View by Topic

View by Type

View by Day

To Infinity and Beyond: Innovation in Spaceflight

Douglas Hurley , Retired Astronaut , NASA

Topic(s): Aerospace Digital Transformation Leadership

Type(s): Keynote Stage 1

Show more
Doug Hurley
Douglas Hurley Retired Astronaut NASA

Uniquely accomplished and decorated aerospace executive, astronaut, test pilot and engineer with over 30 years of specialized experience operating, managing and leading the most innovative aerospace and aviation technologies in service to NASA’s human spaceflight program and the U.S. Marine Corps., Doug Hurley has logged over 5,500 hours in more than 25 aircraft and two space vehicles as well as logging over three months in space.

A veteran of three spaceflights, Doug served as Pilot of the last Space Shuttle flight in 2011 and Commander of the first test flight of the SpaceX Crew Dragon in 2020. He became one of the first two astronauts in history to launch aboard a commercial orbital spacecraft. For five years before the successful launch, he served as a liaison, consultant and test pilot on behalf of NASA to the company’s operations and development teams.

In January 2023, the vice president of the United States awarded him the Congressional Space Medal of Honor for his bravery in commanding the first NASA Commercial Crew mission to the International Space Station.

Session Sponsored by Honeywell: Exploring the Future of Automation

Joe Bastone , Director, Growth Initiative Leader , Honeywell Process Solutions

Type(s): Stage 2

Show more
ApticaTM is a modular, app-driven automation platform that accelerates deployment, reduces lifecycle costs and scales effortlessly. This empowers end users to modernize operations without starting from scratch.
Joe Bastone
Joe Bastone Director, Growth Initiative Leader Honeywell Process Solutions
Joe Bastone is a seasoned technology leader at Honeywell Process Solutions, serving as a Growth Initiatives Leader based in Fort Washington, PA. With a deep focus on modular and intelligent platforms, Joe leads the development and positioning of Aptica, Honeywell's next-generation edge-native automation solution. His work bridges operational and enterprise systems, enabling customers to accelerate digital transformation across industries. Joe has been with Honeywell for 25 years and has a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York.

Reducing Commissioning Time with Digital Twins

Franklin Ruffin , Technical Manager, Simulation and Emulation , Kalypso: A Rockwell Automation Business

Type(s): Stage 2

Show more
This session demonstrates how digital twin technology accelerates commissioning and capacity expansion in manufacturing, with a particular focus on virtual controls testing. Attendees will learn how digital twins enable engineers to simulate, emulate and optimize control logic before physical deployment—minimizing risk, reducing downtime and increasing throughput.
generic head shot icon
Franklin Ruffin Technical Manager, Simulation and Emulation Kalypso: A Rockwell Automation Business
Franklin Ruffin is a Technical Manager at Kalypso, part of Rockwell Automation, where he leads the Digital Twin Practice focused on simulation and emulation of industrial control systems. With over 15 years of experience in automation and project engineering, Franklin has delivered digital twin solutions across industries including automotive, food & beverage and warehousing. In addition to his time at Rockwell, he spent several years at Universal Creative, where he contributed to the design and testing of complex ride systems and themed entertainment controls. Franklin brings a unique blend of industrial rigor and creative engineering to his work, and at ISA, he will share practical insights into how digital twins are transforming controls testing and accelerating virtual commissioning. 

Designing In and Designing Out: Reducing Cybersecurity Risk and Technical Debt in Critical Infrastructure

Susan Peterson Sturm , Senior Director, Business Development and Strategic Partnerships , Wabtec

Topic(s): Cybersecurity Industrial Control Systems (ICS)

Type(s): Stage 1

Show more

This session will explore how critical infrastructure industries can integrate cybersecurity practices into operational technology to enhance efficiency and reduce technical debt. It will focus on embedding security into system requirements from the outset, minimizing labor-intensive maintenance and avoiding costly bolt-on solutions. By drawing from examples in other industries, this presentation will highlight the importance of lifecycle planning, security automation and addressing challenges like aging systems and vendor roadmaps. Attendees will gain insight into designing resilient, secure systems that align with operational demands for sustainable and efficient outcomes. 

 


Keep the conversation going on risk reduction and other cybersecurity topics in Connect Forum: Industrial and Operational Technology (OT) Cybersecurity 

Susan Peterson Sturm
Susan Peterson Sturm Senior Director, Business Development and Strategic Partnerships Wabtec

Susan is an operational technology leader with 20 years of experience scaling industrial software businesses, including cybersecurity. She has led P&Ls with over 150 million USD and excels in product management, M&A and strategic growth. 
 
