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TEDxGreenville began when a diverse, passionate group of TED enthusiasts came together to bring an educational and inspirational experience to Upstate residents. The first annual conference launched to a sold-out crowd on March 5, 2010.

Patterned after the hugely popular global TED conference, TEDxGreenville, the first TEDx event in South Carolina launched in 2010, continues to continue momentum year after year by spreading ideas during its always sold-out conference.

Over the last ten years, TEDxGreenville has presented almost 60 events featuring over 250 speakers, over 10,000 attendees, with almost 6 million views of the talks on the YouTube channel.

“TEDxGreenville is a catalyst for the most progressive, most innovative, and most mind-expanding ideas possible, presented in one short day in Greenville. We want to be a vehicle in creating healthy, important conversation in Greenville.” stated Russell Stall, TEDxGreenville License Holder and Organizer. “The atmosphere is designed to be inspirational, fun, and thought-provoking, and our goal is that, by the end of the day, our audience is inspired, enlightened, energized… and emotionally and intellectually exhausted.”

Greenville One Center
2 West Washington Street
Greenville, South Carolina, 29601
United States

Ann-Marie Adams

Ann-Marie Adams views literacy as a critical component to creating opportunity, both socially and economically. She also believes that young people must have access to resources and mentors to facilitate their understanding of the world around them. Currently Ann Marie resides in the Lowcountry region of South Carolina, and on occasion can be found teaching in the Roy H. Park School of Communications at Ithaca College in Ithaca, New York.

Courtney Leak

Courtney is a social worker, therapist, podcaster, and empowerment speaker with Embracing Abundance Counseling and Consulting. She has been working in the field for over 10 years and her focus is on women’s issues. She received her Masters of Social Work from Winthrop University.

Cynthia Thurlow

Functional Nutritionalist

Cynthia is a Western medicine trained nurse practitioner and functional nutritionist who is passionate about female hormonal health. She believes that the inherent power of food and nutrition can be your greatest asset to your health and wellness journey. She works 1:1 with female clients and is the creator of Wholistic Blueprint a 6-week signature program for female hormonal health, she's also the co-host of Everyday Wellness podcast and a recurring segment contributor on her local ABC affiliate in Washington, DC.

Douglas Vakoch

Douglas is president of METI (Messaging Extraterrestrial Intelligence), a nonprofit research organization that transmits powerful, intentional radio signals to nearby stars, in the hope of eliciting a reply. As an elected member of the International Astronomical Union and the International Institute for Space Law, he explores the scientific and societal dimensions of the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI).

Douglas Valoch

Astrobiologist

Douglas is president of METI (Messaging Extraterrestrial Intelligence), a nonprofit research organization that transmits powerful, intentional radio signals to nearby stars, in the hope of eliciting a reply. As an elected member of the International Astronomical Union and the International Institute for Space Law, he explores the scientific and societal dimensions of the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI). Dr. Vakoch’s work has been featured in such publications as The New York Times, Nature, and Science, and he has appeared on radio

Edward Anderson

Principal Prodigy

Edward is the Principal of Tanglewood Middle School in Greenville County. With 11 years in working in education focused on high poverty schools, Edward has become an advocate for bringing kids out of poverty. • Middle School Principal • Holds a bachelor’s degree in Education from the University of South Carolina • Masters degree in Curriculum and Instruction • Doctoral Degree in Edcational Leadership and Technology • Mentor for Goodwill Goodguides organization • 11 year career working in education and communities of poverty • Post and Courier Minimally Adequate Education panelist – alongside former governor and secretary of education Dick Riley • Recently worked alongside the United Way of Greenville’s campaign to shed light on poverty in Greenville • Member of the Young Philanthropists or YP council of Greenville • 2017 Recipient of the Talented Tenth Award • 2019 Recipient of Urban League’s Xanthene Norris Educational Achievement Award

Jainan Sun

Jianan Sun is a female entrepreneur, a big picture engineer, and an innovation activist with the innovation team of Mercedes-Benz USA. Her passion is to understand how disruptive technologies will impact consumers’ lives.

Jarell Rochelle

Fame Tamer

Jarell Rochelle is a dynamic professional speaker and it is actually by accident. Graduating from Sam Houston State University with his B.F.A in Theater Arts; Jarell Rochelle is no stranger to the stage. While an actor, his professional dance career of 14 years has lead him to make appearances on hit reality TV shows such as Fox's "So You Think You Can Dance," MTV'S "Americas Best Dance Crew," and NBC'S "Americas Got Talent." As the years have passed, Jarell noticed, the way he started to address audiences had shifted. In 2015, He was asked by a dance company, based of Houston TX, (Sunkiss'd) to perform at a TED X Youth. Before performing, he was asked to give a short speech on what it means to follow his dreams. Needless to say, the reviews from his first speaking gig were so well received by the audience, that he has not put down the microphone or his Michael Jackson glitter shoes since! Jarell's primary gift is to engage audiences with his captivating personality through speech.

