2024 SPEAKERS

The official speaker line-up of TEDxCavalier 2024: Small Towns, Big Ideas

Eva Robinson

Eva Robinson is currently the only competitive sled dog musher in the state of North Dakota. When she was 5 years old, Eva decided she wanted to run the Jr Iditarod, a 150-mile race through the wilderness of Alaska.

To make her dream a reality, Eva started her own dog treat business in 2014 when she was 8 years old. At the age of 15, Eva completed her goal of running the Jr Iditarod, however the race was modified due to warm weather and was not considered an official qualifying race. Determined not to quit on her dream, in 2024 Eva returned to Alaska and completed the race in 19th place and officially conquered her childhood dream.

She currently has 24 sled dogs and plans to run the full Iditarod in the future.

Rebecca Undem

Rebecca Undem has always been passionate about two things: people and talking to people. As
an inspirational speaker, community advocate, and host of the podcast “The Growing Small
Towns Show,” she’s put her gift of gab to good use.

As Founder and Executive Director of Growing Small Towns, a regional non-profit organization,
Rebecca helps the communities in southeast North Dakota be places people love to call home
through programs that grow their human, social, and cultural capital.

Not one to let people down, Rebecca still lives up to her childhood label of drama queen. She
binges on Netflix shows, coffee, and anything that makes her feel verklempt—her self-declared
favorite feeling.

Rebecca went against her youthful declarations and married a farmer, Jeremiah,
and together, they have three amazing kids: Andrew, Carter, and Brynlee. They love their small town and the crazy-good life they get to live there.

Frank White

Frank White recently retired after a forty year teaching career filled with numerous awards, international teaching and a host of regional and national speaking presentations. He spent the last thirty-four years as a sociology professor at the University of North Dakota and before that was an instructor at Lake Region Community College in Devils Lake.

Frank taught a variety of sociology classes that included sociology of sport, drugs and society, social problems and introduction to sociology. Frank continues to share his critical insights at various high schools, colleges and community organizations on topics that deal with current drugs of concern, community leadership, self-growth and athletics and academics.

Frank has been named the University of North Dakota’s “Professor of the Year” on two separate occasions. He has also earned numerous academic and service awards including the Academic Advisor of the Year, Faculty Service-Learning Award, Bush Teaching Scholar and the North Dakota Spirit Achievement Award.
Recently the UND Foundation established the Professor Frank White Endowed Scholarship for his long-term commitment to his students, the University and North Dakota. His leadership and community service efforts help create endowed academic scholarships at Mayville State University, Lake Region Community College, the University of North Dakota and the American College of Norway.

Chelsey Wald

Chelsey is a small town farm girl turned entrepreneur. From leaving her job in the beauty industry to becoming her husband’s right hand on the farm while keeping the things that brought her JOY alive!

A journey of building both a business and a brand simultaneously. Join her at TEDxCavalier as she dives into the crucial role of branding in today's world, from the unique intersection of an animal lover and entrepreneurship.

Ginny Priem

With over two decades of leadership experience in the corporate world, Ginny Priem is not only a dynamic and captivating motivational speaker and a #1 bestselling author, but also hosts the popular Drinking With Gin podcast, and holds a certification in life coaching at the mastery level. In her #1 best selling book, You’re My Favorite, she shares the true story of her own personal traumatic end of a romantic relationship with a shocking twist -- the man she thought was living in her house turned out to not be the man she thought he was at all. This harrowing experience sent her on her own path of healing and growing.
In discovering her own path forward, she created GINpath, which is the path that she developed, tested and implemented and shares in her most recent book, I'm My Favorite: A Guided Journal for Your Path Forward, to help others in growing through adversity. We all face tough times and have that one story, one that we may not think is big enough to share or manage through, but it's what we do with these stories that really matters. Ginny's keynotes leave audiences inspired to take the next step on their own path and overcome obstacles that come their way.

Tara Emerson

Tara Emerson is a dynamic individual whose eclectic life experience has shaped her into a career that is deeply rooted in the rich soil of agricultural tradition. With nearly two decades of experience as a farm wife, devoted mother, and farm business manager, Tara exemplifies the essence of resilience, dedication, and passion that defines the farming community.

As a proud mother of four and an integral part of her family's farming operation for almost 20 years, Tara's journey into agriculture began when she was three years old, riding in the tractor with her grandfather. She and her husband proudly carry on the legacy of being fifth-generation farmers. Their dedication to upholding traditional values while embracing innovation reflects Tara's belief in the importance of learning from the past while looking towards the future, while embracing the challenges and rewards of farm life with unwavering commitment and a boundless love for the land.

