Keynote
Beyond the Stars: How Digital Transformation is Shaping the Future of Space Exploration
Houston Green, Space Exploration Engineer, The Aerospace Corporation, NASA Johnson Space CenterTechnology Demonstration - Digital Transformation Track
Securing the Energy Industry: A Demonstration of ISA/IEC 62443 Implementation Approach
Colonial Ballroom | Francis Marion Hotel
Presented by 
Presenter: Carlos Buenaño, CTO, OT, Armis
The energy industry faces several cyber security threats, making it imperative for companies to adopt robust security measures. The ISA/IEC 62443 standard is designed specifically for the energy industry to protect critical infrastructure from cybersecurity risks such as cyber attacks. In this 30-minute technology demonstration, Carlos Buenano will showcase how the ISA/IEC 62443 implementation approach can be applied to secure systems and networks in the energy industry. This demonstration aims to help organizations in the energy industry understand and implement the ISA/IEC 62443 standard to strengthen their cyber security posture and protect their critical assets.
Carlos Buenaño is the Chief Technology Officer for the Operational Technology (OT) vertical. With more than 30 years of progressive experience in the control systems and telecommunications field, Carlos’ history includes positions such as Principal Systems Engineer, Senior ICS Cybersecurity Consultant, Solutions Architect and Technical Account Manager and Principal Solutions Architect. Carlos has been actively involved in several brown and green field industrial control systems projects in Manufacturing, mining and Oil and Gas, from the concept definition to the commissioning stages of the projects. The last 5 years of his career have been focused on operationalizing cybersecurity Solutions on industrial networks. He possesses a degree of Electronic Engineering and a master's degree in telecommunications.
Technology Demonstration - Cybersecurity Track
Navigating Evolving Cyber Threats: The Imperative for AI Integrated Security Operations for Critical Infrastructure
Carolina Ballroom | Francis Marion Hotel
Presented by 
Presenter: Rod Locke, Director, Product Management, Operational Technology
Rod Locke has been in the OT security industry for over 15 years, working in vulnerability testing, OT-specific network security, and embedded product security in past roles at Wurldtech, GE Digital and Sierra Wireless. Rod is a Director of Product Management at Fortinet, focused on OT threat protection.
Digital Transformation Track
The Current State of Industry 4.0
Colonial Ballroom | Francis Marion Hotel
Presenter: Jeff Winter, ISA Member
Explore how manufacturers can thrive in the era of industry 4.0 by capturing and harnessing the power of data to unlock innovation and deliver new revenue streams. This session will highlight the companies who are doing it best.
Jeff Winter is a globally recognized thought leader in Industry 4.0 and manufacturing, with over 55 million views of his content and 110k LinkedIn followers. Honored more than 25 times as a top expert in his field, Jeff excels at simplifying and communicating complex concepts to diverse audiences, from the shop floor to the executive boardroom. With nearly 20 years of experience in industrial automation, he is a passionate advocate for digital transformation. Jeff is also highly active in the Industry 4.0 community. He serves on the Executive board for the International Society of Automation (ISA), the International Board of Directors for MESA (Manufacturing Enterprise Solutions Association), a U.S. registered expert for the IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) as a member of TC 65 and as a Smart Manufacturing Advisor to CESMII.
Cybersecurity Track
Beyond the Defense in Depth: The Artificial Intelligence Role in ICS Defense
Carolina Ballroom | Francis Marion Hotel
Presenter: Felipe Costa, Sr. Product Marketing Manager, Moxa
Felipe Costa is the Cybersecurity Director and an official ISA/IEC 62443 industrial cybersecurity instructor at ISA (International Society of Automation) and EC Council (world's largest cyber security technical certification body). Additionally, he is a Sr. Product Marketing Manager at Moxa Americas, responsible for networking and cybersecurity in the US, Canada, and LATAM. He is also an international speaker, technical article writer, and SME (subject matter expert) in cybersecurity and artificial intelligence (AI).
Digital Transformation Track
Industrial AI - The New Automation
Colonial Ballroom | Francis Marion Hotel
Presenter: Jonas Berge, Senior Director of Applied Technology, Emerson in Singapore
In this cutting-edge session, we’ll delve into the exciting ways Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing the deployment of automation systems. Join us as we explore the pivotal role of industrial AI in enhancing production and maintenance operations, and how it serves as a driving force behind configuration systems and sensors integration.
Jonas Berge is the Senior Director of Applied Technology at Emerson in Singapore. He is a trusted advisor for plants and EPCs to adopt new automation technologies moving the industry forward with digital transformation. He has over thirty years of experience in the field of industrial automation. Mr. Berge is a Subject Matter Expert (SME) in Digital Transformation (DX) including data management, and industrial AI. Mr. Berge is the author of two books and has contributed to several others. He is frequently featured in articles and technical papers.
