4 Voices You'll Meet at TEDxFargo 2025
Bob Dalton is building tech that brings people together.
As founder of Sackcloth & Ashes, he helped deliver warmth to hundreds of thousands experiencing homelessness. Now, with his new venture LOCL, Bob is creating digital tools to strengthen real-world connection — helping communities find each other and thrive.
A changemaker and storyteller, Bob takes the TEDxFargo stage to explore how purpose-driven innovation can reconnect us in an increasingly disconnected world.
Dr. Melissa Mork helps people find light in the darkest places.
Dr. Melissa Mork leads with levity—and science. A clinical and forensic psychologist, author, and Certified Humor Professional, she bridges research and real-life recovery to help people navigate grief, trauma, and mental health challenges with compassion and even comedy.
Melissa has worked with everyone from survivors of mass tragedy to those in high-stress professions like healthcare and law enforcement, showing how dark humor can be a lifeline in the darkest moments. At TEDxFargo, she explores the healing power of humor — and why staying human means laughing, even when life hurts.
Tom & Emily Whitehead believe in rewriting the odds.
When Emily became the first child in the world to receive CAR T-cell therapy, she not only survived — she sparked a revolution in cancer treatment. Now 11 years cancer free, Emily and her father Tom co-founded the Emily Whitehead Foundation to accelerate cures and advocate for kids everywhere
Tom, a keynote speaker and lineman, and Emily, a college student and advocate, share a bond forged in resilience and rooted in purpose. Together, they elevate a global conversation about hope, science, and the power of persistence — and they bring that message to the TEDxFargo stage.
Vern Dosch believes in the power of cooperative leadership.
Vern Dosch leads where purpose meets performance. As CEO of National Information Solutions Cooperative, he spent nearly two decades scaling innovation across rural America — transforming NISC into a national technology leader serving hundreds of cooperatives and communities.
With 45 years of experience and an ethos rooted in servant leadership, Vern brings hard-earned insight into building trust, embracing humility, and leading with values that last. At TEDxFargo, he reflects on a career defined by connection, cooperation, and doing what’s right — even when it’s not easy.
