TEDxFarmingdale

An Independently Organized TED Event

Nicole Varriale

Nicole Varriale is a student at Howitt Middle School in Farmingdale, New York. Her hobbies include pottery, drawing and painting, playing the piano and fishing. While she enjoys delving into my many recreational activities, it’s her love for dance and public speaking that truly captures her passion. She dances at the competitive level and will be participating in dance […]

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Elise Atkins-Louis

Elise Atkins is a 17-year-old Senior at Farmingdale High School. Originally from Boston, Elise moved to Farmingdale Long Island in 2016. Growing up in a family of activists, Elise quickly developed a passion for politics and civics. Putting integrity and empathy at the forefront, she became an active member of the community service organization, Key Club […]

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Nicole Bruno

Nicole Bruno was born and raised in Farmingdale, NY.  She is life long “Daler” who attended the same elementary school that her children are currently attending and is proud to continue the Daler tradition.  After graduating from Farmingdale High School in 2002, she attended Nassau Community College.  After marrying another life long “Daler”, they settled […]

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Chef Allison Fasano

Allison Fasano was born and raised in Williamsburg Brooklyn. She knew at the age of 11 years old that she wanted to become a Chef after seeing the Food Network for the first time. She began following and cooking along side her Father who inspired her passion for the Italian cuisine. Following her passion she […]

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Orville Davis

Orville Davis is a recent graduate from Farmingdale State University as a dual major in Global Business Management and Computer Science with a minor in Latin American Studies.  Eco-sustainability has been on his radar for quite some time and he first explored it in his earlier ventures building Smart Homes to reduce energy waste but has […]

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Carlos Collado

Carlos Collado is a young Hispanic born in Miami who has become a big believer in intuition. Despite still working a full-time job at the Arlo Nomad Hotel, married, and recently becoming a brand new father, Carlos has built an incredible interview show called “On The Road To Success” which is available on YouTube and […]

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Josh Mirsky

Josh is an advocate, thinker, and change maker in the Autism community. Diagnosed with Autism at 13, Josh has overcome misdiagnoses, bullying, lack of proper services, unemployment, and relationship struggles and has emerged as a strong, vocal young man. Josh is a Lead Production Assistant at Spectrum Designs Foundation, a self-taught artist, and has a […]

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Dave Thompson

Dave is an educator, innovator, and advocate in the Autism field for over 10 years. As Director of Workforce Development at Spectrum Designs Foundation, Dave has gained unique insight into just how valuable (yet undervalued) and deserving (yet under-served) the neurodiverse community is. He has an insatiable desire to see the world around him continue […]

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Corey James

Corey D. James is the founder and CEO of Painting Pictures Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to making an impact in the lives of disadvantaged youth. Corey has devoted his life and career to directly serving at-risk youth in urban communities as a youth mentor, group facilitator, and motivational speaker. Corey has confronted the challenges affecting youth in […]

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Mona Prophete

Mona Prophete is the CEO and founder of MsMonaSpeaks! To most who know her work, especially the thousands of youth she has spoken to, inspired, counseled and worked with over the years, she has affectionately come to be known as “Ms. Mona”.  Ms. Mona is Haitian-American and grew up in Queens, New York.  A motivational speaker, […]

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Dr. Noelle Cutter

Dr. Noelle Cutter is by training a scientist in the field of molecular biology,  currently studying medulloblastoma, a rare type of pediatric brain cancer, and the role that methylation plays in gene regulation allowing tumors to grow and divide.  By doing so, she hopes to be able to better diagnose patients so they can be […]

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Keren Eldad

As a business coach & speaker, Keren Eldad (“Coach Keren”) is a trusted advisor to industry-leading executives and superstar entrepreneurs who are setting records at the top of their fields. Since 2016, powerhouses have sought her out to help them make significant breakthroughs in the profitable growth of their business while revitalizing their energy and […]

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Randee Bonagura

In 1992, Randee graduated from Farmingdale High School, and now sits in the same auditorium where she performed and enjoys her daughters’ concerts and theater performances as she raises Dalers of her own. Randee has been a teacher and administrator in several Long Island school districts over the past 23 years. Her classroom experience includes […]

