Category: Uncategorized

PORTLAND, Ore., March 6, 2025 /3BL/ – TEDxPortland, an all-volunteer nonprofit organization and the largest TEDx conference in North America, announces a new Women’s Leadership Forum taking the stage on Saturday, April 26 at Portland’s Keller Auditorium. The Women’s Leadership Forum will headline the event’s Year 13 program. Made possible by a partnership with KeyBank and the Portland Thorns FC, the new platform features an interview led by former Thorns and Canadian international teammates Karina LeBlanc, Executive Vice President of Strategic Growth Development RAJ Sports, the ownership group of Portland Thorns/WNBA Portland, with Christine Sinclair—FIFA’s all-time scoring record holder, Olympic Gold Medalist, and five-time World Cup player.

The final lineup of TEDxPortland’s Year 13 features eleven speakers and seven performers centered around this year’s theme: Continuum. The Women’s Leadership Forum is a new format for TEDxPortland; the interview will delve into leadership, legacy, and how we can all make an impact in our community. More information on Year 13 speakers, performers, and hosts can be found at TEDxPortland’s new website.

“We’re honored to have the opportunity to shine a spotlight on Christine Sinclair, whose unparalleled leadership—both on and off the field—has inspired so many of us,” said Karina LeBlanc. “This Women’s Leadership Forum represents the power of connection, community, and legacy, and I’m excited to explore these themes with Christine in front of the TEDxPortland audience. Together, we hope to lead a conversation that inspires future generations to step into their own leadership potential—whether in sports, business, or life—and empowers everyone to lean into their own greatness and take action.”

“We’re incredibly excited to welcome Christine Sinclair, one of the greatest female soccer players of our lifetime, and unquestionably the GOAT of the Thorns FC. Christine and Karina will be magic on our stage,” said TEDxPortland founder Dave Rae. “This new on-stage interview format expands our event offering and welcomes new dreamers, thinkers, and doers to join us at TEDxPortland.”

“KeyBank is proud to sponsor TEDxPortland and bring this event and forum to attendees,” said Josh Lyons, KeyBank Oregon and SW Washington Market President. “We are a big supporter of the Thorns and women’s sports in general, we know that Karina and Sin will have an interesting conversation and guests will be treated to a look into the life of this sports legend.”

Christine Sinclair’s portrait was painted by TEDxPortland’s first ever artist in residence, Kyra Watkins, a Portland-based public and digital artist originally from Cincinnati, Ohio. The artist created two one-of-a-kind pieces for each speaker and performer in Year 13—one of their inner-child, aged 4-8, and one as a young teenager. These one-of-a-kind pieces are currently on display at L’Atelier Yaffe through April 27.

Founded in 2009, TEDxPortland strives to host the most inspirational and educational day of the year—to bring a community together that celebrates people, partners, and place. In welcoming a multi-cultural audience who seeks a deeper understanding of the world, TEDxPortland believes in the power of ideas to change attitudes, perspectives, and lives.

Tickets to the dynamic event from 9 am to 5 pm on Saturday, April 26, are on sale now, ranging from $99 to $169. Each ticket includes TEDxPortland’s award-winning event book, coffee and tea in the morning, an interactive lunch experience, and a complimentary post-event happy hour in Keller Park.

TEDxPortland photos and logos can be found in the folder HERE.

About TEDxPortland

Established in 1984, TED is an annual event where some of the world’s leading thinkers and doers are invited to share what they are most passionate about. “TED” stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design—three broad subject areas that are shaping our collective future. And the event is broader still, showcasing ideas that matter in any discipline. The TEDx movement is a local iteration of the annual TED event, held in cities all over the world. Portland, Oregon holds the largest TEDx conference in North America, with an all-volunteer team that brings Ideas Worth Spreading to the Rose City. Learn more at TEDxPortland.com and follow TEDxPortland on Instagram.

About Portland Thorns FC 

Founded in 2012, Portland Thorns FC have set the standard for fan support and on-field success in women’s soccer since its inaugural 2013 season. One of the world’s most supported women’s soccer clubs, Portland has led the league in attendance for eight seasons and set a new club playoff attendance record with 25,218 fans supporting Thorns FC in the 2023 semifinal match at Providence Park. Thorns FC have won the NWSL Championship a league-record three times (2013, 2017, 2022) and finished as runners-up in 2018. The club has made the postseason a league-high nine times and has won the NWSL Shield in 2016 and 2021.

About KEYCORP

In 2025, KeyCorp celebrates its bicentennial, marking 200 years of service to clients and communities from Maine to Alaska. To learn more, visit KeyBank Heritage Center. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Key is one of the nation’s largest bank-based financial services companies, with assets of approximately $187 billion at December 31, 2024. Key provides deposit, lending, cash management, and investment services to individuals and businesses in 15 states under the name KeyBank National Association through a network of approximately 1,000 branches and approximately 1,200 ATMs. Key also provides a broad range of sophisticated corporate and investment banking products, such as merger and acquisition advice, public and private debt and equity, syndications and derivatives to middle market companies in selected industries throughout the United States under the KeyBanc Capital Markets trade name. For more information, visit https://www.key.com/. KeyBank Member FDIC.

Previously published by DAV

Veterans behind the scenes

A streaming hit on Paramount+, “SEAL Team” committed to unwavering authenticity as it followed the fictional Bravo Team of U.S. Navy SEALs. From star David Boreanaz wearing an actual SEAL’s helmet on screen to the numerous military veterans in the cast and crew, the series strove for realism in every detail during its recently ended seven-season run.

Dedication to on-screen authenticity is only one aspect that the Veteran Immersion Program, created by the Paramount Veterans Network in 2020 to guide and support veterans in the media industry, brings to the table.

