Theme: Innovation in Action

We are looking for creative, engaging and exciting speakers and performers that are leaders in their industries and fields. Our theme is Innovation in Action. We are looking for those that are pushing the envelope, finding new ways to accomplish their goals, and willing to share their stories through talks or performances.

1500 University Drive
Cisel Recital Hall
Billings, Montana, 59101
United States

David Fredrickson

Evaluation Technician

I am employed at the Center for Children and Families as an evaluation technician and I am the president and founder of the current MSUB chapter of the Psi Chi honors society.

Elizabeth Klarich

Owner Yoga with Elizabeth

For over 4 decades, Elizabeth Klarich has taught yoga in a wide variety of venues, from fitness clubs to universities, yoga studios, resorts, retreats, treatment centers, women’s prisons and rehabilitation centers, including producing a TV program for over a decade and writing a newspaper column. Elizabeth’s eclectic background allows for an empowering, heart centered, individualized approach to each class and every person. Inspired by some of yoga’s most influential teachers, Elizabeth has developed an ability to teach creatively and intuitively. Having studied many styles of yoga and Pilates, she draws from her broad background as she equally focuses on inner core strength, functional flexibility, balance, stamina and concentration. Influenced by Kriya yoga, her approach is energizing and invigorating. Elizabeth received her teaching certification through extensive study and practice with her primary teacher and mentor.

Eric Arzubi

M.D., Chair Psychiatric Services

My name is Dr. Eric Arzubi and in addition to being a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, I am also Chair of the Department of Psychiatry at Billings Clinic. Our psychiatry department is the state's largest, with 13 psychiatrists and about 30,000 clinical encounters annually. On one hand, this position affords me the opportunity to impact many thousands of people. On the other hand, trying to deliver mental health services in a rural state like ours comes with many unique challenges that require incredibly innovative solutions. Inspired by my pediatrician, who, upon my 24th birthday, kindly informed me that I needed to find a grown-up doctor, I decided to leave my life in finance to pursue a medical career. I completed pre-med requirements at Columbia University, and then attended medical school, psychiatry residency, and child/adolescent psychiatry training all at the Yale School of Medicine. My transition from bond trader to child and adolescent psychiatrist took 14 years.

Eric Halverson

COO Center for Children and Families

I am currently the Director of Operations at The Center for Children and Families, a non-profit in downtown Billings. My path to this position started while pursuing a degree Cell Biology and Neuroscience along with (2) minors in Spanish from MSU Bozeman. During my time at MSU I spent 2 years on exchange, the first in the UK and the second in Guadalajara, Mexico. Brain development was the spark for my fascination in advocating for children. My first job out of college was researching Early Childhood development and the position I held previous to my present work was as an assistant preschool teacher. Honors I have received include representing the Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience on the Dean's student council for the College of Letters and Science. I am also a graduate of the MSU Honors college and was just recently accepted to the 2016 class of Leadership Montana. TED has offered me access to astonishing ideas that have played a massive role in shaping my career decisions.

Erika Willis

Company Leader, Market Developent

Erika Willis is the Company Leader for Market Development at Elation, Inc. a Billings based company focused on creating sustainable change and extraordinary outcomes for organizations by giving people a more powerful way to think. Erika launched her career in the social sector providing direct services for children and families in need eventually expanding her role into organizational leadership. Erika has led many high performing teams and initiatives in a variety of organizations both in the social and private sectors. In her most recent positions at Elation, Inc., Erika has been an integral part of developing and growing the young company, overseeing Customer Experience and Market Development and also providing vision and integration through her role on the Elation Strategy Team. In her role as Company Leader for Market Development, Erika oversees the growth strategy that identifies and develops new market segments for current products and oversight of the sales organization.

Jeff Golini

Ph.D, Founder & Executive Scientist

From his beginnings as a high school All-Conference athlete in Ohio turned Professional Body Builder in California, Dr. Jeff Golini, knows with hard work and a creatively strategic plan, anyone can take life’s challenges head on and turn ordinary circumstances into extraordinary opportunities. Seeing a need to invent, develop and produce a safe, drug-free dietary nutritional supplement for the professional athlete, Dr. Golini took his own competitive spirit and performance knowledge from a hobby in his small California apartment in 1985 to the current multi-million dollar state of the art, 150,000 square foot Research & Manufacturing facility in Billings, Mont. All American Pharmaceutical with Dr. Golini serving at the helm as CEO and Executive Scientist, now celebrates its 30-year business anniversary and is designed to FDA Specifications for dietary supplement production. The company employs 135 people with additional offices located in Poland, Bakersfield and San Jose, California.