Cybersecurity Track
Cyber Simulation in a Nuclear Power Plant
Carolina Ballroom | Francis Marion Hotel
Presenter: Victor Alvarez, Information Security Analyst, TI Safe
The Xphir4 project is a sophisticated cyber-physical simulator developed by TI Safe Lab, designed to replicate the operational and security aspects of a nuclear power plant. Based on a Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) model, the Xphir4 simulator integrates various hardware components, including Siemens PLCs (S7-1200), Scalance switches (XC208), and Fortigate firewalls (F60), utilizing communication protocols such as S7-COMM and Profinet. The project adheres to the ISA/IEC 62443 standards for securing Industrial Automation and Control Systems (IACS), ensuring that all phases of the plant's lifecycle—from design to operation—are covered under stringent cybersecurity measures.
Victor Alvarez is a Computer Engineer and Industrial Automation Technician, specializing in automation processes for robotic systems and cybersecurity development.
Digital Transformation Track
Introducing Generative AI to your Organization: How ISA is Driving Digital Transformation with Their New LLM, Mimo!Colonial Ballroom | Francis Marion Hotel
Presenter: Jason Wampler, Managing Director of Information Technology, ISAIn this captivating session, ISA’s own Jason Wampler will discuss the transformative power of Generative AI and its potential to revolutionize organizations across various industries. Jason will discuss how ISA is successfully leveraging their new Large Language Model (LLM) — Mimo — for digital transformation, and will explore the key strategies, challenges, and opportunities that arise when introducing Generative AI to your organization. Discover the tangible benefits of LLMs in optimizing workflows, enhancing customer experiences, and unlocking new business opportunities.
Jason Wampler, the Managing Director of IT for the International Society of Automation, boasts a successful career leading top-performing teams and deploying cutting-edge technology solutions. His vast experience spans project management, networking infrastructure, and business process enhancements. With a talent for harnessing emerging technologies like virtualization, cloud computing, and now AI to drive business growth and transformation, Jason is an industry leader in leveraging data-driven insights for operational efficiency. Holding certifications in Responsible AI, ITIL v3 Foundations along with having a CAE, he demonstrates a steadfast commitment to staying ahead of industry trends. Jason's 25 years of non-profit and association technology expertise makes him an invaluable speaker on IT leadership and digital transformation in any setting.
Cybersecurity Track
Fireside Chat: Crowdstrike Event: What Lessons the OT Industry Can Learn From an IT Event
Carolina Ballroom | Francis Marion Hotel
The crowdstrike breach has significantly impacted businesses worldwide, highlighting the importance of robust cybersecurity measures and operational resilience. Our presenters will cover lessons learned from the breach and its implications for operational technology (OT). It will cover critical lessons learned, including the need for business continuity plans, testing and deployment within the OT environment and critical systems affected.
Moderator: Sunil Doddi, Senior Principal Process Controls Engineer, Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.,
Presenters:
Patrick O' Brien, Cybersecurity Lead, exida
Chris Choquette, Senior Cyber Security Consultant, FM Global
Panel
Connecting Intelligence with Technology
Carolina Ballroom | Francis Marion Hotel
Traditionally, manufacturing systems were integrated through point-to-point connections. This meant that as new systems were added, they would need to be integrated with all other systems. As manufacturers become data driven organizations, it became clear that traditional architectures would no longer suffice. This panel will discuss how manufacturing and business systems should be integrated through a common technology stack. The result is faster integration and short time to value.
Moderator: David Schultz, Senior Consultant, Spruik TechnologiesPanelists:
Jeffrey Schroeder, Product Manager, HighByte
Russell Gregg, Director of Manufacturing Solutions, Canary Labs
Robert Graves, Technical Solutions Program Manager, Sales Engineering, Inductive Automation
Dan White, Director of Technical Marketing, Opto 22
Josh Schadel, General Manager & CTO, Signalfire Wireless Telemetry
Arlen Nipper, President & CTO, Cirrus Link Solutions
Digital Transformation Track
Improving Plant's Performance Using Digital Tools - An Optimization Case Study
Colonial Ballroom | Francis Marion Hotel
Presenters:
Maxym Lachance, Project Manager - Optimization, Advanced Control and Alarm Management, BBA
Dennis Nash, President and Chief Executive Officer, Control Station
Plant optimization through loop tuning is nothing new, but how can it be done efficiently and safely? Once optimization is achieved, how do you ensure that performance gains are sustained as process conditions change and equipment wears down? This presentation will guide you through initiating a plant-wide optimization project, highlighting the methodologies and digital tools used. It will also demonstrate, with data and real-world examples, how control loop performance monitoring tools can keep the plant operating at peak performance while quickly identifying and resolving any new issues that arise.
