Flint

Confirmed Speakers

• Tom Crawford
  Tom Crawford is the Owner and Principal of VizNetwork, providing workshops, coaching, and consulting on business communications, as well as user experience and user interface design. Before starting the current business, he was CEO of VizThink, an organization dedicated to the creation of a sustainable, global community of people who use any form of the visual arts for learning and communication. In the past several years, Tom has run workshops on learning, simulations, visualization, and communication all over the world for thousands of people. He is a well-respected and often requested speaker for organizations of all shapes and sizes. He is also a mobile app designer and developer with several apps on the app stores including VizChef, an all-visual cooking application, and Presentation Tools for presenters and speakers. Outside of work, Tom is an avid traveler having been to all 50 states, half of the Canadian provinces, and more than a dozen countries. Based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, he's a composer, musician, an avid (amateur) chef, and has been known to enjoy a nice glass of red wine (which also means he has become a fan of frequent trips to the gym).
• Matt Gaidica
  Matt is co-owner of Prime, a web application and mobile web firm founded in 2007. Matt graduated from Flint-based Kettering University with a BS in electrical engineering, and at that time received the prestigious President’s medal for his scholastic and community efforts. Matt’s primary job at Prime entails writing software for websites which “makes things easier for people”. Matt has become an expert at solving both organizational and marketing-related problems for brands like Best Buy, Adrian College, Lennox, and even maintains a strong business relationship with his alma mater, Kettering University. In the summer of 2011, Matt pioneered a web start-up with his business partner from Prime, which runs alongside his primary projects and research for the company.
• Doug Knight
  From charter schools to mentoring programs, from homelessness advocacy to promotion of the arts, Doug believes in the social impact created by nonprofit, for-impact organizations as businesses rather than as charities. This strength of the sector, its impact and its connection to community, drives his passionate sense of purpose – to showcase the work of social entrepreneurship. From charter schools to mentoring programs, from homelessness advocacy to promotion of the arts, Doug believes in the social impact created by nonprofit, for-impact organizations as businesses rather than as charities. This strength of the sector, its impact and its connection to community, drives his passionate sense of purpose – to showcase the work of social entrepreneurship.
• Tamika Lamison
  Tamika Lamison is an award winning writer, director and producer. She graduated from American University with a BA in Performing Arts. She worked successfully in NYC as an actor before turning her attention behind the scenes. Tamika's first screenplay, “Jar By the Door,” was a Sundance Finalist and won several awards including the Gordon Parks Independent Film Award and 10k. Other awards include: the ABC/Walt Disney Fellowship in screenwriting, Guy Hanks and Marvin Miller (Cosby) Fellowship, AFI's Directing Workshop for Women Fellowship to name a few. Tamika has written, directed and/or produced many award winning films including, HOPE, SPIN and The Male Groupie. She has also worked as a Director and Camera Operator for the BET show, “College Hill.” Tamika's commitment to service is evidenced by the many organizations to which she devotes her time, talent and skills including: Inner City Filmmakers, Greenway Arts Alliance, Sacred Service Sundays at Agape and of course, "Make A Film Foundation." Make A Film Foundation is a non profit organization which Tamika created and founded. It is a vision inspired by her desire to make a difference in the lives of children by using her passion for filmmaking and igniting theirs. Some of the films Tamika has produced through MAFF include, "Put it in a Book" and "Deep Blue Breath."
• Matt Langdon
  Matt Langdon builds heroes. As the creator of the school program, The Hero Construction Company, and the upcoming book, The Hero Handbook, he is well-established as an expert in the study of modern heroism. He's an Australian living in Michigan and has been known to beg for good chocolate.
• Josh Linkner
  Josh Linkner is the New York Times Bestselling author of Disciplined Dreaming: A Proven System to Drive Breakthrough Creativity, named one of the top 10 business books of 2011. Josh is the CEO and Managing Partner of Detroit Venture Partners. Together with business partners Earvin “Magic” Johnson and NBA team owner Dan Gilbert, Josh is actively rebuilding urban areas through technology and entrepreneurship. Josh is also Adjunct Professor of Applied Creativity at the University of Michigan. Josh is the Founder, Chairman and former CEO of ePrize, the largest interactive promotion agency in the world providing digital marketing services for 74 of the top 100 brands. Prior to ePrize, Josh was the founder and CEO of three other successful technology companies. He has been honored as the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year, the Detroit News Michiganian of the Year, and is a President Barack Obama Champion of Change award recipient. Josh is a regular columnist for Fast Company and Inc. Magazine, and his work has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, USA Today, and The New York Times. Josh is also a Berklee-trained professional jazz guitarist performing regularly in jazz clubs throughout the United States. Most importantly, Josh in on a mission to make the world more creative.
