Your TEDxFargo 2024 Preview

TEDxFargo is back this year, and it’s set to claim the stage and the curious. The 2024 event is ready to transport attendees to a realm where the familiar meets the fantastical. This year’s theme, “If,” beckons the daring and the dreamers to venture into the obscure terrain of the unknown. Breaking away from the conventional, the event promises to blur the lines between reality and imagination.

Slated for July 25 as usual, TEDxFargo aims to deliver a world-class experience, highlighting the community, nation, and beyond through a local lens. A curated lineup of speakers will guide attendees through a journey of perpetual curiosity, challenging assumptions, questioning certainties, and exploring a myriad of “what if” scenarios.

We have a sneak peek of the event here, and we’re excited. Let’s meet some of the TEDxFargo 2024 speakers!

Community Hype

As TEDxFargo nears, there’s always a buzz felt throughout our local community-and this year is no different. Businesses are jumping on board with the Community Amplification initiative, ready to “paint the town red” in celebration of the event week.

This movement involves local businesses, organizations, and individuals coming together to enhance the impact and reach of TEDxFargo through unique offerings like special items, themed drinks, and food promotions. All to contribute to a wave of innovation and collaboration that’s sweeping through Fargo!

Week of TEDxFargo Specials

TEDxFargo Sloosh and Eye Scream at Drekker Brewing Company “Hustle Culture” Slushie at Wild Terra Cider
TEDx-Cake: Pancakes, Strawberry Sauce, Strawberries, and Whip cream at Marge’s Diner
and much more!

Did You Know?

You can relive (or catch up on) past TEDxFargo events by watching the top talks on the local stage on YouTube! Scan the QR code to check them out!

Meet The Speakers

Amanda Schneider - ThinkLab, Founder & President

Keywords: Interior Design, Product Design, GENZ

Talk Topic: Genz and The Phygital Future

Personal Passions – Women’s advancement in the workplace & working motherhood

Research Interest – B2B decision-making and how that’s changing B2B selling in a new “Phygital” era (Physical + Digital = Phygital)

Amanda Schneider, LEED AP, MBA, is a trailblazing entrepreneur and founder of ThinkLab, acquired by SANDOW Design Group in 2018, where she still serves as president. A dynamic force at the convergence of design and business, Amanda stands out as a captivating thought leader and accomplished author, spotlighted in prestigious publications ranging from Forbes, the Huffington Post, Interior Design Magazine, and many other publications and podcasts. Recognized as the compelling host of the acclaimed podcast ‘Design Nerds Anonymous,” Amanda seamlessly weaves together creativity and data, offering unparalleled insights that captivate audiences worldwide.

Amanda’s creative process stems from her education in Industrial Design from the University of Illinois, Champaign- Urbana, while her natural business sense is augmented by her MBA from the University of lowa. While her work is founded upon the philosophy that it’s easy to be surrounded by data yet starved for insights, Amanda believes that true value emerges when insights empower actionable change. This philosophy permeates her work as she frequently takes the stage, reaching and inspiring audiences worldwide.

When she’s not busy working in her suburban Chicago office or visiting clients, you can find her trail running at freakishly early hours of the morning, dreaming about that book she’ll write someday, or ambushing her secret stash of dark chocolate and red wine.

Linkedin | /amandajeanschneider

Catherine Curry-Williams - She Angels Foundation, Co-Founder

Talk Topic: From Pain to Passion

Catherine Curry Williams is a force for positive change, proven by her 27-year commitment to philanthropy. She draws in and influences others, cultivating meaningful connections between individuals and ideas. Catherine can engage those around her, instilling a shared sense of purpose and dedication to making an impact.

Challenging philanthropic norms, Catherine catalyzes innovation, pushing boundaries and defying established perceptions. As a dedicated advocate and co-founder of Shane’s Inspiration, established in 1997 in memory of her son Shane, Catherine has led global initiatives to create inclusive sensory- and literacy-rich playgrounds throughout the world that unite children of all abilities.