Maxym Lachance is a project manager of optimization, advanced control, and alarm management at BBA, and he is a current member of the executive board of the International Society of Automation. Lachance has over 25 years of working in industrial automation and leading engineering teams. He received his BS in Automation from Université du Québec - École de Technologie Supérieure located in Montreal, Quebec.
Dennis Nash is president of Control Station where he holds primary responsibility for development and execution of the company’s growth strategy. Control Station currently leads the market for plant-wide process analytics and optimization solutions. Under Dennis’ direction, the company has successfully licensed its software-based solutions to half of the manufacturers listed in the Fortune 500 and maintains deployments in support of production facilities located in over 70 countries. Dennis serves as a board member of both the Connecticut District Export Council and the University of Connecticut’s Digital Frontiers Initiative. He holds a BA from the University of Notre Dame and an MBA from the University of Connecticut.
Cybersecurity Track
Unified Front: Building a Robust Cybersecurity Framework Across State Lines
Carolina Ballroom | Francis Marion Hotel
Presenter: Colin Chinn, Cyber Assurance and Resiliency Group Lead, Savannah River National Laboratory
In this session, Colin will discuss the A, B, Cs and Ds of technology in South Carolina: Artificial Intelligence, Broadband, Cybersecurity and Defense. He will walk through the work Savanah National Laboratory is doing in partnership with the Department of Energy for US cybersecurity threat intelligence efforts.
Colin Chinn is an executive leader in National Security, Defense, Intelligence, and Cyber operations focused on leading complex, diverse and highly technical organizations. With over 27 years of experience in the US Navy as a cryptologic warfare officer on a US Fleet Cyber Command, he has deep expertise in driving large-scale operations, strategic and crisis planning, signals intelligence (SIGINT), cyber, and information operations. He also recently received the National Intelligence Exceptional Achievement Medal from Director Haines for amazing efforts of NSA team to support the Ukraine Crisis and epitomizing the core values of a team sport.
Digital Transformation Track
The Future of Flexible Manufacturing
Colonial Ballroom | Francis Marion Hotel
Presenter: Andrew McDonald, Principal Consultant/Managing Director, FutureofManufacturing LLC
Cybersecurity Track
Does AI Dream of Electric Substations? Generative AI and the Frontiers of AI Safety Principles for Critical Infrastructure Systems
Carolina Ballroom | Francis Marion Hotel
Presenter: Jessa Davis, Security Consulting Manager, Accenture Security
As the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in industry increases, technology and cybersecurity professionals must focus on engineering intrinsically safe and inherently secure AI systems—especially when used in operational technology (OT) environments, where a system failure or cybersecurity incident could result in serious injury and loss of life, environmental harm, or the interruption of critical infrastructure services. From this context, three core principles of AI safety engineering adapted to IEC 61508 and ISA/IEC 62443 standards will be presented to address the unique needs of OT processes—prioritizing both safety and reliability in operations—with use cases highlighting the ethical cybersecurity and risk management challenges of implementing AI within electric utilities’ OT networks.
Jessa Davis (she/her) is a Security Consulting Manager at Accenture, specializing in cyber-physical systems (CPS) and operational technology (OT) cybersecurity for electric utilities clients. Prior to joining Accenture, Jessa worked as an industrial controls system engineer in the oil and gas industry and as a blockchain software developer with the United Nations Office for Project Services in Kathmandu, Nepal. Her research interests include resolving EV charging infrastructure and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) cybersecurity challenges and supporting cyber resilience strategies for the smart grid. She lives in Seattle, WA.
Digital Transformation Track
Data Governance and Why Your Data Backend Matters
Colonial Ballroom | Francis Marion Hotel
Presenter: Tom Hollingworth, Principal Consultant, Rhize Manufacturing Data Hub
As manufacturers become data-driven organizations, it is critical to understand how data is organized and consumed. Different data structures are better for different types of analysis. This presentation will discuss a company's digital maturity and how data can be stored and analyzed. Included are time-series data, columnar data, tabular data, and graph data.
Tom Hollingworth, a seasoned manufacturing technologist, excels at bridging traditional enterprise and factory floor integration gaps. At Rhize, he has been at the forefront of transforming manufacturing data management by leading project implementations that leverage a standardized ISA-95 data structure. His expertise in GraphQL for microservice federation and BPMN engines for flow programming has driven significant advancements in manufacturing data hubs.
