Theme: Infectious

TEDxRiverton will be held at Petersen Family Farm on Wednesday, June 5, 2019 from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm. A variety of speakers have been selected to spread their infectious ideas. Tickets are $75 per person.

A message from the organizer -
What I love about TED and TEDx is the fact that it makes the uncomfortable, comfortable. Ideas worth spreading that blow the walls out of boxes or open your eyes to see things in a different light. It’s not about agreeing, it’s about exploring and learning something different, and saying wow - I never thought about that.

Boxes can’t stay taped up forever. Corners get damaged, sides get crushed, and things get broken. In order for change to occur, something has to break. TED Talks inspire change or movement, bringing like-minded people together to start talking and creating.

This years theme, Infectious, is inspired by all of those working every day to make a difference. Changing the world around them with a new medical device, entertainment, and bright light. It will be compromised of all things that are infectious ideas worth spreading that can make a difference.

I’m excited about what is to come this June 2019 in my hometown in Utah. I’d love to see you there, and if you feel you have an idea worth spreading feel free to apply to be a speaker at this upcoming event.

Petersen Family Farm
11887 4000 W
Riverton, Utah, 84096
United States

A. Blanton Godfrey

A. Blanton Godfrey accepted a commission in the United States Army the day he finished his physics degree at Virginia Tech and served in artillery and ordnance in Germany and in the U.S. before leading a special project team in Vietnam. He then went straight to Florida State University receiving an M.S. and Ph.D. in statistics. Immediately on finishing his degree, he accepted a job as Member of the Technical Staff at Bell Laboratories later becoming Head of the Network Performance Department and then the Quality Theory and Technology Department. In 1987 he accepted Dr. Joseph M. Juran’s offer to join Juran Institute, Inc. as Chairman and CEO. He led the rapid growth of the institute and expansion of its work into over 60 countries serving many of the world’s leading companies. In 2000, he left Juran Institute to become Dean of the Wilson College of Textiles and the Joseph D. Moore Distinguished University Professor at North Carolina State University. While at Bell Labs and Juran Institute, Blan co-founded with Donald M. Berwick, MD, then at Harvard University, the National Demonstration Project on Quality Improvement in Health Care. This project brought together top American manufacturing companies and leading healthcare organizations to explore the application of industrial quality methods in healthcare. This project evolved into the Institute for Healthcare Improvement that has become a leading force in improving healthcare worldwide. IHI’s open school serves over 800,000 students in over 94 countries, and IHI works with many of the world’s leading healthcare providers. After fourteen years as a college dean, Blan returned to full-time teaching and research remaining active in healthcare serving on a number of boards and working closely with colleagues in the UNC-Chapel Hill Gillings School of Global Public Health focused on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals for reducing maternal, child and adolescent mortality. Blan has received numerous awards in healthcare leadership, applied statistics, and quality management. He is even a Fellow of the Royal Society of Art. Blan is a frequently invited keynote speaker at international conferences in textiles, statistics, quality, innovation and entrepreneurship, and healthcare – often combining several of these areas.

Aaron Gani

Aaron Gani is the founder and CEO of BehaVR, LLC, creating digital therapeutics for behavioral health through the unmatched psychological power of Virtual Reality. Gani has been creating applications and experiences with technology throughout his career in healthcare and financial services, up to and including serving as Chief Technology Officer of Humana, a Fortune 50 managed care organization. After a decade+ in healthcare leading technology development of population health, utilization management, disease management programs, pharmacy, primary care, urgent care, Health IT, and clinical analytics, and constantly working on ways to improve and empower consumer health with technology, data and analytics, Gani identified the crucial gap between knowledge, tools, and activation of healthy behavior, and believes Virtual Reality experiences can close that gap. Gani is a founding member of the Strategic Advisory Board of the Digital Medicine (DiMe) Society, and a founding advisory board member of the International Virtual Reality Healthcare Association (IVRHA). Gani holds a Master’s in Predictive Analytics from Northwestern University, an MBA, General Management and Health Sector Management from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, and a BS in Management/CIS from the University of Louisville.

