Theme: Next Level

"Getting to the NEXT LEVEL always requires ending something, leaving it behind, and moving on." - Henry Cloud

At TEDxFrisco 2020 we are inviting you to join us as we explore creative ways to push boundaries and limitations personally, relationally, professionally, and economically in order to rise to the next level.

Join us as we level up to the NEXT LEVEL.

Frisco Black Box Theatre (Located in the Frisco Discovery Center)
8004 North Dallas Parkway
Suite 200
Frisco, Texas, 75034
United States

Asal Azizoddin

Asal started her career as an Oncology Pharmacist working with patients who were battling cancer and fighting for their lives. From time spent with these patients, she learned that one of the most important aspects of living life were the connections people have with each other in this world. The kindness and gratitude she witnessed patients, with cancer, share on a daily basis inspired her to be grateful for being alive and to be present with the people in her life. Her patients were and continue to be her biggest life teachers. She is committed to paying this important message forward: share your gratitude with other people. As a Gratitude Visionary, Asal is dedicated to inspiring people to share their gratitude with others. She created the Growing Gratitude Movement, consisting of people sharing their gratitude with others through the use of Gratitudegrams, leading workshops focused on building human connection and sharing gratitude, and participating in public speaking engagements.

Danyel Surrency Jones

Danyel Surrency Jones is a proclaimed "Vision Chaser", business strategist and philanthropist, with two decades of executive leadership and sales & marketing experience. She is the Founder and Principal Business Strategist of Danyel Surrency Jones Consulting and the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of POWERHANDZ Inc., a global product tech company that designs innovative solutions for athletic training and rehabilitation. In 5 years, its core athletic training products have been sold to consumers in >86 countries, established a digital footprint with millions of youth and professional athletes, skills trainers and NBA, NFL, WBO, MLB professional sports organizations. These milestones have captured the attention of major media outlets like CNBC, Essence, Sports Illustrated and Bloomberg Business and helped her earn several awards as a women innovator in sports and healthcare tech. Danyel is a servant leader whose greatest joy comes from her family and giving back. She fulfills this purpose as a wife, a mother of 2 and as President and Founder of The Power To Give Foundation (501c3); which builds character in youth through athletic & academic programs in underserved communities.

David Gaschen

Internationally-renowned vocalist and stage performer, David Gaschen remains best known for the years he devoted to the title role of “The Phantom” in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera; a role he performed well over 1300 times worldwide. As well as being a recording artist and performing solo concerts across the country, David is the Artist-in-Residence at Stonebriar Community Church in Frisco and owner of the David Gaschen Voice Studio. David is passionate about supporting the arts in his community as well as his Alma Mater, Texas Tech. Among his many accolades, he was proud to be awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award for Texas Tech University in 2018. David is honored to be the husband of Jeanne and father to his amazing kids, Andrew and Molly.

Gouzia Sivarajah

Gouzia Sivarajah is an entrepreneur, inventor, teacher, and humanitarian. At a young age, she founded her company SIINNO Technology LLC and invented the pilot product to help blind individuals travel safely. Through her invention, she has received recognition from the Navy/Marine Corps, the American Military Engineers at the San Antonio Post, Million Women Mentors at UT Austin and was the youngest recipient to receive the Tamil American Pioneer Award. She has worked extensively with several blind communities, along with Texas A&M TEEX, University of North Texas, and SMU. Gouzia Sivarajah is studying to be a physician and teaches the "Stop the Bleed" course to high school students, a course that teaches how to save lives by stopping hemorrhaging. She is also the State Vice-President of Texas Business Professionals of America, and the co-founder and president of a non-profit organization called the Trusted Youth Penny Drive Association (TYPDA) where she encourages youth to raise money to donate to underprivileged children around the world.

Jaco Booyens

Jaco Booyens is a defender of Life and Liberty. Jaco is a former professional athlete and feature film producer/director including the film 8Days. Jaco’s sister Ilonka is a sex trafficking survivor and abolitionist. As a fighter against child sex trafficking, Jaco has become an internationally trusted voice and resource to stop the crime. He has worked with all major agencies in the US as well as 56 countries. As an international speaker frequently seen on major news networks and conferences, Jaco speaks to defend life, rescue and restore children, promote women and stand for the great liberty we are blessed with by God in the USA.

