These are all the submissions we received for Ignite Phoenix #11, which was held on Friday, October 28, 2011 at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts. To submit for Ignite Phoenix #12, go here.
| Bicycling to work might save your wretched life | |
| Presenter | Joe Perez |
| Biography | I build bike lanes and I bicycle to work everyday. I wrote a bicycle safety graphic novel series that will be released in November. I own 15 or 16 bicycles. |
| Description | The bicycle is a marvelous device. It was invented before the car. Roads were first built for bicycles, not for cars. The first traffic collision was not between a car and a bicycle. Riding a bicycle has many benefits: 1) No pollution 2) Save money on gas, car insurance, parking, maintenance 3) Improve your health 4) Burn less fossil fuel |
| The Rise of Independent Film Culture | |
| Presenter | Victor Moreno |
| Biography | Freelance creative & web/graphic designer. A 2008 J.D from the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at ASU and connoisseur of monster movies, independent genre film and comic books featuring Batman. |
| Description | With the explosion of film culture developing in the Southwest in places like Austin, Texas, a new film culture scene is developing locally here in Phoenix. With venues as diverse as art museums to new independent theaters not scene since the 80′s. Fins out about film programming, film art & how to sustain local film culture. |
| PHX vs. PDX – a whole lot more than a 1 letter difference. | |
| Presenter | Sammich Felge |
| Biography | Wanderlust dreamer that was born & raised in Phoenix, learning how to live out Love. Recently planted her roots in Portland where she is a baby-whisper by day and explorer of the hipster-universe by night. Spends most of her time in coffee shoppes, and oft heard giggling long before being seen. She hopes her addiction to Love catches like wildfire. |
| Description | It only took Sammich one introduction before she fell inlove.. w/ Portland. Crazed, the born-and-raised Phoenician moved 5mths later. Fast forward another 5mths. Now an official Rose City recycler, Stumptown regular & biker extraordinaire, she plans to set the facts straight about why most desert rats would move to the great PNW if given the chance |
| How getting 200°F water spilt on my feet resulted in a “prison-style” tattoo. | |
| Presenter | Sammich Felge |
| Biography | Wanderlust dreamer that was born & raised in Phoenix, learning how to live out Love. Recently planted her roots in Portland where she is a baby-whisper by day and explorer of the hipster-universe by night. Spends most of her time in coffee shoppes, and oft heard giggling long before being seen. She hopes her addiction to Love catches like wildfire. |
| Description | See also: Why hot showers make me squeamish, I only wear cotton socks, & ended up w/ a social-media savvy Pegasus unicorn tattoo.Did you know the county hospital is where inmates are medically treated? It’s also where Phoenix’s burnunit is located. In the spring of 2008, I learned both after a rogue pitcher of H20 left me w/ a palm-sized blister |
| How you should travel (a.k.a. don’t do what I did) | |
| Presenter | Andrew Ryno |
| Biography | I’m a 20 year old web developer and future physicist. While I’m not solving Schrödinger’s equation I enjoy developing for and contributing to WordPress. If I had the option, I would likely be traveling indefinitely. Between physics and exploring, it’s easy to find the beauty in the world. |
| Description | Last summer I did the stereotypical college backpacking trip through Europe. The entire trip lasted two months and taught me a lot about myself and about long-term travelling. It showed me how you should travel in order to enjoy it to the fullest. The problem is that I did a lot of things wrong. Don’t travel how I traveled |
| Einstein was wrong | |
| Presenter | Andrew Ryno |
| Biography | I’m a 20 year old web developer and future physicist. While I’m not solving Schrödinger’s equation I enjoy developing for and contributing to WordPress. If I had the option, I would likely be travelling indefinitely. Between physics and exploring, it’s easy to find the beauty in the world. |
| Description | Neutrinos going faster then light? But nothing can go faster than the speed of light! Einstein said so!Was he wrong? Who knows. But physicists are wrong all the time. That’s what makes physics so exciting. It constantly changes and requires new theories. Always work to be done. But why should you care about all these changes? How can you help? |
| open source everything | |
| Presenter | Ryan Rix |
| Biography | Hacker of communities, people and software. A member of HeatSync Labs, the valley’s hackerspace and various open source projects. |
| Description | a talk on the benefits, consequences and awesome funtimes that occur when you open source your product. It’s about more than dumping code, though, you have to build a community of value. |
| Meet Your Local Hackerspace | |
| Presenter | Jim St. Leger |
| Biography | I’m an engineer by training who slipped into marketing some years ago. My passions are my family, technology, the outdoors, autism, and over-committed volunteerism. I strive to balance my life across many demands spanning three smart kids, a great wife, and what some might call a career. Oh, and I have the world’s greatest dog, Bob. |
| Description | Do you make stuff? Electronics, knitting, welding, sewing, woodworking, programming, or “other”? Your local hackerspace, HeatSync Labs, has like-minded people who share your making, DIY passion! This East Valley non-profit community gem is the innovation engine of the future. Time to learn more about the maker movement & HeatSync Labs hackerspace. |
| Living On The Plug | |
| Presenter | Jim St. Leger |
| Biography | I’m an engineer by training who slipped into marketing some years ago. My passions are my family, technology, the outdoors, autism, and over-committed volunteerism. I strive to balance my life across many demands spanning three smart kids, a great wife, and what some might call a career. Oh, and I have the world’s greatest dog, Bob. |
| Description | No one likes our dependence on foreign oil, but we all need to drive to get where we’re going. That’s where electric vehicles come in. Break the oil addiction, live zero emissions, and engage your driving future. I’ll share some facts, bust some myths, and tell you about my first hand experience owning and driving a commercial electric vehicle. |
| What SUP? | |
| Presenter | Chris Lee |
