Jim McGillen is founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Carmel Authors and Ideas Festival held for the past seven years in late September in Carmel, CA. It brings together Award winning Authors and Speakers to meet with Attendees in intimate settings featuring creative interactions the Artists and Guests. The Festival also partners with the Monterey School System in bringing over 2,400 students to the event yearly to hear and meet the Speakers and play an active role in the event preparing with and introducing Speakers. The event has helped over 15,000 students by its other contributions to the Monterey School System.