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).

Adler Theater
136 E 3rd St
Davenport, Iowa, 52801
United States

Aaron Warner

Aaron Warner educates and empowers people to be the driving force behind cybersecurity, so we can all safely enjoy more of our lives. Backed by decades of global IT and cybersecurity expertise, Aaron applies real-world experience and humorous perspective to guide audiences through the latest risks and remedies as well as bridge the gap between technical and business minds.

Bernardo Llorente

Bernie is a proud husband and father of four, and a passionate Argentinian agronomist driven by excellence and service. He has more than 15 years of experience in agriculture working in different capacities—from technical advisory to enabling farmers in Precision Ag and Conservative Crop Production, to developing business, operational management, and emerging technologies both in Latin America and the United States. With a strong sense of moral responsibility over his area of expertise, Bernie works every day to ensure continuous progress toward sustainable food production systems.

Bushra Amiwala

Bushra Amiwala is a media icon, student, dynamic speaker, and the youngest Muslim elected official in the United States. At the age of 19, she announced her candidacy for the Cook County Board of Commissioners, with the goal to serve as a voice for her underrepresented generation and other marginalized communities. Her campaign has been covered nationally by outlets such as the Chicago Tribune, The New York Times, and Teen Vogue, landing her on the cover of TIME magazine. Bushra recently went down in the Chicago History Museum as the Youngest Muslim Elected in the United States.

David Cohen

David Cohen is an award-winning musician and recording artist who is accomplished in the Classical and flamenco guitar, Chinese pipa, and bagpipes. David’s study of music has led him to California, Nevada, New York, and Scotland. David has performed with the Pipes and Drums of the Jersey Shore Shillelaghs and the Black Hawk Pipes and Drums of the Quad Cities. David resides in Kemmerer (the second "er" is silent), Wyoming.

Dr. Robert Pearl

Dr. Robert Pearl is the former CEO of The Permanente Medical Group (1999-2017), the nation’s largest medical group, and former president of The Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group (2009-2017). In these roles, he led 10,000 physicians, and 38,000 staff and was responsible for the nationally recognized medical care of 5 million Kaiser Permanente members on the west and east coasts. Named one of Modern Healthcare’s 50 most influential physician leaders, Pearl is an advocate for the power of integrated, prepaid, technologically advanced, and physician-led healthcare delivery.

Jessie Adams

Jessie Adams is a Quad City local native. She is a nationally recognized fitness coach, a former firefighter, and the founder of BelieveinU Fitness. She has evolved her passion for leading others to achieve their personal goals, bucket list adventures, and epic fitness challenges, through Peak Performance Coaching. Jessie has taken on her own challenges and competed on television shows such as NBC's American Gladiators, American Ninja Warrior, and CMT’s Broken Skull Challenge. She believes nothing is impossible, and it's never too late to go after your greatest life adventures.

Kevin Reome

Kevin Reome has been teaching improvisation at the Second City Training Center in Chicago since 2005. He is a founding member of the improv team Inside Vladimir and starred in the Upright Citizens Brigade production at iO Chicago. He has written and performed in The Eulogist (2001), Rahm Zombie (2012), The Reome Awards of Chicago to Benefit Alzheimer’s Research (2014), and Lightfoot Loose (2019). Reome facilitates corporate improv workshops, emcees events, and gives keynote addresses throughout the country. He has appeared on the ABC 7 talk show Windy City Live as well as Fox Chicago, NBC5 Chicago, WBBM Newsradio, WCPT Radio, and WLS Talk Radio. Kevin has a B.A. in English and a teaching degree from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Laurie McGraw

30-year health technology executive known for driving innovation, company growth, and industry standard-setting across the healthcare sector. Board director to NASDAQ companies, venture advisor, and health equity champion. Inclusive team builder and mentor, insightful speaker, Forbes Technology Council Member, Crain’s Notable Women Executive. A passionate outdoor enthusiast who is fortunate to live in both Boulder, CO, and Big Sky, MT. Committed to building the next generation of leaders, podcast creator and host (Inspiring Women with Laurie McGraw) providing insights for women navigating their career paths and trying to make a positive impact in the world.

Michael Hurley

Michael Hurley was a CIA operations officer for 25 years. Following the 9/11 attacks, he commanded a CIA team in Afghanistan where he was a leader in the hunt for Usama bin Laden. Serving on the 9/11 Commission, he led the Commission's counterterrorism policy investigation into how two administrations had responded to the growing threat of al Qaeda and co-authored the Commission's national bestselling final report. He served twice on the National Security Council staff at the White House as Director for the Balkans and deployed to Bosnia during the war; he helped craft and implement the strategy that led to the most successful manhunt of war criminals in history. In his post-CIA career, he has been an advisor to the President of Colombia. Michael is an attorney who now advises a half dozen Silicon Valley high technology companies.

Rebecca Bender

Rebecca Bender is the CEO of the Rebecca Bender Initiative and founder of Elevate Academy, the largest online school for survivors of human trafficking in the world. She is an award-winning thought leader, advocate, and consultant who equips individuals and organizations to identify and fight human trafficking in their own backyards. Rebecca has been recognized by the FBI and received multiple awards for her leadership and advocacy in the field. She testified in front of the legislature to change Oregon SB673, and regularly testifies as an expert witness in court proceedings around the nation. Rebecca has trained well over 100,000 professionals, including FBI, Homeland Security, local law enforcement, vice units, and medical personnel. In 2017, she was selected as one of twenty-one representative members of the National Advisory Committee on Sex Trafficking of Children and Youth in the United States. The Committee advises the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Attorney General on practical and general policies concerning improvements to the nation’s response to the sex trafficking of children and youth in the United States. She also served on the Department of Justice task force, the core committee to the Equality Model, the board of Exodus Cry and consults for many of our nation’s leading nonprofits.

Ruth Oelrich

Ruth Oelrich, a native of Davenport, IA, has spent the last 20 years working in the field of education as both an educator and school counselor. She received her MSE degree from the University of Wisconsin - Platteville in 2002. She has worked with youth in inner-city and rural communities, in public, private, and charter school systems. She specializes in Attachment Theory, Suicide Prevention, Adverse Childhood Experiences, and Adolescent Mental Health. She has volunteered her time as a Crisis Response Counselor for both the YWCA Domestic Violence Program and the American Red Cross. She believes in leading a life of simplicity, calmness, and passion and strives to instill the belief in her students. Ruth is currently a Middle School Counselor in Milan, TN.

Terrence Franklin

Terrence Franklin practices trusts and estates litigation in the Los Angeles law firm he co-founded Sacks, Glazier, Franklin & Lodise, LLP. A graduate of Harvard Law School and Northwestern University, Terrence is a fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel and has served as Chair of its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity Committee. Terrence received the 2021 Lifetime Achievement Award from Chambers & Partners for his work in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the legal community and was named to the 2020 and 2019 list of "Most Influential Minority Lawyers" by Los Angeles Business Journal; and was also named Best Lawyers’ "Lawyer of the Year" in 2016 for Trusts & Estates Litigation - Los Angeles.