1million in its first year. In conjunction with the building campaign, she continues to secure funding for exploration and expedition grants. Her vision advances The Explorers Club as a world center for exploration at the leading edge of discovery.

Bill Kelly
Manhattan Field Director for the Greater New York Councils,
Boy Scouts of America

With over 2.7 million current members and over 100 million alumni, the Boy Scouts of America is the nation’s premier youth serving organization. Celebrating their 100th Anniversary in 2010, the Boy Scouts of America creates a strong foundation of Leadership, Service, and Community for America’s youth.

Mr. Kelly, who achieved the organization’s highest rank of Eagle Scout as a youth has continually served the organization as a volunteer and professional staff member in several local councils in the Northeast including Long Island, New England, and New York City. His service has included work with local Scout units, summer camping operations, council development, fundraising support, and community relations.

He has represented the Boy Scouts of America in a variety of national and local print, television and online media.

A product of the Pennsylvania State University’s Smeal School of Business he continues to advance the positive impact of the Boy Scouts of America for today’s generation of young people.

He has repeatedly said, “As long as America needs strong leaders and healthy young people – it will need the Boy Scouts of America”

Robert Hemm

Robert Hemm, formerly president of a world-known company in the communications and advertising fields, has been co-leader of a number of interdisciplinary science expeditions. Documentary filmmaker, cameraman and author, pilot, deep-water diver and skydiver, and motivational speaker, Hemm is a member of the Explorers Club who has co-led five expeditions to Easter Island. He has also been co-leader of expeditions into the cenótes of Yucatan and recently figured prominently as expedition leader in the History Channel production “Magellan’s Lost Fleet,” which centered on the “Santiago,” Magellan’s ship that was wrecked off the Patagonian coast in 1521. Robert Hemm underwrote the expedition “The Easter Island Oral History Project,” enabling the recording of the outstanding stories of members of the Council of Elders.” 2003 bio for

Brief Mission Statement:

My mission into the foreseeable future is to continue to develop my skills particularly in the vigorous fields of flying, diving and underwater and aerial photography, all of which are tools I can use to actively participate in at least one major science exploration a year. At the same time I work hard at staying in shape physically and mentally. Over the past 15 years I have led, co-led or participated in 12 Explorer Club Flag Expeditions. I leave for the jungles of Belize in late April with the “Cara Blanca” Expedition featuring Archeology and Anthropology plus earth sciences.