2023 AUTOMATE SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES

Chris Aden

Sr. Director of AI Solutions
LMI Technologies

As Sr. Director of AI Solutions for the LMI Group, Chris is responsible for driving AI product development, to ensure LMI is a leader in its field. In his role, he oversees the AI solutions team to develop turn-key 3D inspection AI and IoT powered inspection solutions that are used in factory automation systems applications. With more than 20 years of experience in the industry, Chris provides leadership in the development of machine vision and AI solutions to support customers to improve factory’s operational performance with AI technology. 

Chris holds a master of science degree in Management & Engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Sloan School of Management as well as an M.S.E.E in Electromagnetics and Device Physics from Georgia Institute of Technology. 

Session(s):

3D + AI in EV Battery Inspection | Wednesday, May 24, 2023 - 11:00 AM

Paul Aiello

Executive Director
FANUC America Corporation

Mr. Paul Aiello – Executive Director of Education, FANUC America Corporation   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 an Automation Generation workforce for the future. Aiello has provided FANUC with the strategic development of aligning industry and education and developing more than 1500 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 and connecting industry and academic partners for 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, and instructor training.  Over the last 13 years FANC America has invested more than $70 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 Solution Provider Network, consisting of leading suppliers/ advisors to academia.    Prior to joining FANUC, Aiello held various sales, business development, and national distribution roles, combined for more than 30 years of experience in business and advanced manufacturing.

Steve Alexander

Vice President of WI Operations & Standard Products
Acieta

Steve Alexander is Vice President of WI Operations & Standard Products for Acieta. Utilizing his vast experience with machine tool and robotics technologies, Steve has spent 20 years helping manufacturers thrive in a competitive global economy. Steve enjoys the hands-on experience of helping companies solve challenges with robotic automation and machine tools.

Session(s):

Adapt Your Manufacturing Process: Do More With Less | Monday, May 22, 2023 - 1:30 PM

Joshua Alneter

Project Engineer
eCMMS Foxconn

Mechanical engineer managing and operating an HP MJF based 3d lab in a lean manufacturing plant.

Session(s):

Additive Manufacturing for Robotics & Automation 101 | Tuesday, May 23, 2023 - 10:00 AM

Josh Alphonse

Vice President – Electronics, US Robotics and Automation
ABB Robotics

Josh Alphonse is the head of the Electronics Business Line for ABB Robotics in the US. He is responsible for the business leadership, segment management, and driving customer focused and collaborative growth initiatives in the United States.

Josh was named to the Robotics leadership role in 2021. He joined ABB in 2017 as a Manager of Field Service and later stood up the first Project Management Office for the business. Prior to ABB, he was an Officer in the United State Marine Corps serving in the Infantry and Special Operations community.

Josh holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering from Kettering University and a Master of Science degree in Corporate Finance from Southern New Hampshire University. Josh lives in Detroit and enjoys home improvement, physical fitness, and spending time with his wife and three girls.

Session(s):

How to Choose the Right Type and Level of Collaborative Robot for Your Application | Wednesday, May 24, 2023 - 10:00 AM

James Anderson

Digital Business Consultant - Vision and Quality Control
SICK

Jim has been working in the automation industry for over 20 years with the last 15 concentrating on machine vision.  He has worked in many different phases of the application cycle.  In the earlier years he worked as an application specialist helping companies use 3d technology to solve some of their more difficult applications.   He then moved into the product manager role and helped bring many imaging based products to the market in both the machine vision and the industrial code reading sections of the business.  Over the last handful of years he has worked on the end-to-end project delivery that many customers are looking for in the imaging segment of automation especially in the area of vision guided robotics, with applications ranging from bin picking to navigation.  Jim has also been an active member of the A3 and has presented information about 3D vision at shows and conferences including the CVP program.  He has also served as a member of the Automate trade show committee since it transitioned from the Robot and Vision show years ago.  Jim also brings a unique perspective to the board as he and the SICK organization are members of all three of original groups of the A3, AIA,RIA and the MCMA.

Session(s):

3D Vision System Development | Tuesday, May 23, 2023 - 8:00 AM

Gerard Andrews

Product Marketing Manager, Robotics
NVIDIA

Gerard Andrews is a Product Marketing Manager focused on revolutionizing the way intelligent for product planning, marketing, and business development for licensable processor IP. He robots are developed, trained, tested and deployed through driving the adoption of the NVIDIA Isaac Robotics platform. Prior to joining NVIDIA, Gerard was at Cadence where he was Product Marketing Director, responsible holds an MS in electrical engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology and a BS in electrical engineering from Southern Methodist University.

Juan Luis Aparicio

VP of Product
Rapid Robotics

Juan is a robotics and automation enthusiast on a mission to scale and democratize access to robotics technology in manufacturing and beyond. During his career he has brought together the worlds of Industrial Automation, Robotics, and AI with his work featured in the New York Times, MIT Tech Review, Wired, Forbes, TheRobotReport, and other media outlets. Prior to Rapid, Juan was the VP of Product at Ready Robotics, where he launched Forge/OS 5, an award-winning industrial platform for robots and automation. Before that, Juan was the Head of Advanced Manufacturing Automation for Siemens, where he led a top team of researchers and engineers in Berkeley, California, working elbow-to-elbow with renowned academic partners. Juan is a Technical Advisor for the Advanced Robotic in Manufacturing (ARM), a member of A3’s AI Tech Strategy Board, and a Skydeck advisor. In 2019, he was awarded the MIT Tech Review Innovator under 35 Europe in the Pioneer category. In 2020, he was awarded Siemens Inventor of the year and the prestigious Thomas Alva Edison Patent Award.

Session(s):

Accelerating and Scaling Automation with 3D Printing, Cloud Technology, Simulation and AI | Tuesday, May 23, 2023 - 3:30 PM

Murat Atalay

Director of Customer Engagement and Solutions
Outsight

Murat Atalay is an accomplished sales professional with a distinguished career spanning over 12 years in diverse industries such as telecommunications, semiconductors, IT consulting, and the LiDAR industry. With a strong focus on developing robust sales strategies, Murat has consistently achieved exceptional results and demonstrated his expertise in driving growth.

Session(s):

LiDAR Data Pre-Processing: Challenges & Solutions | Thursday, May 25, 2023 - 11:00 AM

Suprateek Banerjee

Head of OPC UA Technology
VDMA Robotics + Automation

Suprateek Banerjee is the Head of OPC UA Technology at the VDMA Robotics and Automation. He chairs the working groups developing the Industry 4.0 OPC UA Companion Specifications for Robotics, Machine Vision and Tightening Systems. He is also actively involved in the development of harmonized OPC UA specifications both at the VDMA level i.e. OPC UA for Machinery and also directly at the OPC Foundation Harmonization activities.

Session(s):

Vision Standards Update | Monday, May 22, 2023 - 2:30 PM

Bryan Bird

Regional President, US/Canada
Universal Robots

Bryan Bird is Regional President for Universal Robots, responsible for the U.S. and Canada. Based in St. Louis, MO, Bird brings 20+ years of experience in industrial automation to UR, most recently as Vice President of Sales at TerraSource Global and Kollmorgen Corporation. Bird, who has a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University, has previously held roles at Danaher Motion and GE Fanuc. Bird has been with Universal Robots for three years.

Session(s):

The Business Case for Collaborative Robots | Monday, May 22, 2023 - 2:30 PM

Robert 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 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):

Getting Started with Mobile Robots | Monday, May 22, 2023 - 8:00 AM
Mobile Robot Risk Assessment | Tuesday, May 23, 2023 - 11:00 AM

Ilian Bonev

Cofounder
Mecademic

Ilian Bonev joined the ÉTS in 2004, where he is a professor, teaching industrial robotics and conducting research in the fields of parallel robots, precision robotics, and robot manipulators. Ilian is also cofounder of Mecademic, which manufactures the smallest and most precise industrial robot arms.

Session(s):

Optimizing Robot Trajectories | Thursday, May 25, 2023 - 8:00 AM

Brent Bregar

Technologist
Premier Automation

Worked in automation and robotics since 2004 primarily in automotive and steel industry.

Session(s):

ARM Institute: Evaluating & Minimizing Risk Using Robotics and AI on the Factory Floor | Monday, May 22, 2023 - 11:00 AM

David Bruce

Engineering Manager
FANUC America

Dave Bruce joined FANUC America Corporation (FAC) in 1997 and is currently an engineering manager in the General & Automotive Segment for a group of engineers that support FANUC Robot integrators and end users with iRVision and 3rd party machine vision enabled applications.  He has a Master’s in Computer Science from Oakland University (Auburn Hills, MI) and a Bachelor’s in Electrical Engineering from the University of Windsor (Windsor, Ontario).

Session(s):

Advanced Vision Guided Robotics | Wednesday, May 24, 2023 - 8:00 AM

John Bubnikovich

U.S. Country Lead Robotics & Discrete Automation
ABB Robotics

John Bubnikovich has broad experience in industrial automation and currently the President of ABB Robotics in the United States. Focusing on driving transformational growth in its robotics and applications portfolio in the United States. Previously, he served as CEO and Board Member at Convergix Automation (Private equity); Chief Regional Officer, Board Chairman North America, KUKA Robotics; Vice President of Sales and Marketing at ABB Robotics along with  commercial and business development leadership roles at BTM Company, and DE-STA-CO. John holds a BS Business Management, Oakland University and a Masters Science in Strategic Management, Walsh College.

Thomas J Burke

Global Strategic Advisor
CC Link Partner Association (CLPA)

Thomas J. Burke is Global Strategic Advisor for the CC Link Partner Association (CLPA) www.cc-link.org, whose aim is collaborate on industrial network connectivity worldwide. 

In addition, Tom serves as Global Director of Industry Standards for Mitsubishi Electric to lead the strategic development and adoption of networking standards, including the adoption of Mitsubishi Electric’s open networks solutions. Tom is also the Global Directory of Industry Partnerships for ICONICS, providing leadership to increase market share of ICONICS’ leading-edge product portfolio.

Tom’s background includes being the former OPC Foundation President & Executive Director and pioneered the OPC Unified Architecture (OPC UA) as the foundation of information integration and interoperability. 

He has a bachelor’s degree in theoretical mathematics from John Carroll University (Cleveland, Ohio), and a master’s degree in computer engineering from the University of Dayton (Dayton, Ohio). 

Session(s):

Leveraging TSN (Time-Sensitive Networking) for Converged Automation Networks | Wednesday, May 24, 2023 - 4:15 PM

Ricardo Burnanello

SVP, IoT Platforms
Telit IoT Solutions Inc.

Ricardo Buranello has over 16 years of experience in the Technology and IoT Industry. Before joining Telit in 2008, Ricardo worked for big technology companies such as Siemens and Totvs. With Telit, Ricardo held the position of head of Business in Latin America, and in 2017, assumed the role of Global VP for Telit Factory Solutions, driving a significant growth for the business unit.
 

Session(s):

The Key to Virtual Factories | Thursday, May 25, 2023 - 10:00 AM

David Bursell

Vice President of Business Development
MoviTHERM Advanced Thermography Solutions

David C Bursell is passionate about imaging technologies and solutions. For over 23 years, he has been extensively involved with infrared imaging science. He has worked for imaging companies, including Inframetrics, FLIR Systems, and MoviTHERM, where he is currently the Vice President of Business Development. His education includes a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Brigham Young University and an MBA from Boston University. He has also studied Digital Marketing Analytics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. When not working with infrared cameras, David enjoys restoring old cars. A current project includes the restoration of a 1977 Toyota FJ40 Landcruiser.  

Session(s):

How Thermal Imaging Inspection is Improving Package Seal Integrity | Thursday, May 25, 2023 - 10:00 AM

Chris Caldwell

Product Manager
Yaskawa Motoman

Chris Caldwell is Product Manager at Yaskawa Motoman, where he is dedicated to product planning and execution through the entire product life cycle. This includes responsibilities for gathering and prioritizing product and customer specifications, as well as defining the product vision and working to ensure customer goals are met. With over 15 years of experience in manufacturing and operations, he has worked in every corner of organizations to provide exceptional products and services, while optimizing costs, maintaining reliability and ensuring quality. Chris holds a BS in business management from Wright State University.

Session(s):

Automating the Food Chain | Monday, May 22, 2023 - 10:00 AM

Joe Campbell

Head of Strategic Marketing
Universal Robots

Joe Campbell is a long-time veteran of the robotics and automation industry.  After executive assignments in sales, marketing, operations and customer service with industry leading robot, system integrator and engineering companies, Joe is head of strategic marketing for Universal Robots. 
 
Joe is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati. He is a regular speaker, lecturer and author on manufacturing labor issues, and the technology and economic benefits of robots and factory automation. Joe and his family live in Birmingham, MI. 

Session(s):

Cobots in Fortune 500 Manufacturing: Rapid Deployment, Fast ROI | Wednesday, May 24, 2023 - 3:15 PM

Tiffany Cappellari

Research Engineer
Southwest Research Institute

Tiffany Cappellari is a Research Engineer in the Robotic Software section at Southwest Research Institute (SwRI). She works across industrial manipulation and vehicular autonomy. Cappellari is SwRI’s primary ambassador to the MoveIt working group that enables new functionality for the motion planning and robot control open-source software. She is also heavily involved in ROS-Industrial and teaches engineering professionals how to use the Robot Operating System. Prior to her time at SwRI, Cappellari taught students in the UC Berkeley robotics labs. She has a Bachelor’s and Master’s of Science in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from the University of California, Berkeley.

