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Susan Helper is the Carlton Professor of Economics at the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University. She served on the White House staff in both the Obama and Biden Administrations, and as Chief Economist of the U.S. Department of Commerce. Her research focuses on the impacts of organization and supply chain structure on innovation, job quality, and sustainability, especially in manufacturing. She is a Research Associate of the National Bureau of Economic Research, and has been a visiting scholar at MIT, Harvard, Berkeley, and Oxford Universities. She has a BA from Oberlin College and a PhD in Economics from Harvard University.
Former chief economist at the u.s. department of commerce | Professor of economics |
case western reserve university
Brian Perlstein is the Digital Manufacturing Innovation Leader at Owens Corning, a world leader in insulation, roofing, and fiberglass composites. He is a member of Owens Corning’s Manufacturing Digital Transformation organization focused on identifying and deploying solutions that help drive operational transformation in the manufacturing environment.
Perlstein was appointed to his current role in 2022. With Owens Corning since 2018, Perlstein has worked to advance its digital transformation, leading programs such as the Early Warning Diagnostics process health program, and a strategic initiative to safely empower its workforce with information, knowledge, and expertise by making digital information more accessible through a variety of technologies and approaches.
Prior to joining Owens Corning, Perlstein held various roles, including Director of GE Digital’s Brilliant Factory Digital Lab, that helped to shape his knowledge and thought leadership in the Industry 4.x/ Smart Manufacturing space.
He earned two bachelor’s degrees from the University of Michigan - Dearborn, and a master’s certificate in lean manufacturing from the University of Michigan.
Digital Manufacturing
Innovation
Leader |
OWENS CORNING
Max Forte is a highly accomplished senior executive with over two decades of experience leading global automotive and industrial manufacturing companies as President and CEO. He brings a unique blend of strategic vision, financial acumen, and operational expertise to the forefront of industrial transformation. Throughout his distinguished career, Max has consistently driven significant business turnarounds, optimized production efficiency, and enhanced financial performance across diverse international markets. His executive experience includes defining comprehensive financial strategies, implementing risk mitigation plans, and integrating globally defined technologies. A certified Innovation Board advisor and certified in AI for Leaders, Max is uniquely positioned to discuss how manufacturing leaders can elevate Industrial AI from the shop floor to a core C-suite agenda item. He holds a Mechanical Engineering degree, a post-graduation in Marketing, and an MBA in Corporate Business. Fluent in multiple languages, his solid international business acumen further enhances his strategic insights.
Vice president
sPEcial projects |
Brose north america
Chuck Fornicola is the Director of Global Product and Process Excellence for the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company where he leads the Quality function Digital Transformation efforts working out of corporate HQ in Akron, OH. He has 32 years of experience in manufacturing, with the last 29 being at Goodyear. He currently has global responsibility but previously worked in 4 plants on 2 continents encompassing all of Goodyear’s product lines while beginning his career as a plant process engineer.
Director, GLOBAL PRODUCT & PROCESS QUALITY
EXCELLENCE |
THE GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY
Jaimie McIntyre Horstman serves as the Director of Demand Forecasting at Procter & Gamble. Jaimie has a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry and Chemical Engineering from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, OH. She began her career in engineering and manufacturing at P&G, but found and followed her passion over the last 24 years leading transformations and solving problems in the end-to-end supply chain. Her experience spans supply planning, customer service/logistics, transportation, S&OP leadership, global supply network design, internal and external cross functional collaboration, demand planning and short/long range capacity planning. She has been a strong advocate for women in supply chain, leading the NA Supply Network Operations Women’s Affinity group at P&G for 5 years and most recently being featured on the “She Supply Chains” Podcast.