In 2020, Catherine expanded her impact by co-founding the She Angels Foundation, which awards monthly grants to grassroots organizations supporting young women and girls. A fervent advocate for women’s empowerment, she shares her wisdom and passion through teaching and speaking.

Catherine’s journey has been marked by numerous honors and awards, reflecting her impactful contributions. Notably, she was chosen as one of L’Oreal Paris’ “Women of Worth.” She received the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015. She has been recognized as one of the “Women of the Year” for California in 2018. She received the Women’s Empowerment Network Award in 2022 and was honored with the BRA Visionary Woman of the Year award that year as well. Her achievements have been acknowledged by esteemed institutions such as the March of Dimes, Good Housekeeping magazine, KCET-TV, The Today Show, and LA Lifestyle magazine, to name a few. Additionally, Catherine was featured in an article in Canvas Rebel in 2023 and Bold Journey in 2024.

Catherine continues to challenge conventional concepts of philanthropy, effecting change and leaving an indelible mark on individuals and communities worldwide.

Facebook | /SheAngelsFoundation
Facebook | /catcurrywilliams
Instagram | @thesheangelsfoundation

Eric Smith - Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration, Tech Hubs Director

Talk Topic: Technology, Security, Competitiveness

Eric Smith is the tech hubs director at the US Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA). He is an expert in designing and implementing policies, programs, and services that enable inclusive, innovation-centric growth and facilitate the transition of research into the market Previously, he served as chief customer officer at NASA’s Small Business Innovation Research / Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) Program, helped stand up EDA’S other technology-centric programs, and worked in fintech and at software startups. He holds a BA in computer science and mathematics from the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology and a juris doctor (JD) from the Indiana University Maurer School of Law.

Linkedin | /ericpaulsmith
Linkedin | /us-economic-development-administration

Betsy Fore - Native Rising, Co-Founder & Board Member

"[ I am an ] investor at XFactor Ventures, Longjump, and My Fund just launched Velveteen Ventures-- investing in children and the planet for the next seven generations."

Talk Topic: Your Deep Inner Why

Betsy is a serial venture-backed founder, product leader, and operator with over two decades of experience. She is an investment partner at two firms. She is the first Native American-Turtle Mountain Chippewa-to raise a Series A for her company. Betsy is a three-time founder of two multi-million dollar brands and a non-profit, Natives Rising. Natives Rising is one of the largest communities of Indigenous Technologists and Indigenous Founders with members representing over two hundred tribes. Betsy is the Managing Partner at Velveteen Ventures, investing in children and the planet for the next seven generations. She is also a certified coach, NLP, and flow states practitioner.

Missy Heilman - BIO Girls, CEO

Talk Topic: Mental Health, Youth, Hope

Missy has served as the BIO Girls CEO since founding the organization in 2013. With a background in business management and marketing, Missy worked in the marketing technology industry for 15 years, as a consultant and chief marketing officer, before BIO Girls became her full-time job in 2018. Under Missy’s leadership, BIO Girls has grown from a local program impacting a handful of girls to a regional non-profit serving thousands of girls annually. Guided by a strategic plan, Missy has scaled the organization through controlled growth and innovation; and has been instrumental in developing a workplace culture that promotes balance, rest, and a family-first environment. While Missy enjoys her day job, her favorite role continues to be that of site director where she works directly with young girls to help them discover their inner worth.

Mom to three daughters and wife to husband, Tom, Missy balances her time with family duties and a love for adventure. Whether it is traveling, mountain biking, running, competing in Ironman triathlons, or cheering her kids on in their activities, Missy tackles it all with enthusiasm. She is a graduate of the University of North Dakota where she competed in track and field and earned degrees in exercise science and nutrition. As a recipient of an NCAA postgraduate scholarship, Missy went on to earn an MBA from NDSU. Missy serves on the UND Letterwinners Association board, is an uber fan of track and field, and enjoys snuggles with her cat, Harry. Often described as ‘fearless, Missy’s favorite piece of advice for the young and old alike is to not fear failure.

