Table of Contents Agenda
TEDxPortland 2026
DETAILS
Etiquette, Food, Coffee & Tea
SPEAKERS, PERFORMERS, HOSTS
Host: Karina LeBlanc
John Branam
Keely Cat-Wells
Bala Ambati
Jessica Elkan
Oregon Symphony
Aneesh Agarwal
Amy Saltzman
Diana Taurasi
Jenny Nguyen
Host: Luis Vargas
Ural Thomas and The Pain
Jonathan Hurst
Sam Balto
Lauren Flower
Sean McClain
Milky Kohno
Ryan Dunlap
Rukaiyah Adams
Closer: Leon Anderson
ECOSYSTEM
University of Oregon This.
Hampton Lumber
Spahr
Timberline
Stoller Family Estate
Dehen 1920
Alaska | Hawaiian Airlines
KGW8
Caldera
Portal Tea Company
Tender Loving Empire
Andersen Construction
Woodlark Hotel
Beard’s Framing | Frame Central
Historic Prints
Portland Center Stage at The Armory
SESSION 1
Host: Karina LeBlanc
NØIR
John Branam
Keely Cat-Wells
Bala Ambati
Jessica Elkan
Oregon Symphony
Aneesh Agarwal
Amy Saltzman
Diana Taurasi
Jenny Nguyen
LUNCH
SESSION 2
Host: Luis Vargas
Ural Thomas and The Pain
Jonathan Hurst
Sam Balto
Lauren Flower
Sean McClain
Milky Kohno
Ryan Dunlap
Rukaiyah Adams
CLOSER
Leon Anderson
Etiquette, Food, Coffee & Tea
ETIQUETTE
We suggest you approach the day with an open mind, curiosity, skepticism, optimism, and a willingness to learn something new! Please silence your cell phones and take a moment to put your name on your name badge. A TEDxPortland volunteer has a Sharpie for you. Auditorium doors will be closed when the sessions begin, to respect the speakers / performers onstage. We will be clearing the auditorium during the lunch break. Feel free to take notes in your book.
FOOD
If you made a lunch reservation with our team, please go to your selected restaurant during lunch. Otherwise, enjoy your two-hour lunch break at one of the many restaurants in the Pearl District.
COFFEE & TEA
Coffee and tea are important parts of our day here at TEDxPortland. Thanks to our remarkable friends at Portal Tea Company, we are excited to offer complimentary coffee & tea in the morning and during the lunch hour, while supplies last. We appreciate you, Dominic Valdes, Angela Valdes, and Team!
Speakers Performers Hosts
John Branam
Keely Cat-Wells
Bala Ambati
Jessica Elkan
Oregon Symphony
Aneesh Agarwal
Amy Saltzman
Diana Taurasi
Jenny Nguyen
Ural Thomas and The Pain
Jonathan Hurst
Sam Balto
Lauren Flower
Sean McClain
Milky Kohno
Ryan Dunlap
Rukaiyah Adams
Karina LeBlanc
Luis Vargas
Leon Anderson
John Branam SPEAKER
John Branam is an engaged parent, husband, and citizen who is passionate about improving opportunities and outcomes for youth, and especially for those from low-income families.
John is also the Chief Transformation Officer of Bottom Line, a national education nonprofit, and has spent nearly 15 years at similarly-focused organizations.
Early in his career John taught middle school, was a senior school district administrator, and served in the Peace Corps in South Africa. John has a degree in political science from Washington and Lee University, and a law degree from the University of Oregon.
Who is your hero? Barack Obama.
Favorite TED Talk? A love letter to Portland by Rukiayah Adams.
Favorite Portland restaurant? ¿Por Qué No?
Favorite book? Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison.
Biggest pet peeve? Inefficiency!
NOTES
Greatest fear?
Going back to the food and housing insecurity I grew up with.
Most embarrassing moment?
Asking a woman when she’s due to give birth and her telling me she gave birth a month ago.
If you were on a desert island what five musical artist anthologies, dead or alive, would you bring with you?
Death Cab for Cutie, Dave Matthews, Pink Martini, Fleetwood Mac, and Sting.
Keely Cat-Wells SPEAKER
Keely Cat-Wells is the Founder and CEO of Making Space, a talent and learning platform closing the disability employment gap. Under her leadership, Making Space has supported over 10,000 Disabled professionals through free, accessible education and pathways to employment, partnering with companies including Coca-Cola, Netflix, and Visa.
Keely co-produced the documentary Fight To Fly with Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine, which exposed systemic barriers faced by Disabled travellers and helped drive policy reform.
Prior to Making Space, Keely founded C Talent, a talent agency representing Disabled actors and creators with a combined reach of over 50 million people, reshaping disability representation in media before its acquisition in 2022. She is a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, the youngest-ever Presidential Leadership Scholar, an Obama Leader USA, and an inaugural Gloria Steinem Fellow.
NOTES
Favorite out-of-town restaurant? Castaway in LA (the best desserts).
Favorite book? Being Heumann by Judy Heumann.
Chunky or smooth peanut butter? Chocolate spread for me.
Biggest pet peeve?
People eating oranges in public.
What’s under your bed right now?
A bed frame that was supposed to replace our current bed 6+ months ago… thanks for the reminder to get that done.
If you were on a desert island what five musical artist anthologies, dead or alive, would you bring with you?
Beyonce, The Beatles, The Beach Boys, Adele, Taylor Swift.
Top three favorite Instagram follows? @overheardla @so.informed @weratedogs
Make one change to the world, what would it be?
I would make the world fully accessible (that includes access to free, high-quality healthcare, education, etc.).
SPEAKER
Bala Ambati, M.D., Ph.D., is a Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Oregon, and President of Pacific ClearVision Institute, focusing on restoring vision for patients through LASIK or cataract removal.
He became the world’s youngest doctor at the age of 17, and completed his residency at Harvard and cornea fellowship at Duke.
Over the course of his career, he has completed thousands of successful vision correction surgeries.
Bala is also a co-founder of iVeena, a start-up focused on developing a new treatment for childhood nearsightedness.
NOTES
Who is your hero? Gandhi.
Favorite TED Talk?
How to break down barriers and not accept limits by Candace Parker.
Make one change to the world, what would it be?
Improve cultural focus on education and academics.
Biggest pet peeve?
Having to repeat work.
Greatest fear? Spiders.
Most embarrassing moment? Burning my hair in freshmen biology lab with a Bunsen burner.
What is under your bed right now? A baseball bat.
If you were on a desert island what five musical artist anthologies, dead or alive, would you bring with you?
Phil Collins, Enigma, Enya, Sarah Brightman, A.R. Rahman.
INTERVIEW
Jessica Elkan is the Executive Director of the James Beard Public Market, leading the development of a seven-day-aweek public market celebrating Oregon’s agricultural bounty and culinary excellence in downtown Portland.
Public markets are in her DNA and Jessica comes from a long line of makers and merchants. She was raised in Oregon’s Willamette Valley and shaped by her family’s woodworking business.
With more than 25 years of nonprofit leadership experience, her work is grounded in economic inclusion and the belief that public markets connect people, culture, and opportunity.
Jessica Elkan
NOTES
Who is your hero? José Andrés.
Top three favorite Instagram follows? @nytimes @foodandwine @endwellproject
Make one change to the world, what would it be?
