Educator Day Agenda
Educator Day: Where Education Meets Automation Innovation
Join us for a dedicated day of discovery designed to bridge the gap between today’s classrooms and tomorrow’s industries. Explore how the latest breakthroughs in robotics, AI, and automation are reshaping the workforce, and gain the insights you need to inspire the next generation of innovators.
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Welcome
Joseph Gemma, Engelberger Robotics Award Recipient; Advisory Board, Integrion Automation
Ritch Ramey, Director of Education, Association for Advancing Automation (A3)
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Engelberger Robotics Award Recipient; Advisory Board, Integrion Automation |
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Director of Education Association for Advancing Automation (A3) |
Teaching AI-Enabled Robotics and Automation Without Chasing Technology Fads
Kevin Cabaniss, Channel Development - Education, Teradyne Robotics
Claude Dinsmoor, Vice President - Robotics Research & Development, FANUC America
Daniel Lau, Professor and Director of Graduate Studies, University of Kentucky
Dan Mantz, CEO, Robotics Education & Competition Foundation (RECF)
Moderator: Jeritt Williams, Assistant Professor of Engineering Technology, Illinois State University
This session addresses the challenge of integrating rapidly evolving AI and machine vision into robotics curricula without losing sight of foundational engineering principles. By bringing together leaders from major industrial OEMs like?Epson, FANUC?, and Universal Robots with academic experts Craig McAtee from NCATC and Daniel Lau from the University of Kentucky. The panel will discuss how to distinguish between passing tech trends and essential workforce competencies. Attendees will learn how to build "future-proof" labs that balance core automation skills with advanced AI applications like autonomous path planning and predictive maintenance.
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Channel Development - Education Teradyne Robotics |
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Vice President - Robotics Research & Development FANUC America |
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Professor and Director of Graduate Studies University of Kentucky |
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CEO Robotics Education & Competition Foundation (RECF) |
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Assistant Professor of Engineering Technology Illinois State University |
Robotic Safety, Risk Assessment, and Responsible AI in Education and Training
Clint Chapman, Sr. Manager Strategic Partner Relations - EDU / WD, Yaskawa America Inc.
Tad Douce, Executive Director, EduEverything / The National Robotics Challenge
Sarah Jones, Sr. Program Manager, Workforce Development, Robotics Education & Competition Foundation
Bryan Sellars, Strategy & Business Exploration, SICK, Inc.
Moderator: Ted Rozier, Director Of Digital Advanced Technology & Robotics, Festo Didactic
With the increasing integration of industrial, collaborative, and mobile AI-driven systems into educational settings, ensuring both physical safety and ethical implementation is paramount. This session brings together industry experts from Yaskawa Motoman Robotics, FESTO Didactics, SICK, as well as educational leaders from EduEverything and RECF, to discuss practical applications of industrial safety standards—such as ANSI/A3 R15.06 and ANSI/A3 R15.08—and risk assessment methodologies within the classroom context. Panelists will present best practices for facilitating student-led risk assessments, establishing safety micro-credentials, and addressing the evolving ethical considerations related to "Responsible AI" in automated learning environments. Key Focus: Application of industry safety standards in educational settings, student safety certification initiatives, and ethical frameworks governing AI-enabled technologies. |
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Sr. Manager Strategic Partner Relations - EDU / WD Yaskawa America Inc. |
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Executive Director EduEverything / The National Robotics Challenge |
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Sr. Program Manager, Workforce Development Robotics Education & Competition Foundation |
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Strategy & Business Exploration SICK, Inc. |
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Director Of Digital Advanced Technology & Robotics Festo Didactic |
Building Scalable Robotics and Automation Pathways from K-12 to Industry
Rick Brookshire, Director, Product Development, Epson America, Inc.
Carrie Giles, ACTE Past-President, Association for Career and Technical Education
Brandon Hudson, Director of Workforce Development, SkillsUSA
Jasen Ritter, Senior Director Partnerships | Work-based Learning, Project Lead The Way (PLTW)
Moderator: Christelle Keefer, Director of Training and Certification, Association for Advancing Automation (A3)
Creating a seamless pipeline from elementary robotics to high-wage industrial careers requires deep collaboration between educators, workforce organizations, and manufacturers. This panel highlights successful "stackable" credential models and 2+2 degree pathways that connect?K-12 STEM initiatives?to industry-recognized certifications from A3 partners ACTE, PLTW, SkillsUSA and Epson America, Inc. Experts will discuss how to scale these programs to reach diverse student populations and ensure graduates are "day-one" ready for the modern workforce.
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Director, Product Development Epson America, Inc. |
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ACTE Past-President Association for Career and Technical Education |
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Director of Workforce Development SkillsUSA |
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Senior Director Partnerships | Work-based Learning Project Lead The Way (PLTW) |
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Director of Training and Certification Association for Advancing Automation (A3) |
Educator of the Year Award
Amanda Beaton, US Education Program Manager, Siemens
Sponsored by Siemens |
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US Education Program Manager Siemens |
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