TEDxBradenton Partners

Venue Host: State College of Florida Sarasota-Manatee

Established in 1957, State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota (SCF) is the region's first and largest public college, serving 10,000 college credit students annually at campuses in Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch and Venice, and via online classes. Another 10,000 participants annually attend professional development and personal enrichment classes. To meet the educational and workforce training needs of citizens and businesses in the region, SCF has expanded to include workforce baccalaureate degrees while continuing to focus on highly respected associate degrees that prepare graduates for university transfer and professional careers. Since 1959, the College has graduated more than 60,000 students.

Venue Host: SCF Foundation

Since 1978 The State College Of Florida Foundation has connected donors' passions and regional partners with State College of Florida's outstanding students, faculty, programs and community. The SCF Foundation aspires to remove the financial obstacles for all deserving students who want to improve their lives with a State College of Florida education, in order to contribute to the vitality of our community and to expand innovative, academic enhancements of the college to make it the best educational experience in the region.

Venue Host: SCF 26 West Center

If you want to start a business or change the course of your career, the 26 West Center is an amazing resource. The 26 West Center is a spectacular 40,000 square-foot innovation hub located on the campus of State College of Florida in Bradenton dedicated to developing people, growing businesses, and driving our local economy. It is home to the comprehensive 26 West Entrepreneurship Center where you can attend workshops and classes taught by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs, learn how to develop your personal brand and professional network, hire our digital marketing agency to help you build your business, or work with our video production and podcasting specialists.

If you're more interested in a career in technology, visit the SCF Coding Academy where you can earn industry-recognized certifications in cybersecurity, Amazon Web Services, Python, and more. You don't have to be an SCF student to use the 26 West Center. All services are available to the public. Want to learn more? Visit www.26West.SCF.edu or call Kim Richmond at 941.752.5449.

Pathfinder Sponsor: Neal Communities of Southwest Florida, Inc.

Neal Communities, based in Lakewood Ranch, Florida, is Southwest Florida's largest and most established locally owned and operated private builder. During the company's 50-year history, it has built more than 20,000 new homes in more than 90 acclaimed communities from Tampa to Naples. The company consistently ranks among the nation's top 100 home builders and has earned numerous awards including the prestigious Builder of the Year from Professional Builder in 2015 and America's Best Builder in 2012 from BUILDER Magazine.

With a core belief that “Where You Live Matters,” Neal Communities has given more than $7.75 million to local charities throughout Southwest Florida and is committed to the communities where they live, work and build. Company sales in fiscal year 2022 were just over $600 million. Additional Neal Communities brands include Neal Signature Homes, SimplyDwell Homes, Charlene Neal PureStyle, Waterscapes Pools & Spas, Neal Communities Funding and Allegiant Title Professionals. For more information, visit NealCommunities.com.

Explorer Sponsor: 3d Cloud by Marxent

Based in St. Petersburg, Florida, 3D Cloud by Marxent is the global leader in 3D product visualization, 3D product configuration, and augmented reality for enterprise furniture and home improvement retailers. Clients include Macy's, Herman Miller, Design Within Reach, Ashley HomeStores, La-Z-Boy, TimberTech, and major home improvement retailers in the US, UK, Europe, New Zealand, and Australia.

Explorer Sponsor: The Club at Cheval

The Club at Cheval is “the place to be” for golfers, families and fitness lovers in the Tampa Bay area. Spread over almost 900 beautifully maintained acres, Cheval members enjoy an array of amenities including: a challenging 18-hole golf course with picturesque views on every hole, a newly renovated Clubhouse and Tavern restaurant with outstanding dining options, nine har-tru clay tennis courts, a fully-equipped fitness center staffed with top-notch trainers and instructors, group exercise classes, and a fun and inviting youth program. There is something fun happening at the Club at Cheval for people of all ages and the friendly team invites TEDxBradenton guests to come Play Cheval soon!

