Theme: The Truth

During our 2nd annual TEDxFarmingdale event, we'll be tackling the theme "The Truth." Talks will be related to an actionable idea around the concept of "the truth." Whether your truth lies in a concept, a person, an environment, or a state of mind, one thing's for sure: ideas will be spread and conversations will be started.

This year’s lineup will present their TEDx talks in one of the first post-COVID TEDx events, this October. This year’s event is a free livestream! All you have to do is visit tedxfarmingdale.com on 10.10.2020 at 10am to watch.

Launchpad Five One Six
285 Broadhollow Road
Floor 2
Farmingdale, New York, 11735
United States

Ameena Majid

By combining her experience with executive compensation and passion for human rights, Ameena helps her clients continually adapt to evolving societal and investor expectations on their businesses. Blending legal, practical and human perspectives, Ameena uses her expertise as a business attorney to educate clients on the changing legal landscape of addressing human rights and translating it to policy and practice. Ameena has a deep belief that harmony exists when profits and purpose are aligned. Ameena is a director with Stop the Traffik USA, a nonprofit affiliate of Stop the Traffik, an international NGO dedicated to using technology to disrupt human trafficking.

Angelique Roberson

A first generation college student at Farmingdale State College, Angelique studies Business Management with a Legal Studies minor. She was born and raised in a low-income community, but unlike most students in the community was given opportunities that allowed her to branch out and provided her with open doors. This has become the inspiration for her talk.

Audra Donroe

Audra Donroe is a teaching artist and poet residing in Northport, New York. She holds a BFA in Art Education from Pratt Institute, a MALS from Stony Brook, and soon to hold a MS in Curriculum Design and Instructional Technology form SUNY Albany. Audra Donroe currently teaches 6th grade art at Howitt Middle School in Farmingdale and works with students to encourage interdisciplinary connections and authentic art making. Her own artwork is similar and is based on the cognitive theory of metaphors; the ability to learn and make sense of reality through what we already know. This can be seen in her visceral memory maps, owl imagery, and the common theme of nature. Audra has presented at the Balanced Mind Conference, LI Ed Tech Summit, and has assisted in multiple other educational conferences. In addition, she is a frequent guest at poetry open mic nights and is an avid dog lover.

Cheryl Lentz

Dr. Cheryl Lentz, The Academic Entrepreneur, is known globally for her writings on leadership and failure, as well as critical and refractive thinking. She has been published more than 44 times with 24 writing awards. As an accomplished university professor, speaker, and consultant, she is an international best-selling author, as well as top quoted publishing professional on ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox.

David Chametzky

David is an agent of change who enjoys a number of things including being a mentor who has worked internationally and has become a NYS Certified Peer Recovery Advocate while using various techniques to assist those in finding the right resources for them. David graduated from the University of Maryland with a Bachelor’s Degree in Behavioral Sciences and has enjoyed a successful career in both the corporate and private world for the past twenty plus years. David enjoys sharing his knowledge with those who are passionate about personal and professional development including business leaders, educators, students, athletes, and law enforcement personnel. He facilitates resiliency and growth for those who are intent on finding their own P.A.T.H. (Personal Attitudes Toward Happiness) in life. David has worked with individuals, couples and presented to groups on a number of topics to assist people to move forward towards finding their best self.

Elizabeth Molina

Founder of Molina Glow, Elizabeth Molina; a certified Holistic Health and Life coach, a former medical sales specialist, speaker and model. Elizabeth created Molina Glow to be a place for women to have access to the latest innovative beauty treatments and also provides them with a no B.S. look at beauty routines. Elizabeth’s personal story of survival has led her to become a model on a mission and redefine the why surrounding beauty practices.

Erin Hatzikostas

Erin Hatzikostas is a former Corporate CEO turned speaker, thought leader, and edutainer. Erin has spoken in front of thousands, is a regular contributor to Business Insider, and co-hosts an offbeat career and leadership podcast, b Cause with Erin & Nicole. Erin spent her career “first half” working in the corporate world, where at the age of 42, she became the CEO of a $2bn healthcare financial institution. In just 3 years, she took a struggling company and turned it around, tripling earnings and sending employee engagement skyrocketing. Her secret? Radically authentic leadership. Just when things were going great, she decided to walk away so that she could help solve what truly breaks her heart: the immense lack of authenticity and happiness in Corporate America. Through her company, b Authentic inc, Erin is leading a movement to eradicate the all-too-fake Corporate environment by inspiring and enabling an army of people to crush their career, without compromising everything else. Erin holds a BBA in Statistics from Western Michigan University and an MBA in Finance and Marketing from the University of Connecticut. She is married to her husband, Manny, who she met while stumbling through an early career in the Actuarial field. They have two children - Ella (11) and Mick (9). In Erin's free time you can find her coaching basketball, running, skiing or probably dancing where you're not supposed to dance.