Linkedin | /missyheilman
Instagram | @biogirlsinc
Facebook | @biogirlsinc

Evelyn Chambers - High School Student

Talk Topic: Generational Future-Focused, Confident

High school is an exciting time that presents many new opportunities, and Evelyn is going through this process whilst watching the incredible evolution of Artificial Intelligence in real-time. She is a three-time sweepstake science fair winner, has a passion for performing, and plays violin in the FM Area Youth Symphony. With an entrepreneurial drive and unwavering determination, she eagerly embraces the dynamic shifts shaping our world.

Arianna Genis - P3 Lat at Johns Hopkins University Organizer-In-Residence & Research Scholar

Talk Topic: Latinx, Power, Democracy

Arianna Genis is an organizer and strategist with a decade of experience in movement building and politics. She has delivered expectation-defying wins locally and nationally that advance equity and systemic change at organizations like Mijente, re:power, and TakeAction Minnesota. Arianna was part of the campaign team that won paid sick time for thousands of workers in Minneapolis; she led campaigns to elect progressive candidates of color into public office; and she oversaw North Carolina’s largest Latino voter mobilization effort in 2020. Her leadership is centered on building the political power of working-class communities via grassroots organizing, political campaigns, and compelling narrative strategies that spearhead community-driven change in politics and government. Currently, she serves as the organizer-in-residence and research scholar at the P3 Lab at Johns Hopkins University. In this role, she is designing a new initiative that she plans to launch soon, focused on elevating the power of Latinx participation in our political system as key to a more just, multiracial democracy.

Instagram | @Ari_Genis
Twitter | @AriannaGenis

Maddy Matson - Swarthmore College, Undergraduate Student, Full-Time

Talk Topic: Uplift Rural Education

"I am very passsonate about helping from a top-down perspective on policies regarding social welfare and infrastructure of the South Dakota Reservations."

Maddy Matson is a current student at Swarthmore College, located just west of Philadelphia. Her roots are in Gettysburg, a town nestled in the heart of South Dakota. She is diligently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Political Sociology, with a minor in Religion. Her educational path includes graduating from high school in the class of 2020, followed by two years of work, most notably at Sutton Bay Golf in Agar, SD. Her professional and academic efforts are fueled by a strong commitment to enhancing social infrastructure from both top-down and bottom-up perspectives. Matson holds a deep-seated passion for universally elevating social welfare, with a particular focus on the transformative potential within the rural education sector.

Instagram | @maddymatson
Linkedin | /maddy-matson-4b0515199

Nick Smoot - Aesop Industries, CEO

Talk Topic: Better is Possible

Nick grew up in a small town in Idaho. It was common to see a cow being birthed or shot on a farm across the street from his elementary school.

After he graduated high school, he spent his time designing and implementing leadership development programs for teens. He did this work with a church that had 400 members when he started and grew to over 14,000 by the time he left. It became the fastest- growing church in America. Nick learned a lot about people and systems during that time and it provided him with experiences like when he was 21 years old, when he took 73 fourteen to eighteen-year-olds to Tanzania. He still wonders who thought that was a good idea…

After his work with teens, he somehow ended up becoming the co-founder of a company that was the first to put the body of psychology on the internet. It became the No. I test prep company in the world for psychologists. Upon exiting that company, he founded two more startups that took him deep into the belly of San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York City.

While living in Los Angeles, Nick was invited to join an economic think tank called the Milken Institute. While he was there, the Occupy Movement broke out across the world, and it began the path to his new “startup”-looking for ways to solve the social and economic issues in a rapidly changing world.

Officially II years into this mission, he has co-founded a human and economic performance consulting firm, al software company designed to help residents build their city, a venture fund, and a real estate redevelopment firm. The work has led to projects in 16 states and 7 countries and co-authoring federal legislation to establish innovation and skills community centers nationwide, creating a robust innovation infrastructure tied directly to the agricultural systems and land grant universities.

In one city of fewer than 75,000 people, the initiatives resulted in 350+ patents, 5 new schools, 740+ jobs, over $360 million secured for new companies, a 19.19% poverty reduction, and the city becoming the #2 city in the nation for the number of residents starting companies.

