TEDxFargo 2025: Where Every Thread Tells a Story · Fargo INC!
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TEDxFargo 2025: Where Every Thread Tells a Story
For the first time in TEDxFargo history, we are hosting a two-day event! TEDxFargo will be held over two-days, giving attendees the option to experience one day or both. Each day will offer a unique l
In shortFor the first time in TEDxFargo history, we are hosting a two-day event! TEDxFargo will be held over two-days, giving attendees the option to experience one day or both. Each day will offer a unique l
3 things to know
1For the first time in history, TEDxFargo will be held over two-days, giving attendees the option to experience one day or both.
2Each day will offer a unique lineup of speakers, ideas, and energy Imagine a world woven together by ideas, experiences, and connections— where every thread holds meaning, linking past to present and possibility to reality.
3At TEDxFargo Thread, we invite you to explore the intricate fabric of innovation, creativity, and human connection.
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For the first time in history, TEDxFargo will be held over two-days, giving attendees the option to experience one day or both. Each day will offer a unique lineup of speakers, ideas, and energy
Imagine a world woven together by ideas, experiences, and connections— where every thread holds meaning, linking past to present and possibility to reality. At TEDxFargo Thread, we invite you to explore the intricate fabric of innovation, creativity, and human connection.
On July 23 and 24, step into a space where ideas intertwine, where bold thinkers and dreamers pull at the threads of curiosity, challenge perspectives, and create something entirely new. This year, unravel the unseen patterns that shape our world, illuminating the hidden connections between disciplines, communities, and individuals.
Come to TEDxFargo, where stories intersect, where possibility is stitched into reality, and where every thread leads to a future yet to be woven.
About TEDxFargo
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TED has created a program called TEDx. TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TEDlike experience. This event is called TEDxFargo, where x = independently organized TED event. At the TEDxFargo event, TEDTalks video and live speakers will combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events, including this one, are self-organized.
TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to Ideas worth spreading. Started as a four-day conference in California 30 years ago, TED has grown to support its mission with multiple initiatives. The two annual TED Conferences invite the world’s leading thinkers and doers to speak for 18 minutes or less. Many of these talks are then made available, free, at TED.com. TED speakers have included Bill Gates, Jane Goodall, Elizabeth Gilbert, Sir Richard Branson, Nandan Nilekani, Philippe Starck, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Sal Khan, and Daniel Kahneman.
Katie Chin is an award-winning cookbook author, television chef, playwright, caterer, and Culinary Ambassador to the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation. A recognized expert in pan-Asian cuisine, she’s dedicated to showing that delicious Asian dishes can be made by real people in real kitchens.
After growing up in the kitchens of her late mother Leeann Chin’s acclaimed Minneapolis restaurants, Katie pursued a career in entertainment marketing before returning to her culinary roots. She has co-hosted the PBS series Double Happiness, written five cookbooks—including the bestselling Everyday Thai Cooking and Katie Chin’s Global Family Cookbook—and has been featured in top publications such as Forbes, O Magazine, and Bon Appétit. Her television appearances include The Today Show, Iron Chef America, Beat Bobby Flay, and Chopped.
Katie is also a passionate advocate for healthy cooking as a means of cancer prevention, frequently demonstrating recipes on Bloom TV with pediatric cancer warriors. She brings her creativity to the stage as well, performing her one-woman show Holy Shitake: A Wok Star is Born in sold-out theaters nationwide. Based in Los Angeles, Katie runs Wok Star Catering, leads her IG Live series “Small Bites with Chef Katie Chin,” sings in a band with her husband, and raises her teenage twins—all while serving on multiple philanthropic boards and championing the AAPI community
Dr. AnnMaria Rousey De Mars is a serial entrepreneur, educator, author and was the first American to win the world judo championships. She is president of 7 Generation Games, a tech startup she co-founded. She was one of Forbes 40 Women to Watch over 40, the first woman to serve as president of national judo organization and an AARP Purpose Prize Fellow. She authored a book on techniques for judo and MMA fighters and articles in academic journals on topics ranging from factor analysis to needs of rural educators in schools serving Indigenous students.