Session(s):

Enabling Advanced Robots to Intelligently Operate in Very High-Mix Environments | Thursday, May 25, 2023 - 10:00 AM

Jeff Cardenas

CEO
Apptronik

Jeff Cardenas is the CEO and co-founder of Apptronik and specializes in new product development and go-to-market strategy. Cardenas received his Master of Science in Technology Commercialization from the University of Texas at Austin. He previously worked in the Global Commercialization Group at the IC2 Institute at UT Austin, working with innovators from around the globe to take innovations out of the research lab and into the market. Cardenas holds an undergraduate Business degree from UT and worked in the technology practice of Deloitte Consulting. He previously founded several startups and a nonprofit. Cardenas has a passion for entrepreneurship and using technology to solve social issues and improve the world. 

Debejyo Chakraborty

Staff Researcher
General Motors Global Research and Development

Dr. Debejyo Chakraborty has been with General Motors (GM) Global Research and Development for over twelve years. As a Staff Researcher in the Manufacturing Systems Research, he develops AI algorithms for process monitoring and non-destructive quality prediction. His research contributed to bringing the Chevy Volt advanced battery to production. His current focus is in Li-ion cell quality prediction.  He has received the Boss Kettering award, highest recognition for technical innovation at GM. Debejyo has also been a recipient of Outstanding Young Manufacturing Engineer by SME. His contributions are published as technical publications and patents.   Debejyo has a PhD in Electrical Engineering with a specialization in Digital Signal Processing from Arizona State University. He is a Senior Member at IEEE, and is the current Vice President and Treasurer of Sigma Xi GM Chapter.

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):

Advanced Color Machine Vision & Applications | Wednesday, May 24, 2023 - 2:00 PM

Natalie Chmiko

SVP, Small Business Solutions
Michigan Economic Development Corporation

As the Senior Vice President of Small Business Solutions, Natalie is responsible for overseeing the development and execution of organizational strategy and is accountable for implementing a long-term vision and short-term strategy to support small business, grow Michigan exports, foster rural development, connect businesses with key services and support to adopt Industry 4.0 technologies and other small business services available through MEDC and its partners. Natalie brings with her a deep knowledge and familiarity of the MEDC, having led the International Trade and Pure Michigan Business Connect (PMBC) teams along with the newly created Small Business Services team for two years as Vice President of Small Business Solutions. During those two years, she also championed the development and implementation of critical organizational initiatives including the International Trade & Development internship program, the PMBC Access & Certification Grant program, and MEDC’s signature Industry 4.0 initiative, helping small and medium-sized manufacturers prepare to adopt advanced technologies and compete in an increasingly digitized marketplace.  In her previous role as International Trade Director, she led a nationally recognized state export assistance program, connecting Michigan companies to resources and opportunities that foster international sales growth. Under her leadership, the Trade team facilitated $1.5 billion in export sales, equating to 6,962 Michigan jobs created. The program was also the recipient of the 2017 President’s “E” Award which is the highest recognition any U.S. entity may receive for supporting export activity.  Prior to joining MEDC in 2014, Natalie was the Assistant Economic Developer at Saginaw Future Inc., supporting local business and community economic development projects.  Natalie holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in International Business from Saginaw Valley State University and is accredited as a NASBITE Certified Global Business Professional. She was appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce to serve as a board member for both the East & West Michigan District Export Councils and is the current Vice President of the State International Development Organizations.

Mike Cicco

President and CEO
FANUC America Corporation

Mike Cicco is the President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of FANUC America Corporation.  As President and CEO, Cicco has responsibility for all of the company’s operations in North and South America.  Cicco also serves as a senior managing officer 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 COO.    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 a board member of the Association for Manufacturing Technology (AMT).

Michael Clark

Director OPC Foundation North America
OPC Foundation

Michael Clark B.TECH., C.E.T.

As the Director of OPC Foundation North America, Michael Clark continues his career-long advocacy on behalf of the automation industry as it transforms itself through IT/OT convergence into the digital era.

With over 30 years of experience in the discipline of industrial automation and controls, Mr. Clark is internationally recognized throughout the process automation sector for his expertise in Industrial Control System (ICS) fieldbus protocols. Mr. Clark is also recognized for his contributions as one of the authors of the Open Process Automation Standard (O-PAS™). As a vendor-neutral advocate for the end-user community, Mr. Clark became the Founding Director of BusCorp Inc., a Canadian-based consulting firm dedicated to design, implementation, commissioning, and training in the competencies of ICS networks and fieldbus systems. He has supported industrial sectors across the globe including, refining & upgrading, chemicals, food & beverage, gas exploration, offshore production, water & wastewater treatment, power generation, and nuclear remediation. 

Session(s):

OPC UA Enables Smart Manufacturing from Sensor to Cloud | Tuesday, May 23, 2023 - 8:00 AM

Annmarie Danko

Utica Stevenson Schools

My name is Annmarie Danko and I am the Automation teacher at Stevenson High School in the MADE program.  I have a BSE in Materials Engineering from the University of Michigan and a second bachelors in Plastic Technology from Eastern Michigan University.  I spent 16 years in industry working in both the Automotive and Defense Industries.  I eventually made the switch to working in the schools.  I have my CTE certification from Western Michigan University.  I am currently enjoying working with the students at Stevenson High School.  It's an amazing program that I am so proud to part of.

Georgy Das

Director of Systems and Training
Midwest Optical Systems

Georgy Das is the Technical Training Manager at Midwest Optical Systems. He has delivered countless presentations and training sessions all over the globe. He loves to figure out simple solutions to complex problems and is always tracking the latest trends in both machine vision and the technology landscape as a whole. 

Session(s):

The Advantages of Optical Filters in Non-Visible and Visible Applications | Wednesday, May 24, 2023 - 3:15 PM

James Davidson

Chief Architect
MiR

Dr. James Davidson is the Chief Architect at Mobile Industrial Robots (MiR), where he oversees the development of the company's next-generation products. With a focus on the intersection of robotics and artificial intelligence, his career has spanned over 20 years.  Dr. Davidson's expertise in this field began with his doctoral work at the University of Illinois, where he specialized in reinforcement learning applied to robotics. He went on to co-found two successful startups, serving as CEO of Talos Robotics and CTO of Third Wave, as well as holding research leadership positions at Google Brain Robotics and the MITRE Corporation.  Throughout his career, Dr. Davidson has contributed to a broad range of AI topics and research publications. He has experience working with terrestrial and space robots, having worked on satellites at Sandia National Laboratories early in his career. However, he has yet to work with underwater robots, which he plans to remedy this summer by building a submersible robot with his two kids.

Session(s):

AI for AMRs: A Synergistic Approach to Unlocking the Value of Autonomous Mobile Robots for Your Operations | Monday, May 22, 2023 - 2:30 PM

David Dechow

Owner
Machine Vision Source, LLC

David L. Dechow is an engineer, programmer, and entrepreneur specializing in the integration of machine vision, robotics, and other automation technologies.  Over a long career in the industry, he has served various companies including Landing AI, Integro Technologies, and Fanuc America.  Most notably he was founder, owner, and principal engineer for two systems integration firms delivering successful machine vision and robotic solutions for nearly 30 years. Currently Mr. Dechow provides technology consulting and integration services through his company Machine Vision Source, LLC (MVSource.com) and also works as consulting Director at TechB2B supplying training and technology services to their clients. Mr. Dechow is a recipient of the A3 Automated Imaging Achievement Award honoring industry leaders for outstanding career contributions in industrial and/or scientific imaging.  He is a member of the Association for Advancing Automation (A3) Imaging Technology Strategy Board, and is a contributing editor with Vision Systems Design magazine, and technical advisory board member with Saccade Vision Ltd. As a key educator within the machine vision industry, Mr. Dechow has participated in the training of hundreds of engineers as an instructor with the A3 Certified Vision Professional program.  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 enabling technologies in industrial automation.

Session(s):

The Fundamentals of Machine Vision | Monday, May 22, 2023 - 8:00 AM
Vision System Design | Wednesday, May 24, 2023 - 10:30 AM
Advanced Vision System Integration | Friday, May 26, 2023 - 8:00 AM

Dale Deering

Senior Director, Business Development
Teledyne DALSA

Dale Deering is the Senior Director for Business Development at Teledyne Vision Solutions, responsible for oversight of product and business development for all 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 line-scan use for many high speed and novel imaging applications.  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.

Session(s):

Designing Linescan Vision Systems | Tuesday, May 23, 2023 - 1:30 PM

Tim DeGrasse

Senior Channel Development Manager
Universal Robots

Tim is a Senior Channel Development Manager for Universal Robots, covering Northern California. He spent the first part of his career working on the manufacturing floor with L3 Technologies before transitioning to high tech sales. He moved into the automation market in Silicon Valley with Keyence Corporation and then Universal Robots where he has worked the past four years. Tim holds a bachelor’s degree in Hardware Engineering from University of California – Santa Cruz. With a passion for helping companies adopt innovative technology, Tim has helped deploy hundreds of robots into the electronics industry helping customers stay ahead of the curve in the global manufacturing marketplace. 

Session(s):

Emerging Applications in Collaborative Robotics | Wednesday, May 24, 2023 - 8:00 AM

Mike DeRosier

Business Development / Safety Manager
Advent Design Corporation

Mike DeRosier is a TÜV certified Functional Safety Engineer for Machinery. His 20+ years of experience include controls engineering to design, build and integrate full machine control systems. His safety experience led him to help corporations to develop corporate safety standards, perform machine safeguarding risk assessments, machine safety training and design, as well as implementation of safety systems for all aspects of machinery and robotic cells (electrical, electronic, pneumatic, hydraulic, mechanical). Mike is currently the Business Development / Safety Manager for Advent Design Corporation. Advent Design is a custom automation builder that also performs robot integration and machine safety upgrades.

Session(s):

How to Automate - When It's Time to Automate and How to Choose the Right Partner | Monday, May 22, 2023 - 8:00 AM

Heidi Devroy

CEO
Prosper-Tech Machine & Tool LLC

Heidi Devroy, CEO of Prosper-Tech Machine & Tool in Richmond, MI co-founded her company with husband, Bob, in 2007. What began in their home garage as a plastic injection tool building company for the automotive industry strategically evolved into a build-to-print prototype through production machining company now serving the medical, aerospace, space, and defense sectors. Core capabilities include CNC machining with up to 5-axis milling and 6-axis mill-turn.  In recent years, the company has attained AS9100 certification, NIST 800-171 compliance and status as a prime government contractor.  Heidi earned a BA in General Business / Finance from Walsh College as well as received their Financial Executives Institute Award. She is also a graduate of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Program for Entrepreneur’s.

Paul DeWys

Owner / Sales Engineer
Forerunner 3D Printing

I am a sales guy trapped in the body of an engineer who ended up in marketing, hence, my role as a Sales Engineer! I love to work with companies and customers to help educate them about what is possible when you combine 3D laser scanning to capture a part, mechanical engineering expertise to modify it as needed, and a wide variety of additive manufacturing equipment to help either prototype it or in some cases produce end use parts.

Session(s):

Additive Manufacturing for Robotics & Automation 101 | Tuesday, May 23, 2023 - 10:00 AM

Jan Diekmann

Technical Account Manager
Ericsson

Jan Diekmann is helping bring the advantage of cellular technologies (4G/5G) to life in production and process industries—enabling them to cut the wires enhance existing means of production and logistics. He is currently a Technical Account Manager focusing on partnering with the manufacturing technology ecosystem to develop the next generation of digital manufacturing. He has been with Ericsson for over 20 years and holds an Electrical Engineering degree from the University of Dortmund in Germany.

Session(s):

KEYNOTE: How the 5G Platform is Enabling the Next Generation of Lean Production | Thursday, May 25, 2023 - 9:00 AM

Aaron Donlon

Product Manager
Epson Robots

Aaron Donlon is a product manager at Epson Robots with over 20 years of experience in the factory automation environment with expertise in packaging, packaging machinery, and automation. At a major packaging OEM, he led the development team of their next generation machine. During his tenure at a major CPG he focusied on line management, capital install, startup support, technology development, and focus improvement efforts. Aaron holds a BS and MS in Mechanical Engineering from Rochester Institute of Technology.

Session(s):

May the Quartz Be With You. Learn How Quartz Derived Sensors Can Help Master the Most Challenging Motion and Assembly Projects | Thursday, May 25, 2023 - 8:00 AM

Kyle Drummer

General Manager
Lincoln Electric Automation

Kyle Drummer has been with Lincoln Electric since 2007 and holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering from Penn State University and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Memphis.  He has held various commercial roles of increasing responsibility both domestically and internationally for Lincoln Electric.  Kyle is currently the General Manager for Lincoln Electric Automation in Columbus, OH where he is responsible for site operations focusing on grinding, finishing and material handling mechanized and robotic automation systems.

Session(s):

You've Automated Your Welding, Now What? Add Further Efficiencies by Automating Your Weld Grinding Process | Tuesday, May 23, 2023 - 11:00 AM

Gene Edielman

Co-Founder
Azure Printed Homes

Gene Eidelman is a co-founder of Azure Printed Homes, the first-to-market construction company to utilize 3D printing technology and recycled materials to create modern prefab units 70% faster than traditional building methods, while making a positive impact on the environment. Gene went to undergrad school at USC and holds an MBA from Pepperdine. He was recognized for resettling 6,000 refugees from the former Soviet Union in the late 80s by the United States Jaycees. In addition, he appeared on Oprah Winfrey Show, and served on numerous non-profit educational organizations in the US, India, and the UK. He has over 35 years of experience building and developing residential properties. His startup before Azure was an education management company which he grew to $120MM in revenue with 1,800 employees on three continents. He co-founded Azure in 2019. Azure initially bootstrapped its growth and raised a pre-seed angel round earlier this year and is in the middle of a $5MM seed round raise. Azure generates $400K/mo in revenue and has over $14MM in pre-orders. Mass production of the units will begin before the end of 2022.