Creating more opportunities for people to connect across differences, because peace begins with understanding at the community level.
What five people would you invite to your ultimate dinner table, dead or alive?
Anthony Bourdain, Muhammad Ali, James Beard, Freddie Mercury, Barack Obama.
Where would you go in a time machine? 1977 Blazers Championship game.
Biggest pet peeve? Dry cake.
If you were on a desert island what five musical artist anthologies, dead or alive, would you bring with you?
Talking Heads, OutKast, Led Zeppelin, David Bowie, Brandi Carlile.
Favorite Portland restaurant? Murata.
The Oregon
Symphony
At the Oregon Symphony, home is more than a place—it’s their muse. From the beautiful natural landscapes to the inspiring stories of our neighbors, this state pushes them to create art that tells our story.
As a nod to this year’s theme, today’s performance is a true homecoming for Ron Blessinger (violin), Lisbeth Carreno (violin), Maia Hoffman (viola), and Taylor Yoon (cello), four native Oregonians pursuing careers with their GRAMMY-nominated hometown orchestra.
Today’s program features the music of Florence Price and Portland composer Kenji Bunch. Florence Price’s quartet will be accompanied by an original animation from Portlander Zak Margolis, produced by House of Scordatura.
Aneesh Agarwal SPEAKER
Aneesh Agarwal is a junior at Sunset High School who loves history as much as figuring out how things work.
He’s spent the past three years building amateur rockets, is a NASA Payload Design winner, and recently wrapped up a 2.5-year project constructing a fully functional RV-12 airplane.
Outside the classroom, Aneesh is deeply involved in service, both locally and abroad. He’s built educational apps that now reach over 2,500 students in rural India, work that’s been nationally recognized by the Indian Philanthropy Alliance. He’s also an active member of his Boy Scout troop, and continues challenging students to elevate their thinking by embracing boredom and doing less, with purpose.
Who is your hero?
My parents and brother. Although I do really like FC Barcelona legend Lionel Messi.
Favorite TED Talk?
Inside the mind of a master procrastinator by Tim Urban.
Favorite Portland restaurant?
I like pretty much everything. I’m a selfproclaimed connoisseur of comfort food. But the chicken and waffles at Screen Door is unbeatable.
What’s under your bed right now?
Some comics, books, and library receipts.
NOTES
Make one change to the world, what would it be?
Rework the system so that politicians focus on effecting positive change for the people they represent, not merely disingenuously working to further their own political agendas.
Greatest fear?
To fold under pressure when it matters most.
Go-to karaoke song?
Alexander Hamilton by Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Where would you go in a time machine? The Renaissance.
NOTES
Go-to karaoke song?
Tainted Love by Soft Cell. Reminds me of being a counselor at an outdoor gymnastics camp, and singing into a spare ice cream scoop mic, while scooping ice cream for the gymnasts on hot summer evenings.
Favorite TED Talk?
Christine Sinclair & Karina LeBlanc: Leadership, legacy, and the power of women’s sports.
Favorite movie? Dead Poets Society.
Top three Instagram follows? @stevemagness @young_pueblo @sassysilversurfers
Make one change to the world, what would it be?
Infuse everyone with compassion for themselves and compassion for others at birth.
What five people would you invite to your ultimate dinner table, dead or alive?
Maya Angelou, Anne Lamott, Steve Kerr, Jason Sudeikis, Kai Lenny.
Greatest fear?
That greed, hatred, and delusion will triumph over integrity, generosity, and LOVE.
Where would you go in a time machine?
To the time of my grandchildren’s grandchildren (may I be so lucky).
Diana Taurasi
The undisputed greatest of all time. A 3× WNBA Champion, 2× WNBA Finals MVP, WNBA MVP, 10× All-WNBA First Team selection, and the league’s all-time leading scorer.
A 6× Olympic gold medalist and global icon of women’s basketball, Taurasi redefined excellence, longevity, and competitive fire.
Portland continues to solidify our reputation in the world as the epicenter for women’s sports—and this Spring, the excitement will continue.
One month before the WNBA launches in the Rose City with the Portland Fire, TEDxPortland is proud to welcome Diana Taurasi for a special Woman’s Leadership Forum interview.
This conversation is designed for anyone who cares about leadership, legacy, and building something that lasts — on the court, in business, and across our communities.
This isn’t just an interview, it’s a milestone. As Portland welcomes the Portland Fire and a new chapter of profess ional women’s basketball, we’re creating a room where leadership is discussed not as a slogan, but as a lived practice. The conversation will be rooted in greatness, consistency, standards, and the responsibility of influence.
Thanks to our friends at KeyBank and RAJ Sports for making this possible.
Women’s Leadership Forum
At TEDxPortland, we believe in the power of bold ideas and community-driven leadership—and so does KeyBank. With a long-standing commitment to empowering local communities and supporting visionary leaders, KeyBank is a true partner.
From investing in underserved neighborhoods to championing financial education and inclusion, KeyBank leads with purpose, values impact, and helps turn ideas into action.
By powering the Women’s Leadership Forum, KeyBank is doing more than supporting an event—they’re championing a movement.
Karina LeBlanc and Christine Sinclair, 2025
Jenny Nguyen SPEAKER
Jenny Nguyen, a former chef, founded The Sports Bra in Portland, Oregon, in April 2022. It is the world’s first sports bar dedicated exclusively to women’s sports. Driven by her passion for women’s sports, inclusive spaces, and gender equity, Jenny created the bar to counter the status quo of traditional sports bars.
The Sports Bra quickly gained global attention, becoming a cultural touchstone and symbolizing the demand for women’s sports and fandom.
Jenny uses her platform to advocate for equal pay, coverage, and respect for women athletes, making her a vital voice in the sports equity movement.
Ural Thomas and The Pain
Universally recognized as one of the most exciting singers remaining from the original soul era, 82 year-old Ural Thomas and his band, The Pain, just released their third LP “Dancing Dimensions.”
Thomas initially made his name in the 1960s with stone cold soul classic releases like “Pain Is The Name of Your Game,” “Can You Dig It,” “Deep Soul,” and his 1964 recording debut with The Monterays “Push - Em Up.”
Beginning his muiscal journey in his native Portland, Oregon, Ural has shared stages with James Brown, Stevie Wonder, Otis Redding, and Etta James.
Jonathan Hurst SPEAKER
Jonathan Hurst is Chief Robot Of ficer and co-founder of Agility Robotics, and Professor and co-founder of the Oregon State University Robotics Institute. He holds a B.S. in mechanical engineering and an M.S. and Ph.D. in robotics, all from Carnegie Mellon University.
Jonathan works towards robot hardware and control approaches that achieve the compliance, dexterity, and mobility we see all around us in the animal world.
His work enables robots to do useful work in human environments, generating greater productivity across the economy, and improving quality of life for all.
NOTES
Who is your hero?
My hero is more of a character: The behindthe-scenes university leadership whose entire mission is about enabling the success of others.
Make one change to the world, what would it be?
Everyone is motivated to have positive impact - we don’t have grifters.
Chunky or smooth peanut butter?
Specifically Adams Crunchy peanut butter is clearly the best.
Where would you go in a time machine?
I’d head to the future. I’m highly optimistic that we will eventually treat our world as a garden, and take better care of it.
Favorite movie? Dune.
Biggest pet peeve?
Lying! I need to know the truth, I need to understand facts.
