27th Annual Conference – ELEVATE: Building Blocks to Elevate U

Keynote Speakers

Jana Shortal

A full baker’s dozen. That’s how many years Jana has worked as a reporter for KARE 11 news here in Minneapolis — it is also the same amount of time she has spent wondering if she could ever really be that much needed addition to the now defunct Destiny’s Child. But she’s for sure gonna name her first child, Destiny, just to get remotely close to that brand.

Other tidbits. Jana is from a town you’ve never heard of but it’s a 40-minute drive from St. Louis. She once sold her ten-year anniversary gift from KARE 11 to an ex so she could buy a pair of Air Jordan’s. And her dog is named Vivian Ward. And yes, that Vivian Ward. She and Vivian heart Minneapolis so hard they sometimes cry about it when they take their morning poop walk.

Dan Ibarra

Dan Ibarra is the founder and custodian of Thriving Concern. He was born in Wisconsin, the son of an anthropologist and a schoolteacher. He is (in order of expertise) a: graphic designer, printmaker, educator, garbage collector, writer, type designer, and lecturer. From 1999 through 2016 he was the co-founder of Aesthetic Apparatus — a commercial art and printmaking studio that played an integral role in the American poster art revival. One night he slept on Shepard Fairey’s floor. His design work and typography has been recognized by Communication Arts, Creative Review, CMYK, How, Print, STEP, Rolling Stone, Nylon, ReadyMade Magazine, and has been included in numerous design, art, and print anthologies. He has lectured and exhibited internationally.

Event Date
Thursday, June 8, 2017