| Biography | I’m a partner in a CRM firm, family man, stand up paddling nut, beach volleyball fan, ocean/Hawaii fan, Suns/Cards/Dbacks fan in search of good local food and connecting with Phoenix folks. I help with a variety of charity and new media events around town. |
| Description | How can someone who used to paddle the gorgeous waters of Hawaii be loving his time on the water in the middle of a desert in 110° heat? Stand up paddling, the world’s fastest growing sport, can range from a leisurely stroll that a 7 year old can do to a killer core workout. See what it takes to get started, how to do it & where to paddle in AZ. |
| Lights! Camera! . . . Library? | |
| Presenter | Iris Huey |
| Biography | I am a hugely successful filmmaker and actress. I just happen to be living and working in Phoenix until the “hugely successful” part kicks off. My job? I’m a secretary in the administration department of the Phoenix Public Library. Which is a great place to find the colorful characters that I’ll likely portray in my next film. |
| Description | Working at the library is not nearly as boring as you may think. I’ll share some “behind the scenes” stories about furious customers, spontaneous musicals and a host of interesting things that happen at your local library. |
| Keep your vegetables out of my ice cream | |
| Presenter | Jesse Robinson |
| Biography | Devoted to raising my hometown, Phoenix. A staunch defender of intentionally restrained innovation. An ice cream champion. |
| Description | Sometimes innovation is the opposite of what we need. This is abundantly apparent in the tragic “progression” of the ice cream industry. |
| Solar technology for the Valley of the Sun | |
| Presenter | Kevin Hengehold |
| Biography | Ardent technologist & purveyor of all things green. Fearless advocate of the future. |
| Description | Anyone in Phoenix knows the sun is glaring down on us. Fortunately, that energy can be harnessed; I’ll illustrate how and let you know what you can do to help your community adopt solar technology. Learn to love the summer heat! |
| Busting the most popular Atheist myths | |
| Presenter | Debbie Walker |
| Biography | I’m blunt and rated R. Impatient? Social. Atheist! Volunteer. Podcaster. Mom. Friend. |
| Description | We are accused of some really bogus things. I’ve been told I’m evil and I’m going to hell. I’ve been accused of harassing the religious simply by stating my opinion. I’m going to defend my personal opinion on the myths I’ve been associated with and maybe change some minds. We are multiplying and we aren’t taking crap anymore. |
| Art School Dropout | |
| Presenter | David “Mr. Pants” Billings |
| Biography | I’m an illustrator of funky brightness. Former behind-the-scenes TV star. Mad scientist entrepreneur with a Tourette’s tendency to splutter obscure humor. I am excellent on toast. |
| Description | How I ever became an artist is a miracle. I’ll show you the tragic and comedic tangents from my spasmodic trajectory to a career in art. From dropping out of art school after three months to joining the military, to an Emmy nomination, to banking, to law, to… an art business. Is it to late to finish school? |
| Start Feeling Validated | |
| Presenter | Kathy Bass |
| Biography | I am an entrepreneur, personal branding strategist, and founder of Ladies Who Brand. As a lifelong student, who was researching social media and searching for ways to survive and thrive in our new digital world, I realized that people are acting like teenagers. How do I know this? Because I used to behave like one. |
| Description | Do you feel like a teenager in a bad way? Awkward, unsure of your direction and value…constantly looking to others for attention, and acknowledgement? Then I’ll show you how to stop wasting everyones time, and energy…and start feeling validated. |
| Raising Geek Kids – Resistance is Futile | |
| Presenter | Susan Baier |
| Biography | I’m a marketing strategist and unapologetic geek. I was watching Star Trek with my Dad when most of the people I know weren’t even born. I have a collection of pithy t-shirts and a big mouth. |
| Description | My kids can act out the entire script of “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” from memory. We have 4 Macs, 4 iPhones, & every edition of Star Trek & Star Wars ever released. We fight over the new ThinkGeek catalog. But raising geek kids has its pitfalls, and last year the fun & games turned into the most frightening experience of my life. |
| The Art Before the Horse? | |
| Presenter | David “Mr. Pants” Billings |
| Biography | I’m an illustrator of funky brightness. Former behind-the-scenes TV star. Mad scientist entrepreneur with a Tourette’s tendency to splutter obscure humor. I am excellent on toast. |
| Description | Is it impossible to direct your own art career? Are designers merely leaves blown around by corporate wind? In my 16-year art career, I’ve had plenty of stuff getting in the way of my progress. I’ll highlight a few key instances where I’ve made gigantic leaps forward, and those embarrassing times when I was blind to self-imposed blocks. |
| Life imitating art: My life as a John Hughes movie | |
| Presenter | Dave Bernstein |
| Biography | Professional voiceover/commercials artist (with over 2000 commercials recorded), and amateur TV chef/foodie (including 17 appearances on Valley Dish w/Tram Mai). Athlete, musician, audiophile, big thinker, bad joke teller, and romantic at heart. There is nothing in the world that can’t be solved with either food, song or a kiss. |
| Description | John Hughes was the writer of some of the most timeless teen comedies of the 1980′s, including Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Sixteen Candles, and Pretty In Pink. As life imitates art, everything we ever needed to learn about life is contained in the works of Hughes. Let’s study and learn from the man who brought us Ferris, Duckie, and Long Duk Dong. |
| A Story of The Brain on Running and Cupcakes | |
| Presenter | Yolanda A. Facio |
| Biography | I’m co-owner of Exotic Motorwerks, a local Porsche-only repair business and Chief Momentum Officer at Red.Hot.Momentum. Mostly though I’m a runner, reader, writer, dog lover and connoisseur of any cupcake as long as frosting is involved. |
| Description | I’m a running addict. My addiction includes running when it’s 106 degrees out because I can! I didn’t start out as a runner, in fact for most of my life I didn’t get it… at all. I’d love to share my passion for running, how I got started, what I’ve learned and why your brain will love you if you take up running too. |
| Economics of a Zombie Attack: What you don’t know can get you killed | |
| Presenter | Scott Gustafson |
