Theme: Overcoming Adversity

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).

Minnetonka High School
18301 MN-7
Minnetonka, Minnesota, 55345
United States

Diana Davis

Community Leader

Diana Davis is a community leader who, while raising their three now-adult children, has spent her time finding ways to be involved and have an impact on the lives of those around her. After an early career in advertising, in both agencies and media companies, she settled into her community to raise a family. She has also been a successful realtor and small business owner. She and her husband have been the Co-Executive Directors of Backpack Tutoring, a non-profit organization that plays a critical role in helping close the academic achievement gap in Minneapolis by building and managing a network of volunteer high school students that tutor and mentor academically at-risk K-5 students each week. She and her husband are the recipients of the 2011 Spinnaker Award from Minnetonka Public Schools for outstanding leadership and service and the Outstanding Educator award by the University of Chicago, both for their many years of service to the community through Backpack Tutoring.

Erin Marasco

High Intensity Sweetener Technology Lead, Research & Development

Erin Marasco is a Research Leader. She leads Cargill Starches Sweeteners and Texturizing Solutions High Intensity Sweetener research program. In this role she leads research projects, works with the HIS business and customers as well as evaluates opportunities coming from new technology areas. Erin works with teams of scientists spanning cross-disciplinary fields of biotechnology, chemistry, sensory and food applications. Erin has a decade of experience in biotechnology, fermentation strain engineering and biochemistry. She has led research teams focusing on developing fermentation organisms for commercial scale processes around sustainable production of industrial products and fermentation/enzymatic process for food with implications for advancing sustainability in food, industrial and fuel-generation applications. She has been an invited speaker at conferences, and has authored primary publications in major journals and is an inventor on patents.

Junaed Sattar

Assistant Professor of Robotics and HRI at the Department of Computer Science and Engineering

Professor Sattar is an Assistant Professor of Robotics and HRI at the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, and the founding director of the Minnesota Interactive Robotics and Vision Laboratory. He is also an MNDrive RSAM (Minnesota Discovery, Research and Innovation Economy-- Robotics, Sensors and Advanced Manufacturing initiative) faculty. His primary research focus is on making robots work safely and intuitively with people, so humans and robot can safely coexist and collaborate. This means looking into improving a robot's perception about people, their intentions and/or actions, engaging in dialog, as well as the environment. Perceiving the world robustly, particularly under changing and degraded conditions is an open challenge; his research interest extends into multi-modal sensory perception.

Kevin Burns

Biology and Research Teacher

Among the lab's lumbering ruins of Barney, the liquid handling robot, Kevin Burns realized that people were the key. After completing his degrees in Biology, Chemistry, and Secondary Education, Kevin's path led to Colorado. There he spent ten years teaching in the public schools and immersing himself in the wonder of others' company. In Colorado, Kevin received a graduate degree in Environmental Engineering, served as a teacher research fellow with the National Center for Atmospheric Research, and continued to broaden his exposure to the experiences and stories of the world around us. Returning to Minnesota to be closer to family, the pursuit of human experiences continues to serve as a driving force for Kevin, including his participation in a dedicated team of individuals tasked with developing and operating Minnetonka Research, a program in which high school students are tasked with collegiate-level independent scientific research.

Patricia Price

AP Chemistry instructor and Technology Instructional Coach

Patricia Price is an AP Chemistry instructor and Technology Instructional Coach at Minnetonka High School. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry and a Master's in Curriculum and Instruction from St. Catherine University. Patricia enjoys sharing her passion for science with her students and the members of the Women in STEM club of which she is an advisor.

René Rodriguez

Speaker, advisor, and CEO

René Rodriguez believes that we are only scratching the surface of what is possible, and that every profession can benefit from the latest in neuroscience research. As a speaker, advisor, and CEO, he helps leaders create influence and transformation both personally and professionally. René has shared the stage with the likes of Tony Robbins, George W. Bush, and Magic Johnson, to name a few. Over the last 20 years his company has trained more than 100,000 people in applying behavioral psychology and neuroleadership methodologies to solve some of the toughest challenges in leadership, sales and change. Rene's engaging speaking style, backed by his scientific approach, makes him a top rated speaker at every event. As an entrepreneur and CEO of multiple companies, Rene brings a practical business approach while inspiring his audiences to take action.

Robert Davis

Serial Entrepreneur

Bob Davis has been a serial entrepreneur for over 25 years. He has been the Chairman and CEO of and/or an active general partner in several early-stage food tech and agricultural tech companies, as well as several distressed lower and mid-market companies that exhibited clear paths to rehabilitation. His most important work has been focused on improving academic achievement outcomes in K-5 grade elementary schools through the award-winning program Backpack Tutoring. Through his service, he and his wife were recognized and awarded the Outstanding Educator award from the University of Chicago. He has accomplished many of these things with the support and collaboration of his wife and his three now-adult children. He has been married to his college sweetheart for 32 years and they spend their free time with family and friends.