In her role as farm business manager, Tara's expertise and leadership are instrumental in steering the family farm towards success. From financial management to strategic planning and sustainable practices, Tara's hands-on approach ensures the farm operates efficiently while preserving its heritage for future generations.

In every aspect of her life, Tara embodies the values of hard work, perseverance, and stewardship that have been passed down through generations of farmers. With her unwavering dedication and visionary leadership, Tara is not only shaping the future of her family farm but also contributing to the prosperity of the human needs of agriculture as a whole.

Kari Helgoe

Kari is a Cooperative Extension educator and an adventure-seeker. Professionally, her adventure allows her to work with individuals, families and communities; helping them discover and explore new avenues that give them the ability to thrive in their lives and make their neighborhoods vibrant. She is fascinated by new people, new experiences and living every day of her life. Kari’s greatest passion is to help people find their spark and give them the necessary tools to prompt them into action. Any action.

She strives to recognize the gifts in people and propel them to make an impact in the world around them. To be a difference maker. In their own health, within their families, where they work or play, for their communities and for the future. For growth. For pure joy.

Her professional career has seen her wear a variety of hats and titles involving family, community and wellness in one form or another; giving her life lessons and wrinkles galore. Educator, farmer, communicator, reporter, board member, rancher, teacher, supervisor, coach, and mentor, but her proudest title and most beautiful contribution is wife and mother. Two sons. Two daughters. One husband. An adventure in itself.

She currently works for NDSU Extension as a family community wellness educator in Pembina County, ND.

Peter Loewen

Peter is an avid cyclist and community builder who owns and operates a small bicycle business in Winkler, Manitoba. His passion for the sport has allowed him to be a significant voice and at the forefront of the cycling culture in Manitoba. Through his small shop Peter organizes four different bike races, is affiliated with two others, and runs a successful kids bike program called, “Kids of Mud.” He has also developed his own race program called, “Prairie Fire Racing.” A team represented by the fastest cycling dads in the province. A team of which, at age 47 and a father of two under age 10, he is proud to be a part of.
Being in the most creative and motivated time of his life (a self-assessed observation), 2024 will mark a new era for Peter and the Country Cycle brand. After 15 years of focusing his energy on growing and sharing his passion with the “local market,” Peter is shifting his focus and building inroads to the indigenous communities of Manitoba where again, through the sport of cycling, he hopes to capture imaginations and inspire the youth to what is possible.

Jim Springer

Jim is a retired business leader, passionate about rural America and its unleashed potential. Growing up on a farm in Illinois, being an entrepreneur and holding leadership roles in a multi-national technology arm of a large agricultural company during his career, gives him unique insight into the reason why technology is not only critical to rural America’s success but also the key to laying the groundwork for a thriving rural America that leads the world into defining solutions for generations to come.

James Zorn

James believes in lifelong learning and making a positive impact in our communities. He considers himself a mission-based servant leader, always seeking opportunities for growth and personal development. His passion lies in sharing knowledge and wisdom with his teams, both in professional and personal settings.

A North Dakota native born in Bottineau, he spent his formative years in Cavalier, where he completed grades K through 12, graduating from high school in 1985. His quest for knowledge took him to Mesa Community College, the University of Tennessee, and Arizona State University for his post-secondary education. He is a Registered Nurse with an MBA and a master's in health administration. His leadership journey has taken him through various roles in healthcare, public health, housing, education, and the fitness industry, spanning both profit and nonprofit sectors.

He firmly believes that quality affordable housing and food security are fundamental for a healthy, productive life, touching every aspect—physical, emotional, and spiritual. As a community activist, he has dedicated countless hours to volunteering in every place he has called home.

Throughout his life, he has served on and chaired numerous local and state-level organizations, overseeing budgets ranging from $300,000 to $600 million. His goal has always been to lead and direct efforts that positively impact the communities he serves.

On a personal note, he is the 7th of 8 children. He’s known and loved his incredible wife, Gwen, for an amazing 53 years. Their blended family consists of 6 children and 9 beautiful grandchildren, who bring endless joy to their lives. Currently, Gwen and James own a 5-acre farmstead in Cavalier, North Dakota, actively transforming it into a sustainable food resource and affordable housing ministry campus under M25 Ministries, a 501c3 non-profit established in 2020 and approved by the IRS in 2021.

Jordan Thornberg

Hailing from Walhalla, Jordan Thornberg has been performing music throughout the region for a number of years. Whether it’s a solo gig with his guitar, keyboard, and harmonica, or sharing the stage with the lovely folks at Frost Fire Summer Theatre, he has enjoyed it all. Jordan is eagerly awaiting next March, when he and other alumni members of the NDSU Concert Choir will be singing at New York City’s legendary Carnegie Hall!