Jeff Dogan

As founder of Fiber Innovation Technology, one of the world’s most innovative fiber producer, Jeff created etched-plate fiber technology to explode the range of problems that fibers can solve.

Jeff Dugan

As founder of Fiber Innovation Technology, one of the world’s most innovative fiber producer, Jeff created etched-plate fiber technology to explode the range of problems that fibers can solve.

Jeffrey Crespo

Senseful Sensai

For over 15 years, Jeffrey and his consulting practice has been providing solutions to individuals and organizations to enhance performance, develop critical thinking, and thrive through change. Jeffrey Crespo is a keynote speaker and business consultant who helps organizations develop creative thinking skills, and non-linear strategies to increase sales and reduce stress.

Jil Littlejohn

Jil was born and raised in Atlanta, GA but has lived in Greenville for 16 years. She currently serves as the first female President and CEO of the Urban League of the Upstate. She is the youngest member of Greenville City Council, and serves as Mayor Pro Tem. She is the founder of the Talented Tenth Conference which connects young minority professionals with established leaders across the Southeast.

Keith Groover

Symphonic Technologist

Keith Groover is a musician, guitar teacher, inventor, and life-long tinkerer. He teaches at North Greenville University, plays guitar for the instrumental guitar/cello duo WireWood, and leads music at Grace Presbyterian Church. He is an inventor of innovative new musical instruments. Keith Groover is a musician, guitar teacher, inventor, and life-long tinkerer. He teaches at North Greenville University, plays guitar for the instrumental guitar/cello duo WireWood, and leads music at Grace Presbyterian Church. He lives in Spartanburg, SC with his wife and their four daughters.

Paulette Unger

Classroom Pioneer

Paulette began her teaching career 20 years ago after earning her Masters of Teaching in Science Education from the University of Virginia. Eighteen of those years have been spent teaching various levels of Biology at Christ Church Episcopal School in Greenville, SC. She serves as the Global Online Academy (GOA) Site Director for her school and teaches a GOA course on Bioethics. For the past decade, she has delivered numerous teacher workshops as a certified AP Consultant and serves as an AP Exam Reader. The remaining hours of her day, she savors the time with her husband, Eugene, and three children.

Phillip McCreight

Phillip is the Founder of Beer and Napkins LLC, an informal, community-enable design platform. As a Creative in an industrial world, Phillip is ever seeking to unify his over 25 years experience in leading change efforts in manufacturing, consulting, and community involvement to contribute to the greater good. As the founder of Beer and Napkins, his passion is to learn, connect, and bring together communities to brew ideas for wicked challenges.

Pooja Mahajan

American Dreamer

Pooja Mahajan is an environmental engineer working at a global consulting firm in the US. Born and raised in India, Pooja moved to the US in 2010 to pursue her Master's degree at Clemson University, where she also met her husband. A runner up at the 2017 South Carolina’s Toastmasters International Speech contest, Pooja is passionate about storytelling and social entrepreneurship. She has worked with multiple non-profit organizations and is currently working on launching a podcast aimed at creating mental health awareness.

Rasheen Peppers

Professional Manhunter

Rasheen is a career law enforcement officer in the largest city in New Jersey. He has traveled the country seeking some of the United States most dangerous fugitives. In 2009, "American Most Wanted" nominated him as one of their top fugitive hunters. While assigned to the United States Marshals Service, his team was responsible for apprehending some of New Jersey's high profile fugitives, which caught the eyes of "AE" executives. "AE" created a reality show called "Manhunters Fugitives Task Force", which chronicled how we locate wanted people.

Rhondda Robinson Thomas

Rhondda Robinson Thomas was born in Spartanburg, but grew up mainly in Georgia and North Carolina. Throughout her childhood, she honed her love of creating stories about kith and kin while listening to relatives recall life experiences, mostly around the dinner table. She unexpectedly ended up back in South Carolina in 2007 when she accepted a job at Clemson University where she is currently the Calhoun Lemon Professor of Literature.

Rhondda Robinson-Thompson

Upstate Historian

Rhondda Robinson Thomas was born in Spartanburg, but grew up mainly in Georgia and North Carolina. Throughout her childhood, she honed her love of creating stories about kith and kin while listening to relatives recall life experiences, mostly around the dinner table. She unexpectedly ended up back in South Carolina in 2007 when she accepted a job at Clemson University where she is currently the Calhoun Lemon Professor of Literature, teaching, researching, publishing, and developing media about early African American literature, history, and culture.