Explorer Sponsor: GO Approach Life Counseling and Coaching

Many times society and the media portray misguided ideas of how we are “supposed” to be/act/feel/show up in the world. Founder of Go Approach Life Counseling & Wellness LLC Orlando Pickens believes that each person has a unique story and journey that changes as we grow, are in tune with our own inner world and live from the core of who we are. Go Approach Life uses multidimensional methods to help clients live a life capable of dealing with emotional pain and able to find meaning in all areas of life. With an understanding that systemic problems in the healthcare system, such as access and cost disproportionately affect Black Americans, Go Approach Life offers a sliding fee scale and free consultations to people in need so everyone can GO approach life on their own terms. The TEDxBradenton team appreciates Orlando's guidance through the speaker selection process, rehearsals, organizing team support, and keeping the show on time from his supportive role in the backstage Green Room.

Explorer Sponsor: Natalie Baird Mediations / Forgiving Unforgivable

Natalie Baird-King, Esq. is a Board Certified attorney in Marital and Family Law and founder of Natalie Baird Mediations, as well as a Supreme Court Certified Mediator for Family Law cases. Her book “Forgiving Unforgivable” walks with readers on the path to gaining personal freedom, feeling empowered, and stepping into life's purpose. Through her life experience and thoughtful writing, Natalie developed four essential secrets to overcome the past and find forgiveness. Her life's journey has allowed her to find her purpose both as a family law mediator and author.

Explorer Sponsor: Scott's Exotic Plants

Scott's Exotic Plants is a family owned, licensed retail plant nursery that has a unique business model. They grow and sell an array of tropical, exotic, and rare house plants for indoors and outdoors as well as plant accessories. They offer what they like to call “planterior design” to local businesses and people throughout the Tampa Bay area. They curate plant stores inside of other local businesses, which beautifully enhances their business storefront/space and allows people to easily purchase Scott's Exotic Plants on site/ online.

Their love for all things green began long ago. Originally from Detroit, life brought them to live in the beautiful sunshine state of Florida where they have established a top-notch plant nursery. Beyond beautiful plants, Scott's offers care tips, advice, and sharing their love of plants. The team at Scott's Exotic Plants truly look forward to helping clients and their plants thrive! Scott's team loves to share the amazing benefits of plants, especially pertaining to how plants positively impact mental health, air quality, and overall wellness in people! Their desire is to spread love, joy, and peace through plants and breathe life into your home and business!

Explorer Sponsor: The Zen Barn Bradenton

A wellness experience for the busy professional with a core belief that we can only be our best selves when we prioritize our wellbeing as much as we prioritize career. The Zen Barn Bradenton was born to help local professionals achieve their wellness goals. The Zen Barn Bradenton is a place where professionals are encouraged to mix business and personal growth in order to create a cohesive community that will grow and learn together both personally and professionally. Offering wellness retreats, healing arts groups, community building, networking, professional development, and mental health wellness at an accessible cost.

Community Partner: Bradenton Toastmasters Club

Toastmasters International is a nonprofit educational organization that builds confidence and teaches public speaking skills through a worldwide network of clubs that meet online and in person. In a supportive community or corporate environment, members prepare and deliver speeches, respond to impromptu questions, and give and receive constructive feedback. It is through this regular practice that members are empowered to meet personal and professional communication goals. Founded in 1924, the organization has 270,000+ members in more than 14,000 clubs in 148 countries. Here in our community, the Bradenton Toastmasters Club was voted the “Friendliest” Club in Manatee County. Join for a meeting to experience these experienced, helpful, FRIENDLY public speaking experts.

Community Partner: Connect Central

Connect Central offers flexible workspace solutions for entrepreneurs, business professionals, and organizations of all sizes to meet or get work done. From meeting rooms to mailboxes, private offices to co-working, right in the heart of Downtown Bradenton. Connect Central; where you, and your business, belong. Fun fact: Connect Central is the place where some of the first meetings occurred to make TEDxBradenton happen in 2022. Connect continued to be the spot for the many meetings to plan this year's event, the Salon series, and all things TEDxBradenton-related.