You can find Nick in Idaho most of the time, where he and two friends turned an abandoned Elks Club into the economic and social heart of the town.

Stacy Huston - SixDegrees.Org, Executive Director

Talk Topic: Intentional, Altruistic, Actions

Stacy Huston is a dynamic force in the realm of social impact, celebrated for her visionary leadership and innovative approaches to philanthropy. As the executive director of SixDegrees.Org, founded by Kevin Bacon, and the executive producer of its No. I podcast, Stacy harnesses the power of storytelling to spur action and foster meaningful change. Leading Entertain Change as CEO, she pioneers social impact initiatives by uniting entertainers and organizations for transformative outcomes. Stacy’s work, spanning global collaborations with giants like Peacock, Warner Bros, and The ACLU, underscores her unparalleled ability to mobilize for impact. Her efforts have earned her 3 Webbys, and the prestigious Harry Chapin Humanitarian Award amongst other honors, reflecting her unwavering dedication to community upliftment. Residing just outside Washington, D.C. with her family, she is also the author of an upcoming book, “PICK It Up: A Guide Back to our Shared Humanity.” Stacy exemplifies creativity and innovation in philanthropy, proving that strategic engagement and genuine passion can indeed reshape the world.

Linkedin |
/stacybradford
/sixdegrees.org

Instagram |
@thestacyhuston
@sixdegreesofkb

Facebook |
@thestacyhuston
/sixdegrees.org

Twitter |
/thestacyhuston
@sixdegreesofkb

Derek Tournear - Space Development Agency, Director

*a component of the U.S. Space Force, under the United States Department of Defense

Talk Topic: Inertia, Disruption, Impact

Dr. Derek Tournear is the director of the Space Development Agency (SDA)-a component of the U.S. Space Force, under the United States Department of Defense-where he is tasked with delivering space-based capabilities to the joint force to support terrestrial missions through development, fielding, and operation of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture. With experience in industry at the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA) and Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Derek is well-positioned to lead SDA on its mission to provide future capability, redefine norms, and constructively disrupt along the way. Derek is a Purdue Boilermaker, with a PhD in physics from Stanford. He’s been recognized widely for his innovative approach to space acquisition, and leadership of the SDA. Whether by the Secretary of Defense, industry groups, space press, and this year, the David Packard Award for Excellence in Acquisition, Derek and his team at SDA are well regarded for their work and commitment to the nation.

Linkedin | space-development-agency
Twitter | @SemperCitiusSDA
Linkedin | /space-development-agency

Gabe Brown - Understanding Ag, LLC, Co Founder & Managing Partner

"Sharing the hope in healthy soil through regenerative agriculture to all who will listen."

Talk Topic: Hope. Life. Regeneration.

Gabe Brown is one of the pioneers of the current soil health movement which focuses on the regeneration of natural resources.

Gabe, along with his wife, Shelly, founded Brown’s Ranch, a diversified 6,000-acre farm and ranch near Bismarck, ND. The ranch consists of several thousand acres of native perennial rangeland along with perennial pastureland and cropland. Their ranch focuses on farming and ranching in nature’s image. They have now transitioned ownership of the ranch over to their son, Paul, and his wife, Jazmin.

Gabe and his ranch have received many forms of recognition for their work, including the prestigious Heinz Award for the Environment, the Growing Green Award from the Natural Resource Defense Council, an Environmental Stewardship Award from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, and the Zero- Till Producer of the Year Award, to name a few. Gabe has also been named one of the twenty-five most influential agricultural leaders in the United States.

