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
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
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 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
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
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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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.
