Theme: Together We Go

Our theme for 2024 is Together We Go. Our line-up of amazing speakers will explore and celebrate ideas that embrace collaboration, celebrate community and build a shared future. But before we hear from our speakers, we’re offering you time to spend with fellow guests - exploring and experiencing.

TEDxPlano is more than the Talks on stage. Every year our interactive lobby is full of innovation, with things to see, do, taste and touch. Our TEDxPlano experiences allow you to see how Plano-area individuals and companies are leveraging ideas, technologies, design and education to help create a better future.

When you purchase your ticket for the main stage, you automatically get access to the interactive lobby. Come early and be ready to experience all that is TEDxPlano!

Robinson Fine Arts Center
1800 Alma Drive
Plano, Texas, 75075
United States

Alex Lee

Technologist + Innovator

Prior to joining Doosan Robotics, Alex built over 20-years of successful career at Andersen Consulting, Schneider Electric, Yaskawa and numerous start-ups including Touch Automation (creator of "REDBOX") being a co-founder himself. As a seasoned business development expert, Alex will lead the corporation in a way to make tremendous growth in new and existing markets leveraging his experiences in negotiation, engineering, strategic planning, business development, and sales management. As president of Doosan Robotics Americas, Alex established the US HQ in Plano TX. Alex helps clients in various sectors to optimize their processes and performance, Alex enjoys developing and bringing cutting-edge solutions to the market empowering businesses and industries with the best automation tools and technologies that enhance their productivity and competitiveness.

Dan Jenkins

Entrepeneur + Pickleball Champion

Dan Jenkins has been the driving force behind numerous successful ventures. From managing extensive real estate portfolios to commercial and multifamily projects, Dan contributed to the growth and vitality of the Seattle area community. Dan's pickleball journey began in the 1980s at a summer camp, sparking his passion for the sport. Over the years, he honed his skills, participating in annual tournaments at family camp and winning the men's singles championship in 1999, earning the prestigious title of "Champion of the Millennium." Beyond the game, Dan values pickleball for its ability to foster a sense of community, enriching both social connections and physical well-being, on and off the court. Not only does he actively participate in the sport but he has partnered with Pickleball Kingdom as the Master Franchisee for North Texas, where he dedicates his time to fostering the growth of 20 new pickleball clubs in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Daymond Sands

Performer + Mentor

Daymond Sands is the Program Director for the North Texas Performing Arts Deaf Theatre. Born and raised in Dallas, Texas, Daymond began performing at the young age of 5. He earned a college degree in Psychology, and continued his college education completing acting courses at Tyler Junior College. Pursuing his dream of being able to perform on stage, sign sing, direct, and create his own show, he became a professional performing artist and an ASL consultant for theatre in 2016. He has spent many years working as a mentor for interpreters and supporting theatres as an ASL consultant. In his spare time, Daymond also works as a freelance photographer and creator and producer of the YouTube show “Click Click Crop,” a photography competition for the Deaf and Hard of hearing.

Ken Boone

Listener + Community Builder

Ken Boone is a Community Planner and Vice President at Olsson Studio, a community planning, landscape architecture, and urban design studio at Olsson. He has a degree in Landscape Architecture from Kansas State University. His professional work has been focused around the nexus of community planning, landscape architecture, and urban design. He loves to work with communities to help them uncover their aspirations and tackle their challenges though planning, community engagement, and facilitation. He is the proud dad to four sons. He was born and raised in Independence, Missouri, where he lives with his wife Brooke, his mom, and two dogs. There are also three cats that are indifferent to his existence.

Maya Piata

Singer + Songwriter

Maya Piata is a singer/songwriter who uses her eclectic background to mold her own, unique style by pulling inspiration from her hometown, New Orleans, alongside the rich culture of her New Zealand roots. Maya describes her sound as “Sunshine Soul”, mirroring her bubbly personality and endless list of musical influences, ranging from Ms. Lauryn Hill to Chaka Khan, Stevie Wonder to Prince, from Sam Cooke to Michael Jackson and beyond. She has opened for Arlo Parks and Rebirth Brass Band and has played at notable venues in the Dallas/Fort Worth music scene. Maya is truly adored everywhere she plays because of her bright and positive personality. Her stage presence mixed with her sultry vocals creates a unique and engaging experience for the audience.

Michael Thomas

Systems Thinker + Advocate

Michael serves as the CEO and Founder of ConnectIDD, LLC, an agency focused on supporting children and adults with disabilities by empowering the organizations and cities which support them. ConnectIDD serves as a growth agent for disability organizations, supporting their needs in organizational structure, strategic planning, finance structure, development strategy, innovation, and staff training, among other support areas. From 2010 to 2023, Michael served in the capacity of Executive Director of My Possibilities and was responsible for the overall function and performance of the organization and its partner/subsidiary businesses. Since 2006, his entire career has been spent serving in the non-profit industry, specifically supporting children and adults with disabilities. He speaks regularly on the non-profit/social impact space, serving as a voice for other executives striving to do things in a new way that better equips each organization to serve and hopefully complete its mission.

Shalini Prasad

Bioengineering Researcher + Innovator

Shalini Prasad is Cecil H. and Ida Green Professor and Department Head of Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering graduate program at The University of Texas at Dallas. She received her Bachelor's degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering from the University of Madras, India in 2000 and obtained her Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering from University of California, Riverside in 2004. Prior to UT Dallas, she worked as Assistant Professor at Portland State University, Arizona State University and Associate Professor at Wichita State University, and held adjunct appointments at Oregon Health Sciences University. Dr. Prasad has published over 200 peer reviewed publications. She is a fellow of the Society of Laboratory Automation and Screening. Dr. Prasad is currently the Director of Biomedical Microdevices and Nanotechnology Laboratory, which develops novel sensor technologies ranging from wearable technologies, portable diagnostics to defense and environmental monitors.