Theme: Bridging Gaps

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).

Pasadena City College
1570 E Colorado Bl
Pasadena, California, 91106
United States

Alicia Hanf

Alicia Hanf believes that it is possible to change the world a little, to a lot each day. Motivating leaders to champion growth, inspiring people to be their best, and generating extraordinary results are just a few ways that Alicia makes an impact on the world. Alicia is most proud of her six-year service in the US Army where she learned the value of teamwork, leadership, and communication. What has stuck with her throughout her career is that “when communication fails, the mission fails”. Being able to help leaders communicate their mission, and vision, and then create strategies to drive execution is a huge part of the value that she’s provided throughout the years as a Business Growth Consultant. Alicia is fortunate enough to have worked with organizations such as Walt Disney, the Department of Defense, the NFL, and most proudly the US Army. Alicia is currently running the Los Angeles chapter of Bunker Labs; a national not-for-profit organization helping veterans, active duty service members, and their spouses launch, scale and grow businesses. Alicia has over 10 Years of combined experience in Startups, Leadership, Coaching, Sales, SAAS, Marketing, Business Development, and Relationship Building. Most importantly Alicia has an insane drive for helping companies, and communities grow, and empower business executives to be the leaders their organizations need to be successful.

Armando Rodriguez

Armando Rodriguez is a theater producer and lead waiter at La Gondola, a famous Italian restaurant in Beverly Hills, California. Mr. Rodriguez is originally from Durango, Mexico and moved to Los Angeles, California when he was 16 years old to work as a restaurant dishwasher and kitchen assistant at Golan Restaurant, a Kosher Jewish restaurant in North Hollywood, California. In 1999, the Los Angeles Times published an article about Mr. Rodriguez, as he became well known for his fluency in Hebrew without any formal education but by simply chatting with co-workers and customers. “He speaks Hebrew like an Israeli,” stated his boss at the time and worked his way up from a dishwasher to becoming a manager of the restaurant.

Clint Armstrong

Clint Armstrong, the founder and CEO of GroStaff, was recognized by Entrepreneur Magazine for launching the first Cannabis HR (human resources) platform, earning The Top 100 Cannabis Leaders in 2018 & 2019. In 2013, Clint founded SkillsetGroup, grew the company to 1,000+ full-time employees, and achieved revenue growth of 3,568% in three years. In 2018 & 2019, SkillsetGroup was awarded the #1 Fastest Growing HR Company in California by Inc 500. In 2019, SkillsetGroup jumped to the #3 Fastest Growing HR Company in the nation, earning the ranking as the #119th Fastest Growing Company in the United States. Clint’s TEDx Almansor Park talk titled, “How to Build a Cannabis Business” in Pasadena, California, helps navigate the tumultuous waters of the Cannabis industry and reveals his secrets and strategies on how to create, build, and grow a Cannabis business. Clint shares his blueprint for what he believes will guide companies to incorporate Cannabis into their HR models, as the Cannabis plant transcends and reclaims its place as a teacher and healer. Find out more about Clint’s Cannabis platform & HR company here: http://www.grostaff.com http://www.skillsetgroup.com http://www.clintonarmstrong.com

Dr. Shawn Phipps

Dr. Shawn Phipps is the Chief Quality Officer and Associate Hospital Administrator at Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center in Los Angeles, California, where he has served for over 21 years as an Occupational Therapy practitioner, clinical specialist, supervisor, manager, and chief. He is the Past Vice President and Board Director of the American Occupational Therapy Association and currently serves as the California Representative #1 to the AOTA Representative Assembly. Dr. Phipps has also served two consecutive elected terms as the President of the Occupational Therapy Association of California and serves as Adjunct Faculty and a member of the Board of Councilors for the University of Southern California Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy. He has published and presented extensively at the state, national, and international levels and serves as a Lead Editor for the Occupational Therapy Manager textbook through AOTA Press with additional publications through the American Journal of Occupational Therapy, Willard & Spackman, and Pedretti’s Occupational Therapy. Dr. Phipps was inducted as a Fellow of the American Occupational Therapy Association (FAOTA) and was a recipient of the AOTA Cordelia Myers Writer’s Award, the OTAC Practice Award, the OTAC Award of Excellence and the AOTA Recognition of Achievement for Excellence in Leadership, Management, and Administration.

Jason Rhude

Jason Rhude is veteran cannabis specialist with extensive expertise in the California and US markets. Having spent two decades helping scale startups in traditional markets, as well as spent the last 5 years focused primarily on developing nascent cannabis business’ he cultivates an intricate knowledge of all sides of the plant spectrum—from cultivation to consumption. Leading with credibility and integrity, he’s consulted with hundreds of licensed and non-licensed cannabis companies around the world effectively creating branding and marketing strategies for legal medical and adult use.