| Biography | A refugee from corporate America, Scott currently indulges in his passion for teaching economics at Mesa Community College. When not teaching, he helps students solve unusual problems. History buff. Kitchen experimenter. Winner of slideshow karaoke at Ignite Phoenix 7. |
| Description | Are you economically prepared for the coming zombie apocalypse? You should be. I’ll go through the preparations you need to make now in order to not only survive but thrive during a zombie attack. Economics 101 is good for something. (Potentially applicable to surviving other catastrophes as well.) |
| The Business of Cooking | |
| Presenter | Nikki VanRy |
| Biography | I am an e-Learning writer by day, freelance textbook writer and editor by night. Aspiring novelist and avid reader during all of those times in between. Oh, I also cook sometimes. |
| Description | In the entrepreneurial spirit of Ignite, I’ll liken learning to cook to the 10 steps suggested for starting up your own business. There will be graphs, spreadsheets, even pie charts. I’ll examine the fiscal benefits of cooking, zoning laws, and offer a nonjudgmental look at employer responsibilities. The best part? No taxes or licenses required. |
| Dyslexia: gift or super power? | |
| Presenter | Toby Rolt |
| Biography | I am the co founder of a renewable energy business. We build power plants, mostly solar photovoltaic. |
| Description | Consider the brain activity that goes into reconstructing a world that avoids the use of the accepted ‘hieroglyphics’ of the alphabet. The alphabet and ‘words’ are just a key to the representation of sounds. That key does not work for me. I walk in your world, let me show you mine then you decide! |
| Why does customer service suck out loud these days? | |
| Presenter | Daniel McCrobie |
| Biography | Snowboarder, motorcycle rider, and educator with a passion for good customer service. People have a high tolerance for bad service and that has to stop. Dedicated to educating consumers on what a good experience looks like and how to ensure that you get it the next time you need help or go shopping. |
| Description | Customer service is horrible. We wait on hold, get rerouted, queue up, and pay convenience fees that are never convenient! Consumers have the power to demand great service, yet most accept the status quo without challenge. A five-step method that you can use with any company to get them in line or send them packing will be shown. |
| We All Dream In Movie Format | |
| Presenter | Arturo Anzures |
| Biography | I am a cinematographic productions major in texas, Film is all I really carea bout and live for. I’ve lived in Mexico for 15 years of my life, and was raised with multiple cultural influences. I’ve traveled all around Latin America filming the culture and bealifs of other people. |
| Description | I want to talk about how Film tells us that we can achieve anything, not only it tells us we can but also how to do it. I want to explain the process of how achieving your dreams is not really that hard. Film is the ultimate art form combining all other forms of art, I am passionate about Film as inspiration and guideline, I’ve seen it done. |
| Roller Derby: More than Fishnets and Bloody Noses | |
| Presenter | Alicia Magera |
| Biography | I’m a masters level clinician in behavioral health by day, Roller Derby Diva by night. I’ve played Roller Derby in Arizona for 4 years now and its the perfect outlet for daily stress. |
| Description | Roller Derby has seen a worldwide resurgence in the last 10 years with Texas and Arizon paving the way. But this is not your mother/grandmother’s roller derby. Roller Derby is quickly being recognized as a sport plus entertainment. I will show you the basics of roller derby and dispell the myth that we are all high school dropouts with anger issues |
| The Joy of Homebrewing | |
| Presenter | Randy Gregory II |
| Biography | I’m a graphic designer, pop culture junkie, and a homebrewer. |
| Description | Homebrewing is the best hobby in the world, especially for a hobby-jumping designer. It combines design, science, cooking, and art into an amazing combination of measurements, flavors, aromas, chemical reactions that ends up usually being amazingly delicious. There is unlimited possibilities with the amazing beverages you can create! |
| Drive Thru Dieting | |
| Presenter | Isaac Kiehl |
| Biography | I am Communications Coordinator for a nonprofit after school program and a LivingSocial Junior Experience Coordinator. With no relation to my titles, I am very much into fitness and healthy eating on a personal level.2-3 brief sentences about who are and what you do. (Limited to 350 characters) |
| Description | Many people believe you can’t eat healthy in today’s world at fast food establishments and restaurants. BUT you can and today if you make the right choices, McDonalds will no longer be a bad choice. Fast food is not the devil! |
| The Pupusa….The Papoose….The Poo Poo what? | |
| Presenter | Yesenia Ramirez |
| Biography | I am Yesenia. I am the online Pupusa Princess. What is a pupusa? Well, it is present day Mana from the sky. Kidding aside, a pupusa is a hand made corn tortilla filled inside with meat, beans and cheese. It is the national food from El Salvador. What a hot dog is to the US, a pupusa is to El Salvador.  |
| Description | The day you have a pupusa, will be the beginning of the rest of your life. And it will be so much better from that point forward. Your choice of chicharron, chicken, steak or shrimp with melted monterrey jack cheese stuffed inside a warm, hand made corn tortilla……Once you go Salvadoran, you will never go back. |
| Scariest Place in the World? | |
| Presenter | Sara “Spooky” Dobie |
| Biography | I’m a Midwesterner, but don’t fault me for that. I attended Ohio University in Athens, Ohio; I’m obsessed with Halloween; and I like scaring you. |
| Description | Ohio University was recently named the #1 Party School in the Country. It’s also considered the most haunted university in America. We throw the biggest Halloween party nationwide. We have five cemeteries that surround the university in a pentagram. Oh, then there’s the abandoned lunatic asylum on the hill. Don’t believe in ghosts? You will. |
| NASCAR Is An Iceberg | |
| Presenter | Brian Renner |
| Biography | I’m an independent online marketing consultant, Phoenix native and short bus owner. If you would have told me 5 years ago that I’d record every NASCAR race and visit 4 different tracks in 4 different states (all within the same year) I would have called you crazy. |
