AUTOMATE LIVE

Brian Heater
Managing Editor, A3

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

Jana Martin
Media Production Manager, A3

Jana Martin has been creating engaging interviews since the beginning of her career as a Producer for a non-partisan public affairs television show in 2012. Since then, she has been a host, on-air producer, and guest on many shows in many different industries from music to endurance training to technology and now in automation and robotics. In the last 12 years, she has engaged with thousands of thought leaders from C-level industry experts and Grammy-nominated artists to leading politicians from around the world.

Jake Hall
The Manufacturing Millennial

Jake Hall known as the Manufacturing Millennial is an advocate manufacturing, automation,and skilled trades. He is a global Keynote Speaker and digital leader helping revolutionize the way people and companies present through social media. With over 115,000 Followers and 250,000,000+ views on his content, Jake ignites conversations about the latest in manufacturing and automation to excite the current and future workforce about our industry.

Chris Luecke
Manufacturing Happy Hour

Chris Luecke is a Podcaster, Marketer, and Content Creator in the manufacturing industry and the host of the top-ranked podcast Manufacturing Happy Hour. Described as "TEDx meets 'How It's Made," Manufacturing Happy Hour goes beyond the buzzwords and dissects real-life applications and success stories through candid interviews with executives, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders. To date, Chris has interviewed over 300 leaders in the industrial sector in an effort to simplify and explore the latest trends and technologies impacting modern manufacturers.

Winn Hardin
Manufacturing Matters Podcast Host

Winn Hardin is the founder and managing director of TECH B2B Marketing, a full-service marketing agency that supports industrial automation and energy companies. For more than 35 years, he has provided marketing and PR consultation to Fortune 1000 technology-focused organizations and industry associations. A co-host of the Manufacturing Matters podcast (100,000+ subscribers), Winn is a frequent speaker on industry topics such as AI and the future of robotics, as well as all things marketing. 

Jimmy Carroll
Manufacturing Matters Podcast Host

Jimmy Carroll is VP of Operations at TECH B2B Marketing, a full-service marketing agency that supports industrial automation and energy companies. Throughout his career in marketing, media, consulting, and training, Jimmy brings a journalistic curiosity and desire to help people and companies succeed. A co-host of the Manufacturing Matters podcast (100,000+ subscribers), Jimmy is a frequent speaker on industry topics such as machine vision, AI, and robotics.

Alicia Gilpin
Automation Ladies Podcast Host

Alicia Gilpin also known as Ali G is the founder of Process and Controls Engineering LLC (PCE), where she provides automation and controls engineering services across the U.S. With over a decade of hands-on experience in process automation, industrial controls, and UL508a panel building, Ali has worked extensively in procurement, system design, and commissioning. She started her career in process engineering, later transitioning to controls, where she led a greenfield build and gained valuable expertise in project execution. She has traveled nationwide, working on burner and gas train control systems, and has a deep understanding of UL508a panel design and manufacturing.

Ali is also the co-founder of OT SCADA CON, an event dedicated to industrial automation, operational technology, and SCADA systems. She is passionate about workforce development and founded Kids PLC Kits, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit focused on exposing younger generations to real industrial controls.

Nikki Gonzales
Automation Ladies Podcast Host

Nikki Gonzales is the Director of Business Development at Weintek USA and co-founder of OT SCADA CON, a community conference for Industrial Automation professionals in Houston Texas. With a background spanning automation, engineering, and technology startups, she has spent her career at the intersection of industrial automation, digital transformation, and AI-driven solutions.

She also serves on the Board of Directors at Process and Controls Engineering LLC (PCE), supporting the company’s mission to drive innovation in controls engineering and automation. Nikki is the founder and co-host of the popular podcast Automation Ladies, where she and Ali G bring together industry experts, discuss trends in automation, and provide insights into the evolving world of industrial technology.

Courtney Fernandez
Automation Ladies Podcast Host

Courtney Fernandez is a controls and robotics engineer who has spent her career getting her hands on virtually every kind of industrial automation system there is. PLCs, robots, machine vision, motion controllers, electrical cabinets, 3D scanners, IO Link sensors. Her standing claim: give her a week with an unfamiliar IDE and she'll figure it out. Control logic is control logic.

She holds a Master's degree in Controls Systems and Robotics and a Bachelor's in Electrical Engineering from California State University, Long Beach, and is a member of Eta Kappa Nu Honor Society. Her early career included electrical engineering at Zero Motorcycles during its startup years and hands-on systems integration work at HNJ Solutions, where she led machine vision projects from concept through commissioning. She has worked with OEM machine builders, system integrators, and robotics companies, including Universal Robots and United Robotics Group, and currently works as a Senior Robotics Hardware Engineer at Relativity Space.