TEDxOcala

Speakers

Speakers may not be confirmed. Check the event website for the latest lineup.

• Chad Carden

  Leadership Strategist & Consultant, The Carden Group

  Chad Carden, Founder of The Carden Group and The Designed Leader, has spent 20+ years studying human behavior, leadership, and workplace dynamics. Mentored by Zig Ziglar, he helps organizations build strong cultures, improve communication, and achieve lasting success. He has worked with Fortune 500s and startups in 40+ countries, with his methods translated into 15+ languages. Recognized by USA Today and Entrepreneur Magazine, Chad challenges leaders to rethink how they engage people and drive results. An accomplished author (Winning The Money Game, P.E.P.P.), speaker, and coach, he equips leaders with tools for growth and transformation—always driven by his belief that people are an organization’s greatest asset.

• Dennis Gonzalez

  Owner, Loco Graphics

  Dennis Gonzalez, founder of Loco Graphics, turned a small garage startup in 2013 into a 10,000 sq. ft. design and print company with state-of-the-art equipment. Born in Puerto Rico and raised between the island and New Jersey, he brings cultural depth and resilience to his work. A BNI member for 11 years, he’s known for authenticity, local impact, and his TEDx talk on shifting mindsets. Beyond business, Dennis restores vintage BMX bikes and treasures time with his wife of 25 years and their three daughters.

• Dr. Allen Simmons II

  Vice President of Education and Partnerships, Administrator, Junior Achievement

  Dr. Allen H. Simmons II is an educator, author, and community leader. He serves as Vice President of Education and Partnerships at Junior Achievement of New Jersey, works with K–12 school districts, and is the Founder of Beth-El Academy. He also teaches sociology at Saint Peter’s University and directs education for Sounds of Praise International Fellowship Ministries. A U.S. Navy veteran, Dr. Simmons holds degrees in political science, public administration, and a doctorate in education. He is a public speaker, activist, entrepreneur, and author of The Sticky Bottom and Living Just Above Broke. Currently writing his second book, he enjoys reading, music, travel, fitness, and is the proud father of three children.

• Dr. Delon Canterbury PharmD, BCGP

  Deprescribing Geriatric Pharmacist

  uDr. DeLon Canterbury, PharmD, BCGP, is President/CEO of GeriatRx, Inc. As a Board-Certified Geriatric Pharmacist, Dr. Canterbury has a vision to reduce over medication of senior adults by implementing medication action plans and drug screenings for geriatric patients in cooperation with patient’s providers. This novel approach of instituting personalized care improves patient satisfaction and wellness. He acknowledges that unsafe prescription medication practices significantly contribute to the cost of health care in an amount that exceeds $20 billion dollars annually. His efforts in executing Deprescribing protocols have saved families millions of dollars by preventing involuntary admissions to memory care facilities. Founder of the Deprescribing Accelerator, Dr. Canterbury trains prescribers, nurses and pharmacists in this innovative approach to holistic wellness for older adults. He envisions all pharmacists and senior care providers as “Deprescribing Advocates”.

• Ibrahim J. Awad

  The Awad Law Firm, P.C.

  Ibrahim Awad is a Palestinian-American attorney, martial artist, and nonprofit founder. He is the founder of The Awad Law Firm and has recovered over $60 million in personal injury verdicts and settlements. Known as the “Karate Attorney,” he integrates discipline and storytelling into his practice. Ibrahim is also the co-founder of Palistory, a nonprofit that preserves Palestinian stories through film and media.

• Ike Anderson

  Founder, The Unmasking Effect

  Ike Anderson is a global speaker, author, and intuitive guide who helps individuals pivot toward purpose and authenticity. Named a 2024 Traveler of the Year by National Geographic Explorer, he’s journeyed to over 100 countries with his family and founded The Unmasking Effect, a transformational framework blending ancestral wisdom, modern psychology, and entrepreneurship to help others live with intention and alignment.

• J Flow

  CEO

  Flow is a YouTube creator, artist, and father focused on creating family-friendly content for young children. His work is shaped by growing up in the U.S. as an immigrant and by the perspective he gained through becoming a father. He supports education and has contributed to education initiatives in the Philippines alongside nonprofit partners, in honor of his grandmother, Su Hsiang, whose wisdom continues to guide his life and work. Today, Flow creates songs and stories for young children on YouTube, designed to be joyful, engaging, and supportive of early learning.