Director of demand forecasting |
procter & gamble
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Tolla Cherwenka, a technology industry veteran with over 25 years of experience, has held leadership roles at AWS, IBM, TSYS, and Lockheed Martin. As AWS's Global Technical Strategy Leader, she develops innovative strategies driving global objectives for automotive and manufacturing customers. Her groundbreaking work includes leading the development of humanoid AI robots for autonomous warehouse management, disaster response, and hazardous material handling.
As Principal Solution Architect, she created technical solutions for automotive giants like BMW and Mercedes-Benz. At IBM, Tolla was a Worldwide Thought Leader and Architect, spearheading the Smart Cities Challenge initiative, which included advancing autonomous vehicle capabilities in urban settings.
Throughout her career, Tolla has consistently demonstrated her ability to drive digital transformation. Her expertise spans software development, enterprise architecture, and technology strategy, positioning her as a key player in shaping the future of technology, particularly in the automotive and urban technology sectors.
WW TECH LEAD, DIGITAL CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE |
Amazon web services
Ben joined Cambria as its EVP and Chief Digital Officer in June 2015. Since joining Cambria, Ben has overseen a transformation that has allowed Cambria to generate more and higher quality product at a lower cost. He has transformed Cambria’s digital capabilities into a customer-centric and scalable operation that uses automation and data to serve the company’s growth.
Ben now serves as Cambria’s EVP of Information Technology, focusing his expertise on Cambria’s smart manufacturing, cloud computing and cybersecurity strategies. Ben’s career includes service as an Operations Executive for multiple “born in the cloud”, startup businesses and has delivered data and content systems to customers on six continents. He’s owned many facets of technology delivery to customers as part of his Operations experiences. Ben began his career working for the Department of Veterans Affairs. He holds a BS, Business Computer Information Systems from St. Cloud State University.
EVP, IT - Industry
4.0 |
CAMBRIA
Sarah Morgan is currently Director Digital Supply Chain Kellogg North America, driving strategy and execution of digital transformation across manufacturing. She has over 25 years of experience with roles in IT, engineering and operations leading teams to develop and deploy technology solutions supporting operations and coaching the work systems to support adoption. Prior to Kellogg, she worked in the healthcare industry digitally transforming patient records.
Sarah is passionate about championing women in tech and has served as a mentor for NextUp, judge for Society of Women Engineers scholarships, and is an active BERG community partner for Women of Kellanova+.
Sarah studied Business Management at Concordia University and holds certifications in Design Thinking from Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management and Health Informatics from ASHIM.
Director, Digital
Supply Chain |
KELLANOVA
John Vargo leads MES and DxOps Transformation at RoviSys, a global leader in manufacturing automation and information systems integration. With over 23 years of experience, John has dedicated his career to developing strategies that drive effective digital transformation in manufacturing operations. His work focuses on improving operational efficiency, enhancing data transparency, and advancing quality and traceability. John's approach not only addresses today's challenges but also anticipates future opportunities, ensuring continuous evolution in manufacturing processes.
John has consistently built high-performance teams capable of delivering top-tier process automation, analytics, and manufacturing solutions across various industries. His broad expertise spans multiple manufacturing styles and process types, including batch, continuous, discrete, and hybrid operating models. John's client-first approach enables him to understand organizational challenges and help drive transformative change. His successful projects demonstrate his ability to foster collaboration, enhance communication, and streamline change management across workstreams.
Director - Manufacturing execution syetms & digital supply chain |
rovisys
Barrett Hopper is a purpose-driven leadership coach, keynote speaker, and continuous improvement expert with over 25 years of transformational leadership experience. He has guided teams across manufacturing, operations, and global strategy - always with one goal in mind: help individuals and organizations unlock their full potential. Barrett's life philosophy is rooted in simplicity: 'One mile at a time.'
