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).

Mike and Josie Harper Center Ballroom
602 N 20th St
Omaha, Nebraska, 68178
United States

Dana Murray

Executive Director of North Omaha Music & Arts Academy, Musician and Educator

Dana Murray, is a passionate musician and educator who has devoted most of his life to music. He’s played for such greats as Wynton Marsalis, Jimmy Witherspoon, Roy Hargrove, Aloe Blacc and Norah Jones. Dana’s passion for music led him into teaching where he's held various educator roles with the University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha Public Schools and Bellevue Public Schools (Nebraska) as well as founding the competitive indoor percussion ensemble: Dojo Percussion. He's toured the world as a musician and serves as the Founder and Executive Director of the North Omaha Music and Arts (NOMA).

Dr. David Galant

Music Director of the Kanesville Symphony Orchestra and Assistant Professor of Music at Creighton University

Dr. David Michael Galant is Music Director of the Kanesville Symphony Orchestra and Assistant Professor of Music at Creighton University where he conducts the University Symphony Orchestra. Maestro Galant has previously conducted at the Dohnányi Conducting Academy in Hungary, the International Institute for Conductors in Bulgaria, the Prague Summer Nights Young Artists Festival in the Czech Republic, the Miami Music Festival in Florida, the Wintergreen Summer Music Festival in Virginia, the International Conductors Workshop and Competition in Georgia, and was a finalist in the Serbian Lányi Conducting Competition. Dr. Galant is known to be an energetic and passionate conductor on the podium and enjoys guest conducting internationally having worked with Charleston Symphony, Vidin State Philharmonic Orchestra, Dohnányi Orchestra, Klassische Philharmonie, Czech Philharmonic, Prague Symphony, Boulder Chamber Orchestra, and Holland Symphony.

Dr. Justin Romano

Psychiatry Fellow at Creighton University School of Medicine

Dr. Justin Romano is a child and adolescent psychiatry fellow at Creighton University. His podcast Millennial Mental Health Channel is a platform to educate the people of all ages on mental health disorders and reduce the stigma around getting help for mental health. Discussing social issues such as cell phone addiction to general education on traditional psychiatric disorders such as depression and personality disorders. His aspirations include increasing access to mental health care in rural areas, advocating for mental health equity in state and federal legislatures, and rethinking traditional medical models to improve care and outcomes. Focus area: Medicine/psychiatry. Exploring the issues of social media and increasing usage of social media platforms by youth and young adults.

Dr. Michael Ackerbauer

Business Transformation Leader

Michael Ackerbauer is a Business Transformation Leader for IBM, where he partners with organizational leaders to humanize their digital transformation. A seasoned innovator and intrapreneur, Michael makes complex concepts easy to understand and simple to apply. He holds a master’s degree in Applied Imagination and a doctorate in Creative Leadership. Talk Focus area: Team Development. Building perfect teams can happen, but it needs skills of leaders who listen and engage with the team.

Dr. Pat Friman

VP of Behavioral Health at Boys Town & Clinical Professor

Dr. Patrick Friman received his Ph.D. from the University of Kansas. He is the current Vice President of Behavioral Health at Boys Town and a Clinical Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Nebraska School of Medicine. He has published more than 200 scientific articles and chapters and three books, focusing on Behavioral Pediatrics and Behavioral Medicine. Dr. Friman’s work in behavioral pediatrics has concentrated on the gap between primary medical care for children on one side, and referral-based clinical child psychological and psychiatric care, on the other. Focus area of talk: Behavioral health. There is need for all of us to exhibit compassion and understanding during times of misunderstanding and conflict, where we are faced with circumstances beyond our control.

Justin Kemerling

Independent Graphic Designer

Justin Kemerling is an independent graphic designer, activist, and collaborator living in Omaha, Nebraska focused on making it beautiful, moving people to action, and getting good things done. Over the last 12 years, he has worked primarily with community organizations and political campaigns in need of branding, graphic design, and web design. His self-initiated projects and collaborations explore ways to move forward important causes and ideas with design, art, and other forms of creative expression. Talk Focus area: Explicit and implicit messaging in graphics and graphic design.

Lee Emma Running

Artist

Recognized for her arresting sculptures, Lee Emma Running’s work directly engages our relationship with the natural world. Her sculptures made of roadkill animal bones, kiln-cast glass, and precious metals were the center of a solo exhibition, Verge at PACE in Council Bluffs IA in 2021-22. Window installations using native plants are permanent fixtures at the Bernheim, Arboretum and Research Forest in Bernheim, Kentucky and the Edgar Fine Arts Center at Upper Iowa University. In 2022, & currently completing a permanent installation at the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs. Her work has been featured in recent exhibitions at the Morris Graves Museum, Eureka CA, Western Carolina Museum of Fine Art, Cullowhee NC, and The Front, New Orleans, LA. As an artist in residence at Pine Meadow Ranch Center for Arts and Agriculture, Ucross, Santa Fe Art Institute, Jental, Penland School of Crafts, & 2022-23 Artist in Residence with Opera Omaha. Her work is represented by Olson-Larsen Galleries.

Ralph Kellogg

Vice President of People Training at Lutheran Family Services

Ralph Kellogg is the Vice President for People Training at Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska. Ralph has an extensive background in human resources, training, employee relations, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. Ralph has been published in Forbes.com and presented as a keynote speaker for McLean & Company. He also works with organizations to implement constructive practices in the areas of communication, effective conflict management, and authenticity in the workplace. Ralph is a passionate advocate for practices related to mental and emotional well-being in the workplace.

Ruth Murray

Registered Nurse and Consultant

Ruth Murray is a a nurse and developmental movement therapist. Because three of her children’s development wasn’t typical, she began a quest for explanations and solutions to resolve baffling symptoms that didn’t fit traditional diagnoses. She found astonishing answers that explained and provided life-changing help, not only for her family but for people who struggled with a wide variety of learning, neurological and mental health issues. She is the creator of the Developmental Pyramid, which illustrates to professionals and others, why there are so many who struggle to accomplish life tasks, and points to solutions that can help us all. Talk Focus area: Exploring the use of alternative methods of medical support that do not include tablets, therapy or surgery.