Theme: Dare to Defy

This years TEDxOnondagaCommunityCollege will introduce speakers who have overcome odds, beat social, economic, and gender norms, and have accomplished great things. They will share with you their journeys and provide you with insight to achieving your own goals. Join us for the day. Tickets are free and lunch is provided. We look forward to seeing you there,

4585 West Seneca Turnpike
Syracuse, New York, 13215
United States

Abigail Henson

Proprietor of LoFo

Abigail Henson is an entrepreneur. She’s a business owner. She’s a chef. She’s a motivational speaker. She’s served food to thousands of people at a national music festival. And like most great women, she’s more than the sum of her parts, as impressive as they are. Abigail is a movement. What started as a community-centric, “food-preneurial,” locavore idea has blossomed into multiple restaurants and is on its way to becoming a brand, all under the umbrella of LoFo, meaning “love food, local focus.” - Lorna Oppedisano, http://www.syracusewomanmag.com/swm/?p=3030

Alison Mullan-Stout

Alison and Zoë Mullan-Stout are sister singer-songwriters who were born in Dublin, Ireland and grew up in Marcellus, NY. They find deep joy in creating harmonies and keeping traditions alive through songs and storytelling. Music It’s in our bones It’s in our blood We were fed on it, nursed with it, grew strong by it. They ask us, “How long has it been?” We reply, “For as long as we can remember... Before speaking, we were singing.”

Cindy Seymour

Cindy is what is known as a “reverse transplant” here in Central New York in 2003. She moved from Florida to Syracuse with a few challenges at first, but has now come to call Syracuse home. Cindy co-owns Laci’s Tapas Bar, Laci’s Real Estate Venture and Laci’s Luscious Sauce with her life partner Laura Serway. Laci’s Luscious Sauce, a favorite sauce that Cindy created and is used in various recipes and has been selling at the local Wegmans since November 2015. She is a strong advocate of women’s rights and fights hard to have them heard. In 2012 she was appointed to the Syracuse Women’s Commission by Mayor Stephanie Miner.

Clayton Bourassa

Electrical Designer

Clayton began playing the piano at the age of 6 taking lessons from his father. After giving up the piano in middle school, he began taking lessons in high school and competing in state competitions and playing for various recitals. He then attended OCC where he took lessons from Dr. Kevin Moore. Clayton now resides in Fairfax, Virginia where he works as an electrical designer and continues to perform concerts and various venues/recitals.

Daria Willis

Provost

Daria J. Willis, Ph.D. is the new Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at Onondaga Community College. Her first day on the job was July 5. Willis is beginning the process of introducing herself across campus. “My main focus my first year is building relationships with students, faculty and staff.” Willis comes to OCC from Lee College in Baytown, Texas where she served as Dean of Academic Studies. Prior to Lee College she was an administrator at Lone Star College in Houston, Texas. Willis has also been a faculty member at both of those colleges along with Florida A&M University and Tallahassee Community College. She earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Florida A&M University and a doctorate from Florida State University.

Heather Flewelling

Heather is a senior student at Onondaga Community College. After returning to school at age 32, she was inducted into the OCC chapter of Phi Theta Kappa in 2015. She is currently pursing a humanities/social sciences degree with an honors minor and plans to graduate in May of 2017.

Jessi Kneeland

Personal trainer, Empowerment coach, and creator of Remodel Fitness

Jessi Kneeland was a Certified Personal Trainer (NASM) in NYC for 7 years, specializing in empowering young women through strength training. She worked with high profile actors and models, as well as moms and working women, to get strong and feel confident. Jessi is the creator of Remodel Fitness, where she now spends most of her time blogging and coaching clients to break through barriers to optimal health and self-love. Remodel Fitness combines cutting-edge exercise science with body-positivity, to help women learn how to achieve the body they want while loving the body they have. She has written for and been featured in many major publications, including Women's Health Magazine, Self Magazine, Shape Magazine, Health Magazine, Greatist, and Buzzfeed.

