Arts

Talented creative individuals working in the field of visual, auditory and performance arts

Shereen Thor

Shereen Thor

Shereen Thor is a comedian turned coach who slays with hope and humor. She has shared the stage with greats like Serena Williams, Prince Harry, Pau Gasol, and Les Brown. She is also the bestselling author of Revolutionary Woman, which focuses on inspiring women and people of color to revolutionize how they see themselves to create a more equitable world. She has been featured in Forbes, TEDx, The Wall Street Journal, Insider, Medium, Spike TV, 97.1 AMP Radio, and more. When she isn’t working, she is enjoying the great outdoors, spending time with her family, coaching or playing soccer, enjoying good food with friends and leaving her cell phone in the dust for extended periods. To learn more go to www.shereenthor.com.

Shereen Thor is a comedian turned coach who slays with hope and humor. She has shared the stage with greats like Serena Williams, Prince Harry, Pau Gasol, and Les Brown. She is also the bestselling author of Revolutionary Woman, which focuses on insp... Show more

Ben McCardell

Ben McCardell

With 20 years in live events and higher ed, Ben focuses on student leadership, sustainable systems, and transforming scattered knowledge into operational clarity.

With 20 years in live events and higher ed, Ben focuses on student leadership, sustainable systems, and transforming scattered knowledge into operational clarity. Show more

Erik Zito

Erik Zito

Erik Zito is a leader in mental health, and organizational change who helps individuals and teams navigate uncertainty with clarity, trust, and compassion. With experience across corporate, nonprofit, and higher-education environments, Erik blends real-world change management expertise with authentic and engaging storytelling. His work includes open conversations around mental health, suicide awareness, and well-being, creating spaces where people feel seen, supported, and empowered.

Erik Zito is a leader in mental health, and organizational change who helps individuals and teams navigate uncertainty with clarity, trust, and compassion. With experience across corporate, nonprofit, and higher-education environments, Erik blends re... Show more

Stefan Muža

Stefan Muža

Rođen 1991. godine. Veliki ljubitelj SF-a i stripova još od ranog djetinjstva. Ljubitelj povijesti letova u svemir i istraživanja svemira.

Rođen 1991. godine. Veliki ljubitelj SF-a i stripova još od ranog djetinjstva. Ljubitelj povijesti letova u svemir i istraživanja svemira. Show more

Fletcher Groseclos

Fletcher Groseclos

Fletcher Groseclos is a media professional and community advocate based in Bentonville, Arkansas. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in English and Journalism from the University of Arkansas with a focus on creative writing. His work in broadcast news has included positions as a producer, camera operator, audio operator, and live television director at Hearst Television's 40/29 and KFSM-TV (Channel 5). In 2018, he also worked in television production on the set of True Detective, Season Three, serving as Property Production Assistant (Jan.Feb.) and later as Locations Assistant (July).

Fletcher was born in Rogers and raised in Bentonville, Arkansas. His interest in communication led him to study in Fayetteville, where he graduated in December 2017 with a Bachelor of Arts in English and Journalism. During his time at the university, he was involved with the student news outlet and worked as a field producer, assistant producer, and lead producer. His responsibilities included scheduling and conducting interviews, editing video content, mixing audio through Adobe Premiere Pro, and creating graphics such as lower-thirds, on-screen text, and full-page visuals. He also coordinated live broadcasts with the production team to ensure smooth delivery.

Before finishing his degree, he gained professional experience through a summer 2017 internship at KNWA (NBC)/Fox 24 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. During that time, he wrote VOSOT and pacer stories, assisted with live shots, filmed b-roll for packages, and logged interviews. He also observed producers to understand how broadcasts were organized. After the internship, he continued contributing to the university station as a reporter, producing packages and conducting on-camera interviews.

In September 2018, Fletcher joined a television station in Rogers, Arkansas, as a camera operator, where he coordinated live newscast shots, clipped video segments, and posted content to social media. By December 2018, he became an associate producer, creating newscasts using ENPS producer software and designing graphics with the HATMOS graphics engine. In June 2019, he again worked as a camera and audio operator, maintaining equipment and supporting live broadcasts. By July 2020, he advanced to weekend director, directing live programs and supervising transitions, videos, and graphic elements. In December 2022, he joined another news station in Springdale, Arkansas, as a news producer, producing morning shows, editing video packages, coordinating with anchors and reporters, and responding to breaking news.