• Jeanne Lowrey

  Talent Acquisition and Inclusion Manager , RealTruck

  Jeanne Lowrey is a Career Mentor, Strategy Architect, and HR Leader who knows firsthand the power of the pivot. Known as the #CaffeinatedRecruiter, she’s built her career helping others find direction, take bold leaps, and grow through uncertainty. From reinventing her own path to leading inclusive talent strategies in retail, manufacturing and supply chain industries, Jeanne blends strategy with heart—and always brings the energy. Today, she’s here to share how reinvention isn’t just possible—it’s powerful.

• John Berry

  CEO

  John Berry is a Certified Professional Coach specializing in Executive Coaching, Emotional Intelligence, and Wellness. As the founder of Imminent Change Coaching, he helps C-suite leaders, healthcare executives, higher education executives, and government officials master advanced communication, leadership presence, and team engagement. John is known for his ability to decode perception, elevate emotional intelligence, and guide leaders to drive performance, profitability, and retention through transformative relationships and trust-based leadership.

• Lee Pepper

  Retired

  Lee is the author of Never Outmatched. He has leveraged his service in the United States Army and his experience as a staff member on Ross Perot's Presidential Campaigns into building great teams that solve technology challenges and grow market share. During his tenure as Chief Marketing Officer at Foundations Recovery Network, the company grew shareholder value 60X culminating in its acquisition for $350 million. Lee also built the marketing teams for SpecialtyCare and Meadows Behavioral Healthcare. He resides in Tennessee where he writes and consults on marketing, leadership and innovation.

• Madinah Wilson-Anton

  State Representative, Stand-Up Comedian

  Madinah Wilson-Anton brings her unique perspective as a Black woman with vitiligo to the stage and leaves audiences of all backgrounds laughing. She became a rising star in the Delaware political scene in 2020 when she was the first Muslim elected to the State House of Representatives at the age of 26. She has performed as a stand-up comedian for audiences across the United States.

• Melanie Klein

  Professor, Sociology and Gender/Women's Studies and Success Coach at Melanie Klein Coaching and Consulting

  Melanie Klein is an award-winning author, professor, and transformational success coach with over two decades of experience helping people pivot from surviving to thriving. Combining research, mindfulness training and embodiment practices, she expertly guides individuals and organizations in transforming their relationship with challenge and creating success on their own terms. She has curated and/or contributed to over 10+ books that empower others to make the radical pivot from resisting disruption to using it as a catalyst for growth.

• Mitchel P. Roth PhD

  Professor of Criminal Justice and Criminology

  Professor of Criminal Justice and Criminology at Sam Houston State University. With a PhD in history from the University of California, Santa Barbara, he is one of the only historians tenured in a criminology department in the U.S. He has written more than 25 books, including foreign translations. Roth has been recognized for his prison gang research and training by the National Gang Research Center in Chicago. His most recent books include Murder by Mail: A Global History of the Letter Bomb; Man With the Killer Smile: The Life and Crimes of a Serial Mass Murderer; and Power on the Inside: A Global History of Prison Gangs. He has been featured on the History Channel, HULU, Dateline, CNN, FOC, Al Jazeera, PBS and other media outlets.

• Poornima Srinivasan

  Consultant, IT Governance, Risk and compliance, Financial Audit consultant Founder – Karma-Xchange

  As a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) with several years of experience in financial systems and reporting, Poornima has built a deep appreciation for the impact of emerging technologies on our professional and personal lives. Among other projects, she is currently working on a start-up that leverages blockchain technology to create a digital marketplace. She firmly believes that many of the emerging trends, and blockchain in particular, will have a democratizing impact on society.

• Richard Corey

  Attorney and Founder of RC Enterprise Law

  Richard P. Corey is an attorney, entrepreneur, producer, author, philanthropist, and speaker with a career spanning law, business, and media. Founder of a top litigation and corporate law firm in Fort Lauderdale, he has represented major corporations, public figures, and athletes nationwide, earning Super Lawyers Rising Star recognition since 2016. Beyond law, he has brokered multimillion-dollar deals in music, tech, and real estate, holds U.S. and international patents, and was a UCF Business Competition finalist. Featured in Entrepreneur, USA Today, and Success, he authored The Blueprint (2013) and will appear in the 2025 docuseries Legacy Makers. He also hosts Enterprise Unleashed and is active in philanthropy and community leadership.

• Yasmine Shahwan

  Freelancer

  Yasmine Shahwan is a marketing strategist, real estate agent, and community builder who believes transformation happens when people feel truly seen. With a background in brand storytelling and a heart for connection, she uses her work to bridge gaps between people and purpose, ideas and action, vision and reality. Whether she’s creating campaigns, hosting retreats, or selling homes, her mission is the same: to build spaces where growth, healing, and belonging can flourish.