Brad Wolgamott

Over 20 year ago, I was simply a young man with a dream. I wanted to be able to provide for my family and do something significant with my life. I found a mentor who helped shape an early belief system that through hard work and perseverance I could accomplish anything I set my mind to. After 10 years I found myself making over a million dollars a year and speaking all around the world. I had everything most men could ever dream of. I had a wife, kids, fame and fortune. Unfortunately I hadn’t developed the character required to live in a way that could sustain these blessings. I made some terrible choices and it cost me nearly everything. Words cannot begin to explain the shame and condemnation that I felt for the years following the epic event of a divorce. I lost my family, friends, and fortune. It was in these darkest moments that I realized that I needed to make some changes. I had to look deep inside myself and ask myself who am I, how did I get here, and what do I need to change to restore my life. It’s been a long challenging 5 years of developing a new self-image of who I am, why I am here and then making the necessary changes in my life to honor who I believe God created me to be. I was told by many that I would never be able to impact people’s lives in a positive way as a result of the choices I have made. I now know that God uses all things for the greater good. Clearly it was not his wish for me to make the choices I made, but when I did he took me through a restoration process that now I believe I am called to help others either avoid or recover from similar decisions. On November 11th, 2013 I was remarried to the woman who is greatly responsible for leading me to and through my restoration process. Shelly Proudfoot-Wolgamott and I have spent a lifetime of studying excellence and grace. I believe for the rest of our lives we have been called to help people discover God’s perspective of them and how important it is to build a relationship with our loving father. I would like you to know that you are loved, forgiven, and promised a life of favor. I hope that I can get to know you in a way that you can trust me enough to let me help you discover your true identity and greatness.

Darcy Brumfield

Darcy has been singing, dancing, and acting since she could walk. She has performed in multiple shows for parts such as the narrator in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Rafiki in the Lion King, Asaka in Once on this Island, and many others. She began dance lessons when she was three and has participated in choir for the past four years. This past year she was in Riverton High Schools musical dance theatre program performing in In the Heights, Catch Me if You Can, and the school Musical Revue. She also participated in Riverton’s Cadence Choir. She is excited to be in the musical dance theater class again this year. She loves anything to do with performing and takes any opportunity she gets to be in front of a crowd.

Debra Savage

Raised in small, hometown, USA, Debra never learned the details or systems to manage her finances. Her money history was one of making good money, but not being able to hold onto it and being on a constant financial roller coaster ride. Having been a successful (and sometimes unsuccessful) entrepreneur for over 30 years led her to pursue her passion in teaching people just like you, both struggling and grounded, how to find "Your" Money Sweet Spot. Her programs and techniques will prove that you can build a strong financial foundation, no matter how much money you make, where you were raised, your educational background, or your age; allowing you to have Financial Freedom finally! Outside of business, she spends time in the mountains of Western Maryland with her dog, Obe, and travels to various locations in the world to learn new cultures. She is passionate about and loves working in her alluring flower garden. With a passion also for the outdoors, she enjoys hiking, walking, kayaking, and she loves living in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains where the stars at night still shine bright.

Dr. Ahmed Abdullah

Dr. Ahmed Abdullah is a board-certified plastic/cosmetic surgeon and a recognized expert on the restorative and medicinal effects of aloe vera. In 1996, he applied his expertise in these areas to create Lexli®, which is today the premier line of professional, aloe-based skin care products that are carried in salons, spas and physician offices throughout North America. In 2012, Dr. Abdullah authored Simple Skincare, Beautiful Skin: A-Back-to-Basics Approach, his first book written for consumers, which breaks through the myths associated with skin care and empowers individuals to improve their skin's health by educating them about skin function, the skin’s basic needs, and the most beneficial skin care steps. Dr. Abdullah is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, The International College of Surgeons, American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery and The American Society of Laser Medicine and Surgery, and is a Diplomat of the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Surgery. He earned his medical degree from Northwestern University in Chicago and completed his residency at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas, where he trained under Drs. Martin Robson and John Heggers, who pioneered much of the research related to aloe’s healing abilities. Dr. Abdullah is a member of the International Aloe Science Council (IASC) and has served on its board of directors.

Edna Valentino

Edna Valentino has a B.A. in Communications. She worked in television production for a national home shopping network before reinventing herself in the fitness world. After doing several bodybuilding competitions, she became a certified personal trainer and later, a certified life coach. She loved empowering women through their bodies and their minds. Today, she is a spokesperson for health & fitness products on that same network and she runs her own biohacking/nutrigenomics home-based business. Her love for personal growth led to incredible epiphanies including the one she shares in this talk. Her mission in life is to help people show up in the world the way they are meant to show up. She is a wife and mother of two.