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Keiya Rayne

Keiya K. Rayne is a Life Transformation Expert, Speaker and Intuitive Healer. She’s known as “the last resort guide” showing up in her client’s lives when nothing else they tried has worked. Her approach to transformation is revolutionary, and based on trusting your knowing as your superpower. She’s a co-founding member of “Medical Wings,” a medical humanitarian foundation providing empowerment and medical […]

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Dylan Gafarian

Dylan Gafarian is one of the Academic Counselors for the extremely prestigious Research Aligned Mentorship (RAM) Program at Farmingdale State College. This elite program is dedicated to provide extra benefits and rewards that enhance the learning experience not readily available to other Farmingdale students. Prior to Farmingdale, Dylan worked in the Office of Admissions at […]

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Assemblyman Michael LiPetri

Mike LiPetri was elected to the New York State Assembly on November 6, 2018. As an Assemblyman, Mike will continue his fight to hold criminals accountable, and root out and prevent public corruption in state government. He will also advocate for reduced state spending, small business growth, and the elimination of burdensome regulations that hamper […]

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Dr. Kristina Hallett

Dr. Kristina Hallett is a Board Certified Clinical Psychologist, Executive Coach, Keynote Speaker and Associate Professor of Psychology at Bay Path University.  She is the author of international best-sellers Own Best Friend: Eight Steps to a Life of Purpose, Passion, and Ease and Be Awesome! Banish Burnout – Create Motivation from the Inside Out.  Dr. […]

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Peter Bronski

Peter Bronski has spent the past 20 years of his career focused on environmental sustainability causes. He is the founder & CEO of Inflection Point Agency, a boutique marketing and communications firm focused on the clean energy sector, with globally-respected clients such as the Energy Web Foundation and WattTime. In prior roles, he led North […]

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Celeste Huang

Alexander Huang and Celeste Huang are a brother and sister team of journalists raising awareness of the global refugee crisis. They have documented refugee camps and displaced people in Greece and Mexico and are key members of a major global portrait project called “The Power of Faces” that seeks to humanize the is crisis, which […]

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Alexander Huang

Alexander Huang and Celeste Huang are a brother and sister team of journalists raising awareness of the global refugee crisis. They have documented refugee camps and displaced people in Greece and Mexico and are key members of a major global portrait project called “The Power of Faces” that seeks to humanize the is crisis, which […]

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Peter DeWitt

Peter DeWitt (Ed.D) is a former K-5 teacher (11 years) and principal (8 years). He runs workshops and provides keynotes nationally and internationally focusing on leadership, and fostering inclusive school climates. Within North America, his work has been adopted at the university and state level, and he works with numerous districts, school boards, regional and state organizations where […]

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Scott Schmaren

NeuroPerformanceologist, Scott Schmaren is an internationally known hypnotist, speaker, coach and author. He co-wrote the book, “Stepping Stones to Success”, along with Jack Canfield, Deepak Chopra and Dr. Denis Waitley.  He is also the creator of, “The Quatric Formula for Success” which is the life transformation program he created to literally transform every area of […]

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James Hughes

James Hughes was born in Brooklyn and his family eventually moved upstate to Walden NY. He was the youngest of five children. Along with his mother, he and his brother are totally blind while two other siblings are legally blind. James got married to his wife Diana and started a family of his own in […]

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Estela Lugo

Estela Lugo was born and raised on Long Island, NY by “the world’s most amazing Puerto Rican parents,” Miguel & Eneida. They believe salsa dancing and gardening are the key to never growing old. Her younger sister, Melissa is usually mistaken as a twin because of their shared laugh and wardrobe. They also share the […]

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Marc Cordon

Marc Cordon, MPH, is a positive psychology coach, co-founder of the Joy Revolution™, and author of the book Beyond Resilient: The Coach’s Guide to Ecstatic Growth. He specializes in transitions, leadership, performance, and well-being – helping people break through to the next level to find greater enjoyment and purpose in their lives. With a focus […]

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Dr. Jennifer DeHayes

Dr. Jennifer DeHayes

For over seven years, Jennifer DeHayes, E.D. has been the Assistant Principal of Woodward Parkway Elementary School in Farmingdale, NY—a K-5 primary institution with over 800 students. Working closely with her teaching staff, Jennifer successfully implemented a creative planning and communication strategy that resulted in increased reading levels throughout the entire school. Prior to becoming […]

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