Theme: Intellectual Adventure

This year's TEDxCoeurdAlene, at the Coeur d'Alene Salvation Army Kroc Center, will celebrate our theme "Intellectual Adventure". Together, we will listen as great speakers challenge us to think in new ways. We will question our assumptions. We will develop a wider and more inclusive point of view by considering the opinions of others. Then we will have time for conversation, discussion and debate. Our food will be catered by the Kroc Center. We hope the day leaves you feeling intellectually full, like your mind has enjoyed a wonderful meal. Please join us for TEDxCoeurdAlene.

Coeur d'Alene Salvation Army Kroc Center
w, 1765 W Golf Course Road
Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, 83815
United States

Andrea Parrish

Communications Professional + Question Asker

Andrea questions everything: ideas, traditions, concepts, beliefs, and especially the questions themselves. She's asked thousands of questions on social media, just to see what happens. As a communications professional, she spends a lot of time considering the interplay of those questions with the conversations we have, the stories we tell, and our interactions with the world.

Chris Cochran

Technologist + Leader + Human

Chris started his professional life in the non-profit sector focused on leadership development with junior high and high school students. Upon leaving the non-profit world, Chris started several consulting companies focused on new media, podcasting, and later IT. He leveraged his startup experience to a full time role in executive IT and Infrastructure Consulting, working with both startups and established firms. Chris currently manages the operations of the Innovation Collective, including the IC programs in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.

Christine Schader CFP®, ChFC®, CLTC, LUTCF ®

Inspirational Speaker + Author + Happiness Coach

Christine Schader (AKA: Smiley) is an inspirational speaker, author (The Happiness Connection-The Bible & The Brain - Released September 2017), and a life and happiness coach. She is passionate about sharing the science behind happiness and how to apply that science to your life to achieve your goals, dreams, and desires while simultaneously tapping into expanding joy, happiness, and bliss daily. She views herself as a lifelong student of God, love, and happiness. Christine lives in beautiful Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, has been married for over thirty-four years, and has two amazing adult children. In her spare time you can find her hiking in the gorgeous Pacific Northwest, enjoying life with her friends and family, or clicking away at the keyboard on her next book. ChristineSchader.com

David Groth

Teacher + Juggler + Adventurer

David retired in 2016 after 37 years in elementary education. For the last 23 years of his career, he incorporated juggling into his daily teaching, and found it to be a powerful way to connect with kids- and their families. School was fun! For his first year of retirement, he traveled for ninth months, by bicycle from Coeur d’Alene to SanDiego, as a ski bum throughout the West, and by car through Texas, the Southeast, East and Midwest.

Heather Swope

Traveler + Poet

Heather holds a BA in Chinese Languages from the University of Oregon, is a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer from Mongolia, and has spent much of her adult life living and traveling across Asia. As a multi-lingual, resident of the planet Earth and mom, Heather believes in being a force for good and cultivating understanding and growth through interpersonal interactions.

Kari Romeo

Realtor + Destroyer of Negative Self Talk

Kari believes that every human being has unlimited potential and that the key to unlocking that potential is learning to love ourselves. For most of her life, Kari doubted her abilities, her self-worth and struggled with a poor self-image. To the outsider, she seemed quite successful, giving little indication of the almost constant negative discourse going on in her own head. When Kari finally learned to love and appreciate herself, she found her pathway to success and happiness. Now she brings simple steps to help others release themselves from their judgmental prisons and open a world of unlimited potential.

Kimberly Rich

Writer + Inspirer + Certified High Performance Coach

Kimberly Rich is the creator and host of The Bold Life Movement; a popular, inspirational podcast on iTunes. After quitting her corporate life in 2013, she moved overseas to experience the world of location-independent entrepreneurship. Now, as a writer, speaker and coach, she empowers people worldwide to reject societal scripts, and to live audaciously by creating life on their terms. Kimberly is best known for her transparent and authentic voice, which has allowed her to connect with some of the world's greatest influencers both on and off the air.

Kristin Keyes

Labyrinth Facilitator

As a highly trained labyrinth facilitator, Kristin Keyes will guide fellow seekers on a journey toward self-discovery by exploring the lessons of the labyrinth.

Mary Mcdirmid

Mom + Wife + Financial Professional + Rare Disease Advocate + Connector

Mary McDirmid is a rare disease advocate who connects people and ideas. She believes the scary part is only a part of the story after all and sees vulnerability as essential. Mary is also the wife of one, a mother of two and a financial professional for lots of people.

Mickey Howard

Mickey Howard started juggling when an awesome teacher encouraged him in kindergarten! Since then, he's continually added new instruments, tricks and props... every time he needs a challenge. He's been performing since the first grade, when he joined the juggling performance team at Sorensen Elementary school. During middle school, he was lucky to have the opportunity to continue juggling with three of his best friends in a group called FUZE. Now he is using all of that experience to wow crowds with a solo act called Junk Drawer Troubadour. He chose this name because he loves street performing, playing his own backup music on the harmonica, and using a huge variety of props.

Robert Green

Attorney + Philosopher + Futurist

Robert Green is an Idaho attorney with a background in both civil and criminal litigation. Prior to founding Kootenai Law Group, he practiced in a Coeur d’Alene law firm handling family and estate planning matters, as well as mediating disputes as a Supreme Court Certified Mediator. He has also proudly served as a deputy prosecuting attorney for Kootenai County, Idaho. Robert is a native of Idaho, and enjoys spending time camping and fishing in beautiful North Idaho with his wife, Jamie, and their four children.