Henry Ammar

Henry Ammar is an International Life Speaker and Entrepreneur who hosts the Top 10 Podcast, “Making It Happen with Henry Ammar.” The podcast hit #1 in the Training Category and #6 in the Education Category on the iTunes Charts. As a keynote speaker and empowerment coach published in Forbes, he has positively impacted people across the globe, speaking to audiences as big as 40,000+ people at a time. In his professional career, Henry began in music and has performed on a Grammy Award-winning album and traveled the world sharing the stage with legends. Henry went from creating music to creating businesses, growing his Los Angeles based company into an international success. Following the sale of his company, Henry returned to school and graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Southern California, Marshall School of Business. Upon graduating, he put his knowledge to use by overseeing the investment and management of over $2 billion dollars in real estate. Henry now leverages his successes in music, leadership, and coaching to bring pop culture and practical empowerment together to free the world from fear and limiting beliefs and inspire confidence. Henry is an empowerment coach to pop culture celebrities and influencers. He is also the Personal Development Director and US Representative to the Exit Festival (Best Major European Music Festival for the past 3 years). His most recent brainchild, MakeItHappen.Life, with the slogan “Inspiration. Fun. Repeat.” was created to give the world inspiring content and empowering experiences that help people lead confident and fulfilling lives.

John Zamudio

John Zamudio is an internationally known Christian artist and painter for official LDS magazines. Most of his original paintings are in official buildings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Utah, South America, and Mexico. He is a highly experienced artist and inspirational speaker whose art projects, painting exhibits and humanitarian activities have spread throughout several countries in South America, Central America, Europe, and North America. Zamudio supports different foundations to help children discover and develop their artistic skills to help them reach their artistic potential and to gain a personal purpose. He is known as a prestigious Christian Latin artist by BYU International Channel, and Utah's Channels like KUTV 2, KSL 5, TELEMUNDO 50, UNIVISION 32, nominated for the“Peruvian Pride Award" sponsored by the Peruvian Congress and the “Tumi USA Award 2016”

Ken Reid

Ken was injured in a car accident in 1990 resulting in him becoming a T4 T 5 paraplegic. Living life in a wheelchair for 30 years Ken has seen a lot of change in the disability community. From wheelchairs to vehicle modifications to advances in medical procedures, change is constant. You have to be flexible in this day and age and able to adjust to your life as things don’t always go as planned. Having a positive outlook on life and avoiding negativity is a must while trying to navigate this thing called life! Ken will take you on a journey of tragedy to triumph as he gives you keys to making your life more full filled and enjoyable with his inspiring message.

Kyle Wilson

Kyle Wilson is a husband and father, a farmer, writer, economist, teacher, fly-fisherman, craftsman, and civic leader.

Laurel Bartmess

Laurel Bartmess is a Utah native, entrepreneur, restauranteur, former educator, nonprofit co-founder and mother of two daughters Isabella 16 and Gwen 13, residing in Summit County

Luke Petersen

Sharing my love of agriculture through food, education, and fun. The Farm Way

Mandy Murry

Marketing/PR Consultant | Writer

Helping brands & CEO's tell their stories & Inspiring audiences with my personal 3x cancer story. Writer. Connector. Speaker. Champagne Lover. Mindfulness Enthusiast.

Marina Cvetkovic

Marina Cvetkovic is a C-suite advisor. She champions a radical boardroom rethink in order to make boards ready to lead enterprises through disruption and into a radically different future.

Michael Marcial

Michael Marcial is a world-traveling entrepreneur, speaker, and mentor with a passion to help others succeed online stemming from his own unique struggles in life and business. In the last 14 years, Michael has utilized his expertise in social media and marketing strategy to help his clients bring in almost $21M in revenue. Michael’s gift of creating profitable online businesses has also lead him to create the #1 high-end digital community focused on impact and income: The 5-Figure Workweek. He credits his features in Inc. Magazine, Forbes, and The Today Show to his unwavering desire to spread practical insights that will move you to action.

Paul Randak

Paul Randak, LMFT, SUDC Paul is a marriage and family therapist who lives near Little Cottonwood Canyon in Utah. Paul has two decades of experience in the mental health and addiction treatment field and has been developing and directing treatment programs for much of that time. Paul has an affinity for a holistic approach combining mental, emotional and spiritual practices to restore health and well being. Paul has facilitated eco-psychology retreats and workshops into the deserts of Southern Utah. Paul has written books on personal growth and addiction and hosts a podcast called "Just Another Bozo on the Bus" that is available on most podcast platforms. He has also taught psychology at local colleges. Paul has extensive experience in trauma and grief therapy and is well seasoned in EMDR therapy. Paul has a broad educational experience with an MFT Masters from Northcentral University, a Masters in Transpersonal Psychology from ITP (Sofia University), and a BSW in Social Work along with a Certification in Addiction Counseling from the University of Utah.

