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).

College of Central Florida
3001 SW College Rd, Ocala, FL
Ocala, Florida, 34474
United States

Cathlyn Melvin

Copywriter, Editor

After a decade as an actor and teaching artist, Cathlyn left the arts to study law, with a full-ride scholarship to a top-10 public law school. That is, until she returned to the arts a few months later. Don’t worry—she’ll tell you all about it during her talk. Now happily a copywriter for mission-driven businesses, Cathlyn encourages people of all ages and paths to live their values and forge their own paths forward, even if it means making a scary jump to the side first.

Chasman Barnes

Criminal and Social Justice Reform Advocate

Chasman Barnes is a native Floridian. He is a tale of two cities, having grown up in Eatonville, Florida-the oldest black municipality in the United States, established in 1887- in Catalina Park, and South Apopka in the Lake Opal Estates neighborhood. Chasman, like many young people in Central Florida, was drawn to the arts at a very young age. He is a trained pianist and has played for or led the worship of several churches in the Orlando area. He is a former child actor and entertainer for the Walt Disney World Company. He worked in Wireless Communications with his eyes on a bachelor’s degree in Business. Tragedy befell Chasman’s life, causing him to be swept into the criminal legal system on one fateful night in January of 1999. Having been falsely accused and wrongly convicted, Chasman spent 20 years in prison. Though his story is long and arduous, it does not end there. Chasman is living every day on purpose working for real change in systems for returning citizens.

Cynthia Coupé

Speech Language Pathologist

A self-diagnosed neurodivergent, Cynthia is a Speech Language Pathologist committed to transforming traditional systems to better serve people with special needs. She has spent the past 20 years generating a strengths-based approach used with her clients and with teens and young adults on the autism spectrum. With her diverse background of serving individuals in the clinical, hospital, home, and school settings, Cynthia has developed a unique perspective. Influenced by her background in Recreation Therapy and her own experience of raising a daughter with autism and ADHD, she aspires to be a lasting agent of change for this demographic in the next stage of her career. Cynthia is the co-owner and CEO of Outreach Advocacy Resources and Services (OARS), Inc. Cynthia has a double BA from San Francisco State University and an MA from the University of Colorado, Boulder. She graduated the top of class with the high honor being chosen as Outstanding Graduate Student by her professors.

Dr. Axel Martinez

Physician

Dr. Axel E. Martinez is a quadruple Board Certified physician in Geriatrics, Family Medicine, Hospice and Palliative Medicine, and lastly in Obesity Medicine. He has 16 years of experience taking care of the geriatric population and really enjoys spending time with his patients. Dr. Martinez is married to his high school sweetheart and has four dogs. He enjoys listening to the bible, going to church, and having date nights with his wife.

Dr. Janie Lacy

Relationship Trauma Psychotherapist

Dr. Janie Lacy is a Licensed Relationship Trauma Psychotherapist who has over fifteen years of experience working with those who have unsuccessfully tried to break free from their toxic relationship patterns. By addressing the root issue of their suffering, Janie creates breakthrough experiences from the inside out, allowing her clients to finally find peace within themselves they have so desperately longed for in life. She is a nationally recognized expert in the field of relationship trauma. Janie has been featured on Good Morning America, CNN|HLN, ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC to name a few. She is also a faculty member with the International Institute of Trauma and Addiction Professionals and an entrepreneur. Her accolades and awards include: Orlando Business Journal's 2021 "Women Who Mean Business", Onyx Magazine’s 2020 “Woman on the Move,” Orlando Magazine's 2019 “Women of the Year” and African American Chamber of Commerce of Central Florida 2018 “Enterprise Business of the Year.”

Dr. Linell King

Functional Medicine Physician

Dr. Linell King is an internal medicine physician who received his medical degree at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine in 1997. He completed his residency at The Johns Hopkins University program in internal medicine. For over fifteen years working as an internal medicine physician, Dr. King treated thousands of patients suffering from diseases such as heart disease, strokes, diabetes, cancer and other life-threatening diseases. After discovering the truth about our current broken healthcare system which also affected his own family, Dr. King left his practice and embarked on a mission to bring health and vitality to his patients and clients. Seeing the flaws with Western medicine and its reliance on prescription drugs, Dr. King traveled the world and became trained in functional medicine, nutrition, as well as hormone balance.

Julie McLean

Leadership Coach

Julie McLean is a coach, trainer, and speaker who facilitates dialogue about mental illness. She is the McLean Leadership Institute founder, which addresses the role leadership can play in reversing the stigma about mental illness. Having undergone mental illness treatment for depression, anxiety, and PTSD, Julie brings dialogue about mental illness to the forefront of the mental health space.

