Joel Ario was the chief insurance regulator of the State of Oregon and now is the Insurance Commissioner for Pennsylvania. He also occupies a prominent role in efforts at the federal level on insurance reform. Joel has both law and divinity degrees from Harvard and brings diligence, intelligence and energy to civic life.

Peter Ozanne is also not in alphabetical order, but that is OK. He was the director of Public Defense Services for the State of Oregon, overseeing all contracts for indigent defense in the state, but now heads up the Criminal Justice affairs for Maricopa County, AZ. He has had a distinguished career in public and private law practice.

Brian Hines is a philosopher, writer and active blogger. His interests focus on wedding the Western mystical tradition with Eastern thought. His latest book, Return to the One (July 2004), is an exploration of the mystical philosophy of the 3rd century neo-Platonist Plotinus. Brian is a thoughtful optimist, and a creative thinker. He is married to Laurel, and he actively maintains www.brianhines.com.

Walter Englert is the Hoskins Professor of Classical Studies at Reed College in Portland, OR. A world expert on the Epicurean philosopher Lucretius, he also is well-known for his work in Hellenistic philosophy generally. A more genial, nurturing and humane professor would be hard to find. He is married to Mary and they are parents of Francesca and Molly.

Scott Kocher is an attorney at a new firm, Vangelisti Kocher LLP, on the West Side of Portland. His partner, Rich Vangelisti, is also a friend and accomplished attorney. An Oregon native, Scott holds undergraduate and law degrees from Harvard. We met while both practicing law at Stoel Rives LLP. He brings a thoughtful, thorough and collegial approach to law. I took this picture in 2004, but he tells me that the plant is alive....

Michael Foat is a professor of religion and humanities at Reed College. Michael was a former student of mine, Reed '86, whose interests in the development of the Orthodox Christian tradition have led him to master languages whose names most people can't pronounce. Thoughtful, careful and thorough, Michael is living testimony to the continuing strength of Reed.

This is Lance Woodbury, a partner in Kennedy & Coe, the most significant agricultural consulting firm in the Midwest. Lance was a student of mine in Kansas. He is truly bi-cultural; fully at home in the inner city and in rural Kansas. He is married to Dana and they enjoy their cute little daughter Campbell. Lance is one of the good things about Kansas that authors should be writing about in the future.

This is my brother, Chris Long. Chris is an accomplished musician who now divides his time between offering seminars on worship for Integrity Music and doing some writing on the subject. He combines intelligence, humor and an accessible writing and speaking style. He is married to Sandy, and their two daughters are Elizabeth and Susie.

Denny Storer retired in 2001 after teaching political science for 33 years at Hastings College (NE). He cut his academic teeth in Nigeria in the 1960s, and has an interesting angle on almost every political question you can imagine. We met on the way to Saudi Arabia in 1992; he now travels extensively to Asia. Who says life in the Midwest must be dull?

Here is my son Will with...guess who else made it into the picture? Molly just has to steal the show! Will graduated from South Salem HS in 2005 and now attends college at the University of Oregon. His quiet demeanor masks a quick and original wit.

Greg Mowe has been a friend for more than 20 years. He is a senior litigator, mostly on real estate issues, and has been named several times to the "Best Lawyers in America." An accomplished musician, Greg also has traversed the country by bike recently and maintains an active interest in theology and biblical studies.

Tom Rosendahl is a native Oregonian, a long-time investment advisor, an avid sailor and a student (and consumer) of fine wines. What Tom doesn't know about current investment realities isn't worth knowing. An OSU graduate, Tom brings skill, steadiness, discipline, and considerateness to his work and client-relations.

Donna Sinclair is already establishing herself as one of the premier younger historians of the Pacific Northwest. An outstanding researcher and writer, Donna is currently exploring an environmental and social history of the North Bank of the Columbia River in Skamania County.

Aaron Young is a 2004 graduate of Willamette University College of Law. A Texan, Aaron was on the team that won the 2003 National Environmental Law Competition. He is married to Donna, and they now make their home in Texas. Aaron is considerate, compassionate and a great conversationalist. We first connected through an unforgettable Jurisprudence seminar in 2003.