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).

Spotlight Theater
422 Wick Avenue
Youngstown, Ohio, 44555
United States

Adiel Gorel

CEO of ICG

As the CEO of International Capital Group (ICG), a leading real estate investment firm in the San Francisco Bay Area, Adiel is an internationally recognized expert and 35-plus-year real estate investment industry veteran. Adiel has successfully assisted thousands of investors with purchasing more than 10,000 U.S. investment properties, including personally investing in hundreds of properties for his own portfolio. A 6-time published author, he has covered topics from wealth building to breathing correctly. From being a Computer Science instructor at Stanford University to creating Public Television TV specials, Adiel’s life work is to challenge convention to offer insight on how everyone can improve their health, build their wealth, and live a better life. He holds a master’s degree in electrical engineering from Stanford University, has two grown children, and lives in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Carmella Williams

Founder & CEO, Carmella Marie Inc.

Carmella M. Williams is the founder & CEO of Carmella Marie, a holistic hair & beauty company that supports healthy hair from within by including an expanded line of vitamin-packed juices and results-driven hair & skin care products. With Carmella’s #crownfocused movement, her goal is to help millions of women see their excellent leadership potential. Since 2013 she has been assisting women in finding the courage to get #crownfocused on what matters to them most in business, family, education, community, career, or a healthier lifestyle.

Carol Bennett

Assistant Provost, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion

Carol Bennett is a mentor, educator, and administrator with over 20 years of experience in higher education. She has held positions in student services and student affairs and served as the Assistant Dean for Diversity and Inclusion at Truman State University. Currently, she is an Assistant Provost at Youngstown State University overseeing equity and inclusion efforts. Carol holds a bachelor's in Africana Studies, and a master's in African American Studies and is completing an EdD in Educational Leadership and Policy. She shares her journey as a below-average student to inspire others in the educational system. In her free time, she enjoys crafting, painting, gardening, and visiting museums.

Chris Kent

Liberation Catalyst

Chris Kent is a “liberation catalyst” whose mission is to help people achieve the liberation of body, mind, and spirit. One of the world’s foremost authorities on Jeet Kune Do, the martial art and philosophy developed by Bruce Lee, as a teacher and professional consultant, Chris has traveled the world, sharing the benefits of his expertise in the art with thousands of people. An accomplished writer, Chris has authored five books on Jeet Kune Do, and his articles have appeared in numerous martial art publications. His most recent book, “LIBERATE YOURSELF! – How to Think Like Bruce Lee,” details how individuals can apply the philosophical tenets of self-actualization utilized by Bruce Lee to their own lives. As a consultant and personal development specialist, Chris has helped countless individuals from all walks of life free themselves physically, mentally, and emotionally to actualize their true potential and live rich and rewarding life.

Christina Matteucci

Firecracker Speaker + Special Event Maven

Christina Matteucci (aka TeucciMama) has galvanized audiences of thousands with her compelling and utterly candid performance style. By reframing how to define and attain professional success, she’s earned the moniker Professional Provocatrice. Stage credits include speaking alongside Eliza Reid, First Lady of Iceland, at TEDxBeaconStreet 2019 and delivering the opening keynote at Catersource + The Special Event Conference 2022, where she shared top billing with culinary legend Chef Roy Choi. As Executive Director of David Beahm Experiences NYC, Christina has spent over two decades traveling the world, skillfully executing unfathomably complex soirées––adventures that have inspired the stories and lessons she shares with her audiences. Christina credits her rigorous theater training at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts with her ability to conceive and produce great event experiences; her education is instrumental in attaining her stature as a sought-after speaker too.

Corinne Devin

Speaker, Orthodontist, Commander United States Navy

Dr. Corinne Devin is a United States Naval Officer and Commander stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Command, Hiroshima, Japan. But before serving her country, she earned her bachelor’s degree in Communications from St. Mary’s College, and a Doctor of Dental Medicine from the University of Nevada Las Vegas School of Dental Medicine. Defying the odds and naysayers she entered the Miss Nevada USA pageant as a complete dare to now ten years later winning multiple state, national and international titles. Her first tour in the Navy, she completed an Advanced Education General Dentistry at Naval Medical Center San Diego, followed by an operational tour where she deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom to Al Assad, Iraq. In 2012 she completed her orthodontic residency at Lackland Air Force Base, where she also received a master’s degree in Oral Biology from the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences.

Jason Flakes

Experience Designer

Jason is an award-winning filmmaker and Industrial Designer who seeks to improve people's lives through storytelling and design. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for social awareness, he leverages various media platforms to bring authentic, impactful stories to life. Jason's human-centered design philosophy, combined with his expertise in research and multimedia, helps him address social issues and empower individuals. Jason is also known for his work as a business coach and life design expert. He believes that success in both personal and professional life can be achieved through finding harmony between work and rest. Jason calls this approach the "Hustle Equation." By striking a balance between work and rest, individuals can provide value to others and prioritize their well-being.

Joe Danyi

Entrepreneur

Joe Danyi is a Mahoning Valley entrepreneur known for his optimism and love for the community. He owns several businesses and partners in a growth and startup investment group. He is prolific in media, hosting “The Bottom-Line Business Show,” the “Youngstown Computer Show” on talk radio, as well a television program “Behind the Scenes.” He owns and operates a recording, podcasting, and broadcast studio, giving artists and creators a stage to create and distribute their content. Joe is in constant pursuit of helping people pursue their dreams and overcome the obstacles prohibiting them from realizing their goals. He believes in bringing people to work together on ambitious projects and stitching together diverse talents and personalities to do amazing things.

Karen Federici

M.D.

