Meet Our Speakers & Panelists
Craig Bailey
President, Novum Nano
Jade Borgeson
Director of Strategic Initiatives, Natcast Workforce Center of Excellence
Melissa Carl
Director, Business Development, IEEE-USA Career and Member Services
Michael Channell
Program Manager, Nebraska Indian Community College APEX Accelerator
Thomas Coughlin
2024 IEEE President
President, Coughlin Associates
Antonio de la Serna
Principal Director of Strategic Technology, Siemens EDA
Derek DeGeest
President, DeGeest Corporation & LestaUSA
Jake Droge
Business Development Specialist, South Dakota SBA
Joni Ekstrum
Executive Director, South Dakota Biotech
Susan Feindt
Senior Vice President of Ecosystem Development, Natcast
Matt Francis, Ph.D.
Founder and President/CEO of Ozark Integrated Circuits, Inc.
Dr. José-Marie Griffiths
President, Dakota State University
Andy Grocott
Associate, Goosman Law Firm
Denise M. Guzzetta
Vice President of Talent & Workforce Development
Russell Harrison
Managing Director, IEEE-USA
Dennis Hedge
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, South Dakota State University
Sarah Hughes
Chief of Staff, CHIPS R&D Metrology Program
Marcella Hurley, MBA, BCA
State Program Director, South Dakota APEX Accelerator
Cortnee Jensen, Ph.D.
Interim CEO of the Northern Front Autonomous Systems Engine and Executive Director of Strategic Partnerships, University of North Dakota
Michelle Kakacek
Director, SD Manufacturing & Technology Solutions
Mike Kiley
Commercialization Liaison, National Nanotechnology Coordination Office (NNCO)
Luke Lindberg
President & CEO, South Dakota Trade
Hollie Mackey
Chief Strategy Officer, North Dakota Advanced Agriculture Technology Engine
Dr. Stacy Manni
Director, AFRL Regional Network – Midwest
Brian S. McJilton
Director, Office of Small Business and Vice Director, Strategic Partnering, Air Force Research Laboratory
Stoen Mollman
Program Director, South Dakota SBIR
Ryan Oines
Chief Operating Officer, USD Discovery District
Abigail Omdahl
Procurement specialist, Native American Development Corporation APEX Accelerator
Amber Orr
IEEE-USA Vice President, Career and Member Services
Vickie Ozburn
Director, IEEE Region 4
Ed Palacio
2023 IEEE-USA President
Bryson Patterson
Deputy District Director, South Dakota District Office, U.S. Small Business Administration
Dr. Sandra Richardson
Section Head, Research Capacity and Competitiveness Section, NSF Office of Integrated Activities
KC Santosh
Professor (AI) and Chair, Department of Computer Science, University of South Dakota
James Stone, Ph.D.
Interim Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Paul TenHaken
Mayor, Sioux Falls, SD
Tyler Tordsen
South Dakota State Representative President & CEO, Sioux Metro Growth Alliance
Garth Wadsworth
Senior Public Policy Director, Elevate Rapid City
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