She mentors early-stage cybersecurity professionals and is the champion of a diverse cybersecurity workforce. Susan leads cybersecurity strategy for a critical infrastructure technology company, serves as board chair of One Warm Coat and is a board advisor to Navigating Grey. 

The Future of Automation

Joe Bastone , Director, Growth Initiative Leader , Honeywell Process Solutions

Topic(s): Digital Transformation Aerospace Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Type(s): Stage 2

Show more

 

Share digital transformation strategy thoughts and feedback with peers in the Connect Forums: 

Joe Bastone
Joe Bastone Director, Growth Initiative Leader Honeywell Process Solutions
Joe Bastone is a seasoned technology leader at Honeywell Process Solutions, serving as a Growth Initiatives Leader based in Fort Washington, PA. With a deep focus on modular and intelligent platforms, Joe leads the development and positioning of Aptica, Honeywell's next-generation edge-native automation solution. His work bridges operational and enterprise systems, enabling customers to accelerate digital transformation across industries. Joe has been with Honeywell for 25 years and has a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York.

Transforming Automation with Industrial Wireless

Type(s): Expo Stage

Strawberries, Chatbots, and Lawyers: How Your Enterprise Can Deploy Real AI Solutions Effectively Without Pitfalls

Dr. Johnathan Mell , Assistant Professor , University of Central Florida

Topic(s): Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Type(s): Stage 2

Show more

Engineering teams are under increasing pressure to integrate large language models and other generative AI tools into real-world workflows as AI continues to proliferate across enterprise systems. While these systems can accelerate productivity, they can also fail in surprising and costly ways when deployed without guardrails or domain adaptation.

This talk explores the practical realities of deploying AI in human-centered domains, where ambiguity, emotion and contextual nuance dominate. I begin with a set of cautionary industry examples—including a misconfigured airline chatbot that resulted in a small claims court loss and an AI-generated legal brief
that fabricated case law—illustrating how generative systems can propagate errors that pass surface-level inspection but fail under scrutiny.
I then present two applied case studies from ongoing research: Healthcare Conflict Resolution Training: An AI-powered system used to train workers on managing emotionally sensitive caregiver conflicts, where the goal is not just information delivery but simulating de-escalation strategies.

AI for Negotiation Skills: A dialogue-based AI platform for negotiation training, where trainees engage in strategic conversations with adaptive agents to practice persuasion, signaling, and deal-making under pressure.

These systems highlight where AI succeeds: not in replacing humans, but in creating adaptive, semistructured environments that enhance learning, resilience and performance. I’ll discuss design lessons on human-AI interaction fidelity, edge-case failure handling, model interpretability, and how to think critically about when not to automate.

Attendees will leave with concrete insights into how to scope, test, and deploy AI responsibly, especially in high-stakes contexts where automation meets judgment.


Trade lessons learned on responsible AI deployment, governance and more in Connect Forum: Artificial Intelligence   

Dr. Johnathan Mell
Dr. Johnathan Mell Assistant Professor University of Central Florida

Dr. Johnathan Mell is a professor, researcher and technology innovator working at the crossroads of artificial intelligence, human behavior and engineering. Dr. Mell is a tenure-track professor at the University of Central Florida, where he lectures on AI in video games, and leads the ScionAI lab, which researches topics relating to making and understanding more human-like AI systems. He received his Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Southern California and holds further degrees from Wharton School of Business and Penn Engineering. Dr. Mell has appeared at numerous global conferences and is also regularly invited as a panelist or speaker to both academic conferences and popular science venues to discuss AI. He aims to connect business, gaming and cutting-edge artificial intelligence in a fully integrated way utilizing modern techniques to make consistent, trustworthy and useful AIs. His current work is focused on artificial negotiation and human-AI communication.

Cyber Hardening of OT/SCADA Systems: A Roadmap to Successful Implementation

Rufus Handsome , Solution Engineer II , GICSP, InSource Solutions

Topic(s): Cybersecurity Industrial Control Systems (ICS) Incident Response

Type(s): Stage 1

Show more

Securing Operational Technology (OT) and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems is increasingly critical as they become prime targets for malicious attacks across industries. Rufus Handsome will discuss how cyber hardening, the process of fortifying systems through tailored security measures, is essential yet often challenging due to the divergence between IT-centric security protocols and the unique requirements of OT\SCADA environments.  

Rufus will discuss practical strategies for implementing effective cybersecurity measures in OT/SCADA systems without disrupting operations. He will draw on insights and experiences from InSource's work with its clients, covering the importance of cybersecurity, common vulnerabilities, consequences and a collaborative project-based approach involving various professionals.