| Description | For those who don’t like NASCAR, it’s just cars going in circles. For those who love it, it’s because they realize there’s so much more below the surface. I’d like to share the many interesting facets of NASCAR but more importantly the most important lesson I ever learned….never judge things on the surface and keep an open mind. |
| CrAzY In Heels: Bipolar & Loving It! | |
| Presenter | Nicole Angeline |
| Biography | CrAzY In Heels: BIPOLAR & Loving It, that’s my motto & I’m sticking to it! I’m a certifiable “nut case” that runs around AZ telling people I’m totally insane, bonkers, nuts, BIPOLAR! I’m shedding the light on being CrAzY, but, in a NEW fashion: one that’s positive, savvy, hopeful, & fun! It’s my passion to help beat the mental health stigma! |
| Description | We NEED to start talking about an illness that affects 1in7 people(5.7 million Americans), tears families apart & can end in tragedy. Being CrAzY myself, I’ve made it my mission to show others that life after diagnosis IS POSSIBLE! I bring a fun, positive & hopeful approach to a dark illness… that provides others w/the hope they need to survive! |
| It’s a Virtual Jungle Out There! | |
| Presenter | Maria Speth |
| Biography | I’m a lawyer… wait give me a chance. I represent interesting, popular and controversial websites. My area of practice is Internet law and intellectual property. I’m from New York, so the five-minute limit will be no problem – I could recite a novella in that time. |
| Description | A lawyer’s only real job is to protect your ass-ets. It takes a special kind of posterior protector to translate our archaic laws, written for brick and mortar, into something that applies on the Internet. With my simple steps for protection from the legal dangers of doing business virtually, you can stay one step ahead of a bad lawyer joke. |
| Sponsor A Law Kid | |
| Presenter | Ruth Carter |
| Biography | Known for her daring antics and outspoken nature, Ruth Carter graduated from ASU Law School in 2011. She’s also a co-founder of Improv AZ and blogs every week at UndeniableRuth.com. As a writer, her goal is to “comfort the afflicted and to afflict the comfortable. |
| Description | Sponsor A Law Kid was a program I created to pay for my last semester of law school where people paid me to blog about them. The program ended July 27, 2011. I faced fierce & unexpected backlash from the legal community. I also had to overcome challenges with time & content constraints while producing quality content. |
| The Phoenix Factor | |
| Presenter | Laurie Ann Silberman |
| Biography | L .A.Silberman refers to herself as a Wordsmith. She loves words, but struggles to get them on paper due to mod dyslexia. Someone once called to her career an ‘adventure thru the job market.’ Socially awkward, she’d rather give a talk to 100 people than socialize w/10. Other than that “I have green eyes & red hair; the rest changes without notice.” |
| Description | 2011 was the year from hell for me, both personally & professionally. Three things helped put me back on the road up: a book, a magazine & a ‘silver lining’ event. Looking back, I realized that everyone’s life goes up in flames at times. But that’s ok, as long as you rise up from the ashes energized, vibrant, stronger, and leap for the sky. |
| The Ups and Downs of Life as a Roller Coaster Junkie | |
| Presenter | Al Putman |
| Biography | I am a semiconductor device engineer living in Chandler, Arizona. Side interests are music (performing, arranging and composing) and visiting amusement parks. |
| Description | Roller coasters have long been a popular form of amusement and come in a variety of styles and thrill levels. My coaster count stands at 294 and includes 78 amusement parks in 22 US states. This presentation will give an overview of roller coasters and reveal a personal favorite. |
| The Revolutionizing of Visual Entertainment | |
| Presenter | Joe Dugandzic |
| Biography | I’m a computer geek who is as much in the technical world as the creative one. I’m a podcaster, graphic designer, video producer and Internet addict. But, one thing that I really love is light. Light that is designed, controlled and even used for entertainment. |
| Description | 15 years ago, I stumbled upon creating synchronized musical light shows — in my dorm room at college. Ever since, an expanding idea has taken shape, of how to create a new form of immersive entertainment nearly 100% based on light. A new entertainment medium that no one has ever experienced before. And now, it’s time to tell the world about it. |
| Why you shouldn’t let an ENT do your Breast Augmentation | |
| Presenter | Brie Susini |
| Biography | I’m an eternal school nerd collecting undergrad degrees at ASU. My craving for knowledge extends beyond textbooks, as I learned everything I could as a Patient Coordinator for a Plastic Surgeon. In July 2002, I had my first breast surgery; the second is set for November 2011. |
| Description | With so few ‘tourists’ left in Scottsdale (ie: women without breast implants), you have to wonder how there’s still so much incorrect information out there. The success, or failure in my case, of a breast augmentation lies with the surgeon you select, the knowledge of implant technology, and an understanding of what’s actually going to happen. |
| What happens when a punk rocker teaches kids to make movies. | |
| Presenter | Paul Hoeprich |
| Biography | I am a local indie filmmaker and was named the 2010 AZ Filmmaker of the year by the Phoenix Film Foundation. I also teach film and media production at Arcadia High School. My students produced a theatrically released feature film last year on Illegal Immigration. |
| Description | I hated being a teenager. I found punk rock and it saved my life. But, I suck at playing music. But, I’m good at making movies. Now I use punk rock philosophy to inspire kids to make socially conscious films. |
| The Most Important Animal in the World | |
| Presenter | Max Wilson |
| Biography | My name is Max Wilson and I am a Ecohydrologist working on my Master’s Degree at ASU. What is an Ecohydrologist you ask? Exactly what it sounds like- a ecologist who focuses on water. Specifically I study the interaction between burrowing mammals, water management, and biodiversity conservation on the Tibetan Plateau. |
| Description | More than 40% of the world’s population depends on water originating on the Tibetan Plateau. In an effort to manage these ecosystems, the Chinese government has adopted the policy of poisoning an endemic mammal, the Plateau Pika, resulting in massive losses of biodiversity (90%+) as well as increased flooding and drought conditions downstream. |
| Interesting Gifts Gone Awry | |
| Presenter | Nick Paul |