As a marathoner who has completed over 50 marathons, including 8 Boston Marathons, he blends
endurance and vision to help others push past limits they once thought impossible. He is the author of
*Herman's Journey of Purpose* and *Running Into Motivation*, and a featured speaker at TEDx and global leadership forums. His workshops inspire leaders to eliminate distractions, align their actions with purpose, and lead with authenticity - no matter the obstacle. Barrett believes leadership isn't about titles - it's about courage, clarity, and commitment to the journey. He brings warmth, humor, and wisdom to every stage he steps on.
director of operations for americas |
mks instruments
Peterson S. Lindo, MBA, brings over 20 years of expertise in industrial automation to his role as Innovation and Digitalization Specialist at BMW Manufacturing. His professional journey showcases a dynamic evolution, transitioning from a Controls Planner Specialist to a leader in digital transformation, a shift sparked at the inaugural MX.0 Southwest conference and fueled by his passion for innovation and problem-solving.
At BMW, his collaborative work with global teams has been instrumental in creating a digital knowledge-sharing platform and driving strategic initiatives like Virtual Commissioning for the Americas Planning Hub. These efforts are key to building digital fluency within planning teams, enabling scalable innovation, and enhancing the integration of automation and Industry 4.0 technologies into complex manufacturing ecosystems.
Beyond BMW, he serves on the Advisory Committee for the Automation and Robotics program at Greenville County Schools' CTE Innovation Center at Roper Mountain. This role allows his experience to directly impact both enterprise and community, as he bridges the gap between industry and education. He connects the institution with current industry demands, provides insights into best practices, and shapes curriculum to reflect the rapidly evolving landscape of advanced manufacturing.
Innovation & digitalization specialist |
bmw
Mike Yost is driven to get help to every manufacturer looking for results under the banner of I4.0, IIoT, Digital Transformation, or Smart Manufacturing. A seasoned industry veteran, Mike brings over 35 years of industrial, nonprofit, and leadership experience to his role as industrial guide and connector. He’s spent most of his career engaging and educating manufacturers on the role and value of modern information and internet technologies in transforming their operations. Mike is a proven thought leader and domain expert on a national and global level, as evidenced by his leadership roles at MESA International, CESMII - the Smart Manufacturing Institute, Manufacturing Works, and the Industry 4.0 Club. He was also a contributing expert for the World Manufacturing Forum Report in 2017 & 2019, is the creator of “project IGBYS” and the “6 Degrees of Smart Manufacturing” YouTube series, and is the host of two current LinkedIn Live series: Industry 4.0 Club’s “Fireside Chat” and CESMII’s “Smart Manufacturing Mindset” series. Mike has specialized in the Smart Manufacturing, Manufacturing Execution (MES), Manufacturing Intelligence (EMI) and Operations Management software arenas since 1999. He has strong startup experience and has held various leadership roles in automation and industrial software businesses, including GE’s Proficy Software business, Activplant Corporation and Rockwell Automation, and as founder/advisor to Bennit.ai. He holds a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from the Pennsylvania State University and lives in Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.A. with his wife and five children.
Director,
manufacturing
excellence |
MANUFACTURING
WORKS
Mark Macioce is Vice President and Chief Information Officer at Masco Corporation, a global leader in the design, manufacture, and distribution of branded home improvement and building products. With deep expertise in the industrial and manufacturing sectors, Mark has led transformative initiatives across digital, data, and enterprise IT. His specialties include product data strategy, enterprise architecture, data and analytics —from engineering and manufacturing through to the commercial digital shelf. A recognized leader in IT modernization and cross-functional innovation, Mark brings a pragmatic and forward-looking perspective on how digital capabilities can drive business performance.
vice president & chief information officer |
masco corporation
John Harrington is the Chief Product Officer of HighByte, focused on product management, customer and partner success, and company strategy. His areas of responsibility include market research, customer use cases, product priorities, go-to-market, and financial planning.
John is passionate about delivering technology that improves productivity and safety in manufacturing and industrial environments. He has spent his 25-year career both delivering software to manufacturers and working for manufacturers in operations roles. This experience has given him a unique perspective on how suppliers and end users each play an integral role in implementing new technology solutions.
