Arthur Zards

Arthur Zards has a diverse and extensive work experience spanning various industries and roles. In 1992, they began working for the City of Naperville as a member of the Community Emergency Response Team, where they provided assistance in fire scenes, special events, disaster mitigation, and first aid. Arthur also served as a NEMA Field Unit member and obtained certifications in basic First Aid, CPR, and AED.

In 2001, Arthur co-founded XNet and held multiple positions, including CMO, Digital Strategist, and Digital Marketing. Arthur developed complex strategies for social media reach and customer engagement, created best practices for digital audits, and successfully negotiated acquisitions in bankruptcy court.

In 2009, Arthur founded TEDxNaperville, a community organization and disruptive ideas conference. Arthur served as the Executive Director, Executive Producer, and Curator, responsible for finding and curating speakers and overseeing the event's growth from a one-person idea to a 76+ volunteer organization. Under their leadership, TEDxNaperville became an influential community of thought-leaders, organizing annual events and intimate salons with idea-provoking speakers and performers.

In 2011, Arthur had the opportunity to host TED Active, where they handled pre-event social media outreach, networking, and connecting attendees. Arthur also served as a workshop facilitator for TED Active in 2013.

In 2012, Arthur participated in TEDxSummit, actively contributing to action-oriented projects on cross-learning event best practices. Arthur also spoke at TEDxBeaconStreet and served as a workshop and training facilitator for TEDxSummit.

In 2014, Arthur founded Lab Z, an agency focused on experiential design for corporate events. As the Chief Experience Officer and Executive Director, they developed an instructional design framework and training course to enhance engagement and idea creation in organizational meetings and events.

Most recently, in 2021, Arthur became a Founding Member of WXO - World Experience Organization.

Throughout their career, Arthur has demonstrated a passion for creating impactful experiences and fostering thought leadership within various communities and organizations.

Arthur Zards obtained a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in Business/Marketing from Benedictine University, which they attended from 1990 to 1992. In addition to their degree, Zards has acquired several certifications. In 2015, they completed the Strategic Management and Innovation Specialization from Copenhagen Business School. Two years prior, in 2013, they obtained the Pragmatic Marketing Certification (PMC) from Pragmatic Marketing. In the same year, they also completed the Terrorism Awareness for Emergency First Responders program from the Department of Homeland Security.