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Allison has been with Win-Tech, a small business aerospace machine shop, for 16 years. In 2020, after she bought the business with her partner (another long-tenured Win-Tech employee), she made it her mission to prioritize cybersecurity and prepare for the road ahead. Allison serves on multiple industry association boards and handles operations and business functions of her small business.
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There can be no success without a vision. Evolution vs revolution.
- Rethinking how we work Culture eats strategy for breakfast and technology for lunch.
- Continuous Innovation, the new continuous improvement. When you have the ideas, but the plants have the money.
- Millennials, meet the Gen Z workforce.
- Upskilling for factory of the future.
Manuele D’Aversa is the CEO of LINDE + WIEMANN US Inc., who started the US expansion since the beginning of this green field project in 2015. Before stepping into this role, Manuele managed an integration project of the LINDE + WIEMANN M&A strategy in South Africa for three years. As a regional controller for Southern Europe and Africa, he was closely involved with the LINDE + WIEMANN activities in Germany. With this experience, he has the ability to transfer the LINDE + WIEMANN footprint overseas. Manuele was born and raised in Germany where he finalized his studies in International Economic and Business Administration (Diplom Betriebswirt) at University of Applied Sciences in Worms, Germany.
There can be no success without a vision. Evolution vs revolution.
- Rethinking how we work Culture eats strategy for breakfast and technology for lunch.
- Continuous Innovation, the new continuous improvement. When you have the ideas, but the plants have the money.
- Millennials, meet the Gen Z workforce.
- Upskilling for factory of the future.
Watch this space
There can be no success without a vision. Evolution vs revolution.
- Rethinking how we work Culture eats strategy for breakfast and technology for lunch.
- Continuous Innovation, the new continuous improvement. When you have the ideas, but the plants have the money.
- Millennials, meet the Gen Z workforce.
- Upskilling for factory of the future.
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Rebecca Short is the Director of Operations for the Clemson University Center for Workforce Development (CUCWD) and the National Science Foundation Advanced Technological Education Center for Aviation and Automotive Technological Education Using Virtual E-Schools (CA2VES) and the former Chief Workforce Officer for the Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Institute. She has over twenty years of work experience in higher education administration in undergraduate and graduate admissions, academic records, and student affairs. She holds a Ph.D. in Public Administration and Public Policy from Auburn University. Before joining the CUCWD and CA2VES, she served as Director of Graduate Admissions & Records at the University of Montevallo in Alabama. Her research interest focuses on public opinion related to state public policy and how outside political interests affect policy agendas and policy implementation.
There can be no success without a vision. Evolution vs revolution.
- Rethinking how we work Culture eats strategy for breakfast and technology for lunch.
- Continuous Innovation, the new continuous improvement. When you have the ideas, but the plants have the money.
- Millennials, meet the Gen Z workforce.
- Upskilling for factory of the future.
Watch this space
There can be no success without a vision. Evolution vs revolution.
- Rethinking how we work Culture eats strategy for breakfast and technology for lunch.
- Continuous Innovation, the new continuous improvement. When you have the ideas, but the plants have the money.
- Millennials, meet the Gen Z workforce.
- Upskilling for factory of the future.
Watch this space
There can be no success without a vision. Evolution vs revolution.
- Rethinking how we work Culture eats strategy for breakfast and technology for lunch.
- Continuous Innovation, the new continuous improvement. When you have the ideas, but the plants have the money.
- Millennials, meet the Gen Z workforce.
- Upskilling for factory of the future.
Scott Burkey is a Technology Fellow at Westrock, a global manufacturing and consumer packaging company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. He takes a pragmatic approach to implementing new ways of making training more effective and supporting front-line workers. Having worked as a software developer for over 20 years for brands like CNN, TBS/TNT and Coca-Cola, Scott now champions new technologies in the manufacturing industry which he believes will be one of the biggest adopters of augmented and virtual reality.
Prior to WestRock Scott delivered VR products for the National Basketball Association. He serves in an advisory capacity to startups and non-profits. Scott is a United States Marine Veteran that enjoys running and backpacking with his wife and 4 children in Atlanta, Georgia.
There can be no success without a vision. Evolution vs revolution.
- Rethinking how we work Culture eats strategy for breakfast and technology for lunch.
- Continuous Innovation, the new continuous improvement. When you have the ideas, but the plants have the money.
- Millennials, meet the Gen Z workforce.
- Upskilling for factory of the future.
