2024 Speakers and Performers

Back LIVE this year, and at the intimate setting of the Three Notch Theater! Follow us on Facebook for more information!



Michael Santos, Ph.D.

Society is confronting multiple novel technologies with the potential to impact entire populations, and new ones are on the horizon. We have important decisions to make that require rigorous and inclusive decision-making models that can be applied on a broad scale to a growing number of emerging challenges.

As Senior Vice President and Chief Population Health Sciences Officer for the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health, Mike’s focus is on accelerating biomedical discoveries. As part of his work at the FNIH, he’s also Director of the GeneConvene Global Collaborative, advancing best practices and informed decision-making for the development of genetic biocontrol technologies.

Global health is Mike’s passion. Before joining the FNIH, he led programs on malaria, tuberculosis and HIV at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and oversaw projects on global health, energy, and the environment in both the public and private sectors at The Boston Consulting Group.

Mike earned a Ph.D. from Caltech and an A.B. from Vassar College and served as a Fellow at both the University of Cambridge and the Space Telescope Science Institute.

 

Sidi Zeid Chleuh

Diverging & Converging - Crafting Innovative Solutions with Empathy

Sidi Zeid Chleuh, is a polyglot whose world view was shaped by the different nationalities of all four of his grandparents and his subsequent journey to the USA at the young age of 17.

With extensive experience in design thinking and as a strategist, he has held important roles throughout his career, to include Technology Director, Portfolio tech lead, Data Science Lead and Lead product owner.

As Co-founder and President of Peak Performance Solutions, his focus is on nurturing innovation primarily by shaping the company’s strategic vision and mission and cultivating strategic partnerships and collaborations

Zeid is a proud alumni of St Mary’s College for Maryland and an active member of the SOMD community and serves as a volunteer tutor, youth leader, and professional mentor. When not at work, Sidi Zeid Chleuh can often be found frequenting local coffee shops and spending time with friends and family. He loves soccer, tennis and plays several musical instruments.

 

Laura Lyster-Mensh

I spent a year exploring 'death positivity.' Then people I knew started dying. What is death positivity and how do I maintain it in the face of real death?

Laura Collins Lyster-Mensh, MS, is an American writer. She has been founding organizations to solve problems all her life, including three international non-profits. She is the author of four books, and has produced three podcast projects, and is currently serving as Death Doula in residence at Historic Congressional Cemetery in Washington DC. She enjoys being old, and doesn’t mind being mortal.

Dr. Dale Moore

Dale will be exploring the art, science and power of conceptual thinking

Dr. Moore is the Founder and President of The Moore Group LLC, a start-up focused on developing and implementing cutting edge strategies for sustaining 21st Century competitiveness.  He is currently a member of The Patuxent Partnership Board of Directors, the St. Mary’s County Economic Development Commission, and the Southern Maryland Navy Alliance as Executive Vice President. 

Dr. Moore has served over 37 years supporting the U.S. Navy and the Department of Defense (DoD) including as the Director, Strategy and Innovation, DASN(RDTE) where he led the development and deployment of the Department of the Navy’s (DON) 30 Year R&D Plan.

Dr. Moore holds an Ed.D. from The George Washington University in Human and Organizational Learning, Leadership and Change; an MS in Product Development from the Naval Postgraduate School, and a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Delaware. 

Jennifer Hopwood, Ed.D

Hopwood hopefully w:o text
Creativity is a highly sought skill in the workplace. However, when it comes to implementing creative ideas, there is still resistance. This talk will discuss the reasons why there is resistance as well as highlighting how embracing creativity can be beneficial, especially post-pandemic.

Dr. Jennifer L. Hopwood is the Innovation, Learning and Development Project Manager for the Southern Maryland Regional Library Association as well as a lecturer for the San Jose State University iSchool. Hopwood holds a Master of Science degree in library and information studies from Florida State University and a Doctor of Education degree in educational leadership and management with a concentration on creativity and innovation from Drexel University. She uses her website Not Quite Superhuman to explore concepts related to creativity, happiness, and overall wellbeing.

Creativity is a highly sought skill in the workplace. However, when it comes to implementing creative ideas, there is still resistance. This talk will discuss the reasons why there is resistance as well as highlighting how embracing creativity can be beneficial, especially post-pandemic.

Joel Tuminaro

Experience with Joel the powerful and peaceful dynamics of the handpan.

Joel Tuminaro is retired, has been playing piano by ear for 45 years, plays relaxing music at Calvert Memorial Hospital, has been playing handpan for about 10 years.