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Chamber Hosts Speaker Series on Innovation

Spring Hill Chamber of Commerce Speaker Series

About Innovation Lives Here: A Thought Leader Speaker Series

The Spring Hill Chamber is excited to continue its inaugural thought leader speaker series, Innovation Lives Here, presented by Premier Design Build. Inspired by the globally renowned TED® talks, this series invites community members to engage with transformative ideas and connect with like-minded individuals. This event offers an opportunity for attendees to interact with speakers and peers, fostering a community of curious and passionate innovators. Join us on Wednesday, Oct 16, 2024, for an enriching journey of discovery at the next event. Learn more about our speakers below.

Each event in this three-part series will feature a diverse group of distinguished speakers sharing transformative ideas and insights from various fields. This year’s theme, INNOVATION, reflects the dynamic mix of culture, technology, and business in Middle Tennessee. The events provide an ideal setting for exploring new ideas in creativity and progress, enabling participants to attend one, two, or all three events to gain a comprehensive understanding of the theme.

Featured Speakers

 

🎙Kate Hickey, M.Ed. ↠ Speaker, Educator, Author | Action Academy

Kate Hickey has dedicated her life to learning, adventuring, and teaching people how to be their bravest and most authentic selves. Founder of Action Academy, she builds confidence through keynotes and workshops. She’s a TEDx speaker and her family was featured on HGTV’s House Hunters International documenting their move to Spain. The Hickeys lived abroad for five years where Kate worked in digital marketing for her travel brand Hickeys Everywhere and was a facilitator for Fortune 500 companies like L’Oreal Paris and Unilever. She’s the author of Have Fun, Be Safe, I Love You, an Amazon bestseller, and her writing has been featured in Glamour and Forbes. She’s a Mental Health First Aid Instructor and counts her 10+ years teaching high school as her highest achievement. Hickey’s relatable and passionate, leaving her audience inspired and laughing.

🎙Ryan Jackson ↠ Executive Director | Kids on Stage

Dr. Ryan B. Jackson has a distinguished 17-year career in public education, including roles from classroom teacher to executive leadership. He served as Executive Lead Principal at Mount Pleasant High School for six years and has extensive experience in both urban and rural settings. Driven by a passion for empowering the ‘Underdog,’ Dr. Jackson is committed to ensuring equitable access to high-quality education. His dedication has taken him to international platforms, including a TED Talk and keynote speaking engagements. Currently, he is a leadership and education consultant and the Executive Director of Leadership and Business Development at Kids On Stage of Maury County, where he champions innovative educational approaches that bridge gaps and create opportunities for students and communities alike.

🎙Ajla Wilhelmi ↠ Body Shop Area Manager | General Motors

Ajla Wilhelmi is the GM Spring Hill Body Shop Area Manager, where they build Cadillac XT5, Cadillac XT6, the all-electric Cadillac LYRIQ and the Acura ZDX EV. There, she manages manufacturing operations with 400+ body shop employees and 1200+ robots, performing various material handling, welding sealer application and measurement tasks. Born and raised in Bosnia, & Hercegovina, her professional journey started with attaining a mechanical engineering degree during her refugee years in Germany, that has since taken me across multiple disciplines within GM’s manufacturing sector. While working for GM she obtained a Masters of Science in Operations Management from Kettering University. Now a 24-year manufacturing veteran with assignments across Stamping and Vehicle Assembly at multiple GM sites, she brings experience in engineering, maintenance, planning, global supply chain, production, quality and vehicle launch roles. Her most recent personal accomplishments include earning a 2022 Technology All Star Award, serving as a mentor in GM Spring Hill Women’s employee resource group and being an active supporter of the “All Girls Auto Know,” a middle school STEM program of the Southern Automotive Women’s Forum. Her personal brand is defined by integrity and trust, drive for results and building effective teams. Managing work-life balance over the years to ensure shewas an accomplished GM employee, without sacrificing my role as a spouse, mother and daughter, remains her proudest accomplishment.
 
 
Join us in this movement of an inspired Middle Tennessee.

The event will be held at Thompsons Station Church, 2604 Thompson Station Road, Thompson’s Station, TN 37179. The event schedule is below:

  • 10:00 AM – 10:10 AM: Welcome + Introductions
  • 10:10 AM – 10:20 AM: Sponsor recognitions
  • 10:20 AM – 12:20 PM: Speaker presentations
  • 11:20 AM – 11:30 AM: Q&A
  • 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM: Networking opportunity with speakers and fellow attendees


Join us for a celebration of innovation! This is more than just a workshop; it is a platform to inspire and connect.

REGISTER FOR OCT 16

If you would like to speak at one of the events, please fill out our speaker form using the button below.

APPLY TO BE A FUTURE SPEAKER

Innovation Lives Here is presented by