TEDxAvon High School

Speakers

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

• D. Michelle Fenoughty, MD

  President & Chief Executive Officer, Hendricks Regional Health

  D. Michelle Fenoughty, MD, MBA, FACHE, was named President & CEO of Hendricks Regional Health in July 2023. She is the fifth President & CEO to serve in this distinguished role and the first woman and physician to take the helm. A fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, Dr. Fenoughty spent nearly three decades as a practicing women & health physician. A graduate of the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Dr. Fenoughty later earned a Business of Medicine Physician MBA through the Indiana University Kelley School of Business. Dr. Fenoughty serves on the boards of Sheltering Wings, the Hendricks County Economic Development Partnership, Leadership Hendricks County, YMCA of Greater Indianapolis and Indiana Hospital Association. She is a member of the Hendricks County Women’s Giving Circle and the Leadership Hendricks County Class of 2025.

• Dean Westman

  Performing Arts Department Chair and Director of Orchestras, Avon High School

  Dean Westman is the Performing Arts Department Chair and Director of Orchestras at Avon High School. He founded the Avon Orchestra program in 2007 with 38 6th grade beginners. Now in its 19th year, the Avon Orchestra has grown to over 1,000 students grades 6-12. Mr. Westman also serves as a Program Designer for the 5-time Bands of America Grand National Champion and 17 Time Indiana State Champion AHS MB&G. In 2002, Dean was named the Texas Young Bandmaster of the Year by the Texas Bandmaster’s Association. He has taught the Tenrikyo Aimaichi Marching Band from Nagoya, Japan, and has served on the teaching staff for the Bands of America Rose Parade Honor Band of America. Dean continues to guest conduct and present clinics throughout the United States and Japan. Westman currently serves as Senior Education Advisor & Designer for the 2016 and 2024 Drum Corps International World Champion Bluecoats from Canton, Ohio. Westman was inducted into the Bands of America Hall of Fame in 2018.

• Dylan Hanes

  Student, Avon High School

  Dylan Hanes is a junior at Avon High School who is pursuing piano performance after graduation. He began piano lessons at age 5 through the Butler Community Arts Program at Butler University as a student of Miho Sasaki. Recently he has also studied via virtual lessons with internationally renowned pianist, Mackenzie Melemed (American Pianist Awards), and now primarily studies under Dr. Spencer Myer at Indiana University. Dylan has participated in various state and international competitions, and has accompanied the Avon Wind Symphony, the Avon Symphony Orchestra, the Avon Show Choir, and the Avon Marching Black and Gold in his high school career, among other individual students. He also gave a complete concerto concert here at Hendricks Live! with the Hendricks Symphony in October of 2025. Apart from his passion for the piano, Dylan is also an avid reader and LEGO builder. He is excited to share his conviction for classical music for you through his talk today.

• Idowu Adeleke

  Student, Avon High School

  I am Idowu Adeleke, a junior at Avon High School, and I love to read, skateboard, and crochet fun items of clothing for my large and carefully curated wardrobe. When not crocheting, I can be found entranced by the words of Toni Morrison and John Steinbeck. With all the reading I do, I naturally dabble in writing. I’ve written a book called Perennial and published myriad essays in my free time. In addition, I am also a huge fan of history. I earnestly believe that the pursuit of preserving the past as best we can may prevent the unbecoming of humanity. After high school, I plan on pursuing a Bachelor’s in history, with hopes to attend college in Dublin, Ireland.

• Jennifer Floyd

  Olympian, entrepreneur, coach, and mother

  Jennifer Floyd is an Olympian, entrepreneur, coach, and mother who inspires others to embrace discipline, resilience, and hard work. Raised in Central New York in a blue-collar family, she learned early the value of doing things right and finishing what you start. A multi-sport athlete, she discovered rowing in college and pursued it at the elite level, earning spots on the U.S. National Team and competing at the World Championships from 2005–2007. She went on to represent Team USA at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, finishing 5th in the Women’s Quadruple Sculls. After retiring in 2011, Jennifer transitioned into coaching and leadership roles, later finding a passion for fitness through CrossFit. She now owns Fit Body Boot Camp in Plainfield, Indiana, where she helps others build strength, confidence, and an unstoppable mindset.