Community Partner: Definitely Onto Something

The small business web development agency that knows every dollar counts to the client. We focus on ensuring that our products provide exactly what the client wants, and what they need to grow and sustain business in today's fast moving world. Be it a custom site, or consulting on methods, we do everything we can to affordably provide the client their needs and create long term relationships with them.

Community Partner: Emerge Sarasota

Emerge Sarasota was designed for us and by us. With that foundation, Emerge is able to connect like-minded, emerging leaders and creatives in the area. Emerge provides its members with educational, professional, and networking opportunities equipping them with the tools they need to build lasting relationships with fellow members and the local community. Founded in January 2017, our roots in the community run deep. Our board of directors is composed of long-time residents who are dedicated to making a lasting impact in the community in which we all live, work, and love. Emerge aims to bring together local, BIPOC professionals who have a passion for their community and career fields. And though we are BIPOC-driven, Emerge's door is open to any and all young professionals who wish to add value to their lives, careers, and the lives of those in this community.

Community Partner: Game On Nation

Since it was founded by Steve Shenbaum in 1997, Game On Nation has become one of the most respected firms in communication, leadership, and team building training. Game On is nationally recognized for working with some of the most demanding and high-profile corporations, leagues, and teams, creating unparalleled commitment and buy-in, with results that last. Through Game On's library of proven, game-based curriculum, their expert team delivers tangible skill-building programs and micro-learning moments across for teams in multiple sectors. Game On's innovative curriculum inspires participants to not only care about their training goals, but to remember and apply these interactive techniques to continuously improve. Through working with Game On Nation, the TEDxBradenton 2023 speaker cohort experienced first-hand how connection and communication is our superpower.

Community Partner: Stronger Moving & Delivery Service

What difference does it make to hire "professional" movers? When someone is moving their belongings it makes all the difference. Stronger Moving's has refined an first-class customer service experience with over 40,000 moves since 2008. What does "professional" mean for movers? Our moving crews are elite logistics professionals because they are thoroughly trained, supported, and encouraged to provide the highest level of careful service. This locally-grown, family-owned moving company with 15 years in business recently won the Manatee Chamber's “Small Business of the Year” Award. From one piece of furniture to a whole house, around the corner or throughout the State of Florida, Stronger's professional moving crews always deliver 5-star service. The TEDxBradenton team appreciates their careful attention to moving and storing our red TEDx letters and event materials.

Community Partner: Your Honeycomb Longevity Planning & Consulting

Your Honeycomb helps families create a longevity plan by categorizing all facets of a person's life, from assets, digital estate, security, daily life, health & wellness, and legacy. Imagine that all facets of your life were organized into a digital system that was accessible by you and the most important people in your life. From your will to your insurance policies, important documents to your Netflix password, favorite recipes to childhood photo albums, emergency contacts and everything in between; each part of you and your life would be gathered, catalogued, and securely stored for safekeeping and easy access. That is Your Honeycomb: your life, organized. The TEDxBradenton team could not have done the Summer Salon Series with the help of Kristie Kindstrom, her event rental space, and general wise guidance. Thank you, Kristie!

Media Partner: The Business Observer

The Business Observer is the weekly newspaper for business leaders on the west coast of Florida. Started in 1997 as the Gulf Coast Business Review, the Business Observer is the leading provider and most authoritative source of business and economic information affecting the Gulf Coast from Tampa Bay to Naples. It specializes in reporting on the region's industry and economic trends; emerging companies; corporate strategies; identifying and profiling the region's up-and-coming entrepreneurs and top business leaders; and keeping its readers abreast of state, regional and local government actions affecting business and the economy. Visit BusinessObserverFL.com for the latest daily headlines.