Theme: Innovation and Impact

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).

Laurel Ridge Community College - Fauquier Campus
6480 College St
Warrenton, Virginia, 20187
United States

Carol Moore

Communication Consultant & Public Speaking Coach

Bio coming soon

Dawn Christian

Leader Life Catalyst

Dawn Christian, a pioneering leadership advisor and coach, is known for her innovative Ethos-Driven Leadership™ approach. Rooted in her personal journey thriving in leadership with anxiety, she transforms leadership by integrating belonging, authenticity, and well-being into organizational cultures. Balancing her roles as a wife and 'mompreneur,' Dawn challenges traditional leadership paradigms, focusing on creating inclusive, human-centric work environments. Her thought leadership emphasizes the intersection of leadership, mental health, and organizational effectiveness, inspiring leaders to embrace vulnerability and prioritize personal well-being. Dawn's expertise is recognized by top platforms like the Wall Street Journal, The Forum on Workplace Inclusion, and Inclusive Workspaces, and she is acknowledged as an Executive Coaching Top Voice on LinkedIn. Her work fosters dynamic, supportive workplaces, driving meaningful change and enhancing overall organizational culture.

Dr. Omekongo Dibinga

Speaker, poet, Talk Show Host, & Rapper

Bio coming soon

Hannah Keeley

America's #1 Mom Coach

Hannah Keeley is "America's #1 Mom Coach", whose work has been featured on TODAY, GMA3, Rachael Ray, Fox & Friends, Access Hollywood, ScaryMommy.com and Parents.com. Hannah is a Parenting Expert, Master Board-Certified Life Coach, and mom of seven with a background in behavioral therapy and neuroscience who combines faith and psychology to help moms create radical transformation in their lives! She is also a best-selling author, sought-after speaker, and award-winning entrepreneur whose mom coaching company made the Inc. 5000 Fastest-Growing Private Companies in America list in 2021.

Harvey Castro MD, MBA

AI Futurist and Healthcare Innovator

Harvey Castro MD, MBA, is an emergency medicine physician and AI futurist dedicated to bridging technology with compassionate healthcare. With experience in healthcare innovation, Dr. Castro advocates for AI’s potential to make patient care more accessible, personalized, and efficient.

Jackie Barbieri

Founder, CEO

Jackie Barbieri is the Founder and CEO of Whitespace, a defense technology company developing sensemaking AI. Her experience as an intelligence analyst for the Department of Defense (DoD) and Intelligence Community (IC) shaped her vision for Whitespace's Iris, an AI platform that synthesizes multi-modal remote sensing data into an answer based on a user's question. Iris is poised to revolutionize defense intelligence by serving as a virtual assistant, augmenting the capabilities of sensors, operators, and analysts to detect invisible threats instantly.

Monica Kelly

Life Coach, Author, Speaker

Monica Kelly is a sought after life coach, yoga teacher, corporate team building coach helping clients align their hearts desire with actionable steps in the second half of life. Her 1st book, Open Your Presence: A Simple Method to Find Calm in Chaos (published as Monica Fernandi) guides the reader in three easy steps to overcome any and all mountains they may face daily using the power of their breath to change their tune and live with more joy. Prior to that she raised 3 children after a musical theater/T.V career. Learn more about her and her coaching options at awakenedsoulmate.com

Neal Wavra

Hospitality Practitioner

Hospitality Practitioner. Founder of FABLE Hospitality, Proprietor of Field & Main Restaurant and CEO of Red Truck Bakery, Neal holds degrees from Whitman College, The Middlebury Institute for International Studies, The Culinary Institute of America and certificates from the International Institute of Mediation and Conflict Resolution and The Court of Master Sommeliers.

Paul Eric Pape

Creative Artist, Speaker

Paul Eric Pape, the "Santa for Nerds," weaves imagination, empathy, and education to create art that spreads joy and fulfills desires, much like a true Santa. Consequently, Paul's artistic creations resonate with the inner child of his audience, bringing imagination to life. With a diverse skill set in theatre, design, and fabrication, he has collaborated with renowned entities such as Disney and Universal, creating personalized art for fans worldwide. Through his work, Paul continues to inspire and delight, leaving a lasting impact on all those who encounter his enchanting creations.

Stephen Semple

Speaker & Author

Bio coming soon

Steve Waddell

Founder, Author, Visionary Entrepreneur

Steve Waddell, founder of Nasoni and award-winning author, transformed from shipbuilder to entrepreneur with a mission to create real value. Formerly VP at Reed Integration, Inc., a WOSB, and with 25 years at Newport News Shipbuilding on projects the American aircraft carriers, Steve shifted to innovating accessible, user-centered bathroom faucets. Through his journey, he discovered the power of co-creating with customers over starting with a personal "WHY." Today, he champions the "Valuepreneur" mindset, helping others put the customer—the "WHO"—at the heart of impactful, lasting solutions.

Sunny Kaila

Author, Entrepreneur, Keynote Speaker

Sunny Kaila is an author, keynote speaker, and the founder and CEO of IT By Design, a leading tech solutions provider for MSPs worldwide. As a real-life American Dream success story, he shares insights on “Talentpreneurship” and “The Secret to Building Winning Teams” through books, keynote talks, and his podcasts Sunny’s Silver Linings and Life By Design. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community.