TOWSON, MD (September 13, 2017) – Twelve leaders in the world of transportation from across the United States and abroad will gather in Wilmington, Delaware for the October 17, 2017 TEDxWilmingtonSalon, perhaps the first TEDxSalon in the world dedicated exclusively to exploring transportation.

The theme of the Salon is, “Who’s in the Driver’s Seat? The Transformation of Transportation.” The event is being supported by AAA Mid-Atlantic, headquartered in Wilmington.

“We received speaker applications from dozens of the leading voices in the transportation industry, research, and technology,” said Ajit Mathew George, organizer and executive producer of TEDxWilmington. “I am excited about the ideas that will be explored by the engineers, innovators, CEOs, experts, and government officials we have invited to speak on October 17.”

“AAA wants to generate thought-provoking ideas and conversations about the transformation of transportation.  Because we know many people want to watch and listen from many parts of the world, we are providing a Livestream of the event and have already heard from places like departments of transportation about setting up viewing areas to watch the event unfold live,” said Cathy Rossi, Vice President of Public and Government Affairs for AAA Mid-Atlantic. “These talks are intended to stimulate thinking about rapidly-developing transportation technology and how these advancements are – and will be – affecting consumers in the near and longer term. It will be a practical and realistic look at the evolution of transportation and its implications for our vehicles, our infrastructure, and our lives.”

Information about registration to attend the event in Wilmington as well as accessing the Livestream can be found at tedxwilmington.com/events/transportation/

Speakers at the TEDxWilmingtonSalon “Who’s in the Driver’s? the Transformation of Transportation” include:

• Maureen Ohlhausen, Washington D.C., Acting Chair, Federal Trade Commission

• Anya Babbitt, Michigan, Founder and CEO of SPLT

• David Silver, California, Leader of the Self-Driving Car program at Udacity

• Jennifer Cohan, Delaware, Secretary of Transportation, State of Delaware

• Tom Dingus, Virginia, Professor of Engineering, Director of the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI)

• Elan Nyer, Israel, Director of Business Development at Nexar

• Andreas Mai, Michigan, Innovation Leader at Keolis North America, former Director of Smart Connected Vehicles with Cisco

• John Ellis, Illinois, Ellis & Associates, Former Global Technologist of Ford Motor Company’s Connected Car Business

• David Woessner, Maryland, General Manager of Local Motors National Harbor, manufacturer of self-driving shuttle Olli and 3-D printed vehicles pioneer

• Lauren Smith, Washington DC, Policy Counsel and Director of the Connected Cars Project at the Future of Privacy Forum

• James Koenig, New York, Co-chair of Fenwick & West LLP’s Privacy & Cybersecurity Practice

• John Nielsen, Florida, Managing Director of AAA National’s Automotive Engineering Team

   

  About TEDx, x= independently organized event

  In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TED Talks, video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized. (Subject to certain rules and regulations.)

   

  About TEDxWilmington

  Ajit Mathew George was granted the TEDx license in the fall of 2011. Between 2012 and June 7, 2017, TEDxWilmington showcased 225 speakers who gave 218 TEDx talks. These talks collectively have had over 12 million views on the TEDx YouTube channel as of June 29, 2017. Magic Dust, LLC, produces all of the 12 TEDxWilmington events in 2017 under the direction of George, who serves as the executive producer and sprinkles magic dust to make sure each event is very special. Over 50 people have volunteered to be part of the 2017 TEDxWilmington tribe. TEDxWilmington has invited creators, catalysts, entrepreneurs, artists, technologists, designers, scientists, thinkers and doers to make a contribution and support what they are most passionate about—positive ideas for the world and Delaware. For a full list of programming, visit tedxwilmington.com.

   

  About TED

  TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading, usually in the form of short, powerful talks (18 minutes or fewer) delivered by today's leading thinkers and doers. Many of these talks are given at TED's annual conference in Vancouver, British Columbia, and made available, free, on TED.com. TED speakers have included Bill Gates, Jane Goodall, Elizabeth Gilbert, Sir Richard Branson, Monica Lewinsky, Philippe Starck, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala,Sal Khan and Daniel Kahneman.

   

  TED's open and free initiatives for spreading ideas include TED.com, where new TED Talk videos are posted daily; the Open Translation Project, which provides subtitles and interactive transcripts as well as translations from thousands of volunteers worldwide; the educational initiative TED-Ed; the annual million-dollar TED Prize, which funds exceptional individuals with a "wish," or idea, to create change in the world; TEDx, which provides licenses to thousands of individuals and groups who host local, self-organized TED-style events around the world; and the TED Fellows program, which selects innovators from around the globe to amplify the impact of their remarkable projects and activities.

   

  About AAA

  AAA provides automotive, travel and insurance services to 57 million members nationwide.  AAA advocates for the safety and mobility of its members and has been committed to outstanding road service for more than 100 years.  The not-for-profit, fully tax-paying member organization works on behalf of motorists, who can now map a route, find local gas prices, discover discounts, book a hotel and track their roadside assistance service with the AAA Mobile app for iPhone, iPad and Android.  For more information, visit AAA.com

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AAA provides automotive, travel and insurance services to 57 million members nationwide and more than 937,000 members in Maryland.  AAA advocates for the safety and mobility of its members and has been committed to outstanding road service for more than 100 years.  The not-for-profit, fully tax-paying member organization works on behalf of motorists, who can now map a route, find local gas prices, discover discounts, book a hotel and track their roadside assistance service with the AAA Mobile app for iPhone, iPad and Android.  For more information, visit www.AAA.com.