Lisa Shawver

Mindset Strategist

A former Olympic and professional athlete, and founder of the Champion’s Mind program. She’s a Mindset Empowerment Strategist and she and her team increase confidence, drive, and empower you to transform yourself to achieve your full potential through her uniquely designed system called the “Five Rings of Success.” One constant in her journey of entrepreneurship and the Max-mom-ship is bringing others to their greatest levels of success. This doesn’t happen overnight and it doesn’t happen without purpose. She has spent her life pursuing big dreams with purpose. In 1996, she played softball in the Olympics for Puerto Rico. That was after a stint playing pro baseball for the Colorado Silver Bullets. Lisa owns: tropical cocktail brand, Hula Girl Beverages, and is manager/mom of One Up Max, or as she calls him, her Maxie man. She promises you’ll love him, lopsided ears and all! Maxie was also the inspiration for a children’s book, The Adventures of One Up Max: Runic and the Crystal Cave.

Maritza Coscarelli

Transformational Confidence and Speaking Coach

Maritza Coscarelli is certain that we are capable of much more than most of us can even imagine. A former professional dancer turned professional certified coach, she guides fellow speakers, coaches, business owners and leaders to master authentic confidence and communication skills that connect and convert to influence and impact. This is a way to build trust-based relationships that lead to success for all. Maritza is also recognized as a Distinguished Toastmaster, a certified yoga and meditation teacher, a loving wife and mother. Over the last few decades, following her studies in Performing Arts at New York University and Human Development at Eckerd College she launched her own successful businesses. Her client roster as a coach, speaking coach and speaker includes global organizations like NATO, KPMG, AON, and more. As Founder and Chief Confidence Builder at Maritza Coscarelli Coaching, she delights in guiding others to maximize their potential in life and business.

Patricia Tomlinson

Art Historian / Curator

Patricia Tomlinson is an art historian and museum curator. After a successful career as a professional archaeologist, Tomlinson segued into art and seeks to show the confluence between the two. A native Coloradan, she is a graduate of the University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado State University, and the University of Denver. In her spare time, Tomlinson is an avid reader, involved in animal rescue, and a spoken word artist.

Punam Saxena

Parent Impact Coach/ Author

Punam V. Saxena holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master’s in Education. Throughout her 30 years of experience between teaching and volunteering in her children’s schools, she implemented several procedures that benefited students and administrators within the school district. Punam is a Parent Impact Coach, podcast host of edu-Me, and now, a published author. She is bridging the gap and fostering and stronger relationship between parents and schools by empowering parents to become partners in their child’s education. Recognized, Volunteer of the Year at Harrison School for the Arts in and has received a Key to the City in Lakeland, Florida. She has been featured in the magazines Podcast Movement, Shoutout Atlanta, Global Fluency, and Women Who Podcast. She has spoken at several main stage events including the Passionistas Project’s "I’m Speaking" and Podcast Movement’s Virtual Summit. Additionally, Punam has been featured on NBC’s Atlanta & Company, CBS, ABC, and FOX.

Sam Rasoul

Public Servant / Community Advocate/ Business Consultant

A proven leader in organizational change, Sam has a tenacious passion for helping find the right alignment of resources and mission. As a Virginia State Legislator representing Roanoke where he grew up, Sam has pushed to bring a values-centered approach to politics by rejecting special interest donations and always putting the voice of the people first. In business, Sam helps firms alleviate social woes through their mission as he believes this is the next evolution of our economy. He is married to his wonderful wife Layaly and has three children Jennah, Amirah, and Issa.

Woodly Oralus

Entrepreneur / Business Owner

Woodly Oralus, MBA, is the Founder & CEO of Biznct, LLC. Biznct is an outsourced digital marketing solution for growing businesses. As technology evolves, so do they to providing their clients with precise strategies to reach their respective audiences. Previously, he was a high-performing sales professional for Enterprise Truck Rental where he consistently rose to the top 3 percent in sales nationally month after month within the company doing Business to Business (B2B) sales in a pool of over 1,100 employees in the Truck Rental Department. During his time as the CEO at Biznct, LLC Woodly has helped manage over $1,000,000 in ad spend for their client’s internet marketing campaigns and has helped numerous businesses grow through the power of digital marketing. He received his Bachelor of Science in Quantitative Analysis & a Master’s Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing & Management from Florida A&M University. He loves to travel and being positive.