What five people would you invite to your ultimate dinner table, dead or alive?
Alan Turing (AI), James Watt (Engines), and George Westinghouse (Electricity) with Jeff Bezos and Jen-Hsun Huang, to share what progress we’ve made over the years!
Greatest fear?
AI is such a powerful tool for influencing people, it becomes a tool for control by governments.
Sam Balto SPEAKER
Sam Balto has taught physical education for over a decade in Washington, DC, Boston, and Portland, Oregon. For the past 12 years, he has championed active transportation to school as a way to increase student physical activity and strengthen school communities. After leading walking school buses for nine years, Sam launched his first bike bus at Alameda Elementary in spring 2022.
The weekly ride gained international attention and even helped bring conversations about children’s mobility to the White House.
Notable guests, including Justin Timberlake and Benson Boone, have joined his rides. Sam also co-founded Bike Bus World to support communities everywhere in starting bike buses.
Who is your hero? Marco Te Brömmelstroet.
Favorite TED Talk?
How to start a movement by Derek Sivers.
Where would you go in a time machine?
1980 USA Hockey Gold Medal Game.
Top three favorite Instagram follows?
@jordan_the_stallion8
@timchiusano
@garyvee
NOTES
Make one change to the world, what would it be?
Make cars cost their actual cost to society.
What five people would you invite to your ultimate dinner table, dead or alive?
Wayne Gretzky, President Obama, Mr. Rogers, Jane Jacobs, and Malcolm X.
Favorite movie?
D2: The Mighty Ducks.
Go-to karaoke song?
I Want It That Way by Backstreet Boys.
Lauren Flower
PERFORMER
Lauren Flower is a choreographer, dancer, and teacher who sees creativity as a vessel for curiosity, connection, and discovery.
She is a Company Artist with Oregon Ballet Theatre, performing classical and contemporary repertory while also working as a freelance choreographer.
Lauren has created original works for OBT2 and the main company, and is commissioned for a new work in OBT’s 25/26 Collection.
Their dual perspective fuels a collaborative, exploratory process that inspires artists to expand movement and push the boundaries of expression.
NOTES
Favorite TED Talk?
The art of being yourself by Caroline McHugh.
Make one change to the world, what would it be?
To lead with openness.
Top three favorite Instagram follows? @notre.arte @fr00dle @pam_cut
Biggest pet peeve?
A lack of listening.
Go-to karaoke song? Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen.
Most embarrassing moment? I’ve had many falls on stage while performing, like when an entire audience gasped as I missed a step and fell down a large staircase. It was equally hilarious and embarrassing, and I was okay!
Where would you go in a time machine? Back to the feeling of being a kid.
What five people would you invite to your ultimate dinner table, dead or alive?
Tig Notaro, Paul Mescal, Sandra Oh, Crystal Pite, and Brandi Carlile.
Sean McClain
SPEAKER
Sean McClain is the founder and CEO of Absci, pioneering a new era of medicine at the intersection of AI and biology to design life-changing drugs.
Sean envisions a world where we move beyond managing symptoms by dramatically shrinking timelines, slashing costs, and ultimately redefining how lifesaving medicines are created to find cures by design.
From a 400 sq. ft. basement lab to an industry-leading biotech platform, his journey reflects a deep belief that the future of health lies in merging human ingenuity with machine intelligence.
NOTES
Favorite TED talk? How to lead with radical candor by Kim Scott.
Favorite movie? Gattaca.
Make one change to the world right now, what would it be? Solve the climate crisis.
Most embarrassing moment? Being called out for my heavy Darth Vader-like breathing when excited or stressed.
Biggest pet peeve? When things take longer than they should.
Chunky or smooth peanut butter? Justin’s with Honey.
Greatest fear? Not making impactful and meaningful contributions to the world.
Go-to karaoke song?
I Want It That Way by Backstreet Boys.
Milky Kohno SPEAKER
Milky Kohno, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Oregon Health and Science University and a Research Scientist at the VA Portland Health Care System. She earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from UC Berkeley and completed her Ph.D. in Neuroscience at UCLA, where her dissertation was the first to reveal abnormalities in intrinsic brain activit y in methamphetamine use disorder and to clarify dopamine’s role in risky decision-making.
She has since extended her work to uncover neurobiological and immunological biomarkers that can serve as targets for therapeutic intervention for substance use disorders.
Leading the Biomedical Research of Addiction, Imaging, and Neuroscience (B.R.A.I.N.) Lab, Milky’s research emphasizes mechanistic neuroscience at neural systems and molecular levels, merging basic science with clinically impactful aims.
NOTES
Favorite TED Talk?
The power of addiction by Gabor Mate.
Favorite Portland restaurant? Scotch Lodge.
Make one change to the world, what would it be?
To ensure no child goes hungry.
If you were on a desert island what five musical artist anthologies, dead or alive, would you bring with you?
Tupac, Bob Marley, Beatles, Prince, and Rainbow Kitten Surprise.
What five people would you invite to your ultimate dinner table, dead or alive?
Michelle and Barack Obama, Ruth B. Ginsberg, my late brother, Freud.
Biggest pet peeve?
Lack of accountability.
Greatest fear? Public speaking.
Go-to karaoke song? Actually, singing in public might be my greatest fear.
Ryan Dunlap SPEAKER
Ryan Dunlap is a former Detective and SWAT Hostage Negotiator who founded Conflictish®, a conflict strategy firm dedicated to helping leaders turn conflict into their greatest competitive advantage.
Drawing from his experience in law enforcement, Ryan specializes in bringing proven strategies from the interrogation room into the boardroom, transforming how leaders speak and lead during high-pressure moments.
He is also the author of How to Untie a Balloon: a Negotiator’s Guide to Avoid Popping Under Pressure, and has lectured on conflict strategy at many academic, corporate, and non-profit institutions.
Favorite TED Talk?
It’s a tie between Kwame Christian and Scott Tillema, because they are both great friends and colleagues in the space of conflict.
Favorite book?
Rising to Power by Ron Carruci.
Favorite Movie? The Wizard of Oz.
Make one change in the world, what would it be?
Don’t even know where to start… I’d increase everyone’s ability to cognitively think through conflict and solve problems more humanely.
NOTES
Biggest pet peeve?
It used to be littering. It’s very quickly becoming people who operate below their potential.
Greatest fear?
Not being able to provide for my family.
Where would you go in a time machine? Probably 1994, that was peak humanity.
Top three favorite Instagram follows? @Ginny_Clarke @RyanLeak @Steven
INTERVIEW
Rukaiyah Adams is the CEO of the 1803 Fund, which seeks to grow shared prosperity through the alignment of financial investments and investments in community-based organizations.
It is not a conventional investment firm, and it is not traditional philanthropy—the work of the 1803 Fund includes aspects of both. Fundamentally, it is ‘investing for the people’.
Rukaiyah holds a B.A. with academic distinction from Carleton College, a Juris Doctor from Stanford Law School, where she was on the Law and Policy Review and the Co-President of the Law Student Association, and a Master of Business Administration from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.
Favorite TED Talk? My Philosophy For a Happy Life by Sam Berns.
Favorite Portland restaurant? PaaDee.
Favorite book? Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler.
Make one change to the world, what would it be?
Every human’s needs met, including education.
Biggest pet peeve? Bad writing.