Dr. De Mars has taught math from 5th grade through doctoral students and at public, private and tribal colleges. She has been the lead developer on 14 educational games, including Making Camp Lakota, Making Camp Ojibwe, and Spirit Lake: The Game. She was Principal Investigator of the Growing Math project, providing curriculum to teach Indigenous history, mathematics, and agricultural science. She has four children and nine grandchildren.
Vern Dosch
Former President & CEO, National Information Solutions Cooperative
Vern Dosch Facebook | /vernon-dosch-8589879a
National Information Solutions CooperativeFacebook | /nicsolutions
With a career spanning 45 years in the Rural Electric and Telecommunication industries, Vern’s leadership reached its pinnacle as President and CEO of National Information Solutions Cooperative (NISC) from 2002 to 2020. Under his guidance, NISC grew into a leading information technology company, providing innovative accounting, billing, and engineering software to over 860 electric cooperatives, telephone companies, municipalities, and broadband providers across all 50 states, American Samoa, Palau, and Canada. Vern was inducted into the National Cooperative Hall of Fame at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C
Vern Dosch and his wife, Lynne, have celebrated 41 years of marriage and are the parents of two sons and a daughter, as well as the grandparents of nine grandchildren.
Vern is a graduate of the University of Mary, where he earned degrees in Business and Accounting, as well as a master’s in management. Additionally, he holds an Honorary Doctorate in Leadership
Deborah Golden
Chief Innovation Officer, Deloitte
/DeloitteUS @deloitte /deloitte /deborah-golden
Deborah Golden thinks differently. Wired for the unconventional, she transforms bold ideas into industryshaping realities. As Deloitte’s Chief Innovation Officer, Deborah leads at the forefront of technological advancement, tackling challenges and crafting transformative solutions that empower organizations forward in a rapidly evolving world
A lifelong pioneer, Deborah consistently redefines what’s possible through her unique ability to connect ideas, people, and technologies in unexpected ways. From her leadership in Deloitte’s Cyber & Strategic Risk and Cyber Strategic Growth Offering to her current work driving innovation across the marketplace, she thrives on turning disruption into demonstrable opportunity—creating value at every step of the way. Drawing on personal experiences of resilience, Deborah embraces adaptability and mental antifragility, inspiring others to harness change and complexity to create lasting impact.
Missy founded BIO Girls in 2013 and has served as CEO since. Before making it her full-time role in 2018, she spent 15 years in the tech industry as a consultant and marketing leader. Under her leadership, BIO Girls has grown from a local program impacting dozens of girls to a regional nonprofit serving thousands annually. She has scaled the organization through controlled growth and innovation while fostering a workplace culture of balance and family-first values.
A mom to three daughters and wife to Tom, Missy loves adventure with her family, traveling, mountain biking, running, Ironman triathlons, and hiking. She is also an avid fan of professional track and field, the MN Vikings, her kids’ activities, and her cat, Harry. Missy was a four-time All-American in track at UND (’01), earning degrees in Exercise Science and Nutrition. As a recipient of an NCAA postgraduate scholarship, Missy completed an MBA degree from NDSU (’04).
Randi is a holistic wellness practitioner that uses seasonal living, body awareness, and intuitive self-care to help people navigate their healing journey with confidence so they can create a rhythm of wellness that feels accessible and deeply supportive for themselves and their family. Her business Hemma Wellbeing integrates abdominal massage, therapeutic yoga, herbalism, and nature-based lifestyle practices through 1:1 sessions and group retreats. She also offers education and insights online through her essays and podcast The Home Practice.
Beyond individual healing, Randi is passionate about the broader connection between personal wellness, community building, and entrepreneurship. She believes that nurturing oneself is the foundation for nurturing strong communities and thriving businesses and supports small business owners, nonprofits, and leaders as they navigate the highs and lows of following their dreams.