Discuss cyber hardening and implementation in Connect Forum: Industrial and Operational Technology (OT) Cybersecurity   

Rufus Handsome
Rufus Handsome Solution Engineer II GICSP, InSource Solutions

How to Upgrade Your Cybersecurity, Incident Response and Training with Gamification and AI - A Practical Guide

Clint Bodungen , Founder , ThreatGEN

Topic(s): Artificial Intelligence (AI) Digital Transformation

Type(s): Stage 1

Show more

Are you not getting the expected value out of your incident response exercises? Is your cybersecurity training outdated and boring? Can gamification help? What is gamification? What about the latest trend, generative AI? Can I use it, safely and securely, to improve my cybersecurity training and even my overall OT cybersecurity program? In this presentation, Clint will answer these questions with practical advice, strategies and actionable examples of how you can use gamification and generative AI to solve some of your most pressing cybersecurity issues.


Swap playbooks on IR readiness and cybersecurity in Connect Forums:  

Clint Bodungen
Clint Bodungen Founder ThreatGEN

Clint is a globally recognized ICS cybersecurity professional and thought leader with 30 years of experience focusing primarily on industrial cybersecurity, red teaming and risk assessment. He is the author of two best-selling books, "Hacking Exposed: Industrial Control Systems" and “ChatGPT for Cybersecurity Cookbook.” He is a United States Air Force veteran and has worked for notable cybersecurity firms like Symantec, Booz Allen Hamilton, Kaspersky Lab and is currently the Founder/Head of Product Innovation at ThreatGEN as well as the Director of Cyber Innovation at MorganFranklin Cyber.

Renowned for his creative approach to cybersecurity education and training, Clint has been at the forefront of integrating gamification and AI applications into cybersecurity training. He created “ThreatGEN® Red vs. Blue,” the world's first online multiplayer computer designed to teach real-world cybersecurity, and “AutoTableTop,” which uses the latest generative AI technology to automate, simplify and enhance IR tabletop exercises. As AI technology continues to evolve, he hopes to help revolutionize the cybersecurity industry using gamification and generative AI. 

Automation Applications for Theme Parks: Stingrays, Roller Coasters and Simulated Bird Droppings

Steve Pflantz , Fellow Process Automation & Safety , CRB Engineers and Consultants

Type(s): Stage 2

Show more
Automation required for attractions and rides in theme parks is no different than machinery or process automation. Just a difference in the applications; you are conveying people around instead of bundles of shingles. For obvious reasons, the need for safe and reliable systems is a high priority. I am glad to say that none of the rides and attractions I worked on made the news in a bad way. Well, with one exception involving a Celebrity and a Goose. CRB got involved in this industry sector thanks to an untimely bodily function of a Stingray, and such things continued to be a common thread on a number of projects. Technical challenges and amusing stories about applications are on par with ‘normal’ process and manufacturing industries. This presentation is sure to be informative and amusing.
Steven Pflantz
Steve Pflantz Fellow Process Automation & Safety CRB Engineers and Consultants

State of the Society Address

Topic(s): Leadership

Type(s): Stage 1

Panel Discussion: Industrial Connectivity - Successful Implementation of Wireless and 5G

Mark Kraeling , Director , Wabtec, Inc.

John Brand , Senior Program Manager , Aeronix

RC Cofer , Technical Solutions Manager , BLT

Topic(s): Connectivity 5G Digital Transformation

Type(s): Stage 2

Show more

This panel discussion brings together speakers who have expertise in the application of wireless technology to industrial environments. The panel will cover topics around the latest in 5G technologies, contrasting against wireless communications used in satellite and aircraft communications. Attendees will learn more about specific applications of wireless technologies, hopefully learn how they can be applied to their specific needs and have a little fun learning.


Dive deeper into architectures, spectrum choices and reliability tradeoffs across Connect Forums: 

Mark Kraeling - 100px
Mark Kraeling Director Wabtec, Inc.
Mark is a Director for Wabtec, Inc. in Melbourne, Florida. Wabtec is a leading global provider of equipment, systems, digital solutions and value-added services, operating in freight and transit segments. Mark works with railroad customers worldwide to integrate network, computing and information networks into their operations. He has presented at numerous conferences worldwide and participates in industry standards committees to enable standardization and interoperability.
John Brand
John Brand Senior Program Manager Aeronix
John is a Senior Program Manager at Aeronix Inc. in Melbourne, Florida. Aeronix offers reliable communication solutions, networking systems and surveillance technologies for defense and commercial sectors. John works with clients globally to improve their operational capabilities and is involved in various committees that focus on standardizing and advancing communication systems in rail and defense industries.
 
