Theme: Under the Microscope

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).

Bismarck Event Center
315 South 5th Street
Bismarck, North Dakota, 58504
United States

Doug Lynam

Industry thought leader in ethical and sustainable investing

A partner at LongView Asset Management, LLC, in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Doug is an industry thought leader in ethical and sustainable investing. Profiled in numerous media outlets such as the New York Times, Kiplinger’s, CNBC, Entrepreneur, and The Street, Doug brings a unique perspective to the world of finance. As a former Benedictine monk of 20 years, he brings the highest spiritual ideals into alignment with the best of money management techniques. Doug’s ground-breaking book, From Monk To Money Manager: A Former Monk’s Financial Guide To Becoming A Little Bit Wealthy – And Why That’s Okay, receives enthusiastic reviews for its wisdom and thought-provoking insights told with humility and humor. “A monk, a Marine, and a money manager walk into a bar . . . actually, they wrote a book and they are all the same person! Doug Lynam is one of the most interesting people I know.”- Scott Dauenhauer

Dr. Loren Wold

Professor of Medicine and Nursing

Dr. Loren Wold, born and raised in Bismarck, is a Professor of Medicine and Nursing, as well as the Assistant Dean of Biological Health Research at the Ohio State University. Dr. Wold leads a large laboratory with over $10 million in active funding from the National Institutes of Health, the American Heart Association and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs studying the effect of the environment on various diseases. Dr. Wold is also very active nationally and internationally in scientific policy and mentorship of the next generation of scientists.

Jim Enderle

Retired Navy Chief Hospital Corpsman

Jim Enderle is a native Chicagoan, retired Navy Chief Hospital Corpsman, and Iraq combat veteran. After his 2007 Iraq deployment, and finished his military career as the Chief of Submarine Base New London’s (CT) Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)/Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) outpatient clinic. Jim has a Masters Degree in the Education of Exceptional Students and is a regularly scheduled speaker on veterans’ suicide and transition conversations. He’s recently completed a manuscript for a memoir, Fight, Flight, or Freeze: A Love Story, in which he describes his path to reconciliation after war’s trauma. A long-time DJ at Connecticut College’s WCNI radio station, he uses his Saturday night slot for interviews on mental health issues between free-format music. Jim has recently launched a YouTube channel, The World Needs More Middle Children. Jim lives with his wife, Cindy, of 28 years in Quaker Hill, Connecticut. They have two sons, Alfonso and Lorenzo.

Jordan Loftis

Full-Time Storyteller

Leaving his last “real job” as a software marketer, Jordan Loftis became a full-time storyteller to help people find and discover their purpose. This career change prompted questions like: - “Is ‘storyteller’ a real job? - “Do people actually pay you?” - “Is your family okay with eating ramen for the rest of their lives?” Undeterred, Jordan founded Story Chorus, a marketing agency who powers growth for leaders through book publishing and content for profits. As a nonprofit leader and author, his work reaches more than 100,000 people in over 100 countries each year. And as the co-founder of It’s Your Time Wellness with his wife, he coaches people to achieve healthy minds, bodies, and spirits. Jordan holds a B.A. in philosophy from the University of Sioux Falls and is having the time of his life working closely with an incredible team and his stunning wife.

Karen Hardy

Mental Health and Addiction Counselor

Karen Hardy is a mental health and addiction counselor and co-owner of a Wellness Center in Belgrade, Maine. Born in New Haven, Connecticut, she worked as a correctional counselor in the Connecticut state prison system for over 20 years. She earned an addictions certification while working in prison, and then earned a Master’s degree in counseling psychology upon retirement. Her private practice and Wellness Center is focused on helping the families and loved ones of with people with addiction. She and her husband have 4 children, 2 dogs and they started section hiking the Appalachian Trail last year for overdose awareness.

Katie Kimball

Voice of Healthy Kids Cooking

Katie Kimball, CSME, is the voice of healthy kids cooking working to restore the health of our young generation, one kitchen at a time. In 2016, she created the Kids Cook Real Food eCourse which has helped thousands of other parents teach their kids to cook and was recently recommended by The Wall Street Journal as the best online cooking class for kids. By partnering with health experts and medical practitioners, Katie has become a trusted authority and advocate for children’s health. She’s shared her journey to real food and natural living for 11 years at Kitchen Stewardship, a blog that helps families stay healthy without going crazy. Busy moms look to this trusted educator for honest, in-depth natural product reviews and thorough research. Katie is also a mom of 4, cookbook author, Certified Stress Mastery Educator, and regular TV contributor from Detroit to LA.

Mandy B. Anderson

Speaker, Author, and the Co-Founder of RAYMA Team, LLC

Mandy B. Anderson is a Keynote Speaker, Author, and the Co-Founder of RAYMA Team, LLC. She equips women with the skills they need to rise up, lead well, and live with intention. Anderson vulnerably shares her story of living with Cystic Fibrosis, and overcoming deep losses and mistakes in life, to encourage others to courageously live their lives to the fullest no matter what they face. Mandy is a Certified Life Coach, a Certified L.E.A.N. Health Coach, Co-Host of the She Who Overcomes™ Podcast, and was awarded the honor of being in the Top 25 Women in Business for 2020 by Prairie Business Magazine. She lives by the water in North Dakota with her husband, Nate, and their furbaby, Indigo, where she sips her coffee every morning and watches the sunrise. Connect with her at

Michael Cartwright

multidisciplinary professional musician

Michael Cartwright is a multidisciplinary professional musician: trumpeter, vocalist, educator and bandleader. He is the current Music Director for the Los Angeles based cover band ProjectM and creator of FrontmanTalk, an advice and coaching forum for musicians. Cartwright holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern California’s Thorton School of Music and has recently moved to North Dakota after making music for two decades in Los Angeles, CA.

Safwan Shah

CEO of PayActiv

Safwan Shah is the founder and CEO of PayActiv, a Public Benefit Corporation and Certified B Corp. Prior to PayActiv, Safwan founded Infonox, which was acquired by TSYS. Safwan’s book, It’s About TIME, calls for businesses to embrace greater responsibility and has been published by Conscious Capitalism Press. In 2019, Safwan received the George Norlin Award, the highest alumni honor for his devotion towards the betterment of society from CU Boulder, where he got his Ph.D and worked for BioServe Space Technologies, a NASA center. Safwan has also taught at UC Berkeley and Santa Cruz, received 7 patents and is an alumni of the Stanford Executive Program.