TEDxSavannah

Speakers

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

• Deep Poets

  Kayonna Mitchell Keyonna Mitchell Amora Bowman Kalia Gines

• Dominique Treadwell

  Dominique Treadwell is a finance leader and creative entrepreneur who serves as a bank manager by day and the founder and Chief Flavor Maker of Spoonlight Ice Cream — a small-batch artisan dessert brand known for bold flavors and community-centered experiences. A proud military kid with roots in Hinesville, Georgia, she blends strategy and creativity whether in the boardroom or the kitchen, building businesses and spaces that invite people to gather and savor life a little more fully.

• Dr. Maxine Bryant

  Dr. Maxine L. Bryant is an award-winning journalist, educator, speaker, and cultural truth-teller. A four-time author and global presenter on diversity and justice, she champions accurate Black history through her GriotSpeaks brand and her consulting firm, Bryant Educational Seminars and Training (B.E.S.T.), which she founded in 1998. She recently retired from Georgia Southern University, where she also served as Interim Chief Diversity Officer and founded the university's Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Center.

• Dr. SallyAnn Gray

  Dr. SallyAnn Gray is a Transition Specialist with the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System, designing supports that help students navigate life, career, and purpose after high school. Born and raised in Jamaica, she holds a doctoral degree from Delaware State University and was named Special Education Teacher of the Year by the Georgia Learning Resources System in 2023. She is a trained special educator with more than twenty-five years of experience committed to helping students shift their mindset and walk confidently in their purpose.

• Gracen Garceau

  Gracen Garceau is a senior at Savannah Country Day School who intends to major in mechanical engineering. She attended the Georgia Governor Honors Program for civil engineering, competed at SCTP clay target nationals, placing eighth in the nation for Ladies HOA, and has spent years leading service campaigns and serving on the Second Harvest teen board as an inaugural member. A Savannah native and firm believer in continuous learning, she s

• Jamey Espina

  Jamey Espina serves as Vice President of Development and Community Services at Hospice Savannah, where he blends strategic leadership with a deep commitment to compassionate care. He is the co-founder of the Institute for Story Savannah, an initiative that celebrates personal narrative as a tool for healing, connection, and community-building. Before entering the hospice field, he worked as a psychotherapist with the Tampa AIDS Network, supporting individuals and families during the height of the HIV/AIDS crisis.

• Jason Marshall

  Jason Marshall serves as President and CEO of Goodwill Southeast Georgia, where he provides strategic leadership for a social enterprise dedicated to empowering individuals to overcome barriers to employment. With executive experience across Goodwill organizations in Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Georgia, he currently serves as Chair of the Georgia Goodwill Association and as Treasurer for the Mid Atlantic Goodwill Industries Coalition. He holds both a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Master of Business Administration with an emphasis in Public Administration from Strayer University.

• Jason Marshall Marshall

  Jason Marshall serves as President and CEO of Goodwill Southeast Georgia, where he provides strategic leadership for a social enterprise dedicated to empowering individuals to overcome barriers to employment. With executive experience across Goodwill organizations in Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Georgia, he currently serves as Chair of the Georgia Goodwill Association and as Treasurer for the Mid Atlantic Goodwill Industries Coalition. He holds both a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Master of Business Administration with an emphasis in Public Administration from Strayer University.

• Kareem McMichael

  Kareem McMichael is an award-winning filmmaker, writer, and media professional and the founder of Karmac Productions, whose documentary and short film work — including the acclaimed MLK JR. BLVD — has been featured in more than ten film festivals. A native of Macon, Georgia, he holds a B.F.A. in Mass Communications from Savannah State University, serves as director of the Southern Regional Press Institute, and sits on the Board of Governors for the Southeast chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. He was recognized as a 2024 Georgia Trend 40 Under 40 honoree.

• Kate Blair

  Kate Blair is the Executive Director of Brightside Child and Family Advocacy, where she has transformed a local CASA program into a growing organization serving children in foster care, families working toward reunification, and youth aging out of the system. Her work centers on trauma-informed innovation, strong partnerships with juvenile court and child welfare leaders, and building pathways to housing, education, and employment. Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Kate earned her degree in Communications from Armstrong Atlantic State University and has called Savannah home for more than two decades.

• Kimberly Waller

  Kimberly Waller joined United Way of the Coastal Empire as President and CEO in June 2024, leading the organization in driving meaningful community change through partnerships, data, and expanded access to vital services. Her career spans federal appointment at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, senior policy advisory work for the Mayor of Washington, D.C., and legal aid nonprofit work focused on children and family stability. She holds a law degree and a bachelor's degree in social work from the University of Pittsburgh.

• Olga Seredyuk

  Olga Seredyuk is Executive Director of The Whitefield Center in Savannah, bringing cross-sector experience spanning Christian ministries, higher education, and international nonprofit governance. A winner of the 2025 Golden Flame Award from the International Association of Business Communicators and the 2026 Outstanding Executive Award from the Association for Christian Fundraising, she holds degrees from Emory University, Agnes Scott College, and executive education through Abilitie. She is also the author of three forthcoming children's books, to be released in Summer 2026.

• Steve Curran

  Steve Curran is the CEO of Khaki Consulting, where he works with growth-minded founders and leadership teams who look successful on paper but feel trapped because everything still depends on them. A retired Navy Chief, he trained leaders for high-stakes operations and now challenges a deeply held cultural belief that great leadership is about personal achievement rather than multiplying others. He lives in Savannah and is fiercely proud of his family and unapologetically devoted to the Philadelphia Eagles.

• Tyler Cobbs

  Tyler Cobbs is the founder of GoAssistantly, a Savannah-based digital marketing and web design studio focused on helping small businesses grow with clarity, creativity, and integrity. Having supported more than 150 small businesses across the Lowcountry, he is a frequent guest speaker, podcast guest, and workshop host known for helping entrepreneurs navigate emerging technology with confidence. He also serves on the board of Heroes for Hallie Grace and is an active advocate through Chatham Savannah Citizen Advocacy.

• Wade Herring

  Wade Herring is a partner at HunterMaclean law firm in Savannah, where he has practiced since 1985, representing employers of all types and sizes. A Dartmouth and University of Georgia Law School graduate, he is a past president of the Savannah Bar Association and the Savannah East Rotary and has served in leadership roles at Savannah Country Day School and across multiple civic organizations. He and his wife, Susan, have been married for 43 years.