RC-Cofer
RC Cofer Technical Solutions Manager BLT
RC Cofer is a Technical Solutions Manager at BLT, where he drives customer solutions for complex FPGA and embedded system designs from concept through deployment. With decades of experience in aerospace and defense, automotive and medical applications, he brings deep technical expertise in architecting and integrating mission-critical systems. Before joining BLT, RC led large engineering teams tackling advanced FPGA and embedded projects and authored a book on rapid system prototyping with FPGAs. BLT is known for getting it right the first time, every time, since 1989. BLT’s designs are in space, undersea and everywhere in between.

Panel Discussion: IT/OT Convergence

Moderator: Patrick O'Brien , Cybersecurity Team Lead , exida

Katherine Hutton , Product Manager, Cybersecurity , Fluence

Tim Staney , Senior Technical Program Manager , Tampa International Airport

Mike Clark , Director , OPC Foundation North America

Lennart Koopman , Founder , nzyme – Close Access Denial

Topic(s): Cybersecurity Threat Intelligence

Type(s): Stage 1

Show more
Patrick Obrien - 100px
Moderator: Patrick O'Brien Cybersecurity Team Lead exida
Katherine Hutton
Katherine Hutton Product Manager, Cybersecurity Fluence
Tim Staney
Tim Staney Senior Technical Program Manager Tampa International Airport

Tim Staney is a Senior Technical Program Manager at Tampa International Airport, where he leads initiatives at the intersection of information technology, security and public safety. He plays a central role in IT/OT governance by convening the Cybersecurity Council and collaborating across Operations, Maintenance, Risk and IT teams to strengthen security in highly interconnected environments. Tim also guides product intake and contract security reviews, ensuring new systems and sensors are introduced in ways that balance business objectives with risk management and safety. 

Trained in HSEEP (Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program) and CIPR (Cyber Incident Planning and Response), Tim applies these frameworks to enhance preparedness, resilience and governance. He also advances IT/OT shared governance using standards such as NIST and ISA/IEC 62443. 

Nationally, Tim contributes to the Airports Council International–North America (ACI-NA) Business Information Technology Committee and its Artificial Intelligence Working Group and is an active member of InfraGard. Tim lives in St. Petersburg, Florida with his husband of 20 years and an embarrassing number of dogs. 

generic head shot icon
Mike Clark Director OPC Foundation North America
Lennart Koopman
Lennart Koopman Founder nzyme – Close Access Denial

Lennart is the creator of the nzyme Network Defense System, a free and open solution that empowers organizations to protect their networks from close proximity attacks. Prior to nzyme, he founded the Graylog project in 2010 and led the development of its commercial counterpart in 2013.

Session Sponsored by Control Station: Beyond Traditional Metrics: Unlocking Plant Performance with Overall Controller Effectiveness

Bob Rice , Vice President, Engineering , Control Station

Topic(s): Digital Transformation Automation Control

Type(s): Stage 2

Show more
Effective plant-wide process optimization hinges on the performance of individual PID control loops, making the use of targeted Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) essential. While these traditional metrics offer valuable insights, they can fall short in terms of both characterizing performance at the unit and plant levels and prioritizing underperforming controllers for further investigation and corrective action.

This presentation highlights the critical role of KPIs in control loop performance monitoring and introduces innovative metrics such as Overall Controller Effectiveness (OCE) that address the shortcomings of traditional loop KPIs. Specifically these novel metrics provide a normalized assessment of loop health at the loop, unit and plant level that facilitate process optimization. The presentation includes real-world examples from the chemical and mining industries.


Compare experiences, discuss control methods and more in Connect Forum: Industrial and Operational Technology (OT) Cybersecurity   
Bob Rice
Bob Rice Vice President, Engineering Control Station
Bob Rice, PhD, serves as Control Station’s Vice President of Engineering. As the Company’s thought leader and chief product architect, he oversees product development and engineering services. Dr. Rice has published extensively on topics associated with automatic process control, including multi-variable process control and model predictive control. Dr. Rice received his BS in Chemical Engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and his MS and PhD from the University of Connecticut.

It's Coming from Inside! | A Fabric Approach to Zero-Trust in OT Security

Matt Bolick , Principal Technical Marketing Engineer , Fortinet

Topic(s): Cybersecurity

Type(s): Stage 1

Show more

For years, OT security has focused on building a strong perimeter to keep threats out. Yet, the most damaging attacks often originate from within the network—from a compromised device, a phishing victim, or a vulnerable third-party connection. In today's interconnected industrial environments, where IT and OT systems converge, the old model of a trusted internal network is no longer viable. The threat is already inside the gates. 