Cybersecurity Track
ISA/IEC 62443 Application Differences: Brownfield v. Greenfield Facilities
Carolina Ballroom | Francis Marion Hotel
Presenter: Chris Monchinski, CTO, InflexionPoint
This presentation will explore the key similarities, differences and lessons learned in applying the ISA/IEC 62443 standard within greenfield and brownfield industrial environments. In greenfield (new) projects, where systems can be designed from the ground up, there is a unique opportunity to integrate cybersecurity measures into the architecture from the earliest stages. Chris will discuss strategies for leveraging this opportunity, including best practices for designing a secure infrastructure, selecting compatible technologies, and ensuring seamless integration of security controls. Conversely, brownfield (existing) projects present distinct challenges, particularly when dealing with legacy systems that were not originally designed with cybersecurity in mind. The presentation will address these challenges, offering practical approaches to retrofitting existing systems with modern security measures, managing vulnerabilities inherent in outdated technologies, and balancing operational continuity with the need for enhanced security.
Chris Monchinski is CTO at InflexionPoint where he provides is 30+ years of experience to clients through thought leadership, strategy, design and implementation involving Digital Transformation. Chris is chair of the ISA 95 committee on Enterprise-to-Control System Integration, convenor of IEC/ISO JWG5 and past Vice President of the ISA S&P board (2019-20). Chris is chair of the MESA Knowledge Committee. Chris holds a BSEE and an MSCS.
Keynote
Data Security in Generating Renewable Energy
Carolina Ballroom | Francis Marion Hotel
James Clark, Vice President, Information Technology, South Jersey Industries Information Security
Jamie will present a success story on delivering a secure solution allowing data to traverse OT to IT to gain central visibility across our entire portfolio of farms generating renewable energy. It is a very challenging project designed from the ground up, emphasizing cyber security for safety and compliance.
With 22 years of experience leading IT teams and 15 years in building cybersecurity programs across the chemical, medical, and utility industries, Jamie Clark is a visionary technologist who bridges the gap between security, IT, SCADA, and business teams. Currently, Jamie leads the Information Security (IT/OT) & GRC programs for South Jersey Industries (SJI), where he also manages the OT Solution Services Team. SJI is a leader in delivering safe, reliable, and affordable energy solutions. Jamie holds a BS in Computer Information Systems (CIS), an MBA, and certifications including Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and Global Industrial Cyber Security Professional (GISCP).
Digital Transformation Track
Leveraging Digital Transformation to Reduct Cost to Instrumentation Testing
Colonial Ballroom | Francis Marion Hotel
Presenter: Eric Van Beek, Product Manager, aeShield
Cybersecurity Track
Downstream Energy Training Needs Analysis
Carolina Ballroom | Francis Marion Hotel
Presenter: Tim Harwood, CEO, Siker
Tim Harwood specializes in security strategy, framework design, and awareness. He developed a professional development framework for a top global oil and gas company, trains for QA and Firebrand, and frequently speaks at industry conferences. In 2013, Tim contributed to the GIAC GICSP certification, creating exam questions and the skills framework. Recently, Tim has delivered ICS security training for CPNI/NCSC, ENISA, national governments, and global companies. He lectures on Business Risk at the University of Buckingham. Tim is a Full member of CIISec, a Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute, a senior member of the International Society of Automation, and holds GIAC GSLC and GSEC Certifications. From 2017 to 2018, he was on the Board of Directors for the Institute of Information Security Professionals.
Digital Transformation Track
Bridging the Skills Gap: Strategies for Recognizing and Mitigating Workforce Shortages
Colonial Ballroom | Francis Marion Hotel
Presenter: Brian Romano, Director of Technology Development, The Arthur G. Russell Co., Inc.
Cybersecurity Track
Case Study: Applying ISA/IEC 62443 to the Manufacturing Environment
Carolina Ballroom | Francis Marion Hotel
Presenter: Edgar Baur, Manager—Engineering Digitalization, Robert Bosch LLC
Career Skills Track
Deeper Dive with Houston Green
Gold Ballroom | Francis Marion Hotel
Moderator: Ashley Weckwerth, Project Manager, Burns & McDonnell
Presenter: Houston Green, Space Exploration Engineer, The Aerospace Corporation, NASA Johnson Space Center
Digital Transformation Track
Fireside Chat: Engaging Young Minds in Automation
Colonial Ballroom | Francis Marion Hotel
- The importance of early exposure to automation concepts and technologies.
- Strategies for promoting automation education in schools and universities.