Session(s):

Understanding the Benefits in Automation for the Construction Industry using 3D Printing/Additive Manufacturing | Thursday, May 25, 2023 - 11:00 AM

Heiko Eisele

President
MVTec USA

Heiko Eisele is the President of MVTec's subsidiary in the USA and responsible for sales, technical support, managing the North American network of distributors and integration partners as well as general business development.  Heiko joined MVTec in 2003 as an Application Engineer. He provided technical support to MVTec's worldwide distribution network, conducted product trainings for customers and distributors and implemented solutions for customers based on MVTec's HALCON software.  Bevor joining MVTec Heiko was a PhD student at Robert Bosch GmbH. There he developed software algorithms and applications for the automated analysis of X-Ray CT images. Heiko received his PhD from the University of Heidelberg in 2002.  Heiko has more than 20 years of experience in the machine vision industry.

Session(s):

Image Processing Fundamentals | Wednesday, May 24, 2023 - 8:00 AM

Martin H. Ettenberg

CEO/President
Princeton Infrared Technologies, Inc.

Dr. Ettenberg is currently the CEO and founder of Princeton Infrared Technologies, Inc., a company dedicated to the commercialization of NIR/SWIR detection technologies. He has been developing InGaAs detectors for over 20 years with previous experience at Sensors Unlimited Inc./Goodrich Corporation. Dr. Ettenberg graduated with a Masters and a Ph.D. degree from the University of Virginia Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering. He also received his BS in Materials Science and Engineering from Cornell University.

Session(s):

Non-Visible Imaging: Infrared Technology and Applications | Wednesday, May 24, 2023 - 10:30 AM

Peter Finn

Managing Director
TD Cowen

Peter Finn joined TD Cowen as a Managing Director in 2019 to head the Industrial Technology coverage effort within the investment banking group.  At TD Cowen, Mr. Finn has established industry leading coverage that includes a priority focus on robotics, automation, AI and related technologies.  Previously, Mr. Finn spent four years at Nomura Securities where he focused principally on cross-border mergers and acquisitions across the industrial tech landscape.  Mr. Finn began his career at Credit Suisse in the Global Industrials group and was a founding member of Legacy Partners, a middle-market M&A firm.  Mr. Finn received a BS from Georgetown University.

Jeff Fryman

Principal Consultant
JDF Consulting Enterprises, Ltd.

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):

Introduction to Robot Risk Assessment | Wednesday, May 24, 2023 - 2:15 PM

Ryan Gariepy

CTO / Co-Founder
Clearpath/OTTO Motors

Ryan Gariepy is co-founder and CTO of both Clearpath Robotics and OTTO Motors, where he leads Canada’s largest and most experienced mobile robotics development team. During his tenure, Clearpath has become a globally recognized company, with robots on every continent and partnerships with companies such as iRobot, Boston Dynamics, Siemens, and Honeywell.  He serves on the board of the NSERC Canadian Robotics Network, the Open Source Robotics Foundation, is a co-founder of the Robot Operating System Developers’ Conference, and recently co-founded the Canadian Robotics Council. He helped found the Next Generation Manufacturing Canada initiative and was an inaugural faculty member of Singularity University Canada.  He has participated in over 50 invited talks and panels in the fields of robotics and AI, including with MIT, Silicon Valley Robotics, the BBC, and the United Nations.   Ryan completed both a B.A.Sc. degree in Mechatronics Engineering and a M.A.Sc. degree in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Waterloo. He received the University of Waterloo Alumni Achievement Medal at the age of 29. He is a senior member of the IEEE and has over seventy pending patents in the field of autonomous systems.

Anne Gielczyk

Vice President
Nocti Business Solutions

Anne Gielczyk is the Vice President of Nocti Business Solutions (NBS), the business and industry counterpart to NOCTI and has been a part of the organization for over 16 years.  Together these two organizations provide assessment development, delivery, and data analysis and reporting services for secondary and post-secondary schools, private industry, and certification associations across the nation.   Ms. Gielczyk's primary focus is working with business and industry to determine assessment and training needs to hire or promote the most qualified individuals for job openings.  This includes guiding certification organizations in developing nationally recognized, industry-based certification assessments through a rigorous validation process.  In addition, NBS works with post-secondary institutions that provide assessment services to business and industry in their communities and with workforce development organizations to provide tools needed to determine an individual’s employability skills.

Anthony Gillespie

Territory Sales Manager
SCHUNK

With six years in the industrial automation industry, starting in distribution, Anthony Gillespie’s dedication and enthusiasm have allowed him to gain an impressive depth of expertise in the automation and robotics sector. Following Anthony’s role as a territory manager at SCHUNK USA, he now has a focused leadership role concentrated in supporting robotic machine tending projects and customers. Anthony is committed to empowering manufacturers to achieve success and confidence in their automation journey by providing them with the knowledge, tools, and solutions they need. In his free time Anthony enjoys home improvement projects and spending time with his family and his dog.

Session(s):

Getting the Most From Your Robot Investment for Machine Tending- Maximize Your ROI on Cobots & Robots Through Faster Developments and Redeployments With Changing Jobs | Monday, May 22, 2023 - 8:00 AM

Joseph Giordano

Managing Director
TD Cowen

Joe Giordano is a senior analyst covering the diversified industrials, automation & robotics sectors. He is a CFA charterholder and a CPA.

Adam Gluck

Founder & CEO
Copia Automation

Adam Gluck was an early hire on Uber's driver engineering team and later was the founding engineer on Uber's engineering strategy team. At Uber, Adam worked on multiple rewrites of Uber's driver app, the processes to ship the driver app to millions of drivers each month, and helped redesign Uber's overall microservice architecture. He founded Copia to bring the same best practices that top-tier engineering organizations use to the fundamental technology that runs our economy. Adam was recently recognized in Forbes 30 under 30 2022 in the category of Manufacturing and Industry.

Session(s):

Using Git to Achieve Your IT/OT Convergence Goals | Monday, May 22, 2023 - 2:30 PM

Ed Goffin

Senior Manager, Marketing
Pleora Technologies

Ed Goffin is senior marketing manager with Pleora Technologies, a leading supplier of AI solutions and video connectivity products for quality inspection and factory automation applications. Over his 25-year career, he has been widely published and has been a featured speaker on topics ranging from packet switching and network timing to real-time video solutions for situational awareness in medical, factory automation, and security applications.

Session(s):

AI-Powered Inspection & Defect Detection | Wednesday, May 24, 2023 - 2:15 PM

Andrew Gollach

Principal
SOSV

Andy is on the investment team at HAX where he manages the teams deal flow and due diligence processes. Post investment he works closely with teams to help them think through paths to de-risk their technology, develop scalable go-to-market strategies, and get additional funding. He has a particular interest in the Climate and Industrial companies that HAX invests in.Prior to HAX Andy spent nearly 10 years as an engineer on large capital projects all around the globe. The first 5 years of his career were in the downstream Oil & Gas industry where he spent time in Asia, the Middle East and South America. In 2015 he transitioned over to a role at LanzaTech, a Climate Tech start-up that takes point source carbon emissions and up-converts them to a renewable fuel product. He spent 18 months in China working on the first commercial application of that technology where he saw the facility through initial site prep through first on-spec product.After his time traveling the globe Andy attended Carnegie Mellon where he earned his MBA. During that time he interned at ARPA-e and also launched his own Climate Tech venture. Andy also holds a BS in Chemical Engineering from Michigan Technological University. He is an avid follower of the Detroit sports teams and enjoys cooking in his free time.

Armando Gonzalez

Business Leader of AMR/Robotics for North America
Bosch Rexroth Corporation

Armando Gonzalez joined Bosch Rexroth in 2021 and is the North American business leader for AMR/Robotics. He's been in industrial automation for almost 20 years and working with robots since for over 16 of those years. Armando currently resides in Dallas, TX and is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. In his time off he's enjoying the outdoors with his (2) boys or teaching them about technology.

Session(s):

Autonomous Mobile Robots Move Harmonious Factory Automation Workflows | Tuesday, May 23, 2023 - 3:30 PM

Harley Green

Director of Business Development
Soft Robotics Inc

• 18 years in the industrial automation field  
• Industry Specialties:  food, pharma, plastics, metals, electronics, medical device and more.
• Focused on robotics, sensors, machine safety, and machine vision.
• Target Markets:  Food and Consumer Packaged Goods

Session(s):

Advances in Robotic Gripping, Manipulation & Guidance | Tuesday, May 23, 2023 - 1:30 PM

Steven Green

VP Industrial Markets
Kinova Robotics

Steven Green is the VP of Industrial Markets for Kinova Robotics, where he is responsible for the overall industrial market growth and product strategy.   Steven applies over 28 years of leadership experience to this global mandate, and intends to make an impact on the labor shortage affecting our industry.   He is recognized in the North American automation sector as a "people-first" leader with a focus on long-term business sustainability.  With a degree in Applied Science from Queen’s University in Canada, he frequently supports industry-education collaborations as part of his business and personal interests and has proactively developed several college-level partnerships in support of the future manufacturing leaders in North America.

Gus Gremillion

Solutions Consultant - Machine Tool Digitalization
Siemens Industry Software Inc.

Gus Gremillion studied mechanical engineering at Texas A&M University and has worked at Siemens for 5 years in VFD, CNC, and digitalization engineering roles. He leverages Siemens’ software offerings to help machine tool builders and users increase manufacturing productivity and implement Industry 4.0 strategies.

Blake Griffin

Research Manager
Interact Analysis

Blake Griffin is a Research Manager at Interact Analysis where he leads research efforts within the motor & drive markets. He works in collaboration with motor and drive manufacturers to produces annual studies aiming to size and forecast both markets while reporting on new developments which will impact the market landscape. 

Doug Grogg

Regional Sales Manager
Yaskawa

With a demonstrated history of working in the industrial automation market, Doug’s personal mission is to work with manufacturers to simplify the robot implementation process for greater productivity gains. As a current Regional Sales Manager for Yaskawa he uses his strong business development skills in Factory Automation, including Fluid Power, Engineering, Strategic Planning, Project Engineering, and Robotics. Doug earned his BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Dayton and has over 15 years of experience in the automation industry.

Session(s):

Defining Success: How to Ensure Your Cobot Project is Valuable | Wednesday, May 24, 2023 - 4:15 PM

Rajat Gupta

Sr. Director, Business Development - AI & Emerging Technologies
Microsoft

Rajat Gupta is part of Microsoft's AI & Emerging Technologies business development group and focuses on AI Cloud Infrastructure, Proprietary Models, Industrial Metaverse, and Autonomous products. As part of the business development group, Rajat focuses on strategic partnerships and acquisitions that are key to executing Microsoft's product and business strategy. Before Microsoft, Rajat led business development, corporate development, and engineering functions at Daqri, PTC, Qualcomm, Reliance, and Tata Group.  Personally, Rajat is always looking for opportunities to hike and do landscape photography.

Satyandra Gupta

Chief Scientist, Co-Founder
GrayMatter Robotics

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 four hundred technical articles in journals, conference proceedings, and edited books. 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 is a member of the Technical Advisory Committee for Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Institute and a member of the National Materials and Manufacturing Board (NMMB).

Session(s):

ARM Institute: Evaluating & Minimizing Risk Using Robotics and AI on the Factory Floor | Monday, May 22, 2023 - 11:00 AM
Smart Robotic Cells: Labor Shortage Solutions for Surface Finishing Applications | Wednesday, May 24, 2023 - 8:00 AM

Riley Hall

Director of Product Marketing
Fictiv

Riley Hall is the Director of Product Marketing for Fictiv, the operating system for custom manufacturing. Riley has nearly ten years of experience working in highly technical manufacturing engineering environments at companies including Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence, Hilti North America, and Markforged. Riley holds a B.A. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan as well as an MBA from the University of Colorado Boulder and lives with his wife Hannah in Denver, enjoying hiking, skiing, and the occasional Colorado brewery.

Session(s):

How Automation Can Drive Speed to Market and Reduce Costs for Low-Volume Custom Manufacturing | Tuesday, May 23, 2023 - 11:00 AM

Stacey Harimoto

FANUC Engineer
FANUC America Corporation

Stacey Harimoto is an applications engineer at FANUC America Corporation. She works in the General Industries & Automotive segment, concentrating on warehousing, logistics, and e-commerce applications.

Stacey graduated with her B.S. in Systems Engineering and M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Washington University in St. Louis. She has completed a Project Management certification and is currently pursuing her MBA through Penn State on a part time basis.

Stacey’s robotics journey started in Middle School when she joined the First Lego League robotics team. In high school, she joined an all-girls VEX team which qualified for and competed at the world championship four years in a row.

Stacey’s first summer internship was in process engineering at L&L Products, a chemical manufacturing company. While attending college, she also worked part time at a General Motors plant performing robotics process engineering using FANUC robots in the paint department. She interned at FANUC America Corporation for three summers in the General Industries & Automotive segment working on general industry robot applications, demonstration cells, and providing customer support before joining FANUC full time.  

David Hart

Director Business Development, Manufacturing
Ericsson

David is passionate about technology transformation, manufacturing, and supply chain. His work as Head of I4.0 Transformation at Ericsson's 5G Smart Factory in Texas led to the factory being recognized by the World Economic Forum as a Global I4.0 Lighthouse Factory. David has held leadership roles in manufacturing, sourcing and supply chain in consumer packaged goods, food & beverage and technology companies. David holds a degree in biology from UC San Diego and an MBA from Washington University in St Louis.

Kurt Häusler

CEO Sensors & Automation North America
Photoneo s.r.o.

Kurt started to gain extensive knowledge and experience in the fields of robotics, automation, industrial metrology, sensors, and machine vision right after graduating from the University of Linz (Mechatronics) in 1996. He coordinated multi-national R&D projects dealing with automated robot motion planning and programming for complex manufacturing processes based on 3D sensor data input. He had been involved long-term with ATENSOR in Steyr, Austria (a company of the MICRO-EPSILON group) since its foundation in 2003. He was managing the company for several years, focusing on the development and sales of sensor-based robotics for industrial processes.

