The Novato Speaker Series Presents...
...four great speakers for our 2024-2025 Season
Available now!
Season Tickets or Single Event Tickets
Checkout our Amazing Speakers!
See our three remaining speakers at a
discounted price
Season Ticket
Adult $90 or Student $35
or
Buy tickets for a Single Event
Adult In-Person or Live Video $30
Student In-Person or Live Video $15
To buy Single Event Ticket see speakers below and make your selection
Click pictures to read about each speaker...
January 23, 2025
Thursday, 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm
Alex Filippenko, Phd
Exciting Results with NASA's James Webb Space Telescope
Distinguished Professor of Astronomy at UC Berkeley,
Carnegie/CASE National Professor of the Year and Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
April 24, 2025
Thursday, 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm
Eric Schmitt
America's Role In Conflicts Around the World
National Security Correspondent for NY Times Author, Shared Four Pulitzer Prizes and Member of Council on Foreign Relations
July 24, 2025
Thursday, 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm
Keena Turner
The Secret Behind the 49er Super Bowl Championship Run
4 Time Super Bowl Champion and Vice President and Senior Advisor to the SF 49er General Manager
Sponsored by these
Not-For Profit Organizations
2024-2025 Speaker Series
The Bill and Adele Jonas Center
1800 Ignacio Blvd building 19, Novato, CA 94949
Doors open @ 6:30
Who is the Novato Speaker Series for?
Whether you're a student, a professional, a retiree, or anyone in between, the series offers something of value. The presentations are designed to be accessible to a broad audience and to spark curiosity and discussion. The series is ideal for individuals who are passionate about lifelong learning and exploring new horizons.
Thursday Evenings
Thursday Evenings
The Novato Speaker Series is an ongoing program that brings together a diverse range of speakers from various fields and backgrounds to share their knowledge, experiences, and perspectives with the community.
Held at the spacious Bill and Adele Jonas Center on the Indian Valley Campus of the the College of Marin, the series features entertaining and informative talks that cover a wide range of topics, from current events and health and wellness, art and culture, and more. Each speaker is carefully selected to provide a unique and engaging presentation, and the series is designed to foster community engagement, learning, and enrichment.
Whether you're a lifelong learner, a curious individual, or simply looking for an enjoyable evening out, the Novato Speaker Series is an excellent opportunity to expand your horizons and connect with others in your community.
The Monthly Novato Speaker Series is an ongoing program that brings together a diverse range of speakers from various fields and backgrounds to share their knowledge, experiences, and perspectives with the community.
Held on a monthly basis, the series features entertaining and informative talks that cover a wide range of topics, from current events and health and wellness, art and culture, and more. Each speaker is carefully selected to provide a unique and engaging presentation, and the series is designed to foster community engagement, learning, and enrichment.
Whether you're a lifelong learner, a curious individual, or simply looking for an enjoyable evening out, the Monthly Novato Speaker Series is an excellent opportunity to expand your horizons and connect with others in your community.
Chris Gargano
A Visionary Leader and Storyteller
Chris Gargano’s career in the world of professional sports has gifted him a deep understanding of the dynamics that create successful teams and leadership structures. His work as a leader in the content departments of the Oakland Raiders, San Francisco Giants, and New York Jets created a desire to analyze and master how to lead with heart. This passion led to the founding of the Gargano Leadership Group, where Chris works to help teams and individuals reach their full potential.
As a storyteller, Chris wants to understand people, specifically, what makes people great and how they perform at such high levels. His Podcast, ‘Keep the Line Moving’ is a way to hear industry leaders share their insights. Here, Chris comes together with people who have excelled in their careers and lead in ways that profoundly impact their peers and teams. Hear how successful leaders practically, strategically, and empathetically lead people to achieve beyond their collective and individual abilities.
Buddy Biancalana
Retired Major League Baseball (MLB) Shortstop
Buddy Biancalana, born in Greenbrae, California, in 1960, is a baseball legend whose career started at Redwood High School in Larkspur. He was a standout player, making it to the Mythical National Champion Team in 1977. The Kansas City Royals drafted him in 1978, and he played in the Major Leagues from 1982 to 1987, notably contributing to the Royals' 1985 World Series victory.
After his playing career, Biancalana ventured into coaching and authored a book, "The 7 Secrets of the World Class Athlete." In 2009, he was inducted into the Redwood High School Athletic Hall of Fame, solidifying his place in baseball history.
Donna Spitzer
Musician,
Opening Number
Following a successful engagement at The Hotel Alpha Playboy Club in Japan, Donna has appeared locally at the The Starlite Room of The Sir Francis Drake Hotel, as bandleader at The Terrace Bar of The Claremont Resort Hotel, at local nightspots such as Pearl’s, Cetrella, the no name bar, Joe LoCoco’s, Hotel Mac, The Mason Street Wine Bar, Harry’s, The Dock, The Union Hotel, Mulhern’s, 19 Broadway. She has entertained for numerous major corporate affairs, fundraisers, for wineries, country club functions, and galas in a career that has spanned two decades. A longtime favorite for local parties and galas, Donna is the bandleader and lead vocalist of the popular variety dance band,
The Full Tilt! Band.
Donna also headlines with the contemporary Swing,Blues and Classic Rock group, Sweet City Blues
Attending the Novato Speaker Series is an enjoyable and enriching experience that offers something for everyone.
