2025 AUTOMATE SPEAKERS

Joydeep Acharya

Senior Manager
Hitachi America

Joydeep Acharya is a Senior Manager in Silicon Valley Research Center for Hitachi America R&D Division. He has over 15 years of experience in architecting and developing end-to-end digital transformation solutions encompassing edge compute, ML/AI and cloud based application design and development. In his current role, he is responsible for developing innovative R&D solutions and customer co-creation for smart manufacturing and transportation. He holds 18 U.S. patents and has authored 25 technical publications. He co-authored a book on 3GPP LTE Heterogeneous Networks published by John Wiley. He received his PhD in Electrical Engineering from Rutgers University.

Session(s):

Automate Show Theater
Everything in the Factory is Smart & Autonomous Now–That’s Why 5G is Critical | Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - 11:30 AM (EDT)

Christopher Adams

Operations Manager
ARM Institute

As Operations Manager at the Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Institute, Chris is responsible for the planning, coordination and oversight of ARM's Robotics Manufacturing Hub workcells. In this role, he works with project managers and engineers to to leverage systems and equipment operations to align project timelines, quality control and safety standards.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Collaborative Innovation through the ARM Institute | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 10:15 AM (EDT)

Corey Adams

Education Program Manager
Universal Robots
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Corey Adams is a seasoned professional in industrial automation, based in Columbus, Ohio, with nearly 12 years of industry experience. For the past five years, he has led robotics education initiatives as the Educational Program Manager at Universal Robots.

Before joining Universal Robots, Corey worked in project management and technical sales for an industrial manufacturing distributor and robot integrator. He also served honorably in the U.S. Coast Guard and holds MBA degrees in Finance and Marketing from Keller University.

Session(s):

Educator Day
Panel Discussion: Best Practices in Robotics Education | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 11:15 AM (EDT)

Paul Aiello

Executive Director
FANUC America Corporation
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Paul Aiello is Executive Director of Education at FANUC America Corporation. In his current role, Aiello is responsible for the company’s Certified Education Training (CERT) segment which provides robotic and automation training to universities, community colleges, technical and K-12 schools throughout the Americas. He also champions the company’s “Partners with Education” program and provides leadership, professionalism, and commitment to bringing industry, education, and advanced automation together to help correct the current skills gap and build a skilled professional workforce for the future. Aiello has provided FANUC with the strategic development of more than 1600+ automation and robotics training centers through academic partnerships with secondary and post-secondary schools and industry training centers throughout the United States. This effort introduces students from all ages and diverse backgrounds to have socioeconomic impact and demystify alternative and affordable educational pathways that lead to exciting and rewarding careers. This group is responsible for community outreach and engagement to foster a culture of inclusion and diversity by directly addressing talent development and recruitment.

With more than 40 years of automation and robotic training experience, FANUC America provides all schools with access to real world technology, equipment, software, hardware, curriculum, eLearning, instructor training and Industry certifications. Over the last 15 years FANC America has contributed more than $85 million dollars to bolstering education partner’s automation programs for incumbent worker upskilling and future talent pipelines. This effort is vital to securing and expanding US manufacturing today and in the future.

Aiello joined FANUC in 1999 and was responsible for sales of all support products, services, education, and training in the Americas. He helped establish the FANUC Customer Resource Center including the Technical Support Call Center, the CERT group and the FANUC Education Solutions Provider Network (ESP), consisting of leading suppliers/ advisors to academia.

Session(s):

Educator Day
Panel Discussion: Equipping the Modern Workforce for Careers in Robotics, Automation, and Smart Manufacturing | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 1:00 PM (EDT)

Cenek Albl

VP of Computer Vision
Luxonis
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Cenek Albl is the Vice President of Computer Vision at Luxonis, leading the company’s advancements in 3D vision and AI-driven automation. With over a decade of experience in photogrammetry, remote sensing, and computer vision, he specializes in developing systems that enable machines to understand and interact with complex environments. Cenek holds a master’s degree in robotics from Czech Technical University and space science from Luleå University of Technology. His research includes Structure from Motion, camera calibration, and rolling shutter cameras, with a strong focus on 3D vision and camera pose estimation.

Previously, Cenek served as CTO at Diminished Reality, furthering his leadership in computer vision technologies, and has held postdoctoral positions at ETH Zurich, focusing on photogrammetry. His academic career is distinguished by roles at prestigious institutions like Microsoft and the National Institute of Informatics, where he contributed to advanced camera systems and 3D modeling.

Cenek’s work at Luxonis centers on integrating adaptive AI and machine learning into real-world applications, driving innovations in fields ranging from robotics to autonomous navigation and industrial automation. His expertise in combining AI vision with practical deployment strategies continues to push the boundaries of what machines can achieve autonomously.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Evolving Automation: Real-Time 3D Vision, AI, and the Future of Smart Cameras | Monday, May 12, 2025 - 1:30 PM (EDT)

Reyk Alexander Knuhtsen

Analyst
SemiAnalysis

Reyk is the leading analyst on robotics and automation at SemiAnalysis. He covers a wide range of form factors -- from industrial robots to humanoids -- providing insights on their respective supply chains, bottlenecks, risks, and innovations.

Session(s):

Automate Show Theater
The Politics of Automation: Policies That Will Define the Future of Work | Thursday, May 15, 2025 - 10:30 AM (EDT)

Tarciana Almeida

Simulation Research Scientist
Amazon
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Tarciana Almeida is a simulation research scientist at Amazon, specializing in process validation and optimization. She holds a degree in Electrical Engineering from Federal University of Sergipe in Brazil and a masters in Engineering of Technology Robotics from Wayne State University. With expertise in discrete event simulation, data analysis, and process optimization, Tarciana plays a key role in improving operational efficiency and system performance for Amazon’s next-generation logistics and fulfillment centers.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Optimizing Logistics and Operations: Leveraging Discrete Event Simulation for Process Efficiency and Innovation | Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - 2:30 PM (EDT)

James Anderson

Business Development
JRA Insights
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Jim’s Journey in Vision & AI My passion for computer vision began early. As a senior design student at Iowa State University, I led a team in the NASA Space Systems Observational Laboratory to build an image recognition system for identifying vegetation from aerial platforms. That experience laid the foundation for a career dedicated to pushing the boundaries of what machines can "see" and do.

Modernizing Automation with AI While Jim’s roots are in traditional automation, his focus is firmly on the future. He has been an A3 Certified Vision Professional actively leveraging modern AI tools to accelerate development and solve complex problems. His over 25 years of experience in 2D and 3D machine vision and knowledge gained from implementing hundreds of successful system installs in multiple industries give him a unique perspective on what it takes to create systems that are both profitable and create long term relationships with customers

Session(s):

Automate Conference
3D Vision System Development | Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - 8:00 AM (EDT)

Kence Anderson

CEO & Founder
Amesa
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As the CEO and Founder of Amesa, Kence is a pioneering autonomous AI leveraging his deep expertise in the industrial sector. With a background in mechanical engineering and a passion for teaching, Kence has authored the book "Designing Autonomous AI" along with having developed courses for the University of Washington and the Association for Advancing Automation.

Previously the Director of Autonomous AI Adoption at Microsoft and the lead customer engineer for Bonsai (acquired by Microsoft), Anderson has spearheaded the creation of over 200 autonomous AI systems for commercial applications. Collaborating with industry giants such as PepsiCo, Bell Flight, BP, Shell, Bayer, Delta Airlines and others, Anderson’s impact is evident in projects across manufacturing.

Anderson’s unparalleled talent lies in integrating human expertise with AI principles, exemplified by the innovative Amesa platform. Motivated by the desire to empower the 100M industry machine engineers, Anderson and the Amesa team developed a groundbreaking no-code production-ready AI Agent Builder tool kit. This enables operators and engineers to build “Intelligent Agents” that the engineer can teach to solve nuanced and real-world problems that supersede the current capabilities of manufacturing floor automation.

Through Anderson’s Machine Teaching Methodology, detailed in his book, a new paradigm emerges, highlighting the abilities of AI to upskill workers and preserve legacy knowledge and expertise. #TheKingofMachineTeaching

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Introduction to Multi-Agent Systems for Industrial AI | Monday, May 12, 2025 - 1:30 PM (EDT)
Designing Multi-Agent Systems for Industrial AI | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 8:00 AM (EDT)

Automate Innovation Stage
Why Industrials Need Multi-Agent AI Systems | Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - 1:30 PM (EDT)

Automate Show Theater
AI Everywhere: How Intelligent Systems Are Reshaping Industrial Automation | Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - 10:30 AM (EDT)

Darcy Bachert

CEO
Prolucid Technologies

Darcy Bachert is the Founder and CEO of Prolucid, a software engineering firm that specializes in custom software design, development, and maintenance for customers in medical, nuclear, and other regulated industries. Over the past 17 years Darcy has grown Prolucid to a team of 23, supporting with innovative projects and companies across the world in successfully bringing their applications and devices to market.

Bachert graduated from Western University with a degree in Software Engineering. In addition to his degree, he holds a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) designation from Professional Engineers Ontario, representing high standards of engineering excellence, skills and experience, and professionalism.

Session(s):

Automate Show Theater
The State of the Automation Industry–Leadership Roundtable | Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - 12:30 PM (EDT)

Suprateek Banerjee

Head of IIoT Standards, Robotics and Automation
VDMA e.V.
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Dr. Suprateek Banerjee is the Head of OPC UA and I 4.0 at VDMA’s Robotics and Automation (R+A) Sector Group. He is responsible for the development of OPC UA Companion Specifications for the Robotics and Automation industry sector which include OPC UA for Robotics, Machine Vision and Industrial Joining Technologies among others. He represents VDMA R+A in various Industry 4.0 harmonization activities, both within the VDMA and at the OPC Foundation level, developing standards and best practices for seamless interoperability between machines from different sectors of the automation industry. Prior to joining the VDMA, Dr. Banerjee completed his Masters in Embedded Systems from the University of Stuttgart in Germany and thereafter has been a Marie Curie Fellow and has completed his PhD in the field of Industry 4.0 at the Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Updates on Machine Vision Standards | Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - 11:15 AM (EDT)

George Barbu

Robotic Solutions Manager
EPSON

George Barbu has been a leader in small robotics with a career that spans 30 plus years. As a co-op at General Motors he was first introduced to robots on a rotation at GMF Robotics. Then as a Manufacturing Engineer at Ford Motor Company using & deploying several styles of robots from scara, 6 axis articulated & even overhead hung platten robots.

In 2000 George made a change from the automotive industry to robotic sales with Seiko-Epson Corporation & was able to provide consultative sales while learning & growing in experience while deploying robots in many new industries including fiber optics, medical, electronics, consumer, & the food industry.

George is currently with Epson robots and offers unique insight & ideas to manufacturing engineers in a wide breadth of industries all across the US.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Where Will the Newest Breakthrough in Robots Come From? Where Have We Been and Where Are We Headed? | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 1:30 PM (EDT)

Kevin Barker

President
Beckhoff Automation LLC

Kevin Barker is president of Beckhoff Automation LLC where he oversees all U.S. operations of the global leader in PC-based automation. Since assuming his leadership position in 2019, Barker has strategically driven rapid development in all areas at Beckhoff USA, including demand generation, customer support, and business infrastructure. Since Kevin has Joined, Beckhoff has exceeded 25% year over year organic growth. Under Barker’s leadership, Beckhoff USA has more than doubled in size, and dramatically diversified its talented team.

A seasoned presenter, thought leader, and technologist, Barker is a driving force behind emerging concepts already shaping the future of the industry. Barker is a noted advocate for modern machine control paradigms, adaptive automation, artificial intelligence, advanced mechatronics, and open technology standards.

Session(s):

Automate Show Theater
The State of the Automation Industry–Leadership Roundtable | Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - 12:30 PM (EDT)

Jim Barnes

CEO
enVista

Jim Barnes is the CEO at enVista and a leading expert in supply chain and omnichannel transformation. Barnes co-founded enVista in 2002 with a focus on supply chain consulting and has since grown enVista’s services and software to be a market leader for end-to-end supply chain and enterprise technology solutions.

Barnes continues to lead the company in consistent and organic year-over-year growth, driving the company’s vision with deep expertise and innovative solutions to maximize and accelerate growth for clients. He has spent more than 30 years deploying supply chain and enterprise solutions to address complex challenges and maximize results for clients. With a passion for mentoring the next generation, Barnes is a motivational and transparent leader who fosters an entrepreneurial spirit.

Session(s):

Automate Innovation Stage
WMS vs. WCS vs. WES | Monday, May 12, 2025 - 12:00 PM (EDT)

Evan Beard

Co-founder and CEO
Standard Bots
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Evan is CEO and co-founder of Standard Bots, where he is working on building the world's preeminent robotics platform and robot foundation models, as well as American-made robots. Evan was previously YC W10, recognized on the Forbes "30 under 30" list and Business Insider's list of the "most inspiring and influential people in New York tech”. He graduated from Duke University where he studied Economics and Computer Science.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Training Robots Through Real World Demonstration | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 11:15 AM (EDT)

Amanda Beaton

US Education Program Manager
Siemens
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Amanda Beaton has been with Siemens since 2003.

As the U.S. Program Manager for Siemens Automation Cooperates with Education (SCE), she bridges academia and industry by helping educators equip the next generation of workers with essential automation skills.

In earlier roles at Siemens, she developed an apprentice program for field service technicians and led a leadership development program for engineers and employees. She began her career in Siemens' Operations Leadership Development program, gaining hands-on experience in manufacturing operations in both Mexico and the U.S. She later served as a Project Manager and Product Manager for Low Voltage and Energy Management product lines.

Amanda holds a Bachelor's degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering from Georgia Tech and an MBA from Georgia State University.

She actively serves on several industry advisory boards for colleges, universities, and nonprofits across the United States.

Session(s):

Educator Day
Educator of the Year Award | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 1:45 PM (EDT)

Matt Berch

Sr. Account Manager
Gudel Inc.

Matt Berch has been an account manager with Gudel since 2013. He has worked with numerous system integrators and industrial OEM's on automation projects. He is a graduate of Michigan State University(BA) and Wayne State University(BSME). Matt lives in SE Michigan with his wife Lisa and enjoys golf, travel and books.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Expanding Your Reach | Monday, May 12, 2025 - 2:30 PM (EDT)

Jonathan Berte

Founder, CEO
Robovision
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Jonathan Berte is the Founder, Chairman of the Board, and driving force behind Robovision, a leading AI solution provider with a deep learning Robovision AI Platform. With expertise in applied physics and image processing, he is well known for developing tailored solutions for machine vision and robotics. Jonathan’s philosophy of building applications the ?“hard way” has ensured Robovision’s software is powerful and user-friendly across diverse manufacturing markets.

Beyond Robovision, Jonathan is a regular guest lecturer at institutions such as the London School of Economics, Vlerick Business School, and Ghent University. As a regular speaker at events like TEDx, he inspires and educates audiences on the latest advancements in artificial intelligence, machine vision, and robotics.

Session(s):

Automate Innovation Stage
Rethinking Automation: New Frontiers in Vision AI for Manufacturing | Monday, May 12, 2025 - 3:45 PM (EDT)

Marina Bill

Global Head of Marketing & Sales and Product Line Digital & Software, Robot
ABB

Marina Bill is the Global Sales & Commercial Operations Manager and Manager of the Product Line Software and Digital for ABB’s Robotics division. She has held this role since 2019.

Since joining ABB in 1997, she has held various Product Management, Sales and Marketing, Commercial Operations, and General Management positions in Robotics and Motion, Power Generation, Grid Automation, and Network Management.

As of 2020, she is a board member of PIAB AB, a Swedish automation company specialized on gripping, lifting and moving solutions and since 2023, she is a board member of the publicly listed Swiss company Huber + Suhner, who offers products and services for electrical and optical connectivity needs.

Marina is part of the Executive board of the IFR (International Federation of Robotics) since 2020 and was the President of the association in 2022-2024.

Marina served as the first president of ADRA, an AI, Data, and Robotics partnership in digital, industry, and space in Horizon Europe from 2021 – 2023.

Marina has lived and worked in Sweden, the UK, Germany and the Philippines. She is currently based in Zurich, Switzerland.

Marina holds a master’s degree in industrial engineering and management, specializing in thermodynamics from the Royal institute of Technology in Stockholm. She is a graduate of the International Institute for Management Development’s (IMD) Senior Leadership Development Program in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Session(s):

Automate Show Theater
The Robotics Executive Roundtable: The Trends & Technologies Driving the Industry | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 10:30 AM (EDT)

Bob Bollinger

Owner
Dynamic Horizons Automation Solutions LLC

Bob has over 35 years of experience in the creative application of robotics, collaborative robotics, mobile robotics, and automation technology to solve challenging problems and create business opportunity. Prior to founding Dynamic Horizons, Bob was a Technical Director for Applied Robotics Innovation at Procter & Gamble. There he identified new and innovative robotic technologies to leverage throughout the company. He was also responsible for setting technical direction and deploying global standard approaches for robotics within P&G. Bob is also an active member of several safety standards committees, including industrial robot standards RIA R15.06 the industrial mobile robot standard RIA R15.08.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Getting Started with Mobile Robotics | Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - 10:15 AM (EDT)
Introduction to Mobile Robot Risk Assessment | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 2:30 PM (EDT)

Tom Bonkenburg

Director of European Operations
St. Onge Company
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Tom Bonkenburg is a partner in St. Onge Company, an international supply chain engineering and consulting firm. Since its founding in 1983, St. Onge Company has performed over 6000+ assignments for over 1000+ clients in over 45+ countries and now has offices in the US, Europe, Middle East, and Asia.

For the past 26 years Tom has helped top companies design and implement innovative distribution and manufacturing centers. He has performed projects in over 35 countries, with many of his consulting efforts have focused on custom automation and robotics within the distribution and warehousing environment. His past clients have included companies such as Amazon, Dell Computer, Johnson & Johnson, Wal-Mart, ExxonMobil, Baxter Healthcare, Proctor & Gamble, Samsung, Unilever, Adidas, Dow Corning, Kraft Foods, Merck, Urban Outfitters, Lockheed Martin, Stryker, Vistaprint, Becton Dickinson, FedEx, Boston Scientific, and PepsiCo among others.

Mr. Bonkenburg has been interviewed by publications such as DC Velocity, Project Management Magazine and the Wall Street Journal. He often speaks at events for organizations such as the Material Handling Industry of America, the European Brands Association, The Supply Chain Council, SAPICS (Best Speaker Award), Logicon, the Robotics Industry Association, and the Beverage Supply Chain Collaboration Forum.

Tom currently lives in the Netherlands where he leads St. Onge Company’s European office. You can learn more about St. Onge Company here: www.stonge.com

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Robotics in the Supply Chain | Monday, May 12, 2025 - 8:00 AM (EDT)

Amir Bousani

Co-Founder and CEO
RGo Robotics

Amir Bousani has over 20 years of management experience in global technology companies, delivering dozens of successful products to market in various industries. Prior to founding RGo Robotics Amir managed Intel’s RealSense Advanced Technologies Group, delivering the leading 3D vision products for robotics.

Amir's experience spans innovative industries - including robotics, semiconductor and consumer product technology. He is a skilled leader of multi-disciplinary product design teams including SW, HW, UI, UX and applications with deep competencies in camera system design, ASIC architecture, AR, VR, Robotics, 3D cameras, communication protocols and computer vision.technologies.

Session(s):

Automate Show Theater
Intelligent Autonomy | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 2:15 PM (EDT)

Michael Bowcutt

Director Sales Engineering
camLine
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Michael began his journey into the world of semiconductor manufacturing and automation by moving to Taiwan to help Romaric establish a stronger presence in the Asia Area. He brought with him a unique blend of technical expertise and cultural understanding with his background in mechanical engineering and native fluency in Mandarin Chinese. Michael was able to leverage his technical background and business acumen to provide strategic guidance and support to customers in optimizing their manufacturing processes, specifically by utilizing Romaric's software solutions built on RACE™ to maximize throughput of Automated Material Handling Solutions, which fulfill the intra-logistics of high-tech manufacturing and fulfillment facilities. Michael is now the Director of Sales Engineering for Romaric products at camLine, who acquired Romaric in February 2024, and has increased focus of Digital Twin Simulation and Emulation services with Romaric's RACE MCS™ and RES-Q™. Michael is involved in multiple industry groups and standards committees, and was recently recognized as a SEMI "20 under 30" award recipient.

Session(s):

Automate Innovation Stage
What, EXACTLY, is a Digital Twin? | Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - 12:00 PM (EDT)

Mike Bowers

Chief Architect
FairCom
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Mike Bowers is a seasoned software architect and the Chief Architect at FairCom, where he blends his 35+ years of experience with a passion for innovation. He is the creative force steering FairCom's architecture, specializing in high-performance databases, IIoT platforms, and modern solutions for legacy systems. Beyond his day job, Mike brings a unique perspective shaped by his passion for music, which he applies to his work on complex database engine designs.

His engaging presentations and deep insights show manufacturing leaders and engineers how to unlock their factory data to reduce costs, increase agility, and bridge the communications divide between OT and IT. An accomplished author and industry standards contributor, Mike's expertise makes complex topics like IIoT and edge computing accessible and actionable for a wide range of professionals, from C-suite executives to controls engineers.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Accelerating Factory Integration with a Low-Code IoT Platform | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 8:00 AM (EDT)

Chuck Brandt

Chief Technology Officer
ARM Institute
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Dr. Brandt is the ARM Institute’s Chief Technology Officer. Dr. Brandt leads the ARM Institute’s technical strategy and program planning, manages the ARM Institute program management office, and leads the organization’s headquarters Mill 19 robotic engineering plans and investment strategy.

He joined the ARM Institute in 2018 from Innovation Works, where he was the Vice President of Technology Programs. Prior to Innovation Works, he was the CTO at the Technology Collaborative, both Pittsburgh-based organizations. In these and prior roles at Northrop Grumman, Westinghouse, and Raytheon, Dr. Brandt has showcased his ability to coordinate technology initiatives, early-stage product development, and university-based commercialization.

Dr. Brandt holds a Ph.D. in Electronic Materials from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from the University of Illinois. He has presented over 50 papers and holds 6 patents.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Advancing Manufacturing with Agile Autonomous Systems | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 11:15 AM (EDT)

Tim Brennan

Sr. Automation Engineer
KEBA

Tim Brennan is a Senior Automation Engineer at KEBA Industrial Automation, bringing over 30 years of experience in the Motion Control and Industrial Automation industry. Throughout his career, Tim has held key engineering roles at leading companies including Bosch Rexroth, Lenze, Wittenstein, and Omron, where he developed a deep technical foundation and broad application knowledge across a wide range of motion technologies.

Tim specializes in the integration, application support, and optimization of servo and stepper drive systems, motors, and motion controllers. His hands-on expertise spans a diverse set of industries, including packaging, CNC machine tools, semiconductor manufacturing, food processing, and automated assembly systems.

At KEBA, Tim plays a critical role in helping customers solve complex motion challenges, from system design to implementation, with a focus on precision, efficiency, and scalability. His passion for automation and decades of experience make him a trusted resource for OEMs, system integrators, and machine builders alike.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Digital Servo Amplifier Basics | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 9:00 AM (EDT)

Brian Breuhan

Global Optimization Strategist
General Motors
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Brian has over 25 years of experience working in mechanical design, project engineering, and project management within the engineering/manufacturing fields. This includes industrial equipment design, build, and installation experience with Nissan and Honda.

Brian also has eight years of experience in manufacturing operations with facilities, maintenance, and lean manufacturing working at Stellantis Warren Truck Assembly Plant (includes vehicle launch experience with the RAM1500 (DS & DT) & Wagoneer (WS) Full-Size SUV Programs).

Brian joined General Motors in January 2022 as an Advanced Technology ME for General Assembly Manufacturing Innovation. Where he has been defining Factory of the Future, connecting technology solutions to solve manufacturing problems and providing extensive external benchmarking to support GM's competitive advantage. Most recently, Brian has joined the GM Execution team as the Global Optimization Strategist for General Assembly.

Recently, Brian has been a keynote speaker on technology & innovation at a variety of manufacturing conferences in the United States, United Kingdom, and Thailand. Brian currently holds professional leadership roles for the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Metro Detroit, a seat on the Industry 4.0 Advisory Council for Automation Alley, and was appointed to the Industry Advisory Board for Engineering Technology at Wayne State University.

Publications: Rise of AI: Shaping Industries through Intelligent Innovation, Diving into the Digital Realm: Harnessing the Power of Digital Twins, & Shaping the Future of Manufacturing & Production in Michigan – Automation Alley, WEF & US Center for Advanced Manufacturing

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Factory of the Future: Defining a Vision & Strategy | Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - 11:15 AM (EDT)

Collin Bristow

Territory Manager
LMI Technologies
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Collin Bristow is the Territory Manager for Central and Eastern Canada for LMI Technologies. Collin has more than a decade of experience providing hardware and software measurement solutions to a wide range of industries. Collin’s specialties include 2D and 3D vision solutions, image processing software and AI and Deep Learning.

Session(s):

Automate Innovation Stage
3D Scanning with AI for Automated Weld Inspection | Monday, May 12, 2025 - 12:45 PM (EDT)

Matthew Brown

CEO
ThoughtForge AI

Matt Brown is Founder and CEO of ThoughtForge AI, with more than two decades of experience building artificial intelligence systems that run in the real world: on robots, in vehicles, and at the edge. He began his career developing real-time AI for landmark game franchises including Halo, Bioshock, and Splinter Cell, where he pioneered work in percept-based agency and spatial kinematics on tightly constrained compute budgets.

In 2015, Matt left gaming to join Bonsai AI as its first engineer and technical lead, where he architected the world's first production-grade deep reinforcement learning platform and shipped the earliest commercial applications of DRL to industrial control, robotics, and autonomous systems. Following Microsoft's acquisition of Bonsai in 2018, he served as Microsoft's liaison to the UC Berkeley RISE Lab, bridging cutting-edge academic research with applied embedded autonomy.

Today, in addition to leading ThoughtForge AI, Matt serves on the board of the Active Inference Institute, a global organization advancing the science and application of Active Inference across neuroscience and AI: a paradigm particularly suited to the power, latency, and reliability constraints of edge deployment. He holds a degrees from MIT and the University of Pennsylvania, and is the named inventor on numerous patents in reinforcement learning, artificial intelligence, and autonomous systems.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Advancing Manufacturing with Agile Autonomous Systems | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 11:15 AM (EDT)

David Bruce

Engineering Manager
FANUC America
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Dave Bruce joined FANUC America Corporation (FAC) in 1997 and is currently an engineering manager in the Product Application Segment for a group of engineers that support FANUC America’s Authorized System Integrators and end users with the application of FANUC’s embedded machine vision system called iRVision. Dave’s group also supports FANUC’s customers with the application of remote motion software options such as Remote Motion Interface or RMI. These tools are used in all industries from warehousing to automotive and allow advanced users to create new paths for each cycle and even change a robots path in real time. Dave has a Master’s Degree in Computer Science from Oakland University (Auburn Hills, MI) and a Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Windsor (Windsor, Ontario).

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Advanced Vision Guided Robotics | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 8:00 AM (EDT)

Tim Burns

Sr. Application Engineer
ATI Industrial Automation
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Tim Burns joined ATI Industrial Automation in 2016 as a design engineer where he worked extensively with ATI's Robotic Deburring Tools and Tool Changers. He has since become an Applications Engineer in ATI's Material Removal Product Group where he is identifying solutions for customers and developing product support programs. He is focused on bringing material removal to ATI's diverse customer base and motivated integrators. Tim is a graduate of Duke University with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
There is No Silver Bullet: How to Use Multiple End of Arm Tooling for a Robotic Finishing Application | Monday, May 12, 2025 - 3:30 PM (EDT)

Jeff Burnstein

President
Association for Advancing Automation (A3)

Jeff Burnstein is President of the Association for Advancing Automation (A3), the world’s leading robotics & automation trade group,  representing over 1300 global companies involved in robotics, artificial intelligence, machine vision, motion control and related automation technologies. Burnstein joined the association in 1983 and has held a variety of senior positions, culminating in his promotion to President in 2007.  He is a frequent commentator in the media, often discusses automation issues with policy makers, and regularly speaks at global conferences on issues such as global automation trends, the impact of automation on jobs and the future of automation beyond the factory floor. Burnstein also serves on the Executive Board of the International Federation of Robotics (IFR). In 2023 he received the Engelberger Award for Leadership, considered the “Nobel Prize of Robotics.”

