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).

The Exchange at Bridge Park
6520 Riverside Dr.
Dublin, Ohio, 43017
United States

Andrea Yu

Andrea Yu is a sophomore at Dublin Jerome High School. She is an artist, musician, cyclist, volunteer, and active member of Speech & Debate and Student Council. She is also passionate about the STEM fields, especially mathematics, as well as social justice and public speaking. Andrea has experienced firsthand how her generation uses the unprecedented tools at their disposal to face the unprecedented issues of the modern world. She believes that young people should be taught their potential to make an impact on their communities. With her talk, she hopes to inspire other teenagers to discover their voices, to help adults understand the unique power of today’s youth, and to encourage people of all ages to work together towards a better future.

Dana McDaniel

Dana L. McDaniel became the City of Dublin’s fifth city manager on January 31, 2015. As city manager, he serves as the chief administrative and law enforcement officer and is responsible to City Council for the day-to-day operations of the City. McDaniel has been employed by the City for 32 years. He has served in various roles, including management assistant to the city manager, director of service, deputy city manager/director of economic development and director of development. Prior to starting his career in Dublin, he served as an intern in both the Cities of Lebanon and Gahanna, Ohio. McDaniel served with the City of Dublin during a time of rapid growth and expansion. As the City’s first director of service, he led the establishment of a service department that was one of only nine in North America to be accredited by the American Public Works Association. McDaniel was instrumental in the development of Dublink, Dublin’s state-of-the-art broadband fiber-optic network. He is co-founder of the Central Ohio Research Network and helped create the Dublin Entrepreneurial Center, which currently houses more than 50 start-up companies. McDaniel oversaw the expansion of economic development programming resulting in the attraction, retention, and expansion of more than 14,000 jobs. Under his leadership, the City was twice named a Top 7 Intelligent City in the world by the New York-based Intelligent Community Forum and also received numerous awards from the International Economic Development Council, the Ohio Economic Development Association, and the Mid-America Economic Development Association. In 2018, McDaniel was recognized by the Asian-American Commerce Group as the Government Leader of the Year for his efforts in increasing the visibility of Asian-Americans. McDaniel also received the 2018 C-Suite award from Columbus Business First as one of the most admired executives in Columbus in the category of Institutions. This award acknowledged McDaniel among the region’s most-accomplished business leaders, “inspiring and encouraging others in the community with his integrity and excellence”. In 2016, he was recognized by the Ohio State University Alumni Association for Outstanding Public Service. Five years earlier, he was awarded the Outstanding Alumnus Award from The Ohio State University John Glenn School of Public Affairs. In 2013, McDaniel was honored with a lifetime achievement award by the Intelligent Community Forum. The Dublin Chamber of Commerce recognized him with its President’s Award in 2014 for his dedication to the Dublin Chamber and its business community.

John Marschausen

Dr. John Marschhausen is the Superintendent of the Dublin City School District. John is in his seventeenth year as a school Superintendent with six additional years as a high school principal and six years as a classroom teacher. John also serves as Visiting Associate Professor in the College of Education and Human Ecology at The Ohio State University and as a member of Ohio Governor Mike DeWine's Executive Workforce Board. John believes successful leaders build trust through their actions and relationships; he knows that culture eats strategy for lunch. John and his wife, Susan, are the proud parents of two current Ohio State Buckeyes.

Prerna Chakkingal

Prerna Chakkingal is a sophomore at South Fayette High School in Pittsburgh, PA. She is a pianist with national and international guild awards and a girl scout who loves to serve the community. In her free time, she loves to dance and express herself through actions and expressions. Prerna takes great interest in science and healthcare. Being able to project her voice has always been one of her passions as she believes it is the greatest power one can own. She feels strongly on social issues like feminism and racism. She believes that these ideologies have a long way to improve and she hopes to be a successful and impactful speaker someday.

Sean Clifton

Master Sergeant (MSG) Sean Clifton is a retired Green Beret with over 22 years in the military, 15 of those being in US Army Special Forces. MSG Clifton medically retired in the Spring of 2016 from Special Operations Command (SOCOM). MSG Clifton's last assignment was as a Special Forces Operations & Intelligence Sergeant with a SOCOM Detachment in the Army National Guard. MSG Clifton has multiple tours of combat to Iraq and Afghanistan where his primary responsibility was that of Intelligence and Targeting Cell Leader on an ODA (Special Forces A-Team). During his last deployment to Afghanistan, on May 31st, 2009, MSG Clifton was critically wounded while conducting a raid on a Taliban compound. Upon clearing a doorway of a Taliban leader’s compound, he was shot multiple times by Taliban fighters. Two of the rounds were critical; one hit his left arm, shattering the wrist and rendering his left arm useless. Another round hit just under his body armor, entering his left waistline, critically wounding 5 major organs to include major neural and vascular damage. The medics kept him alive on the battlefield and he then spent over 6 months at Walter Reed Army Medical Center undergoing over 20 surgical procedures; followed by more than 3 years of additional surgery, therapy, and recovery. MSG Clifton’s awards include: The Bronze Star Medal (Valor), Purple Heart Medal, Army Commendation Medal (Valor), Army Achievement Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, NATO Service Medal, GWOT Service Medal, et al. MSG Clifton earned a Bachelor’s Degree and a Master of Science Degree in Criminal Justice (MSCJ – Homeland Security) from Tiffin University (Ohio). MSG Clifton's experience also includes 5 years as an Analyst with the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) in Columbus, OH (Cincinnati Division). MSG Clifton retired from the Army in the Spring of 2016 and currently works as a Special Operations Training Consultant (owns/operates a small consulting firm in Dublin, OH), as well as volunteers as a Veteran Ambassador for many non-profit organizations.

Sumedha Kethini

Sumedha Kethini is a junior at Dublin Jerome High School. She’s in the top 102 speakers nationally in her Speech and Debate event, and loves using her voice to persuade an audience. Whether the headlines display foreign affairs or domestic policy, Sumedha believes that having an opinion on the issues of today is the basis for a better tomorrow. The issue closest to her heart is the deterioration of the environment, especially the impact of corporations on the Earth. Passionate about the intersection of business and the environment, she hopes to redefine solutions for corporate sustainability.