- Building strong partnerships between industry leaders and educational institutions.
- Reinforcing the pipeline from school to work via early career programs designed to attract, train, and retain automation talent.
- Real-world examples of successful initiatives that are preparing young talent for the future of work.
Presenters:
Riddhi Padariya, Sr. Controls Engineer, Heirloom
Sherry LaBonne, Software Product Manager, Rockwell Automation
Shreya Nandiraju, Consultant, Global Infrastructure Advisory - Deal Advisory, KPMG
Patrick Corbett, Senior Systems Data Engineer, Eli Lilly and Company
Riddhi Padariya has over six years of experience in the Automation and Controls Engineering field. She recently held the position of Senior Controls Engineer at Heirloom, a Direct Air Capture company featured in *Time* magazine’s Top 50 Green Tech Companies of 2024. Previously, she spent four years at Tesla as an engineer, playing a key role in deploying code for the Tesla Megapack line, Model 3/Y Battery Module lines, and the 4680-cell manufacturing line. Riddhi has also served as a judge at the United Nations COP28 Hack for Earth and HackMIT at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In her free time, she mentors junior engineers and college students who are curious about the world of manufacturing and industrial automation.
Sherry LaBonne is a Product Manager for cloud-based design software at Rockwell Automation. She is a graduate of Rockwell’s early career Engineer-in-Training program and a former controls engineer. She is also a leader in Rockwell’s Supporting Women in Engineering (RASWE) employee group, and is passionate about mentoring young women and other early career employees entering automation professions. Within ISA, she is a past chair of the Young Professional Committee, a Division Excellence in Technical Achievement – Process Measurement and Control Division awardee, and a 2025 Member-Elect of the ISA Executive Board.
Cybersecurity Track
ISASecure Site Assessment (ACSSA) Program - Industry Perspectives & Updates
Carolina Ballroom | Francis Marion Hotel
Moderator: Sean Haynes, Chief Marketing Officer, SecurityGate.io
Panelists:
Brandon Price, Sr. Principal, Industrial Cybersecurity, ExxonMobil Technology & Engineering Company
Kenny Mesker, OT Cybersecurity Strategist, Chevron
Patrick O'Brien, Cybersecurity Team Lead, exida
Sean Haynes has over 30 years of experience in Technology, Marketing, and Product Design & Development roles in the Fin-tech, Insurance, healthcare, and education sectors from early-stage to mature organizations. In his current role as Marketing Lead at ISASecure, Haynes is focused on leading the development of strategies and operational plans that advocate for the global adoption of ISASecure and ISA/IEC 62443 family of standards to secure and certify automation in critical infrastructure.
Brandon Price is Senior Principal Engineer for ICS Cybersecurity at ExxonMobil with responsibility for sustaining ExxonMobil's ICS cybersecurity strategy for its Upstream, Downstream and Midstream businesses. He has over 20 years of experience in leadership, security and business controls for protecting information, information systems and operational technology. He graduated from the University of Alabama with a degree in Management Information Systems and holds a CISSP certification.
With over 25 years of experience in OT systems architecture, cybersecurity, software development, and engineering, Kenny Mesker is an accomplished operational technology leader with a proven track record in all facets of system design and implementation. As a Chevron Distinguished Engineer and the OT Cybersecurity Strategist, Kenny is responsible for developing the corporate OT cybersecurity technology strategy. He currently holds the positions of Vice Chair of the ISA Secure Compliance Institute board of directors and co-Vice Chair of the Association of Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers cybersecurity subcommittee. Kenny is an Electrical Engineering graduate of Texas A&M University with post-graduate research in fault tolerance and resilient engineering.
Patrick O’Brien is a Cybersecurity Team Lead at exida, LLC, where he drives cybersecurity certification and assessment services for service providers and industrial asset owners. He has led cybersecurity risk assessments, training courses, and other lifecycle activities for many different applications, including oil and gas, specialty chemical, machinery and robotics. In addition to his cybersecurity role, he also provides consulting services in the areas of process safety, functional safety, and machine safety.
Career Skills Track
The Power of EQ: Bridging the Gap Between Technical Brilliance and Human Connections
Gold Ballroom | Francis Marion Hotel
Presenter: Karine Leblanc, Published Author & Professional Speaker in Coaching & Training for Growth, VP of Sales, iAIRE
For leaders in the automation industry, the challenge of building robust teams and nurturing client relationships often poses a stumbling block. In today's technical world, possessing technical skills alone is no longer enough. To truly thrive, we must also cultivate our human skills—those qualities that connect us to our humanity, define our personalities, and enable us to communicate and interact effectively with others. By developing emotional intelligence, you will transition from being task-focused managers to empathetic and inspiring leaders. This transformation will not only improve team performance and project outcomes but also create a positive and thriving work environment, leading your organization toward greater success and growth.