Session(s):

Automate Show Theater
The Politics of Automation: Policies That Will Define the Future of Work | Thursday, May 15, 2025 - 10:30 AM (EDT)

Tim Buschur

Chief Strategy Officer
Invisible Ai
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Meet Tim Buschur, a self-proclaimed “factory nerd,” he’s hell-bent on sparking a new era of how stuff gets made. With over two decades of ambitious engineering projects under his belt, he blends scars from the floor with vision of a better future. When he’s not revolutionizing production lines, you’ll find him chasing birdies on the golf course or cheering (or groaning) for the Chicago Cubs. With a knack for turning complex tech into game-changing results, Tim brings wit, and a contagious passion to every stage, ready to inspire the future of industry.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Panel: From Demo Hall to Production Floor; How to Successfully Deploy New Technology at Scale | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 11:15 AM (EDT)

Andy Cannon

Controls Development Coordinator
ATC Automation & Robotics
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Andy is the Controls Development Coordinator at Automation Tool Company (ATC) based in Cookeville, TN. With over 20 years of experience in industrial automation, Andy has been instrumental in deploying virtual commissioning and simulation technology across ATC. He is responsible for managing the controls testing lab space and researching new technologies. Andy is also a key member of the corporate New Product Initiative team. He holds a professional engineering license and a TUV functional safety engineering certification.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Better Programs Built Earlier Using Virtual Commissioning | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 3:30 PM (EDT)

Peter Canty

Applications Manager, Industrial Connectivity and Control
Analog Devices
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Peter Canty is the Applications Manager for ADI's Industrial Connectivity and Control Group, based in Limerick, Ireland.  Peter joined ADI in 1994 as a graduate from University College Cork.  He has held many roles over the years from Testing Engineer to Applications (both Product and Systems) to Marketing.  He has worked on many of ADI's technologies in that time including Industrial ASIC's, precision converters, power management, wireless transceivers and more recently ADI's broad portfolio of industrial connectivity solutions.

Session(s):

Automate Innovation Stage
Hybrid Networking: Unifying Private 5G & Advanced Ethernet for Flexible & Mobile Manufacturing | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 2:15 PM (EDT)

Linda Caron

Global Product Sales Manager, Functional Safety
Parker Hannifin, Pneumatic Division
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Linda Caron is a Global Product Sales Manager for Parker Hannifin, Pneumatic Division. Linda specializes in Functional Safety for Industrial Machinery and has achieved the CMSE (Certified machinery safety expert), and FSE (Functional Safety Engineer), TUV Certifications. Linda also holds degrees in Chemical Engineering, Business Marketing and Fluid Power. With over 30 years of experience in fluid power and the electrical industry; Linda has specialized in functional safety for the last 15 years and has supported many industries from Food & Beverage to Oil & Gas in this capacity.

When not at Parker, Linda volunteers for the Red Cross as an emergency responder and assists local auxiliary policing units in the Toronto Canada area. She is an avid scuba diver and holds a NAUI divemaster certification.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Emerging Technologies and Architectures of Automated Systems with Integrated Functional Safety | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 1:30 PM (EDT)

Heather Carroll

Chief Revenue Officer
Path Robotics
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Heather Carroll is the Chief Revenue Officer at Path Robotics, where she is helping define the future of manufacturing through Physical AI. At the intersection of technology, policy, and industry transformation, she focuses on how AI-driven automation can rebuild industrial capacity, strengthen supply chains, and accelerate national competitiveness.

Before joining Path, Heather held senior leadership roles at Dematic, Covariant, and Takeoff Technologies, where she helped some of the world’s largest manufacturers and logistics providers harness automation to solve complex operational challenges. With over a decade of experience driving innovation across industrial robotics and supply chain systems, Heather is recognized for her ability to connect emerging technology to the real-world systems that power the global economy.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
AI-Cut the Hype, Deliver Results | Monday, May 12, 2025 - 11:15 AM (EDT)

Corwin Carson

Chief Executive Officer
Acieta

Corwin Carson is a proven industrial automation executive known for building high-performing teams, scaling businesses, and driving transformational growth in complex, project-based environments. With a strong commercial foundation and a track record of operational turnaround, he brings a systems-driven approach to value creation across sales, engineering, and delivery.

Corwin currently serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of Acieta, a leading robotics system integration company backed by Angeles Equity Partners. He initially joined the platform as a Board Member, helping shape strategy and direction, before being recruited into an operating role. Since then, he has led the transformation of a multi-site automation business, driving significant revenue growth, improving margins through pricing and execution discipline, and integrating multiple acquired companies into a unified commercial and operational model.

Prior to Acieta, Corwin served as CEO of United Robotics Group of America and as President of QComp Automation Technologies, where he accelerated growth and expanded capabilities in advanced automation. Earlier in his career, he held executive leadership roles at JR Automation, where he helped scale a major division during a period of rapid global expansion, and served as Chief Revenue Officer at inVia Robotics, contributing to the commercialization of next-generation e-commerce automation solutions.

Corwin also held senior leadership roles with Rethink Robotics and Keyence Corporation, where he spent over a decade developing a deep foundation in industrial automation, sales leadership, and market development. Across these roles, he built a reputation for turning underperforming regions and business units into high-growth, market-leading organizations.

He is widely recognized as a thought leader in industrial automation, frequently speaking on topics such as digital innovation, operational excellence, and the role of robotics in modern manufacturing.

Corwin holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the University of Georgia and was a member of Alpha Tau Omega.

Outside of work, he is based in Los Angeles and enjoys sailing, golf, tennis, cycling, and real estate investing. He is also actively involved in ministry leadership and nonprofit work, serving his local community and broader causes.

Session(s):

Automate Show Theater
Getting Started With Automation: Lessons from System Integrators | Monday, May 12, 2025 - 11:00 AM (EDT)

Cindy Cedeno

Manager, Digital Acceleration/Technical Assistant to VP
Nissan

Cindy Cedeno joined Nissan in 2010 and has since held various positions, including Minor New Model Launch Engineer, Industrial Engineering Manager, and MFG Digital Acceleration. She began her career in Petrochemical Engineering before transitioning to Automotive Engineering.

Currently, Cindy is an Engineering Manager at Nissan North America, where she oversees the implementation of Digital Acceleration initiatives on the shop floor. She also serves as the local leader of Nissan’s Global Problem-Solving program, Club Métier, and as the Technical Assistant to the Vice President at the Canton, Mississippi plant. Cindy is dedicated to keeping Nissan "technology-driven" by embracing innovation and leveraging technology to enhance manufacturing processes. She actively prepares the shop floor management team for technological changes by creating a digital shop floor, eliminating non-value-added processes, and building data-interactive systems. Her efforts led the Digital Acceleration team to win the 2023 Regional Innovation Award for their digital tools.

In addition to her technical roles, Cindy is the Director of Communications for the Women’s Business Synergy Team at the Canton plant. She leads a group committed to the growth and performance of women at Nissan. Cindy has been featured in the "Genius Pool at Nissan" article in the Jackson Advocate and the "Mavens in Motion" section of Equal Opportunity magazine. She also appeared on the "Automotive Inspire" podcast in collaboration with the Automotive Tech Group.

Cindy holds a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering from the University of the West Indies and a Master of Business Administration from Millsaps College

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Panel: From Demo Hall to Production Floor; How to Successfully Deploy New Technology at Scale | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 11:15 AM (EDT)

Saurabh Chandra

CEO
Ati Motors
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Surabh Chandra founded Ati Motors in 2017 to revolutionize material movement in factories and warehouses through autonomous mobile robots (AMRs). Driven by a first-principles approach to design, his leadership has enabled Ati Motors to solve complex operational challenges that redefine efficiency and automation in the industrial sector.

With over two decades of experience in building and scaling technology companies, Saurabh combines engineering expertise with a visionary approach to robotics and automation. His work continues to push the boundaries of what's possible in industrial innovation.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Where Are All the Robots? | Monday, May 12, 2025 - 3:30 PM (EDT)

Romik Chatterjee

VP Business Development
Graftek Imaging

Romik Chatterjee has a Ph.D. from the University of Texas in Electrical Engineering. He has been involved in the development of new scientific imaging methods and technologies for over two decades. His research started with the visualization of density fluctuations that occur in magnetically confined fusion plasmas with an infrared laser based imaging system. He has experience developing imaging systems using microwaves, visible and infrared light, and x-rays. As the Vice President of Business Development at Graftek Imaging for the last 13 years, he has led a team of engineers in development of custom machine vision systems for Fortune 50 companies that have been deployed worldwide. Graftek has specialized in color measurements, metrology and automated inspection systems for semiconductor, electronic manufacturing and food industries.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Non-Visible Imaging: Infrared Technology and Applications | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 10:30 AM (EDT)
Advanced Color Machine Vision & Applications | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 2:00 PM (EDT)

Gibson Chen

President
Apacer
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• President of Apacer
• 25+ Years of experience in memory Industry
• PhD, Aerospace Engineering, University of California, LA, USA

Session(s):

Automate Innovation Stage
Advanced Storage for Industry Transformation | Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - 4:30 PM (EDT)

Jerry Chen

Program Manager
Techman Robot Inc

With over 14 years of experience in the robotics industry, vision systems, and robotic integration, I have extensive knowledge of robotic automation, including both industrial robots and cobots. Currently, I am part of the product development team now, working on creating user-friendly features to enhance usability for cobots.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
AI-Driven Precision: Real-World Applications of AI Cobots | Thursday, May 15, 2025 - 8:00 AM (EDT)

Mike Cicco

President and CEO
FANUC America
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Mike Cicco is the President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of FANUC America Corporation. As President and CEO, Cicco has responsibility for all the company’s operations in North and South America. He also serves as a member of the Board of Directors of FANUC CORPORATION (Japan).

Cicco joined FANUC in 1999 and has held a variety of management positions over the years including software/controls manager and district sales manager at the company’s Southern California facility. In 2005, Cicco transferred to FANUC’s headquarters in Rochester Hills, MI to take on the role of national account manager of the company’s Authorized System Integrator sales group. As his career progressed, he was named general manager of several robot division groups including Material Handling Engineering, Authorized System Integrator sales, and Domestic Automotive/Michigan Regional sales. In 2015, Cicco was promoted to vice president of FANUC’s North and South American sales and execution. In April 2016, Cicco was named President and CEO.

Before joining FANUC, Cicco served as lead automation engineer for Northrop Grumman in the Automation and Information Systems group.

Cicco holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Bucknell University in Lewisburg, PA. In addition, he is First Vice Chairman of the Association for Manufacturing Technology (AMT).

Session(s):

Automate Show Theater
The State of the Automation Industry–Leadership Roundtable | Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - 12:30 PM (EDT)

Alvin Clark

Sr. Developer Relations Manager - Manufacturing and Industrial
NVIDIA
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Alvin Clark serves as Global Developer Relations Manager – Manufacturing and Industrial at NVIDIA. Combining his expertise in AI engineering with a focus on ecosystem enablement, he helps partners design, deploy, and scale AI solutions built on NVIDIA’s vision, language, and multimodal models. His work centers on industrial automation, smart manufacturing, and AI-powered industrial agents that drive real-world factory transformation.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Giving Operators a Boost with AI-Powered Worker Training and Assistance | Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - 3:30 PM (EDT)

Brandon Coats

Director of Solutions Engineering
Mujin

Brandon Coats is the Director of Solutions Engineering at Mujin, a robotics technology company redefining what’s possible in industrial automation through its groundbreaking platform, MujinOS. With hands-on deployment experience in over 20 factories across more than 10 countries, Brandon brings a rare global lens to engineering leadership, product innovation, and operational strategy.

A versatile executive-level engineer, Brandon blends deep technical expertise with commercial insight, often stepping into Program and Product Management roles to align big-picture goals with ground-floor execution. He’s known for building high-performance engineering teams, scaling transformative technologies, and staying ahead of both market trends and operational complexity.

Since joining Mujin in 2021, Brandon has helped customers overcome some of the toughest barriers to automation by deploying robotic systems powered by MujinOS—a platform built to simplify integration, eliminate programming bottlenecks, and unlock system-level intelligence at scale. His work connects next-generation technology with real-world needs on the warehouse and factory floor.

Prior to Mujin, Brandon was Global Product Manager for Robotics & Vision at MHS, where he led AMR and robotic picking initiatives, piloted emerging technologies with strategic customers, and drove early adoption across logistics environments. He also held key roles at Ascent Aerospace, Flow Aerospace, and CENIT, delivering automation and advanced manufacturing solutions to the aerospace and automotive sectors.

His expertise spans robotics, sensors, machine vision, artificial intelligence, and additive manufacturing, with a consistent focus on practical application—developing MVPs, leading validation cycles, and ensuring ROI through smart go-to-market strategies and customer collaboration.

Brandon earned a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Louisville, graduating Summa Cum Laude, and pursued PhD research in Biofluid Mechanics at Purdue University, where he also taught and conducted lab-based research.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
The Age of No-Code Robotics: Accelerating Automation with Intuitive Programming | Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - 8:00 AM (EDT)

Alex Coleman

Market Research Analyst
Association for Advancing Automation (A3)

Alex Coleman is A3’s Market Research Analyst. With a background in finance and data analytics, he is focused on providing A3’s members with useful, quantitative research.

Session(s):

Automate Show Theater
The Automation Market: The Statistics & Trends You Should Be Watching | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 1:00 PM (EDT)

Luke Corbeth

Head of R&D Sales
Cypher Robotics

Luke Corbeth is the Head of R&D Sales at Cypher Robotics, a company developing drone and AMR-based systems for autonomous inventory cycle counting in warehouses and factories. With a background in emerging technologies and business strategy, Luke helps organizations adopt scalable automation solutions that improve inventory accuracy, operational efficiency, and real-time visibility.

At Cypher, he leads the go-to-market efforts for advanced R&D initiatives, working closely with clients to integrate cutting-edge robotics with enterprise systems. His work focuses on enabling practical deployments of autonomous technologies, supported by robust connectivity infrastructure—particularly private 5G networks that are critical for real-time data transfer and safe operation at scale.

Session(s):

Automate Show Theater
Everything in the Factory is Smart & Autonomous Now–That’s Why 5G is Critical | Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - 11:30 AM (EDT)

Adam Crandall

Chief Revenue Officer
Addtronics
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Adam Crandall is an engaging Executive possessing a winning blend of strategy, business development, operations, leadership, client relationship management, negotiation and communications acumen. Crandall has a successful track record building high-performing teams and leading new commercial initiatives.

Previously, Mr. Crandall served in various senior leadership positions at VWR International (now Avantor), Refractron Technologies Corporation, Micro Instrument Corporation, and Dynamic Design Solutions. In his current role as CRO of Addtronics, he continues to build and lead sales, marketing, and applications teams, while also driving revenue growth.

He embraces challenges with enthusiasm and consistently delivers solutions that optimize performance and create long-term value. With a forward-thinking approach and a commitment to excellence, Adam Crandall is a driving force behind Addtronics' continued success in the ever-evolving landscape of robotic solutions.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Is Automation Right for Your Company? | Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - 8:00 AM (EDT)

Eric Danziger

CEO & Co-Founder
Invisible AI
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Eric Danziger is the CEO and Co-Founder of Invisible AI. After serving in the US Army for nearly a decade, Eric studied computer vision at the Robotics Institute of Carnegie Mellon University. He then moved to Silicon Valley and worked at several startups before joining the self-driving race at Luminar Technologies. In 2018, he founded Invisible AI to bring state-of-the-art technology from self-driving to industrial applications, blending his military experience and technical knowledge to help companies streamline operations.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Panel: From Demo Hall to Production Floor; How to Successfully Deploy New Technology at Scale | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 11:15 AM (EDT)

David Dechow

Arthur G. Russell Company
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David L. Dechow is an engineer, programmer, entrepreneur, and technologist widely recognized as an expert and thought leader in integration of machine vision, computer vision, and related automation technologies including robotics and motion control. He has personally provided machine vision integration, systems, solutions and support to a wide range of companies and currently serves as Vision/Industrial Automation Solutions Architect for Motion Automation Intelligence, located at their North Carolina office. He has had a decades-long career which included founding two notable vision systems integration companies and working for other key industry leaders like Fanuc America.

Mr. Dechow is a recipient of the AIA Automated Imaging Achievement Award recognizing career contributions to the vision industry, is a member of the Association for Advancing Automation (A3) Vision & Imaging Technology Strategy Board, and is contributing editor for Vision Systems Design magazine.

As a key educator in the field of machine vision technologies, Mr. Dechow has participated in the training of hundreds of engineers as an instructor for multiple courses with the A3 Certified Vision Professional program since the program's origin. He also is well known for his frequent informative technical articles, papers, webinars, and conference sessions and classes covering a wide range of technical topics involving machine vision and associated enabling technologies in industrial automation.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
The Fundamentals of Machine Vision | Monday, May 12, 2025 - 8:00 AM (EDT)
Machine Vision for Precision In-line Metrology | Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - 2:30 PM (EDT)
Vision System Design | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 10:30 AM (EDT)
Advanced Vision System Integration | Friday, May 16, 2025 - 8:00 AM (EDT)

Christi DeCuir

Senior Director, Robotic Strategic Alliances
NVIDIA

Christi DeCuir is Senior Director of NVIDIA's Robotic Strategic Alliances, responsible for integrating NVIDIA's AI and simulation technologies into the robotics ecosystem through strategic partnerships.

Christi has been with NVIDIA for eight years, with responsibilities from the cloud to the edge. She brings over 20 years of experience in sales, business development, product engineering, operations, and customer success to NVIDIA. She holds a BS in engineering from Missouri's University of Science and Technology, an MS in information management, and an MBA from Washington University in St. Louis.

Session(s):

Automate Show Theater
AI Everywhere: How Intelligent Systems Are Reshaping Industrial Automation | Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - 10:30 AM (EDT)

Dale Deering

VP Product Marketing & Line-Scan Product Management
Teledyne
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Dale Deering is the Vice President of Product Marketing and LineScan Product Management at Teledyne, responsible for oversight of product and business development for machine vision camera products. Dale has worked in the field of machine vision for over 25 years in both development and business leadership roles, and has extensive experience with imaging for many high speed and novel imaging applications. He has had the opportunity to work with many global customers engaged in a wide variety of applications, helping them implement imaging solutions to improve quality and efficiency. His in-depth knowledge of application requirements and key performance factors combined with technical innovation have produced a succession of imaging products with industry leading performance and strong global demand. Dale has taught the line-scan segment of the A3 Advanced Certified Vision Professional course for the past several years, and currently serves on the A3 Vision & Imaging Technology Strategy Board.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Designing Linescan Vision Systems | Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - 1:30 PM (EDT)

Mike DeRosier

Business Development Manager / Safety Manager
Advent Design Corporation
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Mike DeRosier is a TÜV-certified Functional Safety Engineer for Machinery with over 20 years of experience in controls engineering. He has designed, built, and integrated full machine control systems. Mike has also helped corporations develop safety standards, conduct machine safeguarding risk assessments, provide safety training, and implement safety systems for all types of machinery, including electrical, electronic, pneumatic, hydraulic, and mechanical systems. His understanding and involvement with custom automation and robotic solutions provides a well-rounded foundation when discussing industrial automation solutions.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Taking Manual Production or Processes into the World of Automation | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 10:15 AM (EDT)

Jim Devaprasad

Professor and Director of Robotics Engineering
Lake Superior State University

Jim Devaprasad is a Professor in the School of Engineering and Technology and Director of the LSSU Robotics Center, which houses more than $3 million in robotics and automation equipment. He is the architect of LSSU’s robotics program, the first bachelor’s degree program in robotics in the United States, established in 1985.

Hundreds of LSSU robotics graduates have gone on to successful careers with robot manufacturers, system integrators, and end-user companies across North America and beyond. Many have risen to leadership positions, including CEO, Vice President, and Director roles, while others have founded their own successful automation companies.

Over his 40-year career at Lake Superior State University—one of Michigan’s 15 public universities—Prof. Devaprasad has earned numerous accolades, including A3’s Educator of the Year award, the Distinguished Professor Award from the Michigan Association of Governing Boards, and the Outstanding Manufacturing Engineer Award from the Society of Manufacturing Engineers. He has presented at numerous conferences and events, including at NIST, IEEE’s IROS, and Automate.

Jim is actively engaged in fostering partnerships with industry and promoting STEM education through a variety of committees and service activities. He serves on multiple A3 committees, including the Membership, Advocacy, and Education Committees, and his dedication to robotics education and applied research continues to make a strong impact on both the academic and industrial sectors.

Session(s):

Educator Day
Panel Discussion: Defining the Modern Advanced Manufacturing Pathway | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 10:15 AM (EDT)

Jan Diekmann

Head of Business Development, Enterprise 5G, Manufacturing
Ericsson Enterprise Wireless Solutions
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Jan Diekmann is Head of Business Development, Enterprise 5G, Manufacturing in Ericsson Enterprise Wireless Technologies making the shift to 5G for industries happen. Jan’s current focus is on manufacturing and cargo ports. Jan has been working in various fields and positions over the last 25+ years in Ericsson, including services, portfolio management, media, open innovation, digital advertising and industry digitalization. Jan holds a degree in Electrical Engineering from University of Dortmund Germany.

Session(s):

Automate Show Theater
Everything in the Factory is Smart & Autonomous Now–That’s Why 5G is Critical | Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - 11:30 AM (EDT)

Tad Douce

Executive Director
EduEverything / The National Robotics Challenge
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Tad Douce has served as a classroom teacher, instructional coach, and school administrator since beginning his career in 1996. He started his career as a middle school pre-engineering instructor in central Ohio and has authored numerous books, tutorials, and curriculum packages in robotics, STEM, manufacturing, and making. In 2011, he was awarded the Professor George Schneider, Jr. Manufacturing Technology Education Faculty Award from the Society of Manufacturing Engineers -Education Foundation and the prestigious SME-EF “Building the Future” award in 2008. He is currently the Director of Educational Technology and Communication (a.k.a. Head Nerd) for River Valley Local Schools near Marion, Ohio. He also serves as the Executive Director for the 501c3 organization EduEverything, Inc., where he oversees operations for the National Robotics Challenge, Drones in School, and Advanced Vertical Robotics (AVR) STEM programs. His great purpose is to help people find their passions and unleash their full potential.

Session(s):

Educator Day
Panel Discussion: Best Practices in Robotics Education | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 11:15 AM (EDT)

Christof Eberst

CEO
Convergent Information Technologies GmbH
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Christof did his Master's and PhD at U.o. Munich (1994, 2000) with focus on cognition and vision-based robotics and deepened his expertise as a visiting scientist at Stockholm University, Sweden and from 2000-2006 as a researcher and later group leader robotics at "Profactor Research".

In 2007 he was co-founder and CEO of the company "Convergent Information Technologies", which is now the world leader in planning solutions for robotic painting or seek&repair robotics.

2013, he and Convergent IT did win the first price of the European Commission and Robolution Capital sponsored euRobotics Entrepreneurship Award for the development of the future generation of Software-Tools for automatic robot programming.

His main interest is in self-programming robots for more reactive manufacturing using computer vision, automated planning and AI.

He is a member of euRobotics and member of the high-level group of the European technology platform ManuFuture.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Self-Programming Robotic Repair: From Delicate Paint-Repair to Heavy-Duty Steel Parts | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 10:15 AM (EDT)

Joshua Ebert

Curriculum Development Manager
Association for Advancing Automation (A3)
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Josh Ebert is the Curriculum Development Manager at the Association for Advancing Automation (A3), where he brings a fresh, creative perspective to education in robotics and automation. With a background rooted in digital media and a career that’s naturally evolved toward teaching and learning, Josh leads efforts to expand A3’s e-learning presence—developing engaging videos, animations, and interactive tools that support K–12, postsecondary, and workforce training audiences.

His experience spans corporate e-learning, instructional design, classroom teaching, and digital storytelling, including years spent consulting with leading automation companies to help translate complex concepts into accessible content for younger learners. Josh thrives at the intersection of technology, creativity, and education—always looking for new ways to spark curiosity and make automation more approachable for all.

Session(s):

Educator Day
Closing Remarks | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 2:00 PM (EDT)

Gregory Egeler

Principal Advisor, AI and Modern Data Strategy
AWS

Greg Egeler is a seasoned business leader with over 20 years of experience driving growth and strategy at leading technology companies. He currently serves as Principal Advisor, AI and Data Strategy Business Development at Amazon Web Services (AWS), where he develops strategies to align customer business outcomes with modern data, AI, and machine learning capabilities.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Transforming Industries with Generative AI: Unlocking Efficiency, Innovation, and Data-Driven Insights | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 1:30 PM (EDT)

Brian Eggleston

General Manager - Manufacturing Innovation
Toyota Motor North America

Brian Eggleston has been with Toyota for 26 years and currently serves as a General Manager at Toyota Motor North America (TMNA). He leads a team of 250 Engineers and Technicians through Manufacturing Innovation, from discovery through development to factory floor deployment in support of mass vehicle production across North America. He has had direct involvement in over 25 vehicle introductions, led manufacturing strategy related to fleet electrification, and has overseen new technology deployments during his career at TMNA.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Panel: From Demo Hall to Production Floor; How to Successfully Deploy New Technology at Scale | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 11:15 AM (EDT)

Dianne Eldridge

AI Go-to-Market Lead, Power & Energy
Google
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Most AI executives have never set foot on a plant floor. Dianne Eldridge spent 20 years on them.

That's the gap she bridges—the distance between an industrial control room and a hyperscale data center, between an operations manager's reality and a Silicon Valley pitch deck. After two decades at industrial giants Emerson and Schneider Electric, she crossed into Big Tech, spending five years leading Industrial AI go-to-market strategy at AWS before joining Google as AI Go-To-Market Lead for Power & Energy—helping the sector's biggest players figure out what AI actually means for their operations, their margins, and their workforce.

Her credibility is institutional: AI Technology Strategy Board member for A3 (Association for Advancing Automation), Advisory Board Chair for Women's Energy Network Houston, and "50 Women to Watch For Boards" finalist. Her perspective is global: bi-cultural, fluent in Mandarin, with operations experience spanning the U.S., China, Italy, Singapore, and Canada.

From TEDx to AWS re:Invent to the World Bank AI Roundtable, Dianne commands the stage with the energy and authority that comes from actually knowing how things work. She speaks fluent Industrial and fluent AI—and brings both to every conversation about where heavy industry and artificial intelligence collide.

