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Smaller Indiana, www.SmallerIndiana.com, Indiana’s largest online community announces the speakers for its Smaller Indiana, Bigger Ideas Conference.  The event will take place on June 24 from 1pm to 5pm at the Athenaeum Theater located at 401 E. Michigan Street in downtown Indianapolis.

The conference, modeled after the popular TED event, will have a truly Hoosier flavor. Interspersed with the presentations, will be plenty of time for participants to discuss the topics and ideas being presented. Following the presentations John Ketzenberger, columnist for the Indy Star will moderate a panel discussion on which Brian Payne, President of Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF), and other notable local leaders will react and discuss ways these bigger ideas can be applied in our community.

The event will be recorded, and segments will be available online after the event, allowing individuals from around the world can see what’s happening here in Indiana.

Speakers for the event include:
•         Dr. Scott Massey, President, Meridian Institute
•         Dr. Sally Brown, Founder and President, Ambassadors for Children
•         Mark Hill, Managing Partner, Collina Ventures
•         Jennie Devoe, Song Writer & Performing Artist
•         David Forsell, President, Keep Indianapolis Beautiful
•         Ken Johnson, Chaplain, Indianapolis Colts

“The goal of this Bigger Ideas event is to inspire innovation in all sectors of our community and our economy,” said Pat Coyle, Founder of Smaller Indiana. “By bringing together a diverse group of Indiana’s brightest minds, and by creating an atmosphere of open communication, we expect new relationships and new ideas to form and spread.”

Tickets for the event will cost $125 and are available for sale.  A limited number of student scholarships will be available as well. All of the sessions will be recorded and broadcast by WFYI. For more details as they become available go to www.smallerindiana.com.

About Dr. Scott Massey:
Scott Massey is a community strategist, educational leader, author and innovator. He holds a Ph.D. in philosophy from Vanderbilt University with a focus on cybernetics, and the philosophy of science and logic. Dr. Massey is the co-author of Renewing American Culture: The Pursuit of Happiness, and author of over 50 articles and speeches, and a book of poetry. He is President of the Meridian Institute, a new national academic leadership center designed to convene national and international experts and leaders from major industries and sectors, and he is the immediate past President of the Indiana Humanities Council.

About Dr. Sally Brown:
Sally Brown is Founder and President of the non-profit organization, Ambassadors for Children, which offers short-term humanitarian trips and sustainable projects to serve children worldwide. She has traveled to over 130 countries and has held numerous positions from airline stewardess to C.E.O., moving from the galley to the boardroom in 30 years with the travel club and airline. Her passion for travel sprang from a profound childhood experience. Homebound for over six months while in third grade with rheumatic fever, she began collecting postcards from exotic vacation spots throughout the world. That was the beginning of a long, deliberate path toward a life of travel—a path that would lead Sally to every corner of the world with her career and later her family. Both through her actions and her words, Sally inspires people to step out of their comfort zones and find real personal growth.

About Mark Hill:
Mark Hill is one of Indiana’s most influential technology leaders and successful venture capitalists, but his success and commitment are not limited to his business activities. Mark serves the local community in a variety of ways. He was inaugural chair of the Techpoint foundation, serves on the Executive Committee of the United Way of Central Indiana, is an Adjunct Professor at the Indiana University School of Informatics, is on the board of the Central Indiana Community Partnership (CICP), the Indianapolis board of Teach for America, and at the request of the last three governors he has served the state of Indiana in various capacities.

About Jennie Devoe:
Jennie Devoe is a professional musician known for a unique vocal style. But beyond DeVoe’s compelling sound, and her “soulful hippie-funk vocals,” is her hypnotic, manic energy. She is capable of engaging totally, locking eyes, her conversation instantly confessional and intimate, wacky and profound as she rockets from topic to topic. With her pierced nose, and bohemian affectations, there’s a rowdiness and youth about her, and to make her laugh is to bask in her particular brand of strange sunshine.

About David Forsell:
David E. Forsell, President of Keep Indianapolis Beautiful and 1989 graduate of DePauw University, is among ten recipients of a 2008 NUVO Cultural Vision Award. Established ten years ago, the program recognizes individuals and organizations in Indianapolis doing innovative work and to celebrate the spirit of community. “The NUVO Cultural Vision Awards are about shining a light on the talented people and creative enterprises,” write the weekly newspaper’s editors.

About Ken Johnson:
Ken Johnson is a hope dealer and an inspiration to everyone he meets, from inner city kids, to professional athletes to white collar professionals. Born into an impoverished situation both monetarily and spiritually, Ken generously shares his journey from the challenges of his birth-given circumstances to the rise above his childhood influences to lead a life built on faith in God. In addition to speaking to over 250 groups annually, Ken is currently serving as the Chaplain for the Indianapolis Colts where he has ministered to the individual needs of players, coaches and staff for over 18 years.

About Smaller Indiana:
Founded in December 2007, Smaller Indiana makes creative people and innovative ideas easier to find. This online community is the place share your ideas and engage with Indiana’s most creative and inspired souls, working together to build community, culture and commerce.  . Membership is open anyone interested in becoming part of the on-line community.

Since its inception, Smaller Indiana has been a catalyst for conversations and activities, both on- and off-line. While there is a strong technical base among the 4,500 community members, Smaller Indiana attracts artists, educators, and entrepreneurs, involving them in discussions which range from politics, art and culture, to science, and economics. The vibrant community has been the genesis of hundreds of informal gatherings and several community wide events.

Smaller Indiana’s growing list of marketing partners includes: Bluelock, Bitwise Solutions, Heartland Film Festival, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Indy Fringe Theatre Festival, Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, Roundpeg, The Central Indiana Community Foundation, The Spirit and Place Festival and WTTS FM. 

For more information about Smaller Indiana go to: www.smallerindiana.com.