Digital Transformation Track
Leveraging Digitalization for a Greener Future
Colonial Ballroom | Francis Marion Hotel
Presenter: Dr. Soloman Almadi, Principal Scientist, Aramco
Technological developments in recent times have greatly increased our ability to address carbon emissions in a variety of processes and operations. Our capacity to address direct and indirect emissions sources more successfully than in the past has increased as a result of these developments. Massive datasets have been collected easier thanks to the spread of automation and instrumentation solutions, creating data lakes that may be used to proactively identify emission sources and the connections between them and primary carbon emission sources.
In this context, digitalization is essential because it makes it possible to identify the sources of emissions both within and between them, analyze the composition of emissions, and optimize processes—all of which lead to a more sustainable future.
In order to understand the fundamental building blocks of emission control, this presentation explains the transformative power of digital technologies and digitalization capabilities, such as the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML), Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), and Digital Twin technologies among others in serving the nezero objective.
This study also suggests an integrated system and data model that may predict emissions related to energy consumption. The presentation also includes control strategies intended to lessen these negative effects on the environment. This research seeks to establish a comprehensive framework for tackling the urgent problem of carbon emissions in the contemporary industrial landscape by integrating these technological breakthroughs and techniques.
Cybersecurity Track
Securing the Flow: Safeguarding Water Infrastructure
Carolina Ballroom | Francis Marion Hotel
Presenter: Steve Mustard, President & CEO, National Automation, Inc.
Our entire way of life is dependent on reliable water and wastewater services. In the past few years, a number of high-profile incidents in this sector has raised concerns about cybersecurity posture and incident readiness. Many nations have taken action to manage this risk, but how well prepared are our water and waste water systems today? This presentation will highlight some of the unique challenges in the sector and provide some recommendations to address this unshakable risk to our society.
Digital Transformation Track
Life on the Edge: Harnessing Opportunities, Mastering Challenges and Mapping the Future of Edge Computing
Colonial Ballroom | Francis Marion Hotel
Edge devices have a unique set of requirements. Whether they are on the constant move or even going in and out of communication coverage, edge devices need to be designed to be away from connectivity and the ability to acquire information from the back office. This panel will discuss the unique challenges presented by edge devices and different methods that can be used to enable and manage them.
Moderator: Ron Victor, Executive Vice President, AustinGIS
Panelists:
Mark Kraeling, Solutions Architect, GE Transportation
Arlen Nipper, President & CTO, Cirrus Link Solutions
Eva Feng, VP of Product Management, ZEDEDA
Ron Victor is a silicon-valley based technology entrepreneur with 25+ years of experience and expertise launching new ventures at start-ups and fortune 1000 technology companies. His exits include IoTium Inc. (Edge Compute, IIoT, Zero-trust Remote Access – acquired by View Inc.), Hellosoft Inc. (VoIP, Wifi, IMS, Telco – acquired by Imagination Technologies), Phasecom Inc. (Broadband Technologies – IPO VYYO). Ron started his career at Intel corporation where he played multiple roles in launching new businesses for Intel including Broadband, Personal Conferencing, Video compression chipsets and assisting launching Intel in China. He was also Technical counsel to Intel legal.
Mark Kraeling is a Product Architect for the Train Performance group at Wabtec, Inc. At Wabtec, a Fortune 500 company, he drives technical innovation and unique digital solutions to propel the rail industry forward in a sustainable way. Mark is a regular speaker at technical conferences worldwide such as AusRAIL and IoT Solutions World Congress. He works to share his knowledge and passion of the rail industry on topics such as system architecture, software development, and safety-related systems. Mark resides with his wife in Melbourne, Florida.
Arlen Nipper is President and CTO of Cirrus Link Solutions. With over 45 years of experience in the SCADA & IIoT industry, Arlen has broad experience covering design and manufacture of embedded computer systems to complete SCADA system infrastructure implementations for many companies. As a leading expert on the Internet of Things and as co-inventor of MQTT – a publish-subscribe network protocol that has become the dominant messaging standard in IoT – Arlen has been involved in many activities including writing publications, keynoting, and producing executive presentations about digital transformation and OT methodologies for organizations such as TEDx, IBM, Intel, AWS and more.