In August 2023, he began independent contracting with the Literacy Council of Benton County in Arkansas. In this role, he produces promotional and fundraising videos, manages tutor-student matching through Laces software, and volunteers as a tutor, helping adult learners and immigrants improve their reading, writing, and English pronunciation. From March 2021 to November 2022, he also taught English online to international students, helping them strengthen their vocabulary and speaking confidence. In his free time, Fletcher Groseclos enjoys creative writing, reading, and playing chess.

Fletcher Groseclos is a media professional and community advocate based in Bentonville, Arkansas. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in English and Journalism from the University of Arkansas with a focus on creative writing. His work in broadcast news has ... Show more

Aditi Patne

Aditi Patne

Aditi is a certified Agile Coach, Scaled Agilist, and Scrum Master with over 15 years of experience in the IT industry across India, South Africa, and Germany. She began her career as a developer, then moved into testing, and, driven by her people-oriented nature, transitioned into project and Agile leadership.
She specializes in facilitating hands-on Agile trainings and interactive games that help teams improve collaboration, ownership, and performance. Known for her enthusiasm and engaging style, she brings energy, creativity, and practical insights into every session. A professionally trained dancer with a passion for travel and art, she often draws inspiration from movement and storytelling to make Agile leadership tangible, memorable, and fun.

Aditi is a certified Agile Coach, Scaled Agilist, and Scrum Master with over 15 years of experience in the IT industry across India, South Africa, and Germany. She began her career as a developer, then moved into testing, and, driven by her people-or... Show more

Maciej "MJ" Jedrzejewski

Maciej "MJ" Jedrzejewski

Author of Master Software Architecture book: https://mastersoftwarearchitecturebook.com/

Founder and co-author of the Evolutionary Architecture repository: https://github.com/evolutionary-architecture/evolutionary-architecture-by-example

Promoter of continuous deployment, holistic and pragmatic approach to software architecture.

Just another software dude living in Switzerland.

Website: https://www.fractionalarchitect.io
Newsletter: https://newsletter.fractionalarchitect.io

Author of Master Software Architecture book: https://mastersoftwarearchitecturebook.com/ Founder and co-author of the Evolutionary Architecture repository: https://github.com/evolutionary-architecture/evolutionary-architecture-by-example Promot... Show more

Richard Jackson

Richard Jackson

Rich is a musician and software developer based in Cardiff, UK.
He releases music, commits code and plays Blood Bowl under the name “jacksorjacksor”.

Rich is a musician and software developer based in Cardiff, UK. He releases music, commits code and plays Blood Bowl under the name “jacksorjacksor”. Show more

Clémence Piteau

Clémence Piteau

As an independent and committed product designer, I explore new design practices to put my knowledge at the service of a more desirable future for the environment, society and individuals.

As an independent and committed product designer, I explore new design practices to put my knowledge at the service of a more desirable future for the environment, society and individuals. Show more

Hayleigh Thompson

Hayleigh Thompson

Hayleigh is the author of Lustre, Gleam's most popular frontend Web framework as well as an ecosystem of packages that support it. She is an experienced Web developer and Elm engineer. More recently, Hayleigh has spent the last few years acting as a developer evangelist; spreading the good word about types, the BEAM, and Gleam to anyone with the patience to listen to her.

Hayleigh is the author of Lustre, Gleam's most popular frontend Web framework as well as an ecosystem of packages that support it. She is an experienced Web developer and Elm engineer. More recently, Hayleigh has spent the last few years acting as a... Show more

Josie Adams McCoy

Josie Adams McCoy

Los Angeles-based digital systems architect, manager, and admin department head. Currently working at building engineering and advisory firm Buro Happold, in her 10th year with the company. Leveraging a background in entertainment to bring soft skills to digital integrations.

