Theme: The Engagement of Everything at TEDx Punta Gorda 2024

Come and witness "ideas worth spreading" that encourage curiosity and creativity which is reflected in our TEDx Event topic, "The Engagement of Everything". During this TEDx event live speakers will spark deep discussion and connections that promote positive change and numerous possibilities that can make our world a better place.

Burnt Store Presbyterian Church
11330 Burnt Store Road
Stewart Hall
Punta Gorda, Florida, 33955
United States

Dr. Greg Vecchi

Principal Consultant and Trainer

Gregory M. Vecchi, Ph.D. has over 30 years of law enforcement experience and he is a U.S. Army veteran. He is a retired supervisory Special Agent and Chief of the FBI Behavioral Science Unit and career FBI negotiator. During his career, Dr. Vecchi investigated targeted violence, kidnapping, transnational organized crime, international drug trafficking, international and domestic terrorism, and outlaw motorcycle gangs. In these positions, he gained extensive experience assessing and interacting with violent offenders, which he incorporates into his research, training, and consultation activities. Dr. Vecchi is the Principal of Vecchi Group International, LLC, and the Director of Training at SafeDefend LLC, where he develops and deploys research- and evidence-based consulting and training programs in targeted violence assessment, prevention, and response. His clients include law enforcement officers, mental health professionals, school districts, and corporate human resources.

Dr. Lonny Meinecke

Assistant Professor of Psychology at Philander Smith University

Dr. Lonny Douglas Meinecke is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Philander Smith University, an HBCU in Little Rock, Arkansas. His dissertation discovered a curious irony in the struggle to extend human life via kidney transplantation. The criteria put more value on the survival of a few rare human organs than on the far greater number of human candidates who need them. His ongoing research focuses on how to foster reverence for things we often take for granted, such as forests, wild animals, and flowers. In contrast to honoring only the most productive stage of the human lifespan, he advocates valuing childhood and old age instead. Instead of judging ourselves by the results of our time on this Earth (how much we accomplished or how much we lost), he emphasizes the importance of cherishing the moments we are briefly here—for their own sake.

Jessica Stanfield

Executive Director of A.N.A.S. Friends Inc.

Jessica Stanfield is a dynamic and visionary nonprofit leader with over a decade of experience in driving organizational growth and impact. As the CEO of A.N.A.'s Friends, Inc., she has guided the organization through transformative growth, significantly expanding its budget, donor engagement, and community collaboration. Jessica's expertise encompasses strategic planning, fundraising, financial management, and board development. Before joining A.N.A.'s Friends, Jessica held key positions at the Southwest Florida Symphony and the National Museum of Dance, where she excelled in enhancing fundraising efforts, growing membership, and orchestrating major events. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Skidmore College, with a focus on Social Work, Non-Profit Organizations, Social Justice, and Law. Jessica's accomplishments have been recognized through multiple 40-Under-40 awards, underscoring her exceptional leadership and contributions to the community.

Romi Larden

Activist

Romi Larden is 13 yrs. old and attends school at Pine View in Osprey, Florida. Romi is a delightful, energetic and brilliant young speaker with a bright, young mind. She brings a great deal of creativity and passion to the subject of the bee colony collapse. Romi feels strongly about how all of us "can do nothing to help save the bees." Romi's parents are the creators and owners of Hey Honey Skincare and selfcare brand infused with organic Honey and Bee propolis ,and distributed around the world. Romi has a very interesting take on how adults can assist in stopping the tragic epidemic loss of bee colonies globally. Her creative approach to the serious subject matter is superb.

Tim McCarthy

Educator

Tim McCarthy has a Master’s Degree in Education, a Grandmaster rank in the martial arts, and is the author of Raising 4 Dimensional Children in a 2 Dimensional World. His years of experience teaching in both Eastern and Western traditions have given him a unique perspective on education. His years of study in developmental psychology have given him a research-based background for his theories on self-development and parenting. In this year's presentation “You Are Whom You Meet” he does a deep dive into how the people we meet can change our lives, and how we can not only find our life's passion but keep it alive.