JOHNSON CITY — Known for his role in the popular Discovery Channel series MythBusters, New York Times bestselling author Adam Savage will headline IDEAcademy 2019. The leadership series Sept. 17-18 will offer insight from the area thought leaders, including Cierra Linka, a member of the Roan Scholarship Leadership Program at East Tennessee State University.

The leadership development series will take place at the ETSU Millennium Center on Tuesday, Sept. 17, from 2-4 p.m. and at Eastman’s Toy F. Reid Employee Center on Wednesday, Sept. 18, from 8 a.m. to noon. Both events are free and open to the public, but registration is required. IDEAcademy is presented by the ETSU College of Business and Technology and Eastman.

Earlier this year, Savage released his first book “Every Tool’s a Hammer,” which he describes as a chronicle of his life as a maker. He began his career in the special-effects industry and was chosen to produce and host MythBusters in 2003. The series ended in 2016 after 14 seasons and 279 episodes. Savage is currently the host and executive producer for MythBusters Jr., produces content for Tested.com and recently launched a new TV series, Savage Builds, on the Science Channel.

Savage will headline both IDEAcademy events, but the complete lineup of speakers is different each day. Andy Rogers of Performance Medicine and BrewFund founder David Nelson will share the stage with Savage on Sept. 17 at the ETSU Millennium Center. Speakers for the Sept. 18 event in Kingsport include ETSU’s Cierra Linka, author of the children’s book “Peppy: The Easy-Going Racehorse,” as well as Leo Giaudrone of The Happiness Company, Shawn Lindsey of Spearhead Trail, Bellafina Chocolates founder Brenda Barnicki, and others.

A complete list of speakers for both IDEAcademy events and registration is available at www.IDEAcademy.com. For more information, contact Chrissy Idlette of Eastman Global Public Affairs, at cidlette@eastman.com or 423-229-4187.