Scott Schwab

Scott Schwab is an author, speaker, entrepreneur, and innovator. He began his entrepreneurial career when he architected his first software project and business course called Business Plan University. Scott employed software developers to build a Learning Management System to support the business plan course. Business Plan University was the first fully accredited, software-based program that was not template driven. Scott has led the Regional Accreditation external review twice and has successfully obtained Accreditation each time. Most recently, Scott worked with the American Council on Education to receive college credit for Bottega, a software development startup. The Ed-tech space is a passion for Scott, and he has been deeply involved with creating, disrupting, and expanding online education, curriculum development, and competency-based learning. Most recently Scott authored the book Standing Accountable: Increase Your Success by Holding Yourself Responsible. Through this experience and other corporate training opportunities, Scott has developed a vast knowledge of content, delivery, and learning that he applies to the timeless model for holding students and users accountable. As the creator of the Business Plan University course, founder of Hudu Academy, and Co-Founder of Bottega; Scott is very well connected to Business technology and Entrepreneurship. His ventures include board appointments and ownership in multiple companies, in Health/Wellness, Retail, software, and products. Scott resides in Utah with his wife and four children, who love spending time in the outdoors.

Steve Woody

Stephen Woody has served as Avadim Health Chief Executive Officer since September 2013. Previously, he was the founder and managing member of Avadim LLC, the predecessor to our Company. Since 1997, Mr. Woody has assisted more than 30 companies with regulatory support and strategic planning necessary for their launch of new or modified medical devices. Mr. Woody started his career in the medical device field at Medical Action Industries, Inc. in 1985 where, during his 13-year career in quality and business development, the company grew from $3 million to $75 million. Using his expertise in medical device development and management, Mr. Woody launched Integrated Quality Systems in 1997, an organization focused on launching new medical devices into the health care sector. In 2004, he founded G3 Medical, which focuses on manufacturing, packaging, and sterilization services along with quality system management. In 2006, Mr. Woody formed Avadim LLC which was later acquired by Avadim Health. Mr. Woody completed a degree in mathematics in 1989 at the University of North Carolina at Asheville.

Tiffany Peterson

Tiffany Peterson is a change catalyst helping individuals, teams, and audiences create positive transformation in mindset, sales, and self-love. She is passionate about helping others create a life and a business that they love. Tiffany is the author of many programs and events such as Sales Mastery, Mindset Makeover, Success Academy, and the Elevation Experience. Prior to starting her own business, she worked for many popular personal development brands such as FranklinCovey, RichDad PoorDad, and Jack Canfield helping them achieve new benchmarks in sales success.

Trent Staggs

For almost 20 years, Trent has demonstrated the leadership necessary to run both successful start-up and Fortune 500 organizations in the Direct Sales, Finance and Technology industries. In addition to serving as the current Mayor of Riverton City, he also works on the advisory board of a publicly traded company, managing one of their operational units in Utah. Prior to that, he was on the corporate leadership team of a global direct sales company that operates in over 35 markets serving as the VP Technology. In that role, Trent was responsible for providing strategic direction and leadership of global integrated systems, software and IT infrastructure, which included the creation of mobile and web applications for their distributors worldwide. Trent has also held management positions for a nationwide mortgage brokerage firm and at Morgan Stanley, and has also had an active real estate license in the state of Utah for over 10 years.

Tyler Bastian

Tyler Bastian is an educator, Filmmaker, Father and the founder of Roots Charter High School. Tyler loves to teach and has a passion for discovering and developing potential in everything around him. For four years Tyler taught Character Education at a local High School and believes positive character is the greatest indicator of success. In 2012 Tyler began to develop the concepts that have become Roots Charter High School. Roots Charter High School is Utah’s first farm-based charter high school. Roots works with students that come from risky environments, helping them find and reach their potential. Learn more at www.rootshigh.org.

Vernie Lynn DeMille

Vernie Lynn DeMille is a storyteller of the simple, unhurried life, and the magic of making time for a love affair with the earth and those you share it with. As a family farmer, author, speaker, and licensed massage therapist she has centered her life around the pursuit of the interconnectedness of labor, love and the human need to create our life from the elements surrounding us. To touch the earth and one another in ways that strengthen and sustain our relationships. From her experiences as a child traveling back roads and scenic byways, the youngest of 12 children, to raising her 4 children on a small family farm, Vernie Lynn has lived the truth that our life isn’t just what happens to us, it’s the story we tell ourselves about our experiences and our willingness to learn lessons from our own lives that shapes our personal happiness and satisfaction. She believes and teaches that nature and nurture go hand in hand and that the soil beneath our feet has the power to grow common bonds between people of all different backgrounds and beliefs.