Portland, Maine  |  15 May 2025

THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS

IEEE Region 1+2
IEEE Region 1
University of Southern Maine

IEEE-USA IWRC AI

Where: University of Southern Maine (Portland Campus) | Portland, Maine
When: 15 May 2025

On 15 May, the IEEE-USA Innovation, Workforce, and Research Conference (IWRC) will bring together stakeholders from industry, government, and academia for an AI Summit in Portland, Maine. We will meet, network, learn, and discuss federal and state technology initiatives and other government programs that promote innovation and small business in the northeast.

This event will provide opportunities to meet potential partners and learn more about how you can contribute to the innovation ecosystem in Maine and the northeast.

Who should attend?

Industry

Owners, C-Level, VP level, engineers, legal staff, R&D, patent/small business attorneys, finance & VC

Interface with potential partners in the federal, state, and local governments to learn about current federal and state technology initiatives related to technology transfer, AI, quantum and semiconductors, among other priorities.

Government officials are coming to Portland looking for partners — like you! Learn about programs to promote innovation and small business. Meet potential partners from colleges and universities in Maine. Discover federal technology initiatives and how they relate to Maine.

Academia

Presidents, chancellors, tech transfer & patent offices, VPRs, researchers
 

Meet potential partners in the federal, state, and local governments, gain information on grant processes, make connections to future business partners, and learn more about federal technology and small business initiatives.

Learn about government resources and industry leaders in need of innovations. Government officials are coming to Maine to meet with the tech sector and engineers/entrepreneurs like you! IWRC will bring together business leaders large and small to connect with partners/researchers to innovate.

Government

Policymakers; federal, state; and local program officers; economic development professionals; incentive managers; entrepreneurial support orgs

Network with local engineers/entrepreneurs who are interested in learning more about federal and state government technology initiatives and how to better integrate into the Maine innovation economy. Help you to promote government programs in the northeast.

Venue & Hotel

Conference Venue

McGoldrick Center - University of Southern Maine (USM) Portland Campus

Multipurpose Room
35 Bedford St
Portland, ME 04101

Hotel Block

Aloft Portland Downtown Waterfront ME

379 Commercial Street
Portland, Maine 04101

Rate: $179.00 USD per night
Last Day to Book: Monday, 21 April 2025

Preliminary Agenda

Thursday, 15 May

Conference Venue

McGoldrick Center - University of Southern Maine (USM) Portland Campus

Multipurpose Room
35 Bedford St
Portland, ME 04101

Thursday, 15 May 2025

McGoldrick Center – University of Southern Maine (USM) Portland Campus
Multipurpose Room
35 Bedford St
Portland, ME 04101

