Our Purpose
The purpose of TEDxCharleston is to gather inspiring people with diverse ideas to share the many untold stories of Charleston’s thinkers, visionaries, and fascinating teachers. We provide a setting where new connections, partnerships and opportunities can be forged, where we honor the past while bringing forth something new for consideration and action.
Our Yearly Event
TEDxCharleston is an all-day immersion experience at the intersection of science, art performance and business. It is designed to enrich the Charleston, South Carolina community through presentations and entertainment that inspires, engages and transforms.
Our 2026 Theme
Symphony explores the convergence of many voices, ideas, and technologies that we see in our society. It celebrates the blending and bountiful – yet mysterious – factors of nature, art, culture, innovation, history and technology with human minds. Symphony recognizes that great things are often not accomplished alone.
Our Team
2025 Leadership
Organizer & Curator
Mike Sottak
Marketing & Branding
Deb Mohnssen
Production
Greg Magnuson
Speaker Selection
Louise Heikes
Performer Selection
Zandrina Dunning
Speaker Coaching
Sewell Kahn
Sponsorship
Leslie MacDowell
Venue
Mike Sottak
Volunteer Coordinators
Melissa Stewart
X-Teams
Marketing & Branding
Deborah Mohnssen
Ella Arnold
Cheryl Irwin
Chris Vestal
Production
Greg Magnuson
Chris Rucker
Zandrina Dunning
Celeste Middleton
Kris Davis
Speaker Selection
Louise Heikes
Marty Howley
Sewell Kahn
Stephanie Mackara
Jared Bramblett
Herb Frazier
Amber Ludeman
Lia Collabello
Speaker Coaching
Kenya Dunn
Yolanda Harris
Michael Schmidt
Sewell Kahn
Austin Fitzhenry
Jessica Vernon
About TEDx
x = independently organized event
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized. (Subject to certain rules and regulations.)
About TED
TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. Started as a four-day conference in California 30 years ago, TED has grown to support its mission with multiple initiatives. The two annual TED Conferences invite the world’s leading thinkers and doers to speak for 18 minutes or less. Many of these talks are then made available, free, at TED.com. TED speakers have included Bill Gates, Jane Goodall, Elizabeth Gilbert, Sir Richard Branson, Nandan Nilekani, Philippe Starck, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Sal Khan and Daniel Kahneman.
The annual TED Conference takes place each spring in Vancouver, British Columbia, along with the TEDActive simulcast event in nearby Whistler. The annual TEDGlobal conference will be held this October in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. TED’s media initiatives include TED.com, where new TED Talks are posted daily; the Open Translation Project, which provides subtitles and interactive transcripts as well as translations from volunteers worldwide; the educational initiative TED-Ed. TED has established the annual TED Prize, where exceptional individuals with a wish to change the world get help translating their wishes into action; TEDx, which supports individuals or groups in hosting local, self- organized TED-style events around the world, and the TED Fellows program, helping world-changing innovators from around the globe to amplify the impact of their remarkable projects and activities.
Follow TED on Twitter at http://twitter.com/TEDTalks, or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/TED.