Karen Stelling

Biography:

Karen Stelling is a Professor of Practice Emeritus in the Engineering College at the University of Nebraska –Lincoln.  At UNL she developed and taught courses on ethics and professionalism (interpersonal, leadership, and project management skills), helping develop students into “Complete Engineers.” Prior to UNL Karen was a Vice President at Burns & McDonnell focused on improving teamwork, project performance,client relationships, and sustainable design.  She has a BSME degree from UNL and an MBA from UMKC.

Cory Hanson & Joe Witkowski

Cory Hanson, NPPD                                    Joe Witkowski, TEA

Biography:

Cory Hanson is a strategic servant leader with over 15 years of experience driving transformation across the military, public, and private sectors. Currently serving as Director of Business Transformation at Nebraska Public Power District, he leads enterprise-wide initiatives in innovation, continuous improvement, and organizational change management. Cory’s career spans leadership roles at Amazon, First National Bank of Omaha, and the U.S. Army, where he has earned recognition for his operational excellence and charismatic leadership. He holds a bachelor’s from the United States Military Academy at West Point, an MBA from Midland University, and a Doctor of Education in Organizational Change and Leadership from the University of Southern California. 

"As Director of Technology Innovation at TEA, Joe Witkowski leads software development to support TEA’s Innovation Team. With experience in government, finance, energy, and transportation, he strengthens TEA as a strategic partner in public power. Joe collaborates with internal and external teams to keep TEA at the forefront of technology, helping clients navigate industry disruption.

At TEA he has architected multiple solutions (Rfp platform, innovation hub) and contributed to multiple blockchain proof-of-concept designs, enterprise blockchain, and AI systems as well. Before TEA, Joe played a key role at Etchasoft, developing court management systems, and at Black Knight Financial, building lender software for the financial industry."

Dan Oliva of Square D by Schneider Electric

AI helping optimizing power one lines with solutions in the future – yes, we’re working on this concept through our ETAP software and partnering with NVIDIA to develop reference designs.  1-lines and various cost options will be able to be generated in minutes or seconds rather than days and weeks.

Biography:

Dan Oliva, PE, Consulting Application Engineer, Central Plains Area

Dan brings more than 20 years of electrical engineering design experience and has been a Professional Engineer (licensed in Kansas) since 2008.  Dan has a passion for collaborating with engineers to create safer & smarter buildings; to improve power system reliability & power quality; and to design cost-effective, tailored solutions.

Dan graduated from the University of Kansas with a Bachelor of Science in Architectural Engineering. Throughout his career, Dan has worked on a wide variety building types including office, high-rise, data center, industrial, government, schools, healthcare, and labs. Dan has also been involved in various engineering/design activities including power systems layout, sizing, specifications, code analysis, cost studies, power systems studies, project management, business development, and company leadership. 

Vaibhav Gujral of Charles Schwab

The presentation will explore how artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping engineering practices by transforming skills, tasks, and the overall value engineers provide. It will cover the rise of AI in engineering, the emergence of new technical skills, the automation of routine tasks, and the collaboration between engineers and intelligent systems. The presentation will also discuss the evolving roles and responsibilities of engineers, the opportunities for creativity and leadership, and the ethical considerations in AI-driven engineering. Finally, I will cover the future outlook, including potential career pathways and the challenges in education and industry adaptation.

Biography:

Vaibhav Gujral is a seasoned cloud professional with over two decades of IT experience. He excels in architecting scalable, cutting-edge cloud ecosystems, blending DevOps principles and AI innovation to drive transformative solutions. Currently, Vaibhav serves as an Azure Principal at Charles Schwab. He is the technical product owner for Schwab's Azure cloud platform. As a technical leader, he serves as a crucial bridge, ensuring seamless communication and strategic alignment between the engineering teams and the central architecture groups.

A six-time Microsoft MVP in Azure and AI Platform, Vaibhav is a recognized leader in his field, a Forbes Technology Council member, and a Senior Member of IEEE. Outside his professional pursuits, he’s intrigued by how technology can solve real-world challenges. His opinions are his own and do not reflect those of his employer.

Email:

Karla Carter of Bellevue University

Ever wonder what happens when engineers become Gilderoy Lockhart? Join us for a look at how GenAI can make us look brilliant while secretly making us incompetent. We'll explore how GenAI functions like Lockhart's memory charms, and discuss practical frameworks to avoid becoming the engineer who looks impressive until someone hands you the equivalent of a wand and asks you to actually perform.

