2026 TEDxBILLINGS SPEAKER LINEUP
These are the speakers from our upcoming TEDxBillings event.
Amanda Davis
Amanda Davis was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at age 10, in a town of fewer than 300 people in rural Montana. The nearest endocrinologist was four hours away. There was no community, no peer, no one close enough to call. So she learned to read her own data. Not because it was interesting. Because no one else was going to do it for her.
That discipline became a career. Amanda went on to become an engineer and serve as a NASA Certified Payload Operations Controller for the International Space Station at Marshall Space Flight Center, monitoring critical systems, troubleshooting anomalies in real time, and working directly with astronauts to save the science when something went wrong. No guessing. No margin for error. Just data, pattern recognition, and a systematic response.
She left NASA and brought those two disciplines together to found BioFit and create the Glucose Pattern Recognition Methodology™, the only systematic framework for interpreting continuous glucose monitor data built specifically for fitness and wellness professionals.
Today, millions of people are wearing continuous glucose monitors, not as medical devices, but as mainstream fitness wearables. The data is everywhere. The problem is that almost no one, including the personal trainers, health coaches, physical therapists, chiropractors, and registered dietitians sitting across from these clients every day, has a systematic framework for reading it.
That is the gap Amanda built BioFit to close. The Glucose Pattern Recognition Methodology™ gives fitness and wellness professionals a structured, scope-appropriate system for recognizing glucose patterns, understanding what client data is actually communicating, and knowing exactly when to coach and when to refer. The Certified BioFit Specialist™ is a 12-week live certification that trains and credentials professionals in the complete methodology.
Amanda is a published author of The 5-Part Diabetic Pregnancy Journal, available at Barnes & Noble, and the host of The Metabolic Edge, a CGM podcast for fitness and wellness professionals.
Attendees will leave her talk, “Everyone has the data. Almost no one can read it,” with a reframe they cannot un-see, a healthier relationship to their own biometric data, and one question that will follow them home: Do I actually know what that means, or am I just looking at it?
Beth Caldwell is a high-level executor, a “most coachable” teammate, and a firm believer that if you aren’t going to celebrate yourself, nobody else will.
A native of Forsyth, MT, and the founder of BC Beauty Because You Deserve It in Billings, MT.
Beth has been working on mastering the art of the “hell yes.” As you can probably tell, she chooses to live her life with an, “out of the box” philosophy.
Whether she’s wearing Hulk fists down the aisle of her movie-themed wedding in her actual hometown movie theater or eating a breakfast of sardines and vegetables to streamline her day, she embraces the unconventional.
Beth views life not as a series of obligations, but as a game to be won and a dream to be lived. This mindset fueled her journey from a long-time conference attendee to the stage, driven by a desire to inspire others to stop “should-ing” on themselves and start creating the life they actually love.
As an esthetician, she creates a personalized, judgement-free, relaxing experience that makes every service feel like self-care for the soul.
Another gift she loves to embrace is “eliminating variables.” By choosing a life without kids, pets, or plants, she is able to carve out the space necessary to be fully present for her community and her craft.
Beth advocates for the power of structures and systems…not to limit freedom, but to create it. By automating the mundane, she preserves her mental energy for what truly matters: connection, growth, and the next “grand plan” (within reason.)
Her message is one of radical authenticity and resilience. She shares the “cliff jumps” of her life and career….the grand plans that she didn’t always land…to show that the road to one’s dreams is often hard and messy.
To Beth, success isn’t about following what society says; it’s about finding your “why,” celebrating every win (even finishing the laundry), and having the courage to live life your way through your gifts and talents that is authentically, unapologetically you.
Beth Caldwell
Beth Krause
Beth Krause is the founder and CEO of Grace Anatomy Functional Health and Nutrition, where she helps individuals restore health through a personalized approach that integrates functional nutrition, bloodwork analysis, and herbal medicine. With more than three decades in the wellness field and 14 years of direct client work, Beth combines modern science with traditional healing wisdom to help uncover patterns that influence long-term health and wellness.
A Certified Functional Health and Nutrition Practitioner, Certified Nutrition Consultant, Certified Bloodwork Specialist, Herbalist, author, and speaker, Beth is passionate about helping people understand their bodies and make informed health decisions with confidence. She is the author of Take Out The Trash: A Faith-Filled Journey to Clear the Clutter, Cleanse the Body, and Claim Your Temple, co-author of, One Touch: From Cancer To Courage Through Faith (available sometime 2026) and a contributing author in the Healing Beyond the Diagnosis series.
Deeply rooted in her faith and family, Beth treasures serving others and being “Oma” to her 13 grandchildren.
