Theme: Community

“Ideas Worth Spreading”

“Help me spark a global movement to record and preserve meaningful conversations with one another that results in an ever-growing digital archive of the collective wisdom of humanity.”
Do you wish to move forward in an effective way and to impact your community in positive ways. Work with others desiring to take action, then actually do something that adds value. Enrich your life while moving forward with others.

#TEDxFH does! Moving Forward in the spirit of #community

It is also a unique desert setting where Author Wallace J Nichols , PhD has a fascinating understanding of the significance and the association in water #Blue Mind

“Blue Mind” is defined in Dr. Wallace J. Nichols’ New York Times bestseller as “a mildly meditative state characterized by calm, peacefulness, unity, and a sense of general happiness and satisfaction with life in the moment. It is inspired by water and elements associated with water, from the color blue to the words we use to describe the sensations associated with immersion.”

But is Blue Mind part of life in places like the hot dry Sonoran Desert?

Fountain Hills Community Center
13001 N La Montana Drive
Fountain Hills, Arizona, 85268
United States

Fountain Hills Saxophone Quartet

David Felten – Soprano Saxophone David calls playing with the Fountain Hills Saxophone Quartet “good for my soul”. Heather Baldwin – Alto Saxophone A former captain in the U.S. Army, Heather makes her living as a writer and piano teacher and regularly plays piano and saxophone with the praise and worship team at Christ’s Church of Fountain Hills. Donna Wilde - Tenor Saxophone Donna earned a music degree at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls and has been a performer as a vocalist since age 3 and saxophonist since age 12. Music has always been her love. She is a songwriter and composer as well as a performer at many top venues in the Valley. Dale Nelson – Baritone Saxophone Dale studied saxophone with Glenn Bowen and Fred Hemke at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, Wisconsin. A retired medical supply sales representative, Dale now spends most of his free time with a saxophone in his hands.

Danielle Watson

As an anthropologist who doesn’t like digging in the dirt, Danielle was faced with either walking away from the field she loved, or rising to the challenge of uniting the seemingly irreconcilable. In the process, she hatched something irresistible: The Purse Process®. Danielle’s Purse Process® is a pioneering tool that applies tried and true principles of archeology in a fresh way, placing a decidedly modern and feminine spin on this dusty science. The Purse Process® is part of the unique tool kit Danielle uses as she guides women through restoring their core confidence, mentors them in reinventing themselves from the inside out, and teaches them how to turn their personal quirks into high-value professional assets. Danielle’s uncommon mix of enthusiasm, personal strength, femininity, and vulnerability has made this unlikely anthropologist a popular, pint-sized inspiration to women everywhere.

Darren Wilson

Darren Wilson is a proven strategist and branding expert. His contagious approach to business has resulted in over 15 years of success for his three companies along with industry leading wins for clients like the NFL, Warner Brothers, Target and AT&T. He has been involved in the strategic development of over 200 new concepts. His commitment to success has returned over $20M in earned media and over $100M in revenue. With a keen understanding of consumer behavior, Darren continues to demonstrate his ability to help brands forge meaningful connections with their best customers that ultimately increase brand affinity and drive sales. Darren has an unwavering commitment to building brands from the inside out, he keeps purpose and people at the core of every decision. It’s his passion to help brave leaders create, build and revitalize companies that live their purpose and deliver results that change the world.

Daune Thompson

Daune Thompson is the owner of Open Mind Consulting and holds a Bachelors Degree in Kinesiology. She is a professional speaker, certified life coach and respected motivator. With an accomplished career spanning across 20 years in corporate training and development, program design, life coaching, and facilitating countless seminars. She has an extensive fitness background and has taught at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She held the position of Director of Training and Development for a national speakers bureau, developing training programs and customizing employee-relations courses for Fortune 500 companies.

Desert Dance Theatre Step's Junk Funk

Step’s Junk Funk was founded by Step Raptis, who began to experiment with junk funk in the late 1970s while living in New York City. He would find items in the streets that could produce tonal sounds, and would use those items for accompaniment in dance classes and performances. For several years he has collected a huge arsenal of found items for a real Junk Funk Orchestra. Since 2003, Step’s Junk Funk highlights have been performing with students from Sacaton Middle School on the Gila River Indian Reservation for the community’s “Sober Challenge Day,” the Andy Warhol (one man show) produced by Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMOCA) for their outreach program, and the Salt River High School performing arts class on the Pima Indian Reservation. Step’s Junk Funk has appeared in the Arizona Dance Festival since 2006, and was commissioned to perform at the Governor’s Awards Luncheon for the Arizona Office of Tourism in July 2008.

