Event Speakers

Kelsey Alimandi

Traditions to Cultivate DI Team Unity

Kelsey Alimandi participated in DI for six years, and since then has been volunteering as an Instant Challenge Appraiser. This past summer she joined the NH-DI program board where where she helps train new team managers, presents at workshops, and reaches out to schools to start DI programs.

Erica Begun-Veenstra

Dialogues and Deductions: Putting Team Members in the Driver’s Seat

Erica Begun-Veenstra is the Educational Experiences Coordinator at Destination Imagination, Inc., where she assists in program and resource development. She is a Destination Imagination alumna and has been active in volunteering for the organization since its inception. In addition to her roles as an Appraiser and Challenge Writer, Erica served as the Chair of the Alumni Council. She has a deep passion for creative problem solving and the impact it has on the lives of children and adults.

Image Description: At right, Erica poses, smiling and wearing a red shirt, in front of a brown background.

Erica holds a doctorate in Anthropology from the University of Iowa where she specialized in the archaeology of Ancient Mexico. She spent many years on the faculty at Grand Valley State University in Michigan before joining the DI staff.

In her free time, Erica loves creative writing, teaching and making pottery, spending time with her family, and daydreaming about dragons.

Kris Beisel

Learn DI: An Overview for Team Managers, Dialogues and Deductions, Interference: What It Is and What It Isn’t

Image Description: At left, Kris Beisel poses, smiling and wearing a multi-colored shirt, in front of a tan background.

Kris Beisel serves as DI’s Director of Educational Alliances and Training. Kris comes to Destination Imagination with more than 20 years of nonprofit management experience, 2 years as an Affiliate Director, and over 13 years of experience as a Team Manager. Professionally, Kris’ experience includes work with the National MS Society and PowerUP, a past program of the Case Foundation. She has expertise in designing adult education programs, budget development and administration, grant writing, data management, and operational improvement.

Kris has a bachelor’s degree in human services from Metro State College of Denver and a master’s degree in organizational management and leadership from Capella University.

Kelsey Celek

Event Guides: What We’ve Learned

Kelsey Celek is a proud Destination Imagination alumna and has volunteered with the organization as an Appraiser and Challenge Developer. In her role as the Affiliate Relations Manager, Kelsey facilitates communication among DI’s Affiliates and participants and creates resources to support their efforts.

Image Description: At right, Kelsey poses, smiling and wearing black DI apparel, in front of a blue step-and-repeat backdrop featuring the logo for the DI Digital Open.

Kelsey comes to DI from the world of theatre education, having served as a director and teaching artist for 10 years in 38 U.S. states. Kelsey has worked closely with students both onstage and in the classroom, building curriculum for acting, creative drama, and arts-integrated content. Kelsey holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Acting/Musical Theatre from Wright State University.

adam Garry

AI in Education

With two decades of expertise in consulting, Adam guides educational institutions on their journey toward digital and student-centered learning transformations. He recently led Dell Technologies' education innovation and strategy for 14 years and has been a speaker at prominent conferences around the world. Over the last 20 years, he has contributed articles, blogs, and podcasts on many aspects of education including personalized learning, assessment, generative AI, and leadership. He is currently supporting school districts and companies across the US and Canada with Generative AI initiatives. Additionally, he has co-written two books: "Teaching the iGeneration" and "Personalized Learning Through Voice and Choice". A former elementary teacher, Adam possesses a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education, a Master's in Teaching and Learning with a focus on Technology, and a Certificate in Administration and Supervision.

marci goldberg

Marketing to K-12 Schools

Marci Goldberg is the President and Founder of K12 Market Advisors with 20 years of experience in business, technology, and K-12 education. She is also a former DI mom! She has played key leadership and advisory roles with dozens of educational organizations in both the for profit and nonprofit space. For seven years, Marci worked with Educational Systemics, driving marketing, product, and business development projects in the publishing, curriculum, and administrative systems side of K-12 education. Additionally, Marci served as a Management Consultant to Chicago Public Schools, helping with the district-wide implementation of a new Student Information System.

Adam Law

Lead Communications for Affiliates and Regions

Amanda Potter

Dialogues and Deductions, AI in Education

Amanda Potter is the Associate Director of Educational Experiences at Destination Imagination, Inc., where she is involved in program and resource development. Amanda began her Destination Imagination participation at a young age, developing a deep passion for the creative process, teamwork and making a positive difference in the lives of young people. Using the skills and lessons learned as a 13-year DI participant and volunteer at all levels, she began her professional career as a choral music teacher, developing thriving programs in Marietta, Georgia and Durham, North Carolina. There, she also produced and directed musicals such as Honk! Jr., Beauty and the Beast Jr., and The King and I.