Dr. Clay Brigance, PhD, is a licensed professional counselor, researcher, and couples therapist whose work explores how intimate relationships endure uncertainty, grief, and disrupted expectations. He is the founder and director of Shiloh Counseling, where his clinical work focuses on reproductive grief, infertility, miscarriage, and the emotional dynamics that emerge when life does not go as planned.
Over the course of his career, Dr. Brigance has worked with and studied more than 1,000 couples navigating infertility and pregnancy loss, giving him a unique window into how prolonged uncertainty reshapes mental health, masculinity, identity, and emotional connection. His work examines why even strong, loving couples often struggle under silent grief—not because they lack resilience, but because they lack language and frameworks for staying connected when certainty disappears. Not only does he have expertise in this area, but he has lived experience too. After years of infertility and loss, Dr. Brigance and his wife have endured the dark road of grief together.
Dr. Brigance is the author of an upcoming book with the American Psychological Association, Couple Therapy for Reproductive Grief, and has published research in leading journals within the field of couple and family therapy. His ongoing research examines emotional attunement, mindfulness, and relational resilience among couples experiencing chronic stress, with a particular focus on how emotional responsiveness influences long-term relationship functioning during infertility and reproductive loss.
In addition to his research and clinical work, Dr. Brigance is expanding public conversations around grief, masculinity, and emotional health through writing, speaking, and his podcast, Love and Infertility, produced by Ginni Media.
At the center of Dr. Brigance’s work is a central question: What does real strength look like when life cannot be controlled or fixed? His TEDx talk, The Silent Shattering explores how connection—not control—may be one of the most important forms of resilience we have.
Dr. Clay Brigance
Chris Russell
Chris Russell is the Founder and CEO of Fitness 4 Focus, an adaptive fitness organization dedicated to helping individuals of all ages and abilities improve strength, coordination, confidence, and
independence through intentional fitness. What began as a small vision inside the back of a church in Hershey, Pennsylvania, has grown into a movement serving athletes and families across Central
Pennsylvania and beyond.
Chris’s journey into adaptive fitness began in 2005 while working as a Therapeutic Staff Support (TSS) worker. During that time, he met a young boy named Tommy McHale, a child with autism who would unknowingly change the direction of his life forever. One afternoon on a playground, Chris tossed a ball to Tommy and it rolled by. About 3 to 5 seconds after it rolled past Tommy he turned around and went to go grab the ball. In that simple moment, Chris realized movement, fitness, and connection had the power to unlock confidence and independence in ways traditional programs often overlooked.
That experience planted the seed for what would eventually become Fitness 4 Focus. In 2010, Chris opened the first Fitness 4 Focus location in the back of a church with one mission: to create an environment where individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities could improve
not only their physical health, but also their quality of life. Over the last 16 years, Chris and his team have helped more than 1,000 athletes and families through individualized coaching, adaptive fitness
programming, school partnerships, and community-based initiatives.
Under Chris’s leadership, Fitness 4 Focus has expanded to multiple locations throughout Pennsylvania while continuing to stay rooted in its core philosophy: pursuing independence through fitness. The organization’s four pillars, Strength, Coordination, Confidence, and Independence, guide every athlete session and every long-term goal. Chris is passionate about changing the conversation around disability, health, and long-term independence. Through years of hands-on coaching, he has seen firsthand how consistent fitness can help athletes build life skills that extend far beyond the gym. From improving focus and communication to creating pathways toward greater independence in schools, homes, workplaces, and even public gyms, Chris believes adaptive fitness has the power to transform lives on a national scale.
Today, Chris is focused on expanding Fitness 4 Focus into a national franchise while also advocating
for greater access to adaptive fitness programs across the country. He is currently developing the
“Independence Pathway,” a program designed to help athletes transition their fitness skills into real-
world independence and public gym participation.
As a speaker and soon to be author, Chris combines heartfelt storytelling, practical experience, and a
deep passion for serving others. His message challenges audiences to rethink what is possible when
individuals are given the right tools, support system, and belief in their potential.
Above all else, Chris believes every person deserves the opportunity to live a healthier, more confident, and more independent life.
