Tom Tom Festival 2025

Tom Tom Festival 2025

Avery Bruen

EmpowerHER Charlottesville

Co-founder and President

Charlottesville

Find me on

About me

I’m the president of EmpowerHER and an incoming freshman at George Washington University, majoring in public health. I’m passionate about advocacy and community impact, leading efforts to provide menstrual products to thousands of students. As I start this next chapter at GW, I’m excited to expand my work in public health and policy to create even greater change!

8:00am EDT

Civic Futures Track CODE BuildingPaul Beyer • Kate Byrne • Ash Hanson • Brian Pinkston • Cameron Hardesty • Chris Meyer • David Deaton • Evan Weissman • James Garrett • Jane Kamensky • Jayme Swain • Jeff Richardson • Jim Ryan • Mayor Juandiego Wade • LF Payne • Mariane Doyle • Matthew Peterson • Melody Barnes • Michael Lenox • Mike Chinn • Nikki Hastings • Payam Pourtaheri • Ravi Respeto • Rebecca Haydock • Richard Young • Sam Sanders • Sarad Davenport • Sherry Gray • Tobias Dengel • Wendy Horton • CODEBase • Code Building • Venture Central • United Way of Greater Charlottesville • Grit Coffee • Hampton Roads Biomedical Research Consortium • Charlottesville Business Innovation Council • City Charlottesville Office of Economic Development • Friends of Charlottesville Downtown • African American Teaching Fellows • R.L.Beyer Custom Homes • Common House • UVA Innovates • City of Promise • Vault Virginia • CVille Weekly Civic Futures | Implementer Coffee & Connect (By Invitation) Common House North RoomDavid Deaton • United Way of Greater Charlottesville • Friends of Charlottesville Downtown • UVA Innovates • CVille Weekly Civic Futures| Registration and Coffee CODE BuildingCode Building • United Way of Greater Charlottesville • Grit Coffee • Friends of Charlottesville Downtown • UVA Innovates • CVille Weekly

9:00am EDT

Civic Futures | Welcome CODE BuildingRavi Respeto • Michael Lenox • Paul Beyer • Code Building • United Way of Greater Charlottesville • Friends of Charlottesville Downtown • UVA Innovates • CVille Weekly

9:10am EDT

Civic Futures | Reflecting on the Past, Imagining the Future: American Democracy at 250 CODE BuildingJane Kamensky • Melody Barnes • United Way of Greater Charlottesville • Friends of Charlottesville Downtown • UVA Innovates • CVille Weekly

6:15am EDT

Sunrise Meditation: A Love…No Ego Sunrise Darden Towe Park CharlottesvilleFreddy Jackson • LoveNoEgo Foundation

8:00am EDT

Technology Track CODE BuildingKate Byrne • Paul Beyer • Ali Rotatori • Andrew Glover • Aram DiGennaro • Braden Croy • Charlie Henneman • Claire Maiers • David Touve • Emily Kilroy • Gilman Callsen • Emily Smith • Heidi Nel • Jeff Pompeo • Jennifer Siciliano • Jorge Gutierrez Luthe • Julia Mossbridge • Leland Remias • Maritza Johnson • Otavio Freire • Philip Potter • Price Thomas • Rebecca Ivins • Rick Hamilton • Rider Foley • Roberta Keller • Sarad Davenport • Silvia Blemker • Stephen Yanchuk • CODEBase • Sherah • Virginia Innovation Partnership Corp. (VIPC) • CAV Angels • Citrine Angels • Code Building • Dominion Energy Innovation Center • UVA Contemplative Sciences Center • Venture Central • Grit Coffee • 757 Collab • Charlottesville Business Innovation Council • Albemarle County Economic Development • Focused Ultrasound Foundation • UVA Health • Common House • Cville Bio Hub • Lighthouse Labs • CVILLE REA • Virginia Tourism • Startup Virginia • Vault Virginia Technology | Registration, Coffee, and Networking CODE BuildingCode Building • Grit Coffee • UVA Health

9:00am EDT

Technology | Beyond Smart Machines: Designing AI for Human Potential and Leadership CODE BuildingJulia Mossbridge • UVA Contemplative Sciences Center • UVA Health Technology | Welcome CODE BuildingKate Byrne • UVA Health

11:15am EDT

Technology | Virginia’s Most Innovative Startups CODE BuildingDavid Touve • Leland Remias • Virginia Innovation Partnership Corp. (VIPC) • CAV Angels • UVA Health