| Biography | I am a new clean stand up comedian in the valley and have just tried to blow up the local comedy scene. I am a full time single father and donate a lot of my time and efforts to charity events. I grew up in a small farming town on the border of Colorado and Wyoming that had about 5,000 people in it. So, Phoenix is quite the change. |
| Description | People tend to put too much thought into gifts with out giving much thought to what it says about the person they are giving the gifts to. I would like to give an introspective look on what peoples gifts really are saying about they really think about the people they are giving them to. |
| The Road to World Domination – Maniacal Laughter Not Included | |
| Presenter | Laurie Ann Silberman |
| Biography | L A Silberman refers to herself as a Wordsmith b/c she loves words but struggles to get them on paper due to mod dyslexia. Someone once called to her career an ‘adventure thru the job market.’ Socially awkward, she’d rather give a talk to 100 people than socialize with 10. Other than that “I have green eyes & red hair; the rest changes w/o notice.” |
| Description | Announcement:author of The Art of Non-Conformity having a conference. I have money! Purchase. Problem:I’m a born loner who is awkward in crowds over 6. How to deal w/3 days of 500 strangers? Yikes! Especially after conference named World Domination Summit and I don’t want to dominate anybody, just non-conform. Do I rise to occasion or crash & burn? |
| The Importance of Dance and Health | |
| Presenter | Mary Lane Porter |
| Biography | I have been dancing for 19-years, and I am now a dance graduate and the founder of Dancers And Health Together, Inc. I have been involved with many political activities throughout my life, but dance is what makes my life worth living for. However, it doesn’t stop there; my story goes well beyond the language of movement. |
| Description | Dance has changed many people’s lives, including my own. Once I decided to major in dance, I became fascinated by the multitude of dance styles that exist. Additionally, I witnessed dance’s positive effects on the body and mind. I am an intense activist for dance and health because the language of movement can exceed a hobby or even a career. |
| Hug a business owner and the trees will be fine | |
| Presenter | Kevin Ordean |
| Biography | Current NAU student about to graduate with a degree in Environmental Studies. I am involved in all things sustainability at the University and when I am not on twitter I am saving the world! |
| Description | For far too long the business community and environmental preservation interests have been at odds. The only way forward is to form a strong partnership that rewards business for acting responsibly. Why can’t doing the right thing also bring profits that sustain business AND the environment. |
| Spread the Word to End the Word | |
| Presenter | Dagny Barclay |
| Biography | I like Starbucks and I love watching Glee. But what I am really passionate about is working with people who have developmental disabilities. As a Freshman in high school, I started to get involved with different programs that focus on these individuals, and my entire perspective on life has been changed through these absolutely incredible people. |
| Description | When people see a child with a developmental disability, many automatically think “retarded.” Not only is this word belittling, it neglects the many other things that make up this child. Realizing the warped way society tends to perceive these individuals, I started a Best Buddies club at my school and my view on people with disabilities changed. |
| Humanity in War: Why International Humanitarian Law Matters | |
| Presenter | David Seiter |
| Biography | I left corporate consulting to work as a human rights monitor in two genocide cases against former military dictators in Guatemala. Now back in the States, I volunteer with the American Red Cross to help refugees reconnect with family members separated by armed conflict. |
| Description | War used to be fought by soldiers, but civilians are increasingly getting caught up in the conflict and paying the price. In five minutes, you will learn how many Geneva Conventions there actually are, where International Humanitarian Law comes from, how it preserves human dignity, how war crimes are dealt with, who is involved, and why it matters. |
| Backyard Home Offices – A state of the industry | |
| Presenter | Steve Gilbert |
| Biography | By day I’m a corporate recruiter with my own firm called Passivecast. I’m a father of two and a native of Arizona. I have an otaku (obsession) with free-standing backyard buildings used as workspace. |
| Description | With the current growth trends around telecommuting a need for space to work at home has grown. Many companies have emerged over the last 5-7 years that offer backyard buildings used for work space. I’d like to share what I’ve learned about the look, practicality, and pricing of these backyard buildings that people are using for work space. |
| Pass the Compliment | |
| Presenter | Megan Salisbury |
| Biography | Once pre-law in NYC, now… a social work student at ASU. Life is has changed dramatically, for the better. |
| Description | Give three strangers a compliment… every day. From “I like your shirt” to leaving a sticky of “You’re awesome” in a bathroom stall. So often we go into our days forgetting about others and this is a no-risk way to improve your life by improving others. You never know whose life you may improve. |
| Addicted to being addicted | |
| Presenter | Jayson Hoffer |
| Biography | I am jayson Hoffer, i own an insurance agency and love to help people and to network. Maybe this presentation will help others get over their addictions and collections. |
| Description | I have an addictive personality, I own a farmers insurance agency. What I want to rant about is every little thing I get addicted to. Facebook, linkedin, angry birds, collections-baseball cards, lighters, key chains, guns, ammo, cross stitching floss -When does it stop? |
| Is this gonna be long or just boring? | |
| Presenter | Michael Abrams |
| Biography | As Senior Director, Talent Optimization at Banner Health, Michael brings a rich background in people development, technology innovation and storytelling to lead innovative executive, leadership and employee development programs. Michael is also founder of @LearnCampPhx and author of “The Big Book of Virtual Team Building Games” (@teamgamesbook). |
| Description | Do you sometimes get lost in your own explanations? Do you find it hard to keep people’s attention before you get to your point? Get focused, be clear and get to the point! Learn how to use simile, analogy, story to have a compelling conversation and engage your listener instead of being their verbal sedative. |
