Speakers - Dakotas

As the third-generation president of DeGeest Corporation, Derek DeGeest understands the complexities of manufacturing. But it’s his vision for the future that quickly led to the company becoming a technology leader through software development, data analytics, automation, and the use of robotics throughout the manufacturing process.

Leveraging this robotic and software experience, Derek brought a new robot technology to North America and became President of LestaUSA after forming a partnership with Lesta Srl to become the sole distributor, integrator and manufacturer of Lesta self-learning robotic finishing technology. Derek led DeGeest Corporation to become a NRTL certified facility for integrating Class I Div 1 self-learning robots. DeGeest is now growing a distribution network to help bring finishing automation to more general industry manufacturers.

Besides leading his companies, Derek’s role has evolved to take on a more consultative focus in automation and robotics by creating multi-year automation plans for customers, participating in speaking events, and sharing success stories on his podcast Manufacturing a Stronger Standard in an effort to move the manufacturing industry forward.

As a lifelong advocate for the success of manufacturing, Derek remains active in his community and routinely partners with area schools and technical colleges to encourage young people to choose rewarding careers in manufacturing. Derek is a board member for the Build Dakota Scholarship Program created by business leaders and lawmakers to address South Dakota’s workforce shortage. In 2019, he was recognized in Washington D.C. as the Small Business Administration (SBA) Small Business Person of the Year for South Dakota.

Matt Francis, Ph.D., is the founder and President/CEO of Ozark Integrated Circuits, Inc. (Ozark IC). Dr. Francis earned his BSEE ('03), BS Physics ('04), MSEE ('07) and PhD ('09) degrees from the University of Arkansas. At Ozark IC, he leads the development of high-temperature semiconductor computing solutions for energy, defense, aerospace, and space applications. He has been a remote payload specialist for Ozark IC's payloads on the International Space Station. Dr. Francis is an expert in the scalable design, manufacturing, and assembly of extremely reliable single-board computers, from silicon/silicon carbide semiconductors to advanced packaging, ceramics, and tests for reliability - including their complex supply chains. Through R&D funding from NASA, DARPA, DOE, US DAF, and commercial partners, Ozark IC has designed, manufactured, and demonstrated one of the widest ranges of semiconductor-based solutions for remote sensing and actuation from -180 to 800oC. Under his leadership, Ozark IC has been recognized as a leader in the rugged computing space, evidenced by wins in the MassChallenge accelerator Gold award (2020), the Army XTech Hypersonic Manufacturing Prize (2nd prize, 2022), and the American Made Geothermal Prizes (Set! and Geophone Prizes, 2021-2023).

Dr. Francis also serves as a Region Director (Region 5 USA Southwest), as the IEEE-USA representative to the IEEE Industry Engagement Committee, as past chair of the IEEE MGA Chapter Operations Support Committee, and as a Council Member for his city (Elkins, AR). Dr. Francis is passionate about entrepreneurship and growing the next generation of scientists and engineers. He is an IEEE STEM Champion, volunteering weekly with his IEEE Local Group robotics club. He is an advisor to science-based startups through the Science Venture Studio, and in 2022 he was selected as the recipient of the IEEE-USA Entrepreneurship Achievement Award for leadership in Entrepreneurial Spirit for furthering both entrepreneurial growth and spirit in the US, as well as his service in mentoring small-businesses in the deep-technology space. He is one of the co-founders of the IWRC series, which began in Little Rock, AR in 2023, and is co-founder of Scaling Up Regional Economies in Arkansas (SURGE-AR), a 501c3 designed to advance semiconductor and science-based technology in Arkansas in the CHIPS+ era.

Susan Feindt is the Senior Vice President of Ecosystem Development at Natcast. Prior to Natcast, Feindt was an executive and senior technical fellow at Analog devices where she led technology strategy and innovations, specializing in advanced process and device development. Feindt’s career at ADI spanned thirty-six years where her leadership, mentorship and technical innovations resulted in the commercialization of numerous technologies. She has served on multiple industry and academic advisory boards, including as vice-chair of the Department of Commerce CHIPS Industrial Advisory Committee (IAC). Feindt earned her B.S. from M.I.T. At Natcast, Feindt will focus on defining membership strategy, prioritizing program offerings and advocating for the semiconductor ecosystem’s interests.

