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).

Warren Miller Performing Arts Center
45465 Gallatin Road
Big Sky, Montana, 59716
United States

Cameron Scott

Cameron Scott is an avid outdoor enthusiast. His top four passion pursuits are steelhead fishing, white water rafting, photography, and getting lost in the backcountry in the temperate zones on the western flanks of the Cascade Mountains searching for giant off trail waterfalls. He is also a part time river guide for Boundary Expeditions on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River. When he can’t pursue his outdoor passions, he settles into his role as owner of Ollin Construction, a small custom home building company in beautiful Bend Oregon.

Daryn Kagan

You might remember Daryn Kagan from her more than 12 years as an anchor on CNN. Today, Daryn is a syndicated newspaper columnist for Cox Newspapers. Her weekly, “What’s Possible!” column inspires readers in newspapers across the country, including Sundays in the Atlanta Journal Constitution. 80 of her most popular columns make up her latest book, “Hope Possible: A Network News Anchor’s Thoughts On Losing A Job, Finding Love, A New Career, And My Dog, Always My Dog.” She is the creator and host of DarynKagan.com, an inspirational, online website featuring stories that, “Show the World What is Possible.” Daryn lives in Atlanta, Georgia with her husband, daughter, and Little Sister from the Big Brother Big Sister program. Her 3-legged cat, 11-month old rescue hound puppy, and eight chickens complete the family.

Eduardo Garcia

Eduardo Garcia is a chef, outdoorsman, athlete and motivational speaker & the co-founder of a national food brand, Montana Mex. During a Montana backcountry hike in October 2011, Eduardo was electrocuted by a buried high voltage power source, where he suffered extensive, life-threatening injuries and had to have his arm amputated. Today, five years after his experience, Eduardo is the subject of the award winning feature length documentary “Charged” and is working on a number of media projects including “A Hungry Life” - a TV concept which follows him into the wild places of the world as he creates exceptional food over a campfire - and is on a personal mission to help those who are dealing with trauma. He is a spokesperson and athlete for the Challenged Athletes Foundation, a NGO that provides support to people with physical disabilities so they can pursue active lifestyles. To unwind Eduardo spends his time at home in Montana, tending to his garden, collecting fresh eggs from his chickens and roaming the hills with his family.

Martin Sexton

In 2018, American singer-songwriter Martin Sexton extends touring in support of his ninth studio release Mixtape of the Open Road. Syracuse native Sexton got his start singing in the streets and subways of Boston in the early 90’s. Still fiercely independent and headlining venues from The Fillmore to Carnegie Hall, he has influenced a generation of contemporary artists. His songs have appeared in television series such as Scrubs, Parenthood, Masters of Sex and in numerous films, though it’s his incendiary live show, honest lyrics, and vocal prowess that keep fans coming back for more.

Pem Dorjee Sherpa

Pem Dorjee Sherpa, a native of Nepal over came extreme challenges to become an Everest guide and a businessman who immigrated to the US to raise his family. Born in the small, remote village of Chyangba, Solukhumbu, he has summited Mt. Everest twice, the second time with his then girlfriend Moni Mulepati. Pem is certified as a trekking and mountaineering guide by the government of Nepal and has been granted numerous mountaineering awards throughout his climbing career. Pem now lives with his wife Moni and two daughters Pelzom and Mezel in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Pem is an owner of a local fair-trade store called The Himalayan Bazaar, a global adventure travel business, and a recently opened a third business; a restaurant featuring Himalayan, Nepalese and Indian cuisine. Aside from his mountaineering achievements, Pem has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to improving the quality of life in his home village, having organized many service projects to provide dental care for the villagers, build a library & school and develop a drinking water system in the village.

Robbie Houcek

Robbie began her IT career in Silicon Valley working for companies like Advanced Micro Devices and Sun Micro Systems. During her years in the corporate world, Robbie’s mother was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Several chemo and radiation treatments later, her mother lost the battle with cancer. This devastating event led Robbie to pursue a career in alternative therapies. She is a nationally certified Clinical Hypnotherapist, an Emotional Integration Practitioner, Associate Polarity Practitioner, Ontological Kinesiology Facilitator and an ordained interfaith minister. While tending her thriving practice, Robbie’s father developed Alzheimer’s disease. She became the executor of his will, his power of attorney and over the last several years, has functioned as a fiercely dedicated advocate. Her inspiring story provides a unique perspective of the journey through the disease.

Rylan Peery

Rylan’s mission is to develop solutions supporting the economic regeneration of communities, a theme he explored deeply while studying at Stanford University. His professional journey began by working at a Silicon Valley venture capital firm. There he focused on understanding the capital needs of social enterprise technology ventures and envisioning alternative economic models for financing co-operative development. From finance, Rylan embarked on a journey as an entrepreneur co-founding a technology startup, GiveBack; consulting on business strategy with Fortune 500 clients; and rolling up his sleeves as a front-end web engineer at the co-operative that is CoLab Co-op today. Rylan now enjoys collaborating with his peers to support mission-driven entrepreneurs, educators, activists, and organizers to co-create a brighter future one human interaction at a time. He is particularly focused on supporting the capitalization of the platform co-op movement.