Joel Honeyman
Vice President of Global Innovation, Bobcat Company
Imagine a world where the impossible becomes possible, where innovation transforms dreams into reality. This is the world Joel Honeyman envisions every day in his role as Vice President of Global Innovation at Bobcat Company. He often describes his role as making the unbelievable believable. He and his team champion Bobcat’s mission of empowering people to accomplish more every day as they identify ways to solve customers’ toughest challenges.
From leveraging emerging technologies to creating entirely new solutions, Bobcat is creating the jobsite of tomorrow. These efforts have positioned Bobcat at the cutting edge of the industry, earning prestigious accolades such as Fast Company’s 2023 World Changing Ideas Awards and multiple CES® Innovation Awards.
By making the unbelievable believable, Joel envisions a future where anything is possible.
Chloe Valdary
Chloé Valdary is an artist, writer, and founder of the Theory of Enchantment. ToE (pronounced DAO) is an organization that facilitates trust, inclusion, and belonging in organizations by teaching love and harmony.
Chloé received her Bachelor’s in international studies with a concentration in conflict and diplomacy from the University of New Orleans. She has been published in the WSJ, the New York Times, and the Atlantic Magazine, and has also produced music for the past 7 years. In her spare time, she enjoys bird watching, reading, and DJing
Kim is the Chief Innovation Leader and National Managing Director of The Deloitte Greenhouse® Experience group, which helps executives tackle tough business challenges through immersive, facilitated lab experiences, and client experience IP such as Business Chemistry®. As part of this role, Kim leads US Deloitte Greenhouses, permanent spaces designed to promote exploration and problem solving away from business as usual.
Kim is the architect and global leader of Deloitte’s proprietary working style system, Business Chemistry®, used by more than 300,000 people around the world, co-author of the Harvard Business Review cover story on Business Chemistry and the book “Business Chemistry: Practical Magic for Crafting Powerful Work Relationships” with Deloitte Greenhouse colleague Suzanne Vickberg. Kim and Suzanne’s second book, “The Breakthrough Manifesto: Ten Principles to Spark Transformative Innovation”, digs deep into methodologies and mindsets to help obliterate barriers to change and ignite a whole new level of creative problem-solving.
John Werber
Managing Director, Link Ventures
John Werner is a successful serial entrepreneur, investor in technology startups, and mentor. He has created a career out of bringing ideas, networks, and people together to generate powerful results. John is a Managing Director and member of the investment committee at Link Ventures. Link Ventures raised $130 million in their LV3 fund and is working with earlystage entrepreneurs to support their great ideas.
Before joining Link Ventures, John’s deep curiosity and penchant for problem-solving led him to a diverse set of roles spanning many fields and interests. Previously, John was a VP at Meta, a Y Combinator augmented reality startup based in Silicon Valley. John also served as the Head of Innovation and New Ventures at MIT’s Camera Culture Group and the Managing Director of Emerging Worlds SIG, where he led the launch of collaborative innovation centers in Mumbai, Nashik, and Hyderabad.
Jenn Dice is a high-impact leader with a strong track record across the non-profit, outdoor, and bike industry sectors. Known for building powerful networks and assembling top-tier teams, Jenn excels at designing and executing meaningful initiatives and programs at the local, state, and federal levels.
With deep experience in government advocacy and nonprofit leadership, she is skilled at balancing longterm vision with short-term wins. A fearless fundraiser, dynamic speaker, and energetic changemaker, Jenn is passionate about creating environments where real, lasting change can thrive.
CEO, Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library Foundation
Edward F. O’Keefe was born and raised in Grand Forks, North Dakota (go Rough Riders!) He is currently the CEO of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library Foundation.