John has a Master of Business Administration from Babson College and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
CO-FOUNDER & CHIEF PRODUCT OFFICER |
HIGHBYTE
Jeff Winter is one of the top Industry 4.0 thought leaders and influencers helping manufacturers digitally transform their business at scale. With over 17 years of experience working for different industrial automation product and solution providers, Jeff has a unique ability to simplify and communicate complex concepts to a wide range of audiences, educating and inspiring people from the shop floor up to the executive board room. As part of his experience, Jeff is also very active in the community of Industry 4.0. He currently is a part of the International Board of Directors for MESA (Manufacturing Enterprise Solutions Association), the leader of the Smart Manufacturing & IIoT Division of ISA (International Society of Automation), a U.S. registered expert for IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) as a member of TC 65, and is on the Smart Manufacturing Advisory Board for Purdue University.
Smart Manufacturing Advisor |
CESMII
Manuele D’Aversa has been leading Zeltwanger Leaktesting & Automation and Zeltwanger CNC Manufacturing since 2025, driving the company's growth and expansion in North America. With a robust background in the automotive and engineering manufacturing sectors, Manuele previously served as CEO of an
Automotive Tier 1 supplier, spearheading its US greenfield expansion from 2015. He also managed a significant M&A integration project in South Africa and served as a regional controller for Southern Europe and Africa, closely collaborating with German operations. Born and educated in Germany, Manuele holds a degree in International Economic and Business Administration (Diplom Betriebswirt).
president & Ceo |
zeltwanger
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Mary McDonald is an Amazon Web Services (AWS) Principal Business Development Manager and global subject matter expert on the AWS Automotive, Manufacturing and Supply Chain Team. Mary’s career extends over 25 years in the Industrial Manufacturing Automation and Software market.
Located in the U.S. Midwest, Mary is a career professional in leading teams in Global Technical Sales/Professional Services (OEM/End User/Systems Integration), Partners & Channel, Vertical Segments, Global Strategic Accounts, Competitive Displacement, and providing consultation to executive boards and teams for optimizing IIoT business strategies and models. She has held leadership roles and innovations at Rockwell Automation, Panduit, Emerson Process, Schneider Electric and OSIsoft (AVEVA/Schneider Electric).
PRINCIPAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MGR |
AMAZON WEB SERVICES
Kevin is currently Chief Evangelist Officer at Nanoprecise Sci Corp and has more than 35 years of experience in global operations leadership focusing on advanced technologies in operations, engineering and asset management. Previously, he served as Vice President, Fortive Corporation (Fluke/Accruent), Falkonry AI (investment company), where his strategic roles drove growth in Enterprise Asset Management and AI/Predictive Technologies. He also spent much of his early leadership/engineering career at Caterpillar and held numerous leadership positions at Johnson & Johnson, including operations/maintenance management and Global Manufacturing Equipment Excellence (ME2) leadership. Kevin is a long-standing member of the Society of Maintenance & Reliability Professionals (SMRP), has held various positions at regional and national levels, and has been a Certified Maintenance & Reliability Professional (CMRP) since 2004 and serves on various advisory boards in the industrial space. Kevin received a Bachelor of Science in Automation & Systems Engineering Technology from Purdue University and an MBA from Colorado State University.
chief evangelist officer |
nanoprecise sci corp
Daniel has over a decade of experience spanning custom and prototype machine design through large scale OEM factory automation and software development. He has developed integrated IT/OT systems spanning multiple organizations and including customer facing web applications through ERP/MES down to shop floor work instructions. As a technology evangelist, he is adept at translating complex topics into a clear value proposition that connects solutions with the real problems they can solve. Daniel has applied this agile technologist approach to a diverse range of projects including whole-factory production line conveyance overhauls, physics-informed AI model development, and medical device digital twin innovation.
