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).

Clarkson University Forum
10 Clarkson Ave
Potsdam, New York, 13699
United States

Charlotte Hayden

Founder and President of Better Brew Flavors

Originally of Schenectady, New York, Charlotte Hayden is the Founder of Better Brew Flavors, a craft simple syrup company focused on bringing your favorite cafe flavors to your home. Charlotte graduated from Clarkson in 2016 with a degree in Innovation and Entrepreneurship. After graduation, she moved to Austin, TX to become involved in it’s lively technology and consumer packaged goods industries. After spending years working with local and national coffee brands, and traveling the world exploring the unique coffee culture, Charlotte took her passion for coffee and is now disrupting the simple syrup industry.

Demetrius Glover

Influencer

Hailing from the south side of Chicago, Demetrius Glover always knew he wanted to be an entrepreneur. At the young age of 7, he began shining shoes for money, and by the time he was 14, he was topping ice cream cones at the local Dairy Queen. Feelings of depression, anxiety and helplessness consumed his mind before he could truly begin his journey of self-discovery as a young man in middle America. After graduating college, he attained a well-paying but mentally-unfulfilling job in the Chicago suburbs. Knowing there was more to life, Demetrius took a leap in faith and moved to the Big Apple in 2016 to achieve his 18-year-old dream of becoming an entrepreneur. Still bound by a daily drug addiction that met homelessness, it took a life-changing hospital visit to manifest the shift he needed. While Demetrius was fearing for his life, his inner conqueror was also being birthed. Now, Demetrius is on a mission to bring the best out of himself and others through honesty and vulnerability.

James F. Burke, Jr.

Technology Innovator, Lockheed Martin

Jim Burke is a Chief Architect & Senior Manager in the Corporate Engineering & Technology Operations group of Lockheed Martin. He is a proud Clarkson Alumni of the Electrical & Computer Engineering (ECE’92) degree program and has completed graduate programs at the Illinois Institute of Technology (MSEE’97) & Pennsylvania State University (MBA’01). Throughout his career with General Electric, Motorola, Vencore, & Lockheed Martin, Jim has been involved with revolutionary technologies for use in the commercial & defense industries. Additionally, Jim has served as Adjunct Faculty for Carnegie-Mellon University’s Entertainment Technology Center graduate program where he learned how to leverage left & right brained thinking while applying creative efforts with Marvel Entertainment’s Iron Man as well with CBS’s NCIS & NCIS: LA. Jim’s current work not only involves the Internet of Things (IOT) – it involves technologies across a spectrum of applications.

Kevin MacVittie

Vice President of Product at Hi-Lite Airfield Services, LLC

Kevin MacVittie received his Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Clarkson University. Upon completion of his graduate study, Kevin was appointed the Technology Director of the Shipley Center for Innovation where he provided advising and mentorship to student, faculty, and community member founded companies. With his background in science and experience in innovation and entrepreneurship, he co-founded RT Vision Labs: an early product research and development firm. In fields such as industrial automation and Internet of Things, RT Vision Labs has successfully scaled proof of concept prototypes to market-ready products. Leading a team of talented engineers, Kevin works directly with business leaders to develop new products and enter new markets. After helping them develop and validate a minimum viable product, Kevin joined Hi-Lite Systems, Inc. as their Vice President of Product. In this role Kevin leads the software and hardware development initiatives within the company.