TEDxGilletteAvenue Speakers
Emma-Jane Alexander - "Creativity and Vulnerability in VR"
Emma-Jane graduated with a BS(Hons) computing and mathematics degree in Visualization from the University of Teesside (2000) and an Executive MBA (2006) from the University of Hull (both UK). She takes great pleasure in utilizing both technical and management skills to explore and nurture the successful adoption of technology and software in visualization centers based at higher education institutions.
Currently the manager of the Shell 3D Visualization Center at UW, Emma-Jane enjoys the challenge of bringing together 3D visualization and supercomputing experts with faculty, students and businesses to enhance teaching, research and commercial productivity. She is interested in developing new multidisciplinary collaborative relationships with faculty and parties external to UW.
Emma-Jane holds a provisional patent in the development of a virtual therapeutic treatment for obesity, and has practical and strategic interests in STEM activity and is the current president of a national committee called THE CAAV (Campus Alliance for Advanced Visualization) which aims to strengthen and nurture visualization practices across the country, for and between both academia and industry.
Currently the manager of the Shell 3D Visualization Center at UW, Emma-Jane enjoys the challenge of bringing together 3D visualization and supercomputing experts with faculty, students and businesses to enhance teaching, research and commercial productivity. She is interested in developing new multidisciplinary collaborative relationships with faculty and parties external to UW.
Emma-Jane holds a provisional patent in the development of a virtual therapeutic treatment for obesity, and has practical and strategic interests in STEM activity and is the current president of a national committee called THE CAAV (Campus Alliance for Advanced Visualization) which aims to strengthen and nurture visualization practices across the country, for and between both academia and industry.
Jason Kintzler - "Making News"
Jason Kintzler is the Founder and CEO of Pitchengine, a modern news platform that transformed the PR industry and is now used by more than 50,000 brands worldwide including companies like Pepsico, WalMart and Budweiser.
A former anchorman turned entrepreneur, Jason bootstrapped his Wyoming startup beginning in 2008. He's been credited with “heralding in a new era of public relations” by creating “one of the industry’s most transformative innovations.”
He now has his sights set on the future of community news being powered by Pitchengine.
Jason regularly shares his passion for new media and business by speaking to groups of all sizes at events like TEDx, SXSW, PRSA and at universities like Stanford, USC and Marquette.
A former anchorman turned entrepreneur, Jason bootstrapped his Wyoming startup beginning in 2008. He's been credited with “heralding in a new era of public relations” by creating “one of the industry’s most transformative innovations.”
He now has his sights set on the future of community news being powered by Pitchengine.
Jason regularly shares his passion for new media and business by speaking to groups of all sizes at events like TEDx, SXSW, PRSA and at universities like Stanford, USC and Marquette.
John Flocchini - "From Big to Small, an Idea that can Affect us All"
John grew up in California and has been taking care of his family’s bison ranch in northeast Wyoming since graduating with his Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture in 1980. In addition to this role for the family, John is the Vice-President of the Board of the family corporation which includes 2 meat companies in Nevada, as well as the Durham Buffalo Ranch south of Gillette.
As well as managing the bison ranch, John also serves as the current President of the Powder River Energy Corporation Foundation, whose mission is to lend a helping hand to those in need in northeast Wyoming.
John’s hobbies include traveling, hiking, camping and fly-fishing as well as family, cooking and eating. He holds a private pilot certificate, and, is an accomplished runner with several marathons under his belt including 2 Boston Marathons.
He feels very blessed to have a wonderful wife in Gaylynn and, between the two of them, they have 5 daughters and 2 grandchildren (so far).
As well as managing the bison ranch, John also serves as the current President of the Powder River Energy Corporation Foundation, whose mission is to lend a helping hand to those in need in northeast Wyoming.
John’s hobbies include traveling, hiking, camping and fly-fishing as well as family, cooking and eating. He holds a private pilot certificate, and, is an accomplished runner with several marathons under his belt including 2 Boston Marathons.
He feels very blessed to have a wonderful wife in Gaylynn and, between the two of them, they have 5 daughters and 2 grandchildren (so far).