Dr. Stacy Manni has been promoted to Director of the AFRL Regional Network – Midwest. Manni joined the Midwest Regional Network in December 2022 as the Deputy Director and has been integral to building it from the ground up. She led the development of the Midwest Regional Network’s strategic initiatives, which include building partnerships and promoting research & development, technology transitions and workforce development.

Manni brings a strong background in coordinating technological, scientific, and research-related activities; assessing and capitalizing on technological opportunities; steering program functions and programmatics; and managing high profile budgets and contracts. Prior to joining the Midwest Regional Network, Manni was a Senior Physical Scientist and International Program Officer for the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR), Southern Office of Aerospace Research and Development (SOARD) in Santiago, Chile.

In recognition of her work in this role, she received an Air Force Exemplary Civilian Service Award, her second in over her 12 years with the Air Force. Manni is an Army combat veteran and has a PhD in Physical Chemistry from Kent State University.

Dr. Sandra Richardson is the Section Head for the Research Capacity and Competitiveness (RCC) Section in the Office of Integrative Activities (OIA) at the U.S. National Science Foundation. In this role, she serves as a member of the OIA senior leadership team in the Office of the NSF Director and is responsible for carrying out of RCC's mission to support the development and enhancement of STEM research capacity and competitiveness of individuals, institutions, states, territories, and regions historically underserved by NSF research and development funding. Dr. Richardson joined OIA after serving as the Acting Deputy Division Director in the Division of Undergraduate Education in the NSF Directorate for STEM Education and Program Lead for the NSF Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program. While serving as a NSF Program Director, she planned and administered programs aimed at advancing research and training in undergraduate education, including managing hundreds of grants to comprehensive, primarily undergraduate, minority-serving, research-intensive, and two-year institutions across the Nation.

Her research and scholarly interests have been motivated by the intersection of her personal, professional, and scholarly experiences as a student, teacher, research professor, and academic. In addition to STEM education, her research includes examining effective tools for undergraduate mathematics curricula, mathematics teacher education, and broadening the participation in undergraduate and graduate STEM majors and STEM careers.

Dr. Richardson has been recognized nationally for her mentoring, teaching, leadership, and service to the STEM and STEM education communities, including being the recipient of several NSF Special Act awards, a 2022 National Honoree of Mathematically, Gifted & Black, a recipient of a University Excellence in Teaching and Research Merit Award, and a graduate of the Federal Executive Institute. She is Chair of the Federal EPSCoR Interagency Coordinating Committee.

Dr. Richardson enjoys family time, traveling, board and card games, sports, and participating in community service with her sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

Paul TenHaken is native of Worthington, Minnesota. After graduating from Dordt College in Sioux Center, Iowa, Paul and his wife, Jill, moved to Sioux Falls to launch their careers and start a family. Today, they have three young children.

After holding various marketing and executive roles in Sioux Falls and earning his MBA from the University of Sioux Falls, Paul founded the marketing technology agency Click Rain in 2008, where he served as CEO until 2017. While CEO, Click Rain was the only South Dakota company included on the Inc. 5000 list as one of America’s fastest growing private companies for the five consecutive years. The agency has won numerous awards for its unique workplace culture, including the prestigious “Entrepreneur 360” award in 2016 and the Embee Tribute to Women “Embeliever” award. Paul was named one of Entrepreneur Magazine’s Top Ten Emerging Entrepreneurs as well as South Dakota Young Entrepreneur of the Year. Paul’s primary passion, however, lies in the leading and development of people. He is the co-founder of the Dispatch Project, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that creates international service trip opportunities and philanthropic outlets for business leaders.

Paul also travels to Haiti annually to work with organizations serving the people of Haiti. He also is a frequent speaker on the topics of empowerment, workplace culture, and leadership In his free time, Paul is an active runner, obstacle course racer, triathlete, and is active in his church. He credits his personal faith for much of what he defines as success.