Session(s):

Automate Show Theater
AI Everywhere: How Intelligent Systems Are Reshaping Industrial Automation | Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - 10:30 AM (EDT)

Adrian Ennis

Senior Product Manager
OTTO by Rockwell Automation

Adrian Ennis has been involved in the technology and automation world for more than 20 years. Most recently, Adrian has been overseeing OTTO's fleet management software and all standard AMR attachments within the Product Management team. Earlier in his career, Adrian spent more than 10 years at Raytheon in a wide variety of technical program management roles and responsibilities. Adrian is a graduate of the University of Waterloo with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. When not at work, Adrian is active in volunteer community justice efforts in Ontario.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
The Importance of Software When Deploying AMRs in Mission-Critical Manufacturing Operations | Monday, May 12, 2025 - 10:15 AM (EDT)

Neil Farrow

Applications Engineer
Datalogic
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Neil Farrow is a licensed Professional Engineer with a BSEE from Michigan Technological University. As an applications engineer, he gets to share how technology can improve the lives of others. He has presented at numerous trade shows on topics such as Machine Vision, IO-Link, Overall Equipment Efficiency (OEE), Artificial Intelligence, and Vision Guided Robotics. He is responsible for basic Machine Vision Lighting training for A3’s Certified Vision Professional program.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Beginning Lighting for Machine Vision | Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - 8:00 AM (EDT)

Werner Feith

MEV GmbH

Werner was 1990 founder, owner and managing director of FPGA machine vision IP company of Sensor to Image GmbH which was sold 2017 to Euresys and today is a part of TKH-Vision. From 2019 to 2023 Werner served as EMVA Standards manager, being responsible for technical cooperation between EMVA member companies and EMVA standard- as technical workgroup operation. And today as all time in between Werner is working through MEV GmbH, on various services on machine vision-technology, -standards and -associated law for e.g. IP protection.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Updates on Machine Vision Standards | Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - 11:15 AM (EDT)

Chris Forte

Chief Sales Officer
Rota Technologies LLC
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Chris Forte is a serial entrepreneur, company builder and accomplished professional with over 20 years of experience driving business growth, building high-performing sales teams and overcoming market challenges to achieve multimillion-dollar revenue growth.

Session(s):

Automate Innovation Stage
KEEN ON ROBOTS, KEEN ON THE FUTURE | Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - 10:30 AM (EDT)

Philip Freeman

Senior Technical Fellow
The Boeing Company

Dr. Phil Freeman is a Senior Technical Fellow in Boeing Research and Technology (BR&T) focused on Advanced Production Systems, Assembly Automation, & Precision Robotics.

As a Senior Technical Fellow in Materials and Manufacturing Technology, Dr. Freeman has expertise in robotics, automation, and control. He works from Boeing’s Research and Technology Center in South Carolina.

From 2012 to 2014, Dr. Freeman worked with BR&T South Carolina on 787 production support, helping the program meet production ramp up rate targets. Prior to that, he worked in the Assembly and Integration Technology team in St. Louis where he helped implement many of the automated drilling systems on the F/A-18 and F-15.

Previously, he worked as Boeing’s liaison to the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre in Sheffield, UK where he led the Centre’s development of an automated assembly research team, now the AMRC’s Integrated Manufacturing Group (IMG).

Since joining Boeing in 1998, Dr. Freeman’s research work has been primarily focused on improving the accuracy of precision automated drilling and milling systems through accurate kinematics modeling and the use of robust machine vision. He holds over 30 patents covering a range of manufacturing technologies and is an author on several publications in machine tool volumetric accuracy and machine vision for inspection. His current focus is leveraging simulation, model-based engineering, and digital infrastructure to drive continuous improvement of existing automation and reduce the time to implementation of new technologies.

Dr. Freeman is a member of American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) where he is chairperson on the Technical and Strategic Advisory Board, serves as the vice chairperson for ASME B5.TC52 standards committee on machine tool performance, and is a contributing member to the Subcommittee on Robotic Arms (Manipulators). He is also a member of ASTM where he is a Member at Large for committee F45 on Robotics, Automation, and Autonomous Systems.

Dr. Freeman earned his D.Sc. in System Science and Mathematics (2012), his M.S. in Mechanical Engineering (2003), and his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering (1997) all from Washington University in St. Louis.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Collaborative Innovation through the ARM Institute | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 10:15 AM (EDT)

Jeff Frey

Final Test Engineer
Acieta

With over ten years of experience in 3D-based measurement systems, Jeff Frey’s career in manufacturing is distinctly shaped by his hands-on upbringing. Influenced by his father, a plumber, and his father-in-law, an aircraft mechanic, Jeff's early curiosity for dismantling things guided his educational journey.

After graduating as an aircraft mechanic from the Michigan Institute of Aviation Technologies, an internship in manufacturing automation ignited his passion for machine building. This experience honed his skills in blueprint reading, floor inspections, and Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T), solidifying his role in quality control.

Currently at Acieta for the past six years, Jeff blends technical expertise with customer-focused quality control, overseeing PPAP run-offs to ensure prototypes meet specifications. He believes that success doesn’t require a traditional four-year engineering degree; dedication and hard work can lead to significant opportunities.

As a mentor, Jeff is passionate about training the next generation and values the rapid adaptability of younger workers, believing their integration into the industry is vital for its future.

When he’s not at work, Jeff enjoys 3D printing, fishing, and working with remote control vehicles, while always looking to inspire others with his journey in the world of precision measurement. Join him in exploring how hands-on experience can shape the future of manufacturing.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Precision Redefined: Elevating Manufacturing Standards with In-Line 3D Non-Contact Analysis | Monday, May 12, 2025 - 11:15 AM (EDT)

Daniel Friedman

Global Director, Strategic Partnerships
Teradyne Robotics
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Daniel Friedman is the Global Director, Strategic Partnerships at Teradyne Robotics, driving relationships across the company's Universal Robots (UR) and Mobile Industrial Robots (MiR) product families. Daniel works closely across internal and external teams in developing advanced robotics and automation solutions across industry sectors. Prior to joining the Teradyne Robotics/Universal Robots family, he co-founded a venture capital firm and supported large-company innovation initiatives.

Session(s):

Automate Innovation Stage
Transforming Industries - The Impact of Technological Innovation on Industrial Robotics | Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - 2:15 PM (EDT)

Michelle Frumkin

Senior Global Robotics Portfolio Manager
3M Company

Michelle Frumkin is a Senior Global Robotics Portfolio Manager for 3M’s Abrasive Systems Division. She is responsible for Marketing, New Business Models, Partnerships, and utilizing her consumer marketing background to share and help simplify the message that Robotic Abrasive Processing is Possible!

Michelle’s background includes 12 years at 3M split between industrial & consumer businesses including internal corporate strategy, new product innovation, marketing for Post-it® Notes, and her current role focused on Robotics & Automation for 3M Abrasive solutions. Prior to 3M, Michelle had her own photography business and worked in marketing and PR. She has an MBA from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business and a BS in Marketing from University of Arizona’s Eller School of Management.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
The Final Frontier of Automation in a High Volume Automotive Paint Shop: Robotic Paint Repair on a Moving Line | Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - 10:15 AM (EDT)

Jeff Fryman

Consultant
Association for Advancing Automation (A3)

Jeff Fryman is a retired United States Air Force officer. His 21-year career included eleven years’ experience as a Program Manager overseeing technical training programs.

For a second career, Jeff joined the Robotic Industries Association as their Director of Standards Development until his retirement in 2013. His 17-years at the RIA saw him responsible for the development of both the 1999 and 2012 editions of the ANSI/RIA R15.06 American National Standard for Industrial Robot Safety. He was also responsible for organizing the annual National Robot Safety Conference and numerous smaller safety events. In his roll at RIA, Jeff developed curricula for robot safety training, and taught hundreds of classes featuring the R15.06 methodology for conducting Risk Assessment. He also assisted in consulting on Risk Assessment and Robot Safety, and continues in his training roll with the association.

Internationally, Jeff was the Convener for ISO TC184/SC2 WG3, the committee responsible for developing the ISO 10218-1 and -2 International Standards for Industrial Robot Safety. Domestically, Jeff was the Vice-chair for the ANSI/ASSE Z244.1 committee; the standard for Control of Hazardous Energy – Lockout/Tagout and Alternative Methods. He has also been involved in other standards development efforts including the Canadian Standards Association committees for Robot Safety and Hazardous Energy Control; the Underwriters’ Laboratories Standards Technical Panel for UL1740 (robot safety); AMT and B11 Inc. ANSI Accredited Standards Committee for Safety of Machines – B11; and an advisor to the American Welding Society’s D16 committee for robotic welding.

Outside interests include all aspects of railroad operations. His model railroading activities include standards development and participation in regional and national events. And finally, Jeff never denies “going around in circles”; particularly when he is doing volunteer work for a railway museum where he is a qualified antique trolley operator.

Jeff resides in Saline, Michigan; outside of Ann Arbor.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Introduction to Robot Risk Assessment | Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - 1:30 PM (EDT)

Marc Fuentes

VP of Commercial Growth
Eclipse Automation
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Marc Fuentes is a proven B2B leader with 15+ years of success driving growth across services, SaaS, industrial automation, and generative AI. He partners with CEOs at critical inflection points—unlocking stalled growth, entering new markets, or leading turnarounds. A master of market positioning and GTM execution, Marc aligns tech, narrative, revenue, and system design to deliver lasting impact. He’s launched 65+ products, built functions from scratch, and driven $75M+ in revenue. Known for strategic clarity, team leadership, and customer-centric thinking, Marc helps organizations turn insights into action—and capital into transformation.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
The Business Case for Automation | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 2:30 PM (EDT)

Gary Gagne

Product Development Manager
Inovision, Inc.

Gary has over 20 years of experience in automated automotive paint shop applications. He currently manages the SMART product line at Inovision, Inc., overseeing the development and implementation of SMARTInspect and SMARTFinish applications.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
The Final Frontier of Automation in a High Volume Automotive Paint Shop: Robotic Paint Repair on a Moving Line | Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - 10:15 AM (EDT)

Ed Garstkiewicz

Sr. Industry Segment Manager – Automation and Robotics
HARTING Americas
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Ed Garstkiewicz is the Senior Industry Segment Manager of Automation and Robotics at HARTING. Garstkiewicz is at the forefront of driving HARTING’s standards and focuses on profitable business growth, expanding upon HARTING’s already impressive portfolio through evaluating new and emerging markets. He works closely with HARTING’s automation and robotics customers, supporting their technology and developing product roadmaps.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Optimizing Device Performance and Communication in Automated Industrial Settings | Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - 3:30 PM (EDT)

Brian Geisel

CEO
Geisel Software and Symage
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Brian Geisel is the visionary CEO of Geisel Software, a trailblazer in custom software solutions for robotics, automation, and AI/ML. With a deep technical background and a passion for innovation, Brian founded Geisel Software to create transformative, high-impact technology solutions that address complex, real-world challenges. Under his leadership, Geisel Software has become a premier provider of cutting-edge software for government agencies, Fortune 500 companies, and startups alike, with a strong focus on AI, machine learning, and high-stakes applications.

With the launch of Symage, Brian has expanded Geisel’s impact in AI, introducing a powerful simulation platform that optimizes data collection and labeling for model training. Symage produces photorealistic, precisely labeled datasets, capitalizing on Geisel Software’s deep expertise in AI and machine learning. This approach is revolutionizing model training, enabling data scientists to accelerate their workflows while reducing both time and costs.

Named SBA Small Business Person of the Year in 2020 and recognized on the Inc. 5000 list for three consecutive years, Brian is an influential voice in the AI and software development communities. His work exemplifies a commitment to forward-thinking technology and real-world applicability.

Session(s):

Automate Innovation Stage
From Weeks to Minutes: Fast-Track Automation with Smarter AI Training Data | Monday, May 12, 2025 - 3:00 PM (EDT)

Joseph Gemma

Engelberger Robotics Award Recipient; Advisory Board, Integrion Automation

Mr. Joe Gemma has 35 plus years of experience working in the automation industry. Early in his career, he spent 12 years working for a System Integrator and then 20+ years working for Robotics OEM’s. Strongly supporting the industry by participating on the RIA Board of Directors and as past Chair, as well as severing on several committees. He currently serves on the Technology Sector Board of the Association for Advancing Automation. He has served on the Board of the IFR and past President for International Federation of Robotics. At Wauseon Machine, Joe is responsible for the front end of the business as the (CRO) Chief Revenue Officer. Previously he spent 5 plus years as the CEO/Chief Regional Officer for KUKA Robotics Division - Americas. Spending 18 years at Stäubli, Mr. Gemma was CEO the Stäubli Group North America. Until 1997, he worked for the US enterprises, Advanced Technology Systems, Crellin Technologies and Corner & Lada, working in engineering, project management, business development and sales management.

Mr. Gemma received the recognition from Association for Advancing Automation (A3) as the 2024 Joseph F. Engelberger Award recipient for leadership and currently serves on various committees of the A3, which covers the North American automation industry. Joe is committed to working to get broader visibility of the automation industry in general.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Understanding the Benefits and Challenges of Implementing Automation. | Monday, May 12, 2025 - 8:00 AM (EDT)

Automate Show Theater
Getting Started With Automation: Lessons from System Integrators | Monday, May 12, 2025 - 11:00 AM (EDT)

Educator Day
Welcome | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 9:45 AM (EDT)

Francois Giguere

Chief Technology Officer
Vention
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Francois is Vention’s Chief Technology Officer, leading the company's technology strategy across automation, software, robotics, applications, and R&D. His role builds upon his successful tenure as the Head of Automation where he played a pivotal role in shaping Vention's trajectory. François began his journey at General Electric, as a Power Electronics Designer, crafting sophisticated converters for solid-state lighting. His career path then led him into automation, showcasing his proficiency in embedded system design, real-time control, power electronics, and software development. Francois holds a Bachelor of Engineering from McGill University, a Master of Engineering from Queen’s University, and is Green Belt Certified from Six Sigma Global Institut

Session(s):

Automate Show Theater
Accelerate AI-powered Automation: Vention's Journey with NVIDIA | Monday, May 12, 2025 - 2:00 PM

Carrie Giles

ACTE Past-President
Association for Career and Technical Education
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Carrie Giles has 21 years of experience working in secondary and post-secondary career-technical education. She currently serves as the Regional Lead for Ohio's Central Region Career Pathway Support Network and as the National Board Past-President for ACTE. Carrie is a graduate of Ashland University, ACTE's National Leadership Fellowship and Post-Secondary Leadership Programs, Ohio's Shoemaker CTE Institute, and The National Career Pathway Network's (NCPN) Leadership Development Academy.

Giles previously served as ACTE's Region 1 VP and President for The Ohio's Career-Technical.

Administrator's Association. She also serves on ACTE's Region 1 Policy and Conference Planning Committees and a mentor for new ACTE Board Members and ACTE Leadership Fellows.

Session(s):

Educator Day
Panel Discussion: Equipping the Modern Workforce for Careers in Robotics, Automation, and Smart Manufacturing | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 1:00 PM (EDT)

Anthony Gioia

Vice President
Premier Labs

Anthony Gioia is the Vice President of Premier Labs, a corporate venture studio focused on creating market-driven companies at the intersection of innovation and industrial automation. In this role, Anthony leads engineering design and product development, manages projects across the studio’s portfolio companies, and supports sales, business development, fundraising, marketing, and government relations initiatives.

Prior to joining Premier Labs, Anthony served as an automation engineer at Premier Automation, a systems integrator, where he successfully executed projects across a wide range of manufacturing environments and industries. His technical expertise spans SCADA system development, PLC programming, industrial networking, control panel design, industrial machine commissioning, and more. During his tenure, he was appointed as Premier Automation’s Research and Development (R&D) Coordinator, where he spearheaded efforts to secure funding for research-intensive initiatives aimed at advancing new technologies within the company.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Collaborative Innovation through the ARM Institute | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 10:15 AM (EDT)

David Goldberg

Co-Founder
Red Rabbit Robotics
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David Goldberg is a serial entrepreneur and the co-founder of Red Rabbit Robotics, a company building autonomous humanoid robots. He began his career in sales before teaching himself to code and joining Salesforce as a software engineer, where he spent five years deepening his technical expertise. Today, David brings a rare combination of sales acumen and engineering depth to the world of robotics, driving Red Rabbit’s mission to deploy real-world humanoid robots capable of full autonomy.

Session(s):

Automate Innovation Stage
Humanoid Robots: The Path to Full Autonomy | Thursday, May 15, 2025 - 12:45 PM

Dave Grant

CEO
PickNik Robotics
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Dave serves as CEO of PickNik Robotics, where he has transformed PickNik from a prestigious services organization into a high-growth robotics solutions and software company. At the core of this transformation is MoveIt Pro, PickNik’s software that enables customers to accelerate robotics development, reduce integration costs, and scale intelligent automation across industries. Dave brings proven experience scaling software companies, having served at two startups that achieved successful exits, including one that reached unicorn status with a $1.6 billion valuation. Outside of work, Dave is an avid skier who relishes the steep and deep runs at Arapahoe Basin.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Breaking Barriers: AI Robotics in Automotive Assembly | Monday, May 12, 2025 - 3:30 PM (EDT)

Michael Groeber

Associate Professor
The Ohio State University

Dr. Michael A. Groeber is the Director of the Simulation Innovation and Modeling Center (SIMCenter), Associate Director for Manufacturing at the Institute for Materials and Manufacturing Research (IMR), Faculty Director of the Artificially Intelligent Manufacturing Systems (AIMS) Lab, Director of Research for the Minority Leaders Research Collaboration Program, and an Associate Professor in both the Integrated Systems Engineering and Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering departments at The Ohio State University. Dr. Groeber’s passion and vision is in the integration of simulation, data analytics and optimization with manufacturing processes to advance the U.S. manufacturing community. Dr. Groeber’s research focuses on developing autonomous robotic systems that integrate physics-based modeling, real-time data collection and analysis, and AI/ML for manufacturing, handling, and inspecting engineering components. His other research projects focus on the quantification/representation of materials and microstructure for improving process and property modeling. Dr. Groeber’s recent work aims to develop understanding of local processing conditions and their effects on material structure and performance in applications like metallic additive manufacturing, thermomechanical forming, welding, casting, and surface coating. Dr. Groeber has also been a co-developer/inventor of SIMPL and DREAM.3D, a unique software library and application package that integrates a flexible, hierarchical data structure with numerous digital microstructure, image processing and data analytics tools to facilitate the advancement of Integrated Computational Materials Engineering (ICME). Dr. Groeber is also driven by increasing diversity in STEM fields and is the Director of Research and PI for the $50M Minority Leaders Research Collaboration Program, funded by the U.S. Air Force, whose mission is to develop a national consortium for advancing research opportunities and capabilities and minority serving institutions. Prior to joining OSU, Dr. Groeber worked for 10 years in the metals processing and characterization, sensing, and analytics research groups within the Air Force Research Laboratory. Dr. Groeber received his B.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Materials Science and Engineering from The Ohio State University in 2003 and 2007, respectively.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Advancing Manufacturing with Agile Autonomous Systems | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 11:15 AM (EDT)

Nitin Gupta

Vice President & Co-Founder
Dori AI
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Dr. Nitin Gupta is co-founder and Vice President of Dori AI, a industry-leading enterprise with the vision of enabling the applied AI market with a platform that accelerates the adoption of AI-based computer vision applications across manufacturing and logistic enterprises. He has 15+ years of experience leading product and architecture in AI, edge, mobile, and computer vision based systems. Prior to Dori, he commercialized various AI/ML products and computer vision efforts in Google's Daydream team where he led development and manufacturing operations for some of the company's bleeding edge AR/VR headsets.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Leveraging AI and Computer Vision to Transform Quality Control and Assembly Monitoring | Thursday, May 15, 2025 - 8:00 AM (EDT)

Satyandra K. Gupta

Co-Founder & Chief Scientist
GrayMatter Robotics
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Dr. Satyandra K. Gupta is a Co-Founder and Chief Scientist at GrayMatter Robotics. He also holds Smith International Professorship in the Viterbi School of Engineering at the University of Southern California and serves as the founding director of the USC Viterbi Center for Advanced Manufacturing. He served as a program director for the National Robotics Initiative at the National Science Foundation from September 2012 to September 2014. Dr. Gupta’s research interests are physics-informed artificial intelligence, computational foundations for decision-making, and human-centered robotics and automation. He has published more than five hundred technical articles in journals, conference proceedings, and edited books. He also holds 22 patents. He is a fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME), and the Solid Modeling Association (SMA). He serves as a member of the Technical Advisory Committee for Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Institute, a member of the National Materials and Manufacturing Board (NMMB), and a member of Association for Advancing Automation (A3) Robotics Technology Strategy Board.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
AI-Powered Digital Twins for Boosting Performance of Smart Robotic Cells | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 10:15 AM (EDT)

Michael Haas

Vice President America
FerRobotics
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Michael Haas has a sophisticated technical background in mechanical engineering completed with profound international sales skills. In the role of the Vice President of FerRobotics INC, Michael is leading the North American operations. With his extraordinary expertise, he fully supports the ambitious FerRobotics customer network in the automotive, aerospace, and general industries on the challenges of flexible automation. Since 2015 Michael is the FerRobotics US expert in sensitive automation. Prior to that, he worked as a leading sales expert and oversaw contract management and distributor development activities in the European, middle, and far east markets.

With offices in Phoenix and Chicago Michael has a strong commitment to the US, Canadian and Mexican markets. Michael serves currently as TAC member (Technical Advisory Committee) for the ARM institute and is a regular speaker at North American events from Key Notes to educational lectures.

During Michael's time, FerRobotics INC got rewarded “The 20 most promising Robotic solution providers” by the CIO review and in The 10 Most Innovative Automation solution providers 2017 and again 2021 by Insight success

Session(s):

Automate Conference
The Finish Is What Matters: Get ROI in Record Time with a Fast and Precise Material Removal and Finishing Process | Monday, May 12, 2025 - 11:15 AM (EDT)

Wolfgang Hackenberg

CEO and Co-Founder
SYNAOS
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Dr. Wolfgang Hackenberg is CEO and co-founder of SYNAOS, an intralogistics software company based in Hannover, Germany. He studied in Cologne and Beijing, earning his doctorate in logistics monitoring from the Clausthal Technical University. Hackenberg spent ten years at Volkswagen, where he most recently led the shopfloor IT and established the Smart Production Lab. At SYNAOS, he is responsible for the strategic direction and development of the company.

Session(s):

Automate Show Theater
Intelligent Autonomy | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 2:15 PM (EDT)

Ryan Hall

Principal Mechanical Engineer
Andrews Cooper
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Ryan Hall is a Principal Mechanical Engineer with over 20 years of experience in innovative automation and product design. Known for his expertise in developing mechanical tooling and automated systems for the medical and semiconductor industries, Ryan brings a wealth of knowledge in optimizing efficiency and precision. He has a proven track record in creating solutions that improve production, from conceptualization through project realization, while fostering collaboration across engineering disciplines.

Throughout his career, Ryan has held senior roles where he led design and implementation of complex automation systems and developed intellectual property in automation, holding patents in web-handling. His commitment to innovative, cost-effective engineering solutions is evident in his approach to tackling complex manufacturing challenges.

At the upcoming Automate Show, Ryan will share his insights on automation advancements, offering a practical look at how precise tooling solutions can meet the stringent demands of today’s manufacturing landscape.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
From Concept to Control: Automating Fine Wire Handling for Reliable Results | Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - 11:15 AM (EDT)

Deon Hamilton

Sr. Manager of Strategic Projects
Siemens
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Deon Hamilton is a Senior Manager of Strategic Projects at Siemens US. From Detroit, Michigan, Deon holds a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Engineering Science from Michigan State University. With nearly 20 years of industry experience, he has honed his expertise in understanding the voice of the customer and aligning their needs with Siemens' innovative solutions. Currently, Deon manages strategic projects across various Siemens businesses, enhancing their market leadership in the US. He is eager to share his insights on how Siemens is shaping its portfolio to help manufacturers achieve digital transformation more easily and quickly than ever before.

Session(s):

Automate Show Theater
The Digital Advantage: How Siemens Xcelerator is Empowering Small and Medium Businesses to Thrive | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 12:00 PM (EDT)

Stacey Harimoto

Senior Engineer
FANUC America Corporation
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Stacey Harimoto is a Senior Engineer in the Robot Applications Segment at FANUC America Corporation, the world’s largest manufacturer of industrial robots. In the Robot Applications Segment, she focuses on logistics, warehousing, and e-commerce robotic industries. In her role, she works alongside the FANUC sales team to help customers determine the best robotic solution for their applications. Additionally, Harimoto is involved in developing tradeshow demonstrations featuring FANUC’s latest innovations and providing influence on future robotic development plans.

Harimoto’s educational background includes a B.S. in Systems Engineering and M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Washington University in St. Louis as well as an MBA from Penn State University.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Mastering the Complexities of Robotic Depalletizing | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 10:15 AM (EDT)

Daniel Harr

CEO
Delta Systems & Automation

Daniel Harr is the Chief Executive Officer of Delta Systems & Automation, bringing over 25 years of industry experience, including more than a decade in leadership roles at Delta Systems. Since joining the company 12 years ago, he has held progressive positions across purchasing and operations, eventually serving as General Manager before being appointed CEO.

Delta Systems & Automation, headquartered in Northwest Arkansas, is a leading provider of automated flow wrapping solutions. The company operates out of an 80,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility that integrates technical support, project management, engineering, CNC machining, finishing, assembly, and customer care. With advanced 3D design and modeling capabilities, Delta delivers comprehensive system solutions, rapid turnaround on parts, and ongoing innovation through dedicated R&D efforts.

Daniel is also a frequent presenter at automation industry conferences, where he shares insights on operational efficiency, emerging technologies, and the evolving role of automation in the industry.

Session(s):

Automate Show Theater
Innovate to Dominate: Real Word Strategies from U.S. Manufacturing Excellence | Monday, May 12, 2025 - 3:00 PM (EDT)

Will Healy III

Director of Product & Industry Marketing
Teradyne Robotics
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Will Healy III is enthusiastic about technology and workforce. A Purdue University engineer who loves to share his passion for automation, Will is a global leader at Teradyne Robotics who speaks about automation technology investments, and creating value through collaborative automation. With nearly 25 years of experience; Will is widely published and presents internationally at a variety of conferences.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
The Evolution of AI in Collaborative Metal Fabrication & Cobot Welding | Monday, May 12, 2025 - 2:30 PM (EDT)
Real World Stories of Collaborative Automation in Metals Manufacturing | Thursday, May 15, 2025 - 10:15 AM

Brian Heater

Managing Editor
Association for Advancing Automation (A3)

Brian Heater is A3’s Managing Editor. During his 20+ year career in technology journalism, he has worked as Hardware Editor at TechCrunch, Managing Editor at Tech Times, and Director of Media at Engadget. He is the host of the RiYL podcast and lives in New York’s Hudson Valley with his two rabbits, June and Flash. 

Session(s):

Automate Show Theater
Humanoid Robots: Hype, Reality, & What’s Next | Monday, May 12, 2025 - 1:00 PM (EDT)
AI Everywhere: How Intelligent Systems Are Reshaping Industrial Automation | Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - 10:30 AM (EDT)

Eric Hershberger

Principal Application Engineer
Cognex

Over 25 years of machine vision integration and application experience. I program robots, plc's and of course cameras. I know a few tips and tricks to make life easier for those difficult to solve vision projects that never have a good solution. I spend more time figuring how to simplify the solution to make the support of the application easier. I love a tough problem to challenge me and being able to come up with a neat solution always makes me happy.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Machine Vision Made Simple | Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - 8:00 AM (EDT)

Mark Holcomb

Director of Product Management for ALIO Industries
Allied Motion, an Allient company

Mark Holcomb is currently the Director of Product Management for ALIO Industries, part of Allied Motion, an Allient company. He studied at the University of Buffalo (MS 1994) and began his professional career at CSA Engineering (now Moog) in Palo Alto, California. In 1997 Mark started his own consulting company, focusing his work at KLA, a leading semiconductor equipment manufacturer. While at KLA, Mark conducted model testing and servo loop modeling, tuning, and testing. Joining Celera Motion in 2015, his early work focused on writing software for BLDC motor analysis and automated testing of motors and mechatronics products. In 2018 he became Applications Engineering Manager, helping customers solve their motion control needs. In September of 2022, Mark joined Genesis Motion Solutions as Director of Product Management and Application Engineering where he supported a team of product managers and applications engineers, setting product roadmaps and helping customers and internal sales with pre and post sales technical support. In December of 2023, Mark returned to work as a motion control consultant, focusing his talents towards helping people solve precision motion challenges, both technically and commercially. Mark joined Allied Motion in July of 2024, working predominantly in a product manager capacity for ALIO Industries, but also supporting two other Technical Units of Allied Motion, those being ThinGap and Sierramotion.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Basic Machine Design and the Physics of Motion | Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - 9:00 AM (EDT)
Introduction to Magnetism and Motor Basics | Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - 2:00 PM (EDT)

Brad Holmes

Executive Vice President & General Manager
Detroit Lions

Brad Holmes is a visionary leader who has redefined organizational success through strategic talent acquisition, collaborative leadership, and a data-driven approach to team building. As Executive Vice President and General Manager of the Detroit Lions, Holmes has transformed a struggling franchise into a powerhouse through meticulous planning, innovative thinking, and a commitment to cultivating high-performance cultures.