Time (ET)SessionSpeaker
8:30 AMRegistration
9:00 AMWelcome & Kickoff
9:15 AMHow can Maine develop and support its technical workforce?
  • David Daigler
    President, Maine Community College System (Moderator)
  • Jennifer Fong
    Director, Continuing Education Products and Business Development, IEEE
  • Phoenix McLaughlin
    Director of Strategy Implementation, Maine Department of Economic and Community Development
  • Claire Sullivan, Ph.D.
    Assistant Vice Chancellor for Innovation in Digital Badges and Micro-Credentials, University of Maine System
  • Brian Whitney
    President, Maine Technology Institute
10:00 AMCase Studies: Putting AI to Work in Maine
  • Zachary Newell
    Dean of Libraries and Learning and AI Task Force, University of Southern Maine
10:30 AMNetworking Break
11:00 AMBreakout Sessions
1) Small Business and Defense Partnerships
  • Trevor Hehn
    Hehn Law Firm (Moderator)
  • Adam Henckler
    Superintendent of Production Engineering and Facilities, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (invited)
2) Small Business and non-Defense Partnerships
12:00 PMNetworking Lunch and How AI is Changing the Semiconductor Workforce
1:00 PMState and Federal AI Policy Trends
  • Russell Harrison
    Managing Director, IEEE-USA (Moderator)
  • Jim Isaak
    President Emeritus, IEEE Computer Society
  • Scott Kleiman
    Workforce, Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future, State of Maine
1:30 PMBreakout Sessions
1) Innovation and Intellectual Property
  • Elek Miller
    Attorney, Drummond Woodsum
  • Bruce Perens
    CEO, Algoram
2) How Do Small Businesses in Maine Find Funding
  • Quincy Hentzel
    CEO, Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce (Moderator)
  • Brien Walton, Ed.D.
    Chairman, Maine Venture Fund
  • Jonathan Poole
    Director of Strategic Growth, Finance Authority of Maine
2:30 PMBreak
3:00 PMCanada’s AI Interest and Potential Partnership
4:00 PMWrap-Up and Adjourn
Time (ET)SessionSpeaker
8:30 AMRegistration
9:00 AMWelcome & Kickoff
9:15 AMHow can Maine develop and support its technical workforce?
  • David Daigler
    President, Maine Community College System (Moderator)
  • Jennifer Fong
    Director, Continuing Education Products and Business Development, IEEE
  • Phoenix McLaughlin
    Director of Strategy Implementation, Maine Department of Economic and Community Development
  • Claire Sullivan, Ph.D.
    Assistant Vice Chancellor for Innovation in Digital Badges and Micro-Credentials, University of Maine System
  • Brian Whitney
    President, Maine Technology Institute
10:00 AMCase Studies: Putting AI to Work in Maine
  • Zachary Newell
    Dean of Libraries and Learning and AI Task Force, University of Southern Maine
10:30 AMNetworking Break
11:00 AMBreakout Sessions
1) Small Business and Defense Partnerships
  • Trevor Hehn
    Hehn Law Firm (Moderator)
  • Adam Henckler
    Superintendent of Production Engineering and Facilities, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (invited)
2) Small Business and non-Defense Partnerships
12:00 PMNetworking Lunch and How AI is Changing the Semiconductor Workforce
1:00 PMState and Federal AI Policy Trends
  • Russell Harrison
    Managing Director, IEEE-USA (Moderator)
  • Jim Isaak
    President Emeritus, IEEE Computer Society
  • Scott Kleiman
    Workforce, Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future, State of Maine
1:30 PMBreakout Sessions
1) Innovation and Intellectual Property
  • Elek Miller
    Attorney, Drummond Woodsum
  • Bruce Perens
    CEO, Algoram
2) How Do Small Businesses in Maine Find Funding
  • Quincy Hentzel
    CEO, Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce (Moderator)
  • Brien Walton, Ed.D.
    Chairman, Maine Venture Fund
  • Jonathan Poole
    Director of Strategic Growth, Finance Authority of Maine
2:30 PMBreak
3:00 PMCanada’s AI Interest and Potential Partnership
4:00 PMWrap-Up and Adjourn

Meet Our Speakers & Panelists

  • Brian Conroy

    Brian Conroy, PE

    Manager of Power System Studies, RLC Engineering

  • David Daigler

    David Daigler

    President, University of Southern Maine

  • Jacqueline Edmondson

    Dr. Jacqueline Edmondson

    President, University of Southern Maine

  • Jennifer Fong

    Jennifer Fong

    Director, Continuing Education Products and Business Development, IEEE Educational Activities

  • Russell Harrison

    Russell Harrison

    Managing Director, IEEE-USA

  • Quincy Hentzel

    Quincy Hentzel

    President & CEO, Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce

  • Jim Isaak

    Jim Isaak

    President Emeritus, IEEE Computer Society

  • Scott Kleiman

    Scott Kleiman

    Policy Director, Economy and Workforce, Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future, State of Maine

  • Ashanti Maxworth

    Dr. Ashanthi Maxworth

    Associate Professor in Electrical Engineering, University of Southern Maine

  • Phoenix McLaughlin

    Phoenix McLaughlin

    Director of Strategy Implementation, Maine Department of Economic and Community Development

  • Ed Palacio

    Eduardo Palacio

    2023 IEEE-USA President

  • Bruce Perens

    Bruce Perens

    CEO, Algoram

  • Bala Prasanna

    Bala Prasanna

    IEEE Region 1 Director

  • Claire Sullivan

    Claire Sullivan, Ph.D.

    Assistant Vice Chancellor for Innovation in Digital Badges and Micro-Credentials, University of Maine System

  • Brian Whitney

    Brian Whitney

    President, Maine Technology Institute

  • Robert Zakon

    Robert Zakon

    Founding Partner, Zakon Group, LLC

Registration

TierPrice
Full Registration - Non-Member$250.00
Full Registration - IEEE Member$200.00
Student Non-Member$145.00
Student IEEE Member$95.00
IEEE Life Member$95.00
Speaker/Panelist Registration$200.00
Exhibit Space*
Exhibit Space (Includes one registration) - Includes exhibit space for the organization in the event exhibit hall, one event registration, and placement of the organization’s logo on the event website.

Additional fees may be incurred for the exhibit table and features like electricity. Closer to the event, we will provide a contact at the event venue.
$500.00
Additional Exhibit Registration$250.00

* Exhibit Space (Includes one registration) – Includes exhibit space for the organization in the event exhibit hall, one event registration, and placement of the organization’s logo on the event website.

Additional fees may be incurred for the exhibit table and features like electricity. Closer to the event, we will provide a contact at the event venue.