John Roberts

Musician, Professor

John began playing the piano at the age of 5 while living on an isolated ranch in Southeastern Montana. There was no TV, but there was a piano. At age 11, he picked up trombone to play in the grade school band. After graduating in 1996 from Montana State University-Billings with a BA in Music Performance, John moved to Los Angeles to earn his Master of Fine Arts in Western Orchestral Trombone Performance from California Institute of the Arts. Feeling equally comfortable in orchestral and commercial music realms, John has been touring, recording, and performing in Los Angeles, around the U.S. and around the world, including Mexico, India, Asia, Europe, the Caribbean, Australia & Africa. Tours include Ricardo Lemvo & Makina Loca (Congolese/Cuban), Bobby Womack (Soul), Los Pinguos (Argentine),The Temptations, The New Orleans Jazz Orchestra, & others. Other performances and recordings include 2008 and 2009 Grammys, Chris Botti, Feist, Sting, Dr. Dre, Mariah Carey, Lady Gaga, & many more.

Karen Grosz

Owner of In Good Glazes adn Canvas Creek Team Building

I own In Good Glazes and Canvas Creek Team Building, both companies that help people to create more than art, we help them create better relationships. I've been recognized for speaking, sales and recruiting success, but the most important distinctions I have are these three; art, created by a team of 10, hanging in their office, a painting given to me by a friend that says "You inspire me to create" and a small child, handing me his ceramic shark, and whispering "please be careful with it, I worked so hard on it." Those two things capture my life. I am not a trained artist, but I've helped thousands of people to create pieces that speak to them and of them.

Nikki Schaubel

Creator Proceed MT

Nikki Schaubel is a Business Communication Consultant who is passionate about the human connection. She has been joyfully immersed in the study of communication for more than a decade, focusing on the areas of interpersonal communication, personal/professional development, group dynamics, law and justice. Nikki has taught Public Speaking at Montana State University Billings and is a member of the communication faculty for the annual Advanced Trial Advocacy Seminar at the University of Montana School of Law. She holds a B.A. in Organizational Communication and a M.S. in Public Relations from Montana State University Billings. When she’s not researching communication, speaking or helping others learn to do so, she enjoys wrangling her two sons and watching them play baseball.

Robert Hoar

Provost, MSU Billings

Robert (Bob) Hoar is the newest member of the academic leadership team at Montana State University Billings (MSUB). The provost and academic vice chancellor is the chief academic officer of Montana State University Billings and is responsible for all operations of the university related to instructional programs, educational policy, academic planning, academic resources, and faculty personnel actions. In addition, the provost is responsible for academic support units including the library, the Office of Graduate Studies, Grants and Sponsored Programs, the Office of International Studies and Outreach, the Academic Support Center, MSUB Extended Campus, and Information Technology. Hoar was most recently the associate vice chancellor for academic affairs at the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse, where he was also a tenured full professor in the Department of Mathematics. He led the Institute for Campus Excellence, a subdivision of Academic Affairs.

Supaman (Christian Parrish)

Musician

As a member of the “Apsaalooke Nation”, Supaman makes his home on the Crow reservation in Montana.The name “Supaman” hardly describes the person who Is Christian Takes Gun Parrish, a humble Native American dancer & hip hop artist who has dedicated his life to empowering youth & educating listeners with a message of hope through culture & music. He is a young energetic entrepreneur with tremendous leadership abilities. His presentation style & delivery are nothing short of captivating. Known for his tremendously powerful inspirational lyrics, he is in demand nationally with the purpose of spreading a positive message throughout Indian country & abroad. In 2005 he won a (Nammy) The Native American Music Award for his group “Rezawrecktion” & has since released three self produced projects which have all received national recognition & awards including the 2011 North American Indigenous Image Award for outstanding hip hop album!

Susan Balter-Reitz

Director of e-Learning; Professor

Sue is a Professor of Communication at MSU Billings. Her research interests include Legal Argumentation, the First Amendment, Visual Argumentation and the Grateful Dead. Sue has published in national and international academic journals in all of these areas. Her work on the Grateful Dead has been presented in numerous venues, including the Grateful Dead’s Scholar’s Caucus.