From his beginnings as a public relations intern to becoming the first Detroit Lions executive to win the PFWA Executive of the Year award, Holmes has consistently challenged traditional paradigms and delivered exceptional results. His approach is a compelling blueprint for leadership that transcends sports, resonating with professionals across industries seeking to optimize talent and drive organizational excellence.

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Session(s):

Automate Conference
How to Build a Winning Culture: A View from the NFL | Monday, May 12, 2025 - 9:00 AM (EDT)

Trevor Howard

Sr. Director of Consulting
enVista
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Trevor Howard brings 20+ years of supply chain experience spanning industry and consulting roles within reputable and progressive organizations that include Diageo, Fidelity Investments, Hillshire Farm and Sedlak. Trevor’s prior consulting experience also included engagements with a number of Fortune 500 companies across food/beverage, retail hard goods, retail soft goods, CPG, industrial products and others.

Within enVista, Trevor is responsible for the practice and team focused on DC design solutions. Trevor leverages his strong leadership skills, deep industry experience, open communication style and analytic yet pragmatic approach to deliver solutions tailored to client needs.

Trevor holds Bachelor’s and master’s degrees in industrial engineering from Ohio University. He achieved APICS CPIM certification to ensure a rounded perspective on the extended supply chain.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Designing the Warehouse of the Future – A Blueprint for Supply Chain Resilience | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 11:15 AM (EDT)

Amanda Howell

Sr. Principal Manufacturing Systems Engineer
Northrop Grumman

Amanda Howell currently serves as a Sr Principal Manufacturing Engineer with a focus in automation and robotics for the Advanced Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Automation Department at Northrop Grumman. Within her role Mrs. Howell manages multiple projects targeted to development, maturation, and transition to production for robotic and automation systems to meet customer requirements and business objectives ensuring successful operation during production.

At her time with Northrop Grumman, Mrs. Howell has led manufacturing technology efforts within each aerospace manufacturing platform encompassing all life cycle phases of defense programs. Mrs. Howell is also an accomplished and results-driven project manager with extensive experience in leading multi-million-dollar programs, projects, and development initiatives for Northrop Grumman.

Mrs. Howell has earned a Master of Science in Engineering Management with a specialization in Project Management and a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Advancing Manufacturing with Agile Autonomous Systems | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 11:15 AM (EDT)

Brandon Hudson

Director of Workforce Development
SkillsUSA
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Brandon Hudson is the Director of Workforce Development for SkillsUSA. As part of his role, Brandon is responsible for SkillsUSA’s experiential workforce development initiatives and oversees 115 different national competitions that serve as premier showcase of America’s most highly skilled career and technical education students and one of the largest hands-on workforce development events in the world. Prior to his arrival at SkillsUSA, Brandon served as the Senior Director of Workforce and Economic Development with the Tennessee Higher Education Commission. At THEC, Brandon assisted with the administration of the Governor’s Investment in Vocational Education (GIVE) grants and the Supporting Postsecondary Access in Rural Communities (SPARC) grants and worked to align postsecondary Career and Technical Education with workforce needs by facilitating partnerships and sharing best practices across the State of Tennessee. Prior to THEC, Brandon was the Vice President at the Tennessee College of Applied Technology Shelbyville and was the Coordinator of Special Projects at the Tennessee College of Applied Technology Nashville.

Brandon and his wife, Julia, live in Englewood, CO, where they have two dogs: Olive and Otis.

Session(s):

Educator Day
Panel Discussion: Defining the Modern Advanced Manufacturing Pathway | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 10:15 AM (EDT)

Robert Huschka

Vice President of Education Strategies
Association for Advancing Automation (A3)

Robert Huschka is the Vice President of Education Strategies at the Association for Advancing Automation (A3), where he leads the development of educational programs and identifies emerging technology trends to integrate into A3's offerings. Before joining A3 in January 2018, Huschka spent 18 years at the Detroit Free Press, including serving as Executive Editor, where he was recognized for his expertise in audience growth, community building, and content strategy. He holds a degree from the University of North Dakota.

Session(s):

Automate Show Theater
The State of the Automation Industry–Leadership Roundtable | Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - 12:30 PM (EDT)
The Robotics Executive Roundtable: The Trends & Technologies Driving the Industry | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 10:30 AM (EDT)

Rajesh Iyengar

Co-Founder and CEO
Lincode Labs Inc.
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With over 20 years of industry experience and over a decade at the intersection of industrial automation, artificial intelligence, and smart manufacturing, and a proven track record including multiple successful exits from Silicon Valley, Rajesh leads initiatives that significantly reduce defects, enhance productivity, and accelerate digital transformation across automotive, aerospace, and electronics industries.

A passionate advocate for the democratization of AI in manufacturing, Rajesh has been featured as a keynote and panel speaker at prominent industry events worldwide. His talks leverage insights gained through partnerships with over 400 manufacturers, focusing on scalable and ROI-driven applications of AI and Edge computing.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Automated Visual Inspection at Every Stage of Manufacturing | Monday, May 12, 2025 - 2:30 PM

Balaji Iyer

Industry Leader, Americas Discrete Manufacturing
Microsoft Corporation

Balaji Iyer leads Microsoft’s Americas discrete manufacturing industry team empowering customers derive value across the end-to-end value chain from design to service and order to cash using Microsoft and Partner Solutions. Prior to joining Microsoft, Balaji was a Partner at McKinsey & Company, where he was a part of the Industrials sector leadership, served clients across North America, Asia, and Europe on operations, transformations, strategy & business building. Over the years, he has cultivated a track record of driving value creation in industrial companies and is a firm believer in the synergy of people and technology to create value simultaneously through large scale impactful transformations and meaningful, sustainable changes on the ground.

Session(s):

Automate Show Theater
Innovate to Dominate: Real Word Strategies from U.S. Manufacturing Excellence | Monday, May 12, 2025 - 3:00 PM (EDT)

Michel Jabbour

GM, Digital Enterprise Services Discrete and Process
Siemens

Mike Jabbour heads the Digital Enterprise Services for Process and Discrete markets in the US.

The DI DES business offers a comprehensive range of products, solutions and services. Serving a wide range of markets in industrial manufacturing to Federal, Utility and Intelligent transportation.

After joining Siemens in 2000 as a global product manager for PC Based Automation, Mike held a variety of high-level management positions including managing the Safety business, Manager of channel and business development for the Factory Automation business and Director of the Circuit Protection business. In 2017, Mike was appointed as the GM for the Networking and Infrastructure, RFID and Real Time Locating Systems and Power Supplies business. In 2023, he joined the Digital Enterprise services leading the Process and Factory automation business for the US market.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Comprehensive OT Cybersecurity | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 11:15 AM (EDT)

Frank Jakubec

Head of Global Market Segment
Balluff Inc.
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Frank Jakubec is the Head of Global Market Segment Sales for Semiconductors & Electronics at Balluff. In this role, he shapes the worldwide business strategy for Semiconductors & Electronics, focusing on developing key global accounts and ensuring that Balluff is the top choice for customer projects. He has over 13 years of experience in B2B product and solution selling, focusing on automation and machine vision technology.

By understanding customer needs and decision-making processes, Frank builds strong business relationships. He identifies and secures projects, connects customer requirements with Balluff's strategy, and manages projects globally to turn opportunities into successful outcomes. He provides transparency in key accounts, supports local sales globally, and shares crucial market insights. With a keen eye on future trends in Semiconductors & Electronics, he contributes to anticipating Balluff's strategic direction.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Pushing Boundaries: Industrial Cameras vs. Smart Cameras | Thursday, May 15, 2025 - 10:15 AM (EDT)

Michael Jensen

Product Manager - Industrial Robotics
UL Solutions
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Michael has been with UL Solutions for 7+ years and is UL’s industrial product lead, focused on advanced manufacturing for industrial market segments globally including robotics, additive manufacturing, machinery and control panels.

He helps customers by identifying market needs and insights, creating and optimizing service offerings, developing go-to-market strategies, and building capabilities within UL Solutions for industrial manufacturers and suppliers with digital, advisory, testing and compliance safety solutions.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Leveraging UL Robotics Standards Testing to Meet Your Verification & Validation | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 8:00 AM (EDT)

Tiansu Jing

Product Manager
Siemens

Tiansu Jing is a seasoned Product Manager at Siemens, specializing in CNC automation, digital transformation, and industrial technology. At Siemens, Tiansu has been instrumental in advancing automation strategies and enhancing connectivity in industrial ecosystems. His expertise spans product development, market expansion, and strategic partnerships, helping companies navigate the complexities of digitalization. Tiansu combines technical expertise with business acumen to drive innovation in smart manufacturing. He is passionate about leveraging automation and digital tools to revolutionize the future of industrial production.

Session(s):

Automate Innovation Stage
Optimizing Robotic Processes Through PLC Integration, Digital Twins, & CNC Solutions | Monday, May 12, 2025 - 2:15 PM (EDT)

Kevin Jones

Global VP of Sales & Marketing
Teguar Industrial Computers
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Based in Raleigh, NC, Kevin is a technology sales leader and executive at Teguar Industrial Computers, a leading provider of ruggedized solutions for the industrial sector. With a focus on consultative sales and building strong partnerships, Kevin collaborates closely with industry leaders to address their most pressing technology challenges at the edge of automation.

Drawing on extensive experience across Machine Vision, AI integration, factory automation, SCADA systems, HMIs, and process controls with some of the world's largest companies, Kevin brings a deep understanding of the practical application of industrial computing. At Teguar, he works directly with product, engineering, and operations teams, ensuring that hardware solutions are precisely tailored for customer success in demanding environments. Kevin and the Teguar team are dedicated to providing the right expertise and robust hardware to optimize your industrial automation projects. A graduate of Bradley University, Kevin is passionate about the transformative potential of technology in modern manufacturing and beyond

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Security, Scalability, Reliability and AI at the Edge | Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - 2:30 PM (EDT)

Sarah Jones

Sr. Program Manager, Workforce Development
Robotics Education & Competition Foundation

Sarah has been in education for 18 years. She started her career teaching secondary mathematics before transitioning to higher education as the Director of STEM Outreach at a local university. Throughout her career she has mentored new educators, worked with existing educators to create new and meaningful pedagogy for their classroom, promoted STEM education across the K-16 pathway, and worked with the AR Department of Education to expand the Computer Science initiative. She currently works with schools to provide students with the opportunity to earn Industry Certifications in Pre-Engineering and Robotics, and to expand their CTE pathways to be more industry relevant.

Session(s):

Educator Day
Panel Discussion: Equipping the Modern Workforce for Careers in Robotics, Automation, and Smart Manufacturing | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 1:00 PM (EDT)

Mingu Kang

CEO
ARIS Technology

Mingu is the Founder and CEO of ARIS Technology. ARIS Technology designs, develops, implements, and sustains turn-key robotic 3D scanning systems for industries such as Aerospace & Defense and Automotive. ARIS Technology also provides a software platform and data solutions for the end-to-end 3D data collection and analysis, making ARIS systems more intuitive and user-friendly. ARIS Technology incorporates the state-of-the-art techniques in human-robot collaboration, digital twinning, artificial intelligence (AI), and extended reality to broaden the adoption of robotic metrology and inspection even to low-volume / high-mix manufacturing and sustainment applications. Before founding ARIS Technology, Mingu worked at institutions such as Avondale Strategic Partners, Deloitte, Goldman Sachs, and Merrill Lynch.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Collaborative Innovation through the ARM Institute | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 10:15 AM (EDT)

Soroush Karimzadeh

CEO & Co-founder
Novarc Technologies
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Soroush is the CEO and Co-Founder of Novarc Technologies. Soroush has over 15 years of experience in the commercialization and product development of industrial automation, focusing on collaborative robotics, machine vision, machine learning and welding. Soroush holds an MBA in Strategy and Finance from the University of British Columbia and is a professional engineer as well as a CFA charter holder. He holds a Master of Applied Science in electrical engineering from the University of British Columbia and a bachelor of science in electrical engineering from Sharif University of Technology.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Perception and Cognition in Industrial Welding Robots: Navigating Opportunities and Challenges | Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - 3:30 PM (EDT)

Christelle Keefer

Director of Training and Certification
Association for Advancing Automation (A3)
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Christelle is passionate about advancing automation and creating opportunities that strengthen and prepare the workforce. She currently leads the strategy, development, and execution of training and certification programs at the Association for Advancing Automation (A3), supporting professionals across robotics, automation, machine vision, motion control, and AI. Her work focuses on building industry-relevant learning pathways, certifications, and curriculum that help individuals and organizations develop the skills needed to succeed in the rapidly evolving automation landscape.

Named one of the 10 Women Shaping the Future of Robotics by the International Federation of Robotics, and recognized with the Auburn Hills Chamber of Commerce Tomorrow’s 20 Award and Oakland County’s 40 Under 40, Christelle is committed to driving progress across the industry. She is also a strong advocate for women, underrepresented groups, individuals with disabilities, and diverse communities to explore and thrive in automation.

Through advisory committees, industry collaboration, and mentorship initiatives, she works to connect industry, education, and community. Having partnered with professionals, educators, and students across more than 40 countries, Christelle continues to help shape the future of automation by expanding access to knowledge, opportunity, and innovation.

Session(s):

Educator Day
Panel Discussion: Defining the Modern Advanced Manufacturing Pathway | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 10:15 AM (EDT)

Blake Kendrick

Global Sales & Marketing Manager - Industrial Automation
Renishaw plc

After completing a doctorate in Systems Engineering focussing on hybrid manufacture, Blake has spent over a decade working in companies targeting process control, automation, robotics, tactile-probing and vision-based products. Combining a technical background with lived commercial experience, he is most recently focussed on improving the state of Industrial Automation using 21st century methods to transform the setup, calibration, diagnostics and performance of robots.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Advancing Industrial Automation | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 8:00 AM (EDT)

Graham Kerr

Mechanical Engineering Lead
Zaber Technologies Inc.
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Graham Kerr leads the Mechanical Engineering Team at Zaber Technologies. He has over 8 years of experience designing and managing products for Zaber’s high precision actuator lineup, and has brought to market many of the company’s ultra-precision linear motor stages. His expertise spans a broad range in the field of precision machine design, including topics such as motor design, servo control, machining, and metrology.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Maximizing Multi-Axis Motion Accuracy: A DIY Guide | Monday, May 12, 2025 - 3:30 PM (EDT)

Vishwanath Ketkar

Motion Controls Engineer
Beckhoff Automation LLC

Dr. Vishwanath Ketkar is a Motion Controls Engineer with Beckhoff USA. A PhD in Electrical Engineering, Dr. Ketkar is an emerging expert in the areas of motion control systems, drive technology, assistive robotics, motor rehabilitation, and haptics. As an engineer and scientist with more than four years of scholarly research experience, Dr. Ketkar has applied his deep academic knowledge to support Beckhoff customers in the implementation of next generation motion control and robotic systems. In addition to this expertise, Dr. Ketkar also has an extensive programming background for use in motion control systems, including IEC 61131-3 languages along with software platforms and standards such as TwinCAT, MATLAB®/Simulink®, Python, and C++.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Motion Controllers, Programming, and System Design Basics | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 10:00 AM (EDT)

Steven King

Product Manager
Omron

Steven King has been in the automation field for 35 years, working both as a developer and as a solutions engineer in the fields of mobile robots, machine vision and code reading. For the past seven years he has put that technical and field training into practice as a product manager for Omron Microscan’s lineup of Smart Cameras, Code Readers and Machine Vision Lighting with the goal of creating innovative, capable and simple to use products.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Advanced Vision Lighting | Monday, May 12, 2025 - 12:30 PM (EDT)

Steve Kinney

Director of Training
Smart Vision Lights

teve Kinney is a machine vision expert who joined Pulnix America and entered the machine vision industry in 1998. Going on to work for Basler, JAI, CCS, and now Smart Vision Lights, he has many years of machine vision imaging experience and has become an expert in industrial cameras and imagers. Since starting work in the lighting sector of Machine Vision in early 2015, he now combines camera expertise with machine vision lighting to bring an expanded knowledge base to the machine vision market.

Steve has additionally been an active A3 member and a current member of the A3 Board of Directors as Vice Chair of the Vision & Imaging Technology Strategy Board. He has been a past chairman of the AIA’s Camera Link Committee, beginning with its inception in 1999. As chair of one of the major standards committees, he has also been a participant the G3’s Future Standards Forum.

Steve has also been a major material contributor and instructor for the A3 Certified Vision Professional (CVP) program in both the Basic and Advanced CVP Camera + Image Sensor Technology courses. Steve currently is the Director of Training, Compliance and Technical Solutions for Smart Vision Lights in Muskegon, MI.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Advanced Camera & Image Sensor Technology | Monday, May 12, 2025 - 3:00 PM (EDT)

Max Kirkpatrick

Senior Key Expert - Manufacturing Simulation
Siemens

Max Kirkpatrick is a Senior Key Expert at Siemens, focusing on advanced manufacturing simulation and virtual commissioning techniques. He has a master's degree in aerospace engineering and a bachelor's in mechanical engineering from the University of South Carolina. He has been working for Siemens for over five years focusing primarily on manufacturing simulation, virtual commissioning, automation programming, AI- and vision-based quality inspection, synthetic data generation, and product lifecycle management. He is recognized by his peers as an expert in manufacturing simulation and has a passion for sharing his expertise with others.

Session(s):

Automate Innovation Stage
End-to-End Virtual Commissioning of Physical AI Applications: Industrial Automation Meets AI | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 11:15 AM (EDT)

Scott Klososky

Founding Partner
Future Point of View

• Founding Partner at Future Point of View LLC
• Successful digital entrepreneur with multiple large exits
• Author of Did God Create the Internet?, The Velocity Manifesto, Enterprise Social Technology, and Managing with Social Technology
• Business Consultant to Fortune 500 corporations, universities & non-profits
• Client list includes AICPA, Cisco, IBM, John Deere, eBay, The Hartford, Marriott, Chick-fil-A, ASIS, Key Bank, Accenture

Session(s):

Automate Show Theater
The Humalogy Future: Using AI to Amplify Your Team Capabilities | Thursday, May 15, 2025 - 11:30 AM (EDT)

Tom Knauer

Product Manager
Balluff
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Tom Knauer has extensive experience in industrial automation, with companies including Balluff, Omron STI, Parker Hannifin and GE Fanuc. His focus is on strategy, business development and product management for sensors, safety and networking. Tom works closely with customers, sales, product management and product development to create and execute Balluff’s solutions and strategies for robotics, intralogistics, assembly automation and condition monitoring.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Boost Efficiency and Reduce Unplanned Downtime: Moving from Reactive To Proactive Maintenance | Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - 8:00 AM (EDT)

Keith Knight

Director of Sales
Invio Automation, Inc.

Keith Knight is a commercial and technical leader in custom automation, supporting manufacturers across medical device, life science, and industrial markets. He works with Invio Automation to help customers evaluate automation opportunities, define technical approaches, and connect manufacturing challenges with practical, scalable solutions.

Keith’s experience spans motion control, precision assembly, automated equipment strategy, proposal development, and customer engagement. He brings a balanced perspective that combines technical understanding with business justification, helping organizations improve throughput, quality, and long-term manufacturing performance.

He has also contributed to industry education through speaking and training on motion control and automation topics, including practical considerations for system design, component selection, and implementation.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Mechanical Motion Control Components and Subsystems | Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - 10:00 AM (EDT)
Understanding Inertia and Reflected Inertia | Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - 11:00 AM (EDT)

Chris Knorr

Vice President of Business Development
Invio Automation
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Chris Knorr serves as Vice President of Sales - Solutions for Invio Automation. Chris has more than 30 years of experience in the automation industry, with deep expertise in a variety of markets including Medical Device & Life Sciences, Industrial, Consumer Products, and Electronics. Prior to Invio, he served as the VP of Sales for Eclipse Automation. Chris also held management and business development positions at Schneider Electric and ATS Automation where, in addition to sales, his responsibilities included program management, operations management, applications engineering and control system design. Chris studied Electrical Engineering at Conestoga College in Kitchener, Ontario.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Automated Manufacturing Ramp-Up: Planning for Successful New Product Introductions | Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - 3:30 PM (EDT)

Vish Kolur

Head of Business Development, Enterprise 5G - Emerging Markets
Ericsson
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Vish Kolur is Head of Business Development, Enterprise 5G - Emerging Markets, at Ericsson Enterprise Wireless Solutions. In this role, Vish leads the development, co-creation and innovation of Industrial IoT solutions with strategic partners. He has 20+ years of experience in Information and Communication Technology industry; managing diverse IT, Telco and CIO functions including: cloud and IoT solutions, product management, business development and sales.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Why 5G Indoor Precise Positioning Is the Game-Changer for Smart Factories | Monday, May 12, 2025 - 1:30 PM (EDT)

Paul Kramer

Vice President of Sales
JR Automation

Paul Kramer is Vice President of Sales at JR Automation, with responsibilities for the North America region. With extensive manufacturing and automation experience and expertise, Paul has held roles and led teams in product development and management, and plant management domestically and internationally prior to his current role leading business development, account management, and sales activities at JR Automation. Paul holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Michigan Technological University, and has a robust skill set that includes Manufacturing Operations Management, 5S, Sales, Continuous Improvement, and Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA.) He has a passion for continuous learning and building life-time team and customer relationships.

Session(s):

Automate Show Theater
Getting Started With Automation: Lessons from System Integrators | Monday, May 12, 2025 - 11:00 AM (EDT)

Torsten Kroeger

Chief Science Officer
Intrinsic

Prof. Dr. Torsten Kroeger is the Chief Science Officer at Intrinsic. He's a serial entrepreneur with a proven track record in robotics and AI software innovation, having founded and successfully exited Reflexxes GmbH and Loom Vision GmbH. His extensive experience includes leading a Robotics Software Division at Google and a professorship at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology. Prof. Kroeger's industry expertise is underscored by his consulting roles with major players like Volkswagen AG, KUKA, and Google, Inc. He holds numerous prestigious awards, including the 2022 IEEE RAS George Saridis Leadership Award, and is a member of the 2023 IEEE Fellow class.

Session(s):

Automate Show Theater
The Robotics Executive Roundtable: The Trends & Technologies Driving the Industry | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 10:30 AM (EDT)

Ujjwal Kumar

President, DI Automation Americas
Siemens Industry, Inc.

Ujjwal Kumar serves as President of Automation for Siemens Digital Industries in the Americas, where he drives business growth, operational performance, and customer outcomes across the region. Siemens Digital Industries brings together a broad portfolio of automation, software, and services to help manufacturers advance their digital transformation.

With more than 25 years of experience across multiple industries and global organizations, Ujjwal has built, transformed, and scaled industrial businesses worldwide. His leadership background includes global P&L ownership, product portfolio evolution, and operational turnarounds, always guided by a consistent focus on applying the right technology to solve real, high-impact industrial challenges. At Siemens, this approach translates into delivering measurable customer outcomes by aligning innovation with practical, scalable execution.

Ujjwal believes the next era of manufacturing will be defined by human–machine collaboration, bringing people, automation, and data together to improve productivity, safety, and resilience. He is a strong advocate for physical AI and for building trusted partnerships that turn advanced technologies into real-world industrial solutions customers can deploy with confidence.

Ujjwal holds an MBA from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business, a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Maryland, and a Bachelor of Technology in Mechanical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay. He is based in Boston, Massachusetts.

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Session(s):

Automate Conference
Tech Hype vs Industrial Need: Separating Science Fiction from Scalable Solutions | Thursday, May 15, 2025 - 9:00 AM (EDT)

Vikram Kumar

NA Sales
Milvus Robotics

North America partner relations manager at Milvus Robotics.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Preparing for AMRs: Enhancing Material Handling with Autonomous Mobile Robots | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 3:30 PM (EDT)

Etienne Lacroix

Co-Founder & CEO
Vention
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Etienne is a business leader and entrepreneur with deep experience building and turning around engineering-intensive businesses. He’s the founder and CEO of Vention.

Before founding Vention in 2016, Etienne spent five years at McKinsey & Company as an Associate Partner with the Operations and Product Development Practices. In this role, he led enterprise-wide strategic, operational, and turnaround programs at global industrial and high-tech companies. Before joining McKinsey, he held various positions in product management, product development, and supply-chain operations at General Electric as part of the Technical Leadership Program.

Etienne holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering from the École de Technologie Supérieure.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Paving the Way for Widespread Robotics Adoption | Monday, May 12, 2025 - 10:15 AM (EDT)

Kyle Lake

Product Market Manager
Baumer

Kyle Lake is the Product Market Manager for process instrumentation with Baumer LTD. Kyle has been with Baumer for six years, and brings with him over 15 years of experience in process instrumentation and valving, with a primary focus on the food and beverage industry.

These experiences include working with distribution, sales, and most recently in the product marketing side of process instrumentation. These experiences help in day to day activities reviewing and recommending solutions in the hygienic market.

Kyle holds a BS in Marketing from the University of Utah.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Harnessing the Power of IO-Link Technology | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 3:30 PM (EDT)

Sivakumar Lakshmanan

CEO
DeepHow
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Siva is the CEO of DeepHow, a smart know-how companion for skilled workers in manufacturing and beyond.

Siva was the CEO at Antuit.ai, a predictive AI company (acquired by Zebra Technologies), and GM at Zebra before DeepHow. He brings deep expertise in applying AI across manufacturing, supply chain, and industrial operations.

At DeepHow, Siva is focused on using Generative AI to help organizations capture expert know-how, streamline training, and improve frontline performance—bridging the skilled labor gap with practical, scalable innovation.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Giving Operators a Boost with AI-Powered Worker Training and Assistance | Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - 3:30 PM (EDT)

Eric Lanke

President/CEO
National Fluid Power Association

Eric Lanke is the President and CEO of the National Fluid Power Association, a trade association of more than 300 organizations serving the hydraulic and pneumatic industries. He is responsible for setting NFPA’s strategic direction, and overseeing the programs and communications needed to achieve its objectives. He also serves as the President and CEO of the NFPA Education and Technology Foundation, an affiliated charitable organization that supports outreach, education and research programs in fluid power.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Emerging Technologies and Architectures of Automated Systems with Integrated Functional Safety | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 1:30 PM (EDT)
Pneumatic Operational Improvement via Digitalization | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 2:30 PM (EDT)
The Electrification of Industrial Hydraulics – A Glimpse into the Future (Now) | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 3:30 PM (EDT)

Anneli Larsson

VP and Head Sales Engineering Private Networks, North America
Ericsson Enterprise Wireless Solutions

Anneli Larson is the VP of Solution Engineering for Americas, part of Ericsson’s Enterprise Wireless Solutions. She is focused on bringing Enterprise 5G solutions to market that can enable the operations and technology/digital transformation industrial Enterprises are looking for. She and her team interact closely with end users, Echo-system partners, and Channel partners to assess and advise on when and how 5G solutions can provide the right ROI for enterprises.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Why 5G Indoor Precise Positioning Is the Game-Changer for Smart Factories | Monday, May 12, 2025 - 1:30 PM (EDT)

Frank Latino

Global Product Manager
FESTO CORPORATION
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Frank Latino has over 30 years of industrial automation experience. He started his career as a Controls Engineer in the machine tool industry, developing systems for hydraulic and servo-electric machinery. He then moved to Project Engineering and Product Management in the AS/RS industry.

