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).

Rosemary Manchester
1 Clifford Drive
Plattsburgh, New York, 12901-2686
United States

Curtiss Hemm

Chef Curtiss loves to teach and is passionate about getting people excited and eager to cook. Chef Curtiss is the former Dean of Culinary Arts and Director of Online Programs at the New England Culinary Institute (NECI). Prior to NECI Chef Curtiss was a Culinary Instructor and Program Coordinator at Paul Smith's College of Arts and Science. While at Paul Smith's College Chef Curtiss spent several terms residing and teaching in Burgundy, France. Throughout his tenure as a Culinary Ambassador for the Cultural Immersion program he traveled extensively, lived like a local and experienced how the food and wine of France are embedded within the cultural heritage of its people and communities. Specializing in the artistic presentation and preparation of food, Chef Curtiss is the author of Garde Manger: The Cold Kitchen, a contemporary culinary textbook focused on the preparation and artistic expression of charcuterie, salads, sandwiches, buffets and decorative sculptures. Chef Curtiss' recipes can be found monthly in Northern Home, Garden and Leisure Magazine. In addition to the Carriage House Cooking School Chef Curtiss is the founder and owner of Pink Ribbon Cooking, a publishing company with a particular focus on helping to prevent, navigate and thrive in the presence of breast cancer.

Danielle Johnson-King

Danielle King is Business Development Manager for The Development Corporation (TDC) in Plattsburgh, NY. In her role, she facilitates resources that encourage job growth and capital investment in the community. With over five years of economic development experience, King previously served as the first Director of NAmTrans with the North Country Chamber of Commerce. She graduated cum laude from SUNY Plattsburgh with a bachelor’s degree in Public Relations, and holds a Master’s Degree in Community and Economic Development with a concentration in Workforce Development through SUNY Empire State College. She is a firm believer in the power of grit, zest, and gratitude in making decisions to create a positive future. King resides in Burke, NY with her husband John and son Isaac. She enjoys getting outdoors with her family and taking advantage of everything living on the beautiful Adirondack Coast offers.

Imani Burroughs

Imani Burroughs was born in the Bronx, NY. The New York City native recently graduated from SUNY Plattsburgh in May 2019. She participated in many extracurricular activities during her time at Plattsburgh, however, she never knew while spending most of her time working to help Shine On! grow as an organization, the program helped her grow as an individual. Now, as a working woman, she has taken what she learned in Shine On! to assist her in her post graduate process.

Kate Relation

Kate Relation is a secondary science teacher at Plattsburgh Senior High School. She teaches Regents Chemistry and Biology and coaches girls soccer for the district. She graduated from SUNY Potsdam with a Biology degree and received her Masters from SUNY Plattsburgh. She is currently a member of the New York State Master Teacher Program and serves on several building-level committees, such as the School Improvement Planning Committee (SIP) and the Data Committee. As a graduate of Plattsburgh High School, she can relate to students’ experiences and shares their perspective on the learning community. She enjoys participating in area, district-level and building-level activities, such as providing workshops on the New York State Science Learning Standards and participating and organizing events to boost school spirit and improve school climate. Outside of the school day, Kate plays co-ed indoor soccer and has started to get involved with local theater and musical productions

Louis Piccirillo

Louis Piccirillo is a Physics teacher at Plattsburgh High School going into his third year. While not originally from the area, Louis moved up to the North Country to attend SUNY Plattsburgh. After attending school, he found opportunities to work with the faculty at PHS and begin working as a full-time teacher in January of 2017. Since that time, he has been involved in many programs at school, both in academics and athletics. Coaching soccer, track and field and Science Olympiad - as well as various academic endeavors - connected him with his students and gave him a diverse perspective on their needs. His changing perspectives on the the student population since becoming a teacher is what leds him to deliver his TEDxYouth@PHS talk.

