We had 15 presenters over the course of a Saturday, broken into 3 sessions. Outside of the main theater we had over 2 dozen exhibitors showing off technology, design, social entrepreneurial efforts and others. Great food and local entertainment rounded out the day.

The Sheldon Memorial
3648 Washington Boulevard
St. Louis, Missouri, 63108
United States

Ashleyliane Dance Company

ADC,formed in 2007, is a professional performance organization artistically directed by Ashley L. Tate. ADC specializes in blending modern, jazz, and contemporary training with urban street dance.

Pernikoff Brothers

The Pernikoff Brothers sound marries the inventiveness and energy of My Morning Jacket with the brotherly magic of the Avetts. Tom, Rick and Dan released their second record in 2013. In 2011, the group founded Tunespeak, a company that makes cool stuff for musicians and their fans.

Amy Hunter

As director of racial justice for YWCA Metro St. Louis, Amy Hunter is responsible for ensuring that eliminating racism. Part of the YWCA’s two-prong mission of eliminating racism and empowering women, is incorporated in all of the organization’s internal and external programming.

Andrew Winship

Drew is Founder/ CEO of Juristat and Founder/ Director of GlobalHack. Drew Winship spent the first few years of his career establishing his practice as a litigator at the law firm of Brown & James, P.C. He represented some of the largest companies in the world in tort, contract, and class action cases. Drew handled lawsuits throughout the Midwest, and is licensed to practice in Missouri, Illinois, and numerous federal courts.

Carol Davit

As the executive director of the Missouri Prairie Foundation, Carol Davit works to conserve tall grass prairie—a complex ecosystem that once blanketed 15 million acres of Missouri and 40% of St. Louis. Carol has worked for nearly 20 years in the conservation field in communications, development, administration, and leadership capacities. She has worked for private, nonprofit conservation groups and with municipal and state government initiatives.

Henry Evans

In 2003 at age 40, Henry was left mute and quadriplegic after a stroke-like attack caused by a hidden birth defect. Years of therapy helped him learn to move his head and use a finger — which allows him to use a head-tracking device to communicate with a computer using experimental interfaces.

Joe Steensma

Dr. Steensma is a Professor of Social Entrepreneurship and Public Health in the George W. Brown School of Social Work at Washington University in St. Louis. Prior to joining the academy in a full time capacity, Dr. Steensma was active in business and public affairs. Dr. Steensma is well known for his success in business, but has also been conducting research on birds for the past 30 years. He is regarded as an expert on the topic of neotropical migrants in the Bahamas. He steadfastly believes that his understanding of the biological sciences has made him a better entrepreneur and businessman.

Kyra Krakos

Kyra is an Assistant Professor of Biology at Maryville University, and a Research Associate at Missouri Botanical Garden. She teaches courses in ecology, plants and people, evolution, conservation and sustainability, and botany. Her lab focuses on two main areas of research that emphasize the need to understand the dynamics of the natural world in a changing environment.

Lance McCarthy

Dr. E. Lance McCarthy is a nationally recognized economist and investment advisor, with a specialty in urban development. Dr. Lance has consulted and or been affiliated with White House Task Force on Economic Conversion, Harvard Lecturer , Ferguson 1000 Jobs, Black Silicon Valley, The Catholic Church, The Republican Party, Orlando Urban League, Rainbow Push Silicon Valley Project, and Venture Draft a conference connecting Athletes, Technology and Venture Capital. His book “Wall Street to the Hood” is being released in early 2015.

Lola Van Ella

Lola van Ella is an international, award winning burlesque performer, singer, producer and instructor. She owns Van Ella Studios, the home of burlesque education and entertainment in St. Louis, produces the Show Me Burlesque and Vaudeville Festival and Beggar’s Carnivale, and is a passionate world traveling showgirl, feminist, animal lover, foodie and educator.

Lu Allerruzzo

Lu Alleruzzo received a bachelor’s degree in bioengineering and an MBA from the University of Missouri – Columbia. He is a co-founder and the COO of Immunophotonics, a biotech company that has developed inCVAX, an in situ autologous cancer vaccine for the treatment of advanced solid tumor cancers.

Mike Konzen

Mike Konzen is chairman of PGAV Destinations, a 120 person global creative firm dedicated to enriching lives through beautiful entertainment, cultural, and leisure destinations. Mike has consulted on projects at the Giza Pyramids, Niagara Falls, Universal Studios Orlando, Xi’an Terracotta Warriors Museum, Kennedy Space Center, and many others.

Paul Lee

Paul is the cofounder and CEO of Rovity, a technology company based in St. Louis. He is an attorney-turned-entrepreneur who drew from his experiences as a sports enthusiast and state championship high school coach to create Tackl.com, the world’s first aggregator and social shopping platform for athletic consumers. Paul originally hails from Livingston, New Jersey and earned his bachelor’s degree from Washington University in St. Louis.

Peat Wollaeger

Peat is the “Artist in Residence” for TEDxGatewayArch. He designed the stage for the Confluence II event and as such, become a key part of our volunteer team. “You’re putting art in places where people would never even think of stepping into a gallery,” says Peat “EYEZ” Wollaeger, discussing his craft as one of St. Louis’ prolific street artists. From brick walls to abandoned buildings, glass, and enormous commissioned murals, the city is his canvas.

Shanti Parikh

Shanti Parikh, Ph.D., is Associate Professor of Anthropology and African & African American Studies at Washington University. She has served as an adviser for programs and conducted research on gender, inequality, and sexual health in the Global South for almost 25 years.

Syna So Pro

Although born and raised in Rolla, Syna has lived in St. Louis so long she calls it home. She started playing music at age seven through Suzuki Method violin lessons. That spiraled into teaching herself piano at age 10 which blossomed into becoming a “choir nerd” in her early teens. That wasn’t enough, however, so in her twenties she took up the electric bass guitar, again, teaching herself. Syna built the pedal boards she uses for performances. During a typical solo set, expect to see her on stage wielding guitar, bass, violin, keyboard and her most powerful and practiced instrument of choice: her voice.

Walter Metcalfe

Long-time St. Louis advocate, former CEO of a global law firm and civic project veteran, Walter chairs the $380 million initiative connecting the Gateway Arch with the city and the river and reimagining the Arch grounds to link the boundless future the Arch symbolizes with the rich heritage St. Louis celebrates.