Previously, he spent two decades in broadcast and digital media at ABC News, CNN, and NowThis, during which time he received a Primetime Emmy Award for his work with Anthony Bourdain, two Webby Awards, the Edward R. Murrow Award, and a George Foster Peabody Award for ABC’s coverage of 9/11.
A former fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School, he graduated with honors from Georgetown University
Dr. Melissa Mork is a professor of psychology, criminal justice, and law enforcement with advanced degrees in clinical and forensic psychology. She specializes in mental health, grief, and crisis recovery, offering interventions for survivors, families, and first responders impacted by mass shootings. She researches and teaches folks in high-stress professions like law enforcement and healthcare how dark humor can help them stay human (especially in inhuman situations).
After being widowed, she wrote “Navigating Grief with Humor” (2019), “Bounce” (2023), and “Mental Health Matters” (2024). She has contributed to forensic journals, humor publications, and even Chicken Soup for the Soul (because sometimes science and soup go together).
Melissa is a Certified Humor Professional (yep, that’s a thing) and grief specialist. She once competed for Minnesota’s Funniest Person. She didn’t win, but she was the only contestant who could diagnose the judges.
Emily Puetz is a strategist, systems thinker, and lifelong learner working at the intersection of innovation, education, and regeneration. As cofounder of Ideas2Impact, she helps schools, nonprofits, foundations, and government agencies across the U.S. and New Zealand design transformative learning environments and navigate complex change.
With over 30 years of experience, she’s led initiatives from launching new school models, building a new education leadership talent pipeline for the state of MN, to mentoring student led ventures with Google engineers. Her work spans strategic planning, change management, organizational development, and leadership coaching for over 50 learning institutions and social impact organizations.
Emily lives in Boulder, Colorado, with her husband and two daughters who recently returned from living in New Zealand, where natural systems and permaculture principles continue to influence her thinking about how we grow thriving, regenerative ecosystems around the planet.
Linkedin | /emily-puetz-42778614
Dr. Andrew Armacost
President, University of North Dakota
Andrew P. Armacost began his tenure as the 13th President of the University of North Dakota on June 1, 2020, following a distinguished career in the U.S. Air Force, where he retired as a Brigadier General after serving as Dean of the Faculty at the U.S. Air Force Academy. Under his leadership, UND has received national recognition, including the 2021 Larry Abernathy Award from the International Town Gown Association and the 2022 ACE/Fidelity Investments ransformation Award.
A champion of academic freedom, shared governance, and studentcentered learning, Armacost is an award-winning educator and internationally recognized researcher in Operations Research. He serves on several key boards supporting UND’s mission and chairs the National Collegiate Hockey Conference Board. Originally from Glendale, WI, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering from Northwestern University and a master’s and PhD in Operations Research from MIT.
David Cook is the 15th president of North Dakota State University. Joining NDSU in May 2022, his leadership focuses on the university’s strategies to enhance enrollment and invest in student retention and success, prioritize NDSU’s R-1 Carnegie classification status for research, invest in the well-being of the NDSU community, strengthen a culture of diversity, inclusion and respect, and embrace NDSU’s critical role as a landgrant university.
He currently serves on the board of directors for the following organizations: Ag Products Utilization Commission, Fargo Moorhead West Fargo Chamber, Greater Fargo Moorhead Economic Development Corp., Red River Valley Fair, Research and Technology Park, Research Foundation, Sanford Medical Center Fargo, State Board of Agricultural Research and Education, as well as the NDSU Foundation Executive Governing Board (ex-officio).
Nipun Mehta is the founder of ServiceSpace, a global community working at the intersection of technology, volunteerism, and a gift culture. As a designer of largescale social movements that are rooted in small acts of service and powered by micro moments of inner transformation, his work has uniquely catalyzed networks of community builders grounded in their localities and rooted in cultivating deeper connection with themselves, others, and larger systems.
