Theme: Under Pressure

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).

The Campus Theater
413 Market St.
Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, 17837
United States

George Pierson

As President and Chief Executive Officer of Kleinfelder, Mr. Pierson is responsible for the firm’s business and technical operations throughout the U.S., Canada, and Australia. He has more than 30 years of consulting, management, legal, and leadership experience in the engineering consulting industry, including significant international experience. Prior to joining Kleinfelder, he was the President and Chief Executive Officer of Parsons Brinckerhoff, a 130-year-old global engineering and program management firm with 14,000 employees in 150 worldwide offices and annual revenues of approximately $2.7 billion. Mr. Pierson serves on the board of directors of Petrofac PLC, a leading international service provider to the oil and gas industry; and Lane Power & Energy Solutions, Inc., an affiliate of Lane Construction Corporation offering turnkey power and energy services. He previously served on the boards of WSP Global, a 35,000-person global professional services firm; Terracon, a consulting engineering firm; and RailWorks Corporation, a leader in track and transit and systems construction. He is also a Fellow of the American College of Construction Lawyers, a Fellow in the International Academy of Construction Lawyers, and has been honored by the American Society of Civil Engineers with the distinguished Outstanding Project and Leadership award for lifetime achievement in management. He received a J.D. cum laude from Harvard Law School, an M.B.A. from St. Mary’s College of California, an M.S. in civil engineering from the University of California at Berkeley, and a B.S. summa cum laude in civil engineering from Bucknell University.

Jennifer Mellon

Co-Founder and President of Trustify

Jennifer Mellon is the Co-Founder and President of Trustify, the first technology platform to connect individuals and businesses to the only nationwide network of highly-vetted, licensed private investigators. She was named one of the “100 Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs” by Goldman Sachs in 2017. Prior to founding Trustify, she served as the youngest Executive Director in the 40-year history of Joint Council on International Children’s Services and served as the Program Director for the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute. She has been featured in Vice, Forbes, Inc., Fortune, Business Collective, and is a staff writer for Adoption.com. She is the recipient of the Women In Technology Entrepreneur Leadership Award, The Leadership Center for Excellence 40 Under 40 Award, Alexandria’s 40 Under 40 Award, and the Barbara Pratt Lee Heart of Gold Award. She is a graduate of Bucknell University and is completing her MBA.