• Tara Michener
  Author of the "Who I am" Series & Teen Books By Tara. B.A. in Journalism & PR and is currently pursuing a M.A. in Counseling. Member of American Counseling Association. Tara founded TMI, LLC a business that promotes diversity & inclusion through books, speaking engagements & curriculum. Programs are specialized for all ages. Training, planning sessions, inclusion councils & customized consulting for individuals and/or organizations. Founder of BWBB, a networking group to promote, enhance & secure contacts with professional women. This group serves as a resource for women from various industries to meet & create alliances & partnerships with each other. TMI, LLC founded the Social Advocacy Group, Professionals Against Bullying to obtain research, community roundtables & workshops. She is the founder and President of Students Against Bullying at Oakland University. She has a Graduate Assistantship in the Adult Career Counseling Center at Oakland University advising the community. "Be A Part of Their Story" Literacy project, is a partnership that she created to offer local non-profits her book series. The books are purchased from the community & businesses. Michener is a Princeton Prize In Race Relations Co-Chair. She co-founded the Dimensions of Diversity Alliance that creates unity amongst diversity based groups. She is the founder of Dream Esteem Detroit a conference for middle school children to reach for their dreams and learn how to be community thought leaders. She runs an annual Small Business Summit to provide people with businesses and business ideas a two day retreat to network, attend training sessions, brainstorm and grow. Tara’s work has been featured in various publications and channels such as CW50, MY TV20, PBS and WDET Detroit Today. Nominated in 2010 as a Diversity Champion by NAWBO and a Fusion: Young Professional Horizon Honoree for Communication Services. She won the Salute to Diversity Award by Corp! Magazine in 2010
• Bill Newman
  Author, professional speaker, writer and consultant - William D. (“Bill”) Newman serves as Managing Principal and Co-founder of Newport Consulting Group, an independent management consulting firm focused on strategy, operations, risk management, and technology. Mr. Newman has over 25 years of experience in a wide range of operations including manufacturing, R&D, sales, marketing, planning, human capital, and finance. His expertise spans service, manufacturing (automotive, aerospace, life sciences, high tech, furniture, CPG), government, utilities, transportation, and healthcare, and not-for-profit organizations. His practice focus includes innovation, enterprise performance management (EPM), governance risk and compliance (GRC), program design and oversight, sustainability management, and market growth and entry strategies for software and service firms. Bill was granted the Certified Management Consultant designation by the Institute of Management Consultants (IMC) in 1995. Mr. Newman is a qualified Trainer / Coach granted by the American Society for Quality (ASQ) since 2000, and a qualified consultant in SA 8000 for social accountability since 1998 and trainer/consultant on the Social Fingerprint method since 2011. Mr. Newman is a registered expert witness with the Technical Advisory Services for Attorneys in the areas of information technology, marketing and management. Bill holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Aerospace Engineering with a minor in Economics from the Henry Samueli School of Engineering at UCLA, and an MBA in Management and minor in International Business from the Conrad Hilton School of Business at Loyola Marymount University. He is a member of the adjunct faculty at Northwood University in the fields of international management and sustainability management, an alumnus of the University of Oregon Sustainability Leadership Program (graduated with certificate), and a member of the McKinsey Quarterly Executive Panel. He is the author of several management and technology articles and manuscripts in the fields of strategy, performance management, sustainability and governance.
• Neil Sheridan
  Neil Sheridan currently serves as the Director of Kettering University’s TechWorks Program and as an Adjunct Professor of Management there. Neil is a recognized advanced technology commercialization expert; his academic research interests focus on the successful leadership of innovation. Neil has trained more than 300 people in the Flint area about starting or working in high-tech companies. Presently, Neil is working with dozens of concept teams who are looking to become new employers in the region. Neil holds an MBA in Finance from New York University and a Bachelors degree in International Affairs and American Government from Drew University. Neil has more than 20 years in management consulting, entrepreneurship and professional speaking. Neil has held leadership roles in city, state, and local government and has been honored by Michigan for his work in promoting business growth. He is a 2011 graduate of Leadership Genesee. Anyone interested in learning about free tech startup training programs at Kettering can call Neil on (810) 762-9724 or email him at neil.sheridan@kettering.edu.