This session will challenge the traditional security mindset and introduce a modern, effective strategy: applying a Zero Trust model through an integrated security fabric. We will explore how to shift from a "trust but verify" approach to a "never trust, always verify" philosophy for every device, user and connection within your OT network. We will detail how a security fabric provides the necessary visibility, control and automation to make Zero Trust a reality. 

Key takeaways will include: 

  • Adopting a Zero Trust Mindset: Why the principle of "never trust, always verify" is essential for protecting modern OT networks from the reality of internal threats. 
  • Implementing a Security Fabric: How an integrated and automated security architecture overcomes the limitations of siloed security tools to enforce consistent Zero Trust policies across the entire OT environment. 
  • Actionable Strategies: Key steps to implementing Zero Trust, including deep asset visibility, micro-segmentation to prevent lateral movement and securing all access to critical industrial controls. 
Matt Bolick (1)
Matt Bolick Principal Technical Marketing Engineer Fortinet
Matt Bolick has been working in complex network environments since 1996 originally starting in the industry with IBM mainframes and SNA protocols. His experience spans large Service Providers, Enterprise IT organizations of all sizes and OT environments across many industries. Most recently he has helped several large auto manufacturers modernize their factories for Industry 4.0, worked to secure and modernize utilities around the world, helped improve the efficiency and safety of highways and rail around the world, helped create some of the most exciting and safe amusement park rides and created the world's fastest autonomous racing league with several world records for autonomous operations. Matt gets a thrill in learning new things and bringing that experience to create elegant solutions to customer problems and sharing that love of problem-solving by volunteering with local schools and STEAM programs.  

Panel Discussion: The Many Faces of Digital Twin

Moderator: Steve Mustard , President , au2mation

Peter Baxter , Vice President Operations , visCo, US

M. Dominique Pouliquen , CEO , Cintoo

Julie Robinson , Business Director , Rockwell Automation

Dr. Brian Romano , Director of Technology Development , The Arthur G. Russell Co., Inc.

Colin Yellowley , Managing Director , Igloo Vision

Type(s): Expo Stage

Show more
Steve Mustard - 100px
Moderator: Steve Mustard President au2mation

Steve Mustard, PE, CAP, GICSP, CMCP, has over 35 years of experience in the automation industry. He has developed embedded software and hardware for military applications and created products for industrial automation and control systems. Currently, much of his work focuses on assessing the cybersecurity readiness of organizations in critical infrastructure.

In addition to being the former 2021 ISA President, Mustard holds multiple certifications and professional engineering licenses. These include being a licensed Professional Engineer (PE), an ISA Certified Automation Professional (CAP), a UK-registered Chartered Engineer (CEng), a Fellow of the Institution of Engineering & Technology, a European-registered Engineer (EUR Ing), a Global Industrial Cyber Security Professional (GICSP), and a Certified Mission Critical Professional (CMCP).

generic head shot icon
Peter Baxter Vice President Operations visCo, US
Julie Robinson (1)
Julie Robinson Business Director Rockwell Automation
Brian Romano
Dr. Brian Romano Director of Technology Development The Arthur G. Russell Co., Inc.

Dr. 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, he 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, Brian holds an AS, BS, MS and MBA and Ph.D. in Technology and Innovation. He has been designing and implementing Industry 4.0 solutions, starting initially in 2004 connecting factory floor data systems to customer business systems.

Understanding the skills gap and workforce shortage in the control systems engineering profession, Brian leverages his 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. Brian has been presenting at trade and professional society conferences for several years, publishes articles and has been quoted and interviewed for several automation publications.

generic head shot icon
Colin Yellowley Managing Director Igloo Vision

Advancing Data Democracy to Dictate Your Success: Leveraging Data Products for Enhanced Decision-Making

Berta Gutierrez Montes , Engineering Data Standardization Program Owner , Eli Lilly & Co.

Topic(s): Digital Transformation Data Management Artificial Intelligence (AI) Standards & Regulations

Type(s): Stage 2

Show more
As organizations increasingly rely on data, a fundamental shift in mindset is required to unlock its full potential. This presentation explores the evolution from traditional data management toward treating data as a product—a user-centric, structured approach that prioritizes accessibility, quality and relevance. Drawing on real-world experiences and collaborative insights, we will examine how data products—self-contained, high-quality data assets—can be designed to meet specific business needs.
Key principles such as discoverability, quality and security will be discussed, along with the critical role of data democratization in enabling broader access to trusted data. Attendees will gain practical insights into how a data product mindset can drive operational efficiency, empower teams with better data accessibility and support more informed, data-driven decision-making across the enterprise.