NOTES
What five people would you invite to your ultimate dinner table, dead or alive?
Shirley Chisholm, John Kennedy, Harriet Tubman, Octavia Butler, and James Baldwin.
Greatest fear? Cowardice.
If you were on a desert island what five musical artist anthologies, dead or alive, would you bring with you?
Stevie Wonder, Donnie Hathaway, AC/DC, Billie Holiday, and Nirvana.
MORNING HOST
Karina LeBlanc, CM, Member of the Order of Canada, is a former Canadian national team soccer player, Olympic gold medalist, five-time FIFA Women’s World Cup competitor, and author of A Kids Book About Purpose.
She serves as Executive Vice President of Strategic Growth and Development for RAJ Sports, the ownership group of the Portland Thorns and Portland Fire.
Karina is helping cement the city as the epicenter of women’s sports, working at the intersection of sport, leadership, and community to expand opportunity for the next generation.
Through the Karina LeBlanc Foundation, she mentors young women to lead with confidence and purpose. She believes purpose is a direction we choose daily.
NOTES
Who is your hero?
My daughter, Paris, and my husband, Jason.
Favorite TED Talk? Start with the WHY by Simon Sinek.
Favorite movie? Pursuit of Happiness.
Top three favorite Instagram follows? @melrobbins @thornsfc @portlandfirewnba
Make one change to the world, what would it be?
For everyone to feel like they belong and they matter.
Greatest fear? Not living my calling.
Most embarrassing moment? Letting a goal in between my legs in front of 60,000 people.
If you were on a desert island what five musical artist anthologies, dead or alive, would you bring with you?
Céline Dion, Beyoncé, CeCe Winans, Bob Marley, Whitney Houston.
AFTERNOON HOST
Luis’ purpose is to inspire and enable others to have transformative travel experiences. He has spent 20 years working globally in the start-up and experiential travel space helping iconic brands like Disney, REI, and Backroads build and scale meaningful businesses.
He currently serves as the Chairman of the Board for TEDxPortland and is the Founder and CEO of the certified B-Corp and Climate Neutral award-winning travel company Modern Adventure.
He deeply values community and actively invests time and resources in those that have the power or potential to be catalysts for change.
Favorite Portland restaurant?
Anything from Earl Ninsom.
Favorite book? Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky.
Make one change to the world, what would it be?
No mobile phones.
Biggest pet peeve?
Showing enthusiasm for a project/partnership and then ghosting.
NOTES
Biggest fear?
Something happening to my kids.
Most embarrassing moment?
Spitting out a mouthful of soda in the movie theater on top of the person sitting in front of me, because I was laughing so hard.
Where would you go in a time machine?
The height of the Mayan Empire.
What is under your bed right now? Dreams planted and waiting to be born.
Leon Anderson is an im proviser, storyteller, and promoter of people and advocate for their greatness, continu ously diving deeper through curiosity, story, and connection.
From his start as an aerospace engineer, Leon has used a passion for problem solving to navigate across numerous industries, from automotive to biomedical to digital.
Leon has been part of multiple nationally touring improv comedy troupes, where he has had the pleasure of curating captivating shows and experiences, which have never been seen and will never be seen again.
CLOSER
Leon Anderson
Who is your hero?
My mom... coming here to the United States, raising both my brother and me as a working single mother, was an effort of grit and selflessness that I can only aspire to display as a parent.
Favorite Portland restaurant? AKADI.
Make one change to the world, what would it be?
People would take more time to truly listen to each other.
What five people would you invite to your ultimate dinner table, dead or alive?
Barack Obama, Eddie Vedder, Steve Buschemi, Richard Pryor, Pharell Williams.
NOTES
Biggest fear?
RATS! So many rats!
What’s under your bed right now?
The boxes that my bed came packaged in, and extra phone chargers.
If you were on a desert island what five musical artist anthologies, dead or alive, would you bring with you?
Bob Marley, Otis Redding, Pearl Jam, The Roots, The Pharcyde.
Biggest pet peeve?
Slow driving in the left lane.
Ecosystem Community
History of TEDx
TEDx is part of a revolution in global education made possible by local organizers wanting to engage their communities.
Established in 2009, more than 40,000 TEDx events have been organized worldwide.
Every week, in more than 135 countries, people are coming together to pursue three words: Ideas. Worth. Spreading. We seek to build partnerships that will surface, promote, and support great ideas. The concept is simple: create an immersive environment where prominent local organizations, thought leaders, and key enablers from vastly different fields can cross-fertilize and draw inspiration from unlikely places. This foundation of partners, speakers, and influencers forms the basis of the community we are trying to build in Portland and beyond.
More than 3,200 TEDx events will happen this year with a projected 3,700 globally next year
The “x” in TEDx stands for independently organized events that are licensed by TED
The most viewed TEDx Talk with over 78M views is Beatbox Brilliance by Tom Thum at TEDxSydney
The most viewed TEDxPortland talk is The Incredible Inventions of Intuitive AI by Maurice Conti with more than 7.4M views
The color of the TEDx red is Pantone 485 C
05 01
Dream big. Strive to create the best talk you have ever given. Reveal something never seen before. Do something the audience will remember forever. Share an idea that could change the world.
02
Show us the real you. Share your passions, your dreams…and also your fears. Be vulnerable. Speak of failure as well as success.
03
Make the complex plain. Don’t try to dazzle intellectually. Don’t speak in abstractions. Explain. Give examples. Tell stories. Be specific.
04
Connect with people’s emotions. Make us laugh. Make us cry.
07
Feel free to comment on other speakers’ talks, to praise or to criticize. Controversy energizes. Enthusiastic endorsement is powerful.
Don’t flaunt your ego. Don’t boast. It’s the surest way to switch everyone off.
06
No selling from the stage. Unless we have specifically asked you to, do not talk about your company or organization. And don’t even think about pitching your products or services or asking for funding from the stage.
08
Don’t read your talk. Notes are fine. But if the choice is between reading or rambling, then read.
09
End your talk on time. Doing otherwise steals time from the people that follow you. We won’t allow it.
10
Rehearse your talk in front of a trusted friend…for timing, for clarity, for impact.
TEDxPortland Mission, Vision, Goals
We are so grateful you could join us for our 14th annual event.
For historical context, our first event in 2011, was right here at Portland Center Stage at The Armory. We received our TEDx license in 2009, and it took us 14 months to pull off Year 1. There was never an intention to organize an annual event, but the feedback was so overwhelmingly positive, we decided to return to The Armory for Year 2. We grew to the Portland Art Museum in 2013, and then doubled the event size to the Keller Auditorium in 2014. We held our event at the Keller for six straight years. In 2022, we created history by hosting 8,000 guests at the Moda Center for Year 10. It was the largest indoor TEDx ever, with our organizing team persevering through three reschedules and a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic.
Years 11, 12, and 13 were back at Keller Auditorium and now, for Year 14, we come home to The Armory. Led by our 75+ member volunteer team, this experience delivers on the promise that “ideas change everything.” It is a year-round planning effort focused on high-quality speakers, outstanding content, premium event management, and partner appreciation. Our team believes that this is the most inspirational, educational day of the year for our city and that Portland is what we make it.
Mission
To spread ideas. TEDx is part of a global TED community, welcoming people from every discipline and culture who seek a deeper understanding of the world. We believe passionately in the power of ideas to change attitudes, perspectives, and lives.
