Theme: Back to the Basics

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).

TEDxAlexandarPark
5029 W Broad St NE
Sugar Hill, Georgia, 30518
United States

Abe Parker

In 2021 Abe Parker slipped into the For You Page of listeners across the world. Although his breakthrough song “Empty House” took Tiktok by storm he is no newcomer to the music scene. Abe Parker has written and produced for artists like Marc E Bassy, David Kushner, Lecrae, Crowder, Social Club Misfits and Jaylon Ashaun all the while writing, producing and mixing his songs which have garnered over 16 millions streams. From his heartfelt voice and melodies that share deep emotions combined with raw lyrics make any person stop dead in their tracks. Speaking on social anxiety to break ups to love ballads, Abe’s unique writing has his fans and the industry listening.

Ameya Agnihotri

My name is Ameya Agnihotri and I am a senior at The Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science and Technology. I am passionate about helping others and want to pursue a career in medicine to do exactly that. I believe that in our world, we find that we section ourselves off into groups and categories, and resist connections with others who don’t fit in our box. The solution is to be connected with the people around us. I try to do this in my everyday life at school, at my internships and at home. I am a first-generation Indian American and my roots are in South India. In my free time, I love to spend time with friends, read, or dance.

Ashley Wright

Ashley Wright is a Graphic Design and Production Teacher at Paul Duke STEM High School. She was the 2023 Gwinnett County Public Schools Teacher of the Year. Ms. Wright earned her Bachelor’s in business education from Valdosta State University and a Masters in Instructional Technology from Kennesaw State University. Overall, she has 12 years of teaching experience: 8 years in private schools and 4 in public (GCPS). She is certified in Graphic Design and published in the ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education) Magazine. Ashley was born and raised in Gwinnett County. When Ashley is not teaching, she enjoys hiking and being on the water. Last summer she got her diving certification in the Maldives.

Bucky O'Neill

Bucky has spent the last 24 years deeply immersed in the space of human development…working directly with global thought leaders and trillion-dollar corporations…Bucky is dedicated to supporting individuals to get the most out of their life experience through the intelligent design of their life, relationships and business.

Dr. Matisa Wilbon

Dr. Matisa Wilbon earned her B.A. in Anthropology/Sociology from Centre College in Kentucky. She received her Master’s and Ph.D. degrees in Sociology from The Ohio State University in Columbus, OH. As a sociologist, Dr. Matisa Wilbon studies people and patterns of behavior. Neither her research nor teaching experiences could prepare her for the very personal journey on which grief would take her, but her training would teach her how to respond to it. Taking the audience from grief to gratitude, Dr. Wilbon shares how the power of gratitude is underestimated and underutilized. Simply choosing gratitude is life-changing and life-affirming even in the face of death. Dr. Wilbon is a classic introvert who loves to read and travel. She is wife to her wonderful husband, Mr. Lawrence Wilbon, and mom to her amazing children, Deshawn and Taiya.

Elyssa Fernández

Elyssa Fernández is a 19-year-old filmmaker, artist, and entrepreneur. She and her sister, Elisha, founded their business WhollyART at 8 and 9 years old and published their bestselling book, I Love ME! Self-Esteem for Teens, just a year later. Elyssa has spoken on stages around the world about self-esteem for kids and teens. She’s passionate about diversity, inclusion, and representation, especially in filmmaking. Elyssa is also an OG theatre kid and she loves to sing musical theater songs all day – and most of the night. You can learn more about Elyssa at WhollyART.com and follow her @WhollyART.

Iris Grimm

When Iris Grimm talks about dogs, she is fierce, compassionate, and practical. Iris believes that dogs can be our greatest teachers when we listen to them. She speaks from experience. For 22 years, Iris has trained not only her own seven dogs but also fostered and trained many others. As a business owner in the leadership development space, she makes it her mission to raise awareness of the impact that dogs can have on us. She encourages dog adoptions to improve an individual’s life and leadership performance. When she isn’t working, you will find Iris hiking in the North Georgia mountains – with her dogs, of course. Iris is a native German and has been living in the US for the last 27 years.