Continue the conversation on data products, give reviews or get advice in Connect Forums: 

Berta Gutierrez
Berta Gutierrez Montes Engineering Data Standardization Program Owner Eli Lilly & Co.

Industrial Engineer with over a decade of experience in the pharmaceutical manufacturing sector. She currently serves as the Engineering Data Standardization Program Owner at Eli Lilly and Company, where she is part of the Digital Manufacturing Engineering (DME) team within Lilly’s Corporate Engineering Tech
Center (ETC).

In her global role, she leads efforts to define and implement standardized data products and data models across Lilly’s manufacturing sites, with a focus on transforming OT/ET/IT data into contextualized, high-value assets. Her work bridges automation systems and advanced analytics applications, supporting key
use cases such as equipment performance optimization, maintenance strategies, data integrity and accelerated troubleshooting. With a strong background in manufacturing automation and a passion for digital transformation, she is committed to advancing data democratization and engineering excellence across the enterprise. Her work plays a pivotal role in enabling consistent, trusted and actionable data to support Lilly’s broader digital manufacturing vision.

Confessions of a Dirty Hacker: Over Two Decades as a Hacking Curmudgeon

Tom Liston , Owner , Bad Wolf Security

Topic(s): Cybersecurity Threat Intelligence

Type(s): Keynote Stage 1

Show more
Continue dissecting attacker tradecraft and pragmatic defenses in Connect Forum: Industrial and Operational Technology (OT) Cybersecurity   
Tom Liston secret
Tom Liston Owner Bad Wolf Security

Tom is a seasoned cybersecurity professional whose career spans over two decades and is marked by significant contributions to the field. He first gained recognition in the security community with his response to the 2001 Code Red worm, developing LaBrea, the pioneering network tarpit tool. This work led to a nomination for eWeek Magazine's Innovations In Infrastructure (Iᵌ) award, showcasing his early influence in the sector.

At the SANS Internet Storm Center, Tom was known for his engaging and educational article series, Follow the Bouncing Malware. These pieces dissected various types of malware and did so with a unique blend of humor and expertise, making a complex subject accessible and engaging.

During his 15-year tenure at InGuardians, a widely respected security firm, his contributions were multifaceted and groundbreaking. He performed hundreds of penetration tests against organizations within the government and military as well as the financial, healthcare, entertainment, manufacturing and research sectors. As the technical lead for a U.S. Department of Homeland Security-funded project, he developed the first known virtual machine escape, demonstrating a VMware escape at the SANSFire security conference in 2007. Tom also helped create advanced tools and techniques for hardening virtual machines. He played a pivotal role in developing a security testing framework for critical infrastructure, specifically focusing on Smart Grid security.

In response to a significant attack on Sony, Warner Bros recruited Mr. Liston as their Principal Information Security Architect. Here, he rearchitected their network infrastructure, fortifying it against the evolving landscape of cyber threats, demonstrating his capacity to respond to real-world security challenges with innovative solutions.

His career has also focused on cybersecurity education. He worked with a highly skilled team to develop and deliver a comprehensive Security and Penetration Testing curriculum in the United Arab Emirates. His role at Counter Hack Challenges further highlighted his versatility and creativity. At Counter Hack, he performed high-end penetration tests, developed challenges for SANS NetWars, and led Red Team operations against U.S. Army Cyber Protection Brigades in a SANS Situational Training Exercise (STX). His involvement in helping Santa and the Elves create the annual SANS Holiday Hack Challenge is a testament to his commitment to education and practical cybersecurity application.

Tom’s career is characterized by groundbreaking developments, significant educational contributions and practical responses to some of today's most pressing cybersecurity challenges. His work continues to influence and shape the field of cybersecurity.

Current OT Trends and Challenges

Michael Bova , Enterprise Account Executive , Acronis

Type(s): Stage 1

Show more
generic head shot icon
Michael Bova Enterprise Account Executive Acronis

Fireside Chat: Human Creativity & Innovation in the Era of AI

Jeff Winter , President, Business Strategy , Critical Manufacturing

Scott Reynolds , President , ISA

Topic(s): Digital Transformation New Technology

Type(s): Stage 2

Show more

Share tactics for change and help further fuel innovation in Connect Forums: 

Jeff Winters - 100px
Jeff Winter President, Business Strategy Critical Manufacturing

Jeff is a globally recognized thought leader in Industry 4.0 and manufacturing, with over 55 million views of his content and 110,000 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.

Scott Reynolds
Scott Reynolds President ISA

Scott Reynolds is the Industrial Security Manager at Johns Manville. He has over 15 years of Industrial Engineering experience and is an active member of the OT/IT community. 

