What is TEDx?
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TED has created a program called TEDx. TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. Our event is called TEDxSpokane, where x = independently organized TED event. At our TEDxSpokane event, TED Talks video and live speakers will combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events, including ours, are self-organized.
2023 Speaker Lineup
Chris Roberts
Chris was born and raised in Orange County, California, and now lives in Tacoma. He went from standing in food lines as a kid to feeding over 1,000,000 people today. Chris was the guy, who in a room full of people, felt like he was the least qualified to add value or the least qualified…
Claire Strunk
Claire Strunk is an ordained pastor currently working across denominations to empower young adults to make a difference in their neighborhoods. She started a business to help other small business owners and non-profits come to a place of clarity in their finances so they can make sound financial decisions to help their business or organization…
Geoff McLachlan
Geoff comes from a long line of family who have made this region home. His great grandparents moved to the area in 1942. Geoff grew up in Coeur d Alene, ID, where he currently lives with his wife and sons.His immediate family all also live in Spokane. Geoff started working in education 20 years ago…
Gerri Newell
Gerri is a mother, grandmother, mediator and comedian. In addition, she is a Stephen’s Minister at church and strives to help those in need. At the young age of 7, Gerri moved to Spokane where she has lived ever since. After having a felony conviction, Gerri realized that those with a conviction are suffering collateral…
Graham Morehead
Graham is a native from Boston, MA. He moved to Spokane in 2019, where he bought a home, started teaching at Gonzaga, and made so many friends– a better support group of friends than he’s found anywhere else. Graham currently teaches AI/ML at Gonzaga University. For over 25 years, he has been developing technologies across…
Hap Klopp
An avid adventurer and executive, Hap has run numerous companies and spoken around the world on branding, adventuring, leadership, entrepreneurship and the future.
Jene Ray
Jene was a classroom teacher for twenty years, teaching preschool through high school before moving to the district level to teach and coach teachers. Her experience includes five years of state level education funding and policy work in Olympia, as well as Directing Operations for an education research center at the University of Washington Tacoma,…
Robin Pickering
Robin Pickering is a Professor of Health Sciences with an interest in supporting positive health behavior change. She has worked towards that goal as a wellness coach, a personal trainer, a group fitness instructor, and a university professor. Robin received her PhD in Education with an emphasis on Health and Psychology, a Master of Science…
Sandy Zimmerman
Despite an upbringing filled with poverty, abuse, time in foster care, and countless injuries and immense hardship, Sandy has defied the odds to become a national Judo champion, earn a full ride basketball scholarship to Gonzaga University, become a Physical Education teacher and coach for 23 years, and today continues breaking records on NBC’s hit…
Shawn Kingsbury
After overcoming his own battle with drug and alcohol addiction, Shawn realized that service work, especially when helping others, would help lift him out of the acute addiction to alcohol. Shawn formulated a plan to open a non-profit that would help men and women recover from addiction in his home-town of Spokane, WA. In 2015…
Terry L. Fossum
Terry grew up in McAllen, TX, the poorest city in the entire U.S. He came to Fairchild AFB in 1988 and immediately got into the community, becoming the United Way Volunteer of the Year, and other awards as early as 1990. He fell in love with Spokane, started a business so the Air Force couldn’t…