Wendy Gauntner - "Forget Self-Help, Ask Your Grandma"
Wendy Gauntner is a educator, writer, adoptive mother, state parent advocate and certified life coach. She holds a B.A. in Education and an M.S. in Adult Learning and Technology, and is a trained community educator for Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction. She has volunteered for library outreach for many years, recently completed hospice training and is an Abider, a person who sits compassionately with the imminently dying.
She recently authored the book Lee & Me: What I Learned from Parenting a Child with Adverse Childhood Experiences. Wendy lives in Gillette, Wyoming with her engineer husband, teenage son and rescue dog.
She recently authored the book Lee & Me: What I Learned from Parenting a Child with Adverse Childhood Experiences. Wendy lives in Gillette, Wyoming with her engineer husband, teenage son and rescue dog.
Tammy Akovenko - "Re-Envisioning Prisoner Re-Entry"
Tammy Akovenko, married three years, has two adult sons who are married and three wonderful grandchildren. She has been the Executive Director and founder of Second Chance Ministries, for the last 10 years, which assists those returning to our community from incarceration to become productive adults and to help make their reentry a success.
Second Chance Ministries was born out of her oldest son’s 8 year incarceration. Through that time of visiting him in different penal institutions Tammy and her husband came to see that these individuals were sons and daughters, moms and dads, brothers and sisters. Upon seeing individuals releasing to Campbell County through the local halfway house (VOA Booth Hall) they came to see the great needs these individuals had returning to a community. Second Chance was developed to meet those basic important needs.
Tammy also served on the Campbell County Corrections board for the past 6 years and has enjoyed every minute of that.
Second Chance Ministries was born out of her oldest son’s 8 year incarceration. Through that time of visiting him in different penal institutions Tammy and her husband came to see that these individuals were sons and daughters, moms and dads, brothers and sisters. Upon seeing individuals releasing to Campbell County through the local halfway house (VOA Booth Hall) they came to see the great needs these individuals had returning to a community. Second Chance was developed to meet those basic important needs.
Tammy also served on the Campbell County Corrections board for the past 6 years and has enjoyed every minute of that.
Mark Gomelsky - "Domesticating Cells in the Epoch of Bio-Revolution"
Mark Gomelsky, originally from Russia, is a Professor of Molecular Biology at University of Wyoming. Most of his research career he has studied how bacteria sense their environment and how they make decisions to best adapt to environmental changes.
Recently, his laboratory has also been engineering bacteria and other cells to respond to human commands delivered via chemicals and near-infrared light. He believes that programmed and remotely bacterial cellular drones can be used in many medical applications, such as promoting human gastrointestinal health, fighting cancer and regenerating damaged organs.
Recently, his laboratory has also been engineering bacteria and other cells to respond to human commands delivered via chemicals and near-infrared light. He believes that programmed and remotely bacterial cellular drones can be used in many medical applications, such as promoting human gastrointestinal health, fighting cancer and regenerating damaged organs.
Paul Flesher - "Dealing with Social Difference: A Ten-Minute Guide"
Paul Flesher is a Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Wyoming, where he chaired the Religious Studies Department for 21 years. An active observer of religious behavior and thought, since 1999 he has written the twice-monthly column Religion Today since which appears in many Wyoming newspapers and online.
Twice a year, he organizes the Saturday University events held in Gillette
Twice a year, he organizes the Saturday University events held in Gillette
Matthew Craig - "Biology: A Road Map to Decision Making"
Education
West Texas State University, Canyon, Texas, Biology B.S., 1988
West Texas A&M University, Canyon, Texas, Biology M.S., 1992
University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, Additional graduate coursework not leading to a degree
Appointments
August 2015-Present, Biology Faculty, Gillette College
2014-2015, Biology Faculty, Western Oklahoma State College
1997-2013, Associate Professor, Department of Biology, Amarillo College, Amarillo, Texas
West Texas State University, Canyon, Texas, Biology B.S., 1988
West Texas A&M University, Canyon, Texas, Biology M.S., 1992
University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, Additional graduate coursework not leading to a degree
Appointments
August 2015-Present, Biology Faculty, Gillette College
2014-2015, Biology Faculty, Western Oklahoma State College
1997-2013, Associate Professor, Department of Biology, Amarillo College, Amarillo, Texas