Los Angeles-based digital systems architect, manager, and admin department head. Currently working at building engineering and advisory firm Buro Happold, in her 10th year with the company. Leveraging a background in entertainment to bring soft skill... Show more

Jinah Kim

Jinah Kim

Jinah Kim's research focuses on the American Century in Asia, decolonizing Korea, and legacies of US militarism in the Asia-Pacific. She is the recipient of the 2020-2021 National Endowment for the Humanities Award and the 2020 California Civil Liberties Grant.

Jinah Kim's research focuses on the American Century in Asia, decolonizing Korea, and legacies of US militarism in the Asia-Pacific. She is the recipient of the 2020-2021 National Endowment for the Humanities Award and the 2020 California Civil Liber... Show more

David Wilder

David Wilder

David Wilder, with decades of experience, is a creative leader specializing in storytelling across various platforms, including broadcast, digital, social, print, and mobile. His multidisciplinary approach and background in directing successful campaigns for national brands like Discovery, National Geographic, PBS, TBS, TNT, AMTRAK, and Comcast, as well as national nonprofits and political campaigns enable him to help agencies, companies, and teams transform creative ideas into successful campaigns.

Outside of work, David is passionate about design, technology, and storytelling in all forms—from emerging digital platforms to the timeless power of a great visual identity. He’s also the founder of It’sWilder, a creative studio where he continues to explore motion, branding, and iOS app design.

David Wilder, with decades of experience, is a creative leader specializing in storytelling across various platforms, including broadcast, digital, social, print, and mobile. His multidisciplinary approach and background in directing successful campa... Show more

Loredana Frontino

Loredana Frontino

Passionate about technology and design. The background in both fields led her to become a ux/ui designer and Frontend developer and become the point of contact of those worlds.
She likes organizing meetups with GDG Turin and share her knowledge.

Passionate about technology and design. The background in both fields led her to become a ux/ui designer and Frontend developer and become the point of contact of those worlds. She likes organizing meetups with GDG Turin and share her knowledge. Show more

Nitin Deckha

Nitin Deckha

Nitin Deckha (he/him) holds a PhD in Anthropology from Rice University, Houston, Texas, a Master’s Certificate in Adult Training and Development from the Schulich Executive Education Centre, York University, Toronto, and is a Certified Training Development Professional (CTDP). As Principal of Enliven Learning, Nitin sprouts ideas and strategies to guide learners, clients and organizations  in the areas of leadership development, intercultural competence, and the future of work, including human-AI integration. Nitin has more than 15 years’ experience of postsecondary course development and teaching, including in the areas of anthropology, intercultural communication, and the transformation of work, and has taught at the University of Toronto, McMaster University, University of Guelph-Humber, in Canada, and Hochschule Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences, in Germany. He has spoken at a range of conferences and events, including recently at the Human Resources Professional Association (HRPA), Institute for Performance and Learning (I4PL), and National Association of Asian American Professionals (NAAAP). Nitin is based in Toronto, Canada, where he is an active volunteer, organizer, and fundraiser.

Nitin Deckha (he/him) holds a PhD in Anthropology from Rice University, Houston, Texas, a Master’s Certificate in Adult Training and Development from the Schulich Executive Education Centre, York University, Toronto, and is a Certified Training Devel... Show more

Lenna Onto

Lenna Onto

Lenna is the CEO and founder of Clay Nation, a multi-dimensional clay animation and production studio at the intersection of Art and Technology. Lenna is a Cardano powerhouse, former IOHK & Mastercard and 2022 Forbes 30 under 30 lister, for arts and culture.

Lenna is the CEO and founder of Clay Nation, a multi-dimensional clay animation and production studio at the intersection of Art and Technology. Lenna is a Cardano powerhouse, former IOHK & Mastercard and 2022 Forbes 30 under 30 lister, for arts and ... Show more

Tati Moniz

Tati Moniz

Hi there! I'm the Senior Product Designer for the New Games Squad in the NYT :) I do UI UX for our new games, I've worked on Connections, Strands and Pips!