Eva Feng is the VP of Product Management for ZEDEDA, a market leader in the edge computing space. Before joining ZEDEDA, Eva had several senior leadership roles at Amazon Web Services, Service Now, Twilio, HPE and startups in Silicon Valley. She is a product management expert with a demonstrated history of bringing innovative products to market across various sectors, including edge, SaaS, cloud, and enterprise service products. Eva is a passionate leader with extensive global work experience, and has worked in the UK, China and the United States. She combines deep technical expertise, customer insights and market knowledge to build a strong product vision and lead teams to deliver product solutions into customers' hands.
Cybersecurity Track
Plant Owner Perspective: Cybersecurity Challenges and Threats - Strategies for Effective and Efficient Mitigation
Carolina Ballroom | Francis Marion Hotel
The evolving threat landscape and increasing interconnectedness of industrial systems have made cybersecurity a top priority for plant owners across industries. This panel discussion brings together asset owners and industry experts to share their insights and experiences in addressing the unique cybersecurity challenges and threats faced by critical infrastructure.
Moderator: Patrick O'Brien, Cybersecurity Lead, exida
Panelists:
Chris DaCosta, ICS Cybersecurity Director, Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
Brandon Price, Sr., Principal, Industrial Cybersecurity, ExxonMobil Technology & Engineering Company
Edgar Baur, Manager—Engineering Digitalization, Robert Bosch LLC
Career Skills Track
Career Journey Panel
Gold Ballroom | Francis Marion Hotel
Moderator: Patrick Corbett, Senior Systems Data Engineer, Eli Lilly and Company
Panelists:
Colleen Goldsborough, Industry Sales Manager, United Electric Supply
Ashley Weckwerth, Project Manager, Burns & McDonnell
Brian Curtis, REFS Contract Manager, Novartis
Alan Bryant, Senior Automation Engineer, Oxy
Ashley Weckwerth graduated as a chemical engineer and then started her career as an instrumentation and controls engineer in the oil and gas industry for Burns and McDonnell, an EPC firm headquartered in Kansas City. She worked in that role for over 8 years before transferring departments in 2020 to be a Project Manager managing SCADA engineering projects in the electric utility space. Now, she manages a company-wide top contract with over 40 automation engineers on her team located across the country. Ashley has been involved in ISA her entire professional career including when she changed industries, roles and relocated. Ashley’s ISA journey started at the section level working her way through all the roles: Program Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, VP, and President, and Delegate. Later, she got involved in division leadership and became ChemPID’s Director-Elect and then Director. Ashley then was elected to ISA’s Executive Board and served a 3-year term there. She served in many various committees and task forces along the way too and as of the latest ISA election, she has been elected as ISA’s 2025 President-elect Secretary (2026 ISA President). Ashley credits ISA a lot for her ability to grow in her career, from the leadership skills and knowledge she has gained.
Career Skills Track
Working Backwards - A Culture of Innovation
Gold Ballroom | Francis Marion Hotel
Presenters: Andrew Page, Principal, Digital Innovation, Amazon Web Services (AWS)
Digital Transformation Track
Unpacking and Assembling ISA95
Colonial Ballroom | Francis Marion Hotel
Presenter: David Schultz, Senior Consultant, Spruik Technologies
David Schultz is a senior consultant with Spruik Technologies. He works with manufacturers to help them develop and execute strategies for their digital transformation and asset management initiatives. He has 25 over years of automation and process control experience across many market verticals, with a focus on continuous and batch processing. He is the Director for the SMIIoT Division of ISA and serves on several technical committees. He is also a member of the Society of Maintenance and Reliability Professionals (SMRP) and Project Management Institute (PMI).
Cybersecurity Track
The Business Need for a Cyber Workforce Inventory
Carolina Ballroom | Francis Marion Hotel
Presenters:
Sean McBride, Director, Informatics Research Institute, Idaho State University
Shane Dale Stailey, Co-CEO, Cyber Workforce Center
Many organizations are struggling to find skilled cybersecurity workers to meet their business needs. Part of this struggle for an organization, after years of research by Dr. Stailey in applied workforce, is the discovery that organizations don't know what they don't know about their current cyber workforce. As such this makes it extremely difficult when hiring cyber personnel to really know what skills are needed. Most often, organizations do not consider operational technology to be part of cyber processes or initiatives. This presentation will introduce the concept of a workforce inventory with an introduction to some tools and resources that will help an organization, from the C-Suite to HR to line leaders and front-line managers, understand cyber competencies that exist across the organization. The information shared in this presentation is being utilized as a backdrop for work in ISA/IEC WG's 10 and 15 to help uncover the professional roles that should be considered when implementing an IACS, which will in the future be, potentially, additions to ISA/IEC 62443 standards. Once an organization identifies the business need for these professional roles, 62443 standards can help the realization of the premise for what a cyber-ready team should consist of. Then, based on their unique business size, type, industry focus and business requirements, an organization can appropriately and continually align and hire future cyber personnel.