Diem Jones is a thought leader, writer, poet, musician, multidisciplinary producer, content creator, and program designer. In addition to directing creative writing programs at six U.S. university campuses, he has received critical acclaim as a writer and producer of books, anthologies, music videos, industrial films, documentaries, and commercials. He is currently the COO of Penn Global Visions/Penn Global Medical Group, CEO of All One Consulting, and vice president and co-founder of the Institute for Community Evolution. He also co-founded and previously served as executive director of Voices of Our Nations Arts Foundation (VONA). Furthermore, he has held roles such as executive director of Murray Grove Retreat and Renewal Center, deputy director of Arts Council Silicon Valley, program officer at the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, director of grants at the Houston Arts Alliance, and administrative director of East Bay Center for the Performing Arts. Jones was the art director for George Clinton and the Parliament-Funkadelic. Additionally, he has managed health and wellness practices in California, New Jersey, and Philadelphia.
Diem Jones has also completed advanced courses in Mind, Body Medicine protocols from the Center for Mind, Body Medicine in Washington, DC, as well as Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the University of South Florida.
His most recent book, “God: The Journey Within,” was published in March of 2023 by Cedar Grove Publishing. He recently completed a book tour, presenting readings and workshops from the book, which concluded at the O Street Museum in Washington, DC. Diem’s most recent musical spoken-word CD, “A Spirit of Oui,” and his previous CDs, “Equanimity” and “Black Fish Jazz,” have been performed with the Equanimity Band at venues throughout the US, including the San Jose Jazz Festival. In addition, his photo biography of George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic, “#1 Bimini Road”, continues to be a best seller in the ever-expanding fan base of the group.
He has also designed exhibitions for organizations, including the San Diego African American Museum of Fine Art, and served as a review panelist for national, regional, and international funding organizations. Diem also serves as a Board Member of several organizations, including: Vanguard Culture, Silicon Valley African Film Festival, and Red Bank Housing Authority.
Diem Jones
Javon Wing
Javon Wing is a senior grant writer, community development specialist, empowerment coach, and speaker who has spent more than 15 years helping Indigenous communities transform vision into reality. An enrolled member of the Chippewa Cree Tribe, she brings both professional expertise and lived experience to her work, offering a unique perspective on resilience, self-determination, and the power of the human spirit.
Through her work with the Tribe, Javon has secured more than $15 million in funding for initiatives that strengthen community wellbeing, including infrastructure, education, economic development, youth initiatives, cultural preservation, and services for survivors of violence. Her mission centers on creating long-term social, cultural, and economic wellbeing. Her leadership has contributed to nationally recognized projects, including Rocky Boy’s first community skatepark, featured in HBO’s Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel.
Javon’s work centers on a simple belief: sustainable community transformation begins with empowered individuals. She is also the founder of Inspired Life, a coaching business that helps individuals and organizations build resiliency through mindful leadership and conscious growth work.
When she is not writing grants or speaking, you can find her hiking her homelands, the beautiful Bear Paw Mountains, with her family, reading, traveling, and exploring the intersection of mindfulness, healing, and human growth.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Montana, and an associate’s degree from Stone Child College. She is a certified Empowerment and Leadership Coach, Mindfulness Practitioner, and Neuro-Linguistic Programming Practitioner.
Jennie “AdrenaJen” Milton is an Australian champion kitesurfer, globally ranked snowkite athlete, entrepreneur, author, and internationally experienced speaker known for turning high-pressure moments into powerful lessons on courage, resilience, and action.
While most people run from storms, Jennie has spent her life chasing them.
From the beaches of Australia to the frozen mountains of Alaska, she built a business and a lifestyle around wind, adventure, and helping others step beyond fear. She has spent more than 20 years guiding and coaching in extreme environments, teaching people not only how to fly kites and navigate mountains, but how to trust themselves when conditions get uncomfortable.
But Jennie’s story isn’t just about extreme sports.
It’s about pressure.
About fear.
About what happens when life suddenly changes direction and creates a “Brain Storm” — the moments when uncertainty, adversity, and self-doubt collide, and you must decide whether to retreat or rise.
Once a self-described “scaredy-cat,” Jennie learned to build courage through resistance and repetition — first through skiing, kitesurfing, and big mountain adventures, and later through some of life’s toughest personal challenges, including career-changing injuries and three brain surgeries.
Rather than shrinking back, she reinvented herself again and again, using every setback as fuel for growth, leadership, and purpose.
Known for her energetic storytelling and unforgettable stage presence, Jennie blends thrilling real-life adventures with practical insights that help audiences navigate uncertainty, overcome self-doubt, and take bold action when it matters most.
From surfboards to boardrooms…
From koala bears to polar bears…
From snowstorms to speaking stages…
Jennie’s message is simple:
You don’t need to feel fearless before you begin.
You just need the courage to lean into the wind.
