Theme: Hidden No More

TEDxEscondido looks to unite a community with ideas worth spreading, knowing that those best suited to solve an issue are the ones closest to it, here is your platform for hope. With the theme of “Hidden No More” we will empower our speakers to talk about truth and ideas for change, despite how uncomfortable they may be.

California Center for the Arts, Escondido - Center Theater
340 North Escondido Boulevard
Escondido, California, 92025-2600
United States

Anna Lee Fleming

Music, Family, and Connection

Anna Lee Fleming was born and raised in San Diego, CA. She was gifted her first guitar in the 2nd grade and started writing songs in middle school. After graduating from San Diego State University as an English Major, she formed a 6-piece band with her brother, Willie Fleming, called “Finnegan Blue,” which pulls inspiration from Irish and American folk music. Finnegan Blue has performed coast to coast and released a self titled album of all original music, 6 of those songs were written by Anna Lee. She still performs regularly as a duo with her brother and as a full band with Finnegan Blue.

Bill Toone

Farming for our Future

Bill Toone is an internationally recognized conservation biologist. He developed many of the techniques that lead to the highly publicized and groundbreaking recovery of the California condor. He has led biological expeditions through the rainforests of Madagascar, Papua New Guinea, Cameroon, and many other remote areas. Over the last 30 years, a great deal of Bill’s work has been focused on the conservation of the monarch butterfly. Bill has appeared on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, worked on wildlife films with Olivia Newton-John, and was featured on CBS Sunday Morning Show with Charles Osgood. Bill is a winner of the 2023 AARP Purpose Prize, Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, founder of ECOLIFE Conservation, and the author of "On the Wings of the Condor."

Bob and Kate Carpenter

From Mom & Pop to #3 in the Nation

Kate and Bob are the owners of Sunny Side Kitchen in historic downtown Escondido. Recently named the #3 place to eat in the nation by Yelp, Sunny Side Kitchen is a small, off-the-beaten-path panini shop that set out from the beginning to be just different enough and connect the community through food and friendship. This is not the first career for Kate or Bob; they started out as journalists. That background was key to their ability to talk to people, ask for help, and collaborate with experts in order to achieve the success they have experienced.

Carol Rogers

Building Community through Art

Carol has built her network and developed her personal mission while working alongside her husband in his Escondido based art glass studio and gallery, “Stone and Glass." Previously, she was VP of Operations at Progressive Technology, VP at TMP Services and Western Region VP of Operations with WMI Services. This experience is the base for Carol’s team building and collaborative approach to leading projects and making things happen. Early in Carol’s professional career, she also owned a retail travel agency specializing in honeymoon destinations and co-hosted a caller-driven radio talk show, “Travel Talk” on KFBK in Sacramento.

David Zumaya

The Value of Building Business Relationships

David is a marketing advocate for the community. His passion is bringing the community together and sharing the best of San Diego North County with his online directory and social media channels. As a former banker, marketing representative, and photographer, David combines his experience to deliver marketing services to his clients, including working with the Small Business Development Center as a business advisor and community outreach. At the age of 50, David returned to complete his master’s degree in Internet Marketing. This allowed him to complete his goal of being a college and university professor. David has served in many roles with the local chamber of commerce from Escondido to Oceanside, managing digital marketing, being the membership director, and supporting local businesses. This experience is how he created My San Diego North County community and business directory and the very popular Cafecito Business Networking events.

Jennifer Oliver

The Value of Dance for Youth Development

Jennifer Oliver earned a B.A. in Dance at U.C. Irvine and a M.A. in Expressive Arts Therapy from The European Graduate School. Teaching dance was her first career choice and still is. Along the way, she became an arts education administrator, providing and advocating for access to quality arts instruction for all. Jennifer is the co-founder of several collective impact and community initiatives including Arts Empower, the Arts Education Resources Organization (AERO), the San Diego Teaching Artist Institute, the Teaching Artist Support Collaborative (now TAG), the Carrie Anne Fipps Memorial Scholarship, and The San Diego Youth Dance Festival. Jennifer is the Artistic Director of A Step Beyond, a creative youth development organization providing dance, academic and counseling services to youth. She has certifications in somatic movement, leadership, youth in nature, dance therapy, and youth development.