At Photoneo, Kurt acts as the CEO of the Sensors & Automation division in North America. He utilizes his experience in the field to discover new applications and expand Photoneo‘s business in German-speaking regions and North America. His ambition is to increase machine intelligence and automate processes beyond the state-of-the-art. With his in-depth systems engineering knowledge, he knows how to integrate sensor hardware and software algorithms to push the limits further.

Session(s):

Advances in Robotic Gripping, Manipulation & Guidance | Tuesday, May 23, 2023 - 1:30 PM

Martin Hennemann

Product Manager
IDS Imaging Development Systems GmbH

Dr. Martin Hennemann is product manager at IDS Imaging Development Systems GmbH, a leading producer of machine vision cameras and software. Martin is responsible for 3D and AI vision products and located in Germany. Before joining IDS 10 years ago, he worked as researcher on astrophysical data. Martin holds a PhD for Physics & Astronomy from Heidelberg University in Germany.

Session(s):

AI-Powered Inspection & Defect Detection | Wednesday, May 24, 2023 - 2:15 PM

Eric Hershberger

Applications Engineering
Cognex

22 years of applications work in machine vision, robots, and PLC programming.  I actually don't know anything but I make it up better than most! 

Session(s):

Machine Vision Integration Made Simple | Tuesday, May 23, 2023 - 8:00 AM

Mark Holcomb

Director of Product Management and Application Engineering
Genesis Motion Solutions

Mark Holcomb is the Director of Product Management and Application Engineering for Genesis Motion Solutions. 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 manufacture. While at KLA, Mark conducted model testing and servo loop modelling, tuning, and testing. Joining Celera Motion in 2015, his early work focused on writing software for 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 where he is supporting a team of product managers and applications engineers, setting product roadmaps and helping customers and sales with pre and post sales technical support.

Session(s):

Introduction to Magnetism and Motor Basics | Tuesday, May 23, 2023 - 2:00 PM

Ben Hope

Director of Product Commercialization
SuperTrak CONVEYANCE

Ben Hope is the Director of Product Commercialization for the SuperTrak CONVEYANCE™ team. This role involves furthering the development of innovative conveyance products and establishing the go-to-market strategy for products under the SuperTrak CONVEYANCE™ portfolio. 

Ben has established himself as a thought-leader in the manufacturing automation space by developing the notion that Smart Conveyance drives productivity, as well as furthering the understanding of the role automation plays in Industry 4.0.

Session(s):

Change the Way You Design Your Automation Using Smart Conveyance | Monday, May 22, 2023 - 3:30 PM

Eliot Horowitz

CEO & Founder
Viam

Eliot Horowitz is the founder and CEO of Viam, the company behind the first general-purpose development platform for robotics. Eliot is leading the Viam team on its mission to provide developers with intuitive and flexible software tools that make it easier to configure, work with and maintain robots. Viam’s platform reimagines robotics from the ground up, giving engineers a developer-friendly way to solve complex automation problems and enabling robotics businesses to get to market faster while taking advantage of cloud services like AI, machine learning and advanced analytics. 

A career software developer and technology leader, Horowitz co-founded MongoDB in 2007 where he wrote the core code base for the pioneering database and built out the engineering and product teams for 13 years as MongoDB’s CTO. Prior to MongoDB, he co-founded the ecommerce company ShopWiki and served as CTO. Horowitz began his career as a software developer in the R&D group of adtech firm DoubleClick after graduating from Brown with a degree in Computer Science. 

Kristian Hulgard

General Manager, Americas Division
OnRobot

Kristian is the General Manager of the Americas division at OnRobot – the One-Stop Shop for collaborative and light industrial robot applications. He has been part of the collaborative robot market since its emergence and is a thought leader in cobot applications and activation of robots in the collaborative space.

Session(s):

Application-Focused, Automated Platform: Enter the New Era of Collaborative Automation | Wednesday, May 24, 2023 - 2:15 PM

Barbara Humpton

President & CEO
Siemens Corporation USA

Barbara Humpton is President and CEO of Siemens Corporation, where she guides the company’s strategy and engagement in serving the company’s largest market. Siemens USA employs approximately 45,000 people serving customers in all 50 states and Puerto Rico and generated $18.6 billion in revenue in fiscal year 2022. She views the true purpose of technology as expanding what’s humanly possible. She’s also passionate about diversity, STEM education and what she calls a work-life blend that honors her priorities both at Siemens and as a grandmother.

Most recently, Humpton served as president and CEO of Siemens Government Technologies, Inc. (SGT), a leading integrator of Siemens’ products and services for federal government agencies and departments. In this role, Humpton also served as an officer/director member of the board of directors of SGT.

Prior to joining Siemens in 2011, Humpton served as a vice president at Booz Allen Hamilton where she was responsible for program performance and new business development for technology consulting in the Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security. Earlier, Humpton was a vice president at Lockheed Martin Corporation with responsibility for Biometrics Programs, Border and Transportation Security and Critical Infrastructure Protection, including such critical programs as the FBI’s Next Generation Identification and the TSA’s Transportation Workers’ Identification Credential.

Humpton is a graduate of Wake Forest University with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics. Barbara is Chairman of the Siemens Corporation Board, the Siemens Foundation and of the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments (CSBA). She serves on the board of directors of the Triumph Group, National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), Chief Executives for Corporate Purpose (CECP), Economic Club of Washington, D.C. and the Seabee Memorial Scholarship Association. She resides in Washington, D.C., with her husband David.

Session(s):

KEYNOTE: How Digitalization Has Transformed Manufacturing - and Our Future | Wednesday, May 24, 2023 - 9:00 AM

Cynthia Hutchison

CEO
US Center of Advanced Manufacturing

As CEO of the US Center for Advanced Manufacturing, Cynthia Hutchison leads efforts to engage the national manufacturing ecosystem through local, national, and international projects and activities that accelerate the transition toward advanced manufacturing. She directs programming that helps shape the global agenda on the future of production, strengthen the competitiveness of the manufacturing sector in the United States, and marries new technology and processes with valuable, tried manufacturing practices.   Immediately prior to being named CEO, Hutchison completed a 12-month World Economic Forum Fellowship in the United States and Geneva, Switzerland, managing the development of the Forum's Global Network of Advanced Manufacturing Hubs (AMHUB). The fellowship was awarded based on Hutchison’s achievements as the Vice President of Automation Alley, where her championing of Automation Alley’s Industry 4.0 efforts were instrumental in shifting the organization from a business and technology networking association to a globally recognized Industry 4.0 knowledge center. Ultimately, these efforts led to Automation Alley’s partnership with the Forum to launch Michigan’s AMHUB, which is working to collaboratively accelerate digital transformation for small and medium-sized manufacturers across the state.  With an innate ability to authentically connect people and organizations for actionable and measurable outcomes, Hutchison develops and maintains strong relationships with corporate leaders, elected officials, academia and strategic partners in the United States and abroad. A charismatic speaker and raconteur, her professional career began in sales in the telecommunications field, but she switched gears to establish the international outreach organization Band of Angels to advocate for individuals with Down syndrome, including her son Jordan. Because of her work with Band of Angels, Hutchison was appointed by two Michigan Governors to serve on non-partisan commissions for inclusion.   Among her many awards, Hutchison was named a Crain’s Detroit Business 2019 Notable Women in STEM, a Michiganian of the Year by the Detroit News in 2007 and one of Woman’s Day Magazine’s “Women Who Inspire Us” in 2006. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature and Communications from Allegheny College in Meadville, Pennsylvania.

Rajesh Iyengar

Chief Executive Officer
Lincode Labs Inc.

Rajesh Iyengar is the Founder & CEO of Lincode Labs Inc. He has been working in the technology industry for more than 20 years. His background focuses on AI, machine learning, and robotics solutions. Aside from managing Lincode, he is also a Board Member, Advisor, and Investor for various startups. Rajesh previously worked as a Chief Technology Officer for Si3D Systems Pvt. Ltd., PurpleData, and KloudData Inc. Today, he is focused on helping the manufacturing industry transform to smart manufacturing with Artificial Intelligence and Automation.

Session(s):

AI-Powered Inspection & Defect Detection | Wednesday, May 24, 2023 - 2:15 PM

Tom Izzo

Head Coach
Michigan State University Men’s Basketball Program

Tom Izzo was enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on September 9, 2016, cementing his status as one of the game’s all-time greats.

Izzo has compiled an impressive list of accomplishments in 24 seasons as head coach of the Michigan State men’s basketball program, including the 2000 NCAA National Championship, nine regular-season Big Ten Championships (1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2018 and 2019), six Big Ten Tournament titles (1999, 2000, 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2019), eight Final Four appearances (1999, 2000, 2001, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2015 and 2019), eight National Coach of the Year awards and a Big Ten-record 22-straight NCAA Tournament appearances.

The 2018-19 season was one of the best in program history as MSU won a share of the Big Ten regular-season title, won the Big Ten Tournament Championship and advanced to the Final Four for a nation’s-best eighth time in 21 years.

With a career record of 606-232, it’s easy to see that Izzo knows how to win, but he also knows how to win the right way. In his 24 years directing the Spartan program, 86 percent of his players who completed their eligibility also left with a degree. In the last 20 years, 57 Spartans have received their undergraduate degrees.

Izzo’s 606 wins are the fifth most by any coach in his first 24 seasons in college basketball history. In November 2009, he passed his mentor Jud Heathcote (340 wins) to become MSU’s all-time winningest coach. In the NCAA Tournament, Izzo is at his best, winning at a clip of .712 to rank fourth among all active coaches with at least 10 tournament games coached. His 52 NCAA Tournament wins are the most ever for a Big Ten coach, and rank fifth all-time.

A 2015 inductee into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame, Izzo led MSU to seven Final Four appearances between 1999 and 2015, becoming just the fourth school in college basketball history to do it in any 17-year span, including just the third since the tournament field expanded to 64 teams in 1985. His eight Final Four appearances rank fifth all-time, third among active coaches, first all-time among Big Ten coaches and the most of any coach since 1996.

Session(s):

KEYNOTE: Lessons on Leadership | Tuesday, May 23, 2023 - 9:00 AM

Jeff Johnson

Mechatronics Product Manager
Beckhoff Automation

Jeff Johnson is Mechatronics Product Manager for Beckhoff USA. With over 40 years of automation and engineering experience, Johnson leads U.S. product launch and support initiatives across all mechatronics technologies from Beckhoff, including linear transport systems such as XTS and maglev flying motion technologies for industrial applications such as XPlanar. Prior to Beckhoff he has also held a variety of engineering positions at companies such as Danaher Motion, Control Technology Corp. and Giddings & Lewis (G&L), including technical service management, project management and application engineering roles. Johnson holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree from Michigan Technology University.

Session(s):

Linear Transport Systems Evolve, Take on Advanced Robotic Functions | Tuesday, May 23, 2023 - 1:30 PM

Geoffrey Karpa

Applications Engineer Staff
Lockheed Martin Aeronautics

Team lead in the manufacturing technology organization at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics’ Fort Worth facility, overseeing several drilling and dispensing automation-related projects. Karpa specializes in task-level automation using robotic end-effectors that perform vision, drilling, metrology and fastener installation operations. He recently integrated a large capital system that uses robots to countersink mate panels on the F-35, replacing hand countersinking and reducing production costs. Additionally, Karpa is integrating a complex multifunction robot system on the F-35 wing line to automate the setup hole drilling and fastening processes. It utilizes an all-in-one end-effector with machine vision that removes a Cleco fastener, reams the hole, measures the hole and installs a fastener in a single cycle. He also supports other automation projects across the enterprise. Karpa received his master’s degree in systems engineering from Southern Methodist University and bachelor’s degree in construction science from Texas A&M University.

Session(s):

Systems Engineering Approach to Production Line Automation | Tuesday, May 23, 2023 - 3:30 PM

Fouad Khalil

Senior Director, Enterprise Security, Risk and Compliance
Locus Robotics

Khalil’s career path in technology has provided him with keen insights in the areas of  network, system and database administration, software programming, system, software and GUI design, project and product development, solution implementation and much more. 

For nearly the past two decades, Khalil has focused on data security, security investigations, cybersecurity, security training and awareness, and security compliance-- serving as an industry expert in key areas such as IT, NIST, Internal Controls over financial reporting, Sarbanes-Oxley, GDPR, CCPA, PCI DSS, HIPAA and HITECH. 

At Locus, Khalil is responsible for internal and external compliance programs, auditor education, alignment with industry best practices and cross-functional support. With extensive experience in the technology space with more than 25 years spanning disciplines in software development, IT support, program and project management and most recently IT Security and Compliance management.

Khalil holds a Bachelor's degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Marquette University and CISA, CDPSE and ITIL Foundations certifications. Additionally, he is an active member/contributor in ISACA, IIA and Infragard.

Session(s):

Securing Autonomous Mobile Robotics Deployments in the Warehouse | Tuesday, May 23, 2023 - 8:00 AM

Steve Kinney

Director of Training, Compliance, and Technical Solutions
Smart Vision Lights

Steve Kinney, Director of Training, Compliance, and Technical Solutions at Smart Vision Lights, is an Electrical Engineer 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.
 

