Global Summit XVI sponsorship
Support the JES's mission of fostering dialogue for the Erie region on a global level.
We are pleased to present to you the speaker lineup for the Jefferson Educational Society’s 16th Annual Global Summit. Our goal is to ensure that each year the Summit builds on past Global Summits' success. This is especially the case as we host this year’s Global Summit. Last year we hit record numbers; not only was it our largest summit, but we also made a record number of registrations!
This year we will learn about a variety of topics ranging from politics, sports, history, technology, and social issues. For example, we will hear from former U.S. Representative Liz Cheney, ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith, historian Heather Cox Richardson, public intellectual Eddie Glaude Jr., and Lincoln historian, Harold Holzer. They are just some of those who will be in Erie from October 17 through November 15 as part of our 16th Annual Global Summit.
It is because of the generous support of civic-minded citizens like you that we can continue our mission of fostering dialogue for the Erie region on a global level. We hope that you will help us celebrate our 16th year and the ambitious growth of the Global Summit to a truly regional affair as we extend our outreach to the surrounding regions of Buffalo, Cleveland, and Pittsburgh by showing your support this year.
Carson the Magnificent - A Look at the Iconic TV Host and His Impact on Comedy Today
Date/Time: Monday, November 10, 2025 7:00-8:30PM
Location: TBD
Admission:
- General Admission (Early Bird Pricing) $25
- Preferred Seating (Early Bird Pricing) $50 (Closest Section Near the Stage)
Additional Fees: Amusement Tax, Processing Fee
Parking: TBD
Mike Thomas is a Chicago-based author and journalist whose work blends deep reporting with a passion for comedy and culture. A longtime staff writer for the Chicago Sun-Times, Thomas has interviewed some of the most iconic figures in comedy—from Jerry Seinfeld and Robin Williams to Phyllis Diller and Jon Stewart—many with ties to the legendary Second City. His writing has also appeared in Esquire, Smithsonian, Playboy, and Salon. Thomas is the co-author of the New York Times bestseller Carson the Magnificent, a biography of Johnny Carson, and the author of You Might Remember Me: The Life and Times of Phil Hartman and The Second City Unscripted. He lives in Chicago with his wife and two daughters.
