About

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About 〰️

Meet the Team


  • Licensee and Organizer

    I am first and foremost someone who loves adventure, fun, and laughter. I am always on the search for new experiences – whether that be travelling across the world or playing paintball at my nephew’s birthday party. I can find the bright side to most situations and love being someone that others can count on for a good belly laugh.

    It is because of this adventurous, wandering spirit that I am so drawn to TEDx – and am beyond ecstatic to be hosting these events in our beautiful Manitou Springs, where our community can get together and get inspired.

    I am a 4th generation Colorado Springs and Manitou pioneer, and I am passionate about our unique culture and distinctive community. I have been a leader for more than 20-years, serving as a field leader, human resources expert, and consultant to companies all over the world. However, even though my career has led me all over the world – my roots have kept me here.

    I am a painter, a writer, a keynote speaker (mostly focusing on HR, leadership, and total wellness topics), an escape room addict, and a survivor. I believe that much of my passion and optimistic nature comes from my two survivor stories – the first being surviving cancer at birth and the second being surviving a stroke, open-heart surgery, and a pacemaker implant in my 30s.

    And, most importantly – I am a mother to the best daughter in the world and wife to the best partner a girl could ask for. My family grounds me, challenges me, and supports me in everything I do. I believe that collaboration with family, friends, colleagues, and community is critical to creating events that inspire and transcend generations. I am thrilled to be the Organizer of TEDxManitouSprings and can’t wait to connect with each of you.


  • Chief Operations Officer

    Branda Hebert is Chief Operations Officer for TEDxManitouSprings, she fits in everywhere and anywhere needed to make each event happen. She’s the first one to welcome you when you arrive and she’s always willing to help where she can. With the greatest laugh and the biggest hugs, Branda is sure to make you feel comfortable and welcome.

    Branda is also our Chief Heart Officer more for her story than her duties at TEDxManitouSprings. She’s constantly searching for ways to make people happy, comfortable, and smiling. In fact, take this to the extreme, and know that Branda has been a surrogate for 3 separate families. She has had the absolute pleasure of providing 3 different couples a chance to start a family of their own. By far, each of these surrogacies have been among the greatest moments of her life.

    Aside from helping the TEDxManitouSprings crew share amazing stories and helping couples become families… Branda is married with 3 kids, 4 cats, and a dog, as well as working as an Account Manager at a medical staffing company in Monument Colorado.

    No matter where she goes and with everyone she meets, smiles happen, hugs are unavoidable, and giggles occur.

Michael Ashford Speaker Coach

  • Curator & Head Speaker Coach

    Michael Ashford is a speaking and leadership communications coach dedicated to helping people communicate better — in ways they were never taught in school. He has spent years researching leadership communication, conflict communication, and change activation, sharing his findings on his podcast, Rethinking Communication, and in his book, Can I Ask A Question?

    Michael has a Master's degree in Mass Communication and is the Director of Marketing at The Receptionist, a Denver-based software company.

    Michael is also a two-time TEDx speaker and a former award-winning journalist. His work across various platforms has been featured in publications like Men's Health Magazine and Podcast Magazine.


  • Chief Creative Officer

    Adam Hebert lives in a world without rules and I write bios in both first-person as well as third-person because I, and he, can do that. Adam grew up in a strange and lawless time ruled by Ninja Turtles and flying DeLorean’s where he learned all his life lessons through comic books and Care Bears.

    In high school, I was a ‘super nerd’ graduating with a 4.3 GPA, honor roll, president’s list, and an award of excellence in art. After high school, Adam decided the best way to use his big brain was… To do absolutely nothing with it until he turned 32 years old. Sure he worked at some jobs and moved from here to there, got married, kids, dogs, cats, etc. All of that is important, but most of that makes for a boring bio so we’ll skip ahead.

    Bit by the entrepreneurial bug between ages 32 and 38, Adam successfully failed at building two companies while simultaneously learning what he needed to know as he leaped forward to the next venture… “And knowing is half the battle.”

    At 38 Adam bought a nice DSLR camera… My first camera in fact. So obviously I instantly became a professional wedding photographer launching Epoch Moment Photography. Fast forward 6 years and Adam is still shooting weddings while also launching Epoch 365, a media company producing all things audio, video, and photo. In addition, he founded the Know Where Project, GNN, and Colorado Icon. I also work as a member of the COS Chamber & EDC, PERCS in Canon City, and acts as the Chief Creative Officer for TEDx Manitou Springs.

  • Chief People Officer

    Kimberly Haines is a mother of 3 wild and beautiful children, a 4th generation Colorado Springs native, and a woman with a moxie for being a life-long learner. Throughout her career and personal experiences she has gained a passion for bringing others together in collaboration of who they are, who they want to be, and how to get there.

    She has traveled through an array of career and educational paths, from practicing neuromuscular massage therapy to training, development, and management for local and national restaurants to coordinating care for the top cardiology and cardiac surgery team in Southern Colorado. She received her education at Capella University, earning her Bachelor’s in Science with an emphasis in Health Care Administration, and Master’s in Human Resource Management.

    Kimberly is an active part of the community both professionally and personally as a member of the Delta Mu Delta national business honor society, member of the UCHealth Employee Advisory Committee, a Patient Experience Champion for UCHealth, and Chief People Officer for TEDxManitouSprings.