Session(s):

Advanced Vision Lighting | Monday, May 22, 2023 - 12:30 PM
Advanced Camera & Image Sensor Technology | Monday, May 22, 2023 - 3:00 PM
Integrated Lighting Solutions Help Make Flexible Manufacturing Possible | Wednesday, May 24, 2023 - 2:15 PM

Steffen Klawitter

Digital Enterprise Lead Architect
Siemens Digital Industries

Steffen Klawitter is a Digital Enterprise Lead Architect with Siemens Digital Industries. He provides well-balanced visionary & practical leadership for strategic digital transformations in highly competitive and cutting-edge markets. He has a proven track record of leading international teams to create long-lasting business value for enterprises. Steffen’s hands-on AI experience spans across industries and a wide range of use cases, such as: anomaly detection, quality prediction, visual inspection, process improvement and predictive maintenance. When he is not immersing himself in the world of AI, he enjoys working out or spending time outdoors with his wife, baby girl, and their two dogs.

Session(s):

How Can Artificial Intelligence Create Manufacturing Agility? | Monday, May 22, 2023 - 11:00 AM

Breann Klug

Execution Manager - CERT Education
FANUC

Biography coming soon

Tom Knauer

Global Industry Manager – Factory Automation & Robotics
Balluff GmbH

More than 30 years experience in the industrial automation industry, with equipment/solution suppliers including GE Fanuc, Parker Hannifin, Omron STI and Balluff. Focus on product management and business development for sensors, safety and networking. Recent activities include work on robotic, material handling, condition monitoring and general factory automation solutions and market development. Lead Balluff’s activities to evaluate and understand changes in robot and factory automation technologies and the marketplace, and help direct Balluff’s strategy and technology development path based on this information.

Session(s):

IIoT And The Smart Factory: Device Protocols To Effectively Move Data From The Sensor To The Control & Enterprise Level | Tuesday, May 23, 2023 - 1:30 PM

Keith Knight

Market Development Manager
Celera Motion - a division of Novanta

Keith H. Knight is currently a Market Development Manager for Celera Motion, a division of Novanta. In this role he is focused on gathering market intelligence, application, customer, and technology trends to support strategic initiatives within the Celera Motion organization. Prior to his current role, Keith held positions as the Manager of New Product Innovation, Product Manager, and Engineering Manager for HaydonKerk Motion Solutions and has spent his entire career in the arena of motion control. Prior to his professional career Keith graduated cum laude from Wentworth Institute of Technology of Boston MA with a BS in Electromechanical Engineering.

Session(s):

Mechanical Motion Control Components and Subsystems | Tuesday, May 23, 2023 - 10:00 AM
Understanding Inertia and Reflected Inertia | Tuesday, May 23, 2023 - 11:00 AM

Chris Knorr

VP Business Development, North America
Eclipse Automation part of Accenture

With over 30 years in various progressive rolls with some of the world leading companies in the automation industry, Chris now leads the Business Development team and strategy for Eclipse Automation, part of Accenture, in North America.

Over the years, Chris has assisted countless companies in the transportation, life science and consumer product industries in developing their automation strategy and optimizing their manufacturing operations through automation.

Through working with a broad range of clients bringing new products to market, Chris has gained extensive experience in what strategies lead to a successful manufacturing automation program launch and has a passion for sharing these best practices through thought leadership opportunities.

Session(s):

Automated Manufacturing Scale-Up: Planning for Success | Wednesday, May 24, 2023 - 10:00 AM

Etienne Lacroix

CEO & Co-Founder
Vention

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 Vention, he 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):

The Start of a New Era: the Democratization of Industrial Automation | Monday, May 22, 2023 - 3:30 PM

Mike Lashbrook

Vice President, Digital Solutions
JR Automation

With a background in automotive, operations leadership, corporate strategy, and automation, Mike has accumulated over 25 years industry experience in Automotive and Industrial Automation industries.  He currently serves as Vice President of Digital Solutions for JR Automation, leading the organization’s suite of software products and services that help customers make the transition to Industry 4.0.   

Session(s):

Making Sense of the Madness: The Convergence of IT and OT Technologies on the Factory Floor | Monday, May 22, 2023 - 8:00 AM

Dr. Daniel L. Lau

Professor
University of Kentucky

Daniel L. Lau (dllau@uky.edu) received his B.Sc. degree (with highest distinction) in electrical engineering from Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, and his Ph.D. degree from the University of Delaware, Newark, in 1995 and 1999, respectively. Currently, he is a professor and the director of graduate studies for electrical and computer engineering at the University of Kentucky, Lexington. Among his many published works is an article in Proceedings of the IEEE and his book Modern Digital Halftoning. His work has also been featured in trade magazines such as Vision Systems Design, Photonics Spectra, Imaging Insight, Prosilica Camera News, and Inspect Magazine. His research interests include image and signal processing, 3D imaging, and machine vision. He is a Senior Member of IEEE.

Session(s):

Fusion of Time-of-Flight and Structured Light Scanning for 3D Machine Vision | Monday, May 22, 2023 - 1:30 PM

Chris Liu

Industrial Edge Product Marketing Manager
Siemens Industry, Inc

Chris Liu is the Product Marketing Manager of Siemens brand new IIoT technology Industrial Edge, based in Orlando, FL. Chris join Siemens in 2021 and has over 8 years of experience in the manufacturing and product management sector. He holds a BS in electrical engineering from Purdue University. Chris attended Automate 2022 as a speaker and shared his knowledge and insights on Edge computing and Siemens Industrial Edge.

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):

Introduction to Machine Learning | Tuesday, May 23, 2023 - 10:30 AM

Nick Longworth

Senior Systems Application Engineer - Robot Guidance
SICK, Inc.

As a Market Product Manager for SICK, Nick Longworth oversees the overall United States market success of SICK’s robot guidance portfolio throughout the entire product lifecycle. Primarily focused on SICK’s PLOC2D and PLB products, Longworth is responsible for providing the highest level of product/application knowledge, product positioning, and marketing expertise. Longworth also functions as a technical consultant for industrial robotics technology for SICK.

Longworth joined SICK in 2019 after gaining over seven years of experience in the automation engineering and machine building fields. He is a Certified Vision Professional with a bachelor’s degree in Physics and Business Administration from Washington College, and a master’s in Robotics Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. 

Session(s):

Advances in Robotic Gripping, Manipulation & Guidance | Tuesday, May 23, 2023 - 1:30 PM

Jonathan Marseglia

Director of Financial Strategy and Head of Tax
Formic

Jonathan is the Director of Financial Strategy and Head of Tax for Formic, a leading Robotics-as-a-Service company.  Jonathan has his C.P.A., J.D., and LL.M.

Session(s):

How to Financially Account for Robotics-as-a-Service Models | Wednesday, May 24, 2023 - 8:00 AM

Daryl Martin

Technical Sales and Product Specialist
Advanced illumination

Daryl Martin is Advanced illumination’s Technical Sales and Product Specialist, based in Ann Arbor, MI. He assists Ai’s strategic industry partners and OE Customers in North America developing custom-fit vision lighting solutions. Daryl has primary responsibility for research and collection of industry product information for updating existing products and developing new products and services. He also trains Ai’s vision partners, ASPs and customers in all aspects of vision lighting, and emphasizes practical methods for creating lighting solutions.

Before coming to Ai in 2003, Daryl was District Sales Manager at Tectivity for 8 years, specializing in computer imaging systems and solutions. He was also a Laboratory Manager at the University of Michigan, overseeing imaging operations in FDA-sponsored Human Drug Certification Studies in Diabetes. Daryl has BS and MS degrees in Geology.

Session(s):

Beginning Lighting for Machine Vision | Tuesday, May 23, 2023 - 8:00 AM

Kevin M. McCabe

Senior Application Engineer
IDS Imaging Development Systems Inc.

Kevin McCabe is a senior application engineer at IDS Imaging Development Systems Inc. and is responsible for technical inquiries across North America. He currently focuses on helping other engineers integrate IDS 2-D, Ensenso 3-D, and NXT AI Inference cameras and provides in-depth product training to customers, distributors, and resellers to ensure a quick time to market. Throughout his ten years at the company, Kevin has helped integrate IDS cameras into applications such as bin picking, palletizing/depalletizing, logistics automation, quality assurance, and ITS. He holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in electrical engineering from the University of Massachusetts Lowell.

Session(s):

The Fundamentals of Camera and Image Sensor Technology | Tuesday, May 23, 2023 - 2:00 PM

Sherri McCleary

Executive Director
Penn State

Sherri McCleary joined the Penn State New Kensington Team in late 2020 as the inaugural Executive Director of the Digital Foundry at New Kensington.  Sherri comes to this role as an experienced executive leader with a strong passion for connecting people and technology to deliver real value.  Her career spans more than 30 years of technology and business development experience driving strategy, technology transfer, and the launch of new business opportunities across markets including automotive, commercial transportation, aerospace, defense, energy/oil & gas, architectural products, and consumer electronics.  

Prior to her current role, Sherri served as Director of the Additive Manufacturing Business at Kennametal.  In this role she was responsible for launching a new “start-up” for the company based on 3D printing technologies for high-performance metallic materials in demanding industrial and energy applications.  Prior to joining Kennametal, Sherri spent over 30 years with Alcoa then Arconic.  Her roles there included Director of Research & Development, leading a large R&D organization responsible for advanced materials, computational materials and process modeling, smart manufacturing, advanced analytics, automation, and additive manufacturing, and Vice President of Technologies & Operations for Alcoa Defense Inc., responsible for the capture and execution of Defense technology contracts. Earlier in her career she led aerospace materials and process development projects, led the development and implementation new material and manufacturing technologies with major automotive and commercial transportation OEMs, and managed an advanced manufacturing development group.  Sherri’s accomplishments have been recognized through the award of U.S. and foreign patents, publications, corporate achievement awards, and an R&D Magazine Top 100 Award.

Sherri holds a BS in chemistry from Gannon University and an MS in Chemical Engineering from Carnegie-Mellon University, along with certifications in MBA essentials, Intellectual Property and Contract Law, and Technology Leadership.

Bob McCurrach

Director of Standards Development
Association For Advancing Automation

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):

Vision Standards Update | Monday, May 22, 2023 - 2:30 PM

Robert McElmurry

Director of Business Intelligence
A3

Robert McElmurry is the Director of Business Intelligence for the Association for Advancing Automation.   Robert McElmurry is a robotics and automation market expert with over a decade of experience in the industry.  Robert has worked with large robot companies on sales and market strategies. In addition, consulting with dozens of integrators and startups, providing strategic insights and guidance to maximize their success.  In addition to his consulting work, Robert is a seasoned public speaker with 100s of presentations under his belt on topics related to current and future trends in robotics and automation. He is skilled in economic modeling, and market analysis and has been featured as a guest speaker on applied analytics at his alma mater the Broad College of Business.  He is committed to using his expertise to help others succeed and to advance the automation industry.

Shanif Merchant

Chief Product Officer
Numurus

Shanif is the Chief Product Officer, Numurus LLC. He has over 15 years product management experience having built complex software and hardware products in the fields of industrial automation, robots, telecommunications and camera market segments. Shanif led immersion of IOT, AI, and machine vision in enterprise workflows, key to the end–to-end disruption of operations across aviation, rail, automotive, heavy equipment, manufacturing and smart city industries, helping clients navigate industrial 4.0 transformation. Shanif brings product management experience from similar roles at Hitachi, GE and GoPro. Shanif holds an honors Bachelor of Science, Computer Science and Mathematics from McMaster University and a Certificate of Data Science from University of California Berkeley.

Session(s):

Build vs. Buy: Open-source Operating System for Robotics and Edge-AI Applications | Thursday, May 25, 2023 - 8:00 AM

Michael Miller

Senior Manager, Regional Motion Engineering
Yaskawa America, Inc.

Michael is the Senior Manager of the North American Regional Motion Engineering team at Yaskawa America, Inc.  Michael started with Yaskawa as a Regional Motion Engineer for the Midwest region in 1999.  He holds a BSEE from Kettering University and has published several motion control related articles for Yaskawa.

Session(s):

Digital Servo Amplifier Basics | Wednesday, May 24, 2023 - 9:00 AM

Oliver Mitchell

Partner
ff Venture Capital

Oliver Mitchell is a partner at ff Venture Capital. Oliver first joined ff VC in 2014 as a Limited Partner, and then in 2018 as a Venture Partner. Today, he takes a leading role on the investment team in expanding the portfolio’s deep tech position with holdings in robotics, drones, artificial intelligence and industrial automation technologies. Oliver also works with ffVC’s investor relations in forging strategic relationships for our limited partners and corporate venture groups. In addition, he serves on the boards of CivRobotics, Cambrian Intelligence, AppBind, Storyfit, and Cardflight.  Previously, Oliver ran his investment portfolio of a dozen startup companies that have since returned 8 exits, including two IPOs (NVCR and EKSO) and one unicorn (Triple Lift) with a combined value of over $20 billion. Previous private equity transactions have included selling Holmes Protection to ADT/Tyco, AmeriCash to American Express, and launching RobotGalaxy, a national consumer S.T.E.M. brand.

Pablo Molina

Chairman, CTO, VP of Product & Co-Founder
Avidbots

Pablo’s vision is to live in a world where robots and humans work together in everyday life. He has been building robots since the early days of his undergraduate program at the University of Waterloo. After graduating with a Bachelor of Applied Science in Mechatronics Engineering (+Physics option), Pablo received his Master’s Degree in Aerospace Engineering from Carleton University (Space Robotics). He quickly applied his space robotics know-how working as an autonomous navigation designer at NepTec Design Group before co-founding Avidbots with Faizan Sheikh in 2014.

Abe Murray

General Partner
Alley Robotics Ventures | AlleyCorp

Abe leads Alley Robotics Ventures (ARV), a separate robotics and automation fund unaffiliated with AlleyCorp. Kevin Ryan and Eliot Horowitz (Kevin’s co founder at MongoDB) are initially the sole limited partners.  Prior to ARV, Abe led AlleyCorp’s robotics and AI efforts, and remains an advisor to AlleyCorp.  Previously, Abe was product and engineering leader in various roles at Alphabet, where he worked on Android, built the Verily Life Science product teams, and built the Google Research product management team. Before this he founded a Web 2.0 startup and worked on unmanned aerial vehicles in the defense industry.  Abe holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, a master’s degree in electrical engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute, and a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering from the University of Rhode Island.  Prior to all of this, he dropped out of high school to run fishing boats and factories in the family aquaculture business.

