Theme: Raising Our Appalachian Voices

Last year’s event sold out in less than an hour and this year’s event will build on the conversation that was started. TEDxJohnsonCity seeks to speak up and out with this year's theme, "Raising our Appalachian Voices." Our event aims to highlight real stories of individuals in the Appalachian Highlands and encourage residents to be loud and proud of who they are and where they come from. In a region boasting of humility and resiliency, hear from locals who tell their diverse and unique stories of what it means to be “Appalachian.” Be prepared for enlightening talks from across all corners of the Appalachian Highlands dedicated to raising our voices as a collective and standing up and out as a vibrant community.

ETSU Martin Center for the Arts
1320 W State of Franklin Rd
Johnson City, Tennessee, 37614
United States

Ashley Cavender

Advocate for Ag; Program Director at Appalachian Resource Conservation & Development Council

"My roots are in East Tennessee, and as a Gatlinburg, TN, native, I've always yearned for a community I could call home, and I've found that here in Johnson City through grassroots agricultural movements. Over the last decade, I've worked in local food-centric non-profits such as the East Tennessee State University Farmer's Market, Boone Street Market in Jonesborough, and One Acre Café. My current position is the Program Director at Appalachian Resource Conservation and Development Council. Our mission, in short, is to conserve natural resources and improve the rural economy while also providing nutritious, local food options for everybody in our community. I believe food is a language that can bridge socioeconomic gaps and can be used to foster genuine connection."

Corey Alexander

Operations Management; Executive Leadership; Organizational Development

"As a proud Tennessean, multi-business entrepreneur, athlete, and soldier, I have overcome many of my shortcomings to build a better tomorrow for myself and others around me. My chosen topic is one that I have had to deeply dive into with myself in order to continue achieving my goals when my the path was unclear. As my ambitions in life grewl, I was forced early on in life to visualize and have deep understanding of my five W's in order to shape my own success and the success of those around me."

David Talley

Advocate for Appalachia; Founder & CEO of Talley Financial

David Talley, founder of Talley Financial, is an entrepreneur dedicated to empowering other entrepreneurs with financial success. Inspired by the rich heritage of his Appalachian Highland roots, he wishes to share with others how gaining a deeper understanding of your own cultural values can enhance self-fulfillment and confidence. He brings a fresh perspective on how traditional Appalachian values, although sometimes stigmatized, can offer valuable lessons to the wider, modern world. Through this Appalachian example, he invites audiences to discover how knowing, and living out, your own cultural values makes our world a better place.

Dr. James Elliott

PGY2 Ambulatory Care Pharmacy Resident

"Over the last decade, I've been fortunate enough to work in several different areas of our healthcare system. I started my career in retail pharmacy while I was pursuing my Doctorate of Pharmacy. After several years, I decided to make the transition to go back to further my education and training. Now I work within the primary care space alongside physicians, nurses, and other essential healthcare workers. In my time as a pharmacist, I've learned a lot about what makes an effective healthcare provider, and this often has nothing to do with pharmaceuticals. While strong pharmacotherapy knowledge is critical to my role, I believe the human connection can do just as much for a person's health as many of the medications I can provide. My goal is to emphasize and educate future pharmacists and healthcare workers of the importance of going beyond the medicine. This credence can also be extended to the world outside of healthcare to create a healthier, fuller, and enriched human experience."

Dr. Matisa Wilbon

Sociologist; Equity + Impact Advocate; Adjunct Professor

Dr. Matisa Wilbon is a speaker, coach and consultant who uses her 18 years as a sociology professor and 10 years as a diversity, equity and inclusion specialist to help institutions understand the power of equity. Dr. 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. Dr. Wilbon is the CEO of Wilbon Enterprises (WE), a consulting firm specializing in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) strategic planning and training for universities and non-profits across the country. She travels extensively consulting, customizing and implementing DEIB plans that will move organizations from awareness to action. Dr. Wilbon is the wife of Lawrence Wilbon and mom to Deshawn and Taiya.

Dr. Subhashini Vashisth

Passionate Advocate for Women in STEM; Group Leader in Corporate Innovation at Eastman Chemical Company

"As a resident of the Appalachian region, an immigrant and a proud US citizen, I feel qualified to speak on the topic of Women and Girls and STEM, because as an engineer myself, I bring a diverse perspective, personal experiences and a genuine desire to contribute to the betterment of our community, particularly women and the next generation of girls. I have been involved with Society of Women’s Engineers, UTK; American Institute of Chemical Engineers to develop mentoring program and other initiatives."

Heath Guinn

Impact Entrepreneur & Investor; President, Sync Space Entrepreneur Center

Heath Guinn is an entrepreneur and community leader based in Kingsport, Tennessee. Over the last 20 years, Guinn has started multiple companies and continues to own four unique businesses, all located in Northeast Tennessee. Additionally, Guinn is a key member of the entrepreneur community of Northeast Tennessee, and a leading voice for small business in the strategic visioning and planning taking place in the region. In early 2016, Guinn realized the potential and timing in the market was ripe to build a strong ecosystem for entrepreneurs as a leading component for economic development. With a vision of Northeast Tennessee becoming the “Epicenter of Rural Health Innovation” among other potential focuses, Guinn began connecting regional partners with mature communities and institutions in Tennessee and around the nation, leading to the development of recruitment pipelines for the best and brightest startups to participate in this regional vision.

Jonathan Fields

Advocate for creatives to do their most impactful work; Account Executive at The High Road Agency

"I'm not your typical suit-and-tie marketer. Sure, I have the social media, customer relations, and B2B chops that I've earned through a productive marketing career. But what truly drives me goes far beyond boardrooms and bottom lines is the unbreakable spirit of community woven into the Appalachian fabric. I have witnessed firsthand the unique power of relationships that transcend mere networking. It's the local shop owner who remembers your name. Relationships are a cultural cornerstone, not just a professional advantage. But in a world increasingly focused on individualism, this vital aspect of Appalachian life risks fading. I want to help you reimagine the power of "who you know," is not as a fleeting contact, but a connection that can build resilience, foster innovation, and help to shape a future where community thrives. I'm a passionate advocate for the Appalachian spirit."

Kylie Wade

Program Manager, Developer Education Training; Professional Organizer; Micro Influencer; Certified Scrum Master; PMP Certification holder

"I am Kylie Wade, I grew up in the South before venturing to California as I started my career. In my 10 years in Los Angeles I specialized in Project and Program Management at The Tennis Channel, NFL Network and Netflix. I moved to Johnson City with my husband and young family in 2020. I am so grateful for my time in Appalachia and the wonderful people in this community. I love getting to know the town, its rich history and wonderful people and I am so honored to share my experience with you all."

Miranda Meredith

Brand Storyteller; Media and Communications Devotee

Lifelong East Tennessee resident, Miranda Meredith is a storyteller focused on brand communication. As a young professional, she has wrestled with competing narratives of Appalachia, finding balance through Appalachian storytelling. She is a spring 2024 graduate of East Tennessee State University, majoring in media and communications, minoring in Japanese and storytelling.