The THOMAS JEFFERSON FOUNDATION was incorporated in 1923 to "preserve Monticello as a memorial to Thomas Jefferson and his ideas." As the owner and operator of the estate, the company has been dedicated to its dual mission of preservation and education for more than 90 years. It has painstakingly worked to restore the UNESCO World Heritage Site, seek out original furnishings, reacquire plantation lands, and expand educational programs.

Leslie Greene Bowman is the president of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation. She leads the nonprofit in its efforts to preserve and operate Monticello, the Founding Father's home and a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. A former professor at USC and UCLA, Bowman is also the author of American Arts & Crafts: Virtue in Design.

Charley Miller is a feature producer at ARD German TV, one of the world's largest broadcasting companies. A television industry veteran of more than a decade who has filmed in ten different countries, he is also a coauthor of Monticello: The Official Guide to Thomas Jefferson's World. Miller lives in Washington, DC.

Peter Miller is the author of The Smart Swarm: How Understanding Flocks, Schools, and Colonies Can Make Us Better at Communicating, Decision Making, and Getting Things Done. He is a senior editor at National Geographic and has served as a writer and editor at the magazine for more than 25 years.