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).

New Birth Missionary Baptist Church
6400 Woodrow Rd
First Floor
Stonecrest, Georgia, 30038
United States

Anthony Flynn

CEO, Amazing CEO

Anthony is one of the foremost leaders in the world when it comes to getting stuff done! CEOs and Key Executives of some of the top publicly traded and privately held companies in the world have leveraged Anthony's expertise to support them and their teams with bridging the gap between strategy and execution. Anthony's portfolio of client work has included Coca-Cola, FedEx, TOTO, The Atlanta Hawks, Chick-fil-A, UCB Pharma and many others. Historically, Anthony has been a leader with numerous Fortune 100 giants (e.g. Kraft Foods, RJ Reynolds and 3M) and a pioneering executive in several multi-million dollar ventures. He has also been a featured speaker at Harvard University, Emory University, Georgia Tech, Biz 1190 (Wall Street Journal syndicated radio show), TEDx and other major outlets including tv, radio, podcasts and keynote addresses.

Chrisette Michele

Grammy Award Winning R&B and Soul Singer

In a very short span of time, R&B singer/songwriter Chrisette Michele shot from small-time performer to one of Def Jam's most promising talents, purely based on her unique instrument -- a gorgeous and effortlessly versatile singing voice colored with Billie Holiday-esque inflections of vocal pop and jazz. The jazz-influenced vocalist, born Chrisette Michele Payne in 1982, developed her pipes through singing gospel, first performing for a congregation at age four. God and music were clearly instrumental in her upbringing. Her father, who also played the organ, was a deacon, and her mother was the church's choir director. Growing up in Patchogue, New York, a small town on Long Island, the young singer's parents always kept her busy with tap dancing, piano lessons, choir rehearsals, and the like. But at age 17, Payne had an epiphany.

Heather Fortner

CEO/Chair of the Board, SignatureFD

Heather is the Chief Executive Office and Chair of the Board of SignatureFD, an integrated and comprehensive wealth management firm with offices in Atlanta, Georgia and Charlotte, North Carolina, recently named to the Inc. 5000. During her twenty-year tenure at the firm, Heather has created and executed strategies that have exponentially grown SignatureFD’s AUM from $250M to over $6B. Her ability to combine strategic oversight in alignment with financial goals and enterprise risk mitigation has led the firm to maintain enterprise valuations, annual growth rates and client retention rates that consistently exceed industry averages. Beyond operational expertise, Heather leverages her graduate degree in professional counseling to help uncover and connect people’s passions and talents to build teams that deliver excellent and inspiring client experiences.

Jamal Bryant

Senior Pastor

Dr. Jamal Harrison Bryant is one of the most prolific and eloquent orators of our time! He was the pastor and founder of Empowerment Temple AME Church in Baltimore, Maryland founded in 2000. It was celebrated as the fastest-growing AME church in history--growing from 43 members to more than 4000 in 19 months. Acclaimed the fastest-growing African Methodist Episcopal church in the denomination’s 200-year history, the congregation has expanded from 47 members, since its inception in 2000, to well over 10,000! Dr. Bryant earned a Master of Divinity degree from Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. He received his Doctor of Ministry degree in 2005, from the Graduate Theological Foundation. In 1988, he spent a year in West Africa in what he calls his “Damascus Road experience.” Harrison Bryant is a philanthropist, author, motivational speaker and entrepreneur.

Kevin James

President

Dr. James made history by leading the institution to become the first HBCU to regain accredited status after a nearly twenty-year hiatus. He drew from his 22-year career as a higher education administrator, professor, executive business leader, and motivational speaker to fulfill his role as the Chief Executive Officer of the college. He is responsible for the leadership and management of all aspects of college operations. Dr. James is also responsible for the development and execution of the vision and strategic direction for the college, in concert with the Board of Trustees. To execute his preliminary vision of re-accreditation, he built a strategy around several core pillars: academic strength, governance, financial solvency, alumni partnership, and community engagement. Dr. James is committed to the legacy of Morris Brown, which empowers the community through education. He understood such empowerment could only be delivered through the pillars previously listed.

Nakia Davis

Associate Dean of Clinical Education, NC Central School of Law

Dean Nakia C. Davis is a native of Rocky Mount North Carolina. She received her B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1997 and received her J.D. from North Carolina Central University School of Law in 2001. After becoming a licensed attorney, she was afforded the opportunity to work with several reputable law firms in Durham, North Carolina where she was able to cultivate and enhance her analytical and litigation skills in the area of family law. On December 19, 2005, she established the Law Office of Nakia C. Davis, which provided her the opportunity to establish a practice which focused solely on the area of family law. In August of 2006, she joined the North Carolina Central University School of Law Faculty as an adjunct professor and became an Assistant Visiting Professor in 2010. She currently serves as a Senior Clinical Professor and Supervising Attorney of the Family Law Clinic for the Clinical Legal Education Program.

Rashad Richey

President "Rolling Out", TV Host, Radio Personality

America's youngest inductee into the National Black Radio Hall of Fame, Dr. Rashad Richey dominates TV, Radio, Streaming, & Digital platforms daily. Dr. Richey is an Emmy nominated TV broadcaster, political strategist, news analyst, business executive, university professor, lecturer, entrepreneur, and advocate. Dr. Richey has interviewed everyone from United States Vice-President Kamala Harris to Ice Cube. He is Host of the award-winning Rashad Richey Morning Show on News & Talk 1380 – WAOK where he was voted Best Talk Radio Personality by readers of the Atlanta Journal Constitution (first African-American to receive these distinctions) and Most Trusted Voice in Atlanta by the Atlanta Business Journal. Recently, Dr. Richey, who is also the Political Commentator for The People’s Station V-103 FM ( largest urban station in America),was named Best Talk Radio Host by Atlanta Magazine in their Readers Choice edition.