In his role at Baldwin Richardson Foods, Daniel owns the development and maturation of the overall digital transformation portfolio. He also leads programs and strategic architecture projects such as enterprise data mastery and workforce upskilling on new technologies. This work is informed by his practical solutionist approach to thought leadership and his passion for the potential of Industry 4.0 technologies to transform US/global manufacturing and the work of the future.
Senior Manager,
digital
operations |
baldwin richardson
foods
Ravi Subramanyan is Senior Director of Industry Solutions at SymphonyAI, where he helps manufacturing clients adopt AI-powered solutions to drive operational efficiency and digital transformation. With over 20 years of experience in industrial IoT, enterprise architecture, and data strategy, Ravi has held leadership roles at companies including HiveMQ, where he guided global manufacturers in building scalable, real-time data infrastructure. He brings deep expertise in OT/IT convergence, smart factory systems, and AI readiness across industrial environments.
Senior director of industry solutions |
symphony ai
Jonathan Alexander serves as the Manufacturing AI & Advanced Analytics Manager within Albemarle Corporation’s global Manufacturing Excellence organization. For the past six years, he has led the global strategy and implementation of Albemarle Intelligence, an enterprise-wide initiative focused on embedding artificial intelligence, machine learning, and advanced analytics to drive improvements in OEE, yield, quality, and equipment reliability across Albemarle’s manufacturing network. With over 15 years of diverse experience in the manufacturing sector, Mr. Alexander has held roles spanning Instrumentation, Chemical Engineering, Operations Leadership, Operational Excellence, and Digital Transformation. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Louisiana State University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Houston-Clear Lake. Mr. Alexander is a frequent speaker at industry conferences, where he shares insights on industrial AI strategy, digital transformation, change management, and the future of digital manufacturing.
global manufacturing ai & advanced analytics manager |
Albemarle corporation
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With more than 23 years of experience in trade associations, Allison Grealis is Founder and President of the Women in Manufacturing® Association (WiM), a global trade association focused on supporting, promoting and inspiring women at all levels in the manufacturing sector. She is also President of the WiM Education Foundation, the 501(c)(3) arm of WiM, which provides effective and affordable educational opportunities for women in manufacturing.
Allison is also Host of Hear Her Story, WiM’s monthly podcast celebrating the stories of incredible women from different roles and niche industries within manufacturing. Since its launch in April 2021, Hear Her Story has recorded 35 episodes, yielding 10,241 downloads. Allison is also regularly featured on other industry podcasts and in the media, and is a frequent speaker at industry events, including the Financial Times’ Future of Manufacturing Summit, the Association for Manufacturing Excellence Conference, the North American Manufacturing Excellence Summit and the Generis American Manufacturing Summit.
Outside of her work with WiM, Allison currently serves as a member of the Saint Joseph Academy Engineering and Design Honors Program Advisory Board; as a member of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion committee for the Council of Manufacturing Associations; as an Executive Committee member for the Cleveland chapter of the Private Directors Association; as a member of the Membership Committee and Cleveland Business Leaders group at the Union Club of Cleveland; as a member of the Coalition for Women in Industry and as Vice-Chair of the National Skilled Trades Coalition. Allison was a past chair of the alumnae board and former board member of Our Lady of the Elms High School and past president of the Cleveland chapter of the Greater Cleveland Society of Association Executives.
Recognized as one of Crain’s Cleveland Business 2018 Women of Note, which celebrates women for their outstanding leadership in the community, Allison went on to become the 2021 recipient of the Leadership in Manufacturing Award from Empowering Women in Industry. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in English with a Certificate in Women’s Studies from Ohio University, and a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Akron.
PRESIDENT & founder |
women in manufacturing
Stijn Van de Velde is the CEO and Co-Founder of Drobot Inc., a startup developing a new generation of Collaborative Mobile Robots designed to work with and for humans in complex environments - also on demand and directly between people.