Sean Murray

Vice President of Customer Success
Bright Machines

Sean Murray is the Vice President of Customer Success at Bright Machines, a global pioneer in the field of software-defined manufacturing and intelligent automation. He ensures that customers are widely successful using tools developed by Bright Machines. As a senior executive, he has more than 30 years of experience in driving commercial growth and business transformation.  
 
His resumé spans IBM, Philips Electronics, Assembléon and Panasonic, where he most recently served as Business Unit Head of Process Automation. He has a passion for deploying solutions that increase quality, output and profitability. As an advocate for smart manufacturing, Sean is dedicated to ensuring that Industry 4.0, Industrial Internet of Things and digital transformation initiatives are successful and deliver real value for manufacturers, their teams and those they serve. 

Session(s):

Manufacturing Automation: Make Business Safer and Greener | Monday, May 22, 2023 - 3:30 PM

Tyler Naatz

Senior Application Engineer
3M

Tyler Naatz is a Robotics Application Engineer within 3M’s Abrasive Systems Division where he is responsible for working with robotics industry members to engineer optimum robotic abrasive processes to support manufacturers as they look to expand automation within their facilities. Tyler is heavily focused in metal fabrication applications. These applications include weld grinding and processing, satin finishing, stainless steel finishing, deburring, and much more. After obtaining his B.S. in Plastics Engineering from the University of Wisconsin – Stout in 2015, he joined Flambeau Inc. where he worked as an Automation Engineer prior to joining 3M in 2018.

Session(s):

You've Automated Your Welding, Now What? Add Further Efficiencies by Automating Your Weld Grinding Process | Tuesday, May 23, 2023 - 11:00 AM

Anne Marie Neatham

Chief Operations Officer
Kindred

Anne Marie Neatham is the Chief Solutions Officer at Ocado Intelligent Automation, a recently formed part of Ocado Group created to bring their world-class warehouse automation, which is in use by grocery clients worldwide, into non-grocery verticals. She is also the Chief Operations Officer (COO) at Kindred, an AI-powered robotics company acquired by Ocado Group in 2020.  Anne Marie joined Ocado in 2001 to lead the development of early in-house support applications and has since taken on a variety of technical leadership roles across the organization, as well as opening Ocado’s first offshore development center in Krakow, Poland.  She was appointed Chief Operating Officer at Ocado Technology in 2014, looking after infrastructure and operations, organizational development, and general management, guiding the journey the organization has taken into becoming the technology powerhouse it is today.  Outside of Ocado, Anne Marie has acted as an advisor to several private equity firms in the technology space. A trailblazer for women in the industry, Anne Marie also led Code for Life, a nonprofit initiative by Ocado Group that delivers free, open-source games that help all students learn to compute. She believes technology is changing the entire world, and everyone should have an opportunity to influence how technology will shape the world 100 years from now. Anne Marie’s passion and leadership have earned her numerous awards and accolades. She was nominated for the UK Women in Tech award multiple times from Computer Weekly, and was inducted into their Hall of Fame. Before joining Ocado, Anne Marie was a software development manager for Staples Inc. in Boston. Born and raised in Ireland, she earned her bachelor of science degree in computer science from University College Cork. She also holds an ACCA Qualification. Anne Marie currently resides in the U.K. with her husband.

Session(s):

Increase Speed & Throughput with AI-Powered Robots | Thursday, May 25, 2023 - 11:00 AM

Edward Neff

Founder and CEO
SMAC Corporation

Edward Neff is the founder and CEO of SMAC Moving Coil Actuators. He founded SMAC Corporation in 1990 in Carlsbad, Calif. SMAC has grown to become a global leader in moving coil technology and the largest manufacturer of moving coil actuators. Neff has spent more than 40 years in the automation field and has managed automation companies in Belgium, Japan and the USA. He holds more than 40 patents.
Neff grew up in Birmingham, Mich., and is a graduate of the University of Michigan. He’s a retired international rugby player and enjoys watching the Wales national team.

Session(s):

Important Applications for SMART Actuators | Monday, May 22, 2023 - 11:00 AM

Roberta Nelson Shea

Global Technical Compliance Officer
Universal Robots

Responsible for global UR product compliance 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 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 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) and 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):

Robot Safety Standards: What to Expect With the New Revisions to ISO 10218 | Tuesday, May 23, 2023 - 3:30 PM

Aaron Nienaber

Product Development Specialist
3M Company

Aaron is part of the Global Systems R&D Team for 3M Abrasives Systems Division. He is the technical lead for the development of the 3M™ Finesse-it™ Robotic Paint Repair System and has 12 years of technology platform development experience within the company establishing novel product forms, processes, and abrasive grain advancements. He currently has 84 filed patents, 23 which have been granted in the US. Additionally, he is proud to be a 4th generation employee of 3M and share a role in the legacy of 3M innovations and technologies.

Session(s):

Advancements in Robotic Paint Spot Repair in Automotive Production | Tuesday, May 23, 2023 - 8:00 AM

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):

ARM Institute: Evaluating & Minimizing Risk Using Robotics and AI on the Factory Floor | Monday, May 22, 2023 - 11:00 AM
Mitigating Parcel Variability With an Adaptable Vision Perception Software | Tuesday, May 23, 2023 - 10:00 AM

David Northup

Director of Product Management
OTTO Motors

David Northup has more than twenty years of experience in the robotics and automation industry, ranging from autonomous mobile robotics, machine vision, and autonomous vessels.  An early pioneer in the commercialization of AMR technologies for industrial use, Dave was part of the initial team at MobileRobots Inc. which first brought fully autonomous navigation to the mainstream market in the early 2000s. Dave also ran the North American division of Adimec for over seven years, producing mission-critical machine vision cameras for applications ranging from remotely operated submersibles to the space shuttle.  At OTTO Motors, Dave oversees the entire product development lifecycle for OTTO’s suite of AMRs. Dave holds a BS in Electrical Engineering from Union College.

Session(s):

The Best of Both Worlds: Unlocking the Productivity of AGVs and AMRs | Monday, May 22, 2023 - 10:00 AM

Nivedita Ojha

VP of Product
FORT Robotics

As VP of Product at FORT Robotics, Nivedita Ojha is the driving force behind FORT’s end-to-end platform for machine safety, security, and trusted communications. Over the course of her career, she’s used her customer-focused product strategy to generate massive valuations, IPOs, and revenue for both Fortune 500 companies and venture-backed enterprises in SaaS, Mobility, and IoT. Nivedita has served as VP of Autodesk, where she designed the Platform Strategy for transforming the business, and as Senior Director at Citrix, where she expanded the company’s mobile business through innovation and partnerships. As CEO of w-Planit, she evangelized the Location Based Services across 15 marque brands and exited the business. She has been awarded 2 patents in the IoT and networking space.

Nivedita has a BS in Chemical Engineering from University of Bombay, an MS from Mississippi State University, and an MBA from University of Michigan. She is passionate about traveling, long distance cycling, and swimming. She lives in San Francisco with her daughter.

Session(s):

Cybersecurity for Smart Machines: Tackling the Real-World Risks | Monday, May 22, 2023 - 10:00 AM

Johannes Olbort

Project Manager II4IP
VDMA e.V.

Johannes Olbort, Project Manager at the VDMA, is responsible for the harmonization activities including OPC UA for Machinery. This is done in the Context of the Global Production Language based on OPC UA in which more than 600 companies worldwide participate. This makes it an important contact for the international machinery and plant construction industry in matters of OPC UA standardization and networked production. The VDMA's strong international political networking has enabled it to introduce OPC UA activities into global politics. Before joining the VDMA, Mr. Olbort studied Industrial Engineering, specialising in Mechanical Engineering, and was a research assistant  at the Departmend for Computer Integrated Design of the Technical University Darmstadt.

Session(s):

Global Production Language - OPC UA Companion Specifications as the Basis of Networked Production | Monday, May 22, 2023 - 1:30 PM

Elizabeth Onasanya

Senior Investment Analyst
Lockheed Martin Ventures

Elizabeth is a Senior Investment Analyst within Lockheed Martin Ventures responsible for supporting investment deals focused on advanced materials, aerospace technologies, augmented reality / virtual reality (AR/VR), and human potential.

Elizabeth joined Lockheed Martin Ventures from LM Rotary and Mission Systems, where she was a Senior Project Engineer and Lead of F-35 Support Equipment focusing on diminishing manufacturing sources and material shortages as well as fielded aircraft part obsolescence.  Elizabeth began her career at LM Aeronautics in Supplier Quality Management as an Advanced Quality Engineer maintaining Key Characteristic data and continuous improvement interaction with over 400 international suppliers. She then transitioned to Materials and Processes as a Signature Materials Engineer supporting F-35 and F-16 production on unclassified and classified projects.

Elizabeth holds a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry and a STEM-focused Master of Business Administration from Texas Tech University. Elizabeth also serves the corporation internally and externally by giving back to the community and promoting STEM outreach via national conferences, recruiting events, and company sponsored community service.

Kendra Patton

Key Account Manager Americas, Palletizing
Robotiq

Kendra Patton brings over seven years of robotics experience, serving as an account manager, channel sales manager, product manager, product specialist and more during her time in the industry. Patton has worked for big robotics industry players, such as Omron and ONExia before joining Robotiq in 2019. There, she works as a key account manager for palletizing.

Jerry Perez

Executive Director - Global Accounts / Manager Business Development
FANUC America Corporation

Jerry Perez is an Executive Director - Global Accounts and Manager of the Business Develop Group at FANUC America Corporation, consulting global corporations in topics such as automation roadmap fulfillment, workforce development, and value stream transformations.  Over the past 20 years, Jerry has been a leader in the expansion of robotics in multiple markets from defense and automotive to electronics and medical device manufacturing.  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):

You've Automated Your Welding, Now What? Add Further Efficiencies by Automating Your Weld Grinding Process | Tuesday, May 23, 2023 - 11:00 AM
Successful Automation Strategies: Fast, Wide Scale Implementation for Small or Global Organizations | Wednesday, May 24, 2023 - 11:00 AM

Florian Pestoni

CEO & Co-founder
InOrbit

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):

Updates on Mobile Robot Interoperability Efforts | Monday, May 22, 2023 - 3:30 PM
The Growing Need for Robot Orchestration | Tuesday, May 23, 2023 - 1:30 PM

Bernd Raithel

Director Product Management
Siemens Industry Inc.

Bernd Raithel is director of Product Management and Marketing for the Factory Automation business unit of Siemens Industry in the US. Raithel has an engineering degree (Dipl-Ing(FH)) from the TU Nürnberg (Germany) and has 27 years of experience in automation in various roles in R&D, Engineering, Product Management, and Marketing. Before moving to the USA, he has been with Siemens for more than 17 years, defining the next-generation automation systems and expanding Siemens' Industrial PC portfolio to the IoT space. In the US, he focuses on integrating new technologies such as Edge and AI in Siemens Automation portfolio and solutions to help customers improve their production even further.

Brian Regan

Sales Engineer
DINGS' Motion USA

Brian Regan is the East Coast Sales Engineer for DINGS' Motion USA. Brian has held various roles within the precision rotary to linear field since graduating from the University of New Hampshire with a BSME in 2014. He has previously held roles in application, R&D and quality prior to moving to a customer facing position in September 2022. In his current role he is responsible for aiding customers in identifying and implementing motion solutions for a wide variety of customers and markets. 

Session(s):

Basic Machine Design and the Physics of Motion | Tuesday, May 23, 2023 - 9:00 AM

David Reger

CEO and Founder
Neura Robotics GmbH

David's mission to make the world a better place began in San Francisco, where he was a social worker responsible for reintegrating prisoners into society. Back in Europe, the technology pioneer and ambitious visionary laid the foundation for cognitive robots to become the revolutionary partner of modern social society. His career as a founder and leader of high-tech companies has proven that respect for existing technological achievements never limits the possibilities of what can be further envisioned and created. With the distinctive attitude of this experienced yet down-to-earth entrepreneur, the founder and CEO of NEURA Robotics has succeeded in developing the first robot with cognitive capabilities in record time. Thanks to artificial intelligence and Neura's proprietary sensor and hardware design, this cognitive robot can work alongside humans with unprecedented safety, speed, and precision. As a result of his success, Reger has been appointed to key thought leadership and advisory positions, including the Senate of German Business and the European Senate of Business and Technology. Grateful for the blessing of this success, he’s tirelessly committed to the development of an ecological and social modern society.

Session(s):

How Cognitive Robots Enable Safe and Natural Human-Machine Collaboration | Tuesday, May 23, 2023 - 10:00 AM

Johan Reimann

Principal Scientist, AI and Machine Learning
GE Research

Dr. Johan Reimann is a Principal Scientist in the AI and Machine Learning (ML) group at GE Research. He has more than 15 years of experience in the research and application of machine learning technologies to a variety of industry problems, including asset life prognostics, multi-objective optimization and decision making under uncertainty. He is responsible for developing solutions for a diverse range of industrial applications using methods in supervised, unsupervised, semi-supervised learning and evolutionary modeling.  Recently, Dr. Reimann has been actively exploring the application of Deep Learning models in the areas of Reinforcement Learning, Sequential and Generative Modeling and Physics Informed model training. In addition, he is also investigating novel Analog Neural Network hardware designs for edge applications and the deployment of reinforcement learning technologies on compact robotic platforms.

