Update: TEDxDetroit Adds More Speakers for Wednesday Event

Newly announced names are added to the lineup of speakers at this week's fifth annual TEDxDetroit day of discussions, which has closed ticket applications.

These are among presenters at the Cobo Center event who weren't listed earlier:

Nathan Hughes, a programmer who graduated from UM-Dearborn in 2003 and co-founded Detroit Labs in May 2011.
John Capp, electrical and control systems research director for Cadillac. His talk, “The Age of Automated Driving is Already Here,” will focus on the auto industry's future as computers take on more driving tasks and how this will affect society.
Ryan Landau, co-founder of Chalkfly, a Detroit-based online source of classroom suppliers since last year. He'll share startup business tips.
Ishita Gupta, a Detroit native now living in New York, who founded a digital magazine called Fear.less.
Norman Witte, web developer at Crain’s Detroit Business, who'll talk about commuting by bike and public transportation as a carless Detroiter.
Jason Vazzano, co-founder of Vectorform in Royal Oak. His talk, “Wearable Computing and Getting Intimate with Your Devices,” is about incorporating technology into eyeglasses, watches and other accessories.
Mary Lore, a Denver motivational trainer who founded a business called Managing Thought. Her interactive talk, “Words Matter,” will show how changing one word of a thought can influence whether we are creative and inspired.
Amy Kaherl and Elizabeth Garlow will talk jointly about nurturing social change. Kaherl founded Detroit Soup, a crowd-funding organization, and Garlow is executive director of Michigan Corps, a nonprofit.
Asia Newson, a 10-year-old Detroiter, will talk about her business selling candles.

Sept. 15 article:

A doctor, an author, a biomedical engineer, a teen, a reality show star, a business journalist and entrepreneurs of varied ages are among speakers at next month's fifth TEDxDetroit conference downtown.

Fourteen of the expected 24 presenters Oct. 2 at Cobo Center's new ballroom are listed in a news release from organizers of the local offshoot of a yearly TED gathering of innovators and achievers in Technology, Entertainment and Design.

"We're shining a light on the city's rebirth," says Charlie Wollborg, an organizer since 2009.

Among those chosen from more than 100 speaker applicants are:

John U. Bacon, Ann Arbor sportswriter and author
Greg Gage, biomedical engineer who co-founded Backyard Brains, an Ann Arbor maker of science projects for K-12 students. He spoke at last year’s TED conference in California.
Les Gold, owner of American Jewelry and Loan
Jason Hall, co-founder of Detroit Bike City & Slow Roll Detroit, a weekly event drawing up to 1,300 riders
Angela Kilgore, teen community organizer who graduated this year from Denby High and is active in the Better Detroit Youth Movement
Kevin Krease, co-founder of Assemble, a summer 2014 sports event (X Games Detroit bid successor)
Ryan Landau, co-founder of Chalkfly.com
Dr. Partha Nandi, Troy gastroenterologist who hosts a TV talk show he created last year. He'll discuss how technology can ease health care access.
Jacques Panis, Shinola director of business development and strategic partnerships
Rich Sheridan, CEO of Menlo Innovations, an Ann Arbor software developer. He'll discuss how workplace culture and morale are a key part of Detroit's recovery and reinventon.
Jaclyn Trop, New York Times business writer and former Detroit News reporter
Jackie Victor, Owner, Avalon International Breads

"The theme hasn't changed since 2009," Charlie Wollborg, a founding ~~organizer~~ "curator," tells Fast Company. "We're shining a light on the city's rebirth. . . . We want to be a creative spark-- a perpetual motion machine of cool things happening in Detroit."

The media handout from Jennifer Lee of Airfoil Public Relations says TEDxDetroit "will offer deep discussion and connection in an intimate setting," though that last part seems a stretch for a 40,000-square-foot ballroom and gathering of 1,000 or so people.

GM and Quicken (through its Bizdom nonprofit branch) are among corporate sponsors of the 10-hour event, which costs $50 and is open only by invitation. Applications are here.

Though the first set of acceptances went out last Wednesday, applications still are being taken. The process, aimed at seeking diversity and coolness, has elements of job screening, velvet rope lifting and Greek house pledging. (Well, there goes my chance of attending.)

Here's how the application page puts it:

We're working to ensure the people attending the conference are as interesting as the people presenting. We're curating a collection of thinkers and doers across a wide range of fields and experiences. . . . Our aim is to curate a stimulating exchange of ideas among a diverse group of thinkers and doers.