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    Ideas Worth Spreading

    In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, the first TEDxDetroit in 2009 featured more than a dozen of the best and brightest minds sharing their passion, wisdom and innovations. Although you missed the electric atmosphere, you can still catch the TEDxDetroit Talks and Performances on YouTube.

    From portable fuel cells and bladeless wind energy to lava gators and dinosaurs with lasers, TEDxDetroit 2009 featured a diverse slate of speakers to inspire, provoke and entertain. Get to know our speakers below.


    Turning Inside Out

    Gary Gabel

    linkedin TED

    Dr. Gary Gabel
    Founder of Prism Learning Solution and author of Personal Takeover

    An expert on motivating performance, personal empowerment, accountability and leadership, Dr Gabel’s entrepreneurial spirit has led several successful organizations.


    A new direction in wind energy

    Dawn White linkedin

    Dawn White
    Co-founder and President of Accio Energy

    Accio Energy is making distributed wind energy systems scalable, reliable, and affordable with Aerovoltaic energy systems that directly convert wind energy to electricity without any moving parts.


    A Corporate Genome of Innovation

    Fabienne Munch twitter  linkedin

    Fabienne Münch
    Director of Ideation Office at Herman Miller

    Fabienne leads a think tank that synthesizes user needs research, future trends and business factors into opportunities statements and concept explorations, charting paths for potential innovations.


    Taking the Road Less Traveled & the Future of Alternative Energy

    Aaron CrummTED

    Dr. Aaron Crumm
    Co-founder, chief visionary officer of Adaptive Materials, Inc.

    Dr. Aaron Crumm’s Adaptive Materials is leading the portable power revolution by developing and manufacturing fuel cells that run off of propane, LPG and butane.


    Ending human suffering as it relates to technology

    Rich Sheridan

    twitter  linkedin  facebook  TED

    Richard B. Sheridan
    President, CEO and co-founder of Menlo Innovations

    Entrepreneur, Agile pioneer, CEO, Mentor, Student, Passionate Tech Guy who has chosen the path less traveled and having a blast. Frustration is my greatest motivator.


    Redefining a city by changing its visual landscape

    Chazz Milleryoutube

    Chazz Miller
    Founder and Muralist at Public Art Workz

    Chazz founded Public Art Workz to stimulate community growth, provide a creative outlet for children and instill an appreciation of the arts. PAWZ offers enrichment programs in art and technology and helps to drive academic achievement.


    Deep Change: Generating New Wind to Propel Michigan into the Young, Smart and Global age.

    Matt Dugenertwitter

    Matt Dugener
    COO/CSO of Enliven Software

    Matt is a disruption artist who has started six enterprises, both for-profit and non-profit. He thrives on change, simplicity, nature and micro-brewed IPAs.


    Teaching a New Way to Drive in Detroit

    Derek Mehrabantwitter  linkedin

    Derek Mehraban
    Instructor of MSU’s New Media Drivers License programand CEO of Ingenex Digital Marketing.

    A true entrepreneur and social media marketing expert, Derek is passionate about helping companies and individuals embrace digital technology.


    Building a better entrepreneur – Turning dreamers into doers

    Dan Izzotwitter  linkedin  TED
    Dan Izzo
    Training Leader at Bizdom U

    I enjoy building something from the ground. I like to create an environment where people feel like they can succeed and thrive. I pride myself on being direct with people, life’s too short to not tell the truth.


    Advancing Issues Through Media

    Paul Schutttwitter  facebook  linkedin  TED

    Paul Schutt
    CO-CEO of Issue Media Group

    Issue Media Group publishes online magazines focused on growth, investment and remarkable new economy talent in Detroit, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and Baltimore with Tampa Bay, Philadelphia, Minneapolis and Toronto launching soon.


    Detroit – While I Was Away

    D Blairyoutube  facebook

    D Blair
    An award winning Urban Folk, Afro-Punk, Poet, Singer, Songwriter on Repeatable Silence Records

    Blair has toured the U.S., South Africa and Germany sharing the stage with Stevie Wonder, Michael Moore, Wilco & more. He is a National Poetry Slam champ and recipient of the Bent Mentor Award for Queer Writers.


    The Michigan Film Industry: Changing Lives

    Jeff Spilmantwitter  linkedin

    Jeff Spilman
    Founder and Managing Partner of S3 Entertainment

    S3 Entertainment Group is a film production company bringing film productions to Michigan, financing many of these projects, and helping filmmakers get everything that they need in Michigan to have a successful production experience.


    Positive Power

    Lee Thomastwitter  facebook  youtube

    Lee Thomas
    Anchor/Entertainment Reporter on FOX Detroit and Author of Turning White

    In his memoir, Turning White, four-time Emmy Award-winning television broadcaster and journalist Lee Thomas chronicals the battle he is waging with Vitiligo — a skin disorder that is literally turning him white.


    Demand Imagination

    Pj Jacokestwitter TED

    Pj Jacokes
    Producer/Lead Instructor at Go Comedy! Improv Theater & GoU: The Improv Academy

    In the 1st Grade, Pj played a duck in the Christmas Pageant. Now he runs Go Comedy! Improv Theater in Ferndale. In between Pj improvised a lot. Sometimes on purpose.


    How woman are changing the world

    Terry Barclaytwitter  linkedin

    Terry Barclay
    President and Chief Executive Officer of Inforum Michigan

    One of the largest women’s business forums in the United States, with over 2,000 members. Inforum provides opportunities for businesswomen to connect, forge alliances, discuss vital civic and business issues, and advance as leaders.


    The Six Degrees of Connectedness

    Terry Beantwitter  linkedin  facebook

    Terry Bean
    Author, Speaker and Founder of Networked, Inc

    Some coach. Some consult. Terry guides. He is a hub in the Detroit area business scene. Terry helps his clients be known to themselves and then the people who need them.


    Jump and The Net Will Appear

    Charlie Wollborgtwitter  linkedin  facebook  TED  youtube

    Charlie Wollborg
    Founding Partner and Chief Troublemaker of Curve Detroit

    Curve Detroit is a marketing strategy and creative design firm helping brands grow faster. Charlie spends his time chatting about branding, marketing, social media and motivation with business professionals.


    TEDxDetroit 2009 music performances included Nervous but Excited, Cairn to Cairn,Robert Jones, Cryzko and John Steffenson.

    In addition to our fabulous lineup of live and local TEDxtalks, TEDxDetroit featured prerecorded TEDtalks from:
    TED curator Chris Anderson Introduction to TEDx
    Better Place CEO Shai Agassi “A Bold Plan for Electric Cars”
    The author of Eat, Pray, Love Elizabeth Gilbert “Nurturing Creativity”
    Vice Chairman of Ogilvy Group Rory Sutherland “Life Lessons from an Ad Man”
    Singer and songwriter Imogen Heap “Wait It Out”

    You can view hundreds of other interesting an engaging TEDtalks from extraordinary speakers like Al Gore, Jill Bolte Taylor, Seth Godin and Tony Robbins at TED.com.

    TEDxDetroit 2009 was produced by Charlie Wollborg,Catherine Juon, Terry Bean, Derek Mehraban, Jennifer Wright and a team of volunteers. Russell Video Lawrence Tech LA2M ingenex imatter Curve Detroit Pure Visibility ohm creative Networked mlive Mem Catch Motor City Connect

    TEDxLabs exhibitors at TEDxDetroit 2009 included:

    Blue NewtAMIBick BotMem Catch 3for5Adaptive Campus
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    Detroit is an idea worth spreading.
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