Theme: Beneath the Surface

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).

Rialto Center for the Arts
80 Forsyth St NW
Atlanta, Georgia, 30303
United States

Bill Nussey

Technologist, Clean Energy Advocate

Cara Turano Snow

connector

Native Atlantan and successful technology executive Cara Turano Snow lives life to the fullest. She manages teams that generate millions of dollars in revenue, is a respected community leader and runs marathons for fun! But the loss of her mother to cancer helped her discover her true passion and an important life lesson.

Dana Kanze

researcher

Former startup CEO Dana Kanze’s research interests lie at the intersection of implicit gender bias, investor and entrepreneur behavior and the impact on startup funding, growth and survival outcomes. Dana is a doctoral fellow at Columbia Business School. Findings from her work has been featured in The Academy of Management, The Harvard Business Review, The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, BBC News, Entrepreneur, Fortune, Inc., TechCrunch and Quartz. She graduated magna cum laude from The Wharton School and began her career as an investment banker and strategic consultant with Citigroup and the Winterberry Group.

Erich Netherton

Sound Engineer

James Beckerman

cardiologist

As cardiologist and medical director of the Providence Heart Institute’s Basecamp Cardiac Prevention + Wellness initiative in Portland, Oregon, James Beckerman collaborates with the community to create free programs such as Play Smart Youth Heart Screenings and Heart to Start, a multi-state exercise program. He is the team cardiologist for the Portland Timbers Major League Soccer franchise and is a member of the American College of Cardiology’s Leadership Council on Sports and Exercise, WebMD’s Clinical Advisory Board, and the Ironheart Foundation’s Board of Directors. James holds degrees from Harvard University and Harvard Medical School and completed his internal medicine and cardiology training at Massachusetts General Hospital and Stanford University

Jasmine Crowe

Anti-hunger Activist

Jason Martin

Public Education Activist

Juana Mendenhall

Biochemical Engineer

Justin Daniels

cyberspace connector

Justin Daniels believes government-private collaboration and public debate about balancing innovation versus security are imperative in the face of persistent and sophisticated cyber threats. He is the founder of Atlanta Cyber Week, a week-long series of events organized by members of the Atlanta cybersecurity ecosystem to connect business leaders, innovators, policymakers, and academics. Justin is a shareholder at law firm Baker Donelson Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC, and creator of its Cybersecurity Accelerator, which facilitates the growth of emerging domestic and international cybersecurity companies. Justin holds a bachelor’s degree from Virginia Tech and an MBA and a law degree from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh.

Krzysztof Czaja

neuroscientist

Krzysztof Czaja’s obesity research focuses on changes in the human brain following a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. His lab at the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia is investigating the role of neural gut-brain communication in the development of obesity with the goal of finding non-surgical ways to overcome it. His work has been featured in Science 2.0, ScienceDaily, and Quartz. Krzysztof, an associate professor at UGA’s Department of Veterinary Biosciences & Diagnostic Imaging, has authored more than 50 peer-reviewed research papers and several book chapters. He holds a D.V.M. from the Veterinary Medicine College at the Academy of Agriculture and Technology in Olsztyn, Poland and a doctorate in neuroanatomy from the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn.

Lonnie Johnson

Inventor

Louise Wasilewski

Criminal Justice Reformer

Matt Meister

Research Engineer

Rickey Bevington

journalist

Atlanta native and two-time Emmy Award recipient Rickey Bevington believes the contract between the news media and the people, is broken. To restore this contract, we, the people must become savvier consumers of news. Rickey is Georgia Public Broadcasting’s Senior Anchor/Correspondent, and local host for NPR’s nationally syndicated “All Things Considered” during afternoon drive. Her work has been recognized by journalism organizations including the Southeast Emmy Awards, RTDNA’s Edward R. Murrow Awards, Georgia Association of Broadcasters, the Associated Press and Society of Professional Journalists. Rickey was the only Georgian awarded a Marshall Memorial Fellowship by the German Marshall Fund of the United States in 2014.

Siana Altiise

sensory artist

Music is color for Siana Altiise. Patterns, depth of tones, shapes and their thickness are her “sheet music.” Siana uses her extrasensory condition known as synesthesia to compose songs according to their vivid color patterns and tones and to give life to emotions that music evoke through her paintings. An Atlanta resident, Siana has created experiential, interactive spaces for Synesthetes and non-Synesthetes alike in the United States and Asia. Siana holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Experimental Psychology from Florida Atlantic University and was previously an English language instructor in Asia.

Susan Sparks

Pastor, Comedian, Attorney

Tejas Athni

neurocience explorer

Tejas Athni is a high school senior at Stratford Academy in Macon, Georgia and a student researcher at Detroit’s Karmanos Cancer Institute and Georgia’s Fort Valley State University. His research on the effects of certain plant compounds on glioblastoma multiforme brain cancer cells is being readied for submission to peerreviewed journals. Tejas’ other interests lie in community service and journalism. He founded CPR Education NovoToro, a nonprofit focused on teaching basic life saving skills, and is the editor-in-chief of an international online magazine known as the Publizette. Tejas’ long-term goals include pursuing a career in the medical field, either as a physician or a medical researcher. He is the winner of the 2017 American Academy of Neurology’s (AAN) Neuroscience Research Competition.