Theme: Rethink

Join us for our second live TEDxNorthbrookLibrary event! We will feature 4 speakers with local ideas worth spreading!

Registration is free and open to everyone

Northbrook Public Library
1201 Cedar Lane
Northbrook Public Library
Northbrook, Illinois, 60062
United States

Amy Torf

Team Building Leader + STEM Educator

As a lifelong creative problem solver, Amy has enjoyed a variety of careers, including as a robotics engineer, teacher, day camp director, and entrepreneur. From her first invention (an automatic dog water dish) to creating two businesses, Noggin Builders and TeamUp Events, Amy most enjoys learning and innovating. Through her work, she develops methods that encourage children and adults to explore and enhance creative problem solving skills.

James Lynch

Chief Possibility Officer

James M. Lynch is a former General Manager and Chief Training Officer. While working in the healthcare staffing industry he was able to grow a regional player into a national industry leader using the lever of ‘culture’ and service. As an executive coach and leadership and development facilitator he works with training groups to create extraordinary results. His recent engagement as the Executive Director of The Art Center Highland Park allows him to indulge himself as an arts activist and an administrator in one role.

Nick Espinosa

Chief Security Fanatic

An expert in cybersecurity and network infrastructure, Nick Espinosa has consulted with clients ranging from small businesses up to the Fortune 100 level. Nick founded Windy City Networks, Inc in 1998 at age 19 and was acquired by BSSi2 LLC in 2013 where he is their CIO. In 2015 Security Fanatics, a Cybersecurity/Cyberwarfare outfit dedicated to designing custom Cyberdefense strategies for medium to enterprise corporations, was launched. A nationally recognized speaker, member of the Forbes Technology Council, regular columnist for Forbes, on the Board of Advisors for both Roosevelt University's Center for Cyber and Information Security and Bits N’ Bytes Cybersecurity Education, award winning co-author of a bestselling book "Easy Prey", and host of "The Deep Dive" radio show on 101.3FM WHIW, Nick is known as an industry thought leader and sought after for his advice on the future of technology and how it will impact every day businesses and consumers.

Shannon Spalding

Police Whistleblower + Criminal Justice Reform Advocate

Shannon Spalding is a police whistleblower and advocate for criminal justice reform. As an undercover narcotics officer with the Chicago Police Department, she exposed a ring of corrupt law enforcement agents who terrorized the South Side housing projects of Chicago and imprisoned nearly 500 people on false charges. Her story was the subject of a four-part exposé from The Intercept called “Code of Silence,” and she has been featured on major national and international news outlets such as NBC, Democracy Now!, and Al Jazeera. Shannon now works with The Exoneration Project, a legal team that works to overturn wrongful convictions.