Patrick Towey

Hailing from Buffalo, New York, Patrick Towey currently serves as the Band Director at Plattsburgh High School in Plattsburgh, New York. In this capacity, he conducts the High School Concert Band and the High School Jazz Ensemble, oversees the jazz combos, teaches an Introductory Piano course and teaches all woodwind, brass and percussion lessons. Additionally, he directs the Stafford Middle School Jazz Ensemble and is the Music Director for the PHS annual spring musical theatre productions. Towey maintains an active music schedule outside of his work in the Plattsburgh CIty School District. He is the Summer Music Director for Artpark and Company, a professional regional music and theatre venue in Lewiston, New York. He also serves as an adjudicator for the New York State Music Association solo festival, evaluating solo piano, brass and instrumental jazz students across New York State. He has served as a guest conductor for the Clinton County All-County Concert Band and will be guest conducting the Franklin County All-County Concert Band this coming spring. He also maintains a private studio of piano and brass students throughout the Plattsburgh area. Towey received his Bachelor of Music from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York.

Riley Savastano

Riley is a senior at Plattsburgh Senior High School, where he has grown up. Riley's family is also from Plattsburgh. Riley's favorite classes are Physics and Public Speaking. He is involved in many extra-curricular activities like soccer, Science Olympiad and track. Riley is the captain of both the Science Olympiad team and the soccer team.

Ryan Flora

Ryan is currently 19 years old and a student at the University of Buffalo. Ryan studies electrical engineering and computer science. Ryan graduated from Plattsburgh High School in 2018. This fall, Ryan began working at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.

Stephanie Gorin

Stephanie Gorin is an award-winning journalist who anchors the evening newscasts on NBC5 and The Valley's CW. In 2002, she helped launch a 5pm newscast, the region's first of its kind, which has been a huge success. Stephanie graduated from Syracuse University and started her professional career in Watertown, NY. She has been honored by the Associate Press and the New York State Broadcasters Association for Breaking News, Hard News, Feature News, Continuing Coverage, Best Newscast and more. She lives in the Champlain Valley with her husband and twin daughters

Tom McNichols

A 1998 graduate of Plattsburgh High School, Tom McNichols is a self-employed Classical Singer, Custom Woodworker and Real Estate Broker. With a BA in Theater Performance from SUNY Plattsburgh and a MM in Vocal Performance from The Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University, Tom’s life/career(s) have taken him around the globe and back home in more ways than one. Described by the NY Times as an “oceanic bass”, his classical singing work ranges from standard operatic repertoire and premiers of new works to choral/ensemble performance and teaching. In the last 15 years, his voice has been heard on five continents in live performance, HD simulcast, live and recorded radio broadcasts and more than a dozen studio recordings including the Grammy Nominated Tyberg Masses with the South Dakota Chorale. In 2018-19 he joined the National Tour and Drama Desk Award Winning Off-Broadway run of All is Calm; The Christmas Truce of 1914, in a role that he premiered in the original production on NPR during his final year with CANTUS. In his first year with CANTUS, SUNY Plattsburgh and Hill and Hollow Music collaborated to bring the ensemble back to Plattsburgh marking his first professional performance on the stages where he started. While in CANTUS, 2004-08 in Minneapolis, Tom started “Minor Adjustments Custom Woodwork” paying homage to the college A Cappella group he was a part of at SUNY and built a few decks when not on the road singing. He soon met Paul Nelson who reluctantly allowed him into his home woodshop. Three years and thousands of hours later, Paul had given Tom the skills that sat dormant for a decade but ultimately helped bring him back home where his first carpentry work was a teenage fort on the Air Force Base and a deck that still stands today at his parent’s house in Cliff Haven. In 2008, Tom moved to Manhattan to continue his vocal work. Soon thereafter he got his real estate license to support his singing career after pursuit of custom wood work in the city proved unfeasible. Hundreds of transactions and nearly a decade later, while singing The Magic Flute for Portland (Oregon) Opera, Tom toured every wood shop he could find in this mecca of modern American craftsmanship. After hours searching the internet, he stumbled upon a video of a shop for sale in Connecticut, inquired, and within a year had purchased the entire operation while still living in a studio apartment in Manhattan. A few failed plans later, he drove a 26’ Penske truck full of machinery to its new home in Keeseville NY and re-branded the business The Wood Lab: Custom Finishes from Tree to Home: Keeseville NY/ New York NY. The shop is located within an industrial building originally built as food storage/processing for the 1980 Olympics and serves the greater Northeastern US with custom cabinetry and furniture. His first project in Manhattan came to fruition 10 years after his first failed attempt in 2008. When he first stepped on stage in West Side Story during his freshman year at PHS, he could never have imagined what the two decades since would bring but is proud to be “Hidden Among Us”, now calling the North Country home when not on the road singing.