Frank has been at Festo for 30 years. He has had various positions in Engineering and Management, with increasing responsibilities in Product Management. His expertise is in network technologies and control systems for industrial automation. He is currently a Global Product Manager for Electric Automation with Festo AG. He is also responsible for other network and control initiatives within the Americas.

Frank has a BE degree in Electrical Engineering from Manhattan University and an MS degree in Technological Systems Management from the State University of NY at Stony Brook. He holds two patents in the area of pneumatic valve control and diagnostics.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Pneumatic Operational Improvement via Digitalization | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 2:30 PM (EDT)

Daniel Lau

Professor and Director of Graduate Studies
University of Kentucky
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Dr. Daniel L. Lau received his B.Sc. degree (with highest distinction) in Electrical Engineering from Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, in 1995 and his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Delaware, Newark, in 1999. He is the Databeam Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Kentucky, Director of Graduate Studies, and a Certified Professional Engineer. Dr. Lau was elected to the A3 Vision Technology Strategy Board of the Association for Advancing Automation (A3), where he provides strategic direction for the advancement of machine vision technology. Dr. Lau is widely published, including proceedings such as the IEEE and the book Modern Digital Halftoning (CRC Press, 2nd edition). His research spans 3D imaging, machine vision, digital halftoning, and optical engineering, and has appeared in Vision Systems Design, Photonics Spectra, Imaging Insight, and Inspect Magazine, with numerous patents granted in halftoning and structured light systems.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Basics of Structure Light Illumination | Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - 1:30 PM (EDT)

Educator Day
Panel Discussion: Best Practices in Robotics Education | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 11:15 AM (EDT)

Jim Lenox

Vice President of Global Sales
Sony Electronics

Jim Lenox is Vice President, Systems Solutions Group at Sony Semiconductor Solution and responsible for the company's Vision AI offerings. Jim has an MS Systems Management from the University of Southern California and a BS Electrical Engineering from Syracuse University.

Session(s):

Automate Innovation Stage
Automating the Visual Inspection of Wired Assemblies | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 3:00 PM (EDT)

Jim Leonard

Vice President Sales
Harmonic Drive

Jim Leonard, Vice President of Sales, Harmonic Drive LLC. Bachelor of Science, Ceramic Engineering, thirty-eight years’ experience in the electromechanical servo drive train industry.

Session(s):

Automate Show Theater
The Synergy Between Cross Roller Bearing Technology and High-Performance Strain Wave Gear Reduction | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 3:15 PM (EDT)

Jimmy Li

Research Scientist
Vention
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Jimmy Li is a research scientist at Vention, where he develops and applies advanced AI technologies to drive innovation in industrial automation. With a strong academic background from McGill University and deep expertise in robotics, computer vision, and machine learning, Jimmy plays a key role in shaping intelligent automation solutions. Prior to joining Vention, he held a research position at Samsung Research, where he worked on advanced robotic systems and AI applications. His work bridges theoretical research and real-world impact, contributing today to Vention’s mission of democratizing industrial automation. Jimmy holds a Bachelor of Arts & Science and a PhD in robotics from McGill University.

Session(s):

Automate Show Theater
Accelerate AI-powered Automation: Vention's Journey with NVIDIA | Monday, May 12, 2025 - 2:00 PM

Yutao Li

Scientist
Brookhaven National Laboratory
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Yutao Li is a condensed matter physicist at Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) and the leader of the AutoLab project. Yutao has been working with Two-Dimensional (2D) materials, such as graphene, for 8 years and has extensive experience in investigating their exotic electronic, mechanical and optical properties. He has first-authored scientific papers in prestigious journals including Nature Nanotechnology and Science Advances.

Yutao has a diverse skillset outside of physics, including software engineering, computer vision, machine learning, and mechanical design. This motivated him to conceptualize, build and code AutoLab to automate repetitive tasks involved in fabrication of 2D material-based devices, and to further develop AutoLab into an AI-powered science platform. To find pathways of commercializing AutoLab, Yutao is participating Department of Energy’s Energy I-Corps program (Team 255: AutoLab). Yutao is the first person in BNL’s history to be funded by the Energy I-Corps program.

Yutao is interested in collaborating with all possible industrial partners to turn AutoLab into a viable commercial product.

Session(s):

Automate Innovation Stage
AutoLab - When Technology Comes to Basic Science | Thursday, May 15, 2025 - 10:30 AM

Chris Liu

Product Portfolio Manager, Industrial Edge
Siemens Industry, Inc

Chris Liu is the US Product Portfolio Manager for Siemens Edge computing platform Industrial Edge. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Purdue University with years of industry experience in engineering, manufacturing, and product management. Chris focuses on leveraging Industrial Edge to help customers make practical use of their machine and plant data to enhance efficiency, save resources, and improve quality.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
The Future of Automation: Getting Started | Monday, May 12, 2025 - 8:00 AM (EDT)

Automate Show Theater
Unlocking Shopfloor Potential: AI-Powered Continuous Improvement | Monday, May 12, 2025 - 12:00 PM (EDT)

Andrew Long

CEO
Cyth Systems

Andy Long founded Cyth Systems in 1999 after working for several years on test engineering projects large and small. His earliest experience was for the British Aerospace Military in roles of Flight Test, Information Services, and Marketing. He later developed test systems for aerospace, automotive, and biotech applications. Cyth Systems grew rapidly and began developing the procedures, skills, and experience to help customers around the world develop successful Machine Vision applications. Now, thanks to Cyth's AI-based Machine Vision software NeuralVision, clients for the first time ever have total control of their machine vision systems performance without being dependent on an external vision expert and without any prior programming experience.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Introduction to Machine Learning | Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - 10:30 AM (EDT)

Freya Ma

Product Manager
Teledyne IIS

Freya Ma is a seasoned professional with extensive experience in machine vision and industrial automation. Currently working in Depth sensing and advanced sensor technologies, Freya has developed a strong background in integrating vision systems for robotics and automated solutions. With expertise in 3D vision technologies such as stereo vision, time-of-flight, and lidar, Freya brings valuable insights into the design and deployment of vision systems across a range of industrial applications.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Trade-offs in 3D Vision Technologies for Industrial Robotic Applications: A Focus on Stereo Vision | Monday, May 12, 2025 - 8:00 AM (EDT)

Danial Mahoney

Business Development
Siemens

Dan Mahoney is a seasoned professional with over 15 years of experience in the automation industry. Throughout his career, Dan has specialized in working with automation equipment and collaborating with companies to identify and solve complex problems. His extensive experience has provided him with deep insights into the needs and challenges of machine builders and their markets.

Dan's expertise spans a wide range of areas, including the design, implementation, and optimization of automation systems. He has a proven track record of helping companies enhance their operational efficiency, reduce costs, and improve product quality through innovative automation solutions.

Session(s):

Automate Innovation Stage
Transforming Machine Building with an Innovative Approach to Automation | Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - 12:45 PM (EDT)

Jyoti Malhotra

Senior MEP Leadership
NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership
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Dr. Jyoti K. Malhotra currently serves as the Division Chief for National Programs with the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). She is a member of NIST MEP’s senior leadership team, responsible for strategic planning, operations, and building partnerships with public and private sector stakeholders such as NIST labs, federal and state agencies, industry trade groups, educational institutions, Manufacturing USA institutes, nonprofits, and other organizations.

The NIST MEP National Programs Division is the primary interface with the MEP National Network, helping develop and deploy products, technology innovations, and business services for small and medium-sized manufacturers (SMMs). The division conducts industry analyses for emerging markets and technologies to determine which services can advance SMMs to be competitive in the global market.

Dr. Malhotra provides direction for national initiatives, including implementation of the MEP National Network 2023-2027 Strategic Plan as it relates to technology innovation for U.S. manufacturers. The diverse partnerships developed by this division support the strategic plan’s supply chain and workforce goals. Most recently, she was recognized with the prestigious NIST George Uriano Award for building new partnerships with other agencies and industry-led consortia.

Dr. Malhotra has vast experience in interdisciplinary materials and devices research, product development, manufacturing, and commercialization. Her work includes applications in semiconductor, electronics packaging, energy storage, microelectromechanical systems, flexible printed electronics, LED lighting and medical devices. She is an inventor with multiple U.S. patents and many scientific publications.

Dr. Malhotra began her graduate work at the University of Hull (United Kingdom). She received her doctorate from the Missouri University of Science and Technology and her post-doctorate from the Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory.

Session(s):

Automate Show Theater
Grow, Compete, and Get More Work Through Partnership with NIST MEP | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 4:15 PM (EDT)

André Marino

Senior Vice President Industrial Automation North America
Schneider Electric
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André Marino is Senior Vice President Industrial Automation North America, and a member of the Global Executive Leadership Team at Schneider Electric.

André leads the industrial automation business in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, leveraging his over two decades of industrial technology expertise to drive efficiency and productivity for Schneider Electric customers. His passion is driving industrial resilience and agility while reducing the environmental impact of the sector through digital and automation innovation.

Throughout his career with Schneider Electric, André has held several pivotal roles in software, industrial automation, and energy management. Most recently, he served as Senior Vice President, Digital Buildings, where he led key business transformations and acquisitions, both globally and locally. Prior to that, Andréa was Global Vice President of Industrial Automation. In this role, he spearheaded end user and software go-to-market efforts worldwide. Earlier, André led the Schneider Electric Industrial Automation and Software Hub in Brazil.

Before joining Schneider Electric, André co-founded Lar Plásticos, a market leader in the circular economy in Brazil, where he continues to serve as a board member. His career in IoT (Internet of Things) began with SoftBrasil, and he later co-founded Envisia Gerenciamento de Ativos, an IoT asset management company. André is also a board member of Clockworks Analytics.

André holds a BS in Electronic Engineering, an MBA, and recently completed the Advanced Management Program (AMP) at MIT Sloan School of Management.

His extensive experience and leadership in the field make Andréa a prominent figure and sought after spokesperson in industrial technology.

André resides in Boston, Massachusetts.

Session(s):

Automate Show Theater
Innovate to Dominate: Real Word Strategies from U.S. Manufacturing Excellence | Monday, May 12, 2025 - 3:00 PM (EDT)

Scott Marsic

Group Product Manager
Epson Robots
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Scott Marsic brings three decades of experience in transforming diagnostic, technical, and business intelligence products into innovative, market-leading solutions. As Group Product Manager at Epson, he drives strategic initiatives that enhance channel growth and increase end-user demand within the industrial robotics sector. Scott earned his Bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Santa Cruz, a Master’s from the University of Southern California, and an MBA from San Francisco State University.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Beyond the Labor: Understanding Robot ROI from Production to Profits | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 8:00 AM (EDT)

Juan Martinez

Global Solutions Sales Lead of Manufacturing, Logistics and Commercial Inte
rf IDEAS
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Juan Martinez is the Global Solutions Sales Lead of Manufacturing, Logistics and Commercial Integrations at rf IDEAS, Inc, where he leads strategic initiatives to enhance security, identity and accountability for global manufacturers. With a career spanning over 25 years, Juan has established himself as a visionary leader in the industry, known for his expertise in operations management, process optimization, and technology integration.

At rf IDEAS, Inc., Juan oversees a diverse range of customers and partners, with a focus on identity management and accountability of operators. Under his leadership, rf IDEAS, Inc., has achieved significant milestones in customer growth and project expansion in with vehicle, commercial and private aircraft, farming, logistics and food processing manufacturers.

In addition to his role at rf IDEAS, Inc., Juan is a respected thought leader and frequent speaker at industry conferences and forums. His insights into manufacturing trends, process improvement strategies, and technology advancements are highly sought after by peers and industry professionals.

Juan is also dedicated to mentoring and developing talent within the manufacturing sector, advocating for the growth of future leaders and the advancement of industry best practices. His commitment to excellence and passion for driving operational success make him a valuable contributor to the ongoing evolution of semiconductor manufacturing.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
How RFID Can Increase User Accountability & Reduce Overall Production Costs | Monday, May 12, 2025 - 2:30 PM (EDT)

Lisa Masciantonio

Chief Workforce Officer
The ARM Institute
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Lisa Masciantonio is the Chief Workforce Officer for the Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Institute. She joined the ARM Institute in May 2017 as the Director of Membership and Outreach. She moved to the position of Chief Workforce Officer in 2019 and she is responsible for driving the Education & Workforce Development vision for ARM in conjunction with the ARM membership, the U.S. Department of Defense, and other expert stakeholders.

Lisa brings with her over 25 years of experience as a performance-driven leader with notable success in cultivating and executing business strategies and formulating long-term strategic client relationships. She has proven success in developing business solutions, commercialization of products, technology transfer, and technological initiatives that have supported organizational growth, improved staff productivity, and increased value to many communities of practice. Critical to her success is the ability to increase awareness and drive thought leadership position by designing and executing innovative programs as well as developing and launching new, value-add offerings for ongoing competitiveness. Lisa received a Bachelor’s degree from the Pennsylvania State University and 2 Master’s degrees from Carnegie Mellon University.

Lisa has been recognized as one of 20 world-wide Exceptional Women in Robotics and Automation by SME. She was also recognized by the Pittsburgh Business Times as a Women of Influence and was also part of the inaugural Technical.ly Pittsburgh RealLIST Connectors list, which recognizes the top 100 influential leaders in Pittsburgh tech.

Session(s):

Educator Day
Panel Discussion: Equipping the Modern Workforce for Careers in Robotics, Automation, and Smart Manufacturing | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 1:00 PM (EDT)

Chris Matthieu

VP, Developer Ecosystem
RealSense, Inc.
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Chris Matthieu is the VP, Developer Ecosystem at RealSense, where he loves to engage with AI, robotics, and vision perception developers. Chris is a frequent speaker at robotics and emerging technology conferences.

Session(s):

Automate Innovation Stage
Intel RealSense: Driving the Robotics Renaissance — Insights from the Frontlines of Industrial AI Innovation | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 3:45 PM (EDT)

Jean McAdam

Marketing Director - Industrial Automation
Analog Devices
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Jean McAdam is a strategic marketing director for the Industrial Automation market at Analog Devices based in Limerick, Ireland. Jean has a B.Eng in Computer/Electronic Engineering and an MBA, both from the University of Limerick. Jean joined ADI in 2005 and throughout her career has worked in software, hardware & embedded product applications, as well as marketing & strategic business development.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Sustainable Factories Require Platformized, Configurable Solutions | Monday, May 12, 2025 - 10:15 AM (EDT)

Craig McAtee

Executive Director & CEO
National Coalition of Advanced Technology Centers (NCATC)
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Proud Disruptor of the Status Quo, Futurist, Executive Director & CEO for the National Coalition of Advanced Technology Centers (NCATC), and Executive Director of the Instructional Technology Council (ITC). McAtee also served as Vice President of the Workforce and Economic Development Division of Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C) in Cleveland, Ohio for seven years. And, before that, he spent twenty-five years in engineering and senior leadership positions for Swagelok Company, an international manufacturing organization, based in Cleveland, Ohio.

McAtee is also an active member of the Workforce & Economic Development Commission for the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) in Washington, DC, past chair of AACC’s Council of Affiliated Councils (COAC), Director on the NextFlex Board for Workforce & Education in San Jose, CA. and past member of the ARM Institute Education & Workforce Advisory Council (EWAC).

McAtee is also a BILT Academy Coach for 2020-2025 cohorts, a member of the 2021/24 BLU Manufacturing Recover Panel for the Biden Administration and a Keynote Speaker on “The Future of Work and Industry 4.0” across the nation, as time permits.

Session(s):

Educator Day
Panel Discussion: Equipping the Modern Workforce for Careers in Robotics, Automation, and Smart Manufacturing | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 1:00 PM (EDT)

Kevin McCabe

Application Engineering Manager
IDS Imaging Development Systems Inc.

Kevin McCabe is Application Engineering Manager at IDS Imaging Development Systems Inc, where he helps other engineers across North America integrate IDS Area Scan, 3D, and AI Inference cameras. He provides in-depth product training to OEMs, distributors, and resellers to ensure their success using IDS cameras & software. Throughout his thirteen years at the company, Kevin has helped customers integrate machine vision into a broad range of applications including logistics automation, medical diagnostic devices, quality assurance, and ITS. He holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in electrical engineering from the University of Massachusetts Lowell.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
The Fundamentals of Camera & Image Sensor Technology | Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - 2:00 PM (EDT)

Jeremy McCullough

Senior Product / Application Engineer
SEW-EURODRIVE
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Jeremy McCullough is a Senior Product and Application Engineer for the Corporate Electronics group of SEW-EURODRIVE USA. He has over 10 years of experience working with variable frequency drives and motion control applications. He specialized in Power & Energy Solutions, condition monitoring, and functional safety for machinery.

Jeremy is passionate about helping customers find innovative solutions to their motion control challenges and advocates for utilizing all available technologies, even those from fields not traditionally associated with industrial automation.

He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Clemson University.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Intelligent Power and Energy Management for Industrial Automation | Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - 2:30 PM (EDT)

Bob McCurrach

Director of Standards Development
Association for Advancing Automation (A3)

Bob McCurrach has over 25 years of experience in the manufacturing and product development sector, with a focus on global engineering management, strategic program and process management, primarily for the nuclear, defense and automotive industries. He holds a BS in mechanical engineering from Lehigh University as well as an MBA from Georgia Institute of Technology. Bob joined the Association For Advancing Automation (A3) in 2011 as their Director of Standards Development for Vision & Imaging. He has been a key leader in A3’s standards development and coordination of vision standard development globally. Standards play a key role in the Vision & Imaging industry by ensuring interoperability of components, increasing market size, and shortening the time it takes to get new products to market.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Updates on Machine Vision Standards | Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - 11:15 AM (EDT)

Sarah McGhee

Product Owner
Siemens
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Sarah McGhee is a seasoned professional in industrial automation, currently serving as a Product Owner for Siemens SIMATIC AX. In this role, Sarah connects with stakeholders in the US and globally to share the vision behind SIMATIC AX and IT-Like Automation, and to understand the challenges they face in today's environment—challenges that are exacerbated without flexible tools.

Sarah brings expertise from her previous roles in Siemens' Process Automation and Factory Automation divisions, where she worked in various product marketing and product management positions. These roles focused on introducing IT-minded products and tools to the automation industry.

In this panel session, Sarah will share her insights on how IT-driven automation is revolutionizing manufacturing and addressing worker readiness issues. Her expertise and forward-thinking approach make her a key voice in the conversation on transforming manufacturing with IT-driven automation.

Session(s):

Automate Show Theater
Revolutionizing Manufacturing with IT-Driven Automation | Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - 1:45 PM (EDT)

Fabrice Meunier

VP, Industrial End Users and System Integrators
Schneider Electric
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Fabrice joined Schneider Electric as an engineering co-op in 1996. After graduating in 2001, he was a product development engineer for 7 years. After engineering, Fabrice moved to business operations where he held various roles in business development, product management, product marketing, innovation marketing, product launch and business leadership. This diverse experience allowed him to understand how to solve clients' challenges by applying Schneider Electric's core technologies.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Open Automation – Driving Responsible Profitability, Sustainability, and Empowering the Workforce of the Future | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 2:30 PM (EDT)

Automate Innovation Stage
Software Defined Automation: Transforming Industrial Control with EcoStruxure Automation Expert | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 4:30 PM

Greg Meyne

VP, Consulting
enVista
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Greg Meyne has 30 years of experience in the Material Handling Industry through Mechanical Engineering, Project Management, Site Management, Sales, Systems Design, and Implementation. Currently at enVista he is the coordinator of the Facility Design solutions team with the primary function of designing and implementing Material Handling Systems for our clients.

Over his career, Greg has been involved in a variety of projects ranging in size and scope with clients like: Williams Sonoma, AutoZone, Hanes, NOW Foods, Champion Labs, Lenox, Lifetime Brands, Anixter, Gerber / Intradeco, The Home Depot, Perry Ellis, Nestle, HEB, Kellogg’s, Milton CAT to name just a few.

Greg has well-rounded industry knowledge of the Material Handling Industry including designing systems with the following equipment: Autonomous Mobile Robots, Good-To-Persons Systems, Conveyor Systems, Storage Systems, Automatic Storage & Retrieval Systems, Automated Picking Systems (Pick To Light, Put To Light, Voice), Robotics, among many others.  

Prior to joining enVista 11+ years ago, Greg worked for 15 years as a Mechanical Engineer, Project Manager, and Sales / Account Manager for Automotion Conveyors, ASG, and Wynright. He has also worked for 4+ years as a Regional Sales / Account Manager for Dematic Corp.

Greg brings a vast knowledge of not only material handling system design and implementation, but also assisting clients with process improvement and Omni Channel transformation.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
The New Drop Shipping/Influencer Surges presented by The Robotics Group (TRG) | Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - 1:30 PM (EDT)

Dan Miller

FOX 2 Detroit Sports Director and Voice of the Lions

Dan Miller is a legendary sports broadcaster who has become an iconic voice in Detroit's sports landscape. For over 40 years, he has been living his childhood dream, currently serving as the sports anchor for FOX 2 Detroit and the official voice of the Detroit Lions. Since arriving in Detroit in 1997, Miller has established himself as a cornerstone of the city's sports media, leading FOX 2's award-winning sports department and becoming deeply intertwined with the local sports community.

His broadcasting journey began as a high school senior at the Mutual Radio Network in Washington, DC, and has since spanned multiple platforms from local television to national NFL broadcasts. With 28 years as Sports Director at WJBK-TV and 20 years as the voice of the Lions, Miller has become a trusted storyteller and integral part of Detroit's sports community, bringing the excitement of athletics to fans across the region.

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Session(s):

Automate Conference
How to Build a Winning Culture: A View from the NFL | Monday, May 12, 2025 - 9:00 AM (EDT)

Alan Minney

Sr. Director Global Strategic Partnerships, Enterprise Wireless Solutions.
Ericsson
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Alan Minney leads 5G innovation and new business development through strategic partnerships for Ericsson’s Enterprise Wireless Solutions organization. He has expertise in driving digital transformation, collaborative innovation, and co-development strategies that deliver business value. He works closely with global partners, and customers to utilize dedicated 5G connectivity solutions that enable new customer experiences, build engagement, and improve business outcomes.

Session(s):

Automate Show Theater
Everything in the Factory is Smart & Autonomous Now–That’s Why 5G is Critical | Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - 11:30 AM (EDT)

Steve Minniear

Director, Manufacturing Engineering
BorgWarner

With more than 39 years of experience in the Automotive Manufacturing industry with BorgWarner, Steve is a seasoned leader in operations, quality and global production strategies. Since 2019, he has been a Director of Manufacturing Engineering, currently supporting the industrialization and launch of a turbine generator at a greenfield site in North Carolina.

Previously, Steve held key leadership roles at BorgWarner, including Plant Manager and Director NA Operations, and Director NA Quality. His expertise in manufacturing efficiency, quality assurance, and team leadership has been instrumental in driving the success of diverse initiatives in global manufacturing environments.

Session(s):

Automate Show Theater
Unlocking Shopfloor Potential: AI-Powered Continuous Improvement | Monday, May 12, 2025 - 12:00 PM (EDT)

Rashmi Misra

A3 AI Tech Strategy Board Chair
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Dr Rashmi Misra is the Chief AI Officer for Analog Devices executing an AI strategy across enterprise, silicon manufacturing and product for the intelligent edge.

Prior to this, Rashmi headed Data and Artificial Intelligence, Business Development, for Microsoft where she led Microsoft’s strategic partnerships in AI including those with OpenAI since 2019, Meta, NVDIA, Mistral, and in Automation and Robotics with Kawasaki, Figure.ai, Wayve, and others.

Working closely with ecosystem partners, as well as customers and engineering teams, Rashmi was responsible for proving leading-edge solutions and partnerships combining AI, Data, mixed reality, Web 3.0 and other emergent technologies at Microsoft.

Rashmi has been at the forefront of intelligent systems for over 20 years, managing network applications, cloud, media, IoT and M2M businesses for HPE where she was the Head of AI Solutions for High Performance Compute solutions.

Rashmi previously led Motorola's worldwide System Integration portfolio and was instrumental in deploying some of the first expert and AI systems on mobile networks. She owns six international patents for intelligent optimisation, automated network health and monetisation of traffic on telecom networks.

Rashmi has a doctorate in Artificial Intelligence on Multi-Agent Reasoning Systems, from Exeter University, UK and an MBA from Warwick University, UK.

Session(s):

Automate Show Theater
The State of the Automation Industry–Leadership Roundtable | Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - 12:30 PM (EDT)

Donato Montanari

Vice President and General Manager, Machine Vision
Zebra Technologies
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Donato Montanari is the Vice President and General Manager, Machine Vision, at Zebra where he is responsible for fixed industrial scanners, smart cameras, machine vision hardware and machine vision software.

Donato has more than 25 years of experience within the Imaging and Industrial Automation industries and has brought to the market more than fifty new products throughout his career.

Previously, he served as CEO at deevio, where he managed all aspects of the business. Donato holds a MS in electronics engineering from KUL Leuven, Belgium and a BS in electrical engineering from Universita’ di Pavia, Italy. He is a Board Member of the Machine Vision Chapter of the VDMA in Frankfurt, Germany.

Session(s):

Automate Innovation Stage
A New Era In Manufacturing: Cloud-Based AI Training | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 12:45 PM (EDT)

Glade Montgomery

Senior Vice President of Strategic Partnerships
Project Lead the Way
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Glade Montgomery is a lifelong educator who prior to joining Project Lead The Way served for twenty-nine years in public education in Indiana. During that time, he held roles as teacher and administrator, most recently leading as the superintendent of schools in LaPorte, Indiana. Glade is part of PLTW’s Impact Team and serves as Senior Vice President of Strategic Partnerships. His team works to develop partnerships with business and industry to connect the PLTW network to career learning experiences. He has also held roles on the Engagement Team leading the East Region, as well as the Strategic Accounts team. Glade also served as Chief of Staff, supporting the President and CEO. Glade earned doctoral, masters, and bachelor’s degrees from Purdue University. He received the 2010 Norbert Nelson Outstanding Educational Leadership Dissertation Award from Purdue University and was selected Administrator of the Year by the Indiana Association of Office Professionals in 2009.

Session(s):

Educator Day
Panel Discussion: Defining the Modern Advanced Manufacturing Pathway | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 10:15 AM (EDT)

Danny Murphy

Assistant Professor of Mechatronics
Central Virginia Community College
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Danny Murphy, the inaugural A3 Educator of the Year, is an award-winning educator, automation engineer and content creator.

As Assistant Professor of Mechatronics at Central Virginia Community College, he teaches automation and robotics while serving as Co-PI for NSF ATE grant Improving Advanced Manufacturing Technician Education Using Industry Partnerships. He is an appointed member of the Virginia Community College System AI Taskforce.

Danny has 25 years of experience in industrial automation. He has actively contributed to the development of over 75 pieces of prototype and production machinery for industries including pharmaceutical, automotive, non-destructive testing, lumber, beverage, telecommunications, and cosmological research.

His notable projects include collaborative automation used in the manufacture of the Harley Davidson Softail motorcycle, night-vision production equipment for US Army and US Special Forces suppliers, and cryostat positioning systems at ALMA Observatory (Earth’s most powerful deep-space telescope array) where he facilitated installation high in the Chilean Andes.

Recently, he designed electric vehicles that print fiber optic communication pathways on runways at domestic US Navy and US Air Force bases for secure flight data acquisition. These vehicles have also helped expand high-speed communication access to homes and municipalities nationwide, supporting remote work and education.

He is the founder and operator of multiple industry and education initiatives, including the Partnership of Education and Manufacturing (POEM), the International Automation Training Program (IATP), Technical Educator’s Alliance (TEA), and Automation & Electrical Services (AES).

