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).

TEDxRiverOaks (Virtual)
16900 McGuffeys Trail
Woodbridge, Virginia, 22191
United States

Anthony Ferretti

Psychologist

Anthony Ferretti, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist working in Behavioral Health. He specializes in helping couples achieve emotional and physical intimacy through effective communication, conflict resolution, and trust building. Dr. Ferretti has been interviewed by numerous media outlets for articles on relationships, narcissism, and other psychological topics. He was invited to be a guest on the Dr. Phil Show and hosted his own radio show. His relationship book, The Love Fight: How Achievers & Connectors Can Build a Marriage that Lasts highlights his unique practice and experience.

Bianca Negrón

International Consultant and Certified Coach

Bianca Negrón is a highly experienced personnel management specialist with over 15 years in the field and 18+ years in education. She is an international consultant and certified coach passionate about developing personal and employment brands to empower new leaders, professionals, and entrepreneurs. She has gained work experience across Puerto Rico, Florida, Alaska, Virginia, and Latin America. Her purpose is to successfully guide professionals, organizations, and entrepreneurs in developing their career strategies and identifying their brands. Mrs. Negrón is also a military spouse, entrepreneur, adjunct professor at Old Dominion University, and author.

Cheryl L. Mason

Chief Catalyst, Catalyst Leadership Management

Cheryl L. Mason is credited with turning a dysfunctional organization into a high functioning employee-focused organization delivering record breaking results. As a multiple suicide loss survivor, she advocates for increasing awareness around suicide awareness/prevention. From Portsmouth, Ohio, Ms. Mason received her B.A. with Distinction in Political Science and Psychology from Ohio Northern University and her J.D. from Creighton University School of Law.

Koby Langley

Senior Vice President, International Services, and Service to The Armed Forces

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Lena Yellowtail

Certified Foot Care Specialist

Lena Yellowtail is a registered nurse of 17 years with experience in medical and surgical units, intensive care, general and vascular surgery. She began her VA career in primary care in 2014, later becoming a Certified Foot Care Specialist and PAVE Coordinator for the Sheridan VA Health Care System. She now works in Education, instructing staff on vascular impairment, causes of amputations, and early intervention for Veterans. Lena lives on the family ranch on the Crow Indian Reservation with her husband Wailes. She has four adult children, all college graduates, who serve their communities in various ways.

Nadia Giannopoulos

Leadership Consultant + Educator

Dr. Nadia Giannopoulos is the Executive Director of MPC, a program servicing children and young adults with special needs. Her passion lies in advocating for policy reforms and their impact on student-approved services. Under her leadership, the program has expanded enrollment in all 5-boroughs and throughout Long Island. Nadia majored in Communication Science and Disorders; she has an M.Ed. in Childhood Education/Special Education, and an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership. Nadia completed a 21-credit program in Applied Behavior Analysis and Organizational Behavior Management. She received her Doctorate in Organizational Leadership and Learning from Vanderbilt University. She consults nonprofits, schools, and businesses on creating innovative infrastructures and ecosystems to facilitate organizational development, with an emphasis on enhancing Leadership practices. She serves as a trustee in her District’s Board of Education.

Robin A. Johnson

President HEAL*ARIOUS

After twenty-six years of service in the United States Army, Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Robin Johnson discovered her new mission was to heal people with laughter. She created HEAL*ARIOUS, a non-profit offering programming that focuses on incorporating humor to improve psychological performance. She works in collaboration with clinicians to develop customized programming for veterans, first responders, athletes, and corporate executives. She is a Level III Certified Humor Professional through the Association for the Applied & Therapeutic Use of Humor, a thought leader on infusing humor into mental health and leadership, and a nationally touring comedian that speaks to audiences across the world about the power of humor.

Sarah Jefferis

Lecturer, Cornell University and CEO of Write.Now.

Dr. Sarah Jefferis is a poet, editor, and speaker. Through her consultant business, Write. Now., Sarah serves as an intuitive writing coach; she designs yoga/poetry writing workshops, and speaks about DEI and Belonging, Writing as Medicine, and surviving sexual assault. Sarah holds an MFA in Poetry from Cornell, and a PhD in Creative Writing from SUNY Binghamton. She has over 20 years of experience teaching writing in Higher Education. Her second poetry collection, What Enters the Mouth, was published in February 2016 by Standing Stone Books. It was praised by Ansel Elkins who wrote “these are fearless poems—a reckoning of the violence of girlhood rendered with grit and clarity.” Her poems have appeared in The North American Review, Rhino, The Mississippi Review, The American Literary Review, The Hollins Critic, The Healing Muse, and other journals. She has held residencies at the Constance Saltonstall Foundation for the Arts in New York, Colgate, and at The Studios at Mass MOCA.

Terrence Hayes

Press Secretary

Terrence, a native of Jacksonville, Florida, served in the U.S. Army from 1996 to 2016. During his military service, he earned numerous decorations, most notably the Defense Meritorious Service and Bronze Star Medals. Terrence earned his bachelor’s degree in communication from the University of Maryland Global College and his master’s degree in both strategic communication and management from Troy University.