• Catalina Talero
  Catalina Talero is the owner and president of Envaluate, Inc., a Washington, D.C.-based company that provides local, national and international organizations with consultant services in program evaluation, funding and development. Talero and her team also conduct qualitative and quantitative evaluation, monitoring, bilingual survey design and implementation, data gathering, data analysis, data reporting, information assurance, and academic assessment. While working with Constrat Inc. for the Inter-American Development Bank, Talero helped spearhead the content design and implementation of new digital education resources for Afro-Descendant and Indigenous students in the Americas. While working for International Center for Alcohol Policies, she conducted evaluations of Salvadoran and Kenyan violence prevention programs. Other clients/collaborators include Peace First (Harvard), Bogotá Classrooms of Peace/Aulas de Paz (Universidad de los Andes), Fundación Terpel Enseña, Fé y Alegría, Empresarios por Educación, Genesis Foundation, AEIOTú Foundation. Talero is at the forefront of a new generation of bilingual scholars, researchers, and data management specialists. Having just received a Fulbright research grant (2009-2010 Education, Colombia) Talero speaks and publishes on topics such as: education, civic education, civic engagement, Latino/Latina institution building, closing the achievement gap, women of color and community leadership, democracy in the classroom, teacher enrichment, service-based learning and job readiness training. Talero graduated with an Honors Bachelor of Arts from the University of Toronto. Her M.A. is from George Washington University in Human and Organizational Development. Graduate honors include the Angeline Anderson Fellowship and the Fulbright.
• Terry Wisner
  People often refer to him as a great speaker, trainer and consultant, but Terry Wisner is most proud when they refer to him as a “Cool Old Guy”! Organizations like General Motors, International Paper, United Way, Michigan Association of Realtors and many others, go to Terry for help in growing their business. Individuals go to Terry because he relates to them and coaches them through making necessary changes in their lives. Although he barely passed 9th grade English, Terry is a regular columnist in several publications, has been feature in the Wall Street Journal, Selling Power Magazine, CNN.com, Dealer Magazine and his articles have been reprinted in hundreds of other media publications. He has co-authored Craft a Life of Passion, Purpose and Prosperity, Transformational Leadership and Advance Selling for Dummies. Ms. Ashbough would be proud! As the Founder of The CPO Institute, a performance improvement company, Terry combines over thirty-five years of real-world experience with his education and research to deliver unique perspectives on performance improvement, relationship building, and change. He has created CoolOldGuys.org to help men deal with ageism and Bring Two To Flint to change the perception of his adopted hometown of Flint, Michigan. "Among the many things I’ve learned in life, I know kidney stones are no fun, fast cars are, and when it comes to making significant change in one’s life…you Don’t Just Do It!" Terry Wisner Get to know more about Terry at terrywisner.com or on Facebook at http://facebook.com/terry.wisner
• Host - Joel Feick
  Joel Feick's love of storytelling started in college at the University of Toledo, where he graduated in Communications. Along the way, he started the news department at the school's college radio station, WERC. Joel worked at the abc affiliate in Toledo, WDHO as a reporter and anchor. He then worked for 27 years for WJRT in Flint as an anchor and reporter. He reported from China, Russia and places much closer to home. He originated a series of reports on home improvement called "HomeWork". He's probably done more stories on toilets than any other local reporter, a distinction he's not necessarily proud of. In 2005, he won the Emmy Award for Best Consumer News in a series of reports on how to insulate a home. Joel has also won UPI and AP Awards along with the National Golden AMI Award. He's enjoyed hundreds of interviews: from President George H.W. Bush to Ernie Harwell. But the ones that brought him the most joy were ones that involved average people in unique situations. Joel is an instructor of Radio Broadcasting at Mott Community College. He's on the board of the Children's Wish Fund of Flint. This past summer he was a coach on his son's Little League team. Joel and his wife Christine live in Grand Blanc with their son Lucas.
