Theme: Unconventional Connection

This is the first year we will be putting on a TEDx event in Twin Falls. Join us for our inaugural year! This conference provides a forum for sharing the best ideas and innovations and stimulates the area's business leaders and entrepreneurs as Idaho redefines its role on a global scale. TEDxTwinFalls will take place at the Orpheum Theatre on April 16th 2016 with speakers centering around the theme "Unconventional Connection." Check back for important updates about ticket information soon.

Orpheum Theatre
146 Main Ave N
Twin Falls, Idaho, 83301
United States

Alea Peters

Aerialist + Mom + Photographer

Alea Peters is a former cheerleading coach for the College of Southern Idaho where she led her team to 2nd place at the USA collegiate nationals in 2015. Some other titles she holds are: professional photographer, Sunday school teacher, student, mother of three little girls, and recently, aerialist. She is thrilled to take part in pioneering the exciting world of aerial arts in Southern Idaho.

Arnel Culum

Web Developer

Born and raised in Bosnia and Hercegovina, Arnel Culum and his family relocated to Idaho in the mid 90’s. Arnel is an artist who enjoys taking ideas from a piece of paper, turning it into a computer model and developing it into a prototype. Arnel is enthusiastic about people being able to develop solutions for everyday challenges.

Brandon Tesch

Hairdresser

Being from the the Magic Valley and growing up in rural America labeled homosexual Brandon has experienced much. From desires to run to where society would embrace him, to diving into the depths of repression to offer love to his opposition, Brandon finds solace guiding the ignorant to become blossoming souls of acceptance.

Colby Jones

Social Sciences + Law

Colby Jones is a Social Science BA graduate from UNLV, and currently leads the English Language Acquisition program for the Student Success Center at the CSI He also studies law through the Mitchell Hamline School of Law in St. Paul, MN. Colby is married and has one teenage son. Having lived in several continents together with his family, Colby brings a unique perspective about the importance of diversity and inclusiveness to our connections discussion.

Jon Morse

Acupuncturist/Entrepreneur

Jon Paul Morse L.Ac. D.N.B.A.O. is a Licensed Acupuncturist and Diplomate of The National Board of Acupuncture Orthopedics. He has been practicing in Twin Falls Idaho for twelve years. Jon Paul loves people, animals, school busses, and the entire gem state.

Katie Neff & Steve Kamanski

Comedians

Steve Kaminski and Katie Neff have been doing professional comedy for over 15 years. They studied at Chicago’s famed Second City and Improv Olympic. Upon “mastering their craft,” Neffinski traveled the world performing and teaching improvisational and sketch comedy. They are so excited to have landed back in the Magic Valley and are ready to share their secrets to success!

Kaylee Gomske

Student/Musician

Kaylee Gomske is a senior at Burley High School. She’s been playing the guitar and writing music since she was 14.

Kory Lloyd

Entrepreneur, Educator and Creator

When Kory Lloyd received his first computer at age 12, he began playing games where giant walking robots fought each other on the battlefield. After a business degree, he worked in the heavy equipment industry and started a drilling company where he dreamed of giant equipment robots helping him with his work. Today as an educator, builder and entrepreneur, Lloyd founded a non-profit organization, MadMechTech Inc., to inspire students to embrace STEAM education by designing, building and competing giant Mechs. Lloyd teaches at CSI and serves as an advisor for a student organization, CSI MechTech.

Mady Thornquest

Student/Dancer

Thanks to a love of creativity and critical thinking drawn from years of dance training and performance, Mady Thornquest finds herself advocating for a creative revolution in the valley. She is honored to represent the state of Idaho as Miss Idaho’s Outstanding Teen 2016 and promotes arts education through the STEAM movement. When she’s not speaking or dancing, Mady lives as a regular 15 year old, often drinking a Bowl of Soul while perusing a novel or dabbling in musical theatre, yoga, and catching up on homework.

Mara Holt Skov

Educator and curator of art and design

Mara Holt Skov is a San Francisco-based art and design historian and curator specializing in twentieth-century European and American art and design. She is interested in the cultural and historical context of design as it changes and is changed by broader forces. She is particularly passionate about identifying rising macrotrends in design and visual culture, considering how we design for human needs (especially health, wellness and death) and watching the continued convergence of fine arts, craft, design and popular culture.

Mecinna Price

Entrepreneur

Mecinna Price was born in Pocatello Idaho where she resides with her husband and 5 children. Mecinna has always had an entrepreneurial spirit and enjoys making impossible ideas and tasks possible. She loves humanity, the inner workings of people, their relationships, and emotions. As the oldest of 4 sisters, she is a bossy girl and owns 4 local businesses. Mecinna is a proud US Patent title holder and enjoys seeing her invention sold and used.

Nick Archibald & Sterling Hoch

Musicians

Pro Creeps is an improvisational duo. Nick Archibald plays drums and Sterling Hoch plays noise. They have lived in Idaho for most of their lives.

Perri Gardner

Professor of Political Science

Perri Gardner is an Instructor of Political Science at the College of Southern Idaho. She received her Masters of Science in Political Science from The University of Nebraska. Her main research and teaching interests focus on state legislative institutions and units of local government. She is also committed to engaging other young people in civic life and political activities, the promotion of reproductive justice and protection of reproductive rights, the protection of Idaho’s wilderness lands and rivers, and the mission of Rotary International—Service above Self.

Steve Paulsen

Restoration Ecologist

Steven R. Paulsen has worked in land restoration and conservation fields for the last 20 years. His knowledge of native plants, habitat restoration, and land management has established him as an authority. He has worked with government agencies, public land users, private corporations and landowners, to develop and implement programs to improve or restore land quality. He spends a good deal of time speaking to various groups and professional organizations. He also donates time and resources to various youth and community educational programs. Steven is the proud father of four children and has been happily married for 19 years to his wife Starla.