Eric Rice

Product Market Manager
Festo Corporation

Eric is an experienced industrial automation professional and specialist in motion control technologies including motors, motors, drives and controls. Over the past 20 years he has applied numerous hardware and software solutions to solve complex automation challenges and developed the ability to successfully communicate key concepts to a diverse audience. 

Session(s):

When and Where to Use Cartesian Robots | Wednesday, May 24, 2023 - 10:00 AM

Silas Robertson

SVP Sales and Marketing
Applied Automation Group

Now SVP Sales and Marketing for Applied Automation Group, Silas have been able to work with the best people in the industry over the past 20 years with Olympus Controls. Last year, Silas started his new role to expand his work with new teams to provide Industry 4.0 technologies nationally. He is excited to help customers save time and energy tackling labour shortage challenges with automation.  

Gregory Robinson

Former Director
NASA, James Webb Space Telescope

A 33-year veteran of NASA, Gregory Robinson is the former director of the $10 billion dollar James Webb Space Telescope (Webb). With 100 times more power than its predecessor, the Hubble Telescope, Webb is considered one of NASA’s greatest achievements of the 21st century. Robinson’s role in not only turning around an over-budget program that was tarnished by a series of setbacks—but actually raising its efficiency rating from 55% to 95%—is attributed to his winning leadership style and willingness to shake up the status quo.

He is credited with radically streamlining communications with multiple stakeholders (including four different committees in Congress, the Office of Management, Budget, aerospace contractors, international space agencies, the White House and more), smoothing political tensions, motivating teams and elevating transparency. He also drew widespread praise for his calm, soft-spoken leadership and communications style, and effective oversight of nearly 20,000 scientists, engineers and support staff in 29 countries and 14 U.S. states. Today, Webb is one million miles from Earth, transmitting never-before-seen images. Over its projected 20-year lifespan, the space observatory is expected to capture galaxies being born and record the very origins of the universe itself, in many ways thanks to Robinson’s quiet, unassuming and highly effective leadership.

In honor of his achievements, Robinson was named to TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2022 and EBONY’s 2022 Power 100 lists, and is a recipient of the TIME100 Impact Award. He was named 2022 Federal Employee of the Year and received the 2022 Distinguished Presidential Rank Award, one of the highest awards bestowed upon career senior executives by the President of the United States of America. His talents were also recognized by Columbia University, which recruited him to the faculty of the School of Professional Studies, where he now lectures on information and knowledge strategy and leading large, complex projects. Prior to overseeing the Webb Space Telescope, Gregory Robinson’s roles at NASA ranged from leading 114 missions for the Science Mission Directorate to being intricately involved with the 21 shuttle launches following the Columbia Shuttle accident.

Robinson joined NASA in 1989, after graduating from HBCU Howard University with a bachelor’s in electrical engineering, joining the slim ranks of Black professionals at the agency. His against-the-odds path to the highest levels of NASA began as the ninth of eleven children born to tobacco sharecroppers in segregated rural Virginia. Although Robinson had a notable talent for math and science, a football scholarship paid his way to Virginia Union University, where studied mathematics before transferring to Howard. Over the course of 33 years at NASA, Robinson’s jobs included Deputy Associate Administrator for Programs, where he was responsible for more than 100 science missions; Deputy Center Director of NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Deputy Chief Engineer, and Deputy Assistant Administrator for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National and Environmental Satellite Data and Information Service. He also spent 11 years in various leadership positions at NASA’S Goddard Space Flight Center.

Robinson’s professional accolades include being named 2022 Federal Employee of the Year, the NASA Presidential Meritorious Executive Rank Award (2007), the NASA Presidential Distinguished Executive Rank Award (2013) and 2022 Distinguished Presidential Rank Award. He was also a finalist in ‘Management Excellence” for the Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medal.

In addition to undergraduate degrees from Howard and Virginia Union, Gregory Robinson holds an M.B.A. from Averett University and was a Senior Executive Fellow at Harvard. He is a past faculty member at the George Washington University, Department of Engineering Management & Systems Engineering.

Session(s):

KEYNOTE: A NASA-Inspired Approach to Leading Innovation in Any Organization | Monday, May 22, 2023 - 9:00 AM

Bob Rochelle

Account Manager
Güdel

Bob Rochelle earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Engineering from Virginia Tech and his Industrial Automation career spans over 30 years where he has held a variety of engineering, sales and management positions.   He joined the Güdel team in 2016 as the Southeast Region’s Account Manager.     Bob is a veteran speaker for industry groups, teaches engineering at the University and Community College level and is a freelance author for technical journals.   He is a regular contributor to educational committees for Industrial Automation Groups, has served on the RIA Board of Directors and is a past Standards Committee Chair for the 3A Sanitary Standards Institute.    He enjoys sharing his experiences through speaking engagements like this one.

Session(s):

Getting Started with Robotics | Monday, May 22, 2023 - 10:00 AM

Aaron Royster

CoLab (Collaborative Laboratory) Manager - Robot EOAT Application Developme
SCHUNK

Aaron is the manager of the SCHUNK USA CoLab, a center for testing and proving robotic handling and material removal applications for manufacturers seeking to embrace automation. He has 11 years at SCHUNK including experience in operations, customer support and product management. His goal is supporting industry growth by removing barriers to automation through creative application solutions. 

Session(s):

Advances in Robotic Gripping, Manipulation & Guidance | Tuesday, May 23, 2023 - 1:30 PM

Ted Rozier

Director of Digital, Advanced Technology and Robotics
FESTO Didactic

Ted Rozier is the Director Of Digital Advanced Technology  and Robotics for Festo Didactic Solution Center North America headquartered in Mason , Ohio.

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 Technology 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):

How to Unleash the Power of Artificial Intelligence Based on Real-Time Data From Robotics and Automated Manufacturing Components | Tuesday, May 23, 2023 - 2:30 PM

Stephen Se

Senior Engineering Manager
Teledyne FLIR - Machine Vision

Stephen Se is the Senior Engineering Manager at Teledyne FLIR Machine Vision with over 20 years of experience in computer vision, video/image processing, deep learning, 3D modeling, mobile robotics, airborne surveillance, etc. He completed a B.Eng. degree in Computing at Imperial College London and a Ph.D. degree in Computer Vision and Robotics at University of Oxford.  He then worked as a post-doctoral researcher at University of British Columbia on vision-based mobile robot localization. Subsequently, he led computer vision R&D projects for defense, mining, and terrestrial applications at MDA Corporation.  He is a senior member of IEEE and a professional engineer, with over 40 technical publications.

Session(s):

Comparing 3D Vision Technologies for Warehouse Robotic Applications | Wednesday, May 24, 2023 - 4:15 PM

Nikunj Shah

Development and Certification Manager - Drives
Siemens Industry, Inc.

Nikunj Shah is Development and Certification Manager for the low voltage drives with over 20 years of experience of design, certification and product management of power conversion systems, drives and their applications. He represents Siemens on many standards technical panels of UL, NEMA, IEC, IEEE and several other standards organizations.

Session(s):

UL 61800-5-1: A New UL Standard for Variable Frequency Drives | Tuesday, May 23, 2023 - 2:30 PM

Alex Shikany

Vice President - Membership & Business Intelligence
Association for Advancing Automation (A3)

Alex Shikany is the Vice President of Membership & Business Intelligence at the Association for Advancing Automation (A3). In his position, he researches statistics and trends for global automation markets. Alex is a member of A3’s leadership team, leads membership and business intelligence efforts for the association, and is a frequent speaker at industry events around the world. He earned his bachelor’s degree and MBA from Michigan State University, where he majored in Marketing and Finance. Alex joined A3 in 2012 and has over a decade of experience in marketing, brand strategy, and market research in the automation industry.

Stuart Singer

CEO
Schneider Optics, Inc.

Stuart Singer is the Chief Executive Officer of Schneider Optics, Inc.

Stuart has over 40 years of optical engineering, optical manufacturing, lens design, and management experience, as well as his technical sales experience in the optical applications for Machine and Robotic Vision, Military Reconnaissance, Space Born Optical Systems, Industrial/Commercial, and Motion Picture/Television Industries.

Stuart had formerly been the Senior Vice President & CTO of Schneider Optics, the U.S. subsidiary of Schneider-Kreuznach of Germany for 7 years, and Technical Director for 17 years. Prior to Schneider, Stuart was the Optical Engineering Manager at Loral Fairchild Systems, formerly known as Fairchild Reconnaissance and Surveillance Systems for 14 years. For the last two years, Stuart served as the Senior Technical Director of Ruda Cardinal, Inc., a leader in design and the building of the most complex and intricate optical designs located in Tucson, Az.

Stuart is a Senior Member of the Optical Engineering Society - SPIE. Over the years, Stuart has published numerous technical papers for Schneider and various other publications and has been a frequent lecturer in the field of optics. Stuart was also one of the recipients of a National Emmy Award in 2012 for my contributions in the development of an IRND Filter for Digital Motion Picture Cameras.

Session(s):

Advanced Optics for Vision | Monday, May 22, 2023 - 8:00 AM

Nicholas Sischka

Director, Imaging Product Development
Edmund Optics

Specializing in optics for vision systems, Nick supports imaging and machine vision customers with application knowledge and design assistance for modification or customization requirements. In his role as Director of Imaging Product Development, Nick leverages his experience in applications engineering and knowledge of optical design to determine the products required for success in machine vision. Additionally, Nick serves as the A3 (Association for Advancing Automation) NextGen Chair and teaches on the A3 Education Committee. He holds a B.S. in Optical Sciences and Engineering from the University of Arizona.

Session(s):

Beginning Optics for Machine Vision | Monday, May 22, 2023 - 1:30 PM

Matthew Slack

Business Development Lead
Oceaneering Mobile Robotics

Business Development Lead for Oceaneering Mobile Robotics since 2021.  North American Sales Consultant for mobile robotics systems.  27 years of automation experience in the Material Handling Industry.

Session(s):

Building the Business Case for AGVs/AMRs in Logistics & Manufacturing | Tuesday, May 23, 2023 - 10:00 AM

Eugen Solowjow

Head of Research Group
Siemens

Dr. Eugen Solowjow is Head of Research Group at Siemens’ central R&D division, located in Berkeley, CA, USA. His research interests are in the areas of Machine Autonomy, Robotics, and Artificial Intelligence with applications to factory automation. His mission is to enable cognitive automation with autonomous machines at scale and apply it to use cases that could not be automated so far. Eugen holds a Ph.D. (Dr.-Ing.) from Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH), Germany and was a visiting scholar at the University of California, Berkeley.

Session(s):

Industrial Robotics AI and Its Applications | Wednesday, May 24, 2023 - 8:00 AM

Manuel Sordo

Chief Revenue Officer
Apera AI

Manuel brings more than 25 years of sales and business management experience to Apera AI. He has considerable commercial expertise in the automation and robotics markets. Most recently, Manuel was Universal Robots’ Regional President for Latin America. Manuel holds an MBA from California Intercontinental University.

Session(s):

Advances in Robotic Gripping, Manipulation & Guidance | Tuesday, May 23, 2023 - 1:30 PM

Denise Stafford

Business Development Manager
KUKA Robotics

Denise Stafford is a business development manager for KUKA Robotics, where she works with local sales and account management to provide customers within the North American market with innovative automation solutions utilizing human-robot collaboration and mobile robotics. 

Ms. Stafford has been with KUKA since 2008, supporting the company in a variety of key positions, including head of Service Robotics Research for KUKA Laboratories and as a key account manager. In her current position, she provides invaluable thought leadership for both KUKA and their customers on a wide range of topics, such as Industry 4.0, mobility, and human-robot collaboration.

Before coming to KUKA, Ms. Stafford was the patent coordinator for AKsys GmbH, where she was responsible for the set-up of the company’s patent department, ensuring that their processes and formulas were egally compliant. She also served as 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. 

Session(s):

Mobile Robots in Manufacturing – What Have We Learned So Far? | Monday, May 22, 2023 - 1:30 PM

Liz Stortstrom

Application Engineer
HP 3D Printing

Liz Stortstrom is a 3D Printing Application Engineer with expertise in using HP's Multi Jet Fusion (MJF) Technology for industrial applications. She has a background in Mechanical Design and joined HP to support the development of the MJF technology. She now utilizes that experience to help people take their businesses to the next level with additive manufacturing. Liz received her BS & MS in Mechanical Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University and currently resides in Portland, OR.

Session(s):

Additive Manufacturing for Robotics & Automation 101 | Tuesday, May 23, 2023 - 10:00 AM

Mahesh Sudhakar

AI Software Engineer
Musashi AI

AI Software Development Engineer with three years of professional experience deploying deep learning-based visual quality inspection solutions for automotive manufacturers.

Session(s):

AI-Powered Inspection & Defect Detection | Wednesday, May 24, 2023 - 2:15 PM

Katie Surkamer

President
3P Mechatronics Group

I began my career in the motion control industry in 1995 as a talent evaluator with SAMES Association. For over 30 years 800+ engineers have entered the motion control industry. It is my passion to match the best of the best graduating engineers with top notch companies in the industry.  Spending the time with each candidate and learning from them about their journeys and helping them get matched with the best of our clients is what has kept me energized about our business model and the entire industry.  So many engineers I have met from the early days have gone on to run or own their own motion control businesses and that is the greatest reward of all.

Sue Nicole Susenburger

Vice President
Wandelbots USA

Sue Nicole Susenburger is the Vice President of Wandelbots Inc. in the USA. With her extensive experience in corporate innovation, specializing in automation, Industry 4.0, IoT, and manufacturing, she leads the US business and is dedicated to democratizing robotics with Wandelbots' solutions and platform.   Previously, Sue spent nearly eight years at Bosch, where she served as Global Innovation Strategy Manager. Her mission at Wandelbots is to provide no-code solutions and an overarching developer platform to family-owned manufacturing businesses struggling with labor shortage and in need of help implementing automation.   Wandelbots' German-based robotics software company enables programming-free and uniform operation of robots, which means different models from different manufacturers can be taught in the same way. By eliminating the need for experts, Wandelbots ensures that robot programming is up to 20 times faster and 10 times more cost-effective than traditional methods.