Lee Richter

Award-winning CEO, Marketing Expert, Innovator and Global Leader, Lee Richter, is recognized for many years as one of San Francisco’s Top 100 Women Business Leaders, Top 100 Fastest Growing Businesses … and in 2022, she was named one of the Top 100 Innovators in the San Francisco Bay Area by the San Francisco Business Times. Expanding on her successful entrepreneurial journey, Lee utilizes her superpower in public relations to connect the business world with the future of business and marketing. Lee teaches leaders globally to incorporate NFTs in their business as a tactic to achieve financial and professional success in the current marketplace. In addition, she is a best-selling co-author of “Blockchain Life” and is exploring and identifying ways the blockchain is changing how we conduct business in the future. Most importantly, Lee is a loving and devoted wife and mother.

Ocean Robbins

Ocean Robbins is co-founder & CEO of the 700,000 member Food Revolution Network. He is author of the bestseller, 31-Day Food Revolution: Heal Your Body, Feel Great, and Transform Your World. Ocean founded Youth for Environmental Sanity (YES!) at age 16, and directed it for the next 20 years. He has spoken in person to more than 200,000 people, organized online seminars and events reaching more than a million, and facilitated leadership development events for leaders from 65 nations. He has served as adjunct professor for Chapman University, and is a recipient of the national Jefferson Award for Outstanding Public Service, the Freedom’s Flame Award, the Harmon Wilkinson Award, and many other honors.

Stephen Schettini

Young Stephen felt alone and misunderstood. Unable to connect to his family and culture, he grew isolated and full of rage. After a harrowing solo trek to India, he found peace through mental training, taking ordination and studying for eight years with the Dalai Lama’s monks. He understood Buddhism well, but modern audiences not so well. Back in consumer society, he saw how we misunderstand happiness and compound our suffering. He published his guide, It Begins with Silence and with his wife life coach Caroline Courey established Quiet Mind Seminars and The Naked Monk blog. In 2020 his classes moved online and went from once a week to three times, providing ongoing training and support at mindfulnesslive.ca. Stephen and Caroline live near Montreal with their cats Sam & Ziggy. His memoir is, The Novice: Why I Became a Buddhist Monk.

Thierry Musantu

Thierry Musantu, an Afro-American of Congolese origin studied the art of different traditions at the National Institute of Arts in the DRCongo. Thierry is a musical arranger, pianist, master drummer, and director of various traditional shows.

Travis Hall

Travis Hall serves as the Lead Pastor of Life Church International, a dynamic and diverse congregation in Metro Atlanta. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Leadership and Administration from Lee University, a Master's Degree in Ministry from Richmont Graduate University with an emphasis in spiritual formation, and is currently pursuing his Doctorates Degree in spiritual formation and leadership. Travis is an alumnus of Bishop T.D. Jakes's mentoring program, Project Gideon as well as the late Bishop Tony Miller’s Timothy Team. In 2021 he published his first book project 7 Deadly Thoughts. Travis has 19 years of ministry experience and he’s passionate about equipping leaders to start well, stay well, and finish well. He engages weekly on Instagram with a community of growing leaders @pastortravishall as well as his website cultivatemypurpose.com. He lives in metro Atlanta with his wife of 22 years, Tina, and their 6 beautiful children.

Trey Lewis

Our founder and CEO, Trey Lewis, served as an active duty member of the United States Air Force and attended Mercer University, where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Public Safety Leadership. Trey knows firsthand how dangerous and deceitful a life controlled by drugs and alcohol can be. He was delivered from addiction in 2005 and was immediately filled with a passionate calling to tell everyone about the transforming power and love that is found only in Christ. It was in his first year of law school that Trey realized God was setting him on a path to fulfill a dream in his heart to open an inpatient residential treatment facility that will transform the lives of men who are hurting and lost to their addiction to drugs and alcohol. A gifted communicator, Trey has traveled the country while preaching the gospel, leading outreach initiatives, and inspiring thousands of people across America through strategic leadership conferences. He and his wife, Holly, live in Atlanta, Georgia with their six children, Cannon, Beau, Arrow Rose, Pearce, Cross, and Cal. While Trey is aware that there are many options available to those who struggle with addiction, he recognizes that many of them do not provide the necessary tools and dependency on Christ to bring about real and lasting transformation in people’s lives. His commitment and passion is ensuring that Good Landing is the best program in the nation for addicts to get clean and be restored to a life filled with purpose.