• Tunde Olaniran
  Born in Flint, Michigan, one of America's most dangerous cities, Tunde Olaniran is a cultural warrior with a 4-octave range and a penchant for dirty synths. Combining a magnetic presence, lyrical dexterity, genre-devouring style, and a DIY performance aesthetic, he's toured the world, making believers out of Detroit metal-heads and Croatian ravers alike with a sound that defies convention. As a child of an American socialist mother and Nigerian Christian immigrant father, Tunde Olaniran has been instilled with the infusion of culture, consciousness, and rhythm since birth. Growing up, he lived in Germany, Nigeria, and England before settling in Flint, MI for his late adolescence where he was exposed to urban, folk, and soul influences of the small, humble city as well as a strong jazz influence on his mom's behalf. With the mixture of the eclectic music surrounding him and the discovery of his budding talent, he was prompted in 2003 to submit an audition videotape to the first annual Chicago Idol competition. From over 1,500 contestants, the young crooner made it to the final 15, receiving props from a then-unknown Kanye West, and sharing the stage with R. Kelly and Syleena Johnson. It was then that Tunde got a taste for what he would begin to pursue. On his musical journey, Tunde has fronted the popular rock band Taste This!, recorded the well-received debut solo album, Infinite Modulation, and teamed up with fellow musician Brian Preczewski to form the dynamic duo, Stereoluxxx. In the winter of 2008, Tunde collaborated with Berlin duo Chris De Luca Vs. Phon.o for their album Supercontinental, writing and performing three tracks. He then toured Europe (France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Croatia), sharing the stage with acts like Robyn, Switch, Ebony Bones, Diplo, XXXChange, and Jahcoozi. More recently, Olaniran performed at the 2009 and 2010 South by Southwest (SXSW) Festival in Austin, TX, and 2010 DEMF, Olio Festival, and Rifflandia. Along with performing overseas, Tunde's records "I'm So Trill" and "Superconfidential" receive airplay on international radio stations such as Radio 1, Radio Fritz, Jam FM, Motor FM, and FM4. In the States, his songs "Champion" and "I Got It" receive regular airplay on WKUF-LP 94.3 Kettering Radio. In 2010, Tunde Olaniran's song with CLP and White Gold Princess, "Insatiable," received placement in the highly publicized new film Just Wright, featuring Common and Academy Award nominees Queen Latifah and Paula Patton. Through all of these accomplishments, word has slowly spread virally about the upstart vocalist, catching the attention of MTV Iggy, who dubbed Tunde a "Pop Futurist" and named him as one of their "Bands We Like" as well as "Artist of the Week." Videos featuring Tunde have garnered over to 68K views on youtube and vimeo. Weird, soulful, catchy, uplifting. All of these words have been used by listeners to describe Tunde's style. Armed with a strange, wonderful new sound, solid vocals, and commanding stage presence, Tunde is prepared to share his music with the world.
• Embers
  The city of Flint saw a dramatic increase in arson fires in 2010, leaving behind piles of burnt bricks, empty lots, and battered spirits. Based on interviews with community members, EMBERS: The Flint Fires Verbatim Theatre Project told the stories hidden by flames. Performed in a variety of community spaces throughout August & September 2011, the project was a collaboration between the UM-Flint Department of Theatre & Dance & community organizations including The Urban League of Flint, Raise it Up! Youth Arts & Awareness, The Kearsley Park Block Redevelopment Project, and the Hispanic Community & Technology Center. The project was awarded a 2011 Arts of Citizenship Fellowship from the Unversity of Michigan.
• Vertical Ambition Dance Co
  Vertical Ambition Dance Company was started in November of 2008. Since the beginning we have striven for excellence in the performance art of dance. VADC is a hybrid dance company that performs Contemporary and Hip-Hop dance disciplines with an emphasis on Modern and B-boying. We require company members to be proficient in one form of dance while consistently training in another, giving VADC's dancers great freedom in choreography and performance. Dance is powerful. It speaks when words cannot. No matter the venue, our performances are unspoken communications that encourage and uplift the community. The goal of VADC is to inspire and minister to people through dance and at the same time push the limits of dance itself. VADC is based in Flint, MI with dancers from all over Southeast Michigan. Current Lineup: Jared and Alisyn Hurd, Directors. Julia Fowler and Liz Kreutziger, Members. Julius Rogers, Vertical Ambition Battle Squad. Emma Davis, Talia Carter, and Shanna Massey, Apprentices.
• Flint Public Art Project
  The Flint Public Art Project is an innovative platform for cultural production in Flint, Michigan. Programs of the Flint Public Art Project are being produced in integral collaboration with local artists, community advocates, cultural institutions, neighborhood associations, businesses, real-estate developers, and political leaders in the city.Through these collaborations, we are producing new images of the city, temporary programs, public art events, small-scale design installations, and permanent projects at strategic sites in Flint in order to transform those places. The core aim of the Public Art Project is to coalesce the emerging identity of Flint. We are giving greater force to essential features of the urban cultural landscape by recognizing them and connecting them to a larger narrative. A new city is emerging in parallel to processes of economic restructuring. We are broadcasting the image of this new city to outsiders to support and help propagate new ways of living in the city.
