In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized (subject to certain rules and regulations).

MassMutual Headquarters
1295 State Street
Springfield, Massachusetts, 01103
United States

Akhil & Akshay Kulkarni

Akshay and Akhil are seniors at Germantown Friends School in Philadelphia, where they enjoy a variety of academic subjects including math, life sciences, physics, art and creative writing. Both attended a community college to fulfill tenth-grade requirements, and while there broadened their interests in Astrophysics and biotechnology. The brothers continued their work as researchers at Soft Matter Lab at the University of Pennsylvania, the Blumberg Institute, and the Fox Chase Cancer Center. Akshay will return to Soft Matter Lab the summer before his senior year to optimize the algorithm he assisted in formulating to track particle motion. Akhil will work in the oncology department of UPenn where he will evaluate chemokine concentrations in pancreatic tumor cells in order to complete a study for a lab.

Alicia Bonner Ness

Alicia Bonner Ness is the Founder and CEO of Heptagon Productions, a brand strategy agency that helps mission-driven organizations put their purpose at the heart of their brand.She previously served as a Field Organizer for the Florida Democratic Party and the Senior Manager of Marketing and Communication for PYXERA Global, a global nonprofit. Prior to that, she served in a number of development and marketing roles for a range of nonprofits and think tanks. Alicia is a big believer in the power of new experiences and big ideas to transform how we see ourselves and the world. Having traveled and worked in more than 25 countries around the globe, she advocates for travel and cultural engagement as a pathway to greater understanding. Alicia holds a Masters in Applied Economics from Johns Hopkins and a BA in Political Science from Barnard College. She is a LUMA Institute certified Human-Centered Design facilitator.

Amy Porchelli

Owner/Founder and Director of ARTSONG, LLC (2011) is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst (BFA/Painting) and MS Graduate of Bay Path University (MS, Communication and Information Management). An artist, designer with 20 years professional work experience in Print Manufacturing and Graphics, Amy founded ARTSONG, LLC in 2011. ARTSONG, LLC, an arts enrichment program empowering individuals through creative art sessions that provide art education, mentorship and human developmental skills. ARTSONG, LLC currently services Residential Youth Programs non-profit programs, Assisted Living Memory Care Facilities, Human Resources Unlimited Programs and individual clients. Owner/Founder and Director of ARTSONG, LLC (2011) is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst (BFA/Painting) and MS Graduate of Bay Path University (MS, Communication and Information Management). An artist, designer with 20 years professional work experience in Print Manufacturing and Graphics, Amy founded ARTSONG, LLC in 2011. ARTSONG, LLC, an arts enrichment program empowering individuals through creative art sessions that provide art education, mentorship and human developmental skills. ARTSONG, LLC currently services Residential Youth Programs non-profit programs, Assisted Living Memory Care Facilities, Human Resources Unlimited Programs and individual clients.

Annie Lynch Stevenson

Annie Lynch Stevenson is a professional vocalist, guitarist, songwriter, performer, music educator, recording artist, and a Berklee College of Music graduate. Her musical experiences have ranged from participation in Nashville bluegrass jams to intensive studies of traditional West African music and collaborations with the Tuvan National Orchestra. Annie directs the Community Music School of Springfield's original youth singing groups and the school's summer singing intensive. She has a decade of experience teaching group Children’s Music classes and voice and guitar lessons. Annie has spent the past ten years leading Americana group, Annie and The Beekeepers, and has performed at notable festivals. Annie has three self-released albums and has had the honor of sharing stages with The Lumineers, Josh Ritter, and Justin Townes Earle. Annie and the Beekeepers have received critical acclaim.

Dr. Mike Israetel

Dr. Mike Israetel holds a PhD in Sport Physiology and is currently the Head Science Consultant for Renaissance Periodiization. Mike was formerly a professor of Exercise and Sport Science in the School of Public Health at Temple University in Philadelphia, where he taught several courses, including Nutrition for Public Health, Advanced Sports Nutrition, and Exercise, Nutrition and Behavior. He has worked as a consultant on sports nutrition to the U.S. Olympic Training Site in Johnson City, TN and has been an invited speaker at numerous scientific and performance/health conferences, including nutritional seminars at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Lake Placid, NY. A co-founder of Renaissance Periodization, Mike has coached numerous athletes and busy professionals in both diet and weight training. Originally from Moscow, Russia, Mike is a competitive bodybuilder and Brazilian JiuJitsu grappler.

