Portland, Maine  |  15 May 2025

THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS

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

IEEE-USA IWRC AI Summit

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 and 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 Organizations

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

FREE Parking

Please use code “IEEEGST” in the Promo Code/Validation Code field when you pay for parking and click “Apply.”

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

FREE Parking

Please use code “IEEEGST” in the Promo Code/Validation Code field when you pay for parking and click “Apply.”

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
10:30 AMNetworking Break
11:00 AMBreakout Sessions
1) Small Business and Defense Partnerships


2) Small Business and non-Defense Partnerships


12:00 PMNetworking Lunch
1:00 PMState and Federal AI Policy Trends
  • Russell Harrison
    Managing Director, IEEE-USA (Moderator)
  • Jim Isaak
    President Emeritus, IEEE Computer Society
  • Scott Kleiman
    Policy Director, Economy and Workforce, Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future, State of Maine
1:30 PMBreakout Sessions
1) Innovation and Intellectual Property


2) How Do Small Businesses in Maine Find Funding?


2:30 PMBreak
3:00 PMWhat's Next in AI?
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
10:30 AMNetworking Break
11:00 AMBreakout Sessions
1) Small Business and Defense Partnerships


2) Small Business and non-Defense Partnerships


12:00 PMNetworking Lunch
1:00 PMState and Federal AI Policy Trends
  • Russell Harrison
    Managing Director, IEEE-USA (Moderator)
  • Jim Isaak
    President Emeritus, IEEE Computer Society
  • Scott Kleiman
    Policy Director, Economy and Workforce, Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future, State of Maine
1:30 PMBreakout Sessions
1) Innovation and Intellectual Property


2) How Do Small Businesses in Maine Find Funding?


2:30 PMBreak
3:00 PMWhat's Next in AI?
4:00 PMWrap-Up and Adjourn

Meet Our Speakers & Panelists

  • Brian Conroy

    Brian Conroy, P.E.

    Manager of Power System Studies, RLC Engineering

  • David Daigler

    David Daigler

    President, Maine Community College System

  • Jacqueline Edmondson

    Dr. Jacqueline Edmondson

    President, University of Southern Maine

  • Jennifer Fong

    Jennifer Fong

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

  • Angela Gillespie

    Angela Gillespie

    Chief Operating Officer, Howell Laboratories, Inc.

  • Russell Harrison

    Russell Harrison

    Managing Director, IEEE-USA

  • Trevor Hehn

    Trevor C. Hehn, Esq.

    Founder, Hehn Law PLLC

  • Erik Heilman

    Erik Heilman

    Director of Government Relations, IEEE-USA

  • Quincy Hentzel

    Quincy Hentzel

    President & CEO, Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce

  • Jim Isaak

    Jim Isaak

    President Emeritus, IEEE Computer Society

  • Angus King

    Angus King

    United States Senator (I-ME)

  • Scott Kleiman

    Scott Kleiman

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

  • Tom LaNigra

    Tom LaNigra

    Chief Technology Officer,
    Lanco Integrated

  • Tom Law

    Thomas Law

    Founder & CEO, Oak AI

  • Ashanti Maxworth, Ph.D.

    Ashanthi Maxworth, Ph.D.

    Associate Professor in Electrical Engineering, University of Southern Maine

  • Phoenix McLaughlin

    Phoenix McLaughlin

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

  • Elek Miller

    Elek Miller

    Attorney, Drummond Woodsum

  • Daniel Modricker

    Daniel Modricker

    Director of U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s Northern New England Community Outreach Office

  • Maura Moran

    Maura Moran

    Attorney at Law, Cambridge Technology Law

  • Zach Newell

    Zach Newell

    AI Taskforce, University of Southern Maine

  • Ed Palacio

    Eduardo Palacio

    2023 IEEE-USA President

  • Bruce Perens

    Bruce Perens

    CEO, Post Open

  • Jonathan Poole

    Jonathan Poole

    Director of Strategic Growth, Finance Authority of Maine

  • Bala Prasanna

    Bala Prasanna

    IEEE Region 1 Director

  • Diane Sturgeon

    Diane L. Sturgeon

    District Director, Maine District Office
    U.S. Small Business Administration

  • Claire Sullivan

    Claire Sullivan, Ph.D.

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

  • Brien Walton

    Brien Walton, Ed.D.

    Chairman, Maine Venture Fund

  • Brian Whitney

    Brian Whitney

    President, Maine Technology Institute

  • Miriam Wilcox

    Miriam Wilcox, M.S.Eng, CQE

    Principal Regulatory Affairs Specialist, Smith+Nephew

  • John Yaglenski

    John Yaglenski

    Director of Communications and Information Technology, IEEE-USA

  • 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.