Theme: Sense of Place

The theme for the 2022 inaugural TEDxZionsville event is Sense of Place. This concept can pertain to many things, such as a person's relationship with their surroundings, both physically or mentally. Where do we belong? What does a place mean to people and a community? Why does a sense of place matter so much?

STAR Bank Performing Arts Center
1000 Mulberry St
Zionsville, Indiana, 46077
United States

Adrian Burney

Founder, Mended Arrows Academy of Barbering

A Fort Wayne, Indiana native currently residing in Indianapolis, Adrian began his journey as a barber at the age of 15 years old. He received his barber license in 2002 and later received his barber instructors license in 2013. Adrian has served many roles within the beauty industry as a barber, barber instructor, barbershop owner and industry mentor. Adrian currently serves the industry with professionalism in cutting hair, providing mentorship to beauty professionals, instructing across the nation on professionalism, proper hair cutting techniques, and the correct way to install cranial prosthesis on those suffering from alopecia and male pattern baldness. In 2019, Adrian founded Mended Arrows Academy of Barbering a 501(c)3 organization with the mission to “provide barbering education to at-risk people so that they may become skilled barber professionals, self-sufficient, and role models within their communities.”

Aleanya Moore

Founder, Ladies Under Construction Inc.

Aleanya Moore is a vibrant speaker with a dynamic message empowering teens and young adults to be the person in their family to change the trajectory of their bloodline. She is a first-generation college student born and raised in Toledo, Ohio to a mentally ill and drug addicted mother and an unknown father. Raised by her grandmother in low-income housing communities, she understood at the age of 17 that she was the wildcard of her family that was destined to change the direction of her lineage. She is the Founder of a local non-profit called Ladies Under Construction Inc. a mentor outreach program for girls and established Moore Out of Life Speaks LLC a business and life coaching brand empowering individuals to Stay Focused! Dream Big and Don’t Quit! Aleanya received her Master of Art Degree in Organizational Leadership and is the author of Through My Lens biography sharing her life’s journey.

Dr. Kiko Suarez

Chief Academic Officer

Dr. Juan “Kiko” Suarez likes to be described as a global citizen. Born in Spain and a naturalized US citizen since 2016, Dr. Suarez has a unique blend of international experience in leadership development, education, marketing, communications, corporate responsibility and information technology in Fortune 50 corporations, entrepreneurial startups, nonprofits and strategic philanthropy. Kiko served as lead executive for communications and innovation at Lumina Foundation, then as Chief Impact Officer for United Way of Central Indiana. He recently agreed to serve as Chief Academic Officer at Huntington Junior College. In 2019, he launched MyCareerMD, a coaching practice that serves middle and high-level executives in leadership development, career transitions, and public speaking. Dr. Suarez has a Ph.D. in Leadership and Change from Antioch University and was awarded the title of “doctor honoris causa” from National Louis University. He also presented at TEDxIndianapolis in 2014.

Dr. Lara Ramdin

Chief Nutrition & Wellness Scientist

Dr. Lara Ramdin, Chief Nutrition & Wellness Scientist at Dole Sunshine, has an extensive global track record in R&D, product development and innovation within leading organizations including Unilever, Estee Lauder and Molson Coors Beverages Company. She is a passionate innovator and a fierce advocate for young women in STEM. She is a champion for the “zero food waste” movement and in her role on the Upcycled Food Foundation board, works with other pioneers to tackle food system design end-to-end and educate on the importance of creating value from food waste. Personally, it is her mission is to drive the communication of science to the next level - engaging and informing consumers, empowering them to make healthy food/nutrition choices, for a longer lifespan.

Peter Schlifke

Elementary School Principal

Known as “Mr. S” to students and “Positive Pete” by former colleagues, Mr. Schlifke has spent the past 15 years in Indianapolis Township elementary schools first as a teacher, Assistant Principal, and currently residing as Principal at Nora Elementary in Washington Township. Building a school where Data days and Friday dance parties can coexist, Mr. Schlifke’s passion is creating authentic relationships with students, staff, families, and community members and it is his mission to build empowering relationships throughout his school and cultivate those relationships at every opportunity. Supported by his wife Sarah and four children, Mr. Schlifke holds an undergraduate degree from Indiana University Bloomington in Elementary Education, a Masters degree in Educational Leadership from Butler University (EEPSP), and has presented professional development on a number of topics throughout the country and state.

Rebecca Gacki

Founder and CEO, Build UR Best U

Rebecca Gacki (aka Coach Beckie) is the Founder and CEO of Build UR Best U, LLC, a health coaching business focused on helping former athletes who were derailed from their healthy lifestyle rebuild their inner athlete. She is a double Masters prepared, American Council on Exercise Health Coach, Fitness Nutrition Specialist and a project management professional. Rebecca is also an Adjunct Instructor at SAE Institute Chicago where she teaches Speech Communication.