Biography:

Karla Carter is an Associate Professor of Cybersecurity in the College of Science and Technology at Bellevue University, in Bellevue, NE. Drawing on degrees in psychology, history and cybersecurity, and more years than she should admit to of information technology experience, she teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in cybersecurity operations, social engineering, human factors, security awareness, white-collar crime, information warfare, and technology ethics. Additionally, she is a an IEEE Senior Member and serves on the IEEE Nebraska Section Executive Committee, as well as the ACM Committee on Professional Ethics. Curious, intense and irreverent, Carter lives by the question, "what if...?" and has a low tolerance for the phrase "because that’s the way we’ve always done it." She is a Ravenclaw. Ask her about her growing (and glowing!) uranium glass collection!  

Email: professorkarla@ieee.org

Sudhir Gajre of UNO

Abstract:

In celebration of IEEE's 100th anniversary, this engaging talk introduces the fascinating world of Generative AI (GenAI) to a diverse audience of IEEE members. I will demystify the technology powering innovations like ChatGPT, exploring the fundamentals of GenAI, its underlying architectures, and the training processes that enable these systems to create human-like text, images, and more. Through intuitive explanations, I will highlight current technological paradigms and showcase practical business applications, from automating customer service to enhancing creative industries. Interactive demos will bring these concepts to life, illustrating the transformative potential of GenAI. Join me for an accessible and inspiring journey into the future of artificial intelligence, followed by a Q&A session to address your curiosities.

Biography:

Sudhir Gajre is the Managing Director and Head of Generative AI at Lovelytics, where he leads enterprise AI and GenAI initiatives. 

With 30+ years of experience in data and over 2.5 years as a leader in GenAI, he has delivered transformative solutions across industries. 

Sudhir is a frequent speaker at global AI conferences and universities, and a frequent blogger with dozens of publications on GenAI topics. 

Email:

Mike Andrews of Andrews & Associates

·        AgeTech: A Universe of Opportunities- Lunch time   -

·        The inspiring presentation will explore how technology is reshaping the future of aging.  Capturing the imagination of virtually every corner of IEEE, developments in responsive design  represent the next frontier in product innovation.  This presentation will examine current and emerging solutions across domains such as digital health, robotics, artificial intelligence, smart homes, Blue Zone design, and connected communities. Attention will be given to global demographic trends, the role of interdisciplinary collaboration, and the ethical and societal implications of technology adoption.  Discover emerging innovations, market trends, and opportunities for collaboration in this rapidly expanding field that touches every industry.

·        AgeTech Overview: Think Globally, Act Locally, and Take it Personally- Banquet  - 

·        The presentation will examine how the integration of emerging technologies into the aging ecosystem can address challenges at multiple levels—global, community, and individual. The presentation will explore worldwide demographic trends and technological innovations that are shaping the future of aging, while emphasizing the importance of adapting solutions to meet local cultural, social, and infrastructural contexts. Importantly, we will ask the question that relates to what you can do, through your work and guidance, to address the need for user-centered design and individualized approaches that respect dignity, autonomy, and quality of life.

Biography:

Michael Andrews is Managing Partner of Andrews & Associates, a consulting firm specializing in new product R&D, business and management development, Emergency Planning, Business Mitigation, Response and Resumption Planning and Operational Readiness programs for business, schools and government entities.

Mr. Andrews is a Senior Member of IEEE and is currently serving IEEE members as the Region 6 Past Director.  Mr. Andrews’ commitment to the community includes STEM and CTE programs including the Future City Competition and the Smart Education Foundation, host to the SMART Competition.

He is also very active with the Salvation Army, Arizona LeaderForce and the Williams Institute for Ethics and Management.  He was awarded an IEEE Millennium Medal for outstanding achievements and contributions to IEEE and the IEEE-USA Robert S. Walleigh Award for Distinguished Contributions to Engineering Professionalism Award.

Email:

Al Shpuntoff of afs4dna.com

IEEE and Nebraska Section History and Accomplishments - More to come.

Biography:

Albert Shpuntoff

Student Affiliate Member since 1974, professional member IEEE beginning 1982, current Life Senior Member. Offices held: Nebraska Section Computer Society chair 1983-1986, Computer Society GAC  R3-4 Coordinator, 2023-current, and current Member at Large of Nebraska Section.

Email: