Speakers

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Mike Ball is an award-winning humorist, singer-songwriter, and author. He writes a syndicated column and has published four books. In 2007, he founded Lost Voices, an organization that provides expressive therapy through music to at-risk youth, including those in juvenile justice systems and survivors of abuse and trafficking.

 Stand-up comedian. Bacon lover. Pickle hater. Husband. Dad. Entrepreneur. Challenger of the status quo. Force for good. On a mission to rekindle the fire in your belly. Chief troublemaker. Keynote Speaker on Creativity, Marketing, & Innovation. Creative Director at Curve Detroit Design + Marketing.

 As an executive coach and sought-after presenter, Bean prides himself on delivering “inspiredutaining” presentations. His audiences learn, laugh, and leave inspired. He is a two-time published author, certified Behavioral Elements guide, and an executive producer of TEDxDetroit.  

 Photographer. Influencer. Speaker. Founder of Shawn Lee Studios, Rock That Photography Conference, and the Multicultural Association of Professional Photographers.  Shawn is also a photography instructor at Schoolcraft College and the diversity lead for the Professional Photographers of America (PPA).

As an artist, Colin's passion is exploring the relationship between materials and meaning. He draws inspiration from traditional art practices and combines them with emerging technologies to innovate new processes in making. As a researcher at UMich, he finds these two distinct realms of art and science are intertwined. 

Oxford, Michigan-based comedian Jason, co-owns Doomsday Shelter Comedy for Mental Health with wife Amanda. A regular performer at Mark Ridley’s Comedy Castle in Royal Oak and One Night Stan’s in Waterford. Jason has shared the stage with some of his greatest comedy idols, including Joe List, Mary Mack, J. Chris Newberg, and Dave Landau.

Nando is a UMICH graduate pioneering inclusive education initiatives. He co-founded Building Successful Bridges for minority students and developed the LEAPS program at Marsal School of Education. Nando now represents Google's Code Next in Detroit, partnering with tech companies and nonprofits. As a board member of The Umoja Debate League, he fosters social consciousness among youth..

A rising senior from Canton High School, Tesko is deeply interested in drug discovery, conservation medicine, cellular senescence, robotics, and AI. Tesko has been conducting research since he began his work on cellular senescence in sixth grade. He has won silver and gold medals at the Canada Wide Science Fair as well as the Fourth Place Grand Award at the International Science and Engineering Fair. 

Knitwear designer and owner of Yarn Nerds LLC. Lisa is a wife and mother of 6 beautiful children with over 22 years knitting, and crocheting. Her love affair with knitting began at an early age when she was introduced to the art by a teacher.  Lisa is a multi-faceted artisan, self-taught in sewing, crocheting, and hand dying her own brand of yarns. This was the birth of Yarn Nerds.