| Fostering the Virtual Water Cooler | |
| Presenter | Michael Abrams |
| Biography | As Senior Director, Talent Optimization at Banner Health, Michael brings a rich background in people development, technology innovation and storytelling to lead innovative executive, leadership and employee development programs. Michael is also founder of @LearnCampPhx and author of “The Big Book of Virtual Team Building Games” (@teamgamesbook). |
| Description | With so many teams going virtual leaders must make a conscious effort to build teams that can trust, engage, debate and become effective without the benefit of the water cooler conversation. Today’s leaders can proactively develop team effectiveness by using a few simple team building tools designed specifically for today’s virtual teams. |
| Igniting Passion In Your Team | |
| Presenter | Michael Abrams |
| Biography | As Senior Director, Talent Optimization at Banner Health, Michael brings a rich background in people development, technology innovation and storytelling to lead innovative executive, leadership and employee development programs. Michael is also founder of @LearnCampPhx and author of “The Big Book of Virtual Team Building Games” (@teamgamesbook). |
| Description | Great leaders use storytelling to create a compelling vision of the future and engage their teams to become characters in that story. Story provides an easy to remember blueprint of what needs to be done, why it’s important, and the obstacles to overcome on the journey. Is your company’s vision a compelling story your employees share? |
| Rules To The Game (Of Life) | |
| Presenter | Kolby Granville |
| Biography | I’m a student, turned teacher, turned lawyer, turned politician and declared candidate for Tempe City Council in the 2012 election. The jokes about what this means are, in fact, endless. |
| Description | We all go through life playing the game of life, but only lawyers actually know the rules to the game. How is that? It’s like a football game where only one team has a copy of the rule book?!?My talk will be on the 10 most important legal rules to the game of life that every should know to protect themselves, but are never taught in school. |
| A new life | |
| Presenter | Madeline Ackley |
| Biography | I’m Madeline Ackley and i am going into my freshman year of high school. My passion is working with newly arrived refugees and helping them grow accustom to their new lives in the United States. At my school we hosted a benefit and the proceeds went to the 4 refugee families we adopted. My 8th grade year truly changed my life because of it. |
| Description | Before my 8th grade year i had never met or heard of a refugee, and it seems most haven’t despite the fact only three states accept more refugees each year for the past six years than Arizona. These people are the poorest of the poor and they need help. I would like to speak at Ignite Phoenix to share their story and suggest ways we can help them.ve the lessons they teach us without judgment. “Don’t Hate Appreciate” !!! |
| Diary of a EX-Mad Black Woman….Or How I Learned To Find Joy In living In The Present | |
| Presenter | Dineta Williams-Trigg |
| Biography | Married 48 year old DINK ( double income no kids) Credit Counselor and Cubical Queen. I have tried many things once, if they don’t work for me at first, I usually repeat them until they do! |
| Description | How many times have we said to ourselves ” I Wish I would have done that’? Learning to grab onto experiences as they happen and really live the lessons they teach us without judgment. “Don’t Hate Appreciate” !!! |
| Welcome to Middle Age…Or Getting Old Sucks…Or How I Learned to find Humor In Everything | |
| Presenter | Dineta Williams |
| Biography | My name is Dineta Williams-Trigg I am a 48 year old DINK…. (Double Income No Kids) married woman. I currently work as a Credit Counselor, I am not an artist, have never written a book or appeared on a TV Soap Opera but I have done many other things, most of them funny!!!!! |
| Description | I use to live my life externally, seeking approval from those who did not matter. Now I live my life internally and have finally been able to find peace allowing me to truly be an asset to my species. |
| The Importance of White Space: How Napping in a Sunbeam Can Increase Your Productivity. | |
| Presenter | Nailah Blades |
| Biography | Nailah Blades is an LA based life coach who is devoted to helping women get unstuck so that they can do awesome work – whatever that awesome work might be. She works side by side with driven, ambitious women who have big ideas but get stuck in the overwhelm of planning and executing. Nailah can be found online at http://PolkaDotCoaching.com. |
| Description | Life has become so intense. This is why I’ve become an advocate for White Space – that unscheduled, unproductive time for you to just be. In 5 minutes we’ll discuss the importance of White Space, how to overcome your resistance to it and how to get more of it in life. Most importantly we’ll talk about the impact White Space will have in your life! |
| That’s funny, I’m autistic | |
| Presenter | Laura Nagley |
| Biography | I am a 57-year old autistic woman who wants to increase public appreciation of autism. My presentations seek to correct common myths about autism by sharing what it’s like to be autistic. |
| Description | This talk is a humorous look at the world of autism as seen from the inside. Much of what is “known” about autism is myth. Autism doesn’t have to be tragic. People need to laugh and lighten up a bit about autism. |
| Casting Away The Closet … The Future of the LGBT Identity Expression | |
| Presenter | Jeremy Scott |
| Biography | I’m a 25 year-old college student, entrepreneur and author from Chandler. I recently identified myself as gay. Yes, I “identified myself”, I did not “come out of a closet”. My reasons for accepting who I am at this moment in life are complex, and as I’ve grown into my identity I’ve come to dislike the “closet” metaphor to describe my journey. |
| Description | The “closet” was a real thing for the underground LGBT society of the last century. But with society’s growing acceptance and welcoming of gays and lesbians, we need to cast away the closet metaphor, and its negative connotations, in favor of a positive terminology. In my talk, I will offer “Identity Acceptance” as a new way to mark this occasion. |
| Speak Loudly and Carry a Black Book | |
| Presenter | Tenisha Baca |
