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).

Jackson Theater at Sonoma Country Day School
4400 Day School Place
Santa Rosa, California, 95403
United States

Andrew Carruthers

Violin Maker

A native of Oxfordshire, England, Andrew worked at the Lawrence Berkeley Research Labs in California before deciding to follow his passion for building stringed instruments. In 1996 he opened his workshop in Santa Rosa, providing restoration services to some of the world’s leading violin dealers. Andrew’s recent work has included a series of experimental or “Off Beat” violins that explore aspects of violin making tradition and aesthetics.

Carin Taylor

Chief Diversity Officer, Workday

Carin Taylor is the chief diversity officer at Workday, a leader in enterprise cloud applications for finance and human resources. Within her role, Carin has global responsibility for the development and execution of the company’s DEI&B (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging) strategy. In her session she’ll describe this strategy in greater detail, highlighting why belonging is a key focus to her as a leader.

Dave Pokorny

Stand Up Comic

Dave Pokorny once was one of the most sought-after opening acts in comedy. Seen on ABC & MTV, as a regular on the Vegas strip, and house emcee at the #1 comedy club in San Francisco, he opened for such talents as Ellen DeGeneres and Jim Carrey, (to name a couple). After taking a break to pursue a career as a stay-at-home dad, Dave returned to the stage with the award-winning West Side Stories Petaluma and is now writing a follow-up to his first solo show.

Forest Stearns

TEDxSonomaCounty Artist in Residence

Forest Stearns is an academically trained prolific illustrator, an arts educator, creative facilitator, and community builder. As the Principal Artist at DRAWEVERYWHERE, he produces unique artworks and leads collaborations connecting artists and institutions. He has a passion for founding Artist in Residence programs that connect art, science, and technology. As our esteemed TEDxSonomaCounty Artist in Residence, we are delighted to have Forest partner with us to create illuminated drawings and hand lettered scripts of our TEDx speakers, capturing the essence of their TEDx Talks in a stunning and eye-catching way.

Jim Heid

Built Environment Entrepreneur

An urbanist and environment entrepreneur focused on the tools and techniques that create more sustainable communities, Jim has advised government agencies, real estate companies and legacy landowners across the globe for over two decades. In 2017, he founded a real estate development company focused on intentional place-building. He has done projects in his hometown of Healdsburg to demonstrate the concepts in his new book – Building Small: A Handbook for Real Estate Entrepreneurs, Civic Leaders and Great Communities

Karissa Kruse

President, Sonoma County Winegrowers

As president of the Sonoma County Winegrowers, a marketing/educational organization dedicated to the promotion and preservation of Sonoma County as one of the world’s premier grape-growing regions, Karissa has guided the strategy and implementation of Sonoma County becoming the most sustainable wine region in the world. Karissa is a forward-thinking leader who continues to innovate in areas of climate farming, ag preservation, and social sustainability. Her numerous awards include being named to the Organic Authority’s List of “Badass Disruptors Changing Your Food System” and Food & Wine magazine’s most Innovative Women in Food & Drink.

Lynda Hopkins

Chairwoman, Board of Supervisors of Sonoma County

The current chairwoman of the Board of Supervisors of Sonoma County, a county of half a million residents situated in the Northern Bay Area of California, Lynda also acts as the chair of the Climate Funding Committee for the Regional Climate Protection Authority and the chair of Sonoma Water. She also serves as a director on a variety of regional governance boards. Lynda is a passionate advocate for data-driven climate policy, wildfire resilience, coastal climate adaptation, affordable housing, social justice, and early childhood education.

Mark Hansen and Andrew Krause

Designers-in-Residence, UC San Diego

Mark is director of software engineering at a major aerospace company where he leads teams in the development of mission critical technologies for air and space vehicles. Andrew is an entrepreneur who helps people build more sustainable lifestyles at home -- from whole-home electrification to advanced material recovery and reuse. He are both designers-in-residence at University of California San Diego.

Matt Golden

CEO, Recurve

Whether testifying before Congress or auditing Ellen DeGeneres’ house, Matt has been spreading the word about energy efficiency for years. An entrepreneur, policy advocate, and efficiency agitator, Matt is committed to bringing demand flexibility in the built environment to scale as a grid and climate resource. He has made presentations on emerging demand flexibility markets to the US Senate Finance Committee, at COP 21, and to the UK Parliament among many others.

Rick Adam

One Man Band

Rick Adam/A.K.A. Professor Paddy-Whack, has been performing on his musical contraptions for more than 40 years. He has shared his musical talent with audiences on Broadway, and on radio, film and television. Rick was also featured on a PBS special about one-man bands in America, which is now in the permanent collection of the Smithsonian. In 2020, Rick loaded his “Funny Wagon” full of his contraptions and relocated from the mountains of Maine to Healdsburg, CA where he looks forward to sharing his special musical talents with Sonoma County and the surrounding area.

Sasha Berleman

Director, Audubon Canyon Ranch Fire Forward Program

Sasha Berleman, director of Audubon Canyon Ranch’s Fire Forward program, is working to change the way we live with fire in the Bay Area. With her team, Sasha plans and organizes cooperative prescribed burns, as well as trains and leads communities in fire management. She earned her doctorate in wildland fire science from University of California Berkeley, focusing on prescribed fire use for restoration of ecosystem health. She is co-chair of the Good Fire Alliance.

Transcendence Theatre Company

Amy Miller, Founder

Transcendence Theatre Company, recently named “Theatre Company of the Decade” by Broadway World San Francisco, is a Sonoma County non-profit arts organization with a mission to create extraordinary experiences that inspire all to cherish life and live it to the fullest. Transcendence specializes in producing high-caliber Broadway concerts in the majestic open-air ruins of the historic winery in Jack London State Historic Park. Featured performers have appeared in Broadway productions.

Yasmeen Turayhi

Marketing Executive, Filmmaker, Author, and Podcast Host

Yasmeen Turayhi is a marketing executive, filmmaker, author, and podcast host. Her podcast “Gateways to Awakening,” on wellness and spirituality, is produced by Hakawati, and she also hosts the leading podcast “Startup Confessionals,” which focuses on interviews with startup founders from the Middle East and North Africa. Yasmeen is also the writer/executive producer of “A Star In the Desert,” which is a finalist in six international film festivals. This short film is about an Iraqi boy who creates his own reality on the eve of the first Gulf War.