 Scott has held leadership roles in the International Society of Automation (ISA) for over 10 years and is currently serving as president of the society. Scott has an Electrical Engineering Technology degree from the University of Maine and an MBA from the University of South Dakota. 

International Port Security (Cyber)

Topic(s): Cybersecurity Threat Intelligence

Type(s): Stage 1

How to Use AI to Make Yourself Better at Work

Wayne Butterfield , Partner - AI, Automation & Contact Center Transformation , ISG

Topic(s): Leadership Career Skills Large Language Models (LLMs) Artificial Intelligence (AI) Robotics

Type(s): Stage 3

Show more
As the world continues to dive headfirst into AI, what are the opportunities you need to take in order to stay ahead of the curve without having to completely retrain or become an AI Engineer? From discussing the lessons learned across his many years as a non-IT professional, making waves with cutting-edge technology, to simple hints on how to stay current on what's happening in AI today, this will be both an insightful and must-see discussion on the most exciting and disruptive technology of our generation.

 


Discuss upskilling, new roles and how it all relates to AI in Connect Forum: Artificial Intelligence   
Wayne Butterfield
Wayne Butterfield Partner - AI, Automation & Contact Center Transformation ISG
For over 15 years, Wayne has been at the forefront of AI (more recently Gen AI) and Intelligent Automation, pioneering solutions, taking calculated risks and guiding businesses through digital transformation. From his early days of spearheading RPA, initiatives to transforming customer interactions via Virtual Assistants & Chat Bots, his journey is fueled by both successes and valuable lessons. He's passionate about ensuring organizations and individuals sidestep the pitfalls he has encountered in his early adopter days and swiftly harness the power of modern technology for business efficiency and personal growth.

Maximizing Reality Capture ROI (followed by Cintoo product demonstration in Igloo)

Michael DeJesus , Cintoo

Type(s): Expo Stage

Show more
generic head shot icon
Michael DeJesus Cintoo

Upcoming Regulation for Users to Test Safety Functions

Joel Ramirez , Process Safety Engineer , Pilz Automation Safety US

Topic(s): Standards & Regulations Artificial Intelligence (AI) Automation Control Instrumentation

Type(s): Stage 2

Show more

A new regulation published in 2023 that provides a definition of a “Safety Function” will become mandatory in January 2027. The regulation provides the requirement that machinery or related products be designed and constructed in such a way that it is possible for the user to test the applicable safety functions. The regulation also addresses a requirement for specific functional test procedures, essential to enable machinery and related products to be tested, adjusted, maintained and used safely. The machinery or related product shall be supplied with all the special equipment and accessories to do so. The regulation also addresses a new term, “self-evolving”, which is like saying “artificial intelligence”. Current functional safety good practice in the process sector is to achieve compliance with IEC 61511/ISA84. Proof Testing is a key parameter from IEC 61511/ISA84 relating to the quantification of dangerous random hardware failures for specific Safety Instrumented Functions. IEC 61511/ISA84 is a technical standard which sets out practices in the engineering of systems that ensure the safety of an industrial process using instrumentation. IEC 61511/ISA84 being a standard isn’t mandatory, so it is a step forward to having a regulation stating requirements to test safety functions for the first time in Europe. The new regulation is the Machinery Regulation 2023/1230 and manufacturers of machinery or related products that sell their products in the EU have until January 2027 to familiarize themselves with it. Pilz as leaders in safety technology have developed solutions for Safety Instrumented Systems for the Process Industries.


Discuss changing safety regulations and practices in Connect Forum: Process and Functional Safety   

Joel Ramirez
Joel Ramirez Process Safety Engineer Pilz Automation Safety US
As a former SISFEL Specialist, I was responsible for developing documents like SIL calculations, SRS datasheets and proof test procedures. I've also had the privilege of being a co-author on and presenting a whitepaper regarding the various intricacies of SIS titled "Decoding SIS: Are You Doing What’s Needed to Prevent Disasters?" at the 20th Global Congress on Process Safety in New Orleans. Now that I'm a process safety engineer for Pilz, I've become a Functional Safety Practitioner (FSP) and I take on other responsibilities and tasks throughout the Process Safety Lifecycle like leading HAZOPs and performing LOPAs.

Network Defense for Close-In Cyber Attacks

Lennart Koopman , Founder , nzyme – Close Access Denial

Topic(s): Cybersecurity Threat Intelligence

Type(s): Stage 1

Show more

Continue the conversation on best defenses for cyber threats and attacks in Connect Forums: 

Lennart Koopman
Lennart Koopman Founder nzyme – Close Access Denial

Lennart is the creator of the nzyme Network Defense System, a free and open solution that empowers organizations to protect their networks from close proximity attacks. Prior to nzyme, he founded the Graylog project in 2010 and led the development of its commercial counterpart in 2013.