Jennifer Schoeneck

We're not just Voters, We're Investors

Jennifer Schoeneck, Director of Economic Development for the City of Escondido, is a leader in bringing tech-forward and innovative approaches to local government. Drawing on her extensive experience in the private sector, Jennifer has successfully translated best practices into public administration, achieving significant efficiencies and enhanced service delivery for businesses, residents, and visitors. Recognized with several awards for innovative program design, Jennifer has created process improvements within local government to better serve the public. Her recent accomplishments include spearheading the region’s inaugural AgTech Startup Program, adopting the city’s first public art strategic work plan, streamlining business license processing, and leading policy design for short-term rentals and commercial building vacancies.

Kelly Lewis

Navigating brain injury and building inclusive workplaces

After retiring from her former career of modeling and writing on hotrods, heavy metal, and tattoos Kelly Lewis found new purpose in sharing her concussion story in hopes to build community for others navigating their brain injury. She is currently a leader in the biotech industry and involved in Business Resource Groups to advocate for continued accessibility.

Pako Pablos

Creativity Beyond the Canvas

Known for his contemporary style, mixed media artist Pako Pablos is recognized internationally for his stylistic approach by industry and social icons. Originally from Guadalajara, Mexico, Pablos showed an early interest in artisanship, winning awards in state youth art shows for his drawings and paintings. Growing up, his career initially focused on his talents in basketball, playing in tournaments until after college, eventually becoming a center and power forward for his country on the National team. Following his athletic career, he moved on to do print and runway modeling before eventually choosing to pursue his true passion for the arts. His work has been featured internationally in art shows and exhibitions; on film, television and in print media; and through growing prominence in his social media following.

Paul Tseng

The Power of Music

Cellist Paul Tseng has performed as a soloist, recitalist, orchestral, and chamber musician throughout the United States, Canada, Egypt, Jordan, Israel, and South Africa in concert halls such as Avery Fischer Hall, Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, the Cairo Royal Opera House in Egypt, The Royal Cultural Center in Amman, Jordan. The second cellist ever to be awarded the Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the Peabody Conservatory (Johns Hopkins University), Paul specialized in the cello music of Prokofiev. He also holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree from the Juilliard School. He has held various faculty positions in New York, Maryland, West Virginia, New York, and Washington D.C. Paul is a founding member of the Logos Trio and the artistic director of the San Diego Music Society.

Rachel Heslin

A Defense of Victim Mentality

Rachel S. Heslin has been fascinated by individual and social psychology for over 4 decades with an emphasis on identity and experience. Over the years, she has facilitated trainings for the Southern California Society for Ericksonian Psychotherapy and Hypnosis (SCSEPH), helped co-host the WBECS (World Business and Executive Coach Summit) pre-summit, and was a WBECS Implementation Mastery Facilitator. She has been cited in Psychology Today, was a contributor to the Milton H. Erickson Foundation Newsletter, and is also the author of Navigating Life: 8 Different Strategies to Guide Your Way, and Rituals of Release: How to Make Room for Your New Life. You can find out more about Rachel and her work at https://www.thefullnessofyourpower.com/.

Richard Marks

How to Have a Collaborative Conversations in a Politically Divisive World

Richard is a seasoned professional and the owner of RDM Management Group, a distinguished training company founded in 2014. RDM Management Group, a proud veteran-owned enterprise, specializes in a comprehensive array of training services, encompassing leadership skills, diversity, equity, inclusion with emotional intelligence, professional development, performance coaching, sales training, conflict resolution, and assessments. With a robust background that spans over 30 years, Richard’s professional journey has taken him from an individual contributor to mid-level management and finally, to senior leadership roles across various corporate settings. This extensive corporate experience has instilled in him a profound grasp of strategic thinking and tactical execution, equipping him with the ability to establish meaningful connections with audiences on a global scale.

