Theme: Passion in Motion

TEDxSpokane Passion in Motion creates a setting where ideas are re-examined and you current understanding may be challenged. This event will explore ideas of leadership, literature, racial identity, cultivating magic, intersectionality, reality television and more. It will be an exuberant day of sharing ideas!

Saint George's School
2929 W Waikiki Road
Spokane, Washington, 99208
United States

Aaron Crumbaugh

Chef / Reality TV star

Aaron Crumbaugh currently works as the Executive Chef at the Spokane Club. He was trained at the Cordon Bleu in California. Aaron has appeared on several reality TV shows, including the Amazing Race, Cutthroat Kitchen, and Food Network Star. He talks about his experience as a contestant on TV competitions and the insights gleaned from his work on reality TV that translate to real life

Ben Bartels

writer/actor/singer

Ben Bartels is a writer/actor/singer in New York City. Ben can be heard on the studio recording of Disney’s Hunchback of Notre Dame. Ben is a native of Spokane and went to Saint George’s School before attending New York University. Ben’s talk will share his experience coming of age, coming out and embracing his Identity in the context of intersectionality and culture.

Brady Cass

CEO, Asuris

Brady Cass is a healthcare industry veteran with over twenty five years of experience in serving complex market segments. As a frequent public speaker Brady focuses on health care, children’s issues, and embracing organizational change. Brady’s talk will be about leadership lessons from a plumber’s son.

Faridah Gbadamosi

Writer

Faridah Gbadamosi, describes herself as a Black Woman Geek, each term central to her identity. She is a writer, producer, and filmmaker and wants to build her own film festival that focuses on low budget filmmaking that highlights emerging voices from marginalized communities. Faridah’s talk will be about racial realities through a millennial writer’s lens.

Greg Nokes

Technology Specialist

Greg Nokes has worked professionally with emerging technologies for over 20 years. He adopts the new curiosities, from the Internet, to Snapchat and Pokémon Go. He currently helps organizations learn how to use the power of the Cloud to transform themselves into app-first, customer-focused enterprises at Heroku, a Salesforce company. This will be an exciting talk about where we have been and what the future holds.

Linda Seppa-Salisbury

Communications Professor

Linda Seppa-Salisbury has taught communication studies classes for forty years at Spokane Community College. While Linda is the recipient of teaching awards such as Professor of the Year for all colleges and universities in Washington State, as well as a silver medalist for National Professor of the Year, Linda points to all of the amazing teachers everywhere who give so much to their students. In her talk, Linda will share how to bring love into the classroom to transform students and teachers alike.

Michael Ebinger

Director, Washington State University Center for Innovation

A WSU professor, is currently the Director of the WSU Center for Innovation. His efforts and interests include commercializing technical research and evaluating the economic feasibility of new ideas and products. His talk involves how intellectual wellness can be developed.

Mikayla Scharnhorst

Student/ Dancer

Mikayla Scharnhorst is Miss Spokane for 2016. A senior at Whitworth University, Mikayla has been dancing since she was a little girl and will perform a ballet routine that depicts passion in motion from a dancer’s perspective. Mikayla hopes to go into pediatrics, having spent much of her childhood in hospitals herself. She is grateful for the lessons learned while being healed and hopes to care for and inspire future patients of all ages.

Mike Poutiatine

Educator and Student/songwriter

Mike & Hailey Poutiatine have in common a love of all things written. Mike, a professor of leadership and education, has taught in schools for 30 years. Hailey, a high school Junior, is an aspiring singer/songwriter. Mike and Hailey will be bringing you a mixed-media presentation about one of their favorite 13th century Sufi poets, Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Rūmī.

Ryan Bart

Magician

Ryan Bart, The Magic Man, is a bilingual magician (English and Spanish) and will amaze you with both his magic and his passion for Magicians Without Borders. Ryan spent his college years bringing hope to the children at Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital here in Spokane as he attended Gonzaga University. His talk will be about cultivating magic by planting seeds of hope and sustainability.

Salvatore Lorenzen

STEM Educator

Salvatore Lorenzen has been in the classroom for 15 years. Besides working on classified communication systems and amusement park rides, he has coached robotics and technology teams. He teaches Advanced Engineering Applications at Spokane Valley Tech and is a Master Teacher for Project Lead The Way. Sal’s talk will be about changing lives and teaching technology at the same time.

W. Scott Lewis

Consultant

W. Scott Lewis has worked with the Department of Justice’s Office and was a consultant to the Office of the Vice President and the White House Task Force. He also works with athletes, coaches and administrators at all levels on sexual misconduct and gender equity in sports. As everyone is going to experience trauma at some point, Scott’s talk will give you a better understanding of how to respond to someone who has.

Zachary Maxwell

Student/ filmmaker

Zachary Maxwell is a fourteen-year-old documentary filmmaker from New York City. His award-winning films “Yuck!” and “Anatomy of a Snow Day” have drawn international media coverage. His films and workshops encourage young people to use creativity as a method of civic engagement and a way to spark meaningful change in one’s community. Zac’s talk will be about young people effecting change in the government.