Speakers & Performers
Dana McDaniel
"Resilience - Local Government and Beyond"
Sean Clifton
"Finding a new mission: Surviving & Thriving through perseverance and teamwork"
Sumedha Kethini
“Eco(nomy) Friendly”
John Marschausen
"The Heart of Innovation"
Prerna Chakkingal
“Pondering Over Feminism”
Andrea Yu
“Z-Defining Defiance”
Lizzie Gill
"Rise Up" By Andra Day
Speaker Bios
Dana McDaniel
City Manager
Dana L. McDaniel became the City of Dublin’s fifth city manager on January 31, 2015. As city manager, he serves as the chief administrative and law enforcement officer and is responsible to City Council for the day-to-day operations of the City. McDaniel has been employed by the City for 32 years. He has served in various roles, including management assistant to the city manager, director of service, deputy city manager/director of economic development and director of development. Prior to starting his career in Dublin, he served as an intern in both the Cities of Lebanon and Gahanna, Ohio.
Dr. John Marschhausen
District Superintendent
Dr. John Marschhausen is the Superintendent of the Dublin City School District. John is in his seventeenth year as a school Superintendent with six additional years as a high school principal and six years as a classroom teacher. John also serves as Visiting Associate Professor in the College of Education and Human Ecology at The Ohio State University and as a member of Ohio Governor Mike DeWine's Executive Workforce Board. John believes successful leaders build trust through their actions and relationships; he knows that culture eats strategy for lunch. John and his wife, Susan, are the proud parents of two current Ohio State Buckeyes.
Sean A. Clifton
Master Sergeant (retired)
US Army Special Forces (Green Beret)
Master Sergeant (MSG) Sean Clifton is a retired Green Beret with over 22 years in the military, 15 of those being in US Army Special Forces. MSG Clifton medically retired in the Spring of 2016 from Special Operations Command (SOCOM). MSG Clifton's last assignment was as a Special Forces Operations & Intelligence Sergeant with a SOCOM Detachment in the Army National Guard. MSG Clifton has multiple tours of combat to Iraq and Afghanistan where his primary responsibility was that of Intelligence and Targeting Cell Leader on an ODA (Special Forces A-Team).
Prerna Chakkingal
Student
Prerna Chakkingal is a sophomore at South Fayette High School in Pittsburgh, PA. She is a pianist with national and international guild awards and a girl scout who loves to serve the community. In her free time, she loves to dance and express herself through actions and expressions. Prerna takes great interest in science and healthcare. Being able to project her voice has always been one of her passions as she believes it is the greatest power one can own. She feels strongly on social issues like feminism and racism. She believes that these ideologies have a long way to improve and she hopes to be a successful and impactful speaker someday.
Sumedha Kethini
Student
Sumedha Kethini is a junior at Dublin Jerome High School. She’s in the top 102 speakers nationally in her Speech and Debate event, and loves using her voice to persuade an audience. Whether the headlines display foreign affairs or domestic policy, Sumedha believes that having an opinion on the issues of today is the basis for a better tomorrow. The issue closest to her heart is the deterioration of the environment, especially the impact of corporations on the Earth. Passionate about the intersection of business and the environment, she hopes to redefine solutions for corporate sustainability.
Andrea Yu
Student
Andrea Yu is a sophomore at Dublin Jerome High School. She is an artist, musician, cyclist, volunteer, and active member of Speech & Debate and Student Council. She is also passionate about the STEM fields, especially mathematics, as well as social justice and public speaking. Andrea has experienced firsthand how her generation uses the unprecedented tools at their disposal to face the unprecedented issues of the modern world. She believes that young people should be taught their potential to make an impact on their communities. With her talk, she hopes to inspire other teenagers to discover their voices, to help adults understand the unique power of today’s youth, and to encourage people of all ages to work together towards a better future.
Lizzie Gill
Student
Lizzie Gill is a junior at Dublin Coffman High School. She is active in her school's theatre program along with companies around the Columbus area. Lizzie is currently an IB diploma student and enjoys playing piano, making jewelry, and hanging out with friends in her free time. She hopes you enjoy the event's performances!