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).

Triad Stage
232 S. Elm Street
Greensboro, North Carolina, 27401
United States

Alley Rabbits

The Alley Rabbits are masterful performers of traditional bluegrass music and harmonies, reimagining favorite rock/pop hits into energetic, bluegrass-flavored classics.

Brenda Nolasco

Brenda Nolasco, Bless-Nova, has been singing publicly since she was 6 years old performing at Carowinds. By the age of 15 she was recording in a professional studio. Since 2012 she has performed professionally in a R&B/Blues band and with a salsa band in Charlotte and the Triad.

Jennifer Martineau

Jennifer W. Martineau is a senior executive responsible for the leadership and execution of the research, analytics, evaluation, and societal advancement practices at the Center for Creative Leadership. She leads efforts to advance organizational cultures to be more focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion. Jennifer is co-author of Kick Some Glass: Ten Ways Women Succeed at Work on Their Own Terms.

Jessica Mashburn

Authentic cabaret music doesn't just consist of a catchy hook or chord progression. It is socially engaging and verbally brilliant. Performing authentic cabaret, dating back to the Weimer era, are Jessica Mashburn, a Greensboro native and prolific singer/songwriter, and her accomplished jazz partner, Dave Fox. She has toured with top 40 bands

John Z Kiss

John Z. Kiss is a biology professor and Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at UNC Greensboro. He has worked with NASA for 30 years. He has been a research leader on eight spaceflight projects that have flown on the Space Shuttle, the Russian space station Mir, and most recently on the International Space Station. Kiss has had over 80 students work with him on space research to understand the role of gravity and light in plant development.

Josh Sammons

Josh Sammons is an information technology solutions engineer and co-founder of Solace IT Solutions. He specializes in cloud solutions and advanced security to prevent fraud and hacking and preserving data integrity. He has led Cloud security-focused projects with large manufacturing, media and financial companies nationwide.

Michelle Gethers-Clark

Following a successful career in senior management at American Express, Gethers-Clark became CEO at United Way of Greater Greensboro where she is focused on creating partnerships to end poverty. Her accomplishments and career have been featured in Ebony, Black Enterprise, Working Mothers, Biz Life, and Triad Business Journal’s 2017 Most Admired CEO. Her book, The Next Level, focuses on leadership. Her mantra is “People follow character and not titles.”

Mike Toy

A corporate entertainer and speaker, Toy is a native of San Francisco. He has authored two books on human behavior and psychology with a third in the works. Through his experience he has developed an expertise in trickery. Fooling people goes beyond magic and he analyzes how scams work and how to avoid falling prey to them.

Nadja Cech

As professor of chemistry at UNC Greensboro, Nadja Cech’s research harnesses molecules from plants to treat disease. A major focus of this work is developing novel ways to treat drug resistant bacterial infections, the so called “superbugs.” Cech grew up off-grid in a farm in Oregon, and spent many years living with her family of five in 300 square foot yurt. In her work, she draws inspiration both from her rigorous scientific training and on her non-traditional background. She is particularly interested in what nature can teach us about ways to improve the human condition.

Paula McMillan

Paula McMillan is a senior financial advisor working with individuals to ensure their long-term financial wellbeing. She is professionally active, with a particular focus on financial issues for women. She founded and chairs North Carolina's Triad Women’s Initiatives Group and actively participates in Financial Focus for Women and Family Wealth Advisors Council’s Women of Wealth Study Group. She writes about financial matters and created podcast series on retirement planning and financial empowerment for women.

Phillip Marsh

Phillip Marsh operates a graphic and fine art firm located in Greensboro, North Carolina. He has focused his creative study of choice, wide-format art/murals/street art, predominantly in Greensboro, while his studio work of printmaking and graphic arts have been explored in visiting studios of NYC, DC, and Miami. He is a leader in introducing some of the most prolific artists on the international scene in street art to Greensboro by curating and managing wall mural projects – resulting in more than forty works to date.

Portia Mount

Portia Mount is a marketing executive working in global manufacturing where she leads a transformation effort. She is passionate about marketing, brand building and the power of women to lead authentically in times of disruption. Trained as a facilitator and executive coach, Portia is co-author of the book Kick Some Glass: Ten Ways Women Succeed at Work on Their Own Terms. She encourages women to ‘step into the arena’ to discover their true voice and lead with intention.

Victoria Carlin Milstein

Victoria Carlin Milstein’s passion for the arts spans three decades. She has lived and traveled around the world, and now has resides in Greensboro. Her portraits hang in private and public collections globally and her works have been featured in important international exhibitions. As a professional portrait artist, she has had commissions locally and internationally for private and public figures including both Former Chief Justice Henry Frye and the late Congressman Howard Coble. She recently completed a series called the Mali Project – a multi- medium collaboration of narrative paintings, her daughter’s writings, and her son’s sculpture – as a tribute to the culture and community she witnessed with her daughter in Mali. She operates VCM Art Studio in Greensboro as a place of mentorship and fellowship, with model drawings, workshops, and community events.