Shane Dale Stailey is an inventor, author, and multi-technical practitioner educated and trained in multiple facets of security including OT, IT, Physical Security and Cybersecurity. He specializes in cybersecurity workforce development combining years of field experience with designing, teaching and applying technical and cyber curriculum at multiple universities and colleges since 2013 while working in full-time technical and/or cyber jobs.
Digital Transformation Track
Driving ROI of Industry 4.0 Initiatives
Colonial Ballroom | Francis Marion Hotel
Presenter: Sujata Tilak, Managing Director, Ascent Intellimation Pvt. Ltd.
ROI of Industry 4.0 has many facets. This session will look at how to identify immense potential of Industry 4.0 projects and realize the economic and sustainable ‘value’. The session will also delve upon soft returns for customers, employees and finally the society.
Sujata Tilak is a thought leader and recognized expert in IIoT and Industry 4.0. An instrumentation and control engineer from the College of Engineering, Pune, Sujata has more than 30 years of experience. She worked with Alfa Laval and KPIT before founding Ascent Intellimation. Under her leadership, AIPL has conceptualized and developed an innovative Internet of Things platform, PlantConnect and various products based on this platform. Sujata is an executive board member of the International Society of Automation (ISA). She is the founder and first director of ISA Smart Manufacturing and IIoT Division and past DVP of Asia Pacific District. She is associated with various engineering colleges as industry advisor. Sujata mentors students, professionals and startups wanting to step in automation and IoT world. She regularly speaks in conferences and writes in technical magazines.
Cybersecurity Track
Applying ISA/IEC 62443 to a Unified Name Space
Carolina Ballroom | Francis Marion Hotel
Presenters:
David Schultz, Senior Consultant, Spruik Technologies
Mike Gorman, Head of Operations and CISO, NetFoundry
The Unified Namespace (UNS) is a popular approach for systems integration. It has been claimed that it is inherently secure due to its pub/sub technology. This claim has resulted in concerns over how secure the approach is. This session will have two parts. The first will provide an overview of the UNS and how to design one. The second is how to apply ISA/IEC 62443 to a UNS and present security considerations.
David Schultz is a senior consultant with Spruik Technologies. He works with manufacturers to help them develop and execute strategies for their digital transformation and asset management initiatives. He has 25 over years of automation and process control experience across many market verticals, with a focus on continuous and batch processing. He is the Director for the SMIIoT Division of ISA and serves on several technical committees. He is also a member of the Society of Maintenance and Reliability Professionals (SMRP) and Project Management Institute (PMI).
Career Skills Track
Reinventing Your Career Path: The Power of Lifelong Learning
Gold Ballroom | Francis Marion Hotel
Presenter: Brian Romano
Brian Romano, currently the Director of Technology Development at The Arthur G. Russell Co., has been in the process and automation control systems industry for more than 40 years, starting as a bench technician. After serving as president of a division for an automated machine builder, Romano owned a systems integration company, growing and positioning it as one with expertise in connecting the factory floor to the front office. To keep current with the ever-evolving automation industry, Romano holds an AS, BS, MS, and MBA and Ph.D. in Technology and Innovation. Romano has been designing and implementing Industry 4.0 solutions starting initially in 2004 with connecting factory floor data systems to customer business systems. Understanding a skills gap and workforce shortage in the control systems engineering profession, Romano leverages is academic knowledge and years of experience to teach the next generation of engineers at two local universities. He also serves as an industrial advisory board member for two technology and engineering universities, as a member of the CSIA Digital Committee and as chair of the ISA Smart Manufacturing division IIoT committee, where he was awarded the 2022 ISA SM/IIoT Division Leader of the Year Award.
ISA Standards Overview
Carolina Ballroom | Francis Marion Hotel
Presenter: Charley Robinson, Senior Director, Standards Administration, ISA
ISA’s international standards play a vital role in promoting safety, cybersecurity and efficiency across global industry. This workshop will provide an overview of ISA’s international standards program and its relationship to and collaboration with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). A panel of experts representing standards stakeholders will then answer questions from the audience.
ISA Standards Panel
This panel is an extension of the ISA Standards Overview and will have time for audience Q&A.
Carolina Ballroom | Francis Marion Hotel
Moderator: Scott Reynolds, Security Engineering Manager - ITD, Johns Manville
Panelists:
Ed Manns, Managing Director, External Relations, ISA
Charley Robinson, Senior Director, Standards Administration, ISA
Dave Lee, President, User Centered Design Services