Theme: Intention by Design

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).

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Dr. Amanda Morris

Dr. Morris is an Associate Professor at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania and scholar of contemporary Indigenous rhetorics. As a professor, speaker, and writer, Amanda has dedicated her professional life to helping others see the truth of indigenous presence, to dismantling the myths and misinformation about indigenous peoples in the American cultural landscape, and to lifting some of this emotional labor off of her indigenous colleagues who are persistently asked to prove their existence.

Geoffrey Klein

Geoffrey Klein is a speaker, educator, and marketer. He serves as President & CEO of nine dots, a content development and marketing agency that helps businesses tell their stories through visual content. Geoffrey also hosts the nine dots podcast, connect the dots, where he continues to explore the power of story. Geoffrey’s diverse professional experience includes working in the film industry, owning pubs in Manchester England (where he lived for 10 years), and, currently, working as an adjunct professor at Temple University’s School of Media and Communication.

Jen Groover

Jen Groover has been tagged as a “One-Woman Brand” by SUCCESS MAGAZINE, as a “Creativity and Innovation Guru” and a “Leading Serial Entrepreneur” by Entrepreneur Magazine, and ranked #8 by SAP in the Top 51 Influencers of Human Potential. Jen Groover’s name has become synonymous with innovation, entrepreneurship and transformation. She is a UN delegate to the first ever Global Accelerator for the Global Entrepreneurs Council. She made history at the NYSE as a member of the first all-female group to ring the opening bell, made Forbes’ list of “50 Founders You Need to Follow on Twitter” and was nominated for the “TV Personality of The Year Award” in 2015 by Savor the Success. Jen Groover has been a highly sought after speaker and trainer for over 20 years. Her success skyrocketed with the creation of the multi-million dollar brand, the Butler Bag, the world’s first compartmentalized handbag. This led to the creation of subsequent lifestyle brands, Leader Girlz, and her PBS special Empowered by Jen Groover, complimented with a variety of books, consumer products, and dozens of companies where she she acts as an investor and advisors. Her newest venture, JumpStart Connect, accelerates the growth of small businesses. Jen has been a top business and lifestyle contributor and content creator for major television networks such as ABC, CBS, CNBC, NBC, MSNBC, Fox News, Fox Business News, and the The CW. Jen also contributes editorial pieces to several prominent business magazines and online resources including The Huffington Post, Entrepreneur Magazine, Inc Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, and Positively Positive. Her products, brand, and work have been featured in hundreds of media outlets including O! The Oprah Magazine, Redbook, People, US Weekly, SUCCESS and Forbes. She is launching her second book this fall, The MORE Method: The Simple Formula to Get More of Everything Good You Desire in Life.

Laura Briggs

Laura Briggs is a former inner city teacher who left education to pursue a career in freelance writing. Since 2012, she’s worked with more than 300 clients including companies like Microsoft and TrueCar providing online marketing and writing support. Today, she teaches other freelancers how to launch and grow sustainable and flexible careers from home. Her first book will be published in July 2019 by Entrepreneur Press.

Neil Deshmukh

Neil Deshmukh is dedicated to using technology as a superpower as a means to help people all over the world. By creating solutions to worldwide problems (even in the comfort of his bedroom), technology allows him to help people around the world. He has founded two businesses and worked on in-depth research based on the idea of Artificial Intelligence, the science and art of teaching computers to do things that we once thought only we could do. He has created VocalEyes, an IOS app which allows visually impaired users to navigate the world using technology to identify objects, text, people, and environments. It has thousands of users, and is on the App Store. PlantumAI allows farmers to diagnose their plants, and treat them before their crops are destroyed by disease. It is currently being used in areas of India to reduce over-pesticide usage. He’s also worked on many research projects utilizing the power of AI to help doctors diagnose and analyze patients more efficiently.

Suparna Damany, MSPT, CHT, CEAS

Suparna Damany was educated in India and the United States. She is a licensed physical therapist, certified hand therapist and certified ergonomic assessment specialist. She specializes in the mitigation and prevention of chronic musculoskeletal pain conditions, and treats sufferers from all over the world at her clinic: The Damany Center for Chronic Pain and Holistic Well-being, in Allentown, PA. Suparna has created her own brand of treatment called the Damany Integrative Dynamic Approach for chronic pain syndromes. Suparna is the author It’s Not Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, a book for for computer professionals. She has also developed an IOS app called Stretch O’Clock for injury prevention. Suparna consults globally with several companies regarding injury mitigation and prevention as well as ergonomics and safety. Her online program is available to assist people around the world achieve a pain free life. Suparna is currently working on her new book, Chronic Pain: Connecting the Dots and a Clinician’s guide and practice manual for healthcare professionals. She continues to speak internationally on topics relating to chronic pain, computer injuries, ergonomics and hurt prevention.