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Catherine Briley is the Director of M4.0 Integration for Cooley Group, a global manufacturer of high-performance polymeric solutions. Catherine has spent 25 years in the manufacturing sector and is currently dedicated to developing digitalization strategies across Cooley Group’s operations so that critical datasets can be leveraged with the purpose of exceeding business objectives. Catherine’s path began with a Textile Engineering degree from NCSU, then job progressions from Quality Engineering to Quality Management & ISO 9001 compliance, all the while championing cross functional teams focusing on product and process Continuous Improvements. More recently, after receiving ASQ’s CMQ/OE and Cornell’s Python & Machine Learning in R certifications, Catherine’s passion is empowering all levels of Cooley Group’s associates with digital information and tools in order to help establish an enjoyable, sustainable and profitable organization.
There can be no success without a vision. Evolution vs revolution.
- Rethinking how we work Culture eats strategy for breakfast and technology for lunch.
- Continuous Innovation, the new continuous improvement. When you have the ideas, but the plants have the money.
- Millennials, meet the Gen Z workforce.
- Upskilling for factory of the future.
Born in Vietnam and residing in the United States, Hao is an experience junkie. He has worked across the United States, Europe, and Southeast Asia in the manufacturing, financial services sector, energy segment, extreme sports arena, and entertainment industry, performing various roles such as an innovation evangelist, digital product owner, and his favorite job, as a professional skateboarder. Hao is passionate about nurturing his creative confidence and utilizing innovation to solve complex issues. He is spearheading initiatives to transform traditional organizations into innovation powerhouses. Additionally, Hao started two non-profits focused on helping students and non-techies nurture their creative skills, spark their innovative fire and prepare them for the digital economy.
There can be no success without a vision. Evolution vs revolution.
- Rethinking how we work Culture eats strategy for breakfast and technology for lunch.
- Continuous Innovation, the new continuous improvement. When you have the ideas, but the plants have the money.
- Millennials, meet the Gen Z workforce.
- Upskilling for factory of the future.
Brandon joined NavVis in July of 2022, excited to become part of a groundbreaking company in the digital world. Even in that short time he has seen customers benefit from reality captured digital factory maps. Prior to joining NavVis, Brandon spent time working with customers seeking to automate processes through the implementation of industrial, mobile, and collaborative robotics. He has experience as a Business Unit Manager, and has lead teams of customer service representatives, application engineers, new business development managers, and sales engineers. Regarding education, he has a BSME from the University of Buffalo and an MBA from Clemson University. If you would like to have a passionate conversation, bring up leadership styles, golf, chicken wings, and the Buffalo Bills!
There can be no success without a vision. Evolution vs revolution.
- Rethinking how we work Culture eats strategy for breakfast and technology for lunch.
- Continuous Innovation, the new continuous improvement. When you have the ideas, but the plants have the money.
- Millennials, meet the Gen Z workforce.
- Upskilling for factory of the future.
Jessica Kinman has nearly 20 years’ experience in the Manufacturing industry and is currently the Director of Industry Solutions at Boomi. She previously built cloud technology, engineering and manufacturing process solutions for the Aerospace Industry in her roles as a Solution Leader for Amazon AWS and Industry Director for Dassault Systèmes. Prior to Dassault, Jessica worked at Boeing where she led the 2nd Century Enterprise System transformation team for Manufacturing, held various positions on the Manufacturing floor as an electrician, team leader and Manufacturing Manager to support multiple developmental programs and electrical certification projects and testing. She’s held various positions at Walmart Distribution center including their Operations Manager running their dry shipping operations to support 200 southeast stores. She currently serves as an officer in the US military for the 194th Civil Engineering Flight in the Washington Air National Guard and is an active board and advisory member to the National Women in Manufacturing organization, WIM WA Chapter, Center of Excellence for Advanced Manufacturing and the Creative Destruction Lab for MFG Startups. She earned a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Oregon Institute of Technology, has a BA in Business Management and Operations and an MBA from Washington State University.
There can be no success without a vision. Evolution vs revolution.
- Rethinking how we work Culture eats strategy for breakfast and technology for lunch.
- Continuous Innovation, the new continuous improvement. When you have the ideas, but the plants have the money.
- Millennials, meet the Gen Z workforce.
- Upskilling for factory of the future.
As Vice President, Simon Ellis currently leads the U.S. Manufacturing Insights and Global Supply Chain Strategies practices at IDC Manufacturing Insights, specializing in advising clients on manufacturing strategies, supply chain digital transformation, sustainability, cloud migration, network, and ecosystem design. Mr. Ellis works with manufacturers, supply chain companies and technology providers to develop best practices and strategies leveraging IDC quantitative and qualitative data sets. Within the Supply Chain practices, Mr. Ellis is directly responsible for the research in the Supply Chain Planning and Multi-Enterprise Networks Strategies practice while also overseeing the Supply Chain Execution practices. These supply chain practices specialize in advising clients on supply chain network design, S&OP, global sourcing (Profitable Proximity and Low-Cost Sourcing), warehousing and inventory management, transportation, logistics, and more.
There can be no success without a vision. Evolution vs revolution.