Mike Kiley is a retired Naval Aviator with over 5,000 flight hours and 50 combat missions. He has held program management positions with the Office of Naval Research, DARPA, the Applied Research Lab at Penn State and with the Chem Bio Directorate at the Defense Threat Reduction Agency. Additionally, Mike was the Chief Operating Officer of an intellectual property licensing firm with a valuation of $120M, and the Vice President of an international company providing aircraft replacement parts and repair services to foreign militaries. At the National Nanotechnology Coordination Office he concentrates on nanotechnology commercialization and maintaining situational awareness of nanotechnology industry developments in the U.S. and abroad.

Michelle Kakacek is a graduate of the University of SD, with a degree in Political Science with an emphasis in Public Administration. She worked for Watertown Development Company (WDC) for nearly 9 years, serving as its Director of Business Development, Interim Executive Director, and Executive Director and assumed the role of Director of SD Manufacturing & Technology Solutions in 2023. She is a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) through the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) and serves on its Accredited Economic Development Organization (AEDO) Review Committee. Prior to her time in economic development, Kakacek spent 7 years in Supply Chain at an international electronics manufacturer.

Kakacek lives in Watertown in a manufacturing family, with husband Jamie who is designer and drafter at Signs by Benchmark, and their 2 children, Alex and Grace.

Marcella Hurley serves as State Program Director for South Dakota APEX Accelerator, with offices in Yankton, Rapid City, Pierre, and Sioux Falls, assisting businesses in state, local and federal contracting. The APEX Accelerator program, formerly known as Procurement Technical Assistance Program (PTAP), under management of the Department of Defense (DoD) Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP), plays a critical role in the Department’s efforts to identify and help a wide range of businesses enter and participate in the defense supply-chain.

Marcella previously served as Lender Relations Specialist for Small Business Development Center (SBA) South Dakota Regional Office; as Regional Director of the Small Business Development Center; and as Procurement Technical Assistance Counselor for Central and Upper Midwest South Dakota.

Marcella collaborates with SBDC offices statewide, planning districts, economic development corporations, Community Development Finance Institutions, the Governor’s Office of Economic Development, the South Dakota Chamber of Commerce, and the Small Business Administration.

She is an adjunct instructor for state universities and consults and trains in the understanding of the dynamics of the business environment, the elements of creating a business, and the fundamentals for financing, marketing, and maintaining a profitable business, and the importance of enhancing business strategies through the development of banking relationships.

She is a licensed member of the International Society of Business Appraisers, LLC. She also provides feasibility analyses for existing companies relative to growth and expansion plans, as well as exit strategies.

Luke Lindberg is the President & CEO of South Dakota Trade, a 501c(6) public-private-partnership that navigates international trade for South Dakota.

Previously, Mr. Lindberg served as the Chief of Staff and Chief Strategy Officer at the Export-Import Bank of the United States. As the agency’s second-highest ranking official, he was responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of EXIM and advancing strategic initiatives such as the program on “China and Transformational Exports”, opening new markets for American Liquified Natural Gas, securing America’s supply of Critical Minerals & Rare Earths, and protecting allies in the race to deploy 5G globally. He also led EXIM’s involvement in the execution of the ground-breaking Abraham Accords. Mr. Lindberg earned the Distinguished Service Award, which recognizes distinctive accomplishment and leadership that significantly benefit EXIM and the nation.

Today, Mr. Lindberg Serves on the board of directors of the National Association of District Export Councils, and the Children’s Home Society. He holds advisory roles with the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition, the Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue University, and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. Additionally, Mr. Lindberg is a Senior Fellow at the America First Policy Institute and has been featured by Fox News, The Washington Times, The Hill, The Daily Caller, The Federalist, and The Farm Journal, for his ‘Thought Leadership’ on international affairs and agriculture policy. Mr. Lindberg earned a Master of Business Administration, a Master of Public Policy, and a Bachelor of Arts in Government & Politics, all from the University of Maryland.