In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized (subject to certain rules and regulations).

Keller Auditorium
222 SW Clay Street
Portland, Oregon, 97201
United States

Amber Huffman

Principal Engineer

Amber Huffman has dedicated more than 25 years to pioneering and shaping the industry standards that have transformed our computing and data center ecosystem. In her executive roles at Intel and Google, she’s known as an inclusive leader who supports and coaches the technologists around her to reach new heights of innovation as a community. During her undergraduate work, Amber received a scholarship that empowered her to transition from life on an Iowa pig farm to a successful high-tech career. She’s now driven to create similar opportunities for others. Amber and her wife love learning from their young-adult daughters and supporting them in their STEM pursuits.

Ben Sand

Nonprofit + Data

Ben Sand grew up the son of a single mother and one of six siblings living in Spokane, Washington, and always roots for the underdog. Today, Ben is CEO of The Contingent, a national venture nonprofit designed to empower leaders and mobilize communities for the common good. Alongside a robust workforce development portfolio, The Contingent runs Every Child — an initiative spreading across the country to recruit volunteers and foster families to help children in crisis. The organization has won several national awards for the innovative use of technology in the nonprofit sector. Ben is also the author of A Kids Book About White Privilege.

Dr. Robert Guldberg

Professor of Bioengineering

Robert Guldberg is Executive Director of the Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact and Vice President of the University of Oregon. As a Professor of Bioengineering, Robert’s research group has published 280 papers over the past 30 years on musculoskeletal regenerative medicine, mechanobiology, and orthopedic medical devices. He co-founded six companies to translate his research into patient impact and was recently elected to the National Academy of Inventors. In 2020, Dr. Guldberg and collaborators co-created the Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance, a $220 million initiative to transform human health through the science of peak performance.

Gabriel Rucker

Executive Chef and Restaurateur

Gabriel Rucker is executive chef and co-owner of iconic Portland, Oregon, restaurants Le Pigeon and Canard. One of the city’s most decorated chefs, Gabriel is the recipient of two James Beard Awards — one for Rising Star Chef in 2011 and one for Best Chef Northwest in 2013 — and author of the cookbook, Le Pigeon: Cooking at the Dirty Bird. In 2019, he helped found the Portland chapter of Ben’s Friends, a restaurant industry support group. When not in the kitchen, you can find Gabriel looking for his lost golf balls on the course.

Ian Williams

Coffee + Sneakers +Community

Ian Williams is the founder and owner of Deadstock Coffee, a globally recognized, sneaker-themed coffee shop in Portland, Oregon. Located in the heart of Old Town, Deadstock focuses on uniting communities through a love of premium goods. Ian has partnered with several organizations throughout his entrepreneurial career, including designing his own sneaker with Adidas, creating a unique coffee blend for Kann, and hosting Nike SNKRS Live: Live from the Archive. He’s the recipient of the 2023 James Beard Broadcast Media Award and the 2022 Travel Portland President’s Award. When not scouring the globe for the world’s best cookie, Ian focuses his time and attention on activating the vibrant community he helped foster.

Kali Thorne Ladd

Children Psychology

Kali Thorne Ladd is a social entrepreneur, passionate about the neuroscience of love and belonging as a driving force for education transformation and human flourishing. Her 25-year career spans from teacher to program manager to policy maker. After serving as Education Director for Portland Mayor Sam Adams, Kali co-founded KairosPDX, a nonprofit school dedicated to closing opportunity and achievement gaps for historically marginalized children and building a place that rehumanizes children in education. After nearly a decade of work with KairosPDX, Kali now leads the Children’s Institute, a statewide organization in Oregon focused on helping all children thrive.

Kota The Friend

Performer

Kota the Friend is a Brooklyn-based rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer known for his potent instrumentals and vivid lyrics. He creates freely with a DIY mentality and operates his own record label and apparel brand, FLTBYS. Kota’s most recent release Lyrics to Go Vol. 5. follows cult-favorite recordings Lyrics to Go volumes 1 through 4 along with dynamic studio albums Memo, Everything, and others.

