Bell Employees Celebrate 10th TEDxFargo

The event, which brings people of all ages, backgrounds and interests together to learn about new ideas and take part in new experiences, sold out with more than 2,300 people in attendance.

A big TEDxFargo sponsor, Bell coordinated the 150-plus volunteers who are essential to making the event happen.

"Bell is proud to support TEDxFargo because it aligns with the bank's value of paying it forward to the communities we serve," says Julie Peterson Klein, Bell's chief culture officer, who is also TEDxFargo's advisory chair, volunteer coordinator and has been involved with the event for the past several years.

July 25 marked TEDxFargo's 10th event where more than 20 speakers and performers – with backgrounds ranging from communications, education and the arts to business, technology and leadership – presented their ideas.

Participants learned about technological advances that are improving people's lives, the importance of integration rather than assimilation, empowerment and how to create their own luck.

Dave St. Peter took the stage as the fourth president in Minnesota Twins history. Dave has played a central role in the approval, design, construction and opening of Target Field. He also recently led the Twins effort to secure and host the 2014 Major League Baseball All-Star Game. 

Attendees also heard from Randy Thomas, America's premiere female live voice announcer, and her story as the first woman to announce ABC News Nightline, The Academy Awards, The Emmy Awards, The Kennedy Center Honors, The Rock & Rock Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, the American Film Institute Awards as well as the 10th-time announcer for the Oscars. 

"My highlight this year was having Randy Thomas and Steve Rohr from the Oscars family with us – a truly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," Julie remarks. "It was fun to have them visit our community and for us to show them what Bell Bank is all about."

This year's theme was "Forward," encouraging people to go forward and activate their ideas into the world.

TEDxFargo is an independent event, operated under license from TED, a nonprofit organization that works to spread ideas, usually in the form of short, powerful talks.