Gabe authored the bestselling book, “Dirt to Soil, One Family’s Journey Into Regenerative Agriculture.” He is a partner and board member at Regenified and serves as the public face of the company. He is a founding partner in Understanding Ag, LLC and a founder and instructor for the nonprofit Soil Health Academy, which focuses on teaching others the power and importance of healthy functioning ecosystems.

understandingag.com
Facebook | /understandingag
Linkedin | /company/understanding-ag-llc

Steve D. Scheel - Chairman of the Board, SCHEELS

Talk Topic: Leadership

Steve D. Scheel, born and raised in Fargo, ND, is a notable figure in the business community as the chairman of the board of SCHEELS, a leading sporting goods retailer. A Fargo Central High School and St. Olaf College alum, Scheel graduated with degrees in U.S. history, economics, and political science. His time in the U.S. Army from 1969 to 1971 honed his leadership skills, which he later brought to the family business.

Joining SCHEELS in 1972, Steve managed several stores across Fargo, Casselton, Moorhead, and Sioux Falls before rising to become the president, CEO, and chairman in 1989. Under his leadership, SCHEELS expanded significantly, now boasting over 29 stores across 14 states and employing more than 9,000 associates. The company is known for operating some of the largest sporting goods stores in the U.S. and is celebrated for its innovative store environments, which include features like giant aquariums and indoor Ferris wheels.

As a fourth-generation leader in his family’s business, Steve represents a legacy of entrepreneurial spirit and community engagement. His leadership has not only propelled the company’s growth but also deeply influenced its corporate culture and commitment to community involvement.

Linkedin | /company/scheels
Facebook | /scheels
Instagram | @scheelssports

Meet the Creatives Behind TEDxFargo's Graphics

Jeff Knight

Meet Jeff Knight, the graphic designer behind this year’s TEDxFargo “If,” as well as past events’ designs. Jeff is the founder of Cereal, a studio dedicated to brand enhancement. Year after year, Jeff masterfully designs each TEDxFargo logo, capturing the spirit of every abstract and unique theme. Peek into Jeff’s world as he worked on this year’s design, offering you an exclusive look at the creativity and process behind his work!

“The design phase this year began with a meeting early on where the planning team at Emerging Prairie presented the theme of ‘if’ and we discussed what that might mean. It was a very open-ended theme with plenty of room for questions about where the narrative could go. We had discussions involving multiple different directions. Ultimately, through a few brainstorming meetings, the EP team and I kept coming back to discussions around the ethereal and imaginative nature revolving around events that held mystery and possibility. While thinking about the event, I had a random vision of a large, empty stage with an antique cart being wheeled out. On the cart was an old-time phonograph that would start playing some oldtimey, eerie music. A solitary spotlight would shine down, surrounded by smoke, as the record began to play.”

“This would lead to the initial direction of the ideation phase. To get another perspective, I rounded up a team of students who are part of the SoDAAHAUS graphic design fellowship program I head up at NDSU. I tasked them with finding some visuals that they associated with my vision of the mysterious phonograph on stage. Their visual findings were very different than mine. My vision focused on things that were based around an antiquated, Victorian-era, design. Think sepia-toned photos you’d find in an antique store. In fact, I even used an AI generator to achieve a better idea of what I was envisioning. I tried a variety of prompts, which yielded results that were close, but not quite what I was looking for.”

“The student’s vision included more luminous and neon colors, distorted shapes, and people. Their examples really began to reality in ways that I felt were really vibrant and engaging.”

“I liked their vision much better. So, I ran with that concept in coming up with a few options presented to the team at EP. After a follow-up discussion, we used a combination of ideas to come up with a neon, art nouveau, fever dream. It is not meant to be scary, just a bolder, more psychedelic, approach to one’s journey and allowing the viewer to dive into the various sections of visual direction.”

“The illustrative chaos led to the creation of various sections prime for different visual activities that I felt could better be explored with movement. I turned to a co-worker of mine, Artist and NDSU Art Professor Andrew Stark, to help me animate different sections of the piece to really bring it to life and allow the chaos to move.”

“The final part contribution was to make up a small collection of templated social media posts that they could use to maintain graphic consistency when they begin to announce speakers via social channels.”

“With that, I gave the designs over to the EP team and let them take things from there to decide how they wanted to include the graphic elements in their planning of the event. They always do an awesome job of interpreting what I present them and take it fully into the promotion and visual complexity attendees will see at the day of the event. It will be fun to see what they come up with!”

