Antonio J. Conejo of The Ohio State University

Biography:

Antonio J. Conejo, a professor at The Ohio State University, received his M.S. from MIT and his Ph.D. from the Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden. He has published over 270 papers in refereed journals and is the author or coauthor of 14 books published by Springer and other publishers. He has been the principal investigator of many research projects financed by public agencies and the power industry and has supervised 29 Ph.D. theses. He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering, an IEEE Fellow, an INFORMS Fellow, an AAAS Fellow, and a former Editor-in-Chief of the IEEE Transactions on Power Systems.

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Address:Columbus, Ohio, United States

Larry Sears of Case Western Reserve University

Biography:

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Address:Cleveland, Ohio, United States

Kartik Srinivasan of Torc AI

Biography:

Kartik Srinivasan is a Staff Systems Engineer specializing in Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) Verification & Validation (V&V) for autonomous vehicles. With over a decade of experience in automotive and autonomous systems, he has played a pivotal role in developing HIL V&V strategies for Level 4 autonomous trucks at Torc Robotics. His expertise includes designing HIL test environments, system integration, and test automation for safety-critical vehicle systems. Previously, Kartik led HIL validation teams at Motional, contributing to the development of Drive-by-Wire and Perception subsystem testing frameworks. His work at Nexteer Automotive and LG Chemical Power further strengthened his experience in mechatronic test benches, functional safety, and battery management systems. Holding a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Michigan Technological University, Kartik has pioneered innovative HIL testing methodologies. Passionate about AV safety and scalable validation frameworks, he actively contributes to advancing the field of autonomous mobility.

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Address:Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

Colin Russell of Nationwide

Biography:

Colin Russell is a Computer Engineer from Youngstown, Ohio now based in Cleveland. He is the chair of the Young Professionals Affinity Group within the IEEE Cleveland Section. Additionally, he is the Vice Chair of Events for IEEE Regions 1 and 2 Young Professionals. Colin is a Senior Software Engineer at Nationwide where he specializes in creating APIs and microservices for the financial services industry. Colin is a graduate of Ohio University, where he was an ambassador for the Russ College of Engineering and Technology's Electrical Engineering program and chair of the university's student section of IEEE. While chair of the Ohio University IEEE branch, Colin organized presentations featuring guest speakers from prestigious organizations including NASA, Boeing, the Department of Energy, and Ohio University's own professors. In addition to leading the Ohio University IEEE section, Colin worked with the student ExCom to revitalize the university's Eta Kappa Nu section. To further his education, Colin is currently pursing a Master's of Science in Computer Science from Tufts University.

Address:Cleveland, Ohio, United States

Rachel Dudukovich of NASA

Biography:

From https://ai-action.org/person/rachel-dudukovich/:

Dr. Rachel Dudukovich is the cognitive networking lead for the NASA Space Communication and Navigation (SCaN) Cognitive Communications Project. She received her Ph.D. in Computer Engineering from Case Western Reserve University in 2019. Her research and development efforts are focused on applying machine learning and artificial intelligence to networking technologies for space communications. She is interested in determining and developing the essential building blocks to enable cognitive communications in space, as well as infusing modern networking technologies into the NASA communication networks. She is also the software development lead for the High-rate Delay Tolerant Networking project. Her interests include network emulation, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, machine learning, delay tolerant networking, and open-source software collaborations.

Address:Cleveland, Ohio, United States

Karina Dsouza of Cleveland Clinic

Biography:

Karina is a biomedical engineer specialized in clinical neurotechnology. She has a BS in Biomedical Engineering from the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) and an MS from Case Western Reserve University (CWRU). She now works at the Neurological Institute at Cleveland Clinic's Main Campus.

During time at CWRU, Karina developed machine learning algorithms for peripheral nerve interfacing implants.

• Karina spent the first three years with the Human Fusions Institute, where she decoded electrical signals from amputees' residual muscles to predict motor intent and drive prosthetic hand-movement. When the prosthetic-hand interacted with objects, an implanted system stimulated nerves in the amputee's residual-limb to restore the sense of touch. This work was featured by CBS's 60 Minutes (March 2023) and National Geographic (June 2022: The Power of Touch). Karina also helped transform this research into a fully implanted BLE system, named iSens.
• During her fourth year, Karina pivoted to the Functional Electrical Stimulation Center where she worked to develop similar bi-directional systems. This time, she recorded from stroke patients' paretic legs to predict their "walking intent", then triggered different patterns of nerve stimulation to increase their muscle's force output and improve walking speed/endurance.

Karina is incredibly passionate about the fusion of machine learning, electricity and neuroscience. It's a very exciting time in the neurotech world and she's eager to share what she knows about the current state of cutting edge research.

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Address:Cleveland, Ohio, United States

Raviteja Meda of Sherwin Williams

Biography:

As a senior leader at The Sherwin-Williams Company, Ravi Teja is at the helm of enterprise-level transformations, driving data-led strategies that power smart factories and intelligent retail systems. His work enables predictive maintenance, real-time quality control, and demand forecasting through AI-driven architectures. By incorporating IoT, federated learning, and explainable AI, he ensures that complex manufacturing processes—from spray equipment maintenance to robotic painting—operate with precision and foresight.