While offering hands-on experience and the opportunity to network with the best in the business, this unique program supports a culture of camaraderie infused with mentorship, career counseling, skills development and job readiness.

“We identify skill sets in each of our participants, and then we grow that skill set,” said Betty Diaz, director of programs and operations for Paramount Veterans Network. With an uncle who served in the Marine Corps and a cousin who was wounded in the Army, Diaz has seen the importance of giving back to those who have served.

“We’ve had veterans come into communications, animation, editing, event planning, event coordination, corporate responsibility, info security and tech. There’s a plethora of opportunities.”

These opportunities are often necessary for veterans, who have contributed some of their prime learning years to military service.

“Getting into media is very challenging,” Diaz continued. “For the military, as they’re getting out and transitioning, there are not a lot of open doors. It’s important for us to open these doors of opportunities for veterans to work in media.”

“This industry is a dog-eat-dog world,” said Torrin Fields, a senior postproduction editor at Paramount. “You feel alone; you feel isolated.”

Fields joined the Army as a military police officer in 2001, shortly after 9/11. Between 2002 and 2005, he deployed twice to Iraq, serving in a reconnaissance role both times.

The shared responsibility and mission of these deployments ultimately shaped how Fields views the world.

“The military gave me the opportunity to understand how to be a leader, a team player and also resilient,” Fields said. “Before I joined the military, I just cared about myself.”

But with service comes risk. Due to an injury he received in Iraq, Fields temporarily lost his ability to walk. He was medically discharged in 2005.

“I sacrificed my body,” Fields explained. “To this day, I have complications. I sometimes use a cane to walk. I can’t stand for longer than 30 minutes. The injury really did impact my physical ability.”

Fields moved to Los Angeles to begin working in the media field. He quickly found that the civilian workplace did not resemble the team environment he had experienced in the Army. “It was very difficult to find a team. You find a lot of individualistic behavior outside of the military,” Fields said.

When he learned about the Veteran Immersion Program, which was recruiting for its inaugural session, he knew he wanted to participate. Through courses and individual mentorship, he learned skills like public speaking, corporate leadership and networking, eventually landing his current role. However, for Fields, the best part of the program was finally finding his team.

“This program is about camaraderie, family. I always felt like they had my back,” Fields said. “They were always championing me.”

In 2023 and 2024, Paramount Veterans Network (and the immersion program) was recognized as a DAV Patriot Employer for its dedication to the military community. The organization was also a featured employer at the DAV Job Fair that occurred at the 2023 Military Veterans in Journalism conference.

“Paramount’s program not only provides valuable employment and job training opportunities for veterans but also brings authenticity to programming—a service to the nation as the veteran population continues to shrink,” said Lamarr Couser, employment director at DAV. “Ensuring that real veteran perspectives are represented in media helps preserve their stories and contributions for future generations.”

Joshua Reyes can attest to the life-changing impacts of the Veteran Immersion Program. Now a sales associate for Paramount Global, Reyes grew up in an impoverished neighborhood in the Brooklyn borough of New York City with his mother and three siblings. Determined to break the cycle of poverty, he enlisted in the Marine Corps.

“It really gave me a foundation and structure that I needed at the time,” he said. He built a wide range of skills as an aviation ordnance technician and martial arts instructor.

“I learned values like honor, courage, commitment and service—all these things that I didn’t learn growing up,” he said.

But then an accident during an instructor training course changed the trajectory of his life.

Reyes’ back was broken, and doctors said he would never walk again. Refusing to accept that as his fate, he battled every day toward recovery. After a year of rehab in the Wounded Warrior Battalion, Reyes made a 95% recovery, including the use of his legs. But he was still medically discharged from service.

“I was going to be a lifer,” Reyes said. “My identity was so attached to the Marine Corps. Once you get out, you don’t have that support system. I struggled for a long time.”

He studied international business and acting in school, looking for direction and spark. Then he heard about the Veteran Immersion Program, which would offer the flexibility to pursue both his “passion and survival.”

He wasn’t expecting how therapeutic it would feel to immerse himself in other people’s stories through acting.

“You’re taught to really peel back the layers of your soul, your heart, and drop those walls. Acting has taught me to be comfortable with allowing myself to feel emotions of the character and portray those feelings freely,” he said. “It’s liberating.”

The opportunities at Paramount are not just for fully transitioned veterans. National Guard and Reserve members also find a welcome home in the immersion program.

Chris Murray, an editor with Paramount Global, always had a camera in hand before joining the Air Force as a tactical aircraft maintenance technician. After four years on active duty, Murray was ready to pursue a degree in film and business.

But his military career wasn’t over. He also joined the Air National Guard as a satellite operator for the Space Force.

Serving while trying to break into the film industry proved difficult.

“The hardest part is finding work that doesn’t feel like you’re underutilized or overqualified,” Murray said. “You can be called up at any time to serve your country. In a competitive field, you can’t afford to dip away for X amount of time.”

The Veteran Immersion Program provided the solution he needed.

“Paramount goes that extra mile with their immersion program,” Murray said. “You’re temporarily employed under the Veterans Immersion Program in the entertainment industry, allowing you to make connections and bridge that gap along with a community of veterans who have made that transition right before you.”

Those connections go a long way. “When you leave the service, you feel almost isolated,” Murray said. “Being a part of this program, you still feel that connection.”

Building camaraderie in a competitive field is an important aspect to the program, according to participants, but so is giving back to the military community.

“Being a DAV Patriot Employer is an opportunity,” said Diaz. “This award acknowledges all the good work that we’re doing. And we can do more. It’s the gift that keeps on giving.”

For Diaz, the mission is bigger than the program. “If I can show other media companies how to do this, I will,” she stated. “I just want to see vets thrive.”

Continue reading here.