Danny has been awarded the 2019 Outstanding Adjunct Faculty Award, the 2022 Faculty Teaching Effectiveness Award, the 2022 Faculty Award for Professional Excellence, the February 2023 Learning Environment Award, the 2023 VCCA Showcase Award, the 2024 Outstanding Faculty Award, and 2024 A3 Educator of the Year.

Session(s):

Educator Day
Panel Discussion: Best Practices in Robotics Education | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 11:15 AM (EDT)

Roberta Nelson Shea

Global Technical Compliance Officer
Universal Robots

Responsible for global UR product compliance, risk management, and reducing barriers to acceptance of UR robots for collaborative applications.  Over 45+ years’ experience in automation safety and standardization.

Honored as … 

• Recipient of the 2023 Joseph F. Engelberger “Nobel Prize of Robotics” award (safety).
• Recipient of the 2022 Goddard Alumni Award for Outstanding Professional Achievement by Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester MA USA.
• 1 of the “Twenty Women Making Their Mark in Robotics & Automation” by Smart Manufacturing (SME) in February 2021.
• 1 of the “100 Women in Safety in 100 years” by the American Society of Safety Professionals (known then as ASSE) in 2011. One of the 100 Women – Making a Difference in Safety
• Chair Emeritus of A3’s standardization activities, awarded in 2016. A3 was formerly known as RIA (Robotic Industries Association).
• Past member of the board of directors of ANSI (American National Standards Institute) and of RIA (now known as A3).

National robot safety standardization activities:

• Since 1982, the only consistently active robot safety standards expert.
• Chair for 23 years of the US Robot Safety Committee (R15.06).  
• Active for 45 years in various American National machinery safety standards.
• Expert member of the NIOSH/ OSHA/ RIA Alliance.

ISO and US national standardization in automation and safety:

• Convenor: TC299 WG3 Industrial robotics (ISO 10218 & TS15066).
• Convenor: TC299 SG1 Study group on TC299 Robotics structure.
• Expert member: TC199 Safety of machinery, TC110/SC2/WG3 Safety of industrial trucks & various IEC working groups.
• Expert member in various US and Canadian standards committees: safety, robotics, plastics machinery and IEEE.
• Certified Functional Safety Engineer (TÜV Rheinland).

BS Mechanical Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) with a Masters degree in Advanced Safety Engineering and Management (ASEM) from the University of Alabama Birmingham. 

Before UR, lead Rockwell’s global safety component product management organization. Preceding Rockwell, held leadership positions at Symbotic, AMT and Pilz USA, with a career start at P&G.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Exploring the New ISO 10218 Standards and Upcoming R15.06 Developments | Monday, May 12, 2025 - 3:30 PM (EDT)

David Nichols

CEO, Co-founder, Loupe and SASE
Loupe and SASE

David Nichols is the co-founder and CEO of Loupe, an engineering and automation company based in Portland, Oregon. David’s leadership role includes business development and management of projects, accounts, and our engineering team. David also founded SASE, the Society of Software Automation Engineers, an eminent thought leadership organization in software-defined automation. Together, Loupe and SASE, are pioneering the integration of software in machines, driving innovation straight from the plant-floor.

Session(s):

Automate Show Theater
Revolutionizing Manufacturing with IT-Driven Automation | Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - 1:45 PM (EDT)

Erik Nieves

CEO & Co-Founder
Plus One Robotics

Erik Nieves is co-founder and CEO of Plus One Robotics, a software company developing 3D and AI-powered vision software for robots in logistics automation. Before Plus One, Erik was Technology Director for Yaskawa Motoman Robotics, responsible for the technology roadmap and emerging applications. During his 25+ year tenure at Yaskawa, Erik held a variety of leadership positions in the U.S. and abroad. Erik serves on the board of directors at Robotics Industries Association (RIA) and is a frequent speaker and contributor to public policy on robotics.

Session(s):

Automate Show Theater
The Politics of Automation: Policies That Will Define the Future of Work | Thursday, May 15, 2025 - 10:30 AM (EDT)

Ryan Odegaard

Director of Paint
General Motors

Ryan Odegaard is Global Director of Paint, Polymers, and Additive Manufacturing at General Motors.   His team supports all aspects of paint shop design, paint materials, construction, and automation.   In addition to paint manufacturing engineering, his team also has responsibility for injection mold tooling and additive manufacturing at GM.    During Ryan’s 30 years with GM, he has extensive paint manufacturing operations experience and has worked in 6 different facilities across GM’s manufacturing footprint.   He and his teams have supported and executed numerous paint automation projects.  Ryan has a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from North Dakota State University, and a Master’s Degree from Washington University in St. Louis.   

Session(s):

Automate Conference
The Final Frontier of Automation in a High Volume Automotive Paint Shop: Robotic Paint Repair on a Moving Line | Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - 10:15 AM (EDT)

Pedro Pachuca

CEO
Advex AI
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Pedro is the CEO of Advex AI. Pedro’s background is in AI Research with Berkeley / Google Brain and building products at Google / various startups.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Synthetic Data for AI Machine and Computer Vision | Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - 10:15 AM (EDT)

Riddhi Padariya

Sr. Controls Engineer
The Boring Company
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Riddhi Padariya is a trailblazer in climate-friendly manufacturing, with 7 years of experience in industrial automation. She has led automation initiatives at Tesla, Heirloom Carbon Technologies, and The Boring Company—gaining firsthand expertise in scaling sustainable, cutting-edge technologies. Her work spans battery production, carbon removal systems, and tunneling automation, giving her a deep understanding of modern manufacturing challenges and opportunities.

In addition to her engineering roles, Riddhi serves as Chair of the International Society of Automation's Technical Advisory Committee and has served as a board member across three different divisions in the past year. She currently holds the position of Standing Standards Chair at IEEE's Control Systems Society and is part of the technical committee for Manufacturing Automation and Robotic Controls at IEEE.

She has delivered 9 invited talks at major conferences and events including the Automate Show, IEEE CSS Day, and ISA’s Automation Summit and Expo,etc. In recognition of her contributions, she received the 30 Under 30 award from Smart Manufacturing Engineering (SME) and was named a Rising Star in Sustainability by the Association for Advancing Automation.

Riddhi is also a premier technical expert, having completed over 70 peer reviews for leading journals such as the International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology (IJAMT), ISA Transactions, the Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing (JIMS), and various IEEE journals.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
How to Design Intuitive and Aesthetically Pleasing HMIs for 21st-Century Factories? | Monday, May 12, 2025 - 1:30 PM (EDT)

Yichao Pan

Product Manager, Isaac Manipulator
NVIDIA
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Yichao Pan is a Senior Product Manager at NVIDIA, specializing in Isaac Manipulator, a suite of perception models, CUDA-accelerated libraries, and reference workflows designed for industrial robot manipulators. Before joining NVIDIA, Yichao held product management roles at KUKA, Universal Robots, Energid Technologies, and Rethink Robotics. Yichao earned a Bachelor of Science from the University of Notre Dame and a Master of Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Session(s):

Automate Show Theater
Accelerate AI-powered Automation: Vention's Journey with NVIDIA | Monday, May 12, 2025 - 2:00 PM

Sadiq Panjwani

Chief Operating Officer and Senior Executive Vice President
Teledyne Technologies
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Sadiq leads Teledyne’s industrial camera groups specializing in imaging and sensing technology. He is responsible for guiding the organization’s vision, business strategy, and operational excellence across all functions to bring remarkable innovations to the market and enhance customer experience. With a background in software engineering, he is passionate about technology and leading high-performance teams.

Session(s):

Automate Innovation Stage
Reimagining Design-In Cycles. Accelerating Machine Vision! | Monday, May 12, 2025 - 1:30 PM (EDT)

Matt Panosh

Stationary Workholding Group Manager
SCHUNK
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With 20 years of manufacturing expertise, including 16 years dedicated to SCHUNK, Matt Panosh, Group Manager for stationary workholding at SCHUNK Morrisville, NC, is a seasoned leader in optimizing workholding processes and providing high-precision solutions to the CNC manufacturing industry nationwide.

His comprehensive technical knowledge of CNC machines, spanning from spindle to machine table, enables him to serve a diverse range of sectors including automotive, aerospace, space exploration, technology, and medical. Matt has extensive knowledge and hands-on experience in leveraging automated machine tending solutions to drive efficiency and productivity, offering his customers actionable strategies to enhance processes and achieve success.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Boosting Productivity with Robotic Machine Tending Deployments | Monday, May 12, 2025 - 8:00 AM (EDT)

Christopher Parisse

Senior Controls Product Engineer
Bosch Rexroth

Chris is a Senior Controls Product Engineer at Bosch Rexroth located in Bethlehem, PA. His educational background includes a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Penn State specializing in control theory and industrial machinery. He has 8 years' experience in the industrial automation industry working in roles from control systems engineering, applications engineering, and product management. His responsibilities include product management, sales and technical support for hydraulic motion control, variable speed pump drives, and Cytro (smart) hydraulic products. His goal for his presentation is to bring awareness to the benefits of electro-hydraulic solutions in an ever-electrifying automation industry.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
The Electrification of Industrial Hydraulics – A Glimpse into the Future (Now) | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 3:30 PM (EDT)

Aamir Paul

President, North America Operations
Schneider Electric

Aamir Paul is the President of North America Operations and a member of the Global Executive Committee for Schneider Electric. In this role, he leads all operations from strategy to execution for Canada, Central America, Mexico, and the United States — delivering best-in-class solutions for partners and end-users across the Energy Management and Industrial Automation businesses. Prior to this role, Aamir served three years leading commercial operations as the U.S. Country President. He also led Business Operations and the U.S. National Sales team since joining the company in 2013. Before arriving at Schneider Electric, Aamir spent over a decade at Dell, where he held several key roles of increasing responsibility in North America and Europe. He served as Dell’s Senior Vice President of Server Solutions, leading the development and execution of the company’s go-to-market strategy for all key markets and customer segments worldwide. He also had global sales responsibility for Data Center Solutions (DCS) and High-Performance Computing (HPC), focusing on the top 100 customer relationships. Earlier in his career, Aamir worked as a Process Engineer at AlliedSignal (now a part of Honeywell). He holds a B.S. in chemical engineering from Northwestern University in Evanston, IL., and completed advanced management studies at the University of Chicago Booth and INSEAD. Aamir serves as a board member for USG, Enable, and the Executives’ Club of Chicago. Aamir and his family live in Chicago, and he enjoys amateur photography and travel.

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Session(s):

Automate Conference
Redefining Industry: A Bold New Era for American Manufacturing and the Opportunities It Creates for the American Workforce | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 9:00 AM (EDT)

Marcus Pelletier

Global Portfolio Manager Robotics & Automation, Abrasive Systems
3M
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Marcus serves as the Global Systems R&D Director for 3M's Abrasives Systems Division (ASD). In this role, he leads a global team dedicated to developing advanced hardware and software tools and systems designed to model and optimize abrasive performance and productivity for customers. With 16 years of experience in industrial controls leadership, Marcus has a proven track record of installing and commissioning large-scale manufacturing process equipment across 3M's global factories. Prior to starting the systems team within ASD in 2020, he completed a three-year Lean Six Sigma business assignment, further enhancing his expertise in process improvement and operational excellence.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
The Final Frontier of Automation in a High Volume Automotive Paint Shop: Robotic Paint Repair on a Moving Line | Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - 10:15 AM (EDT)

Tracy Perdue

VP Sales
WiBotic

Tracy Perdue is the Vice President of Sales at WiBotic, a leading provider of wireless charging and power optimization solutions for robots. With over 20 years of experience in material handling and warehouse automation, Tracy has played a pivotal role in driving sales growth, developing strategic partnerships, and implementing cutting-edge automation solutions for some of the world’s largest logistics and supply chain organizations. At WiBotic, Tracy is dedicated to empowering organizations to maximize the uptime and performance of their robotic fleets through reliable, flexible power solutions.

Session(s):

Automate Show Theater
Intelligent Autonomy | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 2:15 PM (EDT)

Jerry Perez

Business Development Manager
FANUC America
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Jerry Perez is a Business Development Manager at FANUC America Corporation, consulting global corporations in topics such as automation roadmap development, workforce development, and successful automation implementation. Over the past 25 years, Jerry has been a leader in the expansion of robotics in multiple markets from defense and automotive to electronics and medical device manufacturing, deploying Pilot & Scale programs that helped companies large or small realize the benefits of automation.

He graduated from the University of Michigan with a B.S. in Engineering and resides in Royal Oak, MI with his wife and two kids.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
CobotandGo - Latest Trends and Tech Advancements Making Cobots Even More Accessible Than Ever | Monday, May 12, 2025 - 1:30 PM (EDT)

Florian Pestoni

CEO & Co-founder
InOrbit
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Florian is an accomplished business leader and author, with hands-on experience bringing innovative products to market. As InOrbit’s CEO and co-founder, Florian leads strategy, fundraising and go-to-market activities. He is passionate about raising awareness around the new category of RobOps, sharing his compelling vision for the evolution of robotics and the future of work. He is also a co-founder of the Robot Operations Group, a community-led organization of experts in scaling robot deployments. Florian is an investor, advisor, board member, and mentor to young startup founders.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
The Future-Proof Supply Chain: AI-Powered, Data-Driven and Software-Defined | Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - 1:30 PM (EDT)

Mark Peterson

Co-founder and VP Advanced Technology
Theia Technologies
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Mark Peterson is a co-founder and Vice President of Advanced Technology of Theia Technologies. He investigates new technologies that can improve Theia's optical solutions, allowing Theia to be a leader in optics. Mark believes that understanding a broad range of technologies is fundamental to building exciting new products that allow our customers to accomplish their goals.

Mark has developed numerous innovative and award-winning optics solutions for the machine vision industry including lenses with Theia’s patented Linear Optical Technology™ enabling ultra-wide angle images without barrel distortion and without software correction.

Mark has over 40 patents and has contributed to conferences in optics and published white papers on optics and lens technologies. Mark earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics and a Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin and has been working in the optics industry for over 25 years. In his time outside the office Mark is leader of a pack of four malamutes and puts in lots of miles on his road bike. Mark and his wife, Lynn, are trying to minimize their environmental footprint and recently built a small home on their property in Lake Oswego, Oregon.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Ultra Wide, No Distortion Lenses Tough Enough for Crash Testing | Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - 10:15 AM (EDT)

Andrew Pether

AI Applications Lead, R&D Manager
Universal Robots
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Andrew Pether is the AI Applications Lead and R&D Manager at Universal Robots, where he has been since 2014. He leverages his extensive experience with customer challenges to enhance UR's AI Accelerator platform and applications, making collaborative robot solutions more flexible than ever.

Andrew focuses on bridging the gap between R&D and real-world value, using his customer-facing experience to develop accessible AI-driven robotics products. He believes incorporating flexible perception in industrial robots, especially cobots, is essential for handling real-world variations, increasing ease of use and expanding feasible use cases.

After earning Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Robotics and Sensor-related fields from UK universities, Andrew spent 13 years working in the Asia-Pacific region across research, development, and industrial automation. He led applications and technical teams in Universal Robots' Asian operations before joining the US-based Technology Innovation team in 2022.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Make Your Cobot Application Resilient With Off-The-Shelf AI-Driven Perception | Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - 10:15 AM (EDT)

Davide Picciotto

Industry Director
Siemens

Davide has joined the exciting journey of the Siemens Digital Enterprise in early 2015 as Thought Leader in the Consumer Products space and is now globally responsible for the Siemens digitalization activities in the related industry verticals.

Previously he has been leading the Siemens US MES Food & Beverage team. His background is in the Manufacturing Execution space, but his focus has grown over time to cover Automation, MOM, PLM and now the broader software and hardware digitalization space.

Davide has an excellent knowledge of all the technologies used in digitalization and of the value of applying them to industrial processes and has focused a lot of his attention in the manufacturing and economics of the vertical industries linking ROI, financial KPIs and qualitative benefits to manufacturing processes.

Davide has earned a Master Degree in Communication Engineering at the University of Genoa, IT and lives in Chicago, IL with his wife and children.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Adaptive Production in Smart Manufacturing | Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - 11:15 AM (EDT)

Ashutosh Prasad

Founder and CEO
KoiReader Technologies, Inc.
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Ashutosh is an accomplished professional with a proven track record of over 25 years in the Logistics and Supply Chain industry. During his years in the industry, he has held prominent senior executive and global consulting roles at Big 4 firms, delivering exceptional value to enterprise customers across various verticals.

A renowned thought leader, he frequently speaks at premier Logistics and Supply Chain conferences, sharing his visionary perspectives. His impactful white papers and presentations are a further testament to his status as an authority in the field.

Some of his notable industry accomplishments:

• Pioneered Applied AI in Logistics & Supply Chain and filed 20+ Patents to deliver Operational Efficiency and accuracy to Distributors, Manufacturers, Retailers, Service Providers, and Shippers
• Developed Logistics, Supply Chain, and Industrial Automation KoiVision platform that was publicly endorsed by NVIDIA and PepsiCo (March 2023)
• Innovation for Logistics and Supply Chain industry showcased at G20’s Business 20 conference, the alliance of 19 leading industrialized and emerging economies and the European Union
• Authored National Logistics Policy for World’s 5th Largest Economy with a special focus on AI-powered Logistics and Supply Chain Automation (October 2022)
• Delivered industry-first innovations and established Digital Supply Chain business units at organizations such as PricewaterhouseCoopers and Ernst & Young
• Served as Vice President at XPO Logistics and managed annual operating budget and digital innovation portfolio for the business unit
• Developed world’s most advanced Intelligent Label Scanning Technology (KoiScan™) that delivers over 99.4% accuracy even for damaged, faded, folded, overlapping, and distorted label conditions
• Created KoiReader Technologies that was named Gartner Cool Vendor 2020 in Supply Chain Execution and won awards across 4 continents
• Designed a 2D barcode standard for Supply Chain Asset and Inventory Visibility in partnership with GS1
• Panelist and Guest Speaker at MIT
• Past Roles: XPO, PwC, EY, Oracle, Blue Yonder / i2 Technologies

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Delivering Operational Excellence through a Generative AI powered Digital Twin Network | Thursday, May 15, 2025 - 11:15 AM (EDT)

Mark Puglia

Director of Product Engineering
ECM PCB Stator Tech

As Director of Product Engineering at ECM PCB Stator Tech, Mark Puglia leads the design and integration of ECM’s PCB Stator axial flux motor technology in multiple industry use cases. Those include HVAC, consumer electronics, robotics, e-mobility, and aerospace.

Mr. Puglia also plays a key role in the development and benchmarking of ECM’s advanced Motor CAD platform, PrintStator. As a software tool, PrintStator integrates powers the design of PCB Stator electric motors that are lighter, more compact, highly efficient, and that require significantly less raw materials to produce.

Working with his team, Mark’s has led the successful design and manufacturing of over 200 distinctive motor applications--showcasing ECM’s commitment to excellence in engineering. Mr. Puglia has also contributed to the advances in ECM’s patented PCB Stator technology that have seen the company win over 14 innovation, awards, including the Automate Innovation Awards, Machine Design IDEA Awards, and Design World LEAP Awards.

Prior to joining ECM, Mark worked in biotech, semi-conductor and consumer product development companies.

Mr. Puglia earned his Bachelor of Engineering degree from Northeastern University, where was a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and Northeastern’s NCAA Division I track and field team.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Electric Motor Efficiency Standards & Tariffs: What to Know, How to Navigate? | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 2:30 PM (EDT)

Dan Radomski

CEO
Centrepolis Accelerator at Lawrence Tech University
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Dan is currently the CEO of the Lawrence Technological University Centrepolis Accelerator, a program that helps accelerate and scale small manufacturers and innovators of new “hardware” products.

Dan was formerly the Chief Strategy / Operating Officer for the Optimal Group, small businesses and start-ups focused on product development, competitive business strategy, product benchmarking, product development and engineering. At Optimal Dan was responsible for diversifying the company’s business model to evolve into full vehicle development with specialization in electric vehicle development, growing the revenue by $20 million annually, and scaling the business globally to over 350 employees.

In his prior role as Vice President of Industry and Venture Development at NextEnergy, Dan led all market and technology analytic support for the growth of early-stage and mature energy technology firms in areas such as wind, solar, advanced batteries, power electronics, vehicle electrification, smart grid, micro-grid, natural gas, and energy efficiency. This included NextEnergy’s venture and incubator services, supporting the commercialization efforts of 1,000 new developers of advanced energy technologies; and helping over 120 manufacturers diversify into the clean energy supply chain.

Prior to NextEnergy Dan was co-founder of a clean energy technology consultancy with offices in Berkley, MI and Barcelona, Spain. Dan also worked for the Society of Manufacturing Engineers on product development for advanced manufacturing technologies, including lean manufacturing, machining, fabrication, composites, micro and nano-manufacturing.

Dan has served as a developer for DOE / Lawrence Livermore National Lab training curricula that educates product developers / companies with “hardware” based products on how to scale their business. He has been an instructor for DOE / ARPA-E I-Corps Program; and has served as an advisor for the National Governor’s Association’s (NGA) Clean Energy Economic Development Policy Academy program, and as a contributor to DOE’s Industry Peer and Annual Merit Review activities.

Dan was formerly the Chief Strategy / Operating Officer for the Optimal Group, small businesses and start-ups focused on product development, competitive business strategy, product benchmarking, product development and engineering. While at Optimal Dan was responsible for diversifying the company’s business model to evolve into full vehicle development with specialization in electric vehicle development, growing the revenue by $20 million annually, and scaling the business globally to over 350 employees.

In his prior role as Vice President of Industry and Venture Development at NextEnergy, Dan led all market and technology analytic efforts to support the growth of early-stage and mature energy technology firms in areas such as wind, solar, advanced batteries, power electronics, vehicle electrification, smart grid, micro-grid, natural gas, and energy efficiency. This included NextEnergy’s venture and incubator services, supporting the commercialization efforts of approximately 1,000 new developers of advanced energy technologies; and helping over 120 manufacturers successfully diversify into the clean energy supply chain.

Radomski frequently serves as an advisor, judge, mentor and committee member for regional and national accelerators and cleantech competitions, including TechStars Mobility, CleanTech Open, Clean Energy Trust Challenge, Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition, DTE E-Challenge, Great Lakes Entrepreneur’s Quest, and the Michigan Clean Energy Venture Challenge.

Prior to NextEnergy Dan was co-founder of a clean energy technology consultancy with offices in Berkley, MI and Barcelona, Spain. Dan also worked for the Society of Manufacturing Engineers on product development for advanced manufacturing technologies and disciplines including lean manufacturing, machining, fabrication, composites, micro- and nano-manufacturing.

Dan has served as a developer for DOE / Lawrence Livermore National Lab training curricula that educates product developers / companies with “hardware” based products on how to scale their business. He has been an instructor and curriculum developer for DOE / ARPA-E I-Corps Program; and has served as an advisor for the National Governor’s Association’s (NGA) Clean Energy Economic Development Policy Academy program, and as a contributor to DOE’s Industry Peer and Annual Merit Review activities.

Session(s):

Automate Show Theater
Intelligent Autonomy | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 2:15 PM (EDT)

Don Rahrig

CEO
Rain Engineering
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Don Rahrig is the founder and CEO of Rain Engineering, one of the most concentrated Proficy MES practices in the ecosystem, focused entirely on helping manufacturers get real outcomes from Proficy.

Under Don’s leadership, Rain Engineering has become a Platinum Certified Solution Provider for Velotic Software's Proficy Manufacturing Execution and Industrial Automation, known for stepping into complex plants and making Proficy work through integration, support, and education.

He also Co-Founded Rain Digital Factories, a dedicated Proficy channel partner that aligns software decisions with Rain Engineering’s delivery and support model.

Don speaks from decades on the plant floor about Proficy MES rescues, brownfield connectivity, and how manufacturers can turn a stalled MES into a competitive advantage.

Session(s):

Automate Innovation Stage
The Roadmap to Smart Factories: Overcoming Barriers to MES Adoption & Integration | Monday, May 12, 2025 - 4:30 PM (EDT)

Bernd Raithel

Director, Product and Solution Development, Factory Automation
Siemens

Bernd Raithel is Director of Product and Solution Development for Siemens Factory Automation in the US responsible for developing products and solution for the global automation market. Bernd has over 20 years of experience with Siemens in Factory Automation, creating products that help improve production and machines. Before joining Siemens, Bernd Raithel worked for nine years in various positions in R&D developing real-time software and in automation, building machines and production lines. Bernd has an engineering degree (Dipl-Ing(FH)) from the TH Nürnberg (Germany).

Session(s):

Automate Show Theater
AI Everywhere: How Intelligent Systems Are Reshaping Industrial Automation | Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - 10:30 AM (EDT)
Revolutionizing Manufacturing with IT-Driven Automation | Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - 1:45 PM (EDT)

Ritch Ramey

Director of Education
Association for Advancing Automation (A3)

Ritch Ramey has more than 35 years of experience advancing robotics and automation workforce development. As Director of Education for the Association for Advancing Automation (A3), he supports national education initiatives serving more than 1,450 member companies and institutions. Ritch manages the growing Education Pavilion at the Automate Show, the largest robotics and automation event in the Americas, and works to expand industry training and workforce outreach programs.

His current work includes supporting the development of automation training curriculum, LMS-based credential pathways, and workforce partnerships with organizations such as ARM Institute, FIRST Robotics, the National Robotics Challenge, SkillsUSA, and the RECF VEX Robotics program. He also contributes to grant development and workforce pilot programs designed to expand robotics and automation training across the United States.

Before joining A3, Ritch served as State Coordinator and Founding Technical Lead of the RAMTEC Ohio initiative, one of the nation’s most successful advanced robotics workforce training models. At RAMTEC, he led curriculum development, grant implementation, and technical training across major industrial platforms including FANUC, Yaskawa, Universal Robots, and PLC systems from Siemens, Omron, Mitsubishi, and Allen-Bradley.

For more than two decades, Ritch has also coordinated VEX and SkillsUSA robotics competitions, promoting hands-on robotics education, safety awareness, and Industry 4.0 career pathways from middle school through adult workforce upskilling.

Session(s):

Educator Day
Welcome | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 9:45 AM (EDT)

Alan Raveling

Senior Technologist
Interstates

Alan Raveling serves as a Senior Technologist at Interstates, where he evaluates and leverages technologies to enhance workforce efficiency and capability. His passion lies in guiding clients through the complexities of the operational technology landscape. With over 20 years of experience, Alan has supported companies of all sizes in their digitization and cybersecurity efforts.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Open Automation – Driving Responsible Profitability, Sustainability, and Empowering the Workforce of the Future | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 2:30 PM (EDT)

Frank Richardi

Business Development Manager
JR Automation
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Meet Frank Richardi!

Frank is one of JR Automation’s top Business Development Managers.

With over 25 years in the machine design industry, 10 of those years in custom automation, Frank takes pride in helping customers find solutions to meet their unique needs.

Frank started his career as a mechanical designer, gaining experience in machine design and simulation for application engineering in custom machine design. Walking factory floors all over the world and working on solutions to manufacturing challenges is his dream job. While a large percentage of Frank’s career has been in the life science industry, he also brings experience in EV/energy, automotive, defense/aerospace, and consumer products, giving him a unique perspective when partnering with clients to understand needs and design custom solutions. Frank’s goal is to develop not only solutions but to build long lasting business partnerships.

Frank will be presenting and sharing key learnings and insights about automating manufacturing applications in this Innovation Theater presentation.