Today, ServiceSpace reaches millions every month, is powered by thousands of volunteers, and blossoms into ever-expanding local and virtual service projects that aim to ignite a “whole great than the sum of its parts.” Nipun was honored as an “unsung hero of compassion” by the Dalai Lama, not long before former U.S. President Obama appointed him to a council for addressing poverty and inequality in the US. Yet the core of what strikes anyone who meets him is the way his life is an attempt to bring smiles in the world and silence in his heart: “I want to live simply, love purely, and give fearlessly. That’s me.”
Ranveer Chandra is the Vice President of M365 Copilot and the Chief Technology Officer of Agri-Food at Microsoft. With over 15 years of experience spanning research, product development, partnerships, and customer engagement, he is widely recognized as a visionary leader in AI, networking, and systems. Ranveer has held key leadership roles at Microsoft, including Managing Director for Research for Industry, Chief Scientist of Azure Global, and Head of Networking Research at Microsoft Research.
He launched Microsoft’s agriculture initiative in 2015, leading to the development of FarmBeats, which evolved into Azure Data Manager for Agriculture. His work has impacted products across Microsoft, including Windows, Azure, Visual Studio, and Xbox. Ranveer holds over 150 patents, has published more than 100 research papers, and is both an IEEE and ACM Fellow.
Recognized by outlets like MIT Technology Review, The Economist, and GatesNotes, he is driven by a mission to use technology to solve real-world problems and create meaningful societal change.
General Manager & VP Strategic Partnerships, Kahoot!
Craig Narveson is the General Manager and VP, Strategic Partnerships at the EdTech company Kahoot!. Based at Kahoot! headquarters in Oslo, Norway, Craig works to develop partnerships that can open new opportunities and value for Kahoot!, the partners, and their respective audiences.
To date, Kahoot! supports over 100 partners—including leading technology companies, entertainment and media enterprises, publishers, non-profits, museums, and NGOs who share Kahoot!’s mission to Make Learning Awesome. Craig earned his BA at Harvard College and has worked in North America, Asia, and Europe.
Originally from the badlands of North Dakota, Kelly is an EMMY-nominated cinematographer and criticallyacclaimed filmmaker who is widely recognized for his stylistic visuals and grounded storytelling within music and sports, ranging from a multi-season international music series to network sports programming.
In 2003, Kelly left film school to pursue his dream in the arts, supporting himself as a Starbucks barista alongside a struggling musician (Isaac Slade) whose fledgling band, The Fray, was working to get traction. The two partnered to launch Filament Productions. A Denverbased production house, Filament developed and launched the National Geographic International television series MUSIC VOYAGER (Kelly directed and produced 3 seasons), created numerous advertising campaigns for international outdoor brands and produced documentaries for a number of major label recording artists. In 2013, Kelly was nominated for an EMMY for his cinematography on the NBC Ironman World Championships special. He’s currently in production on several multi-part documentary series in the music and sports world.
Kelly is also a former professional cyclist. During the 17 years he was racing, he won over 50 races as a professional and was ranked number two in the world in the niche discipline of solo 24 hour mountain bike racing— which was just training for chasing his young twin boys around a backyard in Denver, where he and his awardwinning journalist wife, Rachel, call home.
Bob Dalton
Founder, LOCL
Bob Dalton is an entrepreneur, keynote speaker, and community builder on a mission to restore human connection in the digital age. He is the founder of Sackcloth & Ashes, a nationally recognized social enterprise that has donated hundreds of thousands of blankets to homeless shelters across the U.S. through a one-for-one model
Recognized as a Forbes Changemaker and CNN Champion of Change, Bob has traveled to over 50 cities, interviewing grassroots leaders and discovering a critical need: local communities and pro-social clubs lack a digital space to communicate and be discovered.
With his latest venture, LOCL, he’s addressing that need, building a platform that connects people to nearby communities and events, using technology to bring us closer, not pull us apart.
Editor of Fargo INC! — covering the founders, companies, and ideas shaping business in Fargo-Moorhead. Eleven years in, still no opinions, no politics, all business.
