5 questions for TEDxCharlotte organizer Winn Maddrey
February 20, 2020
This year marks the 10th Anniversary of TEDxCharlotte. The speaker conference will take place on April 24th at CPCC’s Halton Theater. To learn more about TEDxCharlotte, we spoke with event organizer Winn Maddrey.
For those who may not know, what is TEDxCharlotte all about?TEDxCharlotte operates under the TEDx grassroots initiative, created in the spirit of TED’s overall mission to research and discover “ideas worth spreading.” TEDx brings the spirit of TED to local communities around the globe via “rules and tools.” TEDx events include live speakers and recorded TED Talks and are organized independently under a free license granted by TED. We typically have 12+ speakers throughout the day.
What types of speakers and topics do you look for?
We look for a variety of speakers from the Charlotte area who have ideas worth spreading. Metaphorically, we want to curate and produce ideas that form a day of mind-tingling and differing concepts — from community to art to entertainment to design and technology. Once we have a subject matter expert in one field, we typically seek other fields, so that we have a broad, representative group of speakers.
How has it evolved over the past decade?
Technology is one area. There are more videos out there, and people have content, which helps us find and vet speakers. And, in the coaching process, people can record themselves and send us videos, so technology has enhanced how we find speakers and get them ready.
What do you have planned for this year?
It’s very similar to the last one, held in 2018. Very few changes, except a spring event, this time. We will have 12+ speakers with a variety of ideas plus entertainment and TED videos. Lunch is provided by Fran’s Filling Station, and it’s a great day.
Where can we find more info?
Please visit TEDxCharlotte.com for more information and to purchase tickets.
About Winn:
Winn Maddrey is senior vice president of marketing and corporate communications at Charlotte-based TKXS, where he leads company marketing initiatives. Maddrey has worked in communications since 1991, with stints at the U.S. House of Representatives, The White House, The U.S. Department of Commerce, Capstrat and FleishmanHillard. In addition, he started two communications firms, one of which was sold to Raleigh-based Capstrat. Maddrey has a bachelor’s in History from Davidson College. He lives in the Elizabeth neighborhood with his wife and two sons.
