The GigaZone Gaming Championship and TechXpo, a Paul Bunyan Communications event, has announced that Duncan Wardle, the former Head of Innovation and Creativity at Disney, will be the special guest in 2025.
Duncan helped teams at Disney Parks, Lucasfilm, Marvel, Pixar, Imagineering and Animation to innovate, creating magical new storylines and amazing experiences for consumers around the globe. From sending Buzz Lightyear into space on a space shuttle, to creating an Olympic-sized swimming pool for Michael Phelps to swim down Main Street USA at Disneyland, to creating the Super Bowl halftime show for the new Millennium, Duncan has given life to some of the biggest ideas imaginable.
He is a multiple TEDx speaker and frequent contributor to Fast Company, Harvard Business Review, and Forbes, and he teaches Innovation and Creativity Masterclasses at Yale and Harvard Universities. Duncan holds the American Citizen Award presented at the White House, an Honorary Doctorate from Edinburgh University, and the Duke of Edinburgh Award, presented by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth.
The 2025 GigaZone Gaming Championship & TechXpo will be April 12 at the Sanford Center in Bemidji. It is free to attend, free to game, and free to be an exhibitor. The doors will open at 10 a.m. As special guest, Wardle will present on the main stage at 2 p.m. He will also be a judge for the Greater Bemidji NorthStar Pitch Competition.
The mission of the GigaZone TechXpo is to spark excitement and create opportunities with technology by connecting students and job seekers with employers, educators and technology enthusiasts from across northern Minnesota. Schools and businesses can get in front of thousands of potential students, customers, and employees. There is no cost to be an exhibitor but space is limited and the exhibit must display the use of technology. Applications must be submitted by February 28, 2025 at www.gigazonetechxpo.com
The GigaZone Gaming Championship will feature free gaming on various console and arcade games, numerous tournaments, door prizes, and more. There is no cost to enter the tournaments or for any of the gaming. Tournament details will be posted on the GigaZone Gaming Discord, Twitch channel, and Facebook page as well as www.gigazonegaming.com
This Paul Bunyan Communications event includes the talents of many local partners, including NLFX, Accidently Cool Games, Northern Amusement, and the Sanford Center, as well as support from several regional and national partners.