From the cockpit to the boardroom, Kenneth C. Barrios II—known simply as KB—has built his life around leadership and service. A 23-year veteran of the United States Air Force, KB served in Germany, the United Kingdom, and South Korea, with deployments to Iraq, Bosnia, and Qatar. Throughout his career, he advised senior military leaders on high-stakes decisions that shaped missions, safeguarded lives, and managed millions of dollars in resources.

Today, KB is the founder of Keybravo LLC, a leadership coaching and training company where he equips executives and business leaders with decision-making frameworks designed to help them move with clarity, confidence, and speed.

Based in Papillion, Nebraska, KB enjoys life with his wife, staying active with his daughters and grandchildren. On October 3, he will step onto the TEDxOmaha Red Circle to share how lessons learned in the Air Force can transform the way leaders navigate complexity and make bold choices.

Raised on the north side of Omaha, Eagle Feather’s early life was marked by instability, addiction, and violence. By the age of 8, he entered the foster care system; by 18, he had cycled through mental institutions, group homes, and juvenile prisons—and was facing adult time. Just six months after his release, he was incarcerated again, ultimately serving 18½ consecutive years in prison.

Since his release in 2017, Eagle Feather has dedicated himself to a new path—one of purpose and transformation. As a motivational speaker, published author, and mentor, he guides young people through the same struggles he once endured, showing that redemption and resilience are always possible.

This October, Eagle Feather will step onto the TEDxOmaha Red Circle to share his powerful story of perseverance, healing, and what’s NEXT when society counts you out.

Dr. DérNecia Phillips is the founder and Chief Executive of Identity Preparatory Academy, a forthcoming identity-focused middle school for girls in North Omaha. With more than 20 years in both public and non-public education, she has served as a teacher, principal, mentor, and leadership coach. She also leads DAL Education & Care Solutions, a consulting firm dedicated to helping individuals, teams, and organizations thrive.

A passionate disruptor and advocate, Dr. Phillips is committed to elevating youth voice, community, and culture—especially the identity and empowerment of Black girls. Her work emphasizes the power of culturally fortifying, high-quality education. Beyond the classroom, she is a keynote speaker, poet, and proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

At TEDxOmaha 2025, Dr. Phillips will share how centering identity in education can transform learning, challenge systems, and shape the future of what’s NEXT.

From Fortune 500 executive to community servant, Gregory K. Hernandez has always been driven by one thing: people. A Los Angeles native, Gregory began his career in healthcare before spending 25 years in the financial services industry, rising to vice president and division manager for investments.

In 2013, while living in Colorado, he launched an executive coaching practice to help others reach new heights of success. His passion for service also led him to volunteer as a community service officer with the Castle Rock Police Department, an organization nationally recognized for its one-by-one approach to serving the community.

Now based in Omaha, Gregory serves as a certified celebrant, walking alongside families as they honor their loved ones during life’s most difficult moments. He is also a speaker and author of Refining Moments – Shaping Your Successes and Setbacks into Significance, where he shares how challenges can be transformed into purpose.

Gregory and his high school sweetheart, Rebecca, are the proud grandparents of eight.

This October, Gregory brings his wisdom, heart, and hard-earned perspective to the TEDxOmaha stage—showing how setbacks, when refined, can shape lives of significance.

What if storytelling was designed by neurodivergent minds—for everyone? Briar Harvey is building that future.

As the founder of the Neurodiversity Media Network, Briar is challenging traditional media gatekeeping by creating accessible, decentralized spaces where creators who think differently can thrive. A neurodivergent creator and tech philosopher, she explores how artificial intelligence, collaborative systems, and radical business models can open new possibilities for the way we tell and share stories.



Her work blends ethical innovation with deep curiosity—teaching neurodivergent creators how to build with AI, hosting conversations about the future of storytelling, and reimagining media as a tool for human connection rather than control.

From bold ideas about AI to the lighter side of life with cats, Briar brings wit, wisdom, and vision to the TEDxOmaha 2025 stage—inviting us all to rethink how stories are created, shared, and experienced.

