Meet the Team

Mary Riffe, Procter & Gamble

I am: artist, designer, connector, idea generator/brainstormer, parent, passionate

Talk to me about: design, trends, innovation…sorry one more – ice cream

People don’t know that I’m good at… well, I have more things that I am NOT good at – like singing, totally tone deaf!

An idea worth spreading: design and science make an awesome couple

I’m passionate about: spreading Cincinnati’s creativity and innovative ideas

Favorite TEDtalks: Jane McGonigal, LXD Performance, J.J. Abrams, John Kasaona, William Li, Sir Ken Robinson

Twitter: @riffemc

Michael Bergman, LPK

I am: idea generator, event planner, lawyer, promoter, entrepreneur, connector, brainstormer, inventor

Talk to me about: educational inventions, baseball stadiums, ridiculous food

People don’t know that I’m good at… making connections, whether it be people, ideas or airplanes…Ok, maybe not that last one

An idea worth spreading: education must be fun, interactive and social

I’m passionate about: spreading Cincinnati’s greatness worldwide

Favorite TEDtalks: Mike Rowe, Adam Savage, Sir Ken Robinson

Twitter: @raysplace

Emily Venter, LPK

I am: artist, designer, event planner, idea generator, marketer, parent, photographer, project manager, world traveler, contributor to life

Talk to me about: Ethiopia, children’s books, anything but sports

People don’t know that I’m good at… reading lips; I’m not perfect but I’m not too bad either and you might be surprised at how useful it is

An idea worth spreading: “Aim above morality. Be not simply good, be good for something.” ~ Henry David Thoreau

I’m passionate about: ethics in international adoption

Favorite TEDtalks: Chimamanda Adichie, Sebastian Wernicke, Natalie Merchant, J.J. Abrams,

Twitter: @venterem

David Volker, LPK

I am: brainstormer, designer, idea generator, life mentor

Talk to me about: Over-The-Rhine, bourbon, goetta

People don’t know that I’m good at… food challenges, skeet shooting and turning double plays

An idea worth spreading: “It’s not important to develop your own style but your own *approach*” ~ Massimo Vignelli

I’m passionate about: urban living

Favorite TEDtalks: Stefan Sagmeister, Mike Rowe, Tim Brown

Twitter: @JrVolks