Theme: Imagination - Ideation - Inspiration

The most valuable thing we all have is our imagination. Everything that exists was once imagined. From your imagination you receive ideas and the inspiration to take action.

Ocala Civic Theatre
4337 E. Silver Springs Blvd.
Ocala, Florida, 34470
United States

Adonica Shaw

Philanthropreneur - CEO

Adonica Shaw is a social media strategist, with several years experience in public relations and brand management. She has created and managed digital projects for numerous brands, start-ups and non-profits in the United States. Prior to her work in the public relations and social media industry, she was a weekend weather anchor and reporter for CBS affiliates in California. She was trained by the best; with additional experience from several high level internships and jobs at CNN Los Angeles, NBC and KNBC.

Ahmad Shami

Conflict Analyst

Ahmad Shami is the co-founder of CHI Middle East, an environmental beauty manufacturing and distributing company, located in Ramallah. Shami specializes in Middle East economic-social development. He serves as an adjunct faculty member at academic institutions in Palestine and as a consultant at the Center of World Religion, Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution at George Mason University. Shami is currently a research fellow at the political planning and citizenship department at the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium. He holds a B.A. in Business Administration from Birzeit University. He also holds a Master’s Degree in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from George Mason University where his field research focused on post conflict interventions and development in the Middle East, North Africa, and South Caucusus.

Amy Morin

Author, LCSW, Mental Strength Trainer - The Secret of Becoming Mentally Strong

Amy Morin is a licensed clinical social worker and psychotherapist. Since 2002, she has been counseling children, teens, and adults. She also works as an adjunct psychology instructor.   Amy’s expertise in mental strength has attracted international attention. Her bestselling book, 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do, is being translated into more than 20 languages.   Amy’s advice has been featured by a number of media outlets, including: Time, Fast Company, Good Housekeeping, Business Insider, Elle, Cosmopolitan, Success, Glamour, Oprah.com, TheBlaze TV, and Fox News. She has also been a guest on dozens of radio shows.   She is a regular contributor to Forbes, Inc., and Psychology Today. She serves as About.com’s Parenting Teens Expert and Discipline Expert.   As a frequent keynote speaker, Amy loves to share the latest research on resilience and the best strategies for overcoming adversity and building mental muscle.

Charles Archer

The Paddler - CEO Thrive Network

Charles A. Archer is a lawyer, author, speaker, entrepreneur and CEO/Co-founder of The THRIVE Network where he serves individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families in New York City and New Jersey. Prior, Archer served as a Brooklyn Assistant District Attorney and the Associate Executive Director to the InterAgency Council of Mental Retardation & Developmental Disability Agencies, where he liaised with state, community and government organizations, shaping policies for the disadvantaged. Archer received Proclamations from Brooklyn Borough President, for his leadership and commitment to the betterment of New York. He has received numerous awards for his work. Archer has written the Everybody Paddles book compilations, providing leadership strategies in building teamwork.


Cindy Grimes

Reverend @ Oakbrook Center for Spiritual Living

Cindy Grimes is the spiritual leader of OakBrook Center for Spiritual Living in Ocala, Florida. A lively and engaging presenter and workshop facilitator, Cindy uses real-life experiences, spiritual wisdom and humor to inspire audiences to transform their lives, workplaces and communities. She is passionate about kindness because she believes it’s the key to creating a world that works for everyone. Cindy holds a Master’s Degree in Consciousness Studies from CSL School of Spiritual Leadership.

John Shields

Retirement Expert- CEO

John Shields, President of "Shields & Company" based in Ocala, FL. He has spent the last 28 years of his life helping others to prepare for a purpose filled retirement. Using analogies and real life experiences, he teaches and inspires clients to dream big. He holds several securities licenses and multiple state licenses in the financial services field. He  is also a National Trainer, traveling and speaking from east to west coast and all states in between. John currently serves on his local professional association FAIFA, as a board member as well as serving on the local YMCA board. 

Jon Mills

Dean Emeritus, Professor of Law University of Florida

Jon Mills is Dean Emeritus, Professor of Law, and Director of Center for Governmental Responsibility at the University of Florida Fredric G. Levin College of Law. Mills is Counsel to Boies, Schiller & Flexner LLP. He formerly served as Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives. As a professor and author he has written several books, reports and multiple articles on public policy issues including two books on privacy: Privacy: the Lost Right (2008), and Privacy in the New Media Age (2015). His chapter “Privacy in the Surveillance Era” was featured in After Snowden (2015). Mills has been quoted by the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, and Washington Post among others and has appeared on CNN, NPR, ABC, and the BBC. He won a Suncoast Regional Emmy Award for the PBS show Whose Water is It Anyway? Mills litigated a number of landmark privacy intrusion cases representing the families of Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Gianni Versace, and Sea World trainer Dawn Brancheau. He was

Mary Baggs

Ocala Star Banner -

Mary Baggs is the granddaughter of German immigrants who made a Chicago ethnic neighborhood their home. Her home town in the suburbs had a banner hung downtown stating, “A Good Place to Live”. This single culture environment instilled a life of bigotry in their family towards others that were different. Mary’s first multicultural experience occurred in Tampa where in college she lived with students from different beliefs and backgrounds. She married into a progressive southern family. Her father-in-law was a civil rights leader alongside JFK and MLK. Mary and her husband Craig are now happily embracing their multicultural family.

MK Mueller

The Gratitude Guru - CEO, Author

MK (Mary Kay) Mueller is an internationally respected authority on empowerment, positive attitude and education engagement practices. A former high school teacher, MK found herself in a shelter for domestic violence at the age of 34. In the shelter she learned new insights that she not only incorporated into her own life, but began to share through her classes, books, adult training seminars and curriculum for middle and high school students.  Today, she is the author of several award-winning books, including "8 to Great: The Powerful Process for Positive Change," and "Taking Care of Me: The Habits of Happiness." She has certified over 2500 trainers in her 8 to Great process and Positive Attitude Formula. These trainers are taking her eight steps for greater hope and happiness to businesses and schools around the world. She is thrilled to be sharing her message with the TEDx community (a dream come true!) and grateful to the TEDx Ocala Team for the invitation. 

Tim Conway

Neuropsychologist - CEO The Morris Center

Professionally Tim is a neuropsychologist who spent decades of his career dedicated to understanding the brain and its functions. Specifically, he’s an international expert in the field of dyslexia - assessment, research and treatment. Currently, Tim runs two companies and a nonprofit school - all 3 are focused on state of the art services for children and adults with dyslexia. Uniquely, Tim conducted 12 years of stroke rehab research and it provided novel views on helping those with dyslexia.