We also had the opportunity to chat with another local artist involved with Tedx Fargo this year!

Sydney Ulrich

Jeff Knight isn’t the only local artist making an impact at the 2024 TEDxFargo event. Meet Creative Entrepreneur Sydney Ulrich, the young artist responsible for the TEDxFargo T-shirt and alternate poster design. Sydney Ulrich has been making art for as long as she can remember, and now, she’s making art a business with her company @sydscoolart.

“My mom sewed so we always made our own Halloween costumes,” Ulrich said. “I’ve just always been encouraged to be creative.”

In high school, she was the editor of her school yearbook. She started taking pictures of her friends and posting them on Instagram, and almost immediately, friends were asking her if she could take their pictures. “Pretty quickly that snowballed into me taking pictures at concerts,” Ulrich said.

Ulrich graduated from NDSU with a major in strategic communications and a minor in graphic design. “I was doing graphic design on the side, making birthday cards and, honestly a lot of memes for my friends.”

“I was in this communications class that had a lot of drawing in it and I just loved that. I didn’t really care about the technical side, I just wanted to make the ads look pretty. I knew I could doodle, but I whipped out this hyper-realistic charcoal drawing of my grandpa. I didn’t know I could do that.”

From there, Ulrich’s professors strongly encouraged her to continue with her art. She almost didn’t listen but had a negative experience at an internship that steered her back into the creative realm.

"I'm a super happy, positive person who just wants to help get peoplle 's visions come to life."

“That experience opened my brain to all of the things I can do,” Ulrich said.

Before graduating, Ulrich created a rotoscope animation that won a regional gold American Advertising Award and a national silver American Advertising Award.

“That got me a lot of attention and I was able to meet a lot of people around town,” Ulrich said. “It opened a lot of doors for me.”

What if?

“Emerging Prairie reached out to me and told me they had been watching me for a while, and they wanted me to work on the T-shirt and alternate poster,” Ulrich said.

To go along with the theme of “If,” for this year’s TEDxFargo event, Ulrich and the Emerging Prairie team coordinated to create a “magical fever dream graphic.”

“I usually go to Pinterest for inspiration—to get some ideas flowing. I do that because I can’t picture pieces in my head. So, I like to see things in front of me. I like to use inspiration and find color palettes and stuff that I can draw and implement into my design. Then I create a couple of sketches, send them off to get feedback, and then we work from there.”

Ulrich tries to create a sense of FOMO (fear of missing out) in her work.

“I like both my graphic design and photography to not be a regular style. I don’t like them to be something you’d typically see. With my photography, I like to capture the energy of a moment and create curiosity because curiosity creates a conversation. With my graphic design, my stuff is very funky and out of the ordinary. It has trippy, groovy-type vibes. It’s not super hyperrealistic.”

The Easter eggs in her TEDxFargo design include a red rug symbolizing the red dot people stand on to give their TEDxFargo speeches, name badges from past TEDx events, a TEDxFargo swag bag, a donut to represent the free donuts given to attendees, and a can of Poppi, which is a sponsor of this year’s event.

Instagram: @sydscoolart

You can come to Ulrich for promo posters, social media reel creation, logo creation, and photos—”really anything creative,” she said.

“If you have an idea but don’t know how to make it come to life, I got you,” Ulrich said. “I’ll come to talk with you and I will help make your ideas come to life.”

I’m a super happy, positive person who just wants to help get people’s visions come to life.”

Mark Your Calendar

July 25, 8a.m. – 5 p.m. at the Fargo Civic Center!

With a focus on the path less traveled, TEDxFargo 2024 will encourage participants to embrace the ethereal, navigate the in-between, and unearth the uncharted. This year’s event is an invitation to step beyond the expected and dive headfirst into a world of wonder. Don’t miss the chance to be part of this groundbreaking experience!

Learn more at tedxfargo.com, and follow along for updates on socials!

TedxFargo

Facebook | /TEDxFargoND
Linkedin | /company/tedxfargond
Instagram | @tedxfargo