What happens when we push past our comfort zones? What treasures lay waiting to be discovered? As the largest municipality in North Alabama, what does the next chapter of Huntsville look like? Transformation forges a process of radical change and helps shape the community in a new direction and offers opportunities to expand to new frontiers, new ideas and reveals what we are truly made of.
We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty. – Maya Angelou
Speakers
Speakers may not be confirmed. Check event website for more information.
Adi Jaffe
Professor, Writer
Adi Jaffe is a nationally recognized expert on mental health, addiction, and stigma. He lectures in the Psychology department at UCLA. Dr. Jaffe's work and research focus on changing the way Americans think about and deal with mental health issues. He is passionate about the role of shame in destroying lives and aims to greatly reduce the stigma of mental health in this country. In this context, Dr. Jaffe has used his personal experience as an incredibly effective inspirational and motivational tool. Dr. Jaffe is still heavily involved in research through his academic appointments and connections. His current research focuses on evidence-based but non-traditional approaches to treating addiction and mental health.David Kyle
Professor/Director
David is the director of the UAH Ability Sport Network, which is a program that encourages participation among people with physical disabilities in adapted physical activity. In addition, he is a lecturer in the Department of Kinesiology of UAH’s College of Education. David holds a master’s degree in Health and Physical Education and will complete his doctoral degree in Kinesiology in 2019. He is also a Certified Exercise Physiologist and Disability Sport Specialist. David is a member of the USA Triathlon National Paratriathlon Committee, and competed internationally for 10 years with the USA Elite Paratriathlon Team in triathlon, duathlon, and XTERRA off-road events winning multiple world and national titles in each discipline.Dawn Dunkerly
Chief of the Cyber Division, Army Materiel Command G-3/4
Dr. Dawn Dunkerley is the Chief of the Cyber Division, Army Materiel Command G-3/4. Her team is responsible for AMC’s operationalization of cyberspace to achieve the AMC commander’s objectives, facilitate mission command, and maintain AMC’s ability to “develop, deliver and sustain” in support of current and future Army and Joint missions. Dr. Dunkerley received a Ph.D. in Information Systems from Nova Southeastern University in 2011 with a doctoral focus of information security success within organizations. Her research interests include cyberwarfare, cyber operations, cybersecurity, and the success and measurement of organizational cyber-focused initiatives.Devyn Keith
City Councilman
Devyn Sherard Keith was born and raised in Huntsville, Alabama and is a proud product of its large community network. Devyn has always had a passion for public service and a deep connection to the residents of his community. Devyn is certainly a believer in open-interface and diverse government and because of that continues to work on his ability to analytically review issues, objectively identify resources and create viable solutions. His outlook on increasing civic engagement, progressive policies and positive perspectives have been a mainstay throughout his career and will remain at the forefront of his run for the District 1 Representative of the Huntsville City Council.Ron Martoia
Coach/Consultant
Dr. Ron Martoia is a transformational architect. His passion is helping people, and the organisms they serve, design and experience revolutionary change. Over the last 15 years Ron has spoken to over 40,000 leaders in conference settings and his private coaching practice. His area of expertise is human development, mindfulness/awareness practice, and semiotics; understanding the new and shifting landscape of our 21st century world. Ron is using his cultural intonation to help organizations in both the profit and non-profit sectors shift paradigms from the old mechanical world to the highly relational, creative and interactive world of the 21st century. His doctorate is in the area of leadership and culture.Stephen Granade
Science Writer
Stephen Granade is a physicist and the director of the Science Track at Dragon Con, a science fiction media convention in Atlanta, GA. His current research involves sensors to detect and track small drones. He has worked on devices that can read your fingerprint from 10 feet away, systems that let unpiloted helicopters land automatically, and a video-based sensor that helped guide the Space Shuttle to the Hubble Space Telescope. If you're afraid of the robot revolution, Dr. Granade is probably someone to watch out for. In his spare time he's the host of NASA's "No Small Steps" video series on YouTube.Swapna Kakani
Health Advocate
Swapna Kakani was born and raised in Huntsville, AL. She is a graduate of Randolph School, and received her Bachelors in Psychology at The University of Alabama at Birmingham. Born with a rare disease, her inspirational life story is one of triumph over chronic illness and of developing individual resilience and self-determination in the face of constant difficulties. Swapna also, this year created Alabama Rare, a grassroots coalition to unite the state around the rare disease population. She currently is working in Washington D.C. for the National Organization of Rare Disorders (NORD) researching federal and state health policies, and advocating on Capitol Hill to ultimately expand care for individuals with rare diseases.Organizing team
