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).

Student Center Ballroom B
1263 Lincoln Dr, Carbondale, IL 62901, USA
Carbondale, Illinois, 62901
United States

Blaze Currie

Blaze is a learning analyst at Vivayic Inc., a learning solutions company. He has dedicated his career to developing systems and experiences that support learning and growth for emerging leaders and youth. Blaze spent a decade working with the National FAA organization developing and delivering leadership programs for hundreds of thousands of students each year. He also helped start the international agriculture development non-profit, AgriCorps and spent several years living and working in West Africa.

Brian Croft

Brian Croft is a dynamic, engaging, and energetic speaker who thrives on people's energy. An Extrovert's introvert, Brian's background in experimental education has brought him to speaking engagements locally and across the U.S. Brian's goal in life is to help people become who they are meant to be. With a career in higher education, outdoor recreation, and experimental learning, Brian believes in learning by doing.

Desmon Walker

Desmon Walker is a digital marketer, real estate investor, and 2016 Southern Illinois graduate. Desmon came to SIU Carbondale as a first-generation student and involved himself on campus. Desmon lives in Chicago with his wife and intends to continue building internet-based businesses, educating the next generation of young entrepreneurs, and becoming a first-generation millionaire.

Haydee Acebo

Haydee is a mom, wife, daughter, sister, and accomplished professional in human resources. She started her career as a news anchor, reporter, and producer, where she learned the power of connecting with others. She cares deeply about making the world a better place and using her passion for swimming to give back.

Michael Hood

After serving 25 years as a special agent in the FBI, Michael "Bret" Hood became the director of 21st Century Learning & Consulting, LLC upon his retirement in 2016. Bret is an adjunct corporate governance, ethics, and forensic accounting professor for the University of Virginia and an Association of Certified Fraud Examiners faculty member. Bret is also a board member of the School of Accounting at Southern Illinois University.

Nic Skovgaard

Nic is an entrepreneur, vertical video enthusiast, and risk-taker whose primary focus has always been to take his work to the edge of what's possible. He graduated from Southern Illinois University Carbondale in 2007 with a focus on Marketing and Public Relations, founding his first company in 2014. From running his marketing firm to teaching classes on entrepreneurship, Nic draws on various experiences to create a positive impact in his community wherever he goes.

Sarah Michalak

As an aviation management student, Sarah has learned through research and experience the practices that whittle the prospective pilot population into numbers so small they cannot feed the industry's demand. Every year, hundreds of students across America that desire to fly are dropped from flight programs they will never likely join again. Through her experience with this process, Sarah believes she can educate the public on the broken system and issues plaguing the industry and contribute to such a rampant problem.

Scott Hamilton- Brehm

Scott D. Hamilton-Brehm received his B.S. (1997) from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, CA, where he studied bacteria inside the abdomens of prehistoric bees trapped in amber. He worked for the biotech company Promega Biosciences for four years before returning to academia to receive his Ph.D. in biochemistry and molecular biology (2008) from the University of Georgia in Athens, GA.