Jessica Vittorio

Jessica Vittorio is a business attorney, professor, CEO, writer, and community advocate based in Dallas, Texas. Throughout her career, she has worked as a policy advisor for members of both state and federal legislative chambers and now owns a practice where she advises entrepreneurs and businesses around the world. Over the years, Jessica has participated in a wide variety of international mission work, most recently providing counsel to detained immigrants seeking asylum at the South Texas border.

Maelyn Jarmon

Fresh off NBC’s “The Voice”, Season 16 winner, Maelyn, is now a recording artist with Republic Records. While on the show, Maelyn was part of Team John Legend, who credited her “extremely rare voice” and her ability to create “skilled and effortless arrangements”. Since her win, Maelyn hit #1 on Billboard’s list of emerging artists. Her single, “Wait for You” reached #4 on iTunes Charts, and she is the 15th artist of all time to have 3 simultaneous top 10 songs, including her performance of “Hallelujah,” which reached #1 on All Genres. Maelyn’s musical style blends singer-songwriter vocal tones with electronic-pop.

Mr. Talkbox

Byron Chambers P/K/A Mr. Talkbox is a self-taught multi-instrumentalist and music artist. Born and raised in Orlando, Florida, Mr. Talkbox was always a trendsetter with his style of music. He’s collaborated with top artists in the music industry from Gospel, Hip-Hop, R&B to Jazz, Reggae & Pop. Mr. Talkbox has been making waves on social media and around the world. He gained huge notoriety through his hit acapella talkbox videos. With over 15 million views collectively on Facebook, he has created a buzz that crosses multiple genres. Mr. Talkbox is a 4X Grammy Award Winner and shows no signs of slowing down.

Ryan Calvert

Ryan Calvert is a prosecutor. For 17 years, Ryan has prosecuted criminal cases in Texas, first in the DFW area, and currently in Brazos County, Texas (Bryan/College Station). Ryan has tried nearly 300 cases to juries, including crimes involving sexual assault, child abuse, and homicide. Beyond the courtroom, Ryan trains prosecutors and police officers across Texas on how to investigate and prosecute crimes more effectively.

Sebastian Mejias with Samurai-Inti Martial Arts

Samurai Inti Martial Arts provides the highest quality of Martial Arts training without losing traditional values.

Sherrie Zantea “Candy”

Sherrie Zantea “Candy” is the CEO of the Dallas Poetry Slam Organization. She is the current Program Director for The Writer's Garret which is a Learning Partner for Big Thought Youth Development Non-Profit and the Dallas Independent School District, as well as other school districts in the surrounding areas. Candy is one of the Lead Instructors for the Literary Arts in the DFW School Districts. She is also the current Host City Coordinator for 3 International Poetry Festivals, and has cultivated the Literary Arts in Dallas by hosting Women of the World Poetry for the past 3 years! Candy has published a poetry/recipe book "Heirlooms", a spiritual chap book, “Sherrie’s Sanctuary". Her next book will be released in August of this year. Candy continues to provide workshops, features and leadership through literary arts all over the world.

Stefanie Wagoner

Stefanie Wagoner, AICP, is the Director of Business Retention and Expansion for Frisco Economic Development Corporation. Her 20+ year career includes economic development and planning positions in North Texas. Ms. Wagoner holds a Bachelor of Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Texas at Arlington. She engages with corporate growth initiatives in Frisco and is a self-proclaimed “Professional Dot Connector.”

Tomasz Kwiatkowski

Tomasz Kwiatkowski is seven feet tall. He was born and raised in Poland and moved to the U.S. by himself as a first-generation immigrant at the age of 19 to pursue a better quality of life. He is a graduate from Southern Methodist University and Mustangs Basketball alum. Today, he serves as a financial sales executive and his free time is devoted to public speaking, philanthropy, podcasting for the betterment of youth and the community he serves in. He is a natural networker and a connector. “We all ought to develop meaningful symbiotic relationships with a purpose.” – he says.