Jennie Milton
JIna Carvallho
For over 40 years, Jina Carvalho has been at the forefront of crisis intervention and response as a nonprofit leader, trauma responder, and Psychological First Aid trainer. As the founder of the Santa Barbara Response Network, she coordinated grassroots emotional support efforts during major state disasters, including the Isla Vista mass shootings, the Montecito debris flow, and historic wildfires. Named a “Santa Barbara Hero of the Year,” Jina’s impactful work challenges traditional mental health frameworks by proving that the vital first step in trauma recovery is a trained, compassionate neighbor. A published poet, performance artist, and the Director of Communication for PsychAlive.org, Jina has dedicated her professional career to serving others in their time of need, demonstrating firsthand the healing power of community resilience. Jina’s vision, as outlined in her TEDx Talk, is to establish neighbor to neighbor volunteer teams in our communities, to assist with resilient recovery and healing in the aftermath of traumatic events.
John McMann is a tenacious advocate for supporting the future success of students and young people through mentorship. A music business senior executive who spent the last 25 years at Atlantic Records working with Bruno Mars, Ed Sheeran, Jay-Z, Coldplay, Cardi B, Twenty One Pilots and began is career promoting Britney Spears and A Tribe Called Quest. John has been an advisor to CEO’s, spoken in boardrooms and at elite universities including Notre Dame and Harvard.
John McMann
Scott Stirrett
Scott Stirrett is the founder of Venture for Canada, where he spent over a decade building a national charity that helps people early in their careers develop the skills, networks, and mindset needed to thrive in an uncertain economy. Since launching Venture for Canada in 2013, he has supported over 10,000 young people and raised more than $80 million to expand entrepreneurial opportunity across Canada.
He is also the author of The Uncertainty Advantage, a practical guide for young professionals navigating a world shaped by AI, rapid change, and economic uncertainty. Drawing on research, real world examples, and his experience scaling Venture for Canada, Scott speaks about how people can build adaptability, resilience, self-compassion, entrepreneurial thinking, and stronger professional networks.
Before founding Venture for Canada, Scott worked at Goldman Sachs in New York City. He is a graduate of Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service and has been recognized as a Young Impact Leader by Future of Good, a Globe and Mail Changemaker, an Action Canada Fellow, and an Ashoka Fellow. In March 2026, he received the Meritorious Service Medal from Governor General Mary Simon.
Scott has served as a Senior Advisor to Zita Cobb, founder of Shorefast, which owns the world-renowned Fogo Island Inn, and currently advises organizations working at the intersection of leadership, economic development, and the future of work. His commentary has appeared in outlets including The Washington Post, Forbes, The Globe and Mail, CBC News Network, and BNN Bloomberg.
Tiffini Gallant is a writer, public relations professional, and patient advocate from rural Montana. A penchant for storytelling led her to earn a master’s degree in communications at Georgetown University. She dedicated her career to helping organizations, nonprofits, and brands share their stories with authenticity and purpose.
In 2022, Tiffini’s life changed dramatically when Polycystic Kidney Disease – a genetic degenerative condition she had managed for years – rapidly advanced toward kidney failure. Severe chronic pain and declining health rendered her disabled, triggering a cascade of personal defeat and transformation. Over the following years, she lost her mobility, financial security, independence, marriage, and the house she once believed would be a forever home for her family. Confined to bedrest for 16 months, she faced the emotional realities of chronic illness while trying to remain present for her son and maintain hope for the future.
Determined to reclaim both her quality of life and her voice, Tiffini became a fierce advocate for herself within a healthcare system that often struggles to fully recognize the realities of chronic pain. After local care options proved inadequate for the complexity of her condition, she sought specialized treatment through Mayo Clinic and University of Utah Hospital. Trying cyst reduction therapies, nerve blocks, and, ultimately the removal of one diseased kidney, helped her reengage with life beyond survival.
As her journey became increasingly public, Tiffini began using storytelling and advocacy to connect with others facing chronic illness. She became Montana’s Ambassador to the American Association of Kidney Patients and shared her experience through media appearances and social campaigns documenting her search for a living kidney donor. One year later, her younger sister was approved for a planned kidney donation, saving Tiffini’s life.
Her TEDx talk, “Finding Purpose in Pain,” is inspired by her forthcoming book, Ouch. In it, Tiffini challenges the limitations of the Numeric Pain Rating Scale commonly used in clinical medicine, arguing that pain cannot be adequately measured by a single digit. Through deeply personal stories tied to points on the familiar 0–10 scale, she explores how chronic pain affects identity, relationships, finances, mental health, parenthood, and a person’s sense of worth—not just physical sensation. By reframing pain through lived experience, Tiffini hopes to help healthcare providers better understand the human impact of chronic illness while reminding patients everywhere that they are not alone.