With a career spanning over two decades, Stijn has helped manufacturers across Europe and the U.S. solve complex problems, drive digital transformation, and implement Industry 4.0 technologies.
Originally from Belgium, Stijn holds a Master’s in Electrical Engineering from Ghent University and an MBA from Vlerick Business School. He is also the founder of Gemba Systems Inc., an implementer and integrator of I4.0/IIoT solutions, and Execution Partners LLC, focused on data analytics, operational excellence, and change management.
His areas of expertise include digital transformation, supply chain optimization, advanced planning and scheduling (APS), real-time locating systems (RTLS), and data-driven execution systems.
founder |
gemba systems
Tim Ryder is a digital transformation leader with over 21 years of experience architecting innovative solutions in the manufacturing and industrial sectors. As Principal Solutions Architect at Stanley Black & Decker, Tim specializes in designing secure, scalable SCADA and MES systems, and developing IT/OT architectures that drive operational excellence across global operations. His expertise includes integrating advanced IIoT technologies and cloud platforms to deliver unified, data-driven manufacturing environments.
Tim’s career is distinguished by his hands-on approach to solving complex challenges, from enabling the capture of global supply chain KPIs to mentoring engineering teams and improving technical capabilities. He has played a pivotal role in bridging the gap between business needs and emerging technologies, enabling organizations to harness the full potential of digital data and connectivity.
A passionate educator and mentor, Tim has dedicated over a decade to guiding high school students in the FIRST Robotics competition, and is known for his ability to make complex technologies accessible to all. His commitment to continuous learning and innovation positions him as a trusted advisor and thought leader in the evolution of smart manufacturing and industrial digital transformation.
Principal solutions
architect |
stanley black
& decker
With 30 years at the intersection of automotive and electronics manufacturing, Rainer Mueller brings deep, handson plant leadership and Csuite vision to Intelycx. His career spans endtoend supplychain management, digital transformation programs, and operational excellence initiatives across global facilities. Drawing on this frontline experience, Rainer guides Intelycx’s mission to equip manufacturers with AIdriven tools that boost productivity and resilience in the Industry 5.0 era.
ceo |
intelycx
Dr. Marcel Schäfer serves as Senior Research Scientist for the Fraunhofer USA Center Mid-Atlantic CMA in Maryland since January 2019. From 2009 to 2018 he was with Fraunhofer Institute for Secure Information Technologies SIT in Germany. He owns a master’s degree in mathematics from the University of Wuppertal, Germany, and a PhD in computer science from the Technical University of Darmstadt, Germany. As PI, Co-PI and researcher Dr. Schäfer has led and worked in various projects that discover new challenges and opportunities broadly spread over the fields of cybersecurity and software engineering in both the public and private sector.
Since March 2021 he is leading the Fraunhofer USA office in South Carolina as Senior Program Coordinator for Fraunhofer USA’s activities within the South Carolina Fraunhofer USA Alliance. Projects so far cover a broad spectrum ranging from smart manufacturing, IoT, Industry 4.0, digitization to predictive maintenance, predictive analytics and other data driven and machine learning featured technologies. Typically, those projects have a strong manufacturing focus.
senior program coordinator |
fraunhofer usa
Ryan is the Business Development Manager for Telit's IoT Platforms division and a Co-Founder of Industry 4.0 Club. He specializes in helping businesses in the Factory Automation & Manufacturing sectors leverage the latest IIoT technology to overcome complex organizational challenges, from edge to cloud.
Ryan collaborates with senior leadership at global manufacturers to identify potential process optimizations and to lead teams in delivering effective Industry 4.0 solutions, including Predictive Maintenance and AI/ML deployments. He is an expert in creating customized and scalable business development strategies for new markets and technologies, conducting market analysis, benchmarking products, roadmapping for the future, and improving marketing content.
Outside of work, Ryan enjoys spending time with his dog Leo, automating his home, and exploring his new hometown Austin on his Segway.