Session(s):

Democratizing Robotics | Wednesday, May 24, 2023 - 11:00 AM

Larry Sweet

Director, Engineering
Advanced Robots for Manufacturing (ARM) Institute

Dr. Larry Sweet directs all aspects of sourcing, securing, and executing the ARM Institute portfolio of robotics, autonomy, and artificial intelligence projects, while growing and maturing the engineering team. The Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Institute is a Manufacturing Innovation Institute, part of the Manufacturing USA® network. The ARM Institute leverages a unique, robust, and diverse ecosystem of 400+ consortium members and partners across industry, academia, and government to make robotics, autonomy, and artificial intelligence more accessible to U.S. manufacturers large and small. Larry provides experience in bringing emerging technologies into production by increasing their Technology Readiness Level (TRL), concurrent with improvements in factory floor processes and workforce skills. Prior to joining the ARM Institute, Larry was Director of Worldwide Robotics Deployment at Amazon Robotics, where he tech transition, system integration and deployment for all internally developed automation across Amazon’s global network. Larry also held executive and senior manufacturing and technology roles at Symbotic, the Frito-Lay Division of PepsiCo, United Technologies, ABB, Fanuc, and General Electric. Industry recognition for robotics developed under his leadership include 27 patents, the Edison and IR-100 Awards, and the Manufacturing Leadership Council Outstanding Achiever Award for Supply Chain Excellence.

Session(s):

ARM Institute Impact Update | Monday, May 22, 2023 - 10:00 AM
ARM Institute: Evaluating & Minimizing Risk Using Robotics and AI on the Factory Floor | Monday, May 22, 2023 - 11:00 AM

Robert Tait

Partner
Optical Metrology Solutions

Robert Tait started in industrial and scientific imaging before computer vision was a thing and was an early adopter on the machine vision technology curve.  Focusing on industrial / government research and development while developing applications and technology, he has maintained a fast and fun career over the last 45 years in the field..  His projects, spanning several countries, have taken him to the bottom of a training nuclear reactor, to the top of wind towers, with an excessive range of activities in-between. After most recently working 14 years at General Electric Global Research, he left to become a partner in Optical Metrology Solutions LLC, in 2018, and has been busy supporting a range of clients, as well as working on improved optical metrology solutions for industry.  One of his favorite jobs is to mentor beginning machine vision people and help them become proficient in the craft. 

Session(s):

Advanced Vision System Integration | Friday, May 26, 2023 - 8:00 AM

Daniel Theobald

Founder and Chief Innovation Officer
Vecna Robotics

Daniel Theobald is the Chief Innovation Officer and founder of Vecna Robotics, flexible, intelligent material handling automation company. Daniel has decades of experience leading research scientists and teams of engineers in developing cutting-edge technology. He has 67 issued patents and more than 30 patents pending. 

Daniel has been at the forefront of robotics for more than 20 years, working closely with DARPA, DOD, NASA, NIH, USDA, and many others to advance the use of robots and AI software to improve supply chain automation. In addition to founding Vecna Robotics, Daniel also co-founded MassRobotics, a non-profit dedicated to the global advancement of the robotics industry. Daniel is dedicated to the idea that technology can be used to empower people worldwide to live more fulfilling lives. 

Session(s):

Updates on Mobile Robot Interoperability Efforts | Monday, May 22, 2023 - 3:30 PM

Ingrid Tighe

President
Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center

Ingrid Tighe is the President of the Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center (The Center). Joining the team at the beginning of 2023, Ingrid serves as the official representative of the MEP National Network in Michigan. She is responsible for The Center’s statewide network of five offices, its innovation and growth strategies, and for building and maintaining relationships with Michigan’s industry clients, partners and state and federal governmental stakeholders.  Previously, she served as Director of Economic Development for Oakland County where she was responsible for leading 200 staff members in four divisions focused on business development and international business attraction; community development and planning; and the county’s workforce development and veteran services. Prior to working at Oakland County, Ingrid was the Executive Director of the Birmingham (Mich.) Shopping District where she planned, organized, coordinated and directed programs and activities designed to promote and foster downtown Birmingham as a center for business, social, cultural and community activity.  She also worked for the State of Michigan in economic development promoting business investment and job growth in Michigan working with the private sector, local economic developers, and government organizations and in workforce development implementing programs, policy and statewide initiatives to improve veteran employment. Ingrid attended Vanderbilt University on a four-year R.O.T.C. scholarship and was commissioned as a U.S. Army Signal Corps officer upon graduation. She served from 1998 to 2005 with the 1st Infantry Division in Germany participating in NATO peacekeeping operations in Macedonia and Kosovo and later with the 1st Cavalry Division leading troops in 2004 to 2005 in the combat zone of Baghdad, Iraq. After honorably separating from the Army, Ingrid used the post 9/11 G.I. Bill to obtain her Master of Public Administration from the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan.

Henry Toal

Sales Director
Inxpect

Henry Toal is the current Sales Director at Inxpect. He is a TUV certified Functional Safety Engineer and has been working in the safety industry since 2000.In addition to his current role he has also participated in various standards groups in both USA and Europe. 

Session(s):

Automation Safety Advances | Wednesday, May 24, 2023 - 4:15 PM

Per Treven

Director Business Development, Manufacturing
Ericsson

Per Treven brings over 30 years of experience within telecom. Per's domains of expertise are in charging, O&M, managed services, IoT and private networks solutions. For the last couple of years, he has worked with business development and sales to enable private wireless solutions for mining companies. Per's current focus is on assisting enterprises on utilizing the capabilities of 5G for manufacturing.

Session(s):

Enabling Smart Mobile Robots Using 5G Private Networks - A Case Study | Tuesday, May 23, 2023 - 2:30 PM

Jenny Tuertscher

Vice President Technical Safety
Fortress Safety

Education:  Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering – Automation and Mechatronics
Certifications and Designations:  Functional Safety Engineer - TÜV Rheinland, #14247 / 17, Machinery; B11 LMSSTM AA311265118

Jenny designed machinery for use globally for over 20 years, has been a TÜV Rheinland Functional Safety Engineer for 5 years, and has participated on ISO and ANSI B11 machinery standards development committees for 5 years.  While working at Procter & Gamble, Jenny enhanced the training and qualification program internal to the company by creating and providing material on using the machinery safety standards, U.S. and global, to evaluate machine designs for proper risk reduction implementation.  She currently teaches B11 LMSSTM and answers questions relative to machinery safety, LOTO, and AMEC for Fortress customers.

Session(s):

Automation Safety Advances | Wednesday, May 24, 2023 - 4:15 PM

Matt Wade

VP of Marketing
BlueBotics

Matt is an experienced B2B marketer and technologist. As part of BlueBotics' commercial and leadership teams, he works with AGV and AMR producers around the world, helping these companies to meet the challenge of vehicle automation and to educate the market on the benefits of mobile robotics.

Session(s):

Building the Business Case for AGVs/AMRs in Logistics & Manufacturing | Tuesday, May 23, 2023 - 10:00 AM

Houssaine Waled

Senior Staff Systems Engineer
KUKA Robotics Corporation

Houssaine Waled is a senior engineer at KUKA Robotics Corporation. He has more than 25 years of experience in the fields of robotics, automation, and motion control. He worked on many highly advanced robotics applications in the aerospace, manufacturing, machining, medical, non-destructive testing, and mobile robotics fields, among others.

Session(s):

Advanced Robotics Application | Wednesday, May 24, 2023 - 10:00 AM

Jason Walker

Vice President of Market Development
Locus Robotics

Jason Walker is the Vice President of Market Development at Locus Robotics. Before joining the Locus Robotics organization, Walker Co-founded Waypoint Robotics, which designs and manufactures easy to use, industrial-strength, omnidirectional autonomous mobile robots. Prior to founding Waypoint, Mr. Walker Co-founded CyPhy Works where he served as Lead Roboticist and Director of Operations while working on contacts for DARPA, NIST, and the National Science Foundation. Walker helped grow CyPhy Works into a leading tethered drone supplier in North America. Prior to CyPhy Works, he was the quality and testing manager for the Roomba vacuuming robot at iRobot. Walker received a BSEE with a concentration in Robotics and Control Systems from Kansas State University.

Session(s):

Updates on Mobile Robot Interoperability Efforts | Monday, May 22, 2023 - 3:30 PM

Perry C. West

President
Automated Vision Systems, Inc.

Perry C. West is the president of Automated Vision Systems, Inc., a leading consulting firm in the field of machine vision.  He has over 43 years of experience in machine vision.  This experience includes system design and development, software development of both general purpose and application specific software packages, optical engineering for both lighting and imaging, camera and interface design, education and training, manufacturing management, and engineering management.  He received his BSEE from the University of California at Berkeley, is a past President of the Machine Vision Association of SME, received the MVA/SME Chairman’s Award for 1990, and received the Automated Imaging Association’s annual Achievement Award for 2003.

Session(s):

High-Speed, Real-Time Machine Vision | Tuesday, May 23, 2023 - 3:30 PM
Vision System Design | Wednesday, May 24, 2023 - 10:30 AM
Metrology & 2D Calibration Techniques | Thursday, May 25, 2023 - 9:00 AM

Matthew Wicks

Sr. Director of Products and Engineering
Zebra-Fetch Robotics

Matt has more than 27 years of experience in the material handling industry with expertise in the areas of robotics, controls and software integration for high-volume manufacturing and distribution systems. He has extensive experience in the field of advanced robotic solution development, including robotic solution 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. Matt is currently the Sr. Director of Robotics Engineering at Zebra systems and is responsible for the engineering and product management of Zebras mobile robotics solutions.  He holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Missouri – Rolla (Missouri S&T) and is a registered Professional Engineer in the state of Missouri. He currently serves on the Association for Advancing Automation (A3) Board of Directors and is a past Chairman of the Robotics Industry Association (RIA) Board of Directors.

Session(s):

How 4 Unique Businesses Rapidly Launched Commercial Automation Solutions Using Mobile Robotics | Monday, May 22, 2023 - 11:00 AM

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):

Positioner Selection and Motor Sizing | Tuesday, May 23, 2023 - 3:00 PM
Motion Controllers, Programming, and System Design Basics | Wednesday, May 24, 2023 - 10:00 AM

Adam Willea

District Manager
FANUC America

Adam Willea is the District Manager for FANUC America serving customers in Florida and the Caribbean.  Adam has been with FANUC America since 2015 and has worked in the automation industry since 2007.

Session(s):

Why Cobots are the First Choice for Many Small to Medium-sized Companies | Wednesday, May 24, 2023 - 11:00 AM

Wagon Wills

Chief Engineer
Gonzalez Production Systems

Wagon Wills is Chief Engineer at Gonzalez Production Systems and has worked in various engineering roles over the last 16 years. He has worked on products and automation projects in numerous industries including automotive, renewable energy, aerospace, and heavy industry. His key areas of interest and expertise are in design for manufacturing, material selection, design optimization, joining technologies, and robotic systems. 

Session(s):

Additive Manufacturing for Robotics & Automation 101 | Tuesday, May 23, 2023 - 10:00 AM

James Witherspoon

Product Manager
Zebra Technologies

Jim is currently a Product Manager with the Machine Vision and Fixed Industrial Scanning group where he is responsible for the Zebra Aurora software and help getting the best solutions to the market. Jim has more than 20 years of experience within the Machine Vision and Fixed Industrial Scanning Industry and has worked in application engineering, sales, and management.  Jim previously worked with many of the world’s top companies to install thousands of machine vision and fixed industrial scanning systems and solutions. 

Session(s):

Deep Learning at the Edge | Tuesday, May 23, 2023 - 11:00 AM

Rebecca Yeung

Corporate Vice President, Operations Science and Advanced Technology
FedEx Corporation

Ms. Yeung is a Corporate Vice President at FedEx Corporation and leads Operations Science and Advanced Technology. In her role, she is responsible for driving critical aspects of FedEx’s innovation and transformation strategy including scaling up robotics and automation technology, autonomous vehicles, decision science, and electromobility. She sits on the FedEx Strategic Management Committee, a C-suite leadership group that sets the strategic direction for the enterprise. Prior to this role, she was Vice President – Advanced Technology & Innovation at FedEx Corporation since 2015. She currently serves an Independent Director of Columbus McKinnon Corporation. Previously, she served as a Board of Director for the Mid-South Food Bank between 2013 and 2022. Ms. Yeung brings a wealth of knowledge in strategy, innovation, technology, global operations, logistics, digitization, and electromobility. Ms. Yeung is a graduate of Fudan University, Shanghai, China, and has an MBA from the Robert H. Smith School of Business, University of Maryland.

David Zerkler

Machine Vision Senior Learning Advisor
Zebra

David Zerkler has been writing about, teaching, and making training videos on machine vision for over 12 years for Matrox Imaging and now Zebra Technologies. Currently, his team is focused on developing and delivering technical sales enablement training for Zebra Technologies' Machine Vision and Imaging Partner Program. David has graduate credentials in Education and Computer Science from Concordia University in Montreal, where he currently lives with his family.

Session(s):

Advanced Image Processing | Thursday, May 25, 2023 - 2:00 PM

Andrew Zucker

Mechatronics Engineer
Harmonic Drive LLC

Andrew is a Mechatronics Engineer at Harmonic Drive. Before joining the Harmonic Drive team four years ago, he studied Electromechanical Engineering at Wentworth Institute of Technology. In addition to this degree, he spent  nine years participating in competitive robotics including the FIRST and MATE ROV competitions. With his industry experience and competitive roles combined, he has worked closely with robotics for 13 years.