Melissa Drake

Melissa Drake is a consultant who founded Collaborative AF to help like-minded businesses, individuals, and organizations find solutions and create collective benefit. Her authenticity and unique approach to collaboration created an extensive and loyal network of friends and co-creators determined to pursue their limitless potential instead of the "reality" of the current state of affairs. ᐧ

Mila Diamond

A trained Buddhist Monk and Fortune 500-1000 management consultant, Mila Diamond is a business mentor and life coach. She founded Diamond Mind International to help people find inner happiness and outer success by living from their zone of brilliance and TRUTH. Find out more about Mila Diamond and her work here - http://miladiamond.com/

Ryan Matthews

Ryan Matthews, a decorated veteran, began his dog training career in 2002 in the US Army training and handling elite Military Working Dogs (MWDs). With his beloved trainees, Ryan performed bite protection, bomb threat sweeps, secret service missions, and combat deployment to Iraq with Army K-9, Zito. He successfully worked with Special Forces, Army SWAT and Infantry units with his trained companion, Zito who ultimately saved lives over their period of service. Following his passion for dogs and seeing them unleashing their potential, he is releasing a new dog training book titled “The Art of Dog Training.” To compliment the publication, Ryan has also created an e-Learning platform with more than 130 supportive dog training videos. In addition, Ryan has recently taken on a new health project aimed at improving the lives of dogs. His vision is to free dogs of pain and reduce the likelihood of life-threatening illnesses through his new line of natural canine supplements. Please visit www.peaceofmindcbd.com for more information. As a professional pet dog trainer, Ryan has successfully trained over 3,000 dogs, with a 99% success rate. Ryan is passionate about bridging the gap of communication between dogs and their owners. He feels when people can better understand their dogs, it enhances their lives and increases the bond of both people and dogs.

Sandee Mendelson

Sandee Mendelson is a Charge Nurse in a Pediatric Emergency Trauma Center who enjoys connecting with others as an Instructor of Nursing Courses, Certified Life Coach, and Inspirational Speaker.

Shawn Phipps

Dr. Shawn Phipps is the Chief Quality Officer and Associate Hospital Administrator at Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center in Los Angeles, California, where he has served for over 21 years as an Occupational Therapy practitioner, clinical specialist, supervisor, manager, and chief. He is the Past Vice President and Board Director of the American Occupational Therapy Association and currently serves as the California Representative #1 to the AOTA Representative Assembly. Dr. Phipps has also served two consecutive elected terms as the President of the Occupational Therapy Association of California and serves as Adjunct Faculty and a member of the Board of Councilors for the University of Southern California Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy. He has published and presented extensively at the state, national, and international levels and serves as the Section Editor for the Occupational Therapy Manager textbook through AOTA Press with additional publications through the American Journal of Occupational Therapy, Willard & Spackman, and Pedretti’s Occupational Therapy. Dr. Phipps was inducted as a Fellow of the American Occupational Therapy Association (FAOTA) in 2011, was a recipient of the AOTA Cordelia Myers Writer’s Award in 2008, the OTAC Practice Award in 2005, the 2014 recipient of the OTAC Award of Excellence and the 2015 recipient of the AOTA Recognition of Achievement for Excellence in Leadership, Management, and Administration.

Turk Akbay

Turk Akbay is an entrepreneur, consultant, uplifter, and most of all a teacher. He was a born seeker and learned early on that his inquisitive mind did not fit the social norms of his home country. His curiosity often got him into trouble, but that did not stop him from seeking the truth. He spent most of his formative years labeled an outcast, feeling like a round peg in a square world. Turk took to heart the wise words of his spiritual teacher, “words don’t teach, life experience does”, and has been collecting life experiences since. After immigrating on his own to the US as a teenager, Turk dedicated his life, first, to quieting his own inner demons, then, helping others reach their full potential by self-actualizing their internal greatness. Turk has a natural gift of viewing and experiencing life and expressing it in ways that bring his audience into new perspectives. He has an easeful ability to evoke high level thinking in a down to earth way that is both light and humorous. As a speaker, he views his talks as co-creative experiences with his audience. Instead of telling people what to do, he challenges their beliefs by exploring new thought ideas, allowing the audience to discover for themselves their own truth. Audiences are left with a new awareness and appreciation for life and are inspired to reach for more of the life they desire. Turk is also a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, co-founder of Peace of Mind CBD and Infinity’s Door, Founder of Off Leash Dog Training and Dog Owner’s Academy, and the Inventor of Subliminal Coaching.