Hi there! I'm the Senior Product Designer for the New Games Squad in the NYT :) I do UI UX for our new games, I've worked on Connections, Strands and Pips! Show more

Antonio Riccelli

Antonio Riccelli

Tech professional from a non-Tech background. Musician. Composer.

Tech professional from a non-Tech background. Musician. Composer. Show more

Aditya Jha

Aditya Jha

From a young age Aditya has been fond of libraries where he used to spend all his time after classes to study science and computer science. He learnt hacking in grade 9th using termux and then went on to continue learning Python and C++ getting a six years of programming experience as of now. Aditya has not only been a climate advocate but an action taker with his projects like the smart drainage system he built in 2022 gaining him massive recognition as a child scientist in NCSC, he presented it as a solution for the 2019 urban flood of Patna. Thereafter, he went on to compete in international Hackathons including Epoch by the HackClub in Delhi and NASA Space Apps by NASA at Mountain View California on full funding. He was part of the class of 2028 at Minerva University, California with their highest scholarship. He was also accepted at TETR College of Business, Dubai - a highly selective business college - with 87% scholarship to study business with Computer Science. Currently Aditya is a freshman at IIT Jodhpur doing a BS degree in Applied AI and Data Science after he returned to India in 2025 from Minerva University due to ongoing family financial conditions. Aditya graduated from high school in 2023 with a motive to not join IIT just like people of his age but to be at a place from where he can really create the change he want to see in the future. He was one of the deputy head boy of Gyan Niketan, Patna leading over 4700 students. He helped organising the Bihar Entrepreneurship Summit 2025, the largest historical Entrepreneurship Summit in Bihar till date with microentrepreneurs hand picked from each of the 534 blocks of Bihar. Aditya has also volunteered in TechCrunch (America's largest Tech showcase event) as PointAI's representative and in CalHacks (America's largest collegiate hackathon). Currently, he serves as the captain of Moonshot Pirates India chapter, an initiative that serves as a platform to create change with the youth. He is the lead of social media management, project design and execution at Moonshot Pirates India. He also makes music and write lyrics that can potentially drive change and inspire people in addition to technology, he believes that the integration of technology with creativity goes a long long way.

From a young age Aditya has been fond of libraries where he used to spend all his time after classes to study science and computer science. He learnt hacking in grade 9th using termux and then went on to continue learning Python and C++ getting a six... Show more

Eric Wada

Eric Wada

Bio :
Eric Wada is a cultural practitioner and Indigenous graduate scholar at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, Ka Haka ʻUla o Keʻelikōlani, College of Hawaiian Language, Program for Indigenous Language and Culture Revitalization and Education. His work bridges performing arts, language, and ceremony to explore Okinawan identity, diaspora, and decolonial practice. Through the philosophy of Nadayashiku—conciliation as a pedagogy for survival—Wada examines how Indigenous and land-based education can foster responsible allyship, heal generational trauma, and inspire language revitalization grounded in ancestral worldview through decolonizing and re-indigenizing methodology. "From our experiences, decolonization as a process places us within a multi-layered social dermis where imperial and colonial powers have impregnated politics and cultures (Smith 2021, p. XV, Decolonizing Methodologies)."

Bio : Eric Wada is a cultural practitioner and Indigenous graduate scholar at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, Ka Haka ʻUla o Keʻelikōlani, College of Hawaiian Language, Program for Indigenous Language and Culture Revitalization and Education. His... Show more

Madhura Borikar

Madhura Borikar

An Undergraduate B.tech Student, pursuing career in Data Science

An Undergraduate B.tech Student, pursuing career in Data Science Show more

Angel Paredes Barato

Angel Paredes Barato

Passionate Engineering Manager at Datadog, mentoring aspiring engineers and advocating for the importance of soft skills in achieving success. Sometimes I like to define myself as "proud holistic hobbyist".