Rick Najera

Writing Saved My Life

Rick Najera is an award-winning screenwriter, actor, director, producer, sketch comedian, author, playwright with an expansive portfolio of credits in all forms of entertainment. He has received numerous industry awards for his work. From starring in films with Sidney Poitier, George Clooney and most recently Mario Lopez, to writing sketch comedy for Jim Carrey and Jamie Foxx, Najera is best known for starring on Broadway in his award-winning, self-penned stageplay, Latinologues, directed by comedy legend Cheech Marin. Najera is only one of three Latinos to ever write and star in their own play on Broadway.

Roger Rolim de Moura

Metamorphosis of Love

Roger Rolim de Moura, born in Curitiba, Brazil, is a multifaceted individual currently residing in Escondido. He is an entrepreneur, author, coach, and motivational speaker with a rich background in human development, coaching, and leadership. Roger passionately manages his own business, while actively contributing to well-being of youth and families. His expertise extends to promoting values through courses and seminars on effective communication, conflict resolution, and interpersonal relationships.

Royce Escobar

The Comparison Monster

Royce Escobar attends Conway Academy of Expeditionary Learning. Through courage, perseverance, and commitment to her goals, she has been honored with many academic and citizenship awards such as the EPIC Scholar Award and the YMCA Outstanding Attitude Award. Last year, she had the opportunity to develop her public speaking skills as an Ambassador CREW Leader at his school, where she gave numerous tours to visitors, educational leaders, and teachers from all over the country. She also had the opportunity to speak at the local board meeting advocating for improved waste management systems in district schools. She is grateful for these experiences because she has learned not to let her fears get in the way of trying new things and that we can accomplish anything to which we put our minds.

Steve Dilley

Cups to Service

Steve Dilley, MFA, Executive Director of the Veterans Art Project, was moved after 9/11 to help Veterans, Active Duty and spouses through artmaking. Steve has a MFA in Ceramics from California State Fullerton. Steve is a former Art/Sculpture/Ceramics adjunct professor at Grossmont College in El Cajon. When not walking on the beach and cooking for his family, Steve manages the day to day operations at the VETART School of Ceramics and Glass in Vista.

Tad Seth Parzen

Resist the Conflict Industrial Complex: Build Community - One Decision at a Time

Tad Seth Parzen is the President and CEO of the Burnham Center for Community Advancement, which he co-founded alongside longtime civic leader Malin Burnham in 2021. Tad is a highly respected leader in the San Diego region, renowned for his long-standing commitment to civic causes and expertise in collaborative community development. Named a 2023 Nonprofit CEO of the Year by the San Diego Business Journal, Tad has contributed his time and expertise to many civic organizations across the United States. Tad is committed to building communities where everyone belongs and has an opportunity to thrive.

Taylor Bratton

Are Fisherfolk the Secret Key to Saving Coral Reefs?

Taylor Bratton is a pioneering marine social ecologist and the director of Sea Collective, a non-profit dedicated to advocating for the rights of tropical small-scale fishing communities. Currently pursuing her PhD, Taylor’s research focuses on the livelihoods of sea cucumber fishing communities in East Africa.

Zander Chan

Words are Magical Spells

Zander Chan enjoys soccer and video games. Zander was part of a leadership crew at Conway Academy, known as Ambassadors. As an Ambassador, he had the privilege of welcoming newcomers to the school, educational leaders from all over the country, sharing its spirit, and leading informational tours. Beyond the school gates, he seized opportunities to speak at notable events hosted by EUSD, amplifying the school's voice in the community. Along the way, he has been honored with awards for his athleticism, dedication as an Active Citizen, and academic achievements as a Scholar at Conway.