Amanda holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Music Education from Elon University. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, cooking, trivia nights and playing with her dog Banjo.

Image Description: Amanda Potter, with long curly hair and a black polka dotted shirt, stands in front of a white background.

Renee Rainville

DEIB and DI: Where We Are Now

Renee Rainville is the International Consultant for Destination Imagination, Inc., focusing on strategic international development and professional training in more than 16 countries. She has 20-plus years of experience in the global education field, including practical teaching experience in project-based learning and socio-constructivism.

Renee has a wide appreciation and perspective on the effect a country’s culture, economy and political climate play in education and has provided training in several countries throughout her career, including Australia, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Mexico, Poland, Nigeria, Pakistan, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Image Description: Above, Renee smiles in front of a white background.

Renee holds a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood and Elementary Education from Elizabethtown College and has developed curriculum and courses for a variety of educational pilot programs in the United States and Mexico.

She is the founder of Quanticopia, a consulting business that offers creative solutions to the development of communication, creative thinking and diversity awareness. One of her most rewarding developments is the implementation of the Destination Imagination Challenge Experience in Qatar with a 1,300-percent increase in participation over three years.

Renee was previously a Destination Imagination, Inc. Board of Trustees member, where she served as the international strategist. She is a member of the Project Management Institute Educational Foundation (PMIEF) community and serves as a School Governor for Millthorpe School in York, England. Renee is also a certified Life Coach and a Certified TetraMap Facilitator.

urooj seemeen

DI Pakistan: A New Model

Engr. Urooj Seemeen is a dynamic professional with a diverse skill set. As a Certified Six Sigma Black Belt and Entrepreneur, she has made significant contributions to the fields of EdTech and STREAM education over her 13-year career. Urooj is deeply committed to empowering children through project-based learning and enhancing educational quality in schools using Six Sigma techniques. She has a proven track record of mentoring and guiding students and teachers, particularly from underserved communities in Pakistan, to success in international competitions and events like ImagineX STEM Competition and Destination Imagination Global Finals. Urooj's innovative approach has also led to victories in AI competitions and the establishment of platforms like ChalkTalk, fostering global connections for students. Her work has not only transformed the educational landscape in Pakistan but has also sparked a newfound enthusiasm for STEM education among marginalized youth.

Michele Tuck-Ponder

The State of DI

Image Description: At left, Michele smiles while wearing a blue shirt and scarf in front of a black background.

A former mayor of Princeton, NJ Michele has served as Academic Manager of the Center for African American Studies at Princeton University, Executive Director of the Women’s Fund of New Jersey, CEO of the Girl Scouts of Delaware-Raritan, Inc., interim Executive Director of the YWCA of Eastern Union County, assistant counsel to Governor Jim Florio, assistant director of the New Jersey Division on Women and New Jersey Division on Civil Rights, director of development and public affairs at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, and congressional aide to former US Representative Louis Stokes and the late US Senator Frank Lautenberg. She also was a community builder fellow with the US Department of Housing and Urban Development in Camden and has served as a lecturer at Princeton and Rutgers Universities. Michele has served as a trustee of New Jersey After 3, Princeton United Methodist Church, Leadership New Jersey and the Center for Non-Profit Corporations. A graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University and the University of Pennsylvania Law School, Tuck-Ponder is married to Rhinold Lamar Ponder, Esq. and is the mother to daughter, Jamaica, and son, William D’Artagnan.

Johnny Wells

Dialogues and Deductions, AI in Education

Image Description: At right, Johnny smiles while wearing a colorful paisley shirt in front of a gray background.

Johnny Wells’ 31 years as an educator demonstrated his commitment to students and their futures. He began his career in 1983 at Sulphur Springs Middle School in Texas, where he taught, and spent the majority of his teaching career as a dedicated advocate for gifted and talented education. As a volunteer, Johnny donated his time to Destination Imagination by serving on the Board of Trustees as vice-chairman, serving on the Texas Creative Problem Solving Organization Executive Board as president, and working as a co-director of the East Texas DI Region. He also volunteered as an Appraiser and Team Manager at the regional, state and global levels and as a Challenge Master for Instant Challenge in the East Texas Region. In 2009 Mr. Wells was honored as the Texas Association for the Gifted and Talented Teacher of the Year. He and his wife of 37 years, Kathie, have two married children, Megan and Ian, who are both DI alumni and involved in Destination Imagination as Appraisers, Challenge Masters, and team trainers.

Johnny has a Bachelor of Business Administration degree with a major in accounting from East Texas State University. He completed graduate work at East Texas State University and the University of Northern Colorado.