The following bio is that of an event speaker or guest author. This person is not directly affiliated with the John Locke Foundation.

Liz Whalen Tallent is the marketing and special events director, and one of the Operating Partners, at the Orange Peel in Asheville NC,  where she has worked since mid-2006.  The Orange Peel has been named one of the Top 5 clubs in the nation by Rolling Stone magazine, is the highest ticket selling independent club in the Southeast, and for 2019 was ranked 22nd in the world for annual ticket sales out of all independent venues, by Pollstar Trade Journal.
Liz currently serve as the co-captain for North and South Carolina for the newly formed NIVA (National Independent Venue Assoc), a grassrooots organization which advocates for indendently-owned clubs nationwide.
Liz is a graduate of the Kenan-Flagler Business School at UNC-Chapel Hill. She served on the board and Issues Committee of the Asheville Downtown Association for 6 years, and currently serves on the board of the Asheville Area Arts Council.  Liz lives in Asheville with her husband, Josh, and 3 children.