Organizers

Contact TEDxTampaBay

Arlen Bensen

During more than 35 years as an arts professional, Arlen Bensen worked as a dancer, actor,
singer, stage manager, stagehand, musician, playwright, teacher, dramaturg and
university professor (but primarily, as a stage director). He was a member of AEA (Actors Equity
Association), IATSE (International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees), LMDA (Literary Managers
and Dramaturgs of the Americas), ATHE (Association for Theater in Higher Education) and he
continues membership in SDC (the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers).

In addition to directing in regional theaters, stock, university theaters and Off-Off Broadway,
Arlen survived as a bartender, NYC cab driver, clam digger, plastics factory worker, highway tractor
grass cutter, wheelchair van driver and scheduler, security guard, car rental agent, legal proofreader,
sailing instructor, dispatcher, data entry agent, corporate research archivist, barrista, short order cook
and telephone ticket sales agent (to name a few…).

Arlen recently completed a 2nd Masters (ALA-accredited Master of Library and Information Science) and, while seeking a full-time library appointment, he volunteers as a Reference Librarian at North Sarasota Library.

Gina Clifford

Gina’s an eclectic mix of Physics, Technology Management, and Entrepreneurship on a mission to change the world. She’s an enthusiastic emerging technologies strategist, TEDx Organizer and mentor, child-led learning advocate, Mom, futurist, social entrepreneur, Mac fanatic, and globally-focused blogger.

Peter Kageyama

Peter Kageyama is the author of For the Love of Cities, a book about the emotional connections we have with our places and the benefits to cities for becoming more lovable and engaging. He is the co-founder and producer of the Creative Cities Summit, an interdisciplinary event that brings together citizens and practitioners around the big idea of the city. Peter is the former President of Creative Tampa Bay, a grassroots community change organization. He has spoken all over the world about bottom up community development and the amazing people that are making change happen.

Nathan Schwagler

Nathan is the founder of Nathan Schwagler & Associates and a Creative-In-Residence/Faculty Instructor at University of South Florida.  Nathan has expert-level knowledge of creativity, innovation, and creative problem solving tools and processes, applied as a process facilitator and consultant for clients in academic, government, industry, and start-up environments.