On TEDxPortland.com and TED.com, we’re building a clearinghouse of free knowledge. A community of curious souls to engage with ideas and each other, both online and at our events.
Vision
Create a world-class experience that inspires Portland to think and do.
Goals
To organize the most educational and inspiring day of the year.
To bring our community together to celebrate people, partners, and places.
To develop a core team organizing dynamic that fosters love, passion, and commitment to one another.
To be the most innovative TEDx event on the planet.
TEDxPortland is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
State of Oregon Registry Number: 747610-90
EIN: 27-4884880
Did you know?
• TEDxPortland takes 9 months to organize
• We work with 75+ volunteers
• We collaborate with 60+ local Portland partners
• Every year, Core Team members are sent to greater TED conferences outside of Oregon to strengthen
our relationship with HQ in NYC, learn from other events, and build a deeper bench with our volunteers
• Every fall, our Core Team holds a strategy retreat at Timberline Lodge to reenergize, plan, and drive innovation for the year to come
In true pioneering spirit, TEDxPortland has trailblazed many exciting initiatives for our city and beyond.
• Award-winning Event Book
• The Ideas Booth
• Regional workshops to support TEDxBend, TEDxSalem, TEDxMtHood, TEDxMcMinnville, TEDxUOregon, TEDxSeattle, and TEDxVancouver (we are excited to re-engage and build the PNW!)
• Citywide Scavenger Hunt
• 6K “Paint the Town TED” fun run
• Annual Salon series
• High School TEDxYouth programming
• Citywide billboard campaigns
• Two citywide art shows, featuring 74 local artists
• Artist in residence speaker portraits
• Interstitial creative short films
• Annual Speaker Dinner celebrating our current speaker class and alumni
• More incredible custom collaborations than we can count, from custom wine bottles with Stoller to shoes with Nike and Crocs, and so much more
• Park Academy Student Event
• Travel Oregon speaker coaching and workshops
TEDxPortland Alumni
Over the past 15 years, more than 225 speakers and performers have graced the TEDxPortland stage. We cherish our relationship with our alumni, working yearround to keep in touch with them and support them. Their ideas have shaped this city and our world!
2011
Greg Bell
Jim Riswold
Brian Druker, M.D.
Tinker Hatfield
Bobbie Conner
Elliot Mainzer
PHAME
On The Rocks
Mark Edlen
Scott Kveton
School of Rock
Thomas Lauderdale
Spencer Beebe
Karen Brooks
Storm Large
Mia Birk
John Jay
2012
Thomas Brown
Jessica Green, Ph.D.
Gavin Davison
David Terry
Portland Youth
Philharmonic
Bassima Mroue
Hideshi Hamaguchi
John Waller & Ben Canales
Joe Whitworth
Kate Davis
Sahar Alnouri
Ward Cunningham
Rose City
Trombones
Gene Sandoval
Aithan Shapira,Ph.D.
Jeb Corliss
Sam Adams
2013
Asia Greene
Brian Grant
Mike Thelin
Jonathan Krisel
Tom Brokaw
Naomi Pomeroy
Kate
Bingaman-Burt
The Royal Blues
Laurie Marker, Ph.D.
Ben Huh
Guido Rahr
Kimberly Howard
Wade
Brian Faherty
Di-Ann Eisnor
Denver
2014
Aaron Draplin
Andrew Revkin
G Cody QJ
Goldberg
Zalika Gardner
Eric Giler
Nong
Poonsukwattana
Jackson Gariety
Al James
Macklemore
Zach King
Isaiah Holt
D’Wayne Edwards
James Keller
Frank Moore
Oregon Ballet
Theatre
Lisa Sedlar
Renny Gleeson
2015
Jon Wexler
Vidya Spandana
Karen Gaffney
The von Trapps
G Douglas Bundy
Linda Smith
Fawn Weaver
Jacob Miller & The Bridge City Crooners
Benji Wagner
Gregory Gourdet
Con Bro Chill
Dr. Cameron Smith
Jenna Nicholas
Kent Thornburg,
Regina Ellis
Amber Starks
Daniel Wilson, Ph.D.
Speech
Renny Gleeson
2016
Elias Cairo
Nadya Okamoto
Joey Harrington
Intisar Abioto
Israel Bayer
Maurice Conti
Rex Burkholder
Tracy Oseran
Timber Jim Serrill
Thaniya Keereepart
Mara Zepeda
Samuel Hulick
Radiation City
Bobbi MacKenzie
Portland Gay
Men’s Chorus
Tylor Neist & Bridgetown
Orchestra
Rose City Trombones
Renny Gleeson
2017
Emma Mcilroy
Stephen Green
Dave Sanders, M.D.
Annie Choo
Thor Drake
Redray Frazier
Luis Vargas
Renu Malhotra, Ph.D.
Benjamin
Dehen-Artaiz
Marla Smith-Nilson
Adam Garcia
Ragini Dindukurthi
Colin O’Brady
Ben Kaiser
BodyVox
Renny Gleeson
2018
Ann Curry
Albert Chi, M.D.
Tami Lynn Kent
Tom Sachs
Chief Danielle Outlaw
Peter Cho
Kevin Cavenaugh
Tyrone Poole
Colleen Yeager
The Gay Beards
Mira Kaddoura
Rick Turoczy
Christopher Nichols, Ph.D.
Kristine Napper
Steven Eberlein
Hunter Noack &
Thomas Lauderdale
Edna Vazquez
Ron Artis II
Oregon Symphony
Renny Gleeson
2019
Rachel Knox, M.D.
Steve Oldham
Paloma Medina
David Peyton, Ph.D.
Carine Kanimba
Rebecca Jordan Smith
Tyler Malek
Anna Debenham
JD Hooge
Julia Niiro
Nandini
Ranganathan, Ph.D.
Kary Youman
Xiomara Torres
Duncan Campbell
Portland Cello Project
NW Dance Project
Piano. Push. Play.
Renny Gleeson
2022
Asia Greene-Rhodes
Jelani Memory
Amy Wolff
Eric Tran, Ph.D.
Jordan Dinwiddie
Digable Planets
Tatiana Mac
Atticus
Vince Kadlubek
Regan Parker
Tyrone Hendrix
Death Cab for Cutie
Emily Nestor
Vitor Bastos
Taylor Stewart
Portugal. The Man
Viva Las Vegas
Broke Gravy
Rukaiyah Adams
Renny Gleeson
Pink Martini
2023
Kim Scott
Toby Barnes
Dr. Yuan-Po Tu
Sarah Edmondson
Megan Diana
Aarthi
Ananthanarayanan
Trevor Beaman
Kee Nelson
GZA
Reyna Tropical
Kyle Thornton
Sam Diaz
Emily Stutzman
David Lucas
Thunderstorm Artis
Renny Gleeson
2024
Gabriel Rucker
Dr. Robert Guldberg
Ian Williams
Lou Featherstone
Open Space
Ben Sand
Amber Huffman
Y La Bamba
Kali Thorne Ladd
Kota The Friend
Michael Curry
Modest Mouse
Melina Palmer
Larry Miller
Renny Gleeson
2025 LAERZ
Mike Bennett
Jennifer Pfeifer
Ivan McClellan
Christopher Brown
Brian McLean
White Lotus
Brennan Wood
Scott Hanselman
JunkBoxAi
Small Million
Dennis Connors
Tal Sharabi
Jackson Rayne
Ariana Vargas
Christine Sinclair
Ron Artis II
Leon Anderson
Our Team
CO-FOUNDERS
Mark Starkey
David Rae
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
David Paull
Jaime Diedrich
Luis Vargas
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CURATOR & LICENSEE
David Paull
PRODUCER
Jarod Paull
ADVISORY TEAM
China Forbes
G Cody QJ Goldberg
Gene Sandoval
Jamey Hampton
Karen Brooks
Leon Anderson
Megan Diana
Mike Thelin
Nicole Jensen
Peter Achterman
Redray Frazier
Regan Parker
Regina Ellis
Stephen Green
Susan Hoffman
Tinker Hatfield
Wilson Smith III
Zalika Gardner
HISTORIAN & CURATOR EMERITUS
David Rae
HOSTS
Karina LeBlanc
Luis Vargas
CLOSER
Leon Anderson
LEADERSHIP TEAM
Andrew Wallner
David Paull
Dustin Fernandes
Henry Cromett
Jarod Paull
Justin Albano
Molly McCluskey
Rhett Acelar
Sara Suttles
RISK MANAGEMENT & OVERSIGHT
David Paull
Dustin Fernandes
CONTROLLER
Jaime Diedrich
SPEAKER CURATION & COACHING
Andrea Markowski
Cathey Armillas
David Paull
David Rae
Dustin Fernandes
Jarod Paull
Karen Brooks
Lauran Mueller
Leon Anderson
Luis Vargas
Michael Doherty
Pete Achterman
Pete Lewis
Ryan Buchanan
Sarah Schiffman
Vince LaVecchia
CREATIVE AGENCY
This.
THIS. TEAM
Toby Grubb
Denis Kegler
Liv Halfen
Keanu Narciso
INTRODUCTORY EVENT VIDEO
This.
EVENT BOOK DESIGN
Mark Dusk
PARTNER CONTENT / COMMUNITY IMPACT FEATURES
Michaela Cowan
Mike Tate
Nikolaus Popp
Shannon Guirl
EVENT PRODUCTION, MANAGEMENT & AV
Really Big Video
LIVESTREAM KGW+
VIDEOGRAPHY & YOUTUBE POSTPRODUCTION
Andrew Wallner
Micheala Cowan
Mike Tate
PHOTOGRAPHY
Andrew Wallner
Henry Cromett
Michaela Cowan
Rhett Acelar
Zack Dean
SOCIAL MEDIA & INTERACTIVE
Jarod Paull
Sebastian Healy
This.
TICKETING
Brenda Bartlett
PUBLIC RELATIONS
Play Nice, special thanks to Kayt Mathers
LEGAL
Ballard Spahr
LUNCHTIME ACTIVATION
Phil Chun
VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT
Dustin Fernandes
Jarod Paull
Justin Albano
Molly Fuller
PARTNERSHIPS & GRANTS
David Paull
David Rae
Jaime Diedrich
Hailey O’Donnell
PERFORMANCE DIRECTION & SUPPORT
Redray Frazier
Tim Cowan
STUDIO DESIGN TEAM
Annatova Neches
Jared Paull
Jon Hill
Victoria Wells
TEAM UNIFORMS
Dehen 1920
Portland Gear
Crocs
BE WELL INITIATIVE
Amber Reed
Jen Reed
Gina Neal
PARTNER
APPRECIATION NIGHT
Portland Center Stage at The Armory
ON-SITE PARTNER
MANAGEMENT
Alli Lurie
SALON: W+K
Jinnina Chiles
Priscilla Bernard Wieden
Susan Hoffman
SALON: STOLLER
Gary Mortensen
James Falvey
Victoria Wilhelm
SPEAKER DINNER
Sarah Lewis
Tess Darrow
Nate Alvord
Kate Alvord
Olympia Provisions
HAPPY HOUR
Beam Spirits with special thanks to George Mann, Deschutes with special thanks to Zach Pohlman, Stoller Family Estate with special thanks to James Falvey and Austin Raz
HOTEL PARTNER
Woodlark, special thanks to Bruce Johnson
CATERING
Elephants Delicatessen
ART GALLERY
Historic Prints with special thanks to Rhett Acelar,
NW Framing with special thanks to Jessica Sandoval-Orzel and Steve Dodd
DJ
Benny Christiansen
MASCOTS
Teddy (Wyatt Rae)
Gary the Gator (Nora Rae)
AFTER PARTY
Tender Loving Empire, special thanks to Brianne and Jared Mees
HUMBLE HEROES
Pete Achterman
Renny Gleeson
Pam Lloyd FOR FIRST BELIEVING IN US
Michael Doherty
VENUE
Portland Center Stage at The Armory, special thanks to Alexandria Hunter-Ifft, Marissa Wolf, Edwina Kane, Jelani Memory, and everyone at PCS
EVENT BOOK PRODUCTION
Premier Press with special thanks to Eric Farrara, Justin Kaye, and Laura Mazy
OUR MISSION:
To provide accessibility to intentional wellness experiences that cultivate more resiliency in our physical, mental, and emotional selves, while connecting with the TEDx community at large. Research shows that wellness activities not only boost longevity but also that social connection can help you better recover from anxiety and depression, lead to healthier eating habits, aid in preventing heart disease and dementia, and even support better sleep.
OUR GOALS
1. Support our yearly speakers in feeling more grounded, centered, and mentally strong as they prepare to share their stories.
2. Support our Core Team, volunteers, and partners with opportunities to alleviate burnout, connect with others, and share their wellness journeys.
3. Cultivate community that’s centered on spreading positivity, joy, and belonging.
TEDxPortland is proud to continue our longstanding relationship with Wild Reed, a sister-owned movement studio in the heart of Portland that feels like both a deep exhale and a powerful reset. This is a place where highly skilled, genuinely passionate instructors lead yoga-inspired classes that are strong, dynamic, and smartly balanced with rest, so you can challenge yourself without burning out. The studio itself is impeccably clean and spalike, the community is welcoming and real, and there’s zero pressure to be anything other than human. Add in a Pacific Northwest–inspired ethos of resilience and flexibility, and you’ve got a studio that’s doing things differently—grounded, inclusive, and a little bit wild in the best way.
The University of Oregon, specifically the School of Journalism and Communication in Portland, was one of our first partners in 2011 and helped get TEDxPortland off the ground. In 2012, the University of Oregon became our presenting partner and has continued their support ever since. We are so thankful for their support, not only with our main event at The Armory but also with past TEDx SALONS and TEDxYouth@Portland events. With heartfelt appreciation we thank Jane Gordon and Matt Roberts— your team has been with us from the very beginning and we are forever grateful.
We are excited to support your community-building efforts as you embark on your new campus endeavors in North Portland with the Ballmer Institute and your commitment to mental health services and equitable access.
Lastly, it is important to note that this University of Oregon inspirational phrase has been proudly adopted by our volunteer team to inspire our year round planning efforts:
“SOMETIMES YOU. SOMETIMES ME. ALWAYS US. UNSTOPPABLE.” Go Ducks!
Pfeifer
The partnership between This® and TEDxPortland started over a decade ago with friends, cofounders, and creative directors, Denis Kegler and Toby Grubb. With shared curiosity, and a desire for positive community change, we have fueled the creative belief that together, we can move Portland’s culture forward.