| Biography | I’m a literary interpretist. That is just a fancy term for someone who is a book nerd who performs what they read. My skills come from competing in collegiate speech and debate for four years. I am taking it out of competition and bringing it to the arts and education. There is power in what I do, I discovered this after my cancer diagnosis in 2008 |
| Description | Collegiate speech and debate is an activity that few people know about. Participants compete for four years, lose eligibility, and find themselves in activities that fill the void of competition (i.e. acting, poetry). Speech and debate should continue past competition as a viable artform and teaching tool. It is not living up to its full potential. |
| How Vintage Fashion Can Save the World – Why fake desinger bags cost more than you think | |
| Presenter | Sloane Burwell |
| Biography | I am a she geek by day and collector by night. I collect art and vintage couture. I have over 200 vintage handbags, and truly believe buying vintage can save the world |
| Description | Luxury designer goods are things of beauty, so its no wonder that knockoffs have become affordable items and retained cultural cache. But would you still buy knockoffs if you knew that they were likely made by trafficked people? Buying designer knockoffs facilitates human slavery. Is any bag worth that? |
| What’s really missing in our music “scene,” and what I am looking for to help fix it. | |
| Presenter | Stephen Chilton |
| Biography | I produce events and promote live music in Arizona under the moniker “Psyko Steve Presents.” I have toured the county with bands, released records, worked at a label in LA, successfully shopped an act I managed to a deal with a Warner Brothers subsidiary, written about music for the New Times, and produced close to 1,000 live concerts. |
| Description | People have plenty of complaints about our music scene. But I feel any artistic scene is ultimately defined by the talent in it. I will talk about what 11 years working with musicians has taught me; about developing new talent not simply trying to discover it, what traits to look for in new artists, and what to encourage in acts for them to strive. |
| Creating an Inspirational & Organized Workspace | |
| Presenter | diana elizabeth |
| Biography | Self-employed full-time wedding & portrait photographer (Diana Elizabeth Photography) and graphic designer (Silver Spoon Studio). Both businesses are run from my home office. I teach online photography workshops & am an editorial photographer for PHOENIX magazine. |
| Description | How to create uniqueness in your personal at home workspace (whether you run a business or not) to inspire and make you even more productive! Where to look for things that are outside the typical paper clip holders & organizational items to make your space truly yours to you (and potential clients you share the space with) & organization tips! |
| Smartphones Are of The Devil: How Digital Conectivity is Causing Physical Disconnect | |
| Presenter | Cynthia White |
| Biography | I’m a philosophy major at ASU. I currently live almost in Awatukee, but I was born and raised it the same house in Central Phoenix, where my mother still lives to this day. I enjoy throwing parties and hanging out with friends, I’m very much a people-person. |
| Description | Basically I want to talk about how people seem so attached to their mobile no matter what they are doing, as if being connected 24/7 is more important than hanging out with your friends in person. And in most cases, it’s just text or FB updates, we don’t even hear each others voice anymore, and I think that is a crying shame. |
| How to Shatter Insecurity & Personal Rejection | |
| Presenter | Cesar G. Gamez, MA, LPC |
| Biography | Cesar Gamez, M.A., is a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Doctoral student at Arizona State University. He earned a Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Counseling. He is the founder and director of North Phoenix Counseling, LLC and is a sought-after speaker and workshop trainer. |
| Description | Most people deal with insecurities & personal rejection. Some painful life experiences stop us from dreaming, risking and opening ourselves to new experiences or relationships. This workshop will teach people who to shatter negative messages that paralyze personal growth. |
| The Disturbing Yet True Story Of How 1000 People Run Tempe Elections | |
| Presenter | Kolby Granville |
| Biography | I’m a student, turned teacher, turned lawyer, turned politician and declared candidate for Tempe City Council in the 2012 election. The jokes about what this means are, in fact, endless.None-the-less, I’m willing to do what other politicians are not, lift the veil behind voting patterns and show why the few control the fate of the many. |
| Description | The belief is (1) all politics are local and (2) everyone has a voice. The math is Tempe has 160,000 residents, of which the same 10,000 vote in every city election, that are advertised to on the backs of the same 500-1000 donors.This isn’t a political campaign speech, it’s a math problem, and it will startle you. |
| This is Your Brain on Music | |
| Presenter | Matthew Baral |
| Biography | I’m a professor/physician specializing in pediatric medicine and autism treatment, and I am Chair the Pediatrics Department at Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine. I’ve published the three latest research papers on heavy metal toxicity and autism. My passion is children’s health and how the environment affects us from infancy to adulthood. |
| Description | Music has many effects on the brain, and it’s processed differently in different diseases. Some brain locations are related to rhythm, others are related to music’s emotions. We hear music and sound in the womb, and it shapes our musical preference. The more we know about music’s effects on the brain, the more we learn about the human condition. |
| How Fashion Can Save the World | |
| Presenter | Sloane Burwell |
| Biography | My name is Sloane Burwell. I”m a lifelong collector of vintage clothing and have over 200 handbags in my collection. I’m a freelance foodwriter and techie by day. |
| Description | It’s easy to love fashion – who doesn’t? But while finding knock-offs might help your wallet, its certainly not helping the planet. Did you know that fake designer goods produced overseas are made by trafficked people? Buying fake bags supports human slavery. |
| A Case Study in Adopting a Rap Song Business Model | |
| Presenter | Marissa Shaffer |
| Biography | Founder/operator of Bear Fruit Hair natural hair products. Master’s in Global Technology and Development (ASU), former software tech writer and AZ Foothills Magazine editor. |
