TEDxParrish Street

Speakers

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

• Andrea Parker

  Business Success Coach

  Andrea Parker is an entrepreneur, community builder, and co-founder of The Parker Brand, LLC and the STEAMEx nonprofit, advancing access to entrepreneurship, STEAM education, and career development. A Halifax County, NC native, she holds degrees from East Carolina University and North Carolina A&T State University. Andrea is an HR Project Manager at a Fortune 500 tech company, specializing in change management and process improvement. Through her work, she empowers individuals to lead boldly, build opportunity, and create generational impact across communities.

• Chris Tazewell

  Account Executive

  Chris Tazewell helps people bridge the gap between where they are and where they want to be. An enterprise seller and emerging leader at a global software company, he has helped hundreds of professionals—many from underserved backgrounds—break into high-paying tech careers by leveraging what they already have. As host of The Corporate Athlete podcast, Chris explores high performance, sales strategy, leadership development, and the mindset barriers that hold people back. He believes transformation comes from belief, exposure, and action—not pedigree—and inspires others to move beyond self-doubt and step into purpose.

• Dananai Gardner

  Attorney

  Dananai Gardner, a Miami native, is an attorney with more than nine years of experience in public service and corporate in-house counsel. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Wayland Baptist University in 2013. Gardner earned her Juris Doctor from North Carolina Central University School of Law in 2017, where she served as president of the African Law Students Association. She gained early legal experience through internships in alternative dispute resolution and with Durham County government. She is Assistant Vice President and Counsel at LPL Financial, managing legal matters involving regulatory inquiries and dispute resolution. A licensed North Carolina attorney and Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP), Gardner also serves on the Franklin County Economic Development Commission, the Board of Directors for Safe Space Inc., and the Franklin County Arts Council. She is married to Shermon Gardner, and they have four children.

• Dion Chavis

  Founder/CEO

  Dion Chavis is a certified parenting coach and the founder of The Glad Dad, a national initiative focused on strengthening the role of fathers in education and community life. He works with schools and organizations to build partnerships with fathers, helping increase student engagement, belonging, and long-term success. With over 15 years of experience, Dion has collaborated with hundreds of schools and organizations nationwide. His work helps reduce absenteeism and shape inclusive school cultures by rethinking how systems engage fathers. Drawing from research, lived experience, and practical strategies, Dion highlights the often overlooked connection between father engagement and student success. As a speaker, Dion is clear, honest, and relatable when exploring family engagement, equity, and education. His talks invite audiences to rethink how schools and communities define involvement and recognize how honoring the full family ecosystem can transform outcomes for children.

• Dr. Jessica Shupik

  Learning Coordinator

  Dr. Jessica Shupik has worked in learning and development and education for over 15 years, leading teams and initiatives that improve how people learn at work and in schools. Her passion is designing equitable and engaging learning experiences to help students of all ages see what they are capable of achieving. Jessica believes every learner deserves access to purposeful, data-informed opportunities that honor their voice, experiences, and potential for growth.

• Glenn Leifheit

  Principal Security Program Manager, Security Leader & Mentorship Advocate

  Glenn Leifheit is a passionate, energetic leader with 30 years experience in tech and cyber security industries who embraces the energy in life. His work in technology, community building and personal growth has shown him how personal identity guides us to the choices we make. Glenn has the ability to build strong community, connection and bring the best out of people. He leads a community of tens of thousands of developers and supports his passion through his podcast, From Stuck to Growth, which helps people elevate to that next level. Glenn's passion for helping others grow and overcome obstacles has been reshaped by his recovery from mold toxin poisoning — an experience which required him to dismantle and rebuild his identity. Glenn currently resides in the Seattle area with his wife and son. When not working, he enjoys spending time with his family, kayaking, staying fit, developing his podcast and learning what is next in technology.

• Kenyetta Hall

  Product Owner/Founder

  Kenyetta Hall is a seasoned Product Leader and Business Strategist with a proven record of helping Fortune 500 companies and startups bring innovative products to market through impactful product strategies. A former AI startup co-founder and now CEO of Katalyst HQ, a Product Strategy and Innovation Studio, she partners with organizations to reduce risk and empower leaders with frameworks, strategies, and systems that accelerate product growth, optimize decision-making, and drive innovation. Katalyst HQ provides advisory services, fractional product leadership, workshops, and strategic sessions tailored to organizations. She is also the co-founder of Agile Product Dojo, which trains early- and mid-career product professionals through coaching and education to build skills for today’s workforce. Additionally, Kenyetta serves as Social Entrepreneur in Residence and Professor of Practice at UNC–Chapel Hill’s Shuford Program for Entrepreneurship, where she teaches Brand for Social Impact.

• Susana Briscoe-Alba

  Founder/CEO

  Susana Briscoe-Alba is a passionate Leadership Mentor and Career Consultant with a mission to empower women of color to reach new heights in their careers. With over a decade of experience in leadership roles across higher education and sales, Susana has honed the expertise needed to guide others toward success. Her transition from higher education leadership to career coaching and consulting reflects her resilience and dedication to helping others maximize their potential. Known for her warm smile and commitment to creating opportunities, Susana is a trusted advocate and inspiring voice in leadership and career development. Susana lives in New York with her husband and their son, a LEGO enthusiast. In her free time, she enjoys building LEGO forts and hosting Marvel movie nights. Her genuine commitment to ensuring others feel seen, valued, and heard defines her character.

• Teta L. Jackson

  Founder/Author/Attorney

  A native of New Orleans, Louisiana, Teta’s life experiences across multiple states shaped her understanding that emotional pain transcends race, class, and circumstance. This awareness led her into a ministry and career centered on emotional healing, beginning with her powerful message, “Kill the Spider: Deal with your past before it destroys your present and your future.” For more than three decades, Teta has helped women release past pain, embrace healing, and step fully into purpose. Passionate about wholeness, she views her calling as administering healing to the heart, mind, and soul, just as a doctor treats the physical body. A worshipper at heart, Teta ministers with conviction and faith, believing every life is purpose-driven and every dream still attainable. She is the Founder and Managing Member of Empowering To Be, LLC, and serves as a Minister, Attorney, Entrepreneur, Author, Possibilities Coach, and Mentor, dedicated to helping women discover who they were born to be.

• Tiffany Wright

  Human Resources Professional

  Tiffany Minnie Wright is a Brooklyn-born Human Resources specialist at Lenovo, where she leads workplace investigations, advises global leaders, and focuses on employee experience and ethics. She is a nontraditional graduate of Fayetteville State University, earning her Business Administration degree while working full-time and raising a family. Now based in North Carolina with her husband and three children, Tiffany is also a writer, spoken word poet, and lifelong storyteller who is passionate about advancing equity in the tech industry and expanding access to opportunity for all.

• Ty Smith

  Founder/CEO

  Ty Smith is an award-winning technology advisor and ecosystem builder with nearly two decades of experience in the IT industry. After a successful Channel Sales Management career at Cox, Ty founded Optical Diversity Telecom, a global technology advisory firm that helps casino, hotel, airport, retail, and industrial leaders navigate complex telecom initiatives and large-scale IT infrastructure transformations. He also co-founded Big Stage Energy, a conference community and consulting firm that expands access to industry events at scale while partnering with and empowering event organizers worldwide. Ty’s mission is to create pathways that help people access the right rooms, build meaningful relationships, and gain the knowledge that fuels both business growth and personal development.