Passionate Engineering Manager at Datadog, mentoring aspiring engineers and advocating for the importance of soft skills in achieving success. Sometimes I like to define myself as "proud holistic hobbyist". Show more

Cécile Moline

Cécile Moline

Sketchnoteuse depuis 2016, plasticienne textile, facilitatrice collaborative et visuelle,
Membre d'Agilemans

Sketchnoteuse depuis 2016, plasticienne textile, facilitatrice collaborative et visuelle, Membre d'Agilemans Show more

Daniel Isler

Daniel Isler

Bachelor in Arts of Representation. With certifications in Social Engineering, Red Team & OSINT. Team Leader of Fr1endly RATs, the Social Engineering unit at Dreamlab Technologies Chile.
Specializing and developing techniques and methodologies for simulations of Phishing attacks, Vishing, Pretexting, Physical Intrusions and Red Team.

Bachelor in Arts of Representation. With certifications in Social Engineering, Red Team & OSINT. Team Leader of Fr1endly RATs, the Social Engineering unit at Dreamlab Technologies Chile. Specializing and developing techniques and methodologies for ... Show more

Lauren Krause

Lauren Krause

Level 1 Italian Teacher in the Chicagoland area since 2011.

Level 1 Italian Teacher in the Chicagoland area since 2011. Show more

Angelo Conforti

Angelo Conforti

Angelo is a System Engineer at Corner Banca SA. He embraced Kubernetes and container technology starting in 2017, but his experience spans IoT, VoIP, and highly available systems for Internet Service Providers. He loves technology, is a big fan of home automation, and can't stop integrating and measuring the performance of every device at home.

Angelo is a System Engineer at Corner Banca SA. He embraced Kubernetes and container technology starting in 2017, but his experience spans IoT, VoIP, and highly available systems for Internet Service Providers. He loves technology, is a big fan of ho... Show more

Billy Ramsey

Billy Ramsey

Billy “Issim” Ramsey is a multiplatform artist, entrepreneur and activist that utilizes arts experiences to catalyze and unify "the village". African-rooted step, acting, directing, hosting/MC, spoken word performance, workshop development and implementation, radio production, vocal and instrumental performer are the several roles Ramsey plays.

Billy is the co-founder and artistic director of Arizona Talking Drum Performance Studio Network, co-founder and artistic director for BlackPoet Ventures, LLC. He holds a Bachelors of Communications/Public Relations from University of Michigan-Dearborn and a lifelong learner in the art of life. He is the owner of newly founded B Spoke Consults, a creative consultation company.

Issim was introduced to early performance opportunities beginning at the age of 10 as a drummer for Phoenix based gospel group The Mighty Voices of Wonder and continued to find spaces for opportunities that have stretched over three decades. HIs ability to segue between local artist and international acts and individuals has blessed him to share stages and spaces with Stevie Wonder, Erika Badu, Musiq Soulchild, Rodney”Darkchild” Jerkins, Father MC, Sistah Souljah, Daniel Bernard Romain, Taalam Acey, LL Cool J, Rosa Parks, Barbara Morrison, Marcus Belgrave, Myron Glasper and others

The art of village building and people bridging has been one of the most unique and rewarding experiences fostering the intention of service to communities and families, including his own 12 children, many of whom are also practitioners and lovers of the arts.

He has worked with organizations such as YMCA, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Phoenix Union High School District, State of Arizona, Maricopa Youth Advocacy Program, City of Phoenix, City of Glendale, Los Feliz Charter School for the Arts, AZ MLK Organizing Committee and a list of others.

Billy came to the Fathers and Families Coalition of America in the midst of life trials as the father in need of resources, networks and guidance. He found his way into the work shortly after his introduction as a facilitator, consultant and art maker, bringing awareness to topic matter by involving participants in scripting and producing original theatrical productions where they learned new skill sets of acting and production as well as new ways of expression and creation. Beyond doing, they found their sacred space to share and BE.

He has returned to FFCA Conferences over the years as a presenter, facilitator, artist and attendee.

Most recent works are in the area of Trauma Informed Practices, where he and cohorts have developed and utilized CELEBRATION CIRCLES, to inform participants of all ages about the triggers and onsets of trauma, the biological effects and signs, but most importantly building communities of awareness and resilience.