Session(s):

Automate Innovation Stage
Key Considerations When Evaluating Automation Integrators for Your Next Project | Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - 11:15 AM (EDT)

Chuck Ridgeway

Automation Technology Manager
Horner Automation
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Chuck has served a variety of roles in his 35 years at Horner - but has always been an Applications Engineer at heart. Chuck graduated with a degree in Electrical Engineering from what is now Kettering University in Flint, MI. Prior to joining Horner, Chuck worked in the Automotive industry as an Automation Field Applications Engineer for several years in his home state of Michigan. Since that time, he has worked closely with automation users all over the world in a number of industries including Automotive, Food & Bev, Oil & Gas, Agriculture and many others. Chuck is married with two grown daughters and lives in the Indianapolis, IN area.

Session(s):

Automate Innovation Stage
How Will Automotive Innovation Impact the Future of Automation? | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 10:30 AM (EDT)

Julia Astrid Riemenschneider

Business Development
Synapticon GmbH
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Speaker biography coming soon!

Session(s):

Automate Show Theater
The Robotics Executive Roundtable: The Trends & Technologies Driving the Industry | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 10:30 AM (EDT)

Scott Robbins

Software Engineering / Technology Manager
Acieta

With over 30 years in precision measurement and automation, Scott Robbins is a technical advisor and problem-solver in manufacturing. His expertise in software development and metrology enables him to create innovative solutions for complex challenges.

Inspired by his grandfather's engineering background, Scott entered precision measurement in 1990. He specializes in writing software and integrating devices for assembly and testing systems, with a focus on metrology-based applications and vision systems.

As a technical advisor at Acieta, Scott brings extensive knowledge in vision systems, metrology, and automation integration. He emphasizes creating reliable systems with clear communication and realistic customer expectations.

Scott is committed to mentoring the next generation of automation specialists, particularly neurodivergent youth. His forward-thinking approach continues to drive innovation in manufacturing automation, helping companies improve precision, efficiency, and reliability in their operations.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Precision Redefined: Elevating Manufacturing Standards with In-Line 3D Non-Contact Analysis | Monday, May 12, 2025 - 11:15 AM (EDT)

Matthew Robinson

ROS-Industrial Consortium Americas - Program Manager
Southwest Research Institute

Matt Robinson is the Program Manager for the ROS-Industrial Consortium – Americas, an industry-driven open source program bringing advanced manufacturing solutions for the industrial robotics community. Prior to his current role, Robinson was team leader for Caterpillar’s Manufacturing Technology Automation Research where he led development and deployment of automation tools to improve the performance and productivity of Caterpillar manufacturing facilities around the globe. Robinson also led manufacturing value stream design initiatives that led to the deployment of over 50 robotic/automated manufacturing systems around the world. Robinson holds a Master’s Degree from Ohio State University.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Leveraging Learning Algorithms to Predict Weld Distortion and Residual Stress in Real-Time | Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - 1:30 PM (EDT)

Bob Rochelle

Principal
ArtsnRobots LLC
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Bob Rochelle is the Principal at ArtsNRobots LLC, an automation systems consulting firm based near Ann Arbor MI. With over 40 years experience in Industrial Robotics and Factory Automation as an engineer, project manager, sales professional and in various management roles, Bob has acquired a vast knowledge of most manufacturing processes and is recognized by the robotics industry as an authority on the positive impact that automation has on production, manufacturing labor and bottom-line performance. He is a regular speaker at conferences, tradeshows and is a freelance author for technical journals. He enjoys sharing his experiences at events like this one.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Getting Started with Industrial Robotics | Monday, May 12, 2025 - 10:15 AM (EDT)

Shane Rose

Marketing and Business Development Manager
PushCorp

Shane Rose is the Marketing and Business Development Manager at PushCorp, a U.S.-based manufacturer specializing in robotic end-of-arm tooling for material removal. He leads strategic initiatives to make automation more accessible for manufacturers of all sizes, helping them address labor shortages and improve consistency in grinding, sanding, and finishing applications. Shane holds a Master’s degree in Scientific and Technical Communication from the University of Minnesota and brings a pragmatic, solution-oriented approach to bridging the gap between engineering and market adoption. He is also a passionate advocate for reshaping how the manufacturing sector approaches innovation, inclusion, and long-term growth.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Cutting Through the Competition: How System Integrators Can Win with Robotic Material Removal | Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - 8:00 AM (EDT)

Ted Rozier

Director Of Digital Advanced Technology & Robotics
Festo Didactic

Ted Rozier is the Director Of Digital Advanced Technologies and Robotics for Festo Didactic Solution Center North America, head quartered in Eatontown NJ,

Before Joining Festo Didactic, He Brings 18 years of experience in leading the Automation Engineering Department for Doosan Infracore Machine Tool Corporation. He specialized in the design and development of Robotics and Machine tool turnkey systems for the Automotive, Aerospace and Pharmaceutical industry.

Ted has managed the development of several User friendly automation control turnkey systems on a global scale.

As Director of Digital Advanced Technologies and Robotics of Festo Didactic, Ted is passionately looking to advance Festo Didactic as a global leader in designing and implementing Industry 4.0 learning factories and training programs with the view to systematically prepare individuals to excel working in dynamic and complex industrial automation environments.

Session(s):

Educator Day
Panel Discussion: Defining the Modern Advanced Manufacturing Pathway | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 10:15 AM (EDT)

Paul Ryznar

Founder & CEO
LightGuide
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• Founder & CEO of LightGuide, Inc
• Engineer, inventor, entrepreneur
• Over 30 years in manufacturing
• Former VP of Operations at Detroit Diesel, Bosch, Energy Conversion Devices
• Spearheaded LightGuide’s invention in 2005, pioneering the use of projected augmented reality (AR) for industrial applications
• Lightguide is a proven, practical, and patented AR technology

Session(s):

Automate Conference
The Rise of the Connected Worker - Why Augmentation is the Future of Manufacturing | Monday, May 12, 2025 - 10:15 AM

Craig Salvalaggio

President
Applied Manufacturing Technologies

Craig Salvalaggio has served the role as the Chief Operating Officer of AMT for the past 3 years which has recently allowed him to take on the additional responsibilities as Company President.

He leads overall operations of Applied Manufacturing Technologies along with sales, engineering, and talent management. His technical skills in automation and robotics combined with his leadership ability, led to his current role. His strategic mission is to continue driving growth and diversity of both the systems and services market segments. Craig brings over 20 years of automation experience to AMT and holds a BS in mechanical engineering from Lake Superior State University, a masters in operations management, and an MBA from Kettering University. Craig is actively involved in the Association for Advancing Automation (A3) as a board of director on the Robotics Tech Sector Board, committee member, and the Co-Chair of the Certified Integrator Committee. Craig is regular speaker and panelist on a variety of industry association events providing technical insights into emerging technologies, culture, and talent management.

Session(s):

Automate Show Theater
Getting Started With Automation: Lessons from System Integrators | Monday, May 12, 2025 - 11:00 AM (EDT)

Jacob Sanchez

Community and Education Manager
Igus Inc
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Jacob Sanchez is a manufacturing and automation professional and advocate for skilled trades, with more than a decade of hands on experience across aerospace, consumer goods, and medical manufacturing environments. His work spans CNC machining, automation integration, and large scale industry engagement, with a focus on strengthening how companies present, adopt, and scale modern manufacturing technologies.

Jacob has hosted major trade show programming for audiences exceeding 60,000 attendees and leads an educational metalworking series that reaches millions of manufacturing professionals online. Through his industry work and national shop visits, he highlights practical automation strategies while elevating the visibility of manufacturers and the people who power them.

In his role at igus inc, Jacob helps build communities of solution driven professionals focused on implementing practical, cost conscious automation systems that improve competitiveness and production efficiency. Across every platform and initiative, his focus remains on expanding access to opportunity and ensuring the next generation of manufacturing talent is actively included in shaping the future of the industry.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Smarter Automation Choices for Today’s Manufacturers | Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - 11:15 AM (EDT)

Andrea Sassetti

Digital Enterprise Innovation Manager
Siemens

Andrea embarked on his journey in the Digital Enterprise in early 2017, starting as an Innovator and now serving as an Innovation Manager at the Siemens Digital Enterprise Lab at MxD in Chicago. Prior to this, he led a software development team in the Siemens MES segment since 2014. With a strong background in Manufacturing Execution Systems, Andrea's expertise has expanded to encompass PLM, MOM, Automation, the Industrial Metaverse, and AI. He possesses deep knowledge of digitalization technologies and their cross-industry applications. Andrea holds a degree in Software Engineering from the University of Genoa, Italy and is currently based in Chicago, IL.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Adaptive Production in Smart Manufacturing | Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - 11:15 AM (EDT)

Miika Satori

CEO
Cambrian Inc
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Miika is the founder and CEO of Cambrian Robotics, a company revolutionizing manufacturing and logistics with AI-based vision for robot arms. An accomplished serial entrepreneur, Miika has a history of founding consumer goods companies that have sold over half a million units.

Cambrian Robotics specializes in enhancing robot arms with advanced skills, enabling manufacturers to automate more effectively.

Their innovative technology not only significantly accelerates the programming of robots but also expands the range of tasks that can be automated in various sectors.

Cambrian's clientele includes large multinational manufacturers from diverse industries such as automotive, medical, pharmaceutical, food, apparel and electronics.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Wire Harness and Cable Assembly Automation with AI-Based Vision | Monday, May 12, 2025 - 10:15 AM (EDT)

Mahaveer Satra

Sr. Application Engineer
The MathWorks Inc.

Mahaveer Satra holds an MS in Mechanical Engineering from Ohio State University and a B.Tech from Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute (VJTI), India. He specializes in control systems, system dynamics, and robotics, with a focus on model-based design (MBD), reduced order modeling, and deep learning. Mahaveer collaborates with customers in industrial automation, semiconductor manufacturing, medical devices, and automotive industries, supporting workflows that involve modeling physical systems, designing controls, integrating AI workflows, and PLC code generation.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
From Concept to Control: Model-based Design, AI and Machine Learning in Automated Systems | Monday, May 12, 2025 - 1:30 PM (EDT)

Jörg Schmitz

Business Development Manager
Specim

Jörg Schmitz, Business Development Manager at Specim, has over 25 years of experience in machine vision. He specializes in advancing hyperspectral imaging solutions for industrial applications, driving growth and innovation through strategic partnerships and expertise in the field.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Unlocking Precision: Solving Complex Industrial Inspection Challenges with Hyperspectral Imaging | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 8:00 AM (EDT)

Brendan Schulman

VP of Policy & Government Relations
Boston Dynamics, Inc.
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Brendan Schulman is the Vice President of Policy & Government Relations for Boston Dynamics, the global leader in developing and deploying robots equipped with advanced mobility, dexterity, and intelligence. In this role, he collaborates with policymakers and stakeholders on a wide range of policy and ethics issues relating to the integration of beneficial robots into society. Previously, Brendan was a prominent leader on the development of legislation, regulations, and safety technologies concerning uncrewed aircraft systems (commercial drones), playing a key role in solutions at the federal, state and local levels, as well as internationally. A technology advocate, thought-leader, and champion of pragmatic solutions to the concerns that are raised by emerging technologies, Brendan has served on federal and state policy advisory committees, testified in the U.S. Congress and the U.K. House of Commons, lectures frequently, and is often quoted in the media on technology law and policy.

Session(s):

Automate Show Theater
The Politics of Automation: Policies That Will Define the Future of Work | Thursday, May 15, 2025 - 10:30 AM (EDT)

Nolan Shelton

Cobot Sales Specialist
ABB Inc.
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After graduating with a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Dayton, Nolan joined ABB as part of the early talent program which ultimately led to his current position as Channel Sales and Cobot Sales Specialist.

Having responsibility for collaborative robot sales and US robot distribution; he provides support, resources, and strategies to the organization relating to ABB’s collaborative portfolio and channel sales team.

He spends a great deal of time taking the pulse of the collaborative robot market, and can be found networking with peers at industry events, picking the brains of cobot application engineers, and visiting customers to gain a deeper understanding of the needs, drivers, and trends that are behind the rising demand for collaborative robots.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Uncovering Hidden Cobot Opportunities | Monday, May 12, 2025 - 8:00 AM (EDT)

Stuart Shepherd

President
Shepherd Solutions, Inc.

Stu Shepherd has over 48-years’ experience transforming manufacturing in the Americas through his leadership in the robotic automation industry.

He graduated in 1983 from Purdue University with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering Technology.

His past experiences include automation integration roles at General Motors, and sales and top leadership roles at FANUC America Corporation, KUKA AG, Güdel AG, Universal Robots A/S, and consulting with Gain & Co. and HowToRobot.com.

He is the Co-Founder and President of Shepherd Solutions, Inc. Based in Rochester, Michigan, Stu provides clients with valuable advisory and consulting services focused on the creation and growth of new business development for automation OEMs and integrators, plus for the planning and implementing robotic automation for end-users.

Stu is a Past Chairperson at both the Robotic Industries Association (now known as the A3 Robotics Tech Strategy Board) and Association for Advancing Automation (A3), current A3 Robotics Tech Strategy Board Member, and R15.05/R15.08/SEC/SDC/US-TAG-299 Robot Safety Committees Member (includes standards development for humanoid dynamic stability and interoperability). Also, an American Welding Society (AWS) member serving on the D16 Robotic and Automatic Welding Committee.

Lastly, Stu has been internationally recognized for his contributions to the robotics automation industry as the 2025 recipient of the Joseph F. Engelberger Robotics Award for Leadership.

Session(s):

Automate Show Theater
Getting Started With Automation: Lessons from System Integrators | Monday, May 12, 2025 - 11:00 AM (EDT)

Alex Shikany

Executive Vice President
Association for Advancing Automation (A3)
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Alex Shikany is the Executive Vice President of the Association for Advancing Automation (A3), the leading trade association for robotics, vision and imaging, motion control, and artificial intelligence. In this role, he oversees A3’s internal operations, serves as the primary liaison to the Board of Directors, and leads strategic initiatives to enhance member value and industry impact. Since joining A3 in 2012, Alex has been instrumental in driving growth, including the rebranding that unified four organizations under the A3 umbrella and expanding membership to over 1,300 companies worldwide. A recognized thought leader and sought-after speaker, Alex is passionate about advancing the global adoption of automation technologies. He holds an MBA in Marketing and Finance from Michigan State University and brings over a decade of experience in market strategy, brand development, and industry leadership to his role.

Session(s):

Automate Show Theater
The Automation Market: The Statistics & Trends You Should Be Watching | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 1:00 PM (EDT)

Stuart Singer

CEO
Schneider Optics, Inc.

Stuart Singer is a distinguished figure in the field of optical engineering and management, currently serving as the Chief Executive Officer of Schneider Optics, Inc. With a remarkable career spanning over 45 years, Stuart brings a wealth of expertise in optical engineering, lens design, and technical sales across diverse industries.

Prior to his current role, Stuart held key positions at Schneider Optics, including Senior Vice President & CTO, where he spearheaded technological innovation and strategic direction for seven years. Before joining Schneider Optics, Stuart served as the Optical Engineering Manager at Loral Fairchild Systems (formerly Fairchild Reconnaissance and Surveillance Systems) for 14 years, showcasing his adeptness in managing complex optical projects.

Stuart's contributions extend beyond corporate roles, as he also served as the Senior Technical Director of Ruda Cardinal, Inc., where he played a pivotal role in designing intricate optical systems. As a Fellow Member of the Optical Engineering Society – (SPIE), Stuart has actively contributed to the advancement of optical technology and shared his expertise through numerous technical papers and lectures.

Stuart's achievements in the field have been recognized with prestigious awards, including a National Emmy Award in 2012 for his pivotal role in developing an IRND Filter for Digital Motion Picture Cameras, highlighting his significant impact on the motion picture and television industries. His dedication to advancing optical engineering and his extensive experience make him a respected leader in the field.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Advanced Optics for Vision | Monday, May 12, 2025 - 8:00 AM (EDT)

Sanjith Singh

Global Vice President - Software Defined Automation Industrial Automation
Schneider Electric
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Sanjith leads the Software Defined Automation business of Schneider Electric as a Global Vice President. In this role, he has global responsibility for Aveva Software within the Schneider scope, System Integrators and Commercial deployment of EcoStruxure Automation Expert (EaE) which is Schneider Electric’s Next Generation Automation Platform. Prior to this role, Sanjith led the Automation Business in Canada as the Industry Vice President. With 20 years of domain expertise in the Automation Industry, Sanjith has a wealth of experience in Software, Control Systems and Applications. Starting his career as an electrical engineer, Sanjith appreciates both the technical and commercial aspects of the automation sector and combines his expertise and experience to serve internal stakeholders while delivering value to the customers and partners.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Open Automation – Driving Responsible Profitability, Sustainability, and Empowering the Workforce of the Future | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 2:30 PM (EDT)

Nicholas Sischka

Director, Imaging
Edmund Optics

Nick Sischka is the Director of Imaging at Edmund Optics, specializing in optics for machine vision and robotics. In addition to teaching the basic optics course for the A3's Certified Vision Professional certification, he is the chair of the NextGen committee, which strives to get young people interested in factory automation. He has a bachelor's degree in Optical Sciences and Engineering from the University of Arizona.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Beginning Optics for Machine Vision | Monday, May 12, 2025 - 1:30 PM (EDT)

Sreedhar Sistu

VP, Artificial Intelligence
Schneider Electric

Sreedhar Sistu is the Vice President, Artificial Intelligence at Schneider Electric. He is a senior software product executive and leader with extensive experience in AI strategy and deployment at Scale, product strategy and growth, portfolio planning, cloud architecture, global teams and program management.

Sreedhar is currently working on applying Artificial Intelligence to address energy management, industrial automation and sustainability at scale leveraging a comprehensive platform approach. Responsibilities include end-to-end ownership of AI Offers, strategic planning, working with key customers and other stakeholders to define product roadmap, collaborating with solutions and technology teams to deliver products that meet and exceed these needs, defining pricing, packaging and go-to-market messaging for these products, managing internal and external partner interactions for commercial success.

Sreedhar has spoken at several product forums on AI and its application to enterprise, energy and sustainability, and was hosted on several podcasts. He also testified in front of congressional committee on Energy and Commerce on “The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Powering America’s Energy Future”

He is a Mechanical Engineer with Masters in Operations Research and Statistics from Indian Statistical Institute followed by MBA from Duke University Fuqua School of Business.

Session(s):

Automate Show Theater
Innovate to Dominate: Real Word Strategies from U.S. Manufacturing Excellence | Monday, May 12, 2025 - 3:00 PM (EDT)

Brandon Snell

MX-System Product Manager, USA
Beckhoff Automation LLC
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Brandon Snell is MX-System Product Manager for Beckhoff USA. Snell oversees the technical marketing, adoption, and sales strategy of cabinet-free automation technologies for Beckhoff in the U.S. His 20-year career has encompassed many areas including industrial automation, machine building, and digital manufacturing. He has served in many technical roles over 14 years at Beckhoff, including product management, sales, and application/controls engineering. Snell earned a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering from Clemson University and an MBA from the University of Central Missouri.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
The Case for a Cabinet-Free Future | Thursday, May 15, 2025 - 11:15 AM (EDT)

Rich Solti

Vice President
PROLIM Global Corporation

Digital Transformation, IoT, and PLM Executive management professional with over 30 plus years of design, engineering, IT, manufacturing, amd quality related consulting services experience. Rich has worked on a wide vairiety of consulting engagements and helped source the right talent for many of his projects.

Specialties: Design, Digital Transformation, Dimensional Engineering, Engineering Services, GD&T, IoT, IT, Manufacturing , PDM/PLM, Quality, and Recruiting services.

Session(s):

Automate Show Theater
The Digital Advantage: How Siemens Xcelerator is Empowering Small and Medium Businesses to Thrive | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 12:00 PM (EDT)

Andrew Spiece

Computer Science Teacher
Edlearn

Discover Andrew Spiece, a visionary Computer Science teacher at Grand Blanc High School, who is revolutionizing technology education by harnessing the power of Minecraft Education in the classroom. As the founder of edlrn.io, Andrew has pioneered an engaging curriculum for middle school students, collaborating with Chicago Public Schools to integrate interactive learning platforms that captivate young minds. His dedication extends to high school education, where he utilizes Minecraft Education to transform traditional computer science concepts into immersive and interactive experiences, enabling students to explore, create, and solve problems in a virtual environment.

Andrew's rich educational background, with a Master of Education in Instructional Technology from Wayne State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from the University of Michigan - Flint, underpins his innovative teaching methods. Certified in Mathematics and Computer Science, he is a trailblazer in integrating gaming into education, engaging students in a way that encourages creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking.

His role in leading the Truck Town Thunder Robotics program demonstrates his commitment to interactive and participatory learning, principles that are echoed in his use of Minecraft Education. This approach not only has made him a beloved figure among his students but also earned him accolades such as the Woodie Flowers Finalist Award, recognizing his outstanding mentorship and educational innovation.

For attendees at the Automate conference, Andrew Spiece embodies the future of education—a realm where technology and play converge to unlock unprecedented learning opportunities. His work exemplifies how educators can leverage popular gaming platforms to foster a deeper understanding of computer science principles, making him a beacon of inspiration for integrating Minecraft Education into high school classrooms.

Session(s):

Educator Day
Panel Discussion: Best Practices in Robotics Education | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 11:15 AM (EDT)

Eugene Spiropoulos

Global Autonomous Systems Manager
Yokogawa

Eugene Spiropoulos is a Technology Evangelist and Industry Transformation leader for Systems Interoperability, helping end users and partners on the path from Industrial Automation to Industrial Autonomy.

As Autonomous Systems Strategist for Yokogawa, Eugene is a firm believer in an interoperable future. Eugene has spent 20 years in the industry delivering value and optimizing people, process and technology. He is based in Houston, Texas.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Open Automation – Driving Responsible Profitability, Sustainability, and Empowering the Workforce of the Future | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 2:30 PM (EDT)

Denise Stafford

Business Development Manager
KUKA Robotics Corp.
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In her role as Business Development Manager for KUKA Robotics, Ms. Stafford works with local sales and account management to provide customers in North America with innovative automation solutions using AMRs and other advanced technologies. She offers valuable insight for both KUKA and their customers on a wide range of topics, such as Industry 4.0, mobility, and human-robot collaboration.

A KUKA employee since 2008, her role with the company has evolved over time to include a variety of key positions, including head of Service Robotics Research for KUKA Laboratories and as a Key Account Manager. Prior to KUKA, Ms. Stafford was the patent coordinator for AKsys GmbH, where she set up the company’s patent department, with a focus on ensuring company processes and formulas were legally compliant. She also served as a patent engineer for REINZ-Dichtungs-GmbH.

Ms. Stafford obtained a Master of Science degree in Business Administration and Economics from the University of Hagen after completing her graduate studies In Industrial Engineering at the Ulm University of Applied Sciences. She enjoys exploring her new home, the City of Detroit, connecting with her neighbors, traveling and golfing with her husband.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
How Mobile Robots Have Evolved: Lessons Learned from A Decade of Use | Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - 8:00 AM (EDT)

Paul Stephens

Global Strategy Manager
Ford Motor Company

Paul Stephens is a next-generation manufacturing strategist who is rewriting the playbook for automotive production. As Global Strategy Manager at Ford Motor Company, Paul is building a new business unit that deploys autonomous robotics and AI-driven logistics solutions to streamline operations and achieve breakthrough value for customers.

Previously, Paul authored the Blue Oval City automated-material logistics strategy and spearheaded multiple Industry 4.0 programs that raised efficiency and trimmed over $100 million in lifecycle cost.

Paul brings a fresh approach to a traditional industry, challenging the status quo and driving next-level growth in automation, process strategy, labor relations, investment optimization, and industry partnerships.

Paul’s journey with Ford began in 2015 as a co-op student, prior to coming onboard full-time. Prior to his current assignment, he held positions in Quality, Industrial Engineering, Final Assembly, Vehicle Launch, and Technology Development.

Paul holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Kettering University, and an MBA from Carnegie Mellon University Tepper School of Business.

Paul holds multiple US and global patents, and is a frequent speaker at international automotive and manufacturing conferences. Outside his professional schedule, Paul enjoys exploring new cultures through travel, bringing global perspective to his Michigan home.

Session(s):

Automate Show Theater
The State of the Automation Industry–Leadership Roundtable | Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - 12:30 PM (EDT)
Intelligent Autonomy | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 2:15 PM (EDT)

Ian Stern

Director of Force/Torque Sensing
Novanta
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Ian Stern is the Director of Product at ATI Industrial Automation, where he has dedicated 17 years to advancing Force/Torque Sensing technologies. With a robust background in engineering and product management, Ian has played a pivotal role in enhancing robotic capabilities through tactile feedback, significantly improving precision and efficiency in various applications.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Advancing Robotic Capabilities with the Sense of Touch | Monday, May 12, 2025 - 2:30 PM (EDT)

Brandon Stiffler

Software Product Manager
Beckhoff Automation USA
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Brandon is a Software Product Manager at Beckhoff USA. Mahaveer is a Senior Applications Engineer at MathWorks.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
From Concept to Control: Model-based Design, AI and Machine Learning in Automated Systems | Monday, May 12, 2025 - 1:30 PM (EDT)

Ahmad Stokes

Director of Automotive Sales
VisionNav Robotics
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Ahmad is a forward-thinking automation innovator with deep expertise in deploying autonomous vehicle systems within industrial and warehouse environments. With a background spanning fluid automation, machine vision and vehicle autonomy, he has helped drive the transition from manual industrial equipment to smart, self-navigating solutions. At the intersection of hardware, software and operations, Ahmad excels at translating complex automation technologies into real-world business value—enhancing safety, throughput and cost-efficiency in material handling.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Autonomous Forklift Safety and Operational Insights: Leveraging New Technologies with Real-World Case Studies | Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - 3:30 PM (EDT)

Jacqueline Stokes

Marketing Manager
Siemens

Jackie is an experienced Marketing Manager for Siemens' General Motion Control business unit. With over 15 years in industrial automation sales and marketing, she has helped machine builders and manufacturers leverage new technologies to boost efficiency and minimize downtime. Jackie holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Session(s):

Automate Innovation Stage
Transforming Machine Building with an Innovative Approach to Automation | Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - 12:45 PM (EDT)

Angelo Stracquatanio

CEO & Co-Founder
Apprentice.io
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Angelo is co-founder and CEO of Apprentice.io, which developed the first AI-powered cloud platform built to accelerate batch-based manufacturing. Angelo realized the untapped power of emerging technologies to unify and accelerate manufacturing processes across one modern platform.

Drawing on his previous experience in enterprise mobile technology, Angelo co-founded Apprentice in 2014 and has enjoyed the wild ride ever since. He serves on the board of Rising Tide Capital, a non-profit that helps urban entrepreneurs grow, and lives in New Jersey with his wife and two daughters.

Session(s):

Automate Innovation Stage
Agentic AI in Manufacturing: Deploying Digital Co-Workers to Increase Throughput and Reduce Cost | Thursday, May 15, 2025 - 11:15 AM

Brendan Sullivan

Chief Growth Officer
Stellar
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Brendan Sullivan has been in sales and marketing leadership for technology companies for over 20 years. Starting his career at CDW, he led direct sales teams and key functional areas of marketing including segment marketing and merchandise planning. For ten years, he led growth companies for an Irish, PE firm in executive leadership roles. After nearly 6 years helping grow the largest pure-play Salesforce consulting partner to $150M, Brendan joined Stellar to lead the Growth of real AI solutions for our customers. Brendan holds degrees from Loyola University – Chicago (BA), KU Leuven, Belgium (MA), and the University of Chicago – Booth School of Business (MBA).?

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Unlocking Speed and Precision: AI-Powered Smart Part Numbers for Custom Manufacturing | Thursday, May 15, 2025 - 11:15 AM (EDT)

Nicholas Susch

Principal Engineer, Measurements, Engineering Associate
Corning, Inc.