• Hannah Fralick
  Hannah Fralick moved to Flint in late summer of 2008 and soon realized that the city would become a constant inspiration to her growing reputation as a singer and songwriter. She uses mainly the guitar and piano as vehicles for stories and musings gathered from her experiences and observations in the city, including the "summer of fire" that began in April of 2010 and blazed along her own street. Her song "Ovation" is a desperate plea for an explanation from the ones responsible for setting Flint on fire, as well as a hope for continued restoration in the aftermath. Hannah has released two albums of original work and is active in the heart of Flint both as a musician and a community advocate. She received a Flinty Award in 2009 for Best Musician and her songs have had frequent airplay on WKUF-LP 94.3 Kettering Radio. Her most recent EP, "Hannah Fralick and the Beards" has been featured as the "musical backdrop" in the 2011 theater production Embers. The song "Ovation" is also featured in the production. There are always new and perhaps sometimes outlandish ideas brewing in Hannah's mind for the future of her music, but so long as she finds herself in Flint, she knows where the stories will come from.
• Gary Jones
  As a professional, Gary Jones is a Program Coordinator for the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Flint, a non-profit organization designed to enable all young people to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. He also serves on the board for Genesee County Community Mental Health; dedicated to providing the highest quality, most effective services and supports available to meet the mental health, developmental disabilities, and substance use disorder needs of the adults, children, and families in Genesee County. Gary began performing spoken word poetry as a member of the Neo Griot Performance Collective near the turn of the century. He was a major contributor to two groundbreaking albums that blended spoken word and hip hop: Verbal Libation and The Griot Experience. During this time, he was also a facilitator for a poetry youth group at Beecher High School. Gary has organized countless poetry slams: including two state wide collegiate tournaments. He was the Slam Master for the first National Poetry Slam team from Flint, MI. He is the current champion from the Canceling Cancer benefit event at the U of M-Flint; a show designed to raise awareness about cancer. He has performed in Chicago, Albuquerque, New Orleans, Tampa, Tallahassee, Atlanta, Detroit, Ann Arbor, and Philadelphia. He has shared stages with J. Ivy (from Kanye West’s “Never Let Me Down”), Apollo Legend Jessica Care Moore, Future The Poet, Liza Garza, TruthBTold, Ayodele Alli and Talaam Acey.
• Brave New Voices Poetry Team
  This year, 5 Flint teens made local history when they competed at the Brave New Voices International Poetry Slam Festival in July 2011 at the University of California-Berkeley in San Francisco. This event convened over 500 youth from all over the world for 5 days of poetry/writing workshops, performances, town hall meetings, dialogues, forums, and networking with writers, celebrities, artists and activists. The week-long celebration of writing, performance, social justice, and youth empowerment culminated in a poetry slam competition. The youth who were selected for the team, earned their place by winning a number of local poetry slams. These young poets had the unique distinction of being the first Flint team to ever compete in this 15 year old event. The team received praise from event organizers for ranking in the top 20 out of 50 teams worldwide and making it to the semi-finals, an unusual achievement for a first time team. The teens performed original poetry that explored critical personal and social issues and are excited to share their works at TEDxFlint.
• Classical Academy - IB School
  Elexis Nelson is a 17 year old senior at the Classical Academy, an International Baccalaureate World School in Flint Michigan. In her free time, she enjoys writing and reciting poetry at local cafes and art studios. Elexis says “Poetry is the silent man’s emotions bled out on paper; a sacrifice that gives the world beauty.” Elexis is also involved in various extracurricular activities at her school that have molded her culturally. Not only is she a writer/director/editor/actress in Apollo 1 film club at her school, she is also the Head Delegate of the Classical Academy’s Model United Nations Delegation. Elexis also enjoys working in her community and has earned 220 hours of community service. Elexis plans to attend the University of Michigan Flint and study both journalism and business management. She has hopes that the future will bring success for both herself and Flint, her hometown.
• Classical Academy -IB School
  Alexis Harvey is a 16 year old senior at the Classical Academy, an International Baccalaureate World School in Flint Michigan. In her free time, Alexis likes writing poetry and sharing it with her friends. Alexis says “Poetry comes from the deepest recesses of the heart where only light can reach, and the deepest recesses of the soul where only darkness can reach.” Aside from her poetry, Alexis is an actress, videographer, costume designer, writer and director for her school’s Apollo 1 film club. She is also the founder of her school’s first sewing club, and a member of Classical Academy’s college club. Although she is involved in many activities at her school, she is also involved in activities in her community. Alexis has been a part of Flint Youth Theatre for almost ten years. She has taken over 14 classes in voice and movement, and improv. She has also been in several plays at Flint Youth Theatre including the highly successful production of “To Kill a Mockingbird.” When Alexis graduates in 2012 she hopes to attend the University of Illinois with a double major in Theatre and Theatre Performance, and a double minor in Fashion Design and French Education.