Whitefish
x = independently organized TED event

Theme: EXPANDING GREAT NORTHERN MINDS

This event occurred on
May 4, 2015
10:00am - 5:00pm MDT
(UTC -6hrs)
Whitefish, Montana
United States

The arrival of the Great Northern Railway in 1904 heralded the beginnings of the city of Whitefish, Montana. Incorporated in April of 1905, the town immediately began servicing the needs of the railway, its passengers, and its workers. The theme for TEDxWhitefish 2015 is “Expanding Great Northern Minds,” which calls to its community and surrounding communities to face forward, upward, northern in the footsteps of those founding pioneers who have achieved over a century before.

A “Northern Mind” envisions possibilities, seeks opportunities, and leads the charge to actualize their dreams. The American drive to pioneer is alive and well in Montana. We turn inward to the creative canvas of freedom afforded to us by our forefathers. We credit them for foresight in the successful and often risky decisions they made which form the roots of our town: the transcontinental Great Northern Railway that linked people, products, and possibilities to the northernmost expanses of the United States and Montana. The miracle and wonder of Whitefish continues today in the individual efforts of singular people.

The speakers will be based around this theme, as the those who think and believe “northern,” whom have envisioned, believed, and achieved. They define themselves through their organizations, products, beliefs, and aid in this culminating call to create a better life for all. Whitefish has an opportunity to create a fabric of dynamic qualities, standards, and values that make our town, or any other community what it is. This fabric, as illustrated through the media of TEDx, is keyed on responsible economic development, resource conservation, and inclusive community citizenship. Keys to the success of Whitefish, including the entire Flathead Valley, are found in the open dialogue and communication of its community members.

600 2nd St E
Whitefish, Montana, 59937
United States
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Speakers

Speakers may not be confirmed. Check event website for more information.

Aaron Traylor

Over the years, I administered radio stations for Clear Channel and Townsquare Media, including planning, staffing, leading, promotion activities, etc. Currently, I host a #1-rated daily music program that airs in numerous mid-sized markets across America. I'm a published author of "The DJ Chronicles: A Life Remixed," which was published and distributed worldwide; currently in its 2nd edition. I've also earned the honors of 'Best Radio Personality' year-after-year in our annual town surveys and won an E.B. Craney award for 'Best Radio Promotion.' I add personal flair to the latest hit music on the nationally syndicated 'Popcrush Mini-Mix' program. Finally, I'm a touring festival and club DJ who's been on the road with T-Pain and Sir Mix A Lot. I've also performed alongside many major stars like Kelly Clarkson, Chris Brown, Ne-Yo, The Crystal Method, Bobby Brown and more!

Andy Shirtliff

Andy was born in Butte, raised in Kalispell, and after spending a two years out of state; he moved back to finish his degree at the University of Montana. He has lead field teams for successful efforts such as; a State Senate race won by 4 votes, two gubernatorial races, and organized on the campus of UM for a Presidential campaign. He has worked and volunteered across the state with Montanans of all walks of life on such issues as; public access, voter rights, and health care reform. In the spring of 2013, Andy was appointed by Governor Bullock to be the Small Business Ombudsman for Montana, advocating for Main Street Montana businesses, entrepreneurs, and Startups.

Chuck Tooley

Chuck Tooley retired undefeated as the longest-serving mayor in the history of Billings, Montana. He served in the leadership of the US Conference of Mayors, as President of the Montana League of Cities and Towns, and was later appointed Director of the Urban Institute of MSU in Billings. Chuck has been President of Tooley Communications since he founded the company in 1984, providing marketing and consulting services to business, non-profit, and government clients. He is a frequent speaker on leadership, citizenship and public policy. Chuck is a U.S. Army veteran of Vietnam and has held directorships in local, national and international non-profit organizations. He is currently a board member of Rocky Mountain College, the non-partisan Burton K. Wheeler Center on Public Policy and the Big Sky Economic Development Authority.

Colin Wright

Colin Wright is an author, entrepreneur, and full-time traveler. For the past six years, he's moved to a new country every four months, based on the votes of his readers.

Courtney McKee

CEO Headframe Spirits & Headframe Spirits Manufacturing Courtney was raised in Connecticut and moved to Montana to attend the University of Montana, where she received a BA in English Literature. Passionate about Montana, Courtney came to Butte in 2001 where she owned and operated an Information Technology consulting company for a number of years before getting into the distilled spirits business. Courtney and her husband John own Headframe Spirits in Butte, which opened in 2012, and were named Entrepreneurs and Ambassadors of the Year by Governor Steve Bullock in 2014 and 2015. Headframe Spirits currently employs 27 individuals and has made a significant economic impact in their community. The company is equal parts history and technology, which derives from the rich history and ingenuity that the beautiful hometown of Butte has to offer.