Erin Chrusciel

Erin Chrusciel and her husband Stephen spent ten years trying to start a family and suffered in silence for most of it. They sought answers from fertility experts, Chinese herbalists, acupuncturists and counselors. Eventually, they reluctantly entered the world of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART). Repeated rounds of invasive testing followed by massive amounts of hormones, dozens of failed cycles and four miscarriages later, they finally accepted the fact that sometimes, it takes a village to make a family. Erin’s background is in counseling & HR management with a degree in psychology. As a photographer, she offers her services to couples in the midst of “trying”. She currently leads an infertility support group in Western Massachusetts & is an active member of Resolve: The National Infertility Association. Erin lives in East Longmeadow, Massachusetts.

Evey Cormican

Captain Evey Cormican flies Boeing 757/767's for a major U.S. airline. This is the story of how an immigrant girl from a patriarchal society was able to enter and excel in a male dominated industry and still keep her sense of humor. When she is not flying to other continents she is a happily married mother of three who is also currently pursuing her MBA at Northwestern's Kellogg School of Business.

Heather Thompson

Heather Thompson is a Springfield MA native, and a current sophomore at the University of Massachusetts Amherst studying computer and electrical engineering. She formerly attended the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth where she played colligate softball. She loves finding ways to make her passion for computers and the great outdoors intertwine. She is driven by her physical and virtual friends and has the goal of becoming a United States Air Force Officer.

Kay Simpson

Kay Simpson, President of the Springfield Museums, received her B.A. from Smith College and a M.Ed. in educational administration from the University of Massachusetts. She has more than 30 years of museum experience, working in school and public programs development, educational exhibition design, teaching, collaborative community projects management, museum administration, fundraising, grant writing, and strategic planning. Her current responsibilities include the direction of all areas of operations including the financial, curatorial, marketing, development, education, human resources, collections management, and facilities departments for an interdisciplinary museum complex of two art museums, history museum, science museum and outdoor Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden. She currently serves on the boards of the Springfield Business Improvement District, Greater Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Springfield Central Cultural District.

Larry Snyder

With more than 3 decades in law enforcement, fraud and audit in the US Army and a variety of industries, including 13 years as a professor of cybersecurity, Dr. Larry Snyder brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the discussion of cybersecurity and cybercrime. He believes to address cybersecurity issues we must take a holistic approach, inclusive of all the systems, processes and people within a community to expansively and diligently minimize risks and optimize responsiveness. Dr. Snyder is a founding member of the National CyberWatch Center’s Curriculum Standards Panel, charged with producing the nation’s first curriculum model standard for cybersecurity education, and a member of the Phi Beta Cyber Society, an organization dedicated to speaking nationally to high school students about pursuing a career in cybersecurity. As the owner of Burbanity Consulting, Dr. Snyder works with organizations to develop cyber related training and education programs for their stakeholders.

Paul Hake

Paul has been designing, developing and producing games for over 12 years. Before co-founding HitPoint in 2008, Paul was designer and producer for dozens of casual and educational PC games for Hasbro, PBS, and Dreamworks. Over the past three years, HitPoint has focused on the development of location-based and augmented reality mobile games and apps for well-known kids brands including How to Train Your Dragon and Crayola. The Western Massachusetts based studio is currently developing with the latest AR technology and applying it to not only games, but also educational and consumer apps.

Rob Rispoli

Robert Rispoli is an eighteen year old sophomore at the University of Connecticut with a passion for technology and business, pursuing a double major in Computer Science and Business Information Systems. He is greatly invested in his studies as an extension of his passion. Robert is involved in Mock Wall Street and UCONN Finance Society, participates in his school's debate team, and presents countless speeches to the student body. Robert’s favorite activities include skiing, playing video games, skydiving and drawing.

Stephen Brand

As Executive Director of Global Learning and Development at Bay Path University, Stephen is responsible for leading professional development experiences. As Co-Director of the Summer Venture Program at Babson College, Stephen worked with students to launch new ventures. He developed Design Thinking curricula for a new university in the middle east and has taught courses in entrepreneurship. He continues to work with entrepreneurs and faculty from around the world as they look to launch innovation culture in their own countries and beyond. As an innovation and new venture consultant, Stephen has worked with: US Olympic Committee, Center for Medical Simulation, Ford Motor Company, The Jim Henson Company, Creative Education Foundation, Children’s Television Workshop, WNET – New York, WGBH- Boston, and the Anchorage Museum. Stephen has a master’s in interactive Technology in Education from Harvard University and a Doctor of Management degree from Case Western Reserve University.