As a primary care physician, Dr. Karen Federici is dedicated to helping families breastfeed. Inspired by her experience as a new mother, she saw a genuine need for doctors who championed breastfeeding, so she left her actuarial career to become that doctor. In 2006, she founded Family First, centering her practice around women and children, helping thousands of mothers and babies breastfeed, and opening the first and only donor human milk dispensary in her region. Board-certified in family medicine and a fellow of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine, she serves as a volunteer clinical preceptor, teaching breastfeeding medicine to fellow physicians, medical students, and advanced practice nursing students. She is also the founder of TeleLact, a telehealth startup providing on-demand lactation support and education. As a mom of four, and wife to Barry (retired USMC colonel), doctor, and business owner, she wholly embraces the motto of her practice, always putting family first.

Kelly Casperson

MD and Speaker

Dr. Casperson is a board-certified practicing urologist interested in the power of the mind and science to change our views of sexuality. After many years in practice, she had a life-changing patient that made her curious to learn everything she could about female sexual wellness. After she learned all she could, she created a podcast called You Are Not Broken, which consistently ranks in the top 10 in the Apple “sexuality” category in multiple countries. It has been nominated for an AASECT award for three years running. She is an engaging and humorous storyteller making people comfortable with often uncomfortable topics and changing lives in the bedroom and out with her practical, valuable tips. She is also the author of the bestselling book, “You Are Not Broken: Stop Should-ing All Over Your Sex Life.”

Molly Johnson

Judge

Judge Molly Johnson is a respected Ohio judge and attorney. Elected to Mahoning County Court in 2018, she has presided over thousands of cases and is the youngest judge appointed to two Ohio Supreme Court Commissions. Recognized by Congress and the Ohio Senate for her legal and charitable efforts, she is an adjunct professor at the University of Akron School of Law and a mentor for high schools and the university. She also serves on the board of Trustees of the YMCA of Youngstown, where she teaches inner-city students to swim and donates blood through the American Red Cross.

Olive Persimmon

Author & Communication Coach

Olive Persimmon is the author of three comedy books, Unintentionally Celibate, The Coitus Chronicles, and Olive Unfiltered. She's also a speaker and communication coach and has taught training programs and workshops all over the country. Olive spends her free time working on her Comedic TV pilot, watching Schitt's Creek from start to finish (again), and her favorite pastime: writing handwritten letters to friends.

Philippe Bouissou

Managing Partner

Best-selling author of Aligning the Dots, host of The Alignment Zone TV series, speaker, growth expert, venture capitalist, CEO, and entrepreneur Dr. Philippe Bouissou has worked in Silicon Valley for 33 years. He currently runs Blue Dots Partners, a Palo Alto-based management consulting firm dedicated to helping businesses grow faster. He founded and ran Apple’s eCommerce business and grew its revenue from zero to $350 million in less than one year under Steve Jobs (about 20% of Apple’s revenue today). Inspired by his time with Jobs, Philippe's accomplishments continued to skyrocket, including investing $43 million as a venture capitalist with double-digit returns. Philippe served on 23 Boards of Directors and led over 140 management-consulting projects. Philippe graduated from the prestigious École Normale Supérieure in Paris and holds a BS in Mathematics, an MS in Physics, and a Ph.D. in non-linear physics in chaos theory. And he happens to be an approachable, nice guy, too!

Quinton Zondervan

Cambridge City Councillor

Quinton Zondervan is an entrepreneur, climate activist and elected City Councillor in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Quinton has been involved in local, city, state and federal conversations on climate change policy since his freshman days at Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida. In 2015, Quinton attended the UN Climate negotiations in Paris as an official observer on behalf of the business community. Quinton has founded and serves on the board of several climate change and environment related non-profits, and has founded for-profit software, cleantech and biotechnology companies. Quinton holds a master’s degree in electrical engineering and computer science from MIT and two bachelor’s degrees in the fields of mathematics and computer science from Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida, and serves on the board of trustees at Eckerd. Quinton lives in Cambridge in a net zero emissions house.

Ville Houttu

CEO - Vincit USA

Ville Houttu is building a movement of heroic leaders who welcome change in the workforce. As an advisor, he helps companies reach the next level by employing strategic thinking with innovative actions. Ville engages audiences of all sizes, challenging them to adapt revolutionary ways of striving as leaders. He’s been featured in Inc. Magazine, TechCrunch, Forbes, Entrepreneur, and the WorkLife with Adam Grant podcast. Previously, he helped Vincit’s parent company in Finland reach 350 employees and go public on the Nasdaq First North marketplace. After the IPO, Ville moved to California to start Vincit’s local subsidiary. As a CEO and Founder, he grew the company from $0 to over $10m in only five years. In addition to being named Entrepreneur of the Year by The Greater Irvine Chamber of Commerce, FAST Company ranked Vincit among the Top 50 Best Workplaces for Innovators. They’ve made it to the INC 5000's Fastest Growing Companies list for two years.

William Adams

Leader

William Adams holds a homeland security bachelor’s degree and a data science certificate. He has completed multiple internships with a focus on research and analysis. Recently he traveled to Somaliland to research the illegal cheetah trade and the convergence with transnational crime.

Yasmine Sheik

Doctor of Internal Medicine

Yasmine Sheik MD is a Board Certified physician of Internal Medicine practicing as a hospitalist in Youngstown, Ohio, caring for acutely and chronically ill patients in a busy hospital practice. She also enjoys learning about and engaging in the art of ancient healing practices that exist throughout the world. Her love for travel and her curiosity and passion for the various healing arts has led her down the path of experimenting with non-traditional modalities of medicine from the far east to the Western US and anywhere in between. Her purpose is to demystify these practices and marry them to traditional allopathic treatments.