CrisMarie Campbell

BS in Mechanical Engineering, MBA CrisMarie has a passion for teams. As a rower in the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games and a silver medalist in the 1987 World Championships, she learned the difference between a group of champions and a championship team. Her passion for creating high-performing teams led her to initiate a groundbreaking team approach as a Boeing engineer that changed how Boeing builds planes. CrisMarie left engineering to pursue her passion for people and human systems. After completing an MBA, she stepped in as manager at Arthur Andersen, coaching business leaders on implementing large-scale change. For eight years, CrisMarie and Susan were part of a select group of consultants for Patrick Lencioni, author of Five Dysfunctions of a Team.

CrisMarie Campbell

The #1 source of pain on a team, or in any relationship, is conflict. What if conflict wasn’t good or bad? What if conflict was an energy source your team could harness to produce innovative, creative, and transformational results? Invest 18 minutes learning the two magic ingredients and how you can put them to work with any team you care about. CrisMarie Campbell and Susan Clarke have spent over 15 years working with hundreds of business leaders and their teams across many industries. Their clients call them “The Team Doctors” because of their expert, laser-like focus on the health of the team in order to get to smart business results.

Diana Damron

Diana Damron is a speaker, trainer, and coach whose focus is on what she calls “The 3 C’s: Civility, Communication, and Character”. As a former television anchor, reporter, and producer who has worked in both the public and private sectors, Diana has seen what happens to a work environment and the people in it when the importance of The 3 C’s is not embraced. People disengage; negativity, even depression spreads, and productivity evaporates. Diana’s goal is for us to adopt and activate civility in our professional, as well as personal lives.

Eric Hosek

Born in the “Territory of Alaska” I am one of the few remaining pioneer births you would meet in this age, but growing up in a career military family means you travel and learn to adapt, modify and move ahead. As a family we always explored our new surrounding and my love of the outdoors lead me to become a professional outdoors-man and educator for 15 years working contracts globally during the boom in outdoor education in the 70s and 80s. After a year in Kenya I followed my future wife to Montana in the early 80s and Whitefish became our permanent home after a 16 month trip around the world together.

Jack Gladstone

Jack Gladstone is “Montana’s Troubadour.” An enrolled citizen of the Blackfeet Nation, Jack illustrates American Indian culture through a mosaic of music, lyric poetry, and spoken word narrative. A former college instructor, Jack co-founded Glacier National Park’s renowned lecture series, “Native America Speaks.” This program, established in 1985, is the longest continuously running indigenous speaker series in Park Service history. Jack has released fifteen critically acclaimed CDs. His latest release, “Native Anthropology,” garnered the prestigious “Best Historical Recording” from the Native American Music Association. In the spring of 2013, Jack became the first Montanan to receive the C.M. Russell Heritage Award, given to honor his contribution to the “legacy, culture, and life of the American West.” That same year, Jack was inducted into the University of Washington Alumni Hall of Fame in the field of Speech Communications.

Jeff Mow

Jeff Mow first came to Montana in 1979 and spent four summers working for the US Geological Survey doing geologic mapping in the Flint Creek, Anaconda Pintler, and Sapphire Ranges of Montana. Subsequent visits occurred in 1988 during the Red Bench Fire in the North Fork and again in 2010 where he helped facilitate a scenario planning workshop for the Crown Manager’s Partnership in Whitefish. Jeff has been the Glacier National Park superintendent since August of 2013. Most of Jeff’s 26 year career with the National Park Service (NPS) has been in Alaska. He has had eight duty stations with the NPS over the course of 22 years, most recently he had assignments as the superintendent of Kenai Fjords National Park and the acting superintendent of Denali National Park and Preserve.

Miranda Youngren

Miranda Youngren lives in Columbus Montana, and is a senior at Reed Point High School. She has supportive parents and old two older brothers that are two of her best friends. She is currently Miss Montana Teen USA 2015, and will go on to compete in August at the Miss Teen USA pageant. Miranda loves adventures, going outside and refuses to spend an evening sitting still. After graduation, she plans to attend Montana State University in Bozeman to pursue a degree in Construction Engineering Technology. “If there’s no challenge there’s no change”, so Miranda tries to challenge herself everyday.

Organizing team

Maria
Phelps

Organizer

Cassandra
Sunell

Co-organizer