TEDxDetroit

Speakers

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

• Alexandra Clark

  Founding Chocolatier

  Born into a chocolate-loving family, no one was shocked when 19-year-old Alex declared she’d open her own shop. After studying food science, economics, & confectionery internationally she moved home to open Bon Bon Bon in 2014. Today, Detroit’s “Babes Babes Babes” hand-craft millions of vibrant, crave-worthy “Bons” in fresh micro-batches for worldwide fans of their standout creativity and obsessive quality including Forbes, Martha Stewart, Bon Appétit, & The James Beard Foundation. Alex remains passionate about people, creating agri-food efficiencies, the power of good data & great design.

• Armond Harris

  Gym Owner + Real Estate Investor

  Armond gets people energized and moving. He’s the owner of JabsGym, a boxing, kickboxing, and cross-training hub in Detroit’s Eastern Market, and co-creator of the Run This Town fitness movement spreading nationwide. Through his Networkingout Foundation, he’s recorded 300+ free fitness sessions and partners with organizations to build healthier, more active communities. Armond has worked with Quicken Loans, Western Michigan University, the Detroit Pistons, and Triumph Church. A proud Wayne State grad and former football player, he leads with energy, purpose, and heart.

• Ashley (Galaxy) Adams

  Spoken Word Artist & Author

  Galaxy is an award winning performance poet, Author, speaker, storyteller, and educator based out of the Detroit area where she was born and raised. She began writing poetry as of way of expression. Since graduating, she performs world wide. She is always excited for the opportunity to share her poetry with the world and perform thought provoking pieces.

• Lorrena Black

  Retired U.S. Army Major | Veteran & Leadership Speaker

  Lorrena Black is a retired U.S. Army Major with 25 years of service, veteran entrepreneur, and leadership speaker. She is the founder of She Served LLC and is known for interrupting the idea of imposter syndrome so women and veterans have the awareness and audacity to go after the roles, raises, and recognition they have been avoiding. Through the lens of the non-combat veteran experience, Lorrena empowers audiences to reclaim their confidence and lead with clarity, courage, and purpose.

• Ned Staebler

  Economic Developer and Ecosystem Builder

  Ned Staebler is Vice President for Entrepreneurship & Economic Development at Wayne State University and President & CEO of TechTown Detroit. In this dual role, he leads strategies that support startup growth, small business development, and equitable economic opportunity across Detroit. His work focuses on strengthening the city’s innovation ecosystem through partnerships, place-based development, and support for founders at every stage. Based in Detroit, he brings a deep commitment to aligning institutional resources with community-driven economic impact.

• Rasmus Bendvold

  Managing Director US

  Rasmus Noraas Bendvold is Managing Director, North America at wheel.me, a Norwegian robotics company turning carts and equipment into autonomous mobile robots. Based in Detroit, he has built the U.S. business from the ground up and leads large-scale deployments in automotive manufacturing. He holds a master’s degree in finance and focuses on practical “physical AI” that improves safety, throughput, and jobs.

• Reggie Williams

  Comedian and I/O Psychologist

  Reggie is a writer, comedian, actor, I/O psychologist. Known for his sharp storytelling, quick improvisation, and hilarious observations, he’s been lighting up stages since 2010. His journey—marked by perseverance and a powerful story of overcoming a health scare—inspires audiences of all ages. Reggie’s humor connects deeply, blending heart and wit. He believes the path to achieving your goals, hopes, and dreams begins the moment you step outside your comfort zone.

• Stevie Soul Ansara

  Beatboxer, Storyteller, & Multimedia Producer

  Stevie’s childhood stutter led him to a passion for rhythm. Struggling to find the “right” words, he instead embraced the sounds that got stuck, converting them into beats and patterns. This process helped him master sentence structure, rhythm, and music composition. Once he found his internal rhythm, these sounds became a unique form of self-expression, turning a childhood struggle into his true talent: beatboxing. Stevie eventually took this powerful story to the TEDx Detroit stage, performing and sharing how he discovered his voice and reclaimed his narrative through his stutter.

• Tam White

  Stand-Up Comedian + Corporate Improv Trainer + Improv Actor + Show Producer

  Tam White is a stand-up comic and improv actor. She’s the Talent Director of the Detroit Women of Comedy Festival and the Improv Instructor at Mark Ridley’s Comedy Castle. She is also the creator, producer, and host of the improv game show Hip-Prov .Her debut comedy special, It’s About Tam Time, is currently streaming on YouTube. When she’s not performing or producing shows, Tam leads corporate improv training sessions and her acclaimed Rhyming in Improv Workshop, helping performers and professionals alike build confidence, creativity, and quick-thinking skills through the art of improv.

• Vickie Gould

  Founder, Life Changing Energy, Sound Healer & Wellness Educator

  Vickie Gould is a sound and energy healer, author, and founder of Life Changing Energy, a global education platform certifying sound and energy practitioners around the world. A Master Herbalist and Reiki Master, her work blends science, spirituality, and nervous system regulation to support holistic wellbeing. Her courses have touched over 30,000 students worldwide and is known for making healing accessible, grounded, and practical for both new and seasoned practitioners.

• W.E. Da'Cruz

  Tech & Food Systems Entrepreneur + University Lecturer

  W.E. Da’Cruz is a doctoral candidate, global advisor, and entrepreneur working at the intersection of nonmarket strategy, entrepreneurship, technology, and leadership. A scholar-practitioner, her work focuses on helping leaders navigate regulatory uncertainty and complex market environments. She is the co-founder and CEO of The Mushroom Angel Company, a tech-forward CPG company, and advises organizations globally through engagements with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and the U.S. Department of State. She also serves as a lecturer at the University of Michigan–Dearborn.