Andrew Blumhardt

Artist, Blogger, Brainstormer, Business adviser, Care taker, Change agent, Concerned citizen, Consultant, Educator/Teacher, Engineer, Entrepreneur, Event planner, Explorer, Foodie, Global soul, Idea generator, Inventor, Investor, Parent, Photographer, Student, Technologist, Web guru, World traveler, Writer/Editor

As a founding member and organizer of TEDxNormal, I’ve had the privilege of working with an incredible team of organizers, volunteers, sponsors, speakers, and video professionals since 2015. Together, we have produced more than 100 TEDx Talks that have received over 2.5 million views. Our team takes pride in finding some of the region’s most compelling speakers and investing in high-quality filming and editing to help their ideas reach a much broader audience.

I am passionate about continuing to support and elevate TEDxNormal, meeting new people, and strengthening its connection to our community. That means bringing experienced and new volunteers together while navigating the challenges of sustaining a program for more than a decade. The people, venues, sponsors, and ideas evolve each year, but our commitment to creating a place where meaningful ideas can be shared remains constant.

“A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.” This quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson has always reminded me that growth requires us to challenge our preconceived notions. We should be willing to consider, discuss, and share new ideas, even when they contradict something we have said or believed in the past. Changing your mind in response to a better idea is not inconsistency. It is evidence that you are still learning.

artificial intelligence, cloud computing, coding, Cybersecurity, instruction, problem-solving, rapid learning, technical consulting, web development

My TED story is really the story of TEDxNormal. I had been an avid viewer of TED Talks for several years when I heard that Don Winkle, an entrepreneurial professor at Illinois State University, was bringing together a group of local volunteers to establish a TEDx program in our community. I was fortunate to join that group at the very beginning in 2015. It took some time for me to find my place within the organization. I initially contributed wherever I could, helping with event-day activities, setup, and equipment storage. Given my technology background, I eventually found a natural role managing our website and supporting the technical needs of the organization. TEDxNormal has always been a collaborative effort. Curators and other volunteers have taken on different responsibilities as the team has evolved, with each person contributing their own experience and perspective. My role has grown over the years, but what has kept me involved is the opportunity to work alongside people who believe in the value of bringing meaningful ideas and conversations to our community.

People probably know that I’m good with technology, but they may not know that I’m also an idea person. I enjoy developing new concepts, finding creative approaches to problems, and imagining what something could become. I’m also an amateur photographer and have been taking pictures since I was a teenager. I primarily photograph travel and nature, often using sunlight as an important part of the composition. As a frequent traveler, I’ve had the opportunity to photograph cities, parks, and natural landscapes around the world.