Team

Klaudia Olivier

Klaudia Oliver is a force of nature. Whether organizing world class events, roaming the globe as a self-styled ambassador of Mexican culture, publisher, producer, social entrepeneur, or serving as an artists’ muse, Klaudia is a whirlwind personality passionate about bridging cultures and building creative communities. Born in Monterrey, Mexico, raised in Texas, her nomadic nature led her to studying and promoting art, music, and culture in Europe for 15 years. In 2007, Klaudia moved from the UK to San Miguel de Allende, Mexico to rediscover her cultural heritage. Presently, Klaudia is Director at Grupo KAO, LLC, a multi-media enterprise dedicated to promoting San Miguel de Allende.  She is currently in production for La Calaca (The Skeleton), an city wide arts festival slated for November 1-4, 2012, which aims to expand and synergize with the Day of The Dead celebrations.  Since 2009, Klaudia has been a TEDx organizer licensed to produce events in San Miguel, Valle de Bravo and Black Rock City. To Klaudia, Black Rock City is a microcosm of our highest human potential.  A ‘burner’ for the past 4 years, she hopes to be able to bring the ten principle from BRC to her beloved Mexico and beyond.  In her spare time she likes to belly-dance, DJ, and cook Indian feasts.

Jon La Grace

Jon La Grace is a development expert and project management consultant specializing in programs with positive community impact. 
For over a decade, Jon worked on Wall Street for some of the world’s most esteemed financial organizations including Franklin/Templeton, Lazard Frères & Co., and Trust Company of the West where he was recognized as one of the top sales person in the United States from 1998-2002.

In 2002, Jon left Wall Street to work on a variety of creative and community focused projects including the American Civil Liberties Union campaign called “Scrapbook for Freedom” winning several awards while tripling ACLU Membership in a period of two years (from 2002-2004). This work drew the attention of the private Bill Gates Company Corbis where Jon was responsible for sponsorships, public relations and worldwide production of the flagship media collection, Outline. In 2008, Jon was awarded the 50th Anniversary Communication Arts Award for his work. Most recently, Jon has been creating TEDx events and developed three programs in the United States including TEDxBlackRockCity. He’s a 15-year Burning Man veteran and co-founder of Play)A(Skool.

Brigham Golden

Brigham Golden is a professional Anthropologist and DJ who has lived for the last 20 years in the United States, Indonesia and Mexico. Working primarily on issues of indigenous peoples and natural resources, he has been published in many academic journals and major newspapers — including the Journal of Feminist Anthropology and the International Herald Tribune. Most notably, he has worked on peacebuilding and conflict prevention in (West) Papua, Indonesia — serving as primary author of a major initiative by the Council on Foreign Relations. In his creative work he organizes and curates conferences and events, such as TEDxBlackRockCity and TEDxSanMigueldeAllende — as well as by DJing a wide variety of musical genres.

 

Annie Coleman

Annie Coleman is the Director of Communications for TEDxBlackRockCity 2014.  A resident of San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, Annie has dedicated herself over the past few years in festival creation and management working with Envision in Costa Rica, La Calaca in San Miguel de Allende, TEDxSanMigueldeAllende and TEDxBlackRockCity.  Her area of expertise is in the management of people and processes and she oversees our Communication and Social Media.

Tom La Porte

Media management, pre and post interviewing.

Mike “Dexx” Negron

Technical Producer

Mike Skaar

Producer — Mike Skaar has been a part of TEDxBlackRockCity since it began.  He leads our team of volunteers, coordinates stage set-up, interfaces with our AV team, supports our speakers, helps on post production and website development, and is our liaison to the Burningman Organization.  TEDx Black Rock City has team members all over the globe; Mike is our main point of contact with our Northern California partners.

Gerry Gold

Volunteer Coordinator

Nicole Ganz

Volunteer Coordinator

Michael Ventura

Curation