1:30pm EDT

Technology | WomenAdvancing Summit Vault VirginiaAurelia Flores • Brigid Schulte • Carmen Ortiz-McGhee • Chris Cain • Claire Maiers • Kate Byrne • Kristin Richardson • Raye Elliott • Rebecca Haydock • Teira Farley • Sherah • Virginia Innovation Partnership Corp. (VIPC) • Citrine Angels • 757 Collab • Hampton Roads Biomedical Research Consortium • UVA Health • Lighthouse Labs • Startup Virginia • Vault Virginia

3:30pm EDT

Technology | Building the Future or Breaking the World? AI Founders on What’s Next CODE BuildingMaritza Johnson • Otavio Freire • Silvia Blemker • CAV Angels • UVA Health

8:00am EDT

Entrepreneurship Track CODE BuildingKate Byrne • Paul Beyer • Adeleke Omitowoju • Alex Zorychta • Amanda Pollard • Berry Brunk • Bo Grist • Dr. Christine Mahoney • David Deaton • David Skandera • David Touve • Derrick Rowe • Heidi Nel • Jake Spradling • Jonathan Aberman • Julie Pelrine • Lily Garcia-Walton • Larry Moulis • Lisa O'Mara • M James Faison • Marty Weiner • Omar Garriott • Pauline Idogho • Reagan Stillerman • Robert Keaton • Roberta Keller • Siddharth Dalal • Teira Farley • Tiffany Keaton • Vivi Nellen • Yael Grushka-Cockayne • CODEBase • Central Va Small Business Development Center (CVSBDC) • Virginia Innovation Partnership Corp. (VIPC) • 434 Accelerator • Alexis Advisors • CAV Angels • The Bradbury • Code Building • Charlottesville Business Innovation Council • Friends of Charlottesville Downtown • R.L.Beyer Custom Homes • Common House • UVA Innovates • Ludwig Kuttner • Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati • Virginia Tourism • Vault Virginia Entrepreneurship | Registration, Coffee, and Networking CODE BuildingCode Building • UVA Innovates

9:00am EDT

Entrepreneurship | Keynote - Effectuation, Entrepreneurship & Leadership: Making It Work When Plans Go Sideways CODE BuildingOmar Garriott • Code Building • UVA Innovates Entrepreneurship | Welcome Session CODE BuildingCode Building • UVA Innovates

10:00am EDT

Entrepreneurship | AI, Decision Making and the Fine Art of Staying Relevant CODE BuildingYael Grushka-Cockayne • Code Building • UVA Innovates

11:15am EDT

Entrepreneurship | Charlottesville's Most Innovative Startups Showcase CODE BuildingDavid Touve • 434 Accelerator • CAV Angels • UVA Innovates

5:00pm EDT

Downtown Mall Block Party! Downtown Mall - E Main St, Charlottesville, VA 22902Hullabahoos • LeeBangah • The Rusty Iris Art Bus • We Are Star Children • Capoeira Resistência Cville • DND Dancers • Elite Empire • Yolonda Coles Jones • The Virginia Sil'hooettes • Lady Taij • DJ Double U • DJ Reggie Wattz • Good Times Only • City Of Charlottesville • UVA Health • R.L.Beyer Custom Homes • Ludwig Kuttner • York Place • Woodard Properties • Virginia Tourism FRIENDS OF DOWNTOWN FAMILY STAGE | with Rusty Iris Art Bus East Stage | Downtown MallThe Rusty Iris Art Bus • Capoeira Resistência Cville • Bad Hat Fire • Good Times Only • City Of Charlottesville • Friends of Charlottesville Downtown • R.L.Beyer Custom Homes • Ludwig Kuttner • Virginia Tourism WEST STAGE | R&B + Dance West Stage | Downtown MallLeeBangah • DND Dancers • Elite Empire • Yolonda Coles Jones • Lady Taij • DJ Double U • DJ Reggie Wattz • City Of Charlottesville • Friends of Charlottesville Downtown • R.L.Beyer Custom Homes • Ludwig Kuttner • Virginia Tourism • CVille Weekly

5:01pm EDT

CENTRAL STAGE | Music For All Central Stage | Downtown MallHullabahoos • We Are Star Children • Capoeira Resistência Cville • The Virginia Sil'hooettes • City Of Charlottesville • Friends of Charlottesville Downtown • R.L.Beyer Custom Homes • Ludwig Kuttner • Virginia Tourism

7:00pm EDT

Central Stage | We Are Star Children Central Stage | Downtown MallWe Are Star Children

7:30pm EDT

Downtown Mall Block Party | Elby Brass Parade West Stage | Downtown MallElby Brass Band • Elite Empire Family Stage | Rusty Iris DJs East Stage | Downtown MallThe Rusty Iris Art Bus • Bad Hat Fire