• Kennedy Berry

  Student, Avon High School

  My name's Kennedy Berry. I'm super honored to be able to perform a TED Talk crafted by my own hands. A few things about me, I love to journal, read, draw, and basically anything that tickles my creative mind. I’m also an avid collector of DVDs, stickers, and other merchandise of whatever movie or video game series I’m into. More broadly, I love uncovering how media we consume affects us as people, whether it be the news, movies, and social media. Additionally, I'm a really big believer in sharing your own authentic voice to the world. As someone who used to vehemently hate her own voice, I want to be a modern-day pioneer of having the confidence to speak on whatever you believe, wish, or want. Whatever you have to say, I'll make sure to be the first one to listen. With that being said, I'm usually not this firm in-person. I like to laugh at the realities of life just as much as I ponder them, and I'm always ready with some kind of joke up my sleeve.

• Lori Ferzandi, PhD

  HR Strategic Business Partner

  Lori Ferzandi, Ph.D., is an industrial-organizational psychologist who has spent nearly two decades studying what makes people tick. Today, she puts that expertise to work as a strategic HR leader at Eli Lilly, helping global teams grow, transform, and find their footing in times of change. But ask what she's most proud of, and she won't mention her résumé. She'll tell you about her two young adult children building creative, meaningful lives, or the cultural awareness and unexpected education in human connection she developed, one cup of coffee at a time, in cafés and kitchens around the world. She remains grounded in the belief that there are far better things ahead than any we leave behind, including another Super Bowl win for her beloved Philadelphia Eagles. Lori gains the most joy when she’s able to help and inspire others through the power of her thoughts and words.

• Matt Harloff

  Director of Bands, Avon High School

  Matt Harloff concludes a remarkable 30-year career at Avon High School, serving 27 years as Assistant Band Director before becoming Director of Bands from 2023–2026. During his tenure, the Avon Band Program earned numerous state, national, and world honors. As director of Avon Indoor Winds, Matt led the group to eight IPA State Championships and six WGI Scholastic World Class Championships. Matt helped the AHS MB&G win 18 state titles and six Grand National Championships. Between 2007 and 2025, the Avon Marching Band maintained an extraordinary 18-year streak of top-three finishes at the Bands of America Grand National Finals. In 2003, Matt became Brass Caption Head for the Carolina Crown Drum & Bugle Corps, helping build Crown BRASS into one of the nation’s elite programs. Carolina Crown is a consistent DCI World Class Finalist and celebrated their first ever DCI World Class World Championship in 2013. Matt was inducted into the Drum Corps International Hall of Fame in 2025.

• Maxwell Hunter

  Student, Avon High School

  Maxwell Hunter is a Junior at Avon High School, speaking about how to create motivation for students to learn academically. Maxwell has taken on many of the AP and honors classes offered at Avon and studies a mix of history, economics, political theory, and Latin on his own time, often taking time in study halls and dedicated student resource time in school to do reading on the subjects along with time outside of school as well. He has also run on both the cross country and track teams since middle school, watching and learning about team culture and how to best get both athletes and general people to perform the task that needs to be done for their own personal development. Maxwell hopes to take his experience as both a leader and a current student to help illuminate why there is a growing apathy when addressing education and learning.

• Randy R. Brutkiewicz, PhD

  Professor of Microbiology & Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine

  Randy R. Brutkiewicz is a Professor of Microbiology and Immunology at Indiana University School of Medicine, with an NIH-funded laboratory studying innate immunity, immune evasion and signal transduction pathways. He was the Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies at Indiana University School of Medicine from 2013 - 2017 and oversaw the IU School of Medicine Graduate Division, responsible for graduate and postdoctoral programming and oversight in the IU School of Medicine. From 2007 – 2013, Randy Brutkiewicz was an Assistant Dean in the IU School of Medicine Office of Faculty Affairs and Professional Development and a member of the AAMC Group on Faculty Affairs; in 2009, the Office of Faculty Affairs and Professional Development received the AAMC Women in Medicine Leadership Award. Dr. Brutkiewicz’s office was the first of its kind and focused exclusively on research faculty development.