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).

Capitol Theater
330 W 3rd St
Davenport, Iowa, 52801
United States

Dasia Taylor

Dasia Taylor is a trailblazing STEAM advocate and innovator. Based in Iowa, she gained national recognition for her groundbreaking scientific achievement—a suture that detects infections. Named '23 Iowa’s Woman of the Year by USA Today, she’s also been featured on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, PBS, CNN, and Smithsonian Magazine. Dasia is also celebrated in the Rebel Girls series, Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls: 100 Inspiring Young Changemakers.

Dr. Kamran Hamid

Kamran helps make broken bones and broken systems stronger. Dr. Hamid is an orthopaedic surgeon, humorist, and vehement believer in the greatness of people. He is a Chief Medical Officer at Loyola Medicine in Chicago, IL.

Dr. Scott Sigman

Dr. Sigman is a national and internationally recognized leader in Opioid Sparing Surgery. He is an Orthopedic Surgeon who specializes in the knee and shoulder. He has been in clinical practice for over 25 years and is a leader in professional education, and medical device development, and has numerous peer-reviewed publications. He is the team physician at UMASS Lowell. He is a member of Governor Bakers Commission to establish a pain management access program in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. He did his sports medicine fellowship at the prestigious Kerlan Jobe Clinic in Los Angeles. His Opioid Sparing leadership propelled him to become a Fellow of the Worlds Society on Sports and Exercise Medicine, and most recently had the honor of becoming a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. In addition, to his clinical responsibilities, Dr. Sigman is the Chief Medical Officer for OrthoLazer Orthopedic Laser Centers. The OrthoLazer franchise was developed to provide an alternative treatment option for acute and chronic pain to help combat the Opioid crisis. Dr. Sigman is also the host of the popular The Ortho Show podcast.

Dustan Moseley

Dustan Moseley is a professional wrestler with SCWPro Wrestling. Training out of the Black and Brave Wrestling Academy, Dustan has over 100 matches under his belt. Dustan also helps veterans with PTSD find focus, passion, and purpose in life after the service. A former Sergeant of the Marines, Dustan uses his experience to bring honor, courage, and commitment to helping others keep a tactical mindset.

Grace McCubbin

Grace McCubbin is a wife, a mother, and a fierce advocate for sudden cardiac arrest awareness and education. The mother of a sudden cardiac arrest survivor, Grace advocates for several organizations dedicated to the cause and regularly participates in education events and training exercises. As CEO of a consulting start-up in the QC area, she uses her position and visibility within the community to bring awareness and action to this critical agenda.

Kevin Burt

Iowa native, Kevin Burt, gained international recognition when he swept the 2018 International Blues Challenge claiming top prizes in all three Solo/Duo categories (Guitar, Harmonica, Over-All). He is a Gulf Coast Records artist, Iowa Blues Hall of Fame member, Delaney Guitars endorsed artist, and two-time Blues Music Award nominee. There are currently two albums released – debut album Heartland & Soul (Little Village Foundation, 2018) and Stone Crazy (Gulf Coast Records, 2020) with a new album to be released in Fall 2023. Along with touring, Kevin is committed to keeping the Blues alive through his Blues in the Schools program – traveling through Iowa as well as New York and Arkansas. He authored Just Play It! Harmonica Method by Kevin Burt in partnership with West Music which introduces students to playing basic cross-harp blues harmonica. He also collaborates with high school bands – to not only play the notes but to feel the music to tell the story.

Pete Kadens

Pete Kadens is a serial entrepreneur and philanthropist, dedicated to igniting pathways out of poverty through equitable access to education. In 2019 Pete founded HOPE Toledo (OH) in his hometown to ensure that Toledo Public School children, and a parent, could go to college or trade school for free. He also founded HOPE Chicago in 2021, the largest place-based scholarship program in the country that will spend $1B over a decade sending underserved Chicago families to college or trade school. HOPE Chicago was twice featured on 60 Minutes in 2022. Before focusing on these charitable endeavors, Pete had an 18-year career as CEO at both SoCore Energy and Green Thumb Industries in Chicago before retiring in 2018. He created over 5,000 jobs and over $5B in shareholder value across the companies he started. Pete was the 19th person ever to be inducted into the Chicago Innovation Hall of Fame and in 2023 he was named the Humanitarian Award Winner for the Holocaust Museum.

Ron Diamond

Longtime investor and entrepreneur Ronald Diamond is the Founder and Chairman of Diamond Wealth. He represents over 100 Family Offices ranging in size from $250 million to $30 billion. Diamond Wealth invests in private markets (private equity, venture capital, real estate). In addition, Diamond Wealth has divisions that focus on philanthropy, wealth transfer, investment banking, social impact, and governance. Ronald serves on the Advisory Board of 10 privately held companies and acts as Chairman for 4 of them. Ronald is also the Chair of two TIGER 21 chapters in Chicago and Chairs a newly created Family Office Group for TIGER 21. He is the past Chairman of the Advisory Board for the Disruptive Technology and Digital City’s Program at Stanford University and taught classes in the Entrepreneur Program at Stanford. A frequent speaker at Family Office and Alternative Investment Conferences, Diamond has spoken at over 100 conferences around the globe. Mr. Diamond is also the Founder of Family Office World — (www.familyofficeworldpodcast.com) a podcast whose mission is to educate the market about Family Offices. Earlier in his career, Mr. Diamond founded Pinnacle Capital — a $250 million hedge fund that outperformed the S&P index 10 out of 10 years — before ultimately selling his company to an international investment firm. Previously, Diamond served as a Senior Managing Director at Bear Stearns. He began his career as an analyst at Drexel Burnham Lambert. Deeply committed to giving back, Diamond is an active philanthropist and civic leader. He serves on the Leadership Circle of the Aspen Institute, a global nonprofit organization committed to realizing a free, just, and equitable society. He also sits on the Board of several other charities and non-profit organizations in his community. Diamond studied at Northwestern University, graduating Magna Cum Laude and earning his degree in Economics.

Sam Kean

Sam Kean is the New York Times bestselling author of six books, including The Icepick Surgeon, The Bastard Brigade, The Dueling Neurosurgeons, and The Disappearing Spoon. He edited The Best American Nature and Science Writing in 2018, and his stories have appeared in The New Yorker, The Atlantic Monthly, The New York Times Magazine, and Slate. His work has been featured on NPR’s “Radiolab,” “Science Friday,” “All Things Considered,” and “Fresh Air.” He was born in South Dakota and lives in Washington, D.C.