More on the 12 speakers presenting at Portland’s 12th annual TEDx Talk
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — It’s not too late to secure tickets for the “most inspirational and educational day of the year.”
The 12th annual TEDxPortland will take over the Keller Auditorium on Saturday, Apr. 27, with 12 speakers and four performers on the lineup. “Alchemy” is the theme of the 2024 event.
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“Cities are built and rebuilt, and Portland is in transition once again,” TEDxPortland said on its website. “With leadership, intention, and purpose we drive progress by uniting our diverse perspectives. The magic of our culture and community is realized through the amalgam of creativity, technology, and innovation.”
Here is more on the dozen speakers gearing up to present at the conference.
Larry Miller
As the chairman of the Jordan Brand Advisory Board, Larry Miller is credited with helping Nike expand the shoe line that was once worth $200 million — and now brings in billions of dollars in revenue annually. His 2022 autobiography tells the story of how he redeemed his violent past in Philadelphia, and went on to work with one of the world’s biggest companies.
Lou Featherstone
TedXPortland described Lou Featherstone as an “accidental middle-aged influencer.” The 53-year-old gained an online audience as she spoke to women about self-love, divorce and menopause.
Gabriel Rucker
Gabriel Rucker is the chef and co-owner of two of Portland’s critically-acclaimed restaurants, Le Pigeon and Canard. His long list of awards includes two from the James Beard Foundation, one in 2011 for “Rising Star Chef of the Year” and one in 2013 for “Best Chefs.”
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Kali Thorne Ladd
“Social entrepreneur” Kali Thorne Ladd previously worked as former Mayor Sam Adam’s education director, before co-founding a Portland nonprofit dedicated to making education more accessible. She now serves as the chief executive officer for national nonprofit Children’s Institute.
Michael Curry
World-renowned creative director Michael Curry has designed puppets and sets for some of the most famous live shows. His roster includes Katy Perry’s halftime performance at the 2015 Super Bowl, Disney’s “Frozen” musical on Broadway and “Transformers” installations at Universal Studios.
Ian Williams
Ian Williams began his Nike career as a janitor at the sportswear brand’s Beaverton campus, before eventually being promoted as a footwear developer for the company. The entrepreneur now owns Deadstock Coffee, a sneaker-themed cafe in the Old Town neighborhood.
Melina Palmer
Applied behavioral economist Melina Palmer hosts “The Brainy Business,” a business-savvy podcast with an almost-perfect rating on Apple and Spotify. The sales expert also teaches at Texas A&M University’s Human Behavior Lab.
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Ben Sand
Hailing from Spokane, Ben Sand is the leader of The Contingent nonprofit that “empowers leaders and mobilizes community for the common good.” In 2020, the CEO authored “A Kids Book About White Privilege.”
Amber Huffman
Amber Huffman currently serves as the principal engineer for Google Cloud. Throughout her 25-year tech career, she’s worked with Intel and the Open Compute Project.
Dr. Scott Bolton
Theoretical and experimental space physicist Scott Bolton is the principal investigator for NASA’s Juno mission, which allows the agency to explore planet Jupiter. Throughout his tenure, the scientist has been awarded Exceptional Achievement and Outstanding Leadership medals at NASA and the American Ingenuity Award at Smithsonian Magazine.
Dr. Robert Guldberg
University of Oregon’s Robert Guldberg is both the vice president and executive director for the Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact. His previous work includes research on musculoskeletal regenerative medicine and mechanobiology.
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Renny Gleeson
TEDxPortland co-founder and board member Renny Gleeson will close out the event with a 15-minute recap. Gleeson currently works as a managing director for investment firm RA Capital.
Performers for TEDxPortland 2024 include Latin indie folk act Y La Bamba, Portland-based rock group Modest Mouse, New-York raised rapper Kota the Friend and local dance studio Open Space.
David Rae and Luis Vargas will co-host the event.
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