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).

Marquette High School Theater
2351 Clarkson Rd, Chesterfield, MO 63017
Chesterfield, Missouri, 63005
United States

Ammar Hawasli

Dr. Ammar Hawasli is an academic neurosurgeon at Barnes Jewish Hospital and Assistant Professor of Neurological Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery, Biomedical Engineering and Neuroscience at Washington University. He treats patients with diseases of the brain and spine with a special focus on spinal surgery. Dr. Hawasli’s research laboratory aims to understand the relationships between the spine and brain in normal people and patients suffering from neurological or spinal illnesses. He studies brain physiology and connectivity in spinal disorder patients leveraging expertise in both spinal neurosurgery and brain physiology and a network of high-level collaborators at Washington University School of Medicine.

Chris Holmes

Chris Holmes is a veteran teacher who recently helped found Miriam Academy, a St. Louis-area high school for students with social and learning challenges. Prior to that, he taught journalism, creative writing and spoken word poetry at Hazelwood West High School in north St. Louis County, where he was named the 2015 Missouri Teacher of the Year. Every June, Chris moves to the University of Missouri campus to teach memoir writing and spoken word poetry at Missouri Scholars Academy, a three-week residential program for gifted high school juniors. In July, he is beginning a phenomenological research study, "Backtracking Apathy," interviewing dozens of adolescents across the country in the hope of gaining insight into the origins of student apathy.

General Stewart Rodeheaver

Stewart is a Proven Combat, Corporate, Community leader and Entrepreneur. He is the owner of VizitTech USA, a break-away technology company focusing in 3D, Virtual, Interactive and Augmented reality-based training. ViziTech was Georgia’s “Coolest Technology Company” of the year for 2012 and Stewart was the technology “Entrepreneur of the Year” as chosen by the Technology Association of Georgia. The company has also been awarded multiple “Telly” awards for visual training excellence and the “Maverick Award” for the most Innovative Development in Technology by the US Army in 2012. Current clients include Top companies such as Georgia Power, Southern Company, Gulfstream Aviation, Lockheed Martin, Technical College System of Ga., and over 1000 middle and high schools in multiple States. Recently the company was named “Rock Star Small business of the year for 2016” by the State of Georgia, and selected by CIO Review magazine in the Top 20 Augmented Reality Development Companies in the Nation for 2017. BG Rodeheaver served the U.S. Army for 38 years. His tours included Central America, tours in North Africa, and multiple tours in the Middle East including a 3-year command tour of Task Force Lightning. While in Iraq he commanded 50% of the city of Baghdad and all of Southern Iraq, all US and Coalition Forces, including the famed Triangle of Death and the Syrian border. His focus on experiential training and adding virtual and problem based learning to the standard Army training program produced several Awards of Excellence for his units and Commands. Stewart has appeared on ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX and many Cable networks as well as CMT television and Armed Forces Network during his tour as Commander of Task Force Lightning in Baghdad, Iraq and has multiple awards and recognition for his strategic planning skills, and his ability to turn skills into tactical and strategic level successes. He has been featured in multiple local, statewide and national publications including Stars and Stripes, was the cover article and feature for “Georgia Trend Magazine”, and recognized by “Columns Magazine” for his Community and Military leadership, and his unique successes as an entrepreneur. In 2013 he was awarded the Robert Scott Award by the US Air Force for excellence in Military Leadership. His company is a certified partner with the National Dropout Prevention Network, Destination Imagination, The Fernbank Science Center in Atlanta, and the Morgridge Family Educational Foundation in Denver Colorado. General Rodeheaver was born and raised in Forsyth Ga., and is a 1970 graduate of Mary Persons High School. He is the first person in his family to graduate from High School, and the first to attend College. He recognized the value of continual education and learning early, and is a 1985 graduate of Mercer University (went to College on the 15 year plan!!) with a Degree in Business Management, an Honor graduate of the United States Army Command and General Staff College and a Graduate of the United States Army War College with a Masters Level Degree in International Business Relations. He has been awarded the Legion of Merit medal 5 times, Bronze Star with “V” device, the Meritorious Service Medal 5 times, The Army Commendation Medal 7 times, received both the Iraq and Middle Eastern Anti-Terrorism Medals, and multiple other medals and awards in his 38 year career.

Gina Watkins

Gina, Watkins is a graduate of the University of Missouri - Columbia (BS) and Lindenwood University (MA) and the proud parent of Mia ( Elon University 2015) and Paul ( Stanford University 2017). She began her educational career in the Riverview Gardens School District and is currently the Guidance Counselor and Coordinator of Student life at Crossroads College Preparatory School. Gina has spent the past 7 years as a Site Director for Aim High St. Louis (a program that serves underserved youth for 5 weeks during the summer).

James Nacy

Cellist, conductor and educator James Nacy has lived and worked in the Saint Louis area for more than 20 years. He is the Director of Orchestras at Marquette High School in the Rockwood School District. There, he also teaches AP Music Theory and was Teacher of the Year in 2009. Additionally, James serves on the faculty of Saint Louis University where he teaches cello, chamber music and conducts the orchestra. In 2006, the Missouri Chapter of the American String Teachers Association named him Outstanding Secondary School Educator. During the summers of 2008 and 2009, James traveled to Iraq and Lebanon where he taught cello, conducted various orchestras and provided training for string teachers. Closer to home, he has served as conductor, clinician and sectional-coach for a variety of honors orchestras. James is the cellist of the LinjadiTrio, and as a free-lance cellist, has performed with such artists as Harry Connick, Jr., Wynton Marsalis, Barry Manilow and the Trans Siberian Orchestra.

Robert Potter

Robert Potter is a 3rd year PhD candidate in Gautam Dantas’s laboratory at Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine. Since he joined the Dantas Lab in March 2016 he has used cutting-edge computational and experimental tools to study antibiotic resistance in pathogenic bacteria. Following his time at Washington University in St. Louis School of medicine Robert hopes to become a clinical microbiologist and leverage advances in translational science to improve human health. Robert grew up in Orange County, California and received a BA in molecular biology from the University of California, Berkeley in 2015. In his spare time, he enjoys competing in local road races as a member of the Big River Racing team and eating St. Louis BBQ.

Travis Allen

Travis Allen is a young visionary promoting digital learning in the classroom. Today, he is a senior at Kennesaw State University where he operates his growing organization, iSchool Initiative. With the support of his team, Travis has presented in over 40 states and 8 countries, allowing him to reach an audience of over 200,000 people! He has been featured on CNN, Huffington Post and Forbes. In In 2015 he won the GA Young Entrepreneur of the Year. Travis is quickly becoming one of the most influential leaders of the emerging digital learning movement.