Billy “Issim” Ramsey is a multiplatform artist, entrepreneur and activist that utilizes arts experiences to catalyze and unify "the village". African-rooted step, acting, directing, hosting/MC, spoken word performance, workshop development and imple... Show more

Christian Crumlish

Christian Crumlish

Christian Crumlish is Director of Product at Kind and was Director of the Product Chapter at the late, lamented 18F. He brings over two decades of experience in UX design, product management, and information architecture to the challenge of building ethical AI systems.

At Kind, Christian defines the product and UX practices, leads a project for VA.gov, improving the online experience for veterans submitting and tracking disability benefits reviews, and explores the possibilities of AI-enhances product management practices.

At 18F, Christian worked on federal digital services including the launch of ClimateCorps.gov and passport modernization efforts for Consular Affairs at the State Department, learning how to navigate complex stakeholder interests while keeping user needs central. This public service perspective informs his conviction that AI systems should be built for human flourishing, not just engagement metrics.

At 7 Cups, Christian lead product development for chat-based mental health and peer support platforms, where the intersection of technology and human welfare wasn’t theoretical—it was the core challenge of every product decision.

This experience shapes his approach to AI development: technology should amplify human capability without replacing human judgment, strengthen systems without creating dependencies, and maintain professional boundaries even when business metrics might reward boundary violations.

Christian is author of “Product Management for UX People” and has been a regular speaker at IA Summit/IAC conferences for nearly two decade. His writing combines technical depth with accessible explanation—a skill honed through years of translating between engineers, designers, and business stakeholders.

Currently, Christian is building Piper Morgan, a product management AI assistant designed with ethics-first architecture. This project demonstrates that privacy-preserving AI isn’t just theoretically possible but empirically validated—achieving 80.3% clustering accuracy using only metadata relationships, with zero content analysis required.

His “Building Piper Morgan” blog series documents this work in public, sharing both successes and methodology. The approach emphasizes systematic engineering over good intentions, architectural enforcement over policy guidelines, and information architecture principles as essential tools for AI safety.

Christian’s work sits at the intersection of product management, information architecture, and ethical AI development—proving that human-centered design principles scale to AI systems when properly architected into the information structure itself.

In his copious spare time he writes and records music with his band, Layers of Meta, and released a debut album in 2025 called No One Does it Solo Only.

Christian Crumlish is Director of Product at Kind and was Director of the Product Chapter at the late, lamented 18F. He brings over two decades of experience in UX design, product management, and information architecture to the challenge of building ... Show more

Annam Sreenivasan

Annam Sreenivasan

I am a seasoned business analyst with over 14 years of experience bridging the gap between business needs and technology solutions. Having started a career in quality assurance, [Your Name] transitioned into strategic business analysis, bringing a unique end-to-end perspective across project lifecycles.

With expertise in digital transformation, platform migrations, and enterprise-scale implementations, [Your Name] has successfully led initiatives across industries, including fitness, retail, e-commerce, and SaaS.

I am a seasoned business analyst with over 14 years of experience bridging the gap between business needs and technology solutions. Having started a career in quality assurance, [Your Name] transitioned into strategic business analysis, bringing a un... Show more

Micaela Eller

Micaela Eller

Micaela's dream is to make the world better by building organizational cultures of compassion, kindness and empathy. She is an engaging and adept Storyteller and uses her professional and personal experiences to inspire others with a pragmatic approach to solving problems. She educates, guides, influences and instructs individual leaders and teams on how to get organized and get moving.

Micaela is driven by her innate curiosity to understand how people think, learn and make decisions in large organizations. Her approach to transformation is both pragmatic and philosophical, focused on infusing a knowledge sharing, servant leader-based culture into community ecosystems of expert builders, makers and innovators. She has learned that organizational and cultural transformations succeed with servant leaders who, instead of dictating behavior, enable and incentivize teams to openly collaborate, communicate, make hard choices, 'think' not 'do' and build community cultures of compassion, kindness and empathy.

Micaela's dream is to make the world better by building organizational cultures of compassion, kindness and empathy. She is an engaging and adept Storyteller and uses her professional and personal experiences to inspire others with a pragmatic approa... Show more

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