Bemidji Pioneer: BSU to host fourth annual TAD Talks

BEMIDJI — BSU’s School of Technology, Art and Design will feature eight speakers during its fourth annual TAD Talks event on Thursday, April 26. It will begin with a concert from Bemidji folk music fixture Corey Medina at 6 p.m., followed by the talks at 7 p.m. in the main theater of the Bangsberg Fine Arts Complex.

This year’s speakers will include world-renowned designers, metallurgists, authors, creative directors and others who will share their visions on how to improve the universe through the interwoven lenses of technology, art and design, a press release said.

Modeled after the famous TED Talks series, TAD Talks is a multi-disciplinary event featuring 12- to 15-minute speeches from live presenters. Presentations are intended to promote understanding and seek meaning in issues involving technology, creativity, innovation and the entire process of life, the release said.

TAD Talks presenters, in order of appearance, will include:

  • Jim Ross, Cambridge, Minn. — TEAM Industries metallurgical lab manager
  • Karl O’Reilly, Chicago. — Ion Exhibits creative director
  • Charles Pappas, Rochester, Minn. — senior writer, EXHIBITOR magazine
  • Rhiannon Andersen, Las Vegas — vice president, Steelhead Productions
  • Ron Gray, Brownsville, Texas — director of operations, Robertshaw Controls
  • Scott Knutson, Bemidji  — managing legacy producer/director, Lakeland PBS
  • Mark Holme, Weymouth, Mass. — creative director, Hill & Partners
  • Mitchell Mauk, San Francisco — founder and principal, Mauk Design