The Speakers
- Catherine Compton
- Slow Food Savannah
As a co-founder of Slow Food Savannah, Cat Compton’s mission is to unite local food producers with local restaurants, schools, and the community. At the top of her list is educating the next generation of youth: how to rediscover the joys of eating, understanding the importance of where food comes from, caring for the hands who nurture it and the ones who prepare it.
Producers as Partners: Enabling a Thriving Community Food System
As co-founder of Slow Food Savannah, a national non-profit organization, Catherine Compton presents innovative ideas for a new economy, green living, and alternative education avenues for future generations of food producers, growers, consumers, and lobbyists.
- Andrew Davies
- Paragon
With degrees in Illustration, 2D Animation and Broadcast Design, Drew's multifaceted interests have taken him from a small advertising shop in Barbados to Mississippi where he helped build MadGENIUS Inc. Drew now leads the creative team at Savannah-based Paragon where he straddles various design disciplines. His work has been featured in Layers magazine, American Corporate ID, One Showcase, Animae Caribe and the Travelling Caribbean Film Festival.
The Future Will Not Be Multiple Choice (but it does eat boogers)
Creative genius Drew Davies and forward-thinking educator Jaime McGrath propose a new approach to classroom teaching: Turn curricula into design challenges, classrooms into workshops and teach students to think like designers. In turn, the education process becomes intensely collaborative, people-centered and fun.
- Zhenjie Dong
Zhenjie is a Chinese artist and photographer exploring ways to express her social and political concerns through photography. A graduate of the Communication University of China, Zhenjie is currently pursuing her MFA in photography at SCAD. Her project QR Series has been featured on numerous websites including Hey Hot Shot!, Feature Shoot and Design Boom.
Recreating Myth, A Critique on Chinese Authority
Photographer, artist and SCAD grad student Zhenjie Dong uses her work to criticize the social and political issues in contemporary China. By deconstructing traditional Chinese symbols and endowing them with new meanings, Dong uses new technology to rethink the past, comment on the present, and influence the future.
- Mark Finnern
- SAP
Mark is the Chief Community Evangelist for German software giant SAP as well as founder of Future Salon, a group that explores possible futures. A decade of hosting Future Salon and community work at SAP give Mark unique insights into what lies ahead and innovative ideas for bringing schools into the 21st century.
Five Ideas That Bring Our Schools into the 21st Century
Technologist Mark Finnern imagines a world where classroom time is spent solving real-world problems and sharing solutions. Children create budgets, build teams, brainstorm solutions, set milestones, track progress and present solutions. Initiating, collaborating, and adapting will prepare students to thrive in our ever-changing world.
- Tom Hardy
Tom is the founder of Verbal-Visual Framework, a brand-design strategy firm based in Atlanta. Clients have included Ford, Lenovo, Lowe’s, Merck and Samsung. He formerly directed the Corporate IBM Design Program in concert with preeminent designers Paul Rand and Richard Sapper. Hardy currently serves as Adjunct Professor of Design Management at Savannah College of Art and Design.
The Order of Disoder
Design strategist Tom Hardy illustrates how successful innovation is the result of instability, tension, conflict and ever-changing perspectives. He focuses your thoughts on the positive role of instability, recognizing order in disorder, and the power of embracing change.
- Enoch Hendry
Enoch has lived in Savannah, Atlanta, Athens, Valdosta, Tifton, Macon, Cordele, Clemson, Knoxville, and Tybee Island. He has scaled Mt. Le Conte and the pitcher’s mound at Fenway Park; walked the Giants Causeway and driven the Pacific Coast Highway! The pastor of Trinity United Methodist Church, Reverend Hendry lives on Telfair Square and Tybee Island, with his wife, photographer and baker, Ann Curry.
Square Roots: Life on Telfair Square
Ordained minister Enoch Hendry decodes the future by relating anecdotal stories of life on Telfair Square from various perspectives, including his personal experiences, vignettes from Trinity Church’s 164 years on the Square, and snippets of history from the City of Savannah.
- Kevin Klinkenberg
- Olsson Associates
Kevin is a senior planner with Arizona-based Olsson Associates. Since 1994, Kevin has explored his passion for walkable communities. As a principal for 180 Urban Design & Architecture, Kevin worked on new and redevelopment projects in 27 states. He’s worked with developers, cities and non-profits, and led award-winning public involvement processes. He writes about urban design at www.newurbanismblog.com and lives in Savannah.
Why the Real Estate Crash is Good for the Future of America
While some see the recent housing crash as the end of the “American Dream”, urban designer and architect Kevin Klinkenberg sees positive societal changes occurring, both subtle and dramatic.
- Kevin Lawver
- Rails Machine
Kevin is a geek and troublemaker. When he's not building apps, he's starting things like Refresh Savannah, Free Advice Friday or helping launch Geekend. Kevin was first drawn to Savannah by a job, but stayed for everything else that makes this town special. Kevin works with Rails Machine to make the web more operational, and on his projects, like Ficly, to make the web more creative.
