Utica
x = independently organized TED event

Theme: Spark

This event occurred on
September 10, 2016
Utica, New York
United States

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).

Schafer Theater - Mohawk Valley Community College
Sherman Drive
Utica, New York, 13502
United States
Event type:
Standard (What is this?)
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Speakers

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

Ryn Adkins & Rohan Thakore (Roux)

Roux is a pop-up dining experience that cross-pollinates food and design. We create intimate and interactive dinners, that celebrate food as the ultimate material for the exploration of design and craft. We showcase the entire sensory experience of eating: from the food, to the atmosphere, and everything in between. We pride ourselves on being design oriented, mobile, local and seasonal, and beautiful storytellers.

Bill Rockhill

Bill Rockhill has been building tiny houses since 1993. It's quite a departure from his start, working on big projects in Manhattan like Trump Park &Trump Plaza. Bill grew up in the Bronx working for his family's towing business. Bill started his career in construction in 1979 when he was awarded an apprenticeship by the New York City District Council of Carpenters. After working several years in New York City, he left in 1985 to spend 7 months on the road, traveling 25,000 miles. This was his first experience living in a tiny space and the great outdoors. When he returned to New York and his 39th Street apartment he soon realized he had fallen in love with life outside the city and relocated to the Adirondacks. In 1993 Bear Creek Carpentry was born.

Chris Henry

Christopher Henry is a Utica “transplant” from Pennsylvania. He received his Master of Landscape Architecture from the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF). While at ESF he had the privilege to study under distinguished teaching professors Richard Hawks and George Curry. His major professor was Fullbright Senior Specialist Emanuel J. Carter. Under his guidance Christopher wrote his capstone study: “Mixed-Use Development in a Time of Opportunity”. Chris conducted a comparative design study between urban and rural developments in response to natural gas exploration in Northeast Pennsylvania. Now he lives and works in Utica. He is currently working with the Utica Children’s Museum adventure playground and numerous commercial and residential design customers. He is fortunate to work for a local design build firm where he gets to make “places” one house and business at a time.

Dan Smalls

Dan Smalls is the president of Dan Smalls Presents, a concert promotion company based out of Ithaca New York. His company books shows from Boston to Buffalo in venues like the State Theatre, Brewery Ommegang, Ani Difranco’s Asbury Hall, Daryl Hall’s club in Pawling and so on. His career has spanned over 25 years in positions from talent buyer to booking agent to festival producer, most notably part of the team that produced Phish’s first 6 festivals. His philosophy is to produce small but perfect events and work with acts he respects and that share his passion for the experience of the fans and artists alike.

Devin Morgan

Devin Morgan is an executive mentor to innovative businesses, as well as a patent attorney, economic development professional, and craft food & beverage geek. He lives in Cooperstown, NY and started Three Blazes Innovation, Inc. to spread the word about the power of entrepreneurship and the importance of innovation at every level of business. He is also Special Counsel to Hoffman Warnick, an intellectual property law firm based in Albany, NY, and a Board Member of Otsego Now, the Otsego County IDA.

Kim Le

Kim N. Le is the creator of RyanDoesResi.com, originally an outlet for her to anonymously document her own battles with an eating disorder, but now read by over 50K subscribers and considered a valuable psychologist-recommended resource. She hosts support programming, partners with recovery organizations and is a featured writer on various eating disorder and addiction websites. Kim loves reading, blogging, volunteering, dance partying, learning, cooking, being outdoors, playing pranks and Marvel.

Mike Cecconi

Mike Cecconi is an internationally published poet, most notably in Britain's "Critical Quarterly" for its Occupy Wall Street issue and his locally-published poetry chapbook "This Is My Inside Voice". He's a local award-winning stand-up comic who performs in the Utica and Albany areas as well as occasional hops to New York City. He is also one of the rotating hosts of the Utica Poets Society poetry open mic at the Tramontane Cafe as well as emceeing other performance events. He's a graduate of the Newhouse School at Syracuse University with a degree in television/radio/film and worked a number of years in film production when living in Los Angeles. He currently lives again in his hometown of Little Falls.

Nick Esposito

Nick Esposito has 10+ years of experience in the service learning space, including time in both public and private schools. He is an award winning teacher for bringing best practices of service learning into the classroom. Nick has travelled around the world serving with different organizations and for different cultures and peoples. Through these experiences he has developed the belief that students are at their most impactful when they leverage their greatest passions and skills. This belief led to his founding of The Service League, an organization dedicated to bringing life changing service experiences to new schools and populations. Nick has degrees from Villanova University (Journalism, Sociology, Peace & Justice), Johns Hopkins (Masters in Urban Education) and is pursuing a degree in Education Entrepreneurship from the University of Pennsylvania.

Organizing team

Ryan
Miller

Organizer