Find her leading conversations about what's next at briarharvey.com and neurodiversitymedianetwork.com

From the Air Force to aerospace, Dr. Reyes Colón knows the power of being present. Born in Panama and raised in Puerto Rico, he followed in his father’s military footsteps, serving 26½ years in the United States Air Force before retiring in 2018. His career included leadership in both government and private sectors, supporting national security missions and advancing global partnerships.

Today, Dr. Colón works as an associate director of business development at Collins Aerospace, where he continues to apply his leadership expertise to complex challenges. He holds a doctorate in strategic leadership from Liberty University, along with master’s degrees in strategic leadership and management, and a bachelor’s degree in science from the University of Puerto Rico.

Passionate about helping others succeed, Dr. Colón emphasizes the power of interpersonal relationships and presence as essential tools for navigating uncertainty and preparing for the future. He lives in Bellevue, Nebraska, with his wife and their two cats.

At TEDxOmaha 2025, Dr. Colón will share how practicing presence can shape leadership, foster connection, and prepare us for what’s NEXT.

Can leaders rewire their brain’s default setting to lead like people matter? Dr. Helen Fagan has dedicated her career to proving they can.

A leadership scholar, consultant, and coach, Dr. Fagan specializes in emotional intelligence, intercultural mindset, psychological capital, and the neuroscience of transformation. As founder of Helen Fagan & Associates, she partners with organizations, executives, and communities to unlock potential and build workplaces where everyone can thrive.



Her impact spans the globe—she has spoken and taught on four continents, guided countless leaders, and authored work that challenges traditional approaches to leadership. Recognized with numerous honors, including the 2020 Inspire Leadership Award for Excellence in Education and the 2021 University of Nebraska–Lincoln Fulfilling the Dream Award, Dr. Fagan is known for blending scholarship with practical strategies that change lives and organizations.

In the late 1990s, she created and led cultural competence initiatives at Bryan Health in Lincoln, Nebraska, earning national recognition for innovation when the program was highlighted in a Joint Commission publication.

At TEDxOmaha 2025, Dr. Fagan will explore what’s NEXT in leadership—and how leaders can rewire their approach to create cultures of belonging, growth, and transformation.

Meet Ron Roen: Navy submariner, intelligence officer, and now, a speaker on resilience in the face of dementia.

Ron’s life has been defined by courage and devotion. He began his naval journey in 1987, serving with distinction aboard the USS George Bancroft before advancing through the Enlisted Commissioning Program to become a commissioned LCDR. Over the course of his career, he held critical intelligence assignments around the world and served in Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2004. Along the way, he earned a BS in Sociology from the University of South Carolina, a master’s in security management from Bellevue University, and pursued advanced studies in Homeland Security and Emergency Management at Kaplan University.

Today, Ron faces one of his greatest challenges—navigating the profound impacts of dementia. His story is not only about service to country, but also about unwavering resilience, family, and the determination to keep showing up even when life gets hard.

Beyond his military career, Ron’s greatest pride is his family. He became a father at 16, has shared a life with his wife Shannon since 1988, and is a devoted father of two and grandfather of seven years.



At TEDxOmaha 2025, Ron will remind us all that no matter the challenge—the show must go on.

Why do people resist change—and what actually helps them move forward? Dr. Rebecca Shively has built her career around answering that question.

An organizational change practitioner at Farm Credit Services of America, Dr. Shively guides leaders and teams through complex transformations with a focus on people-centered strategies. She brings both scholarship and practice to her work, holding a Ph.D. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from the University of Nebraska Omaha, where her research on goal-setting, motivation, and leadership continues to inform real-world impact.



Her career spans higher education, the nonprofit sector, and multiple industries in the private sector, giving her a broad perspective on how organizations adapt and thrive. Outside of work, she channels her love of creativity and collaboration by playing trumpet in a community concert band, exploring the outdoors, traveling, and enjoying time with family and friends. Guided by curiosity, connection, and continuous learning, she brings a thoughtful, human-centered approach to every challenge.

At TEDxOmaha 2025, Dr. Shively will challenge the notion that change is purely technical, showing how psychology offers tools—and surprising insights—that help leaders turn resistance into resilience.