Explore Fascinating Topics with the Novato Speaker Series
July, 27th
Paul A. Schwarzbart
Paul fled to Belgium with his parents when Austria was annexed in 1938. His father was arrested in Brussels on May 10, 1940. With surreptitious help, he "hid" in a catholic school in an Ardennes village near Luxembourg for 2 years. After reuniting with his mother, the two eventually came to the United States and settled in San Francisco.
July, 27th
Cantor David Margules
Cantor David Margules’ beautiful tenor voice has enhanced and blessed members of Congregation Rodef Sholom since 1991. As the synagogue’s cantor and musical director, he choreographs services and leads the congregation in traditional prayers and new arrangements – enjoining them to sing out with him and the rabbis.
2024 Speaker Series Schedule
Events take place in Bill and Adele Jonas Center
1800 Ignacio Blvd Building 19, Novato, CA 94949
May, 30th
TBA
June, 27th
TBA
TBA
info coming soon
Maria Muldaur with
Paul Liberatore
October 24, 2024
Maria Mauldaur with Paul Liberatore
Novato Speaker Series presents Maria Muldaur in concert and conversation with Paul Liberatore. Maria Muldaur is an American folk and blues singer who was part of the American folk music revival in the early 1960s. She recorded the 1973 hit song "Midnight at the Oasis" and has recorded albums in the folk, blues, early jazz, gospel, country, and R&B traditions. Read more about Maria Muldaur
Well-respected rock journalist known for his work around the world, Paul Liberatore is an author and rock music columnist who currently reports and writes for the Marin Independent Journal of the Bay Area News Group, covering both daily news stories and a weekly column on the lively local rock music scene. Paul also writes a popular news feature column as Lib at Large.
Alex Filippenkko
January 23, 2025
Alex Filippenko
Alex Filippenko is an elected member of both the National Academy of
Sciences and the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, is one of the world’s most highly cited astrophysicists. His scientific accomplishments, documented in nearly 1200 research papers, have been recognized with numerous prizes. He was the only person to have been a member of both teams that revealed the accelerating expansion of the Universe, a discovery that was honored with the 2011 Nobel Prize in Physics to the teams’ leaders. He is a frequent user of the Hubble Space Telescope and JWST. Winner of the highest teaching awards at UC Berkeley and voted the “Best Professor” on campus a record 9 times, in 2006 he was named the Case/Carnegie National Professor of the Year among doctoral institutions. He has produced 5 video courses with The Great Courses, coauthored an award-winning astronomy textbook, and appears in more than 120 television documentaries.
Eric Schmitt
April 24, 2025
Eric Schmitt
Eric Schmitt is a senior correspondent for The New York Times who covers national security issues. He is co-author of “Counterstrike: The Untold Story of America’s Secret Campaign Against Al Qaeda.” For more than three decades, he has covered military and national security affairs for The Times, and has made two dozen reporting trips to West Africa, Pakistan, Iraq & Afghanistan. He has a bachelor’s degree from Williams College and attended Harvard University's Executive Program on National and International Security. He earned a Knight Journalism Fellowship at Stanford University.
Mr. Schmitt has shared four Pulitzer Prizes. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. Reared in the San Francisco Bay area, Mr. Schmitt now lives with his family in Fairfax, Va.
Keena Turner
July 24, 2025
Keena Turner
In 1980, Keena was drafted in the second round by the San Francisco 49ers and played outside linebacker with the “Team of the Decade” until his retirement in 1990. His eleven-year contribution to the team resulted in four Super Bowl wins and a trip to the Pro Bowl. He championed the 49ers to victory as Captain of the 1984 team and was subsequently chosen by his teammates as the “Len Eshmont Award” recipient for his courageous and inspirational play.
Keena Turner, legendary #58 and 4-Time SUPER BOWL CHAMPION for the San Francisco 49ers, will join us to discuss sportsmanship, teamwork, the championship mindset and what it took to win and sustain dominance during his eleven-year professional football career. Now, Vice President and Senior Advisor to the General Manager, Keena will field questions about his “Team of the Decade” and the future of today’s Niners squad.
Here's what you get:
By attending the Novato Speaker Series, you'll have access to professional development opportunities, cultural enrichment, and exposure to new ideas that can challenge your assumptions and help you grow as a person. Additionally, you'll have the chance to network and build relationships with other attendees, creating lasting connections that can benefit you both personally and professionally.
The presentations are often entertaining and engaging, making for an enjoyable evening out.
The series may include presentations on art, music, literature, and other cultural topics that enrich your understanding of the world.
The series provides an opportunity to learn about a wide range of topics from experts in their fields.
See What Others Say About Novato Speaker Series
Both Syl and I had a great time and kudos for organizing this event, so much fun and so cool.
- Dick and Sylvia Hageman
Congratulations. As a result of your leadership, Novato is growing culturally—and becoming more classes in the process.
- Barry Smail
Tony Lindsay was such a surreal experience. It was my first musical concert and it was amazing. Fantastic vocals and good music. Thank you for the opportunity to experience it.
- Larry Baten
Beautiful event
I’ve never heard anyone hold a note like that as she did on Ave Maria.,
You are fabulous.
All the best.
- Mark Milberg
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