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).

Poudre High School Auditorium
201 South Impala Drive
Fort Collins, Colorado, 80521
United States

Aloha Arceo Apitz

Family Liaison

Aloha is a Venezuelan immigrant who came to this country with her daughter without speaking English. While being full of fears and hoping for a better future, Aloha received the valuable help of a Family Liaison to navigate the country's educational system. After receiving that support, Aloha wished to give back. Aloha has experience as a psychologist, school teacher, university professor, and co-founder/co-owner of “Chiquillos” a tutoring/summer camp company in Venezuela. Eight years ago, Aloha was motivated to work as a Family Liaison. She prioritizes helping non-English speaking students and their families, creating inclusive and equitable opportunities to access education and promote a better quality of life. Aloha’s achievements have earned her recognition as a March leader at the Martin Luther King Jr. celebration and recipient of the Impala Award at Poudre. Aloha’s facilitated Spanish talks in the field of mental health, drugs and alcohol, and suicide prevention.

Brian Bauer

Certified Addiction Specialist

Brian Bauer, a Certified Addiction Specialist and reasoned recovery advocate, founded Abundance Foundation in 2020 to address the growing need for accessible addiction treatment services for underserved populations. Inspired by his own recovery journey over the last twelve years from drugs and alcohol, Brian is passionate about guiding others towards lasting change. Brian’s vision is to erase the stigma of addiction by filling in the gaps of a broken system. With a deep understanding of the challenges faced by individuals struggling with addiction, he has built a strong team that provides essential support, community building and recovery coaching to the underserved population of his community. Brian’s unwavering commitment to integrity, authenticity, faith and personal excellence drives the Foundation’s mission to empower individuals to overcome addiction and build contributing, fulfilling lives of purpose and hope.

Dr. Scott Ellner

Senior Advisor and Healthcare Strategist at Major Futures

Dr. Scott Ellner is a healthcare strategist and Senior Advisor with Major Futures. He has a proven track record of building a solid physician engagement culture that drives successful results. He is a thought leader and a well-recognized figure in the healthcare industry, with over 25 years of experience as a practicing general surgeon and chief executive officer of large physician groups and health systems. In 2015, the American Association for Physician Leadership recognized his leadership with the top award, a testament to his expertise and influence in the field. Dr. Ellner's strategic guidance profoundly impacts healthcare organizations. His expertise in strategic planning, operational optimization, healthcare law and compliance, patient safety, and financial sustainability fosters a welcoming environment for healthcare professionals, ensures physician well-being, and significantly elevates patient outcomes.

Hannah Barquero

Student

Hannah Barquero is a junior at Rocky Mountain High School. She has many interests including reading, writing, and pottery, but her main passion is music. She spends most of her time playing guitar for the School Of Rock Loveland Regional House Band, an audition-only advanced music performance program. Hannah was diagnosed with leukemia when she was eleven years old. After two years of chemotherapy treatment, she struggled to return to normal life, and has since learned that certain mindsets were holding her back. Her goal is to use her unique experience to educate and share her ideas with the world, and to inspire others to adapt positive mindsets in order to get through hard times. She wants to spread awareness about childhood cancer and its long term effects in hopes to motivate others to be mindful, patient, and compassionate, and to highlight the importance of resilience and determination.

Richard Bistrong

CEO, Front-Line Anti-Bribery LLC

Richard Bistrong is a contributing writer for Fast Company and the CEO of Front-Line Anti-Bribery, a consultancy focusing on real-world anti-bribery, ethics, and compliance challenges. His expertise is in Ethics, Compliance, and Anti-Bribery issues. He shares in his work how commercial pressures and corporate culture can impact ethical decision-making. His work has appeared in Fast Company and The Harvard Business Review. He has also been quoted in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Financial Times. You can connect with Richard on LinkedIn at Twitter/X.

Scott Donnell

Best Selling Author and Financial Literacy Expert

Scott Donnell is the Best Selling Author of Value Creation Kid: The Healthy Struggles Your Children Need to Succeed. With over 6 million families served, Scott is the leading voice in helping parents teach their kids good money skills. Scott is an integral part of bringing Children’s Business Fairs to families nationwide and is the founder of Dinner Table.

Sophia Imark

Student

Sophia Imark is a student at Rocky Mountain High School. She participates in Math Honor Society, National Honor Society, Science Olympiad, and the Computer and Technology Student Association. She is also proud to be the founder and president of her school’s Asian American and Pacific Islanders Club, where she works to encourage connection and cultural awareness. Outside of school, Sophia’s heart lies in the arts. She has dedicated 13 years of her life to dance and feels fortunate to train at Front Range Classical Ballet Academy under the caring guidance of Miss Ixchel Levendosky. Sophia still treasures the memory of her first recital (and costume malfunction)—an early lesson in resilience that keeps her smiling today. When she is not dancing or studying, Sophia loves taking walks, spending time with loved ones, and binge-watching Gossip Girl.