Executive Committee

Julianne Wurm - Founder/Curator TEDxEast
Julianne is a best-selling author with a doctorate from Columbia University. She founded TEDxEast in May 2009. Julianne has attended a number of TED and TEDGlobal conferences and as a writer finds the intersection of ideas, inspiration and community a compelling experience. She is currently conducting research about how ideas spread. Julianne has 2 books coming out in 2012 and continues to work with educators to innovate ways we teach and learn. She is also an avid traveler and bikram yogi. www.juliannewurm.com

Marisa Farina - Sponsorship/In-kind partnerships
Ms. Fariña is the EVP/Group Publisher for Time Out North America and has been with the international company since its North American launch in 1995.  Ms. Fariña was responsible for the brand's marketing initiatives for the first 10 years of her tenure and her marketing strategies won her a Folio: Magazine's 30-Under-30-To-Watch award.  During Ms. Fariña's 15 years at Time Out, she has been responsible for launching various magazines, websites, books, services and departments in her numerous positions as Marketing Director, Publisher and finally as EVP/Group Publisher.  Beyond Ms. Fariña's work at Time Out, she sits on the Marketing Advisory Board for Food Bank For New York City, is a founding member of the Executive Committee of TEDxEast.

Connie Frances Avila - Speaker Coach/Stage Management
Connie is a founding member of the Executive Committee of TEDxEast.  With over two decades of marketing experience, she has managed many complex, high-level accounts for some of the most iconic brands and high-profile agencies.  She earned both a B.A. in Organizational Behavior and Communication and a Professional Certificate in Coaching from New York University, as well as being an Executive Coach. Connie also has a diversified set of interests  -  she loves hiking, Medieval literature, and cooking.  Currently enrolled at the New York School of Interior Design, she is further exploring color theory and application.

Vico  Sharabani - Technology
An award-winning creative-director, visual-effects artist, and producer. Vico’s portfolio includes a wide range of commercials for Fortune 500 companies such as Mercedes, Nike, and at&t, Music-videos for KanYe West, and work for Sex & The City to name a few projects.  Servicing the advertising and entertainment industries for over 20 years, Vico is heavily involved in the management of projects across creative, production and technical endeavors. www.vico.tv

Samantha Fair - TEDxEast Co-organizer
Samantha Fair was born and raised in New York City, the ideal place to contemplate the diversity of human nature. Her interests in the earliest years of life led Samantha to earn an M.A. in Early Childhood Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. She is currently a lead teacher in a cooperative preschool in Brooklyn. Prior to teaching, Samantha developed her other skills from real estate staging to non-profit fundraising. In 2009, Samantha volunteered for the first TEDxEast conference and has been hooked ever since. Samantha handles the management of the TEDxEast conference.

Lynda Field - Event Production
Lynda headed production and design for MTV Networks Special Events for over 14 years. In 2010, Lynda formed a new producing entity, Lynda Field Productions, to expand her ability to provide the same innovative services and skills to other brands as a producer of video, web content, multimedia, meetings, live events, press conferences, marketing initiatives, product launches, advertising events, award shows, B2C initiatives, television and branded entertainment. Lynda has recently provided services for a wide range of companies in the Medical, Automotive, Recording Industry, Entertainment, Broadcast Media, Educational, Publishing, and Not for Profit sectors. Lynda is a member of Producers Guild of America. www.lyndafieldproductions.com

Event Committee

Courtney Allison Horowitz - Speaker coaching
Courtney has been working, playing, and learning in New York City since the mid-90's. A former classroom teacher and school leader, Courtney has worked with children from preschool through high school in both public and private settings. Courtney's work now focuses on teacher teams and school-wide curriculum development in public middle and high schools across the city as a consultant and coach.  Courtney helped with speaker coaching for the Fall 2010 TEDxEast Conference. 

Sofia Regan - Community Day
Sofia Regan is a Wyoming-raised and New York-educated actress and filmmaker. She trained at William Esper Studio and has a degree in Economics from Fordham University, which comes in handy when she does the crossword. She produced her first feature in March 2011 with Bayard Studios. Previously, she was at Gerson Lehrman Group where she helped build out their expert witness program and worked on the Special Situations Team. Sofia is thrilled to help build community around game-changers and chat with smarties at TEDxEast.

Chelsea Marti - Social Media Lead
A newbie to New York City by way of sunny San Diego, Chelsea Marti is inspired to be a part of the TEDxEast social media team. In her professional life, drives social media strategy across organizations large and small, from startup to Fortune 500. Most recently, she was Social Media Manager for TurboTax and is currently Director of Social Media at ADP. For fun, Marti loves running, the great outdoors, coffee shops and travel.

Jim Gold - Member at large
Gold Media Services has been created by communications professional Jim Gold to help clients in all aspects of media and event management. Jim works with global leaders around the world in the communications and broadcast news industries to offer creative strategies and turn-key solutions for corporations, not-for-profit organizations, broadcast news outlets and individuals. Most recently, Jim Gold has helped establish the Doha Film Institute and the first two editions of the successful Doha Tribeca Film Festival in Doha, Qatar. In addition to roles as operations manager as well as head of business & public affairs, he also helped establish TEDxDoha, the independently organized TED events.

Chip Carroll - Collateral execution
Chip does some graphic work for TEDx East, and Animations for TEDx. He is a 3d Info-graphic designer/animator for Infographics.com in New York City. In the past Chip ran a recording studio, played in a touring band before ending up going back to school to learn 3d graphics.  To see some of the work Chip has created visit, http://www.chip-carroll.com

Dominick Quartuccio Jr - Social Media
Dominick has spent the past decade in financial services with Prudential, putting Americans on a path to a secure retirement. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Leadership Studies from the University of Richmond, and his M.B.A. from New York University with specializations in Marketing, Finance and Entrepreneurship. He has been a TED addict since 2009, is a member of Strategic Coach, enjoys globetrotting and competitive sporting events such as the Tough Mudder, and is an avid nonfiction reader. Dominick is tasked with engaging the TEDxEAST community via social media channels.