Nick has been an engineer with Corning Incorporated for 31 years specializing in the development of custom measurements and inspection systems. He utilizes technologies such as machine vision and laser displacement in unique systems, designed, built, and implemented to inspect and measure numerous different artifacts and processes in the manufacture of Corning's multitude of products. Nick has a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Rochester.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Metrology & 2D Calibration Techniques | Thursday, May 15, 2025 - 9:00 AM (EDT)

German Suvorov

AI Solutions Architect
Siemens

• Trained as an aerospace engineer, Ph.D. in the overlap of data science and industrial automation.
• 20 years in engineering and business management in automotive manufacturing, supply chain management, and advanced materials.
• 6 years building AI solutions for industrial use.
• Role at Siemens: developing new business opportunities by creating and integrating edge AI industrial automation solutions.

Session(s):

Automate Innovation Stage
End-to-End Virtual Commissioning of Physical AI Applications: Industrial Automation Meets AI | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 11:15 AM (EDT)

Tucker Sweet

CoLab Team Lead
Schunk
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Tucker is the CoLab Team Lead at Schunk USA. That means that he is the lead engineer responsible for customer application testing and robotic tradeshow demonstrations. This unique combination of responsibilities gives him the ability to look at automation challenges through the same lens as our customers. He has been in the industrial robotics space for over a decade with a focus on robotic material removal and end effectors. He started his automation career as a manufacturing engineer at an end user facility integrating robots and other industrial automation. Now at Schunk, he is part of a team and global company serving as an automation partner and providing automation solutions for nearly every industry.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Revolutionize Your Workflow: Techniques for Advanced Robotic Material Removal | Thursday, May 15, 2025 - 8:00 AM (EDT)

Robert Tait

Partner
Optical Metrology Solutions

Robert Tait began doing optical inspection well before the advent of machine vision, back when film ruled. He captured events at 10,000 frames per second, including chickens being launched at Mach?1 into aircraft windshields, using printed or projected images and a ruler to analyze the physics involved. He is old enough to have used vidicon cameras, before solid-state cameras became ubiquitous.

A strong background in film photography, developed since high school, provided a solid foundation in optical systems and lighting, ensuring maximum image quality—which, in turn, makes the processing side of automated inspection more robust. He worked in research and development at the University of Dayton, the University of Michigan (Industrial Technology Institute), Intelligent Reasoning Systems, and GE Global Research (before it was split into separate organizations).

His projects sent him to the bottom of a (training) nuclear reactor to track robotic inspection vehicles in 3D, and to the tops of wind towers to install equipment that remotely monitored frame crack growth. These projects required travel to many locations across the United States, as well as China, the UK, Germany, Singapore, India, and Japan.

Robert retired from GE in 2017 and formed a consulting company with fellow GE retiree Kevin Harding called Optical Metrology Solutions, where he continues to take on projects and solve inspection problems to this day.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Advanced Vision System Integration | Friday, May 16, 2025 - 8:00 AM (EDT)

Frantisek Takac

Global Strategic Partnerships Manager - Robotic Vision
Photoneo s. r. o.
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Driven by a passion for innovation and a belief in the transformative power of robotics, Frantisek Takac has spent the last 15 years at the forefront of the industrial automation sector. He has helped numerous companies across Europe and Asia implement robotic solutions that have significantly increased efficiency and productivity. As a Global Strategic Partnerships Manager for Robotic Vision at Photoneo, a leading provider of 3D vision technology and part of Zebra Technologies, Frantisek focuses on helping to deliver cutting-edge vision-guided robotics solutions that enhance robotic capabilities and unlock new possibilities for automation. A skilled communicator and negotiator, Frantisek is committed to fostering collaboration and pushing the boundaries of what's possible with robotics."

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Multiview Bin Picking and Real-time Robotics - Pushing the Boundaries of 3D Vision-Guided Robotics | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 1:30 PM (EDT)

Deepu Talla

Vice President of Robotics and Edge AI
NVIDIA

Deepu Talla is Vice President of Robotics and Edge AI at NVIDIA, where he is responsible for deploying AI technology in autonomous machines and intelligent devices, such as humanoids, industrial arms, mobile robots, intelligent video analytics, and factory automation. Previously, he was responsible for NVIDIA’s mobile business unit.

Prior to joining NVIDIA in 2013, he worked at Texas Instruments for more than 10 years in various executive management and technical leadership roles. Talla holds a Ph.D. in computer engineering from the University of Texas at Austin.

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Session(s):

Automate Conference
Industrial Autonomy in the Era of Physical AI | Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - 9:00 AM (EDT)

Jacob Thompson

Business Development Leader - Next Generation Automation
Schneider Electric

Jacob Thompson, Business Development Leader for the United States of America, is responsible for growing the Next Generation Automation System, Ecostruxure Automation Expert. In this role, he is tasked with managing the end-user experience and adoption of Software Defined Automation. Throughout his 8-year career at Schneider Electric he has served various roles from an Intern fresh out of college, Sales Coordinator for North American Operations, to a Water and Wastewater Strategic Account Executive managing the full portfolio of Schneider Electric at the End-User Level. Jacob graduated from Texas State Technical College with an Associate's Degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology, and followed it up with a Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Minor in Finance from the University of Houston. Jacob resides in a small town outside of Katy, TX with his Wife, Two Kids, and his Cows.

Session(s):

Automate Innovation Stage
Software Defined Automation: Transforming Industrial Control with EcoStruxure Automation Expert | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 4:30 PM

Bo Thomson

Vice President of Consulting
enVista
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Bo Thomson, VP of Consulting, brings 12+ years of supply chain and operations experience. His responsibilities at enVista include overall project director for network strategy, software implementation and engineering projects. At enVista, Bo has led the design and implementation of network strategy, facility design, warehouse management, labor management, slotting strategy and Lean/Operational improvement projects.

Bo received a LEAN/Six Sigma Green Belt certification from the Institute of Industrial Engineers. Bo has authored various journal publications, white papers and case studies, as well as presented at conferences.?

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Creating Industrial Athletes in Your DCs | Thursday, May 15, 2025 - 8:00 AM (EDT)

Gregory Tink

Digital Transformation Consulting Leader
Schneider Electric

Gregory Tink is the Industrial Digital Transformation Director at Schneider Electric where he is responsible for operating Schneider’s digital transformation business focused on providing transformation services to our clients in North America. Greg is an Operations Transformation and Technology specialist with more 25 years of industry and leadership experience focused on various process and manufacturing industries.

Over his career, Gregory was the founder of businesses focused on operational excellence, technology enablement and organizational transformation. Leading these companies, he worked with a variety of clients in supporting their operational transformation enabled by technology. This included standing up operations and control centers, the implementation of operations/asset optimization and maintenance platforms, the rollout of cyber security and risk management strategies, the integration of OT / IT and the integration of business functions supporting value chain alignment and the digital thread across the asset lifecycle.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Digital Transformation - It's a Marathon Not a Sprint | Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - 1:30 PM (EDT)

John Tomik

Managing Director
Slalom Element Labs

John is the founder of Element Laboratories and a Managing Director in Slalom’s global strategy group. He created Slalom Element Laboratories to provide an inspirational and innovative physical space to fulfill Slalom’s purpose of helping people and organizations dream bigger, move faster, and build better tomorrows for all. John is a futurist by trade and brings a wealth of experience in technology, product, and business strategy to the clients he serves.  His passion of bringing the future forward to people has expanded from the west coast (where he lives with his wife Melissa) to the east coast where he recently opened Lab212 in 1 World Trade Center.  He has been pivotal in defining what Smart City strategies look like and helping organizations pragmatically navigate the complexities of technologies, networking, experiences, and adoption that many have faced.

Most recently, John launched a new immersion program in NYC, partnering with Chloe Taylor Technologies, schools, and city organizations to inspire local students to “Dream Bigger”. Prior to Slalom, John served as the Vice President at Synchronoss Technologies where he was pivotal in bringing some of the biggest consumer mobility, telecommunications, and entertainment products to market, transforming the experiences of how people interact with the world today.

Session(s):

Automate Show Theater
Everything in the Factory is Smart & Autonomous Now–That’s Why 5G is Critical | Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - 11:30 AM (EDT)

Dan Topley

Operational Technology Engineer
AMDT
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Dan Topley is a seasoned Technical Engineer at AMDT with over a year of experience at the company and more than seven years in automation and engineering roles. Dan has worked across multiple industry verticals, including airport baggage handling systems, warehousing, distribution, parcel and postal logistics, garment sortation, food and beverage, and pharmaceuticals. His diverse background enables him to provide tailored solutions that address the unique challenges of each industry within the manufacturing sector. Dan’s expertise in automation and engineering, coupled with his deep understanding of operational efficiency, makes him a valuable resource for businesses looking to optimize their processes.

Session(s):

Automate Innovation Stage
Vulnerability Management as the Cornerstone of OT/IT Security & Production Resilience | Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - 3:00 PM (EDT)

Fiona Treacy

Managing Director, Industrial Automation
Analog Devices
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Fiona Treacy is Managing Director of the Industrial Automation Business Unit at Analog Devices. She is a passionate collaborator who loves to work side by side with her team to solve complex system and business challenges. Fiona is looked upon as a thought leader in the market, having presented keynotes at multiple tradeshow events in recent years. Previously Fiona has held roles in engineering, applications, marketing and business management within the Factory Automation and Process Control, Industrial Connectivity, Precision Converters, and Instrumentation Business Units. She holds a B.Sc. in applied physics and electronics and an M.B.A. from the University of Limerick.

Session(s):

Automate Innovation Stage
Transforming Industries - The Impact of Technological Innovation on Industrial Robotics | Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - 2:15 PM (EDT)

Martin Valkysers

Head of Xcelerator US
Siemens

With over 30 years of experience in consulting, manufacturing, and technology, Martin is a seasoned leader driving organizational change and digital transformation. Having worked across the public, scientific, and industrial sectors in both Europe and the US, Martin has progressed from his military background to increasingly responsible business positions.

Martin's expertise includes innovating process and technology-based capabilities for small and large organizations, leading international project teams delivering major optimization and transformation initiatives, and building and running a highly profitable operations consulting unit. His employer track record includes medium-sized companies like German simulation and testing firm IABG, where he invented critical new organizational capabilities for clients, multinational consulting firm Capgemini, where he built a new portfolio segment for the US market, real estate giant CBRE, where he drove organizational transformation and global technology leader Siemens, where he held multiple leadership positions.

In his current role as Head of Siemens Xcelerator US, Martin oversees the continuous development and growth of the Siemens Xcelerator Marketplace, Portfolio, and Ecosystem. He leverages his extensive experience and proven track record of success to drive transformative digital transformation and help organizations harness the power of advanced technologies to achieve their goals.

Session(s):

Automate Show Theater
The Digital Advantage: How Siemens Xcelerator is Empowering Small and Medium Businesses to Thrive | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 12:00 PM (EDT)

Tom VanderPlas

Senior Staff Engineer (FANUC America’s Paint Shop Division)
Fanuc

In his role as Senior Staff Engineer in FANUC America’s Paint Shop Division, Tom VanderPlas is dedicated to investigating and developing advanced paint technologies. Working at FANUC for nearly 35 years, VanderPlas started as an installation engineer in 1990 before moving into a specialty diagnostics role supporting flow and temperature control systems. Today, he’s spent over 20 years managing and executing paint shop projects around the world.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
The Final Frontier of Automation in a High Volume Automotive Paint Shop: Robotic Paint Repair on a Moving Line | Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - 10:15 AM (EDT)

Thomas Vasen

Product Manager for Network Security
HMS Networks - Red Lion Controls Inc.
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Thomas brings 25 years of experience in product and service development across the high-tech and telecom industries. For the past 15 years, he has specialized in cybersecurity, deep packet inspection, and signaling probes, driven by a deep passion for network quality, reliability, and customer experience.

At HMS Networks, Thomas focuses on business development, helping industrial customers navigate the evolving landscape of OT security. His expertise empowers organizations to protect critical infrastructure, enhance network visibility, and strengthen cybersecurity defenses.

Committed to innovation and security, Thomas is dedicated to bridging the gap between industrial automation and robust cybersecurity solutions.

Session(s):

Automate Innovation Stage
Defending Uptime with OT-SDN Segmentation Strategies | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 12:00 PM (EDT)

Aniket Vashisht

Senior Solution Architect
Amazon Web Services
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Aniket is currently working at AWS as a Senior Solution Architect and based out of Detroit MI. Aniket supports Amazon Web Services Manufacturing and Industrial Customers across US Central for Industry 4.0 workloads.

In the current role, Aniket helps manufacturing and industrial customers navigate the complex landscape of OT-IT integration and utilize the best of cloud & AI technology.

Aniket has over 12 years of diverse experience in oil and gas, building automation, OEM Manufacturing, Startup & Cloud provider. Having working on the plant floor himself, Aniket can co-relate well the OT world, which in turn helps him connect well with the M&I community.

Aniket’s goal and vision are to make work in the manufacturing and industrial space as attractive as IT and Finance for future generations.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Shorten Product Development Cycles Utilizing Generative AI | Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - 10:15 AM (EDT)

Francis Vatakencherry

Product and Solutions Development Team Leader
Siemens
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Francis Vatakencherry brings over 30 years of industry and solution domain experience across discrete and process manufacturing. As a customer journey leader at Siemens, he partners with manufacturers to meet them where they are and guide pragmatic digital transformation. His work focuses on closed-loop digital twins, AI-driven asset intelligence, and IT/OT convergence — turning operational data into continuous optimization across engineering and operations. Francis has led end-to-end digital transformation initiatives with Fortune 500 companies, delivering measurable improvements in performance, reliability, and sustainability through smart, connected factory outcomes.

Session(s):

Automate Show Theater
Unlocking Shopfloor Potential: AI-Powered Continuous Improvement | Monday, May 12, 2025 - 12:00 PM (EDT)

Henrik Von Scheel

Professor | Industry 4.0 Originator | Strategist | Futurist
Center for Strategic Intelligence
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Henrik Von Scheel is best known as the originator of the 4th Industrial Revolution and the digital themes of today and recently named by CNBC as the most influential futurist of the century that ignited the digital and Industry 4.0 themes.

He is the Founder of the Center for Strategic Intelligence which provides the global trends report and content for the World Economic Forum PIF, McKinsey, and many nations. He also serves as an Advisory Council Member for the Artificial Intelligence Act.

As a Professor of Strategy Management with 20 years dedicated to strategy research and futures studies. Most notable work co-authoring 153 Business, Architecture and IT standards such as SAP implementation method, and fully integrated Business, Architecture and IT Standards. His work has influenced 24 national economies and 23% of Fortune 500 high-growth companies, earning him recognition from the Financial Times as a leading authority on strategy.

Named the 'leading authority on strategy' by the Financial Times who has evolved the mainstream thinking and management practices of today´s businesses. Acknowledged as 'the most influential management thinker of our times' by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai. His new book, Strategy in the Age of Disruption, is a must-read handbook for corporate leaders looking to anticipate change and make smarter decisions as the future is happening in real time.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Future-Proof Your Business: Megatrends Shaping the Next Decade of Manufacturing | Thursday, May 15, 2025 - 11:15 AM

Kunal Wadhwa

Global Projects Leader
Sony Electronics

Kunal Wadhwa is Global Projects Leader at Sony Semiconductor Solutions responsible for driving advancements in edge vision AI solutions. Kunal has an MS Electrical Engineering from the State University of New York at Stony Brook, a BS Electronics Engineering from Jaypee Institute of Information Technology, and over 10 years of experience in AI development.

Session(s):

Automate Innovation Stage
Automating the Visual Inspection of Wired Assemblies | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 3:00 PM (EDT)

Matt Wakeham

Region Manager
Citel

Matt Wakeham is Region Manager with CITEL, a global leader in the development and manufacture of Surge Protective Devices.

After receiving a degree in Electrical Engineering, he started his career at Underwriters Laboratories including development of the UL1449 standard for surge protection.

His 40 years in the electrical industry span power distribution to industrial controls to lighting technologies with roles in product management, application engineering, sales and marketing.

As an IEEE Senior Member, Matt has been engaged in standards development over the years with UL, NEMA, IEC and IEEE; and holds several patents in the field.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Surge Protection - Preventative Maintenance: Disaster Avoidance. | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 3:30 PM (EDT)

Keven Wang

CEO
UnitX Inc
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Keven Wang is the co-founder & CEO of UnitX, a leading AI machine vision company automating visual inspection in factories. Keven graduated from Stanford University with a degree in Computer Science concentrating on AI. Keven has visited 200+ factories worldwide helping to improve yield and quality, and holds patents in AI technology for visual inspection.

Session(s):

Automate Innovation Stage
AI Inspection with Generative AI For Manufacturing | Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - 3:45 PM (EDT)

Masahito Watanabe

Chairman
Japan Industrial Imaging Association

The Representative Director of the Japan Industrial Imaging Association (JIIA).

He began his career in the import and export of optical measurement equipment and has worked in industrial imaging for many years. His experience includes supporting the deployment of high-performance cameras for machine vision, medical imaging, and security applications, as well as contributing to the international standardization of the CoaXPress interface. He currently serves as Business Development Manager at Prodrive Technologies Japan.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Updates on Machine Vision Standards | Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - 11:15 AM (EDT)

Agnes Weiershaeuser

Senior Application Engineer
MVTec, LLC

Agnes joined MVTec headquarters in 2013 as an Application Engineer to provide technical support to MVTec's international distributor network, develop vision solutions and conduct product trainings for MVTec's worldwide customer base using MVTec's software products. In 2016, she became Assistant Team Leader for the Solutions & Services team, where she managed the team's junior engineers. Agnes joined MVTec's North American subsidiary in 2017. She is responsible for presales and postsales technical services and to support growing the local team. Prior to her work with MVTec, Agnes was a Master student and Scientific Assistant at the Technical University in Munich. During her studies, she developed vision algorithms to model the infrared sensing pit organ of different snakes. Agnes has more than 12 years experience in developing vision software applications.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Image Processing Fundamentals | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 8:00 AM (EDT)

Heiko Wenczel

Head of Omniverse Segment Sales
NVIDIA
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Heiko Wenczel began his career at Mercedes Benz in 2004, focusing on planning and visualization. He worked on data models and processes, contributing to the development of next-gen visualization and configuration systems for Mercedes' passenger cars. In 2008, Heiko moved to Detroit to establish Mackevision Corporation as president, where he led creative content pipelines for major automotive brands and VFX projects. Following Mackevision's acquisition by Accenture Interactive, Heiko expanded his expertise to build similar workflows across various industry verticals.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Unlocking Interoperable Digital Twins for Smart Factory Innovation | Monday, May 12, 2025 - 11:15 AM

Perry West

President
Automated Vision Systems, Inc.

Perry West is the founder and president of Automated Vision Systems, Inc., a leading consulting firm in machine vision. He founded Automated Vision Systems in 1981 at the start of the machine vision revolution. He works in application development, system design and development, business opportunities, and education and training.

Among his areas of experience with machine vision are structured light imaging, high-precision stereo gauging, high-volume food sorting for shape, size, and color, sub-micron measurements, interferometry, part recognition and classification, assembly verification, optical character recognition, measurement of very large objects, and display inspection.

In addition to his work in machine vision, Mr. West has experience in engineering management, manufacturing management, software development, computer memory design and testing, acoustic inspection, LED development, and microwaves.

Mr. West speaks extensively on machine vision and automation, and is the author of many technical and magazine articles on machine vision. He has taught hundreds of courses on the subject, and has chaired a number of conferences on machine vision for the Society of Manufacturing Engineers and the Automated Imaging Association (now A3).

Mr. West received his BSEE from the University of California at Berkeley. Before founding Automated Vision Systems, he held positions with EG&G Reticon, Fairchild Semiconductor, Hewlett-Packard Laboratories, and Watkins-Johnson. He is a past President of the Machine Vision Association of SME. He has been recognized with the 1990 MVA/SME Chairman’s award, and is the 2003 recipient of the Automated Imaging Association’s annual Achievement award. He is active in supporting A3’s CVP program as well as teaching a two of its courses.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
High-Speed, Real-Time Machine Vision | Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - 3:30 PM (EDT)
Vision System Design | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 10:30 AM (EDT)
Accurate Measurements with Machine Vision: Just How Accurate can they Be? | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 2:30 PM (EDT)

Matthew Wicks

VP/GM Zebra Robotics Automation
Zebra Technologies
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Matt has more than 25 years of experience in the logistics industry with expertise in the areas of traditional MHE, robotics, controls and software integration. He has extensive experience in the field of advanced robotic solution development, integration and design. Matt is a thought leader in the robotics industry, holds numerous robotics patents and is a featured speaker at various robotics industry events. He holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Missouri – Rolla (Missouri S&T) and serves on the Board of Directors for the Association for Advancing Automation (A3).

Session(s):

Automate Conference
The New Drop Shipping/Influencer Surges presented by The Robotics Group (TRG) | Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - 1:30 PM (EDT)

Automate Show Theater
The Robotics Executive Roundtable: The Trends & Technologies Driving the Industry | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 10:30 AM (EDT)

Jim Wiley

Product Manager
Parker Hannifin

Jim Wiley is a Product Manager for servo and stepper drives with Parker Hannifin Corporation's Electromechanical and Drives Division, where he has spent his entire twenty-year motion control career. After graduating from Carnegie Mellon University with a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Jim joined Parker's Daedal Division as an engineer.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Positioner Selection and Motor Sizing | Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - 3:00 PM (EDT)

Jim Wilmot

Marketing Manager – SIMATIC Products
Siemens Industry, Inc.

Jim Wilmot is a manager in the Factory Automation business unit of Siemens Digital Industries, leading a highly enthusiastic team focused on the product management and marketing of Siemens SIMATIC products, working in Atlanta, GA. Jim has an MSEE degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology and has over three decades of experience working with industrial automation systems. He has been with Siemens for 28 years, holding various positions in engineering, business development, product marketing, and management. Jim is an avid promoter/presenter of Siemens technologies and innovations – in particular focus, the Siemens industrial Artificial Intelligence portfolio.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
AI-Powered Visual Quality Inspection | Thursday, May 15, 2025 - 10:15 AM (EDT)

Linda Wilson

Editor in Chief
Vision Systems Design

Linda Wilson is Editor in Chief of Vision Systems Design.

Session(s):

Automate Innovation Stage
Vision System Design Innovators Awards | Monday, May 12, 2025 - 10:30 AM (EDT)

Melonee Wise

Chief Product Officer
Agility Robotics
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Melonee Wise is the Chief Product Officer of Agility Robotics. Melonee has a deep history in developing autonomous robots and advancing the robotics industry as we know it today. Prior to joining Agility in 2023, Melonee was the Vice President of Robotics Automation at Zebra Technologies. She was CEO of Fetch Robotics until its acquisition by Zebra Technologies in 2021. Melonee was the second employee at Willow Garage where she led a team of engineers developing next-generation robot hardware and software, including ROS, the PR2, and TurtleBot. Melonee has received many accolades and awards including the MIT Technology Review TR35, Silicon Valley Business Journal’s Women of Influence and 40 Under 40, Supply & Demand Chain Executive’s 2021 Supply Chain Woman of the Year, the 2022 Engelberger award. Melonee received a BS in Mechanical Engineering and Physics Engineering and a MS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Illinois.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Elevating the Standard for Safety in the Humanoid Robot Market | Monday, May 12, 2025 - 11:15 AM (EDT)

Automate Show Theater
Humanoid Robots: Hype, Reality, & What’s Next | Monday, May 12, 2025 - 1:00 PM (EDT)

Graham Wloch

Director of Business Development
Visual Components
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Graham Wloch’s journey demonstrates the evolution of simulation software from a novel innovation to an indispensable necessity in the modern business landscape. With over a decade of experience, he has dedicated his career to understanding customer challenges and delivering tailored solutions that drive success. His expertise lies not only in technical proficiency but also in the strategic cultivation of relationships, fostering a strong community within Visual Components.

In a time where adaptability is vital, Graham has consistently been at the forefront of growth, reshaping sales strategies and uncovering new business opportunities. His ability to combine technical expertise with business intelligence has led to revitalized revenue streams and the establishment of robust partner networks. Year after year, he has demonstrated a remarkable ability to surpass sales targets and lead change initiatives that redefine industry standards.

At his core, Graham embodies integrity, honesty, dedication, and passion. These qualities have guided his approach to professional success. Whether driving sales, mentoring teams, or pioneering new solutions, his unwavering commitment to excellence ensures that software isn’t merely a tool but a fundamental pillar of business advancement.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Doing More with Less Through Simulation | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 1:30 PM (EDT)

Lenson Wong

Vice President
Bishop-Wisecarver Corporation
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Lenson Wong is Vice-President of the Wisecarver Automation Division at Bishop-Wisecarver responsible for Product Development Engineering and Custom Automation System Development. Previously, he was the Founder and CEO of Symation, an automation systems integrator specializing in advanced motion and vision automation systems. Since founding Symation in 2014, he built a customer base of over 100 clients and spearheaded projects involving motion control, image processing, and machine learning for semiconductor, alternative energy and agriculture industries.

Prior to Symation, Lenson held key leadership roles at Moog and Berkeley Process Control, where he managed large scale engineering projects and directed Program Management, IT, Marketing and Applications Engineering functions. His expertise spans automated inspection systems, industrial controls, and large-scale engineering solutions, including automation for offshore oil pipelines and nuclear reactor inspections.

Lenson holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, and an MBA from Duke University. He holds a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification. Passionate about mentorship and education, he has been a guest lecturer at UC Berkeley's Mechanical Engineering program.

With a career dedicated to innovation in automation, Lenson Wong continues to drive technological advancements in industrial automation and mentors the next generation of automation professionals.

Session(s):

Automate Innovation Stage
Enhancing Manufacturing Automation with 7th Axis Robot Transfer Units | Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 1:30 PM (EDT)

Kevin Wu

Portfolio Sales Enablement Manager for Motion Controllers, I/Os, and Roboti
Siemens
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Based in Alpharetta, Georgia, Kevin works closely with OEMs, machine builders, and partners to help modernize manufacturing through automation, motion control, and digital engineering technologies. With a strong background in factory automation portfolios — including controllers, drives, I/O, and integrated software — Kevin specializes in connecting customer challenges to practical, scalable solutions. He is passionate about helping customers accelerate innovation, simplify system integration, and unlock value across the digital thread.

Session(s):

Automate Innovation Stage
Optimizing Robotic Processes Through PLC Integration, Digital Twins, & CNC Solutions | Monday, May 12, 2025 - 2:15 PM (EDT)

David Zerkler

President/Owner
Helm Vision Systems

David Zerkler has been in the machine vision business for 15 years as a technical communicator, educator, and entrepreneur. He has been teaching the CVP Advanced Image Processing course for 5 years. He built and led the training department for Matrox Imaging and Zebra's machine vision division. He's currently in the research stage of a new machine vision integration & training company, Helm Vision Systems.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Advanced Image Processing | Thursday, May 15, 2025 - 2:00 PM (EDT)

Zeeshan Zia

CEO
Retrocausal

Dr. Zeeshan Zia is the CEO of Retrocausal. With a PhD in computer vision, Zeeshan is on a mission to transform manufacturing with AI Copilots. Zeeshan was a scientific leader at Microsoft’s HoloLens division, where he invented AI technologies to assist frontline workers across industries. Earlier, he shipped IoT platforms and visual defect detection software for manufacturers at Siemens and MVTec GmbH.

Zeeshan has authored more than 20 peer-reviewed publications on visual activity understanding, 3D scene understanding, learning from synthetic data, and machine learning systems, which were cited by every major lab from MIT, Stanford, and CMU, to Apple, Google, and Baidu

He is also an inventor on almost 20 US patents or patent applications, and has shipped AI-first products including Microsoft HoloLens, Vuforia AR platform, MVTec Halcon, and camera based self-driving systems.

Session(s):

Automate Conference
Maximizing Assembly Line Capacity with Generative AI: Tools and Case Studies | Thursday, May 15, 2025 - 10:15 AM (EDT)