Kate MacKinnon

Former Vice President of JP Morgan Chase, Kate MacKinnon, also ran her own management technology company before answering her calling to help women step into their power and greatness. Now, as a certified Feng Shui Practitioner, Kate creates spaces of elegance and beauty that also transform lives.

LeRon Barton

LeRon L. Barton is a writer and speaker from Kansas City who lives in San Francisco, Ca. He has authored two books “Straight Dope: A 360 Degree Look Into American Drug Culture” and “All We Really Need Is Love: Stories of Dating, Relationships, Heartbreak, and Marriage. LeRon has also published essays and articles about race, mass incarceration, politics, and dating. He has appeared in Al Jazeera, TEDx, Salon, Your Tango, Black Enterprise, The Good Men Project, and Raconteur.

Marisa Zalabak

Marisa Zalabak, is an Educational Psychologist, Public Speaker, Performing Artist, and Leadership Consultant for Organizational Culture and Innovation. As a specialist in wellbeing, social-emotional intelligence, creative thinking and restorative practices, she has trained thousands of educators and social workers in hundreds of schools and educational institutions.

Ming Shelby

Ming Shelby is a National Board Certified educator who has dedicated her career to inspiring students, teachers, and administrators through learning experiences. She believes that courage is the critical ingredient for student transformation. She is a director of curriculum and instruction in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. She also writes curriculum, coaches fellow educators and administrators, and facilitates programs for students and staff. Ming has facilitated workshops for adults and youth in Asia, Australia, Europe, and the United States. Ming received her Bachelors degree in Education and Masters degree in Educational Psychology, specializing in Curriculum, Technology, and Educational Reform from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She also has her Ed.S in Administration and Supervision along with her English as a Second Language endorsement.

Ryan Sterling

Ryan Sterling is the founder of Future You Wealth, a successful wealth manager, and sought-after holistic wealth coach. Prior to starting Future You Wealth, Ryan had over 15 years of experience working with individuals and families at firms such as AllianceBernstein, Goldman Sachs, BBR Partners, and Capital Group. Ryan earned a BA in Economics from Carleton College, and an MBA with a specialization in Investment Management from Vanderbilt University. He is a CFA® Charterholder and a member of the CFA Society New York. In addition, Ryan teaches financial literacy at the Bronx Youth Center and his work has been featured in numerous media outlets including: Business Insider, CNN Money, and HuffPost.

Susan Nicholas

Dr. Susan Nicholas is a 25-year health care industry professional who has worn many hats. She is a former clinical fellow in Cardiothoracic Surgery at Stanford University and General Surgery resident and research fellow at UCSF Medical Center. Susan graduated from the University of Iowa College of Medicine and earned an Executive MBA from Emory University Goizueta Business School. After graduating from business school, she became an entrepreneur founding a health care company and later worked as a health care equity investment analyst. Dr. Nicholas is a health care industry consultant providing health care IT solutions to tertiary and quaternary medical centers throughout the United States. Susan began her career as a pharmacokinetics chemist at a publicly traded pharmaceutical company. A serial entrepreneur, Dr. Nicholas is the founder of the Human Consciousness Consortium and SusanNicholas.org. She is the author of “The Duality of Being: Perspectives from Multidimensional Travel” and an illustrated children’s book series. “Two Parts of Me: I am More Than My Body” is the first in her conscious children’s book series and the second title “The Death of Cupcake: A Child’s Experience with Loss” is set for publication in November 2020. Dr. Nicholas is an international speaker giving her signature talk “The Frequency of Money” to enrich audiences around the world. Dr. Nicholas has graced stages in Cairo, Egypt, New Delhi, India as well as here at home. Dr. Nicholas is a regular contributor and invited guest on nationally syndicated radio programs and podcasts. Susan is also a Reiki energy healer and success coach for medical and business professionals.

Valerie Chan

Valerie Chan has been a communications expert for 20+ years helping companies craft their communications with staff, customers, partners and media. Her work is done primarily by listening to clients remotely via phone or video conferencing as she is the head of a virtual communications agency specializing in technology and the legal industry. She is a teaching fellow at the NASDAQ Entrepreneurial Center and is part of the Forbes Agency Counsel. Fun facts: She is a twin and a former collegiate race walker.

Wayne Pernell

Dr. Wayne Pernell is a highly sought speaker, Amazon #1 International Best-Selling Author, blogger, podcaster, and High Performance Breakthrough Coach bringing more than thirty-five years of experience in lifting others to set new strategic targets and attain exceptional success. He is known for being insightful and engaging. Dr. Pernell is a member of the Forbes Business Council and has regularly been on television, radio, and podcasts around the country, also having contributed to Fast Company, Entrepreneur, and the NY Times, among others.