Theme: Crossroads

TEDxOgden will be taking place in the beautiful, historic Peery’s Egyptian Theater. Originally built as a movie palace in 1924 by Harmon and Lewis Peery, the theater was dilapidated and nearly torn down in the 1980’s. Restored to its original luster with the addition of a full theatrical stage and dressing rooms, it reopened in 1997 as part of the Ogden Eccles Conference Center. Peery’s Egyptian Theater is one of an estimated three Egyptian-style movie palace theaters in the Northwest United States. With the completion of the restoration of the Mighty Wurlitzer Pipe Organ in 2004 the “Showplace of the West” is now restored to it’s original grandeur.

Peery's Egyptian Theater
2415 Washing Blvd
Ogden, Utah, 84401
United States

Amy Wilde

author, marketing professional, motivational speaker

Amy Wilde is an author, marketing professional, motivational speaker, adventurer, sports fan, and lover of high heels. Most noteworthy though, Amy is a mom to three kids, Hayden, Emma, and Margret, who inspire her daily. Born with a bilateral cleft lip and palate, Amy is passionate about educating others and sharing her message of hope, kindness, inner beauty, and the power of one, especially with elementary age children. She is an active champion in the cleft community.

Brad Mortensen

president of Weber State University

President Mortensen brings both institutional familiarity and broad perspective to his new role as president of Weber State University. He is widely respected by our community partners, and is a thoughtful and effective higher education leader,” said Harris H. Simmons, chair of the Board of Regents. “Throughout his career, he has been highly focused on student success and inclusiveness. President Mortensen is passionate about Weber State University, and his experience, vision, and dedication will ensure that the institution continues to thrive.

Bruce Kusch

President of LDS Business College in Salt Lake City

Bruce C. Kusch became the 13th President of LDS Business College in Salt Lake City, Utah on April 17, 2017. During his tenure he has implemented significant change in the college’s learning and teaching framework, resulting in increased student satisfaction and performance across a variety of academic disciplines. He began his academic career at Brigham Young University-Idaho in August 2002 as a member of the Business Management faculty. In July 2008 he accepted a position in Academic Administration, serving as the Associate Academic Vice President for Curriculum. Bruce served in that role until June 2012 when he and wife were called to preside over the Mexico Cuernavaca Mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Upon his return in June 2015, Kusch was appointed an associate dean for online programs at BYU-Idaho, serving there until his appointment at LDS Business College.

Joseph Grenny

bestseller author

Joseph Grenny is a four-time New York Times bestseller author and co-founder of VitalSmarts, a global leader in training and organizational performance improvement. His lifelong passion has been studying why people do what they do, and how to help them change. His company has worked with over 300 of the Fortune 500 companies and has trained millions around the world. His interest in human change brought him to help start Unitus Labs in 2000. Unitus has since had an impact on over 15 million of the world’s poorest, helping them achieve self-reliance by starting and growing micro businesses. In 2015 Joseph co-founded The Other Side Academy, a two-year, peer run community of long-time felons and drug addicts who help one another become a person they have never met before. Remarkably, students who have been arrested an average of 25 times before coming to The Other Side Academy, soon become part of a completely self-reliant community.

Julie de Azevedo-Hanks

psychotherapist

Julie de Azevedo Hanks, PhD, LCSW is a licensed clinical social worker and psychotherapist specializing in women’s emotional health and relationships. Dr. Hanks is the founder and director of Wasatch Family Therapy, author of The Burnout Cure and The Assertiveness Guide for Women, a blogger, a local and national media contributor, a blogger, a coach, a private practice consultant, and an award-winning performing songwriter. A native Californian, Hanks currently lives in Utah with her husband. They are the parents of 4 children.

Kennedy Conroy

Young Woman

I believe too often it's misconstrued that independence means, unattainable, complete autonomous function. For young women, it's important to be aware of the spectrum of qualities- aside from what society awards- that can contribute to the persona of what an independent woman is.

Lin-hsiu Huang

multidisciplinary designer

Lin-hsiu Huang was born and raised in Kaoshiung, Taiwan. She is a multidisciplinary designer & intersectional activist and served as the student commencement speaker at Morehead State University's 2018 Fall Commencement. She has presented her advocacy research and productions in over a dozen conferences (e.g. Poster on the Hill, the Appalachian Studies Conference, the Southern Honors Council Regional Conference). Currently, Huang is the Program Coordinator at Clever Octopus – a creative reuse center in Murray, Utah – and an AmeriCorps VISTA member. She enjoys bringing studio art elements into her design work, and she designs with sustainability, purpose, and empathy.

Marc Nelson

Weber State University Instructor

Marc Nelson is an Adjunct Instructor at Weber State University where he teaches philosophy, honors, and study abroad courses. He lives with his wife and 2 kids in Ogden, and enjoys hiking the Ogden mountains, floating the Ogden River, and drinking the Ogden beer. Whenever possible, he tries to live by Epicurean teachings.