Dr. Wallace J. Nichols

Marine Biologist + Author + Professor + Humanitarian

Dr. Wallace J. Nichols is a scientist, wild water advocate, movement-maker, New York Times bestselling author, and dad. He takes a slow, collaborative approach with leaders in businesses, government, non-profits, and academia to inspire a deeper connection with nature and inventive solutions to pressing issues. J. knows that inspiration comes sometimes through adventures, or simply by walking and talking. Other times through writing, images, and art. Science and knowledge can also stoke our fires. But he also knows that what really moves people is feeling part of and touching something bigger than ourselves. His research and expeditions have taken him to coasts and waterways across North, Central and South America, to Asia, Africa, Australia, and Europe where he continually finds that the emotional connection to waters of all kinds–rather than force of financial gain–is what keeps his colleagues and collaborators working hard to understand and restore our blue planet.

Elizabeth Havlicek

Elizabeth settled in the Valley of the sun almost 12 years ago, after traipsing across the country and the world, multiple times. Always an independent thinker, others may use the term ‘Rebel Child’, she moved out on her own at 17 and got a job in manufacturing. She entered this industry at the time when Lean Manufacturing principles were first taking hold in the US and she found herself mastering this type of business model where eliminating waste and creating greater efficiency were the objectives. She is glad to be sharing her business journey with her son, Jason. Together, they believe in supporting the community through non-profits such as the Scott Foundation, Operation Welcome Home, The AZ Wall Project and Dancing Queen Dresses- DQD Inc. She is also Vice President of the Small Business Alliance -AZ. Now that baking is her business, her “therapy” focuses on creative arts and sewing as well as taking long walks with her Golden-doodle, company “mascot”, Phil.

Gelie Akhenblit

Networking Guru

Gelie Akhenblit is the CEO of a national startup, entrepreneur, networker, mentor and mother ... She is most well known for her first tech startup NetworkingPhoenix and has become an Arizona phenom in the startup scene as she has revolutionized the landscape of networking in the Valley of the Sun. Once a political refugee from Moldova, she is living the American dream and has adopted the desert as her forever home and entrepreneurial launching pad. Embodying that same big dream spirit, in December 2008, Gelie left corporate America to launch her vision to democratize networking with an online resource. The start up’s popularity soon made it one of the most visited websites in Arizona. With expansion now happening nationally, Gelie has been named CEO of NetworkedLocal while keeping her vision of “the right kind of networking” as the core of their growth. Awards presented to Gelie include: 35 under 35, Young Athena Finalist, and Emerging Female NAWBO.

Jay Schlum

Jay Schlum served his community first as a volunteer Planning & Zoning Commissioner, then was elected to his Town Council and then twice as Mayor. Jay is the proud father of two, now young adults, husband of 27 years to beautiful wife Denise. He is a guy that leads and is plugged-in to make a difference in the lives of others. Professionally, Jay represents clients Buying and Selling real estate in the Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Fountain Hills and surrounding Phoenix metropolitan area. He has served on many Boards and Commissions including the Greater Phoenix Economic Council, Maricopa Association of Governments, President on Church Council, Coach of Little League, Chairman of the Fountain Hills Chamber of Commerce and much more. He loves people, especially good fun people.

Jill Irvin

Jill Irvin is an Environmental Science and Math teacher and sponsor of the Ecology Club at a local high school. In her spare time, she is an environmental and animal rights advocate using photography to raise awareness and educate others about issues surrounding our environment and the creatures with which we share our world. She believes that education is key to preserving the beauty that we unknowingly take for granted and uses her photography as a way to start the conversation. To forward her efforts, she created a nonprofit, TerraWind Ranch Eco-Action Group, whose mission statement reads: ”To protect our natural resources from commercial exploitation through education, advocacy and direct action.” Her group’s first mission is focused on saving one of America’s most precious natural resources: the wild horse.

Madiha Ali

Madiha Ali is a mother of three beautiful kids. Through her life story her goal is to teach her kids compassion, gratitude, faith, challenging fear, daring greatly, spreading joy, to be true to yourself and love without boundaries so we can one day build a better community for our kid’s future.

Marco Ceglie

Marco Ceglie’s journey to TEDx FountainHills was far from a direct one. The first-generation son of European immigrants, Marco ventured out of his working-class childhood almost as soon as he was legally allowed to travel alone. He spent many of those first years away crisscrossing the country and traveling the world on everything from motorcycles to pickup trucks, freight trains to ferry ships to whatever other fortuitous ride his outstretched arm might summon. That initial wanderlust settled down long enough for him to earn his baccalaureate degree from Arizona State University, write a novel, and hone his knowledge and talents into a career helping people find and tell their stories with heart, passion and impact.