Address:Cleveland, Ohio, United States

Mike Wise of IoT Sandbox

Biography:

An experienced and highly commercial B2B leader with 30 years of accumulated business acumen in sales, business development, digital marketing, Insurtech, Socialtech, Fintech, and Web3 consulting. Principle focus is Community-building around IoT design, development and manufacturing in Ohio and the wider Midwest. #IoTinOhio

Address:Cleveland, Ohio, United States

Anurag K Srivastava of West Virginia University

Biography:

During cyber events, keeping the power on to critical facilities such as hospitals and fire department is essential. A number of resources are available with the integration of distributed energy resources (DER) to help improve the resiliency of the critical loads during adverse events in a power grid. DER’s are also being connected as Internet of Things (IoTs) Minimizing the impact of cyber-attack on the grid depends on one of these key factors: a) planning for cyber defense including services from IoT devices but preserving privacy, b) training of human operators and employee, and c) metric-driven control and operational decisions. A formal metrics is needed to quantify the cyber resiliency of the electric grid and how to use that for operational cyber-resilience considering IoT devices. This talk will cover the basics of cyber-power resiliency, tools for operational decision, and a testbed to validate cyber-resilience tools for the electric grid. Example ongoing work at the Pacific Northwest National Lab related to cyber-power resiliency will also be discussed.

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Address:Morgantown, West Virginia, United States

Tim Smith of Digital Operations Group

Biography:

Tim Smith is the owner of Digital Operations Group, bringing over 30 years of hands-on experience in communications technology, network infrastructure, and critical systems. Following service as a Navigation Electronics Technician in the U.S. Navy Submarine Service and two decades diagnosing complex high-speed data networks at AT&T, Tim founded Digital Operations Group in 2011 to serve as a specialized physical infrastructure partner for the IT industry. Today, he focuses on the physical layer that powers modern IoT networks, bridging the gap between complex network architecture and real-world deployments. Beyond his technical work, Tim is an active community contributor, serving as a Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce Ambassador, a youth martial arts instructor at YMCA Massillon, and a long-time church community volunteer.

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Address:North Canton, Ohio, United States

Peter Sords of Kyros Engineering

Biography:

Peter Sords is the founder of Kyros Engineering, a Cleveland product-development firm building embedded firmware, electronics, and connected hardware across consumer, industrial, energy, and medical products. A B.S. Biomedical Engineer (Lehigh) and M.S. Electrical Engineer (Case Western), his work runs deep in system architecture, control systems and smart feedback, power electronics, and robotics — spanning autonomous warehouse robots, Factory 4.0 production systems, EV chargers, connected appliances, and edge-AI medical devices. That breadth is what lets him assemble the right curated team of proven specialists for each project — taking connected products from architecture through verified hardware.

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Address:Cleveland, Ohio, United States

Shiva Madishetty of Steris

Biography:

Shiva Madishetty is an Advanced Software Engineer in the medical device industry with expertise in embedded systems, wireless connectivity, real-time software, and connected healthcare technologies. His work focuses on developing reliable and secure medical device solutions utilizing technologies such as IoT, Ultra-Wideband (UWB), Bluetooth, and real-time operating systems. Shiva is particularly interested in the convergence of IoT, AI, edge computing, and digital health, and how these technologies are transforming healthcare, industrial automation, and smart environments. He is also an inventor and technology innovator with experience bringing patented technologies from concept to commercial products.

Email:

Address:Mentor, Ohio, United States, 44060

Josh Healan of Wright Technical Services

Biography:

Over the last couple decades Josh has worked in engineering, technology, sales, marketing and finally recruiting. He has built and led effective technology, sales and operations teams at small and medium size businesses as well as at some of the largest Fortune 500 companies in the world. Josh’s passion lies in not just helping people achieve short-term goals, but helping people find the paths to making their wildest dreams come true. He loves to see people succeed and hates to see people fail.

Josh founded Wright Technical Services on the idea that talent, the right talent, can have a lasting impact on the growth and profitability of any organization. He takes what he does very seriously. In fact Josh is obsessive about what he does, which is ultimately working every day to match great talent with great companies, ensuring that both sides thrive as a result.

Outside of work Josh wants to be outside. He’s an avid outdoorsman and loves his wife, his adult children and his dogs more than he could possibly put into words. Josh loves live music and riding motorcycles. He hasn’t tasted food he doesn’t like and Josh has learned to appreciate good bourbon. He has a fascination with history, science, space, innovation, and business. Josh loves talking with people and getting to know them. If Josh has a weakness its that he’s interested in and curious about everything. His wife will tell you no matter where they go she’s always waiting on Josh to wrap up a conversation he started with a complete stranger.

Address:Mayfield Heights, Ohio, United States

Mary Caitrin Lynch of Wright Technical Services

Biography:

For as long as she can remember, Mary Caitrin Lynch has enjoyed connecting with people. Although she originally envisioned a career in healthcare, she discovered her passion was helping people navigate important decisions, build meaningful relationships, and uncover opportunities they may not have found on their own. Recruiting gave her the opportunity to turn those strengths into a career.

As a Senior Talent Consultant specializing exclusively in IT recruiting at Wright Technical Services, Mary Caitrin partners with clients and candidates to build lasting relationships founded on trust, transparency, and genuine understanding. She believes the best recruiters take the time to truly understand a client’s business, the technology driving it, and each candidate’s unique goals. Wright’s people-first approach and commitment to long-term partnerships are what drew her to the company and continue to shape the way she approaches every search.

Outside of work, Mary Caitrin is a certified Irish dance teacher (TCRG) who enjoys mentoring the next generation of dancers with The Academy Irish Dance Co., a world-renowned Irish dance school with locations in Columbus and Cleveland, Ohio. Fun fact: in 2013, she appeared on Season 8 of America’s Got Talent alongside five teammates with whom she won her first two Irish dance World Championship titles. When she’s not recruiting or teaching, she enjoys traveling and spending time with family and friends.

Address:Mayfield Heights, Ohio, United States