Hack Your World
View the future from a programmer’s perspective as master techie Kevin Lawver defines the need for new and more specific skill sets for the average person. For Lawver, the basics of programming will be basic and hacking will be fundamental to learning.
- Nikki Kala Lee
Born in Switzerland to two architect parents, Nikki discovered her passion early in life, and has already been working toward becoming a fashion designer for more than a decade. She has interned at Oscar de la Renta, shown her designs in South Magazine, and presented her work in local fashion shows. Nikki plans to earn fashion and jewelry design degrees at SCAD.
The Meaning of Generosity
High school student and aspiring fashion designer Nikki Kaia Lee discusses generosity and its affect on future generations. Nikki relates how fashion magazine "W" editor-in-chief Bridget Foley and fashion designer Oscar de le Renta helped her realize the hidden value of personal diversity while demonstrating the importance of generosity in changing lives.
- Jaime McGrath
- Savannah Chatham Public Schools
Jaime McGrath is a teacher and gifted specialist at Gould Elementary School in Savannah, Georgia.
The Future Will Not Be Multiple Choice (but it does eat boogers)
Creative genius Drew Davies and forward-thinking educator Jaime McGrath propose a new approach to classroom teaching: Turn curricula into design challenges, classrooms into workshops and teach students to think like designers. In turn, the education process becomes intensely collaborative, people-centered and fun.
- Beth Mount, PhD
A Georgia native now living in and working from New York City, Beth is known for her groundbreaking work related to Person Centered Planning, an initiative promoting the positive contributions and creativity of people with disabilities. Her Story Quilt exhibit currently at the Telfair Museum brings provides a glimpse of our capacity to engage, co-create, and bring together through art what indifference has taken apart.
Beautiful Justice
Beth Mount, a Georgia native who now calls New York City home, sees art as the one true global language, transcending the ordinary and allowing us to imagine greater possibilities. She will share visual examples of personal and collective transformation through the power of art.
- David Pleasant
David grew up on Sapelo Island, immersed in the rich sounds and rhythms of the Gullah‐Geechee culture. His early years have fueled his unique rhythmic style, inspired his teaching methods, and served as the basis for his Fulbright Senior Specialist award. A master percussionist, “virtuoso” improviser, and renowned educator, David is the founder of “RiddimAthon!”, a performance and teaching method.
Riddimic Harmony
Through a hands-on presentation, world-acclaimed master percussionist David Pleasant highlights the significance of African and Gullah-Geechee rhythm and movement practices that employ sophisticated concepts blending the past, present, and future, i.e., "binyah", and "keep on deydey".
- Christopher Plummer
A Savannah native, Chris grew up fascinated by the tin ceilings found in older homes and buildings. What started as a passion became a business: today Chris is recognized as an authority on the origins, patterns and restoration of this timeless design element, and his company, Bastille Metal Works, is synonymous with premier manufacturing of custom zinc and pewter countertops, range hoods and furnishings.
The Artistic Deconstruction of Business
Designer and fabricator of prized metal furnishings, Christopher Plummer sees artistry, innovation and inspiration as the means of transforming today’s businesses into more competitive, sustainable, productive and efficient operations.
- J. Carlos Santamarina
- Georgia Tech
The global energy challenge demands unprecedented action. While Carlos Santamarina and his team are focused on geo-centered alternatives, he takes time to analyze the creative process involved in engineering new solutions. A professor at Georgia Tech, Carlos is a frequent speaker at conferences and academic institutions worldwide.
Speaking On
In the course of solving highly complex energy problems, professor of engineering Carlos Santamarina has developed enlightened views on the creative process. Listen as he analyzes the creative process, identifies supporting as well as detracting components, and offers strategies on how to sustain life-long creativity.
- Lana Scott
Lana Scott, an aspiring artist from Virginia, studies Performing Arts at SCAD while keeping a focus on singing/songwriting. At 17, Lana’s life path was inspired when she performed in Japan with the Governor's School for the Arts. She hopes to pass on the importance of both living and loving through music.
Musical Performance
Lana will be performing with Laura Spears.
- Laura Spears
A native of Alabama, Laura Spears recently transferred to SCAD to major in Performing Arts. A lifelong performer, Laura yearns to give those with no voice an outlet for expressing their struggles, triumphs, and everything in between. Her goal is to never stop exploring the many facets of performance.
Musical Performance
Laura will be performing with Lana Scott.
- Jake Hodesh
- Creative Coast
Jake is not speaking at TEDx Creative Coast this year, but he's so awesome, we felt we had to include him here. Why is Jake awesome? He's the only person in the universe who can kick Chuck Norris' butt. He makes Neil Degrasse Tyson look like Homer Simpson. When he's not trying to single-handedly make Savannah more awesome, he spits fire, farts lightning, wrestles hurricanes and does it all while looking cooler than Steve McQueen. We love Jake, and you should too.
Speaking On
You thought we were kidding. Jake's not speaking!
