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).

Wentz Concert Hall
171 E Chicago Ave
Naperville, Illinois, 60540
United States

Anita Knotts

Financial Market Gender Disrupter

Anita Knotts is a highly accomplished senior executive with nearly 30 years of expertise in sales, marketing, and business development in the competitive wealth management market. After spending the first part of her career as a successful investment advisor followed by years of leadership, Anita is now embarking on the next phase of her career as an entrepreneur. Anita has recently launched her new business Lotus Women’s Institute LLC. The mission of the organization is to attract, develop and advance women and people of color to choose financial services as a career path. She believes strongly that firms who implement initiatives to hire diverse teams - specifically for frontline roles - will have a competitive edge.

Eli Vazquez

Digital Communications Maverick

Eli Vazquez, is a writer, director, entrepreneur, and digital storyteller. Eli is a producer for BuzzFeed’s Latinx digital brand Pero Like, as well as the founder and CEO of the production company Hype Media House and the coaching program Self-Hype. Eli has worked with some of the top digital media companies in the world generating over 500 million views online. Through Self-Hype, He has worked with clients from around the world in his coaching programs and partnered with fortune 500 companies. Eli's mission is to empower people to use tech and not let tech use them.

Gabriel Nadales

Ex-Antifa Member & Freedom Fighter

Gabriel Nadales is a free speech activist and author of “Behind the Black Mask: My Time as an Antifa Activist.” As a Student Rights Advocate for the Leadership Institute, a non-profit based in Arlington, Virginia, Gabriel helps students combat anti-free speech bias. Gabriel also tours college campuses across the country to warn students of the dangers of political extremism while arguing for civility and conversation over political violence. In 2019, Gabriel was invited to the White House to witness President Trump sign a historic executive order to support free speech on college campuses.

Jason Tate

Education Health Innovator

High school biology teacher Jason Tate believes that our schools possess the key to a future of better health outcomes through human health education. A 16 year veteran in public school, Jason Tate has developed revolutionary new courses and multi-year programs dedicated to teaching teens the benefits of healthy eating, focused movement, and mindfulness. As an award winning educator, public speaker, radio show host, health coach, and wellness expert, Jason Tate uses his ability to share the science and easy-to-adopt methods by promoting positive human health with people of all ages ranging from elementary school students to adults.

Kristen Ulmer

Extreme Skier & Fear Expert

Kristen Ulmer is a thought leader on fear and anxiety who draws from her tenure as the most ‘fearless’ woman extreme skier in the world for 12 years, from intently studying Zen for 15 years and from facilitating thousands of clients on flow and peak performance. The author of: The Art of Fear: Why Conquering Fear Won’t Work and What to Do Instead, Kristen radically challenges existing norms about what to do about fear. She currently facilitates or keynotes about fear and anxiety all over the world. Some of her clients include Google, Citigroup, Olympic athletes, and the US Air Force.

Marty Kotis

Street Art Developer

Marty Kotis is CEO and owner of Kick Ass Concepts, a development, commercial real estate, restaurant and entertainment company based in Greensboro, North Carolina. The company doesn’t just own property. It transforms entire city blocks from industrial wastelands into vibrant cultural hubs. One of his current projects involves transforming several acres of dilapidated industrial properties into Tracks Bazaar. The indoor/outdoor entertainment district will feature a food hall, microshops, co-working space, food truck park, gallery space, restaurants and a music venue. Kotis Street Art has curated more than 250 installations in the Greensboro area, bringing in well-known artists from across the U.S., Europe, Australia and South America, as well as nurturing budding local artists. In 2020, he opened the Kotis Street Art Outdoor Gallery on land next to one of his shopping centers. The space offers 46 panels on which established and emerging street artists can practice their craft.

Michael Lacey

Prison Hope Reformer

Michael Lacey is a photographer, videographer, and social media content creator with over 800K TikTok followers. His social media rise began when he started posting videos about his experiences in prison. At 19 he was convicted of felony murder and sentenced to 60 years in prison. Here he became prisoner 951655 in the Indiana Department of Corrections for the next 21 years. During this time of imprisonment he received a bachelor's degree from Ball State University and became a beacon of light to the inmate population. He helped facilitate several educational programs, became an avid reader, and found various artistic outlets such as writing poetry and movies. After 21 years he was released into a new digital world that did not exist when he left. Utilizing various skills he developed in prison, coupled with an appetite for learning, his journey began!