| Description | Many companies already apply the pillars of making a good rap song to their business; many are creating bad rap songs. You’ll learn how to apply the principles of making a beat, writing lyrics and a hook, creating your personal style and keeping it real, gaining street cred, battle rapping, and how to sell out of your trunk until you blow up. |
| There Ain’t No Business Like Art Show Business! | |
| Presenter | Matt Bowman |
| Biography | I am the owner of Bowman Productions, an event production and promotion company based out of Southern AZ. While we produce many different types of events, our passion is for the arts and producing art festivals in which artists from all over the region can present and sell their works effectively engaging the public in the artistic process. |
| Description | A 360 degree view of art events and how profound of an impact they can have on education, the economy and our communities. You don’t have to be an artist to engage in the artistic process. Prepare for an in your face presentation on how to become an exceptional arts patron and use your sphere of influence to support the endangered artform of ART. |
| Saving endangered music before it goes extinct! | |
| Presenter | Colin ODonohoe |
| Biography | Colin has been working as a pro composer and performer for over a decade with incredible musicians from all over the planet, In addition to his musical accomplishments, Colin has also earned a Master’s degree in Art’s Management from Carnegie Mellon University. He is legally blind from Best’s disease and a founder of two non-profit organizations. |
| Description | With globalization comes the massive movement of countries to abandon their native instruments for the electric guitar/keys. Within the next 2 generations it is likely 100′s of instruments will become extinct. They’ll exist in a museum, but no one will be playing them, and the songs – passed down orally for millennia will disappear forever. |
| The secret sport: Mountain Biking | |
| Presenter | Steve Belt |
| Biography | Husband, Father, Coffee Shop Owner, Cyclist. |
| Description | At age 33 I stumbled upon a sport I didn’t know actually existed: Mountain Biking. After my first ride I was hooked, but at the same time angry that the world had kept this secret from me all of these years. How could I never have known about something this fun, this rewarding, and this challenging? It’s time to wake up the masses to my passion |
| 18 Experiments on Influence | |
| Presenter | Noah Dyer |
| Biography | I’m a narcissist in the extreme. I’ve no inclination to justify my worthiness. |
| Description | The book that has most profoundly influenced my life is Dr. Robert Cialdini’s “Influence: the Psychology of Persuasion.” In my presentation, I will discuss the results of 18 mini experiments in which I try to get people to do what I want by using Cialdini’s 6 principles: reciprocity, consistency, social validation, authority, scarcity, and liking |
| The greatest sport in the world | |
| Presenter | Sam Pewitt |
| Biography | I’m the guy who likes to try anything once, and am always trying new sports, events, foods, etc. Moved to the valley after spending my first 22 years in rural eastern Washington and started organizing dodgeball events not long after my arrival. |
| Description | Dodgeball. The name evokes thoughts of grade school bullying or sophomoric Hollywood movies. In reality its a sport played by people of all ages all over the world. Let me show you why dodgeball is the greatest sport in the world. |
| Pass the Holodets: Growing Up as a 1st Generation American | |
| Presenter | Steph Kost |
| Biography | A self-proclaimed nerd who has called dibs on all Apple geniuses as her future husbands, a student trying to survive a bio major while still geeking out about how cool biology is on a daily basis, an avid reader, and a music snob. But really, when it comes down to it, I’m a 20 year old girl who acts like a 6 year old and talks like a 65 year old. |
| Description | ‘My dad is from Azerbaijan and my mom is from Russia.’ I can’t tell you how many times I’ve said that either in Russian OR English. I grew up caught between two worlds: the world of my Russian family, and the world of my American peers/society. As a result, I have a different view of the world as a whole and I want to share that view. |
| Why Everyone Should Go to a Comic-Con At Least Once | |
| Presenter | Steph Kost |
| Biography | A self-proclaimed nerd who has called dibs on all Apple geniuses as her future husbands, a student trying to survive a bio major while still geeking out about how cool biology is on a daily basis, an avid reader, and a music snob. But really, when it comes down to it, I’m a 20 year old girl who acts like a 6 year old and talks like a 65 year old. |
| Description | ‘Comic-con’: it’s just unattractive cosplayers and underground clubs comprised of smelly dudes playing D&D in the dark. Right? Nope. I want to stand proudly as a testament that that first impression is incorrect and share why it is that basking in the glow of all that is nerdy for a few days does more for a person than just satisfy his/her inner geek. |
| It’s A Twin Thing | |
| Presenter | Ellen Streiff |
| Biography | I am a resident of urban-cool Tempe. Moved to AZ in 1969. Lived around the Valley and returned back to Tempe in 2007, it’s home. I am a marketing and PR practioneer. I read 55+ books a year, love wine shared with dear friends, I laugh loud and often, and am very intuitive I am mother of four amazing souls; oldest son, twins, and the surprise child |
| Description | I have a saying; “It’s a twin thing” which is a unique explanation for what happens if one is a twin. I’d like to share about the hilarious, heart-warming, and even mysterious life of twins. My mom is a twin, I am a twin, and I have twins. Three generations of intersting “twin language’” and “twin behavior” of lives “x2″ and shared from the start. |
| Bird Is A Verb | |
| Presenter | Jim Burns |
| Biography | I’m a nature writer/photographer based in Scottsdale with three books about birds to my credit and an online birding column. My goal, with my writing and photography, is to turn people on to birding as an introduction to what’s out there in nature which, in turn, will expand the numbers of us interested in protecting and preserving it. |
| Description | Birds are beautiful and fascinating. Birding is cool. I’d like to imbue the audience with my passion for birds, their place in the natural environment, and why that environment is worth preserving. Awareness brings interest. Interest creates love. Love leads to preservation. Get off the couch. Reconnect with nature. Help save the planet. |