Larry Miller

Chairman of the Jordan Brand Advisory Board, a division of Nike Inc.

Larry Miller is the Chairman of the Jordan Brand Advisory Board, a division of Nike Inc. Larry joined Nike in 1997 as Vice President of U.S. Apparel, then served as Vice President and General Manager of Nike Basketball. He helped launch the Jordan Brand at Nike in 1999. Under his leadership, it has grown from a $200 million basketball shoe line to a $4 billion athletic footwear and apparel icon. As a passionate advocate for education and mentorship, Larry has had leadership roles with the Urban League and Junior Achievement and has served on the board of directors at Self Enhancement Inc. Miller’s memoir, Jump: My Secret Journey from the Streets to the Boardroom, details his ascent from the streets of West Philadelphia to some of the highest distinctions of the corporate world.

Lou Featherstone

Middle-Aged Influencer

At 53, Lou Featherstone is an accidental middle-aged influencer, passionately advocating for self-love and empowerment in midlife and menopause. A former track-and-field coach turned Positivity Rebel, she’s the spirited captain of the Self Love Revolution. Recognized as a disruptor, conversation starter, and bad feminist, Lou is driven by a deep purpose to connect humans and empower women to find their voice and confidence in their golden years. Lou’s mission intertwines shedding shame and embracing the power of permission with sex positivity and sustainable fashion.

Melina Palmer

Writer + Psychology

Melina Palmer is an author, keynote speaker, and CEO of The Brainy Business. Her consulting firm helps companies worldwide use behavioral economics to their advantage, encouraging customers to buy and motivating employees to buy in. She’s written three best-selling books and hosts The Brainy Business Podcast, which has more than one million downloads in over 170 countries. Melina teaches applied behavioral economics through the Human Behavior Lab at Texas A&M University, and her work has been featured in numerous publications, including Inc. and Psychology Today.

Michael Curry

Creative Director

Michael Curry is an award-winning visual concept designer and one of the most prolific and sought-after live entertainment creative directors of the past 30 years. Michael is best known for his innovative character and puppetry designs across multiple theatrical forms, including award-winning productions in theater, spectacle, opera, dance, film, ceremonies, and themed entertainment. Michael works closely with his long-term team in Portland, Oregon, where they constantly innovate for future projects and support ongoing theatrical productions worldwide, including The Lion King and Frozen.

Modest Mouse

Performer

Between a sold-out 25th-anniversary tour for their 1997 breakthrough album, The Lonesome Crowded West, and a summer 2023 run with Pixies and Cat Power, Modest Mouse remains one of the most consistent live acts today. The release of 2021’s Golden Casket heralded another new chapter in the GRAMMY® Award-nominated, multi-platinum band’s unpredictable evolution. The album hovers in the liminal space between raw punk power and experimental studio science, while frontman Isaac Brock explores themes ranging from the degradation of our psychic landscapes and invisible technology to fatherhood. The 12 tracks behave like amorphous organisms, undergoing dramatic mutations and mood swings that speak to the chronic tug-of-war between hope and despair that plays out in Brock’s head.

Open Space

Performer

Open Space is a creative container for dance and movement where every body is welcome. Founded in 2020 by Charlene Hannibal, Franco Nieto, and Maeve Dougal, Open Space teaches dancers to dance, teachers to teach, and performers to perform. Located in North Portland, the School at Open Space fosters artistic, inclusive, and accessible development for hundreds of children — from a young age to the professional level. The artists at Open Space work with today’s leading minds and choreographers in contemporary dance, showcasing their physical and expressive breadth throughout Open Space’s annual productions.

Y La Bamba

Performer

Y La Bamba is the musical brainchild of singer-songwriter Luz Elena Mendoza, blending the soulful melodies of indie folk with the vibrant rhythms of Mexican heritage. Their music is a mesmerizing fusion of tradition and innovation, inviting listeners on an evocative journey filled with poignant storytelling and infectious beats. With each song, Y La Bamba crafts a vivid tapestry of emotions, weaving together tales of love, longing, and cultural identity. Their performances are a testament to their artistic prowess, captivating audiences with their magnetic energy and authentic expression.