We are exploring Year 14’s HOMECOMING theme through bold typography that represents the physical characteristics of the Portland Center Stage Armory Building. An immersive visual language peering through secret portals in the space, paired with a cohesive brand built to intrigue and inspire speakers and attendees. From concept to stage and screen, our collaboration bridges strategy and craft, honoring TEDxPortland’s legacy while shaping its next chapter.
Founded in Portland, driven by a passion for meaningful design, This® is an independent creative studio that converts brand needs into business drivers - leading companies, collaborators, and communities to build enduring impact.
TEDxPortland and This stand side by side in celebrating ideas that change everything, and the city that makes it all possible.
We marvel at Hampton Lumber and their deep commitment to people, community, and sustainability. Rooted in fourth-generation timber legacy, this family-owned company was founded in Oregon in 1942. Since then, they’ve grown alongside demand for sustainable building materials. Hampton’s 1,700 employees now manage Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI)-certified forests and manufacture lumber in Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia, serving customers across North America, Europe and Asia.
The Hampton family takes great pride in manufacturing carbon-friendly building materials sourced in the Pacific Northwest from some of the most sustainably managed forest resources on the planet. Since its founding, Hampton has endeavored to be a good steward, a good neighbor, and an engaged member of the communities in which it operates.
That legacy continues today through its community-giving programs, scholarships for employees and their families, lumber donations, and spirit of volunteerism. They champion well-being, inclusiveness, and opportunity for all in their workplace, industry, and communities.
The Hampton family is also a well-known supporter of the arts. Music and dance are particularly close to their hearts. Jamey is co-Artistic Director at the Portland-based dance company BodyVox, which he founded with his wife Ashley Roland in 1997.
BodyVox performed on the TEDxPortland stage in 2017, and it is still regarded as one of the best performances we have ever seen, titled: “In the Garden of Synesthesia.”
The Hampton brothers Jamey and David also regularly perform together in the Portland metro area with their band the Brothers Jam. Formed in the ’70s, the Brothers Jam is a rootsy mashup of the Grateful Dead, rock, jazz, and exuberant jamming.
Hampton Lumber, we thank you for your support and partnership. It plays a key role in the success of our event. With deep gratitude we appreciate what you do for our city and state.
Hampton Lumber has proudly supported the Timbers since 2017 and the Thorns since 2020.
We never thought TEDxPortland would grow into what it is today. It was 700+ people at the Armory in Year One in 2011. We grew to the Keller Auditorium in 2014, and it was the largest TEDx in North America with 3,300+ attendees, then. In 2022, for Year 10 in the Moda Center / Theater of the Clouds, we had over 8,000 attendees — a global TEDx first as the largest indoor event ever held. It was not without its challenges, coming out of Covid-19 after a three-year hiatus and three reschedules. It was “Audacious” in every sense of the word!
Thank you to the stoic leadership at Ballard Spahr for earnestly looking out for the organization’s best interests as things have developed over the years. From formalizing our initial organization to supporting our 501(c)(3) non-profit incorporation, we are eternally grateful to the legal counsel (and friendship) of Jeff Wolfstone, Lisa Poplawski, Carter Mann, and Joe Cerne for their thoughtfulness and stewardship.
We love and appreciate you.
Last October, the TEDxPortland team returned to Timberline Lodge for our annual retreat with the intention of shaping this year’s HOMECOMING theme. Together, we reflected on Portland, its past, present, and future, and our role in helping it thrive. The weekend was filled with meaningful conversation, collaboration, and a legendary content team meeting at Silcox Hut.
We extend our sincere thanks to Sally Kohnstamm, her family, and the incredible Timberline staff for welcoming us into such a memorable and historic space. Timberline continues to be a space where ideas take shape, leaving a lasting sense of inspiration for everyone who gathers there.
Lodge, TEDxPortland Retreat
Lodge, Mt. Hood
We are honored to partner with Stoller Family Estate for the 8th straight year to raise a glass to our community-building efforts.
The Stoller family established the property in 1943 and the vineyard 50 years later. Over the last 30 years, they have patiently transformed the 400-acre property into the largest contiguous vineyard in Oregon’s Dundee Hills. They control every step of the wine-growing and winemaking process, from pruning to bottling and everything in between. The result is an award winning workplace and award-winning wines that are balanced, complex, and consistently exceptional.
Their winery was the first in the world to receive LEED Gold certification, attesting that their winery is sustainably built and environmentally friendly. We think their iconic oak tree and tire swing is pretty cool too.
Special thanks to Gary Mortensen, James Falvey, Amira Makansi, and Austin Raz for your partnership.
When a TEDxPortland Speaker or Volunteer needs to fly, we choose to fly with Alaska. Why?
For many reasons, they have taken wonderful care of our travel needs. They believe in Portland and they work with intention to build community. They are the leading carrier in our beloved PDX Airport with more than 65 nonstop destinations. And now with Hawaiian Airlines they will deliver more premium experiences, a more powerful platform and greater value to travelers adventuring to / from the Rose City.
These two beloved airlines have rich histories with more than 90 years or remarkable care flying guests to more than 140 destinations across the Americas, Asia, Australia, and the South Pacific – with Alaska Airlines flights to Europe starting in spring 2026. Furthermore, we have found that their organizational culture is guided by integrity, ingenuity, and professionalism. Values that we intrinsically share in our TEDxPortland organization.
With very special thanks to Harry Cheema, Jeanette Waddle and Contesa Diaz-Nicolaidis for their leadership, kindness, and caring demeanor.
Brian McLean
Ariana Vargas
KGW and TEDxPortland share a mission to serve the greater good by informing, inspiring, and engaging our local communities. KGW is committed to providing trusted news and information that helps people function as effective citizens while promoting understanding of complex issues and elevating diverse voices. Through KGW’s depth of platforms, TEDxPortland ideas can reach broader audiences across the region. With the addition of KGW+, more viewers can access their most trusted local news source when, where, and how they prefer. Our partnership extends the value of ethical storytelling, transparency, and community leadership, as well as amplifies innovative ideas, supports inclusive perspectives, and strengthens civic engagement by connecting meaningful conversations with the communities we serve.
David Rae, Luis Vargas, Leon Anderson
Audience
TEDxPortland shares a common values system with another community-impact organization. This remarkable place is called Caldera, founded by Dan Wieden and his family 29 years ago.
Caldera is a place in Central Oregon, dedicated to unleashing the power of creativity in youth, artists, and everyday people.
This magical place provides a much-needed third space for underserved youth acting as an access point to creative practices, in-nature learning, good people, and practicing professionals.
2013 TEDxPortland Alumni and Caldera’s Executive Director, Kimberly Howard Wade, is a visionary leader whom we are proud to partner with and support. We encourage our TEDster audience to learn more and lean in if you can.
Portal Tea Company began as a small teahouse built on a simple idea: create a welcoming space where people could slow down, connect, and experience handcrafted tea blends. What started as a humble neighborhood gathering place has, over the past 23 years, grown into an innovative beverage company committed to reimagining how tea is sourced, crafted, and shared. Innovation at Portal Tea has extended beyond tea itself. Over the years, the company has incubated and launched several beverage brands, including Happy Mountain Kombucha, Portal Coffee, and Normal Coffee Soda—each reflecting the same spirit of craftsmanship, curiosity, and community that shaped the original teahouse.