- Rethinking how we work Culture eats strategy for breakfast and technology for lunch.
- Continuous Innovation, the new continuous improvement. When you have the ideas, but the plants have the money.
- Millennials, meet the Gen Z workforce.
- Upskilling for factory of the future.
Mike Ungar is a FocalPoint Business Coach and Executive Coach helping business leaders improve their profitability and achieve their personal and professional goals. Mike is also Co-Founder of the Industry 4.0 Club whose purpose is to engage the power of diverse worldwide talent to accelerate the global evolution to Industry 4.0.
After graduating from the United States Military Academy, he served as an Infantry Officer in the United States Army. Upon completion of his military service, Mike joined Michelin North America. In his 35 years at Michelin, Mike coached teams from all areas of business (manufacturing, research and development, sales and marketing, and support services) as well as in a variety of countries and cultures (France, Germany, Romania, Northern Ireland, Brazil, Mexico, Canada, and the United States). He also led teams in manufacturing, continuous improvement, and personnel. Mike has leveraged his coaching experience with Lean techniques to develop sustained continuous improvement culture through the engagement of people.
Mike is on the Board of the Upstate Veteran’s Business Network and helps Veterans Transitioning to Civilian life. He is a member of the Workplace Advisory Council to the Tanenbaum Center for Interreligious Understanding and is co-chair of the Greenville Society of Human Resource Management’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee.
There can be no success without a vision. Evolution vs revolution.
- Rethinking how we work Culture eats strategy for breakfast and technology for lunch.
- Continuous Innovation, the new continuous improvement. When you have the ideas, but the plants have the money.
- Millennials, meet the Gen Z workforce.
- Upskilling for factory of the future.
Watch this space
There can be no success without a vision. Evolution vs revolution.
- Rethinking how we work Culture eats strategy for breakfast and technology for lunch.
- Continuous Innovation, the new continuous improvement. When you have the ideas, but the plants have the money.
- Millennials, meet the Gen Z workforce.
- Upskilling for factory of the future.
Catherine Hayes has over 20 years of international industrial experience, including leadership roles with Square D, NCR, and Bosch. With a B.S. in Engineering Management and Mechanical Engineering, a M.S. in Industrial Technology, and a focus on Lean Six Sigma, she led successful teams in Manufacturing Engineering and Operations, Quality Engineering, and Industrial Engineering.
In her current role as Industry Manager with SCRA, Catherine partners with industry to identify improvement opportunities, scouts for technology solutions, and facilitates technology transfer to support Industry 4.0 initiatives and digital transformation challenges. She collaborates with universities, economic development organizations and state agencies to support industry growth and the mobility/energy infrastructure while fostering the entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystems.
Previously as Executive Director of the South Carolina Automotive Council, Catherine championed digital transformation in manufacturing and convened companies to share best practices in innovation, operations, supply chain development and workforce development. She collaborated throughout the Southeast with automotive manufacturers and alliances to support the automotive industry and to expand foreign direct investment.
There can be no success without a vision. Evolution vs revolution.
- Rethinking how we work Culture eats strategy for breakfast and technology for lunch.
- Continuous Innovation, the new continuous improvement. When you have the ideas, but the plants have the money.
- Millennials, meet the Gen Z workforce.
- Upskilling for factory of the future.
Watch this space
There can be no success without a vision. Evolution vs revolution.
- Rethinking how we work Culture eats strategy for breakfast and technology for lunch.
- Continuous Innovation, the new continuous improvement. When you have the ideas, but the plants have the money.
- Millennials, meet the Gen Z workforce.
- Upskilling for factory of the future.
Andy is a cybersecurity leader laser-focused on helping organizations build cybersecurity maturity. In his role as CISO with Sentinel Blue, he specializes in helping defense and federal contractors meet compliance obligations (DFARS, CMMC). Before co-founding Sentinel Blue, Andy managed cybersecurity operations in the defense industry, internally as a defense contractor, and externally as a consultant.
There can be no success without a vision. Evolution vs revolution.
- Rethinking how we work Culture eats strategy for breakfast and technology for lunch.
- Continuous Innovation, the new continuous improvement. When you have the ideas, but the plants have the money.
- Millennials, meet the Gen Z workforce.
- Upskilling for factory of the future.
