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).

Surfside Camp Kinser Okinawa
Building 1202
Camp Kinser, Okinawa, 901-2127
Japan

Bruce Jones

Master Sergeant United States Marine Corps

Leader, and a career administrative professional with over twenty years of service. He is also an author and motivational speaker focused on helping others stay accountable during life's most difficult moments. Known for his direct approach and grounded leadership style, Bruce draws from real-life experience. Built through recovery, reinvention, and resilience to guide others toward deliberate growth. His mission is simple: help people lead themselves well so they can lead others better. What's happens after the goal is reached? In this talk, Bruce W. Jones Jr. explores the often overlooked space that follows major achievements. Focusing on the quiet pause where direction feels unclear and momentum fades. Drawing from personal experience, he shares how learning to honor that space became a turning point in his growth. This talk invites the audience to reflect on their own post-victory plateaus and consider how those still moments can be repurposed into deliberate, meaningful action.

Christi Brent

USO Operations Manager Okinawa, Japan

Christi Brent, from Houston, TX, is a nonprofit leader and community advocate with over ten years of experience empowering others through service, mentorship, and leadership development. Before transitioning to the nonprofit sector, she established her career in corporate America, working in the oil and gas industry for companies such as Shell and Valero. Now, as a Center Operations Manager with USO Camp Foster, Christi offers a unique perspective formed by both corporate and community service experiences. In her talk, she explains how the word; shaped her resilience and how it can become a strong force for growth and transformation.

Derek Miles

Master Sergeant United States Air Force

Master Sergeant Derek F. Miles serves as the Development Advisor for the 18th Wing at Kadena Air Base, Japan. As the principal advisor to commanders and senior enlisted leaders on professional development, retention, and retraining across the wing, he shapes the growth of thousands of Airmen. He oversees key programs including the First Term Enlisted Center and the Foundations Courses 300, 500, and 700. A native of Buffalo, New York, Derek graduated from the University at Buffalo in 2011, where he also competed in Division III basketball and volleyball. He enlisted in the United States Air Force in 2012 and has since led and innovated across a range of global assignments, from Portugal to Turkey, North Dakota to Okinawa. Notably, he served at Headquarters Air Force as ATCALS Installations Flight Chief and later as Section Chief for Radar, Airfield, and Weather Systems (RAWS) at Kadena AB. Derek is the founder of EnlistedAirmanGuide.com.

Dr. Alvin Sanga

Professor

Dr. Alvin Sanga is a dedicated math and statistics professor with University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) Asia in Guam, where he has spent seven years as a key leader in faculty development, training, and curriculum revamping. Known for his expertise in student engagement and innovative teaching formats, his professional life is dedicated to supporting instructors and enhancing the learning experience. Beyond his academic work, Dr. Sanga is an avid tennis player and a devoted father of two girls, living a philosophy that the best results come from consistent, daily effort. In his talk, he shares how the mathematical principle of exponential growth applies to everything in life, proving that small, intentional habits are the key to achieving extraordinary and lasting change.

Dr. Cheri Hayes

Department of Defense Principal

Dr. Cheri A. Hayes is a school leader, heart health survivor, and advocate for courageous authenticity. After a life-altering cardiac event, she began redefining what it means to lead—not from perfection, but from presence. Her TEDx talk, “The Courage to Be Seen,” invites listeners to stop hiding, drop the armor, and discover strength through truth. With calm clarity and deep care, Dr. Hayes shows that vulnerability isn’t the opposite of leadership—it’s the doorway to real connection.

Dr. Joshua Nieubuurt

Professor

Dr. Joshua Nieubuurt is a scholar exploring the connections between digital rhetoric, media, and technology. His TEDx talk dives into the surprising cultural power of memes—both online and in everyday life. Based in Okinawa, Japan, he also serves as an Overseas Collegiate Assistant Professor, blending research and teaching to reveal how digital culture and lived experience shape modern communication.

Dr. Will Penner

Department of Defense Principal

Dr. Will Penner is Principal of Lester Middle School in Okinawa. After serving for 15 years in local church youth ministry and national youth ministry publishing, he taught high school students for a decade and served as a school administrator for another decade. During the height of the COVID pandemic, he was named Middle Tennessee’s Middle School Principal of the Year by the Tennessee Secondary School Principals Association. He has authored 20 chapters and 24 articles, edited 16 books and 53 periodicals, presented at 28 conferences, and consulted for dozens of non-profit and for-profit organizations. He earned a B.S. in English and Political Science from Baylor University in Waco, TX; an M.S. in Curriculum; Instructional Leadership from Baylor; and an Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership and Strategic Change from Lipscomb University in Nashville, TN. His wife, Christine, is a pastor in the United Methodist Church; and they have five children and seven grandchildren.

Jacob Stone

Technical Sergeant United States Air Force

Technical Sergeant Jacob Stone brings a decade of transformative leadership from the U.S. Air Force. Annually, he mentors over a thousand Enlisted personnel and Officers, leading the largest First Term Enlisted Center in the Air Force, comprehensive Foundations Courses, Flight Leadership Classes, and Professional Development Seminars across Kadena Air Base and throughout the Pacific Air Force. Certified in Emotional Intelligence by The EQ Development Group, Jacob leverages his diverse background and eye-opening deployments across Africa and the Indo-Pacific to equip emerging leaders with crucial skills for navigating conflict and fostering growth. Jacob’s work is a testament to preparing individuals to face adversity with unwavering strength. When not empowering future leaders, Jacob finds balance at the gym, connecting with friends through video games, and exploring Okinawa, fueled by a deep belief in strong leadership and the unwavering support of his wife and family.

Ron Coia

Department of Defense Educator

Ron Coia teaches AP Government and AP English at Kubasaki High School in Okinawa, Japan. He is from Portland, Oregon, and has taught with DoDEA schools for 20 years. One of his favorite topics is the intersection of technology, society, and theology. Ron and his wife Kristie have three middle and high school-aged children. Being a father and a teacher motivates Ron to help parents guide children through the challenges that tech obsession poses. He also serves the military community alongside a team of pastors at Pillar Church of Okinawa.

Soncheray Hall

Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Born and raised in Hartford Connecticut, Soncheray Hall is an experienced clinical therapist who has dedicated her career to improving the lives of individuals and groups across the world. As a licensed clinical social worker, she has served in a range of social work capacities. Her TEDx talk “Detaching from your Trauma attachment” is a narration of her journey through foster care and its impact on her identity. She invites listeners into a discussion of redefining oneself beyond trauma by differentiating who you are from what you’ve experienced. Soncheray is an active member of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) and the owner of Fruitful Life Counseling Services LLC; a virtual therapy practice that specializes in healing through mindfulness and introspection.

Vincent Toth

Community Leader

Vincent “Vinny” Toth is the 2022 Armed Forces Insurance Marine Corps Spouse of the Year, a nonprofit president, and a passionate advocate for military spouses worldwide. As President of the North Island Okinawa Spouses Club, he leads initiatives that foster connection, inclusion, and leadership across cultures and ranks. With over 15 years of management experience and as an MBA candidate, Vinny blends strategic vision with a heart for service. His TEDx talk shares his journey as a male military spouse and the lessons he’s learned about building stronger, more inclusive communities.