As the exclusive non-alcoholic beverage partner of TEDxPortland, Portal Tea Company continues to explore new ways to connect people through beverages, blending tradition with experimentation. What began as a single teahouse has evolved into a platform for creative drink-making, sustainability-minded design, and a growing family of brands that challenge conventions while staying rooted in community.
TEDxPortland is proud to partner with Tender Loving Empire, a Portland-born retail company and record label dedicated to championing creativity and supporting the local creative economy. For nearly two decades, Tender Loving Empire has connected customers with thoughtfully curated goods made by hundreds of independent artists, makers, and small businesses—helping circulate millions of dollars back into the creative community.
With seven retail locations, including shops at Portland International Airport, Tender Loving Empire has become a beloved destination for discovering locally made art, music, gifts, and small-batch products. Along the way, it has been voted Portland’s Favorite Gift Shop by readers of Willamette Week and has grown into a cornerstone of the city’s vibrant creative ecosystem.
As the official gifting partner of TEDxPortland and the host of our VIP after party, TLE helps extend the spirit of creativity, community, and thoughtful connection beyond the stage.
In Year 14, we are thrilled to celebrate HOMECOMING with a featured gallery of archival Portland photography, carefully curated by Historic Prints and meticulously framed by Beard’s Framing and Frame Central.
Beard’s Framing and Frame Central, members of the PNW Framing family, have been locally owned and framing in the Pacific Northwest since 1974. Known for their quality, creativity, and thoughtful care, their artisans specialize in custom framing as well as photo & fine art printing. Bringing artwork and ideas to life with craftsmanship that defines the Pacific Northwest.
Historic Prints is driven by a love of history, an appreciation for the arts, and a genuine passion for bringing the past to life. For more than a decade, they have reproduced art prints from vintage maps, posters, and photographs, honoring the visual stories that connect us to our shared history.
COMMUNITY PARTNER
GOLD PARTNER
TEDxPortland is thrilled to return to Portland Center Stage at The Armory where our first event was held in 2011. A true homecoming.
Portland Center Stage is the largest theater company in Portland, Oregon, with a mission to create transcendent theatrical experiences and community programs that break down the barriers separating people. Established in 1988 as a branch of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, the company became independent in 1994.
PCS’s home is at The Armory, a historic building originally constructed in 1891. After a major renovation, The Armory re -opened in 2006 as the first building on the National Register of Historic Places, the first performing arts venue in the country, and the first building in Portland, to achieve the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Platinum rating.
Around 160,000 patrons visit Portland Center Stage each year to attend more than 400 performances in its two theaters, along with a variety of education and community programs.
Nike’s purpose is to move the world forward through the power of sport.
Our TEDxPortland organizing team is inspired by their belief in a fair, sustainable future—one where everyone thrives on a healthy planet and a level playing field. Nike has been with us as a partner from day one and we cannot imagine this journey without them. Thank you for supporting us in all our creative endeavors. Our community organizing “mindset” is anchored in your iconic slogan “Just Do It.”
We challenge our 75+ volunteers everyday to DO noble deeds, not dream them all day.
Small Million 2025
Christopher Brown 2025
Now that you’ve experienced what we hope was the most inspirational, educational day of the year, we want to hear from you.
This is truly your event and we want it to exceed all expectations.
Please help us by completing a short survey by our friends at the Portland-based insights agency Dialsmith.
We read every response and use them to help make TEDxPortland better and better every year.
When you complete the survey you’ll be entered into a drawing for two tickets to next year’s TEDxPortland event.
Thank you for your ongoing support! We can’t do this without you.
Thank you to our friends at Stoller Family Estate, Beam Suntory, Deschutes, and Portal Tea for providing a hosted bar for 800+ guests!
Let’s celebrate and discuss what we just saw!
Sharing highlights, insights, and inspiration from the day gives us a chance to reflect and grow. We suggest you meet new people, raise a glass, and commit to doing something with the information and ideas you have learned today. Each guest can imbibe two complimentary drinks. Look on the back of your name tag for allotted drink concessions.
Please enjoy responsibly and plan a safe ride home.
Attendees age 21+ may enjoy a drink during the lunch hour and at the end of day. Wristbands are required and are provided with ID check. There is no limit to non-alcoholic beverages for people under age. While supplies last.
JunkBoxAI (Mike Waller)
Volunteer Spotlights
Sebastian Michaela
Healy Cowan
Sebastian joined our team to help with social media and quickly became a steady, trusted presence behind the scenes. He never hesitates to step in where help is needed, always bringing initiative and a positive spirit. Volunteers like Sebastian are the quiet force that make events like this possible, and we’re grateful for the time and care he gives to our team and our community.
Michaela joined TEDxPortland as a film graduate and working producer-director. What started with capturing b-roll evolved into her becoming a trusted creative partner on our media team. Always ready with her camera in hand, Michaela has a gift for finding the story in every frame, preserving the energy of the day, and helping our ideas travel far beyond the stage.
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
—Margaret Mead
We would love to hear from you and explore possible opportunities.
Roles we are specifically looking to fill are on our core team:
• Graphic Designers / Animators
• Event Planner Extraordinaires!
• Content Creators
• Social Media Strategists / SEO
• Fundraising
• Partnerships / Sponsorships
• Vendor Management
• Speaker Coaches
If you love logistics, strategy, herding cats and rolling up your sleeves we would love to hear from you!
Respectfully, we are not looking for “day of volunteers.” Our bench is full there.
We would love to work with and empower individuals who are willing to volunteer 9 months of a year—roughly 80–120 hours (depending on the role).
Email Molly Fuller & Justin Albano and we will get back to you later this Summer once the dust settles from Year 14.
molly@tedxportland.com justin@tedxportland.com
TEDxPortland Volunteers 2016
Because the best part of the journey is the people you meet while you’re weightless. Exchange some soul-fuel, leave an encouraging spark, and make this homecoming permanent with a signature from a stranger-turned-friend .
TEDxPortland is thrilled to continue our partnership with Hopscotch, a 23,000 sq. ft. sanctuary in the Central Eastside that serves as a vibrant homecoming for the imaginative spirit. Hopscotch isn’t a gallery you simply observe; it’s a living canvas designed for total immersion, where the rules of traditional museums are replaced by a philosophy of play.
Featuring interactive installations from over 40 local and international artists, this is a space where our community can return to a sense of pure, unadulterated joy. Whether you’re navigating the rhythmic light of Onion Skin or finding a nostalgic reprieve in the Diodic Daydream ball pit, Hopscotch provides true entertainment for the soul. It’s a place to walk in weighted by the day-to-day and walk out weightless. In a city fueled by curiosity, Hopscotch is the ultimate rabbit hole—inviting us all to come home to the unexpected.
© 2026 TEDxPortland. All rights reserved. TEDxPortland.com info@tedxportland.com
Published and printed in Portland, Oregon, 2026.
Edited and produced by TEDxPortland.
Book design: Mark Dusk
Year 14 visual identity: This.
Typefaces: Ufficio Display—Giulia Boggio Helvetica Now Display—Monotype
Photography: Andrew Wallner, Henry Cromett, and Zack Dean
Archival imagery: Historic Prints
Printing and binding: Premier Press
Copyright for imagery is held by the respective partners and volunteers.