Theme: Momentum. Moving Forward.

What Attendees Can Expect:
Networking Reception, Live Stream from National TED Women & Talks by Local Speakers.

This event is SOLD OUT. Thanks for your support!

Get in touch:
tedxoakpark@gmail.com

Dominican University, Martin Recital Hall
7900 West Division Street
River Forest, Illinois, 60305
United States

Blagica Bottigliero

Blagica Bottigliero is an Emmy winning veteran of digital marketing. A natural connector, Blagica has been involved in various facets of the worldwide web since the late '90s. Blagica has seen the web grow from the basic popunder to more sophisticated algorithms. Her experience includes creating websites for Maytag and Purina, helping found the eMarketing team at Orbitz, and leading social media at Motorola and Target. Blagica also founded and led her own startups and consultancies, led Edelman Digital's Strategy division and Co-Chaired the Cook County New Media Council. Today, Blagica is the Vice President of Digital Media at Metaverse Mod Squad, a company specializing in helping companies bring real, human connections to their digital audiences. An avid technology user, Blagica is also the producer and host of the show, Ladies Talk Tech. She also speaks Macedonian and is conversant

Cheryl Muñoz

Sugar Beet Food Co-op & Schoolhouse Founder, Cheryl Muñoz, is working to create greater access to sustainable food in the western suburbs of Chicago. Cheryl is now completing a three year project to build a community-owned food co-op that serves as a marketplace for local farmers in the Village of Oak Park, IL called Sugar Beet Food Co-op.  Through grassroots organization and community-based assets development, she raised $1.8 million in funding through local residents, grants, TIF funds and community banks.  Sugar Beet Food Co-op will be a full-service grocery store as well as a leader in environmental sustainability, and will good jobs with health benefits for over 25 employees. Mrs. Muñoz also created Sugar Beet Schoolhouse, a 501(c)3, that develops and facilitates food literacy training for all ages and organizes educational workshops on gardening, cooking and community health.

Heidi Brown

Merging her experience in the financial markets with her passion for globetrotting, Heidi Brown founded Options Away, confident that the next big thing in travel will be options on airfare. A Canadian native born and raised in Toronto, she earned a degree in Economics from the University of Toronto before beginning her career trading global currencies. She eventually landed her dream job as a relationship specialist for a European bank, living in Germany and travelling throughout Europe for almost a decade. Heidi received her MBA in Finance and Strategy from the London Business School and shortly thereafter moved to the US where she bought a century home, started a family, and began working on entrepreneurial initiatives. As a founding member of 1871, the largest digital startup hub in the US, Heidi is active in the Chicago Entrepreneurial scene and regularly speaks publically about startups and founders’ issues.

Lisa Thornton

Lisa Thornton, M.D. is a mom and a Pediatrician who specializes in the care of children with disabilities. She is passionate about providing reliable health information for families and believes that childhood is the best time to develop lifelong healthy habits for the body and mind. She is Medical Director of Pediatric and Adolescent Rehabilitation at LaRabida Children’s Hospital and Schwab Rehabilitation Hospital. She is an assistant professor in the departments of Pediatrics and Orthopedic Surgery & Rehabilitation at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine. Dr. Lisa has provided health commentary for numerous TV shows and other media outlets. She has lectured to corporations and academic institutions and has led audiences to a greater understanding of a variety of topics including childhood obesity, childhood disability, and overall health and wellness. She is married with 3 children and has a brother with cerebral palsy.

Loren Mercola

IS THE LIFE YOU ARE LIVING NOW THE LIFE THAT WANTS TO LIVE IN YOU? If not, Loren Mercola, lcsw, cadc can help! She is a clinical psychotherapist, life coach, relationship counselor, sex therapist, school social worker, addiction counselor and owner of life matters, inc.  With a collaborative counseling/coaching style, Loren offers guidance, support, education and strategies to empower you to achieve your goals and live your BEST life by being your BEST self! Loren is honored to be a speaker for TEDx Oak Park Women. She is excited to share her insights and her story in hopes of inspiring you to “lead with your heart, not with your fears” and achieve momentum moving forward! Loren has also appeared as an expert commentator on OWN TV (Oprah Winfrey Network).In her free time, Loren is an avid foodie who loves traveling, running, yoga, kickboxing, playing golf, volunteering for Misericordia and enjoying all of the magnificent cultural activities in her hometown of Chicago.

Renee Coover

Renee E. Coover practices employment law and has extensive experience representing businesses and individuals in employment discrimination, harassment, and breach of contract matters and counseling businesses on employment matters and polices. She has handled all aspects of employment and commercial litigation and prepared cases for hearing and trial in both Federal and State Court. Renee regularly handles employment matters before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Illinois Department of Human Rights. In addition to her employment practice, Renee serves as Associate General Counsel for the American Medical Spa Association (AmSpa) and also regularly lectures at local and national conferences and seminars on regulatory matters in the medical spa industry.