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Dr. Ramy Harik, a Fulbright Scholar, is a Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of South Carolina and a researcher at the McNAIR Center for Aerospace Innovation and Research. Ramy is the principal investigator of the neXt (new and emerging X technologies) research team. His education joins Mechanical Engineering (BS/MS), Automated Manufacturing (MS) and Industrial/Mechanical Engineering (PhD). He mainly teaches courses in Manufacturing, Smart Manufacturing, Pharmaceutical Manufacturing, Prototyping, Computer Aided Design (CAD) and Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM). Dr Harik is an Associate Editor of the SME Manufacturing Letters journal. He is the author of the “Introduction to Advanced Manufacturing” textbook by SAE. He was granted more than 15 million USD in funding from NASA, Boeing, National Science Foundation, Toray, SC Department of Commerce, South Carolina Research Authority, Siemens, Fokker and several other agencies. He is the recipient of the 2021 Distinguished Undergraduate Research Mentor award from the University of South Carolina, the 2018 Samuel Litman Distinguished Professor award from the College of Engineering and Computing at the University of South Carolina, and the 2016 Outstanding Young Educator Award from Pi Tau Sigma Honor Society at the University of South Carolina. Dr. Harik was the chair of CAD’10, the ACE’15, ACE’16 and ACE’17 Technical Symposiums, the PLM’16 International Conference, and the
technical co-chair of the largest composites show in the United States CAMX 2020. He was listed as amongst the 20 most influential professors in Smart Manufacturing by SME’s Smart Manufacturing Magazine in 2020. In 2021, Dr. Harik released his second book: “Manufacturing vs Corruption: Who Wins?” by SAE.
There can be no success without a vision. Evolution vs revolution.
- Rethinking how we work Culture eats strategy for breakfast and technology for lunch.
- Continuous Innovation, the new continuous improvement. When you have the ideas, but the plants have the money.
- Millennials, meet the Gen Z workforce.
- Upskilling for factory of the future.
Marcos Joined BorgWarner in January of 2022, excited about bringing in his background and experience with new lines and technology development and implementation to help BW to overcome challenges and level up the assembly floor, where he was already able to contribute with some automation and technology improvement projects and has couple other projects kicked of that are focused in Collaborative robots and process automation. Prior joining BW, Marcos spent the last 10+ years working with other tier 1 automotive suppliers in different facilities across Brazil and US implementing new automated assembly lines, test stands, non-contact gaging systems and mistake proofing devices including automated inspection robots. He has a solid 15 years of engineering background and has started his Manufacturing Engineering Leadership with BorgWarner where he is being leading engineers and Technicians through the innovation. Marcos holds a BSME from FEI – Industrial Engineering University in São Bernardo do Campo, Brazil and a master's degree in Business Administration from UNICAMP – State University of Campinas, Brazil. If you would like to engage in a conversation, bring up family, soccer, Barbecue (Brazilian Style), technology and continuous improvement!
There can be no success without a vision. Evolution vs revolution.
- Rethinking how we work Culture eats strategy for breakfast and technology for lunch.
- Continuous Innovation, the new continuous improvement. When you have the ideas, but the plants have the money.
- Millennials, meet the Gen Z workforce.
- Upskilling for factory of the future.
Joseph Etris is the Vice President of Industrial Internet of Things for Gemba Systems Inc, which offers guidance, tools, and hands-on support in the selection and implementation of Industry 4.0 technologies.
Previously, Joseph served as an engineering manager for the Powertrain Division of Continental. Joseph led a team to digitize the plant, capturing energy consumption and production data at the machine level. The initiative led to significant energy savings, emission reductions, and the facility became the second plant in North America to be awarded with the Continental “Green Plant Label.”
Joseph has an MBA and is certified in Business Analytics from the Darla Moore School of Business. He is married with three boys.
There can be no success without a vision. Evolution vs revolution.
- Rethinking how we work Culture eats strategy for breakfast and technology for lunch.
- Continuous Innovation, the new continuous improvement. When you have the ideas, but the plants have the money.
- Millennials, meet the Gen Z workforce.
- Upskilling for factory of the future.
Jonathan is an innovation and technology executive working with the world's most cutting-edge manufacturers. Throughout his career, he has worked at companies like General Electric, Software AG and most recently, AWS, where he has helped industrial organizations reduce costs and improve their operational efficiencies, support the full life cycles of transformational solutions and build resilient supply chains through the use of IoT, IIoT, AI, ML and other bleeding-edge technologies. When he is not working directly with industrials, Jonathan spends his time as an advisor on a number of industry and start-up advisory boards.
There can be no success without a vision. Evolution vs revolution.
- Rethinking how we work Culture eats strategy for breakfast and technology for lunch.
- Continuous Innovation, the new continuous improvement. When you have the ideas, but the plants have the money.
- Millennials, meet the Gen Z workforce.
- Upskilling for factory of the future.
Jonathan is an innovation and technology executive working with the world's most cutting-edge manufacturers. Throughout his career, he has worked at companies like General Electric, Software AG and most recently, AWS, where he has helped industrial organizations reduce costs and improve their operational efficiencies, support the full life cycles of transformational solutions and build resilient supply chains through the use of IoT, IIoT, AI, ML and other bleeding-edge technologies. When he is not working directly with industrials, Jonathan spends his time as an advisor on a number of industry and start-up advisory boards.