Mark Paul John

Ever since I can remember, I’ve always wanted to be an artist, be able to create and share my work with the world. I am a self-taught artist that has always been labeled as being a bit of a dreamer, that characterization is something that I still embrace even today. I have always believed that you can achieve your goals by following your dreams. I created one piece in particular, titled American Pride back in 2002. It was a charcoal piece that depicted three firefighters hoisting up the American flag after the attacks in New York City on September 11, 2001. I donate these to convey a simple message, never forget, never forget how the country united on September 12, 2001. I donate these in honor of remembering America’s heroes.

Michael Ellenby

Through my travels, I developed a career that spanned hi-tech sales and sales management for large tech companies, as well as executive positions in several technology start-up companies, plus started a couple of companies myself. During my career, I worked with many people who were able to be successful, no matter what the economic or business environment. On the other hand, I also met a significant number of talented, intelligent, hard-working people who, despite their efforts, were unable to achieve the level of success they desired in their life, career, financial situation, health and family life. I complement my career with being an avid traveller and hiker, and love challenging myself physically and mentally. Having trekked into some great places, I have learned that the qualities needed to achieve success are the same whether you are in the mountains or in the board room.

Mike Alonzo

Mike Alonzo Quick-witted and blunt, there’s no wondering what’s on Mike's mind. Don’t let the baby face fool you, he first cut his teeth in tech startups in the late 90’s, when the internet was delivered on CD-Rom and “getting mail” was the highlight of your day. As Founding Partner at User10 (http://user10.com), Mike spends his days helping entrepreneurs, agencies, and technology teams develop and share new products by applying lean startup principles and challenging all assumption. Learn more about Mike at http://mikealonzo.com

Rick Krug

Rick Krug is an insatiable seeker. With the core principle of “People Matter”, Rick has developed an Executive Coaching service with celebrities and national speakers as clients. In 1996, Rick left full time ministry to pursue his own business enterprise. With a vacuum from home, Rick founded a local janitorial company. What began as a $400.00 a month job, grew into the largest full service building maintenance company in Northern Arizona. Even from these beginnings, Rick knew the value of working ON his business and not IN his business. Now TeamDream International has the unique product of providing entrepreneurs with totally turn-key business systems to allow small business owners to work less hours and make more money than they ever imagined possible.

Sari Roth-Roemer

Growing up as a native Arizonan, Sari finds comfort in both the smell of the desert rain and the heat of a summer day. Her desert roots foster a hardy resiliency and compassion for those who are looking to accept the difficulties in their lives. The daughter of a talented physician, Sari assumed she would folow in her father’s footsteps, until she took her first psychology course…and then her first organic chemistry course! The choice was clear. Psychology made sense to her. It shaped her studies, and then her life. A licensed medical psychologist and the director of Intuitive Psychology, PLC in Scottsdale, Arizona, Sari Roth-Roemer has devoted her career to exploring the field of behavioral medicine. Her psychology practice, research, and publications focus on helping people handle the challenges of physical illness, aging, brain injury, and chronic pain, all with a mind-body-spirit approach.

Ted Blank

Although I did not study astronomy in school I have been interested in the stars and planets since childhood. In 2007 when I retired from my first career, I took a few months off before starting a new job. During this time I knew I could stay up late and sleep in the morning, so I decided that it was the perfect time to buy a telescope and try to learn something about the night sky. As my interest in astronomy deepened I became President of the New Hampshire Astronomical Society and a NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador. Through all of my contacts with the public I have seen how offering people just a little explanation, an encouraging word and a peek through a telescope can start them on a lifetime of enjoyment of the night sky, even if they have little or no scientific background. The excitement I saw in people’s faces when they looked through my telescope inspired me first to offer sidewalk astronomy sessions and now to co-found the Fountain Hills Astronomy Club.

Wayne Warrington

Humanitarian

The most common question I get from people who visit the website LostMoney.com is “WHY? Why would you work for free for people you have never met in your life?” Many people volunteer their time for good causes, as I did for the first 20 years of my adult life… however not many people donate 90 percent of their time, energy and resources to people around the world who they have never met. In May 2006 I made a commitment to the American consumer. From that date forward I stopped working the 9-to-5 grind and and donated 90 percent of everything I owned to assist people in need by recovering any unclaimed property due to their families. I realized it was possible to give this assistance at no cost to those people who would benefit. Your friend, Wayne