Mr. Schaefer has successfully launched and executed multiple platforms in the agri-tech industry, focused on innovative technologies and customized solutions for his clients. Mr. Schaefer taught the Aquaponics Certification Course for the University of the District of Columbia in Washington, DC. Mr. Schaefer has partnered with community organizations and farmers to establish other aquaponic facilities. Mr. Schaefer serves as Government Affairs Specialist for C4-NVIS, a communications company that offers a systems integration that includes every communications platform available including encryption as well as EMP protection. Mr. Schaefer was responsible for the deployment of a full spectrum of communications capabilities and system integration.
Ian Kanski leads corporate strategy and new market development for INTAG. He has spent 12 years in business and product development in diverse technical fields including information technology, business process outsourcing, sustainable agriculture and energy. Throughout his career, he has remained focused on training and human development around new technology. He has overseen new technology implementations, training programs, and pilot projects for corporate clients ranging from billion dollar manufacturers and ‘Fortune 100’ telecom companies to departments of state and humanitarian organizations. He has also lived and worked in Central America and the South Pacific.
Angie Westbrock graduated with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering and has 15+ years of experience in the Food & Beverage Industry. After more than 10 years in large scale CPG manufacturing, she decided to take a leap into start ups and was hired to launch HelloFresh on the West Coast. She most recently joined Habit, LLC where she is the VP of Operations and leads the Consumables Business Unit. Angie resides in Northern California with her husband, Matt, 5 year old son, Tommy, and 1 year old daughter, Nora.
A trusted authority to Wall Street, Brad Holtz is arguably the most well-recognized analyst voice in engineering software today. His incisive views on the CAD market are based on a keen understanding of technologies and careful observation of their impact. Holtz's Cyon Research Stock Index has consistently outperformed the NASDAQ. In addition to the investment community, Holtz's customers have included: Adobe, AMD, Autodesk, Aveva, Bentley, Boeing, Ford, Gensler, HP, Intel, Intergraph, Knoll, Mobil, PTC, Siemens, SolidWorks, and Xerox, among others. As CEO of Cyon Research, Holtz is the driving force behind COFES - The Congress on the Future of Engineering Software. Holtz is also the founder and chief strategist of The Center for Understanding Change, a 501c3 non-profit dedicated to the exploration of alternatives in large, complex systems of systems, particularly in the area of critical infrastructure. Holtz is also the co-founder and Chief Nexus Officer of Coventry Computer.
LtGen John “Glad” Castellaw USMC (Retired) is founder and chief executive officer (CEO) of Farmspace Systems LLC., a provider of precision agricultural aerial (drone) services and equipment. Castellaw, a recognized national security expert, is a member of the USGLC National Security Advisory Council, lectures on National Security at University of Tennessee, Martin, serves on several Washington, DC based groups including the Nuclear Security Working Group (NSWG), the Iran Futures Group, and the Climate Security Working Group (CSWG). He also consults with major defense firms and a Hollywood film company. He resides on his family farm near Crockett Mills, Tennessee.
Jeremy Schmutz is a Faculty Investigator at the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology in Huntsville, Alabama where he works on plant genomics, the science of linking DNA changes to plant responses in the environment. At Stanford, Jeremy and colleagues finished 11% of the human genome. Recently, the group has focused primarily on crop genomics and with partner labs have been responsible for the majority of plant genomes. While a major focus has been on infrastructures in cellulosic biofuel organisms, Jeremy has expanded the efforts to address food and fiber crops and extended these techniques to minor crops, including iconic Southern crops like pecans, peanuts, and sorghum. Currently, Jeremy is rethinking how genomics can be used to create new crops that can be grown with sustainable agronomic inputs. Along the way, he has become one of the top 1% cited researchers in Plant Science, coauthored 50 Science or Nature papers, and collaborated with 100s of laboratories on plant science.
Andrea Macaluso is the Director of Outreach and Partnerships for the Open Research Division of SpringerNature. She works closely with funding agencies and key stakeholders in Open Science to ensure open lines of communication between the Publisher and the scientific community and has global responsibility for Nature Research's Open Access journal brand, Nature Partner Journals. Andrea has 20 years of experience in STM publishing as a Publishing Manager, Editorial Director, Acquisitions Editor, and Society Liaison for STM Publishing.