Laura Serway

Laura was born and raised in Central New York. Her work brought her to various cities throughout the country, until 2003 when she decided to move back to her home - Central New York. Highly respected for her work in the media industry and known for her event planning and sales skills training, Laura retired in late 2012 and now dedicates all of her time to current projects. Once a media expert – always a media expert, Laura still works with various companies in Central New York, assisting them with their media relations and event marketing concepts. Laura co-owns Laci’s Tapas Bar, Laci’s Real Estate Ventures and Laci’s Luscious Sauce with her life partner Cindy Seymour. Laci’s Luscious Sauce, a favorite sauce that Cindy created and is used in various recipes and has been selling at the local Wegmans since November 2015.

Lisa Alford

Commissioner of the Department of Aging and Youth

Lisa joined Onondaga County in 2007 as Commissioner of the Department of Aging and Youth. She was appointed Commissioner of the Department of Adult & Long Term Care Services in 2015. As Commissioner she is responsible for a department that is comprised of the Office for Aging, Adult Protective Services, NY Connects, the Long Term Care Resource Center, the Veterans Service Agency, and Mental Health. Her department provides support to improve the quality of life and over all wellbeing for adults and those with long term care needs in Onondaga County. Active in her community, Lisa is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the Women’s Fund of Central New York, the American Heart Association, the Health Foundation for Western and Central New York and the OASIS Senior Education Program. She is a member of the League of Women Voters, the CNY Population Health Improvement Regional Advisory Committee and the Junior League of Syracuse.

Lorenzo Victory

Author

Lorenzo Victory was born with neurofibromatosis, an illness that resulted in tumors and nodules all over his body. As a child, this illness and its physical symptoms caused him difficulties with both adults and other children. It became his greatest obstacle early in life, following him into adulthood and eventually putting his life in jeopardy in the form of a brain tumor. Even so, it couldn’t hold him back. In Anything Is Possible, Lorenzo shares his inspiring story of success despite adversity in order to encourage others facing their own challenges.

Morteza Modaber

Dr. Morteza Modaber was born in Zanjan, Iran on December, 1982. After having completed his high school education in National Organization for Development of Exceptional Talents (NODET), he moved to Tehran for his medical study at SBM University. His interest toward neuroscience made him continue his training as a research faculty at The Semel Institute for neuroscience and human behavior at The University of Los angeles, CA where he was involved with several projects in human neuronal recovery and plasticity. With his life long goal of reconnecting neuroscience with clinical neurology, he pursues the path of becoming a neurologist as well as a neuroscientist and getting accepted into the Northwell Health System.

Rebecca Dadey

Professor of American Sign Language

Rebecca Dadey, Associate Professor of American Sign Language (ASL) at Onondaga Community College (OCC), has been in the field of education for 12 years. As a strong culturally Deaf woman, Rebecca is a native bilingual in ASL and English who has many accomplishments in life, defying stereotypical expectations often placed on deaf individuals. Beyond the classroom, Rebecca enjoys spending time with her husband and three children, traveling, running, participating in triathlons, and simply enjoying the little moments that life has to offer.

Sam Dance

Educator

Mr. Samuel Dance retired in 2012 from the West Genesee School District after 39 years in the classroom. He taught U.S. History, Economics, and a senior elective he created titled “History of the Sixties”. In retirement Sam walks four miles a day, serves on the Leadership Team for the Cayuga Syracuse Presbytery, and is Clerk of the Session for his home church. He and his wife, OCC Math Professor Candice Dance, have three adult children and enjoy extensive travel at home and abroad but reserve plenty of time for their two grandchildren who live nearby.

Zoë Mullan-Stout

Alison and Zoë Mullan-Stout are sister singer-songwriters who were born in Dublin, Ireland and grew up in Marcellus, NY. They find deep joy in creating harmonies and keeping traditions alive through songs and storytelling. Music It’s in our bones It’s in our blood We were fed on it, nursed with it, grew strong by it. They ask us, “How long has it been?” We reply, “For as long as we can remember... Before speaking, we were singing.”