Theme: Connecting People

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).

George Walton Comprehensive High School
1590 Bill Murdock Rd
Marietta, Georgia, 30068
United States

Chad Carrodus

Entrepreneur and CEO

Chad Carrodus has a unique career, especially seeing he's 20 years old. As the Founder & Chairman of Carrodus Asset Management, LLC, a personal holding corporation with diversified interests in B2B SaaS, social monetization, e-commerce, steel & metal products, depreciating asset brokerage, brand management consulting, corporate restructuring, start up advising, and professional speaking, Chad has seasoned experience in an array of industries. Chad founded a charitable organization, which has received commendation from Georgia Governor, Nathan Deal. Additionally, Chad is the youngest member of the Board of Directors for The Fatherless Daughter Project, where he serves alongside Atlanta’s most accomplished executives, socialites, and TV personalities. Chad attended Baylor University in Waco, TX before returning back to Atlanta in order to continue his ventures.

Dale McGowan

Author

Dale McGowan is author of several books related to nonreligious life. His most recent—In Faith and In Doubt: How Religious Believers and Nonbelievers Can Create Strong Marriages and Loving Families and Sharing Reality: How to Bring Secularism and Science to an Evolving Religious World — reflect his work on building better understanding between people of different world views. Dale was Harvard Humanist of the Year in 2008 and created and led Foundation Beyond Belief, the world’s largest humanist charity. In addition to his writing, Dale is Managing Editor for nonreligious blogs at Patheos, the world’s largest website exploring religious and nonreligious perspectives. He lives with his family near Atlanta.

Jen Cox

Political Activist

Jen Cox, one of the Founders and Director of Communications for the grassroots political activism group, PaveItBlue, has tapped into an energy that grew quickly out of the response to the current political climate we live in. Using the power of social media, she is helping to educate, activate, and engage women in Metro Atlanta to become politically involved. Jen moved to the northern suburbs of Atlanta from Denver in 2009 and recognized the need to create a space for progressives to build community in this region. She has her B.A. in Interpersonal Communication from Tulane University and her M.A. in Sociology with a Women's Studies focus from the University of South Florida. She is a mom of two girls, a REALTOR® by trade, and a feminist activist at heart.

Mary Allhoff

Education Specialist and Missioniary

Mary Allhoff, M.Ed is a full time missionary living in Nicaragua. Mary works for Amigos for Christ, a community development non-for-profit that works alongside their Nicaraguan neighbors to provide clean water, health and sanitation projects, economic development, and education initiatives to impoverished rural communities. Mary formerly served as the Director of Education and now works in Human Resources. She has loved the opportunity to grow as a global educator and staff developer. Her passion lies in working on the Amigos Scholarship Program that provides 130 secondary and university students access to quality education. As a former teacher, youth minister and guidance counselor, Mary loves nothing more than helping young people to find their own passions and to shoot for the stars. She believes that young people with a mission can change the world. Born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, when she is in the USA, Mary tries to soak up as much of her family and friends as possible.