Burnout: Identifying it and Solutions to Reduce/Prevent It

Rajen Patel , Chief Technology Officer , Metis - Radiation Cancer Specialist

Topic(s): Leadership Career Skills

Type(s): Stage 3

Show more
Burnout has been a central topic of discussion recently. This has led to toxic environments and personnel leaving their chosen profession. The goal of the session is to discuss burnout, consequences and tools leadership and personnel can use to combat and reverse the effects.
Rajen Patel 100x100
Rajen Patel Chief Technology Officer Metis - Radiation Cancer Specialist
Rajen Patel, is a Board-Certified Medical Physicist with over 23 years of experience in the field of Radiation Oncology. He is also a National Speaker on topics of burnout, communication and toxic culture. He obtained his MBA from UNC Kenan-Flager Business School in 2020. He mentors organizations and personnel for emotional intelligence development and improvement in work environments.

From Reactive to Predictive: How Agentic AI Transforms Industrial Maintenance Operations

Vijay Karthick Baskar , Senior Manufacturing Partner Solutions Architect , Amazon Web Services

Topic(s): Artificial Intelligence (AI) Large Language Models (LLMs)

Type(s): Stage 2

Show more
In this session, we'll explore the implementation of agentic AI-driven maintenance systems, using theme parks as our compelling case study. We'll examine how AI agents enhance human expertise by orchestrating maintenance workflows through seamless integration of AWS services with third-party applications - enabling AI agents to understand and interact with various data models and system contexts.
 
Drawing from real-world applications in theme park operations – from roller coaster maintenance – we'll demonstrate how agentic AI transforms traditional maintenance approaches by augmenting technician capabilities. The presentation will showcase a practical architecture where AI agents assist maintenance
teams by capturing tribal knowledge, enabling natural language troubleshooting and providing intuitive problem-solving pathways.
 

Discuss this topic further to exchange ideas and further innovations in Connect Forum: Digital Strategy   
Vijay Karthick Baskar
Vijay Karthick Baskar Senior Manufacturing Partner Solutions Architect Amazon Web Services
Vijay Karthick Baskar is a Senior Partner Solutions Architect at AWS. With over 12 years of experience in the manufacturing and industrial IoT domains, Vijay brings a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by factories and production facilities. At AWS, he works closely with AWS Manufacturing partners and customers to design and implement cloud-based architectures that enable advanced manufacturing capabilities, such as data-driven optimization, real-time decision support and how emerging technologies like generative AI can be applied to create innovative solutions that deliver tangible business outcomes for manufacturing organizations.

Protecting the Supply Chain with Maritime Cybersecurity

Marco Ayala , President , Houston InfraGard Members Alliance

Topic(s): Maritime Cybersecurity Supply Chain

Type(s): Stage 1

Show more

As maritime operations handle 80% of global trade, the sector is essential yet increasingly vulnerable to cyber threats. This session will outline critical cybersecurity challenges in maritime, illustrating why effective protection is vital to maintaining the global supply chain.

We’ll explore the core vulnerabilities unique to maritime environments, such as outdated systems and the complexity of third-party access, while highlighting the importance of robust network segmentation and secure system interdependencies. Attendees will gain concise insights into best practices from standards like ISA/IEC 62443 and NIST to build a layered defense.

Concluding with a streamlined roadmap, this talk will cover actionable steps for advancing cybersecurity maturity across maritime operations, focusing on rapid-response strategies, effective training, and collaborative improvement. By fortifying maritime cybersecurity, we can better protect the supply chain that sustains global trade.


Continue the discussion on port/ship systems and risk and compliance in Connect Forum: Industrial and Operational Technology (OT) Cybersecurity   

Marco Ayala
Marco Ayala President Houston InfraGard Members Alliance

Marco has 30 years of field experience, during which time he designed, implemented and maintained process instrumentation, automation systems, safety systems and process control networks. In his role with a large global manufacturing company, he is responsible for applications globally that are specific to plant site operations and corporate governance.  

With around two decades focused specifically on industrial cybersecurity, he has led efforts to secure the oil and gas (all streams), maritime port, offshore facilities and chemical sectors supporting federal, local and state entities in securing the private sector.   

Marco is highly active in the International Society of Automation (ISA) and is a longtime member and newly elected to the Executive Board. He is a 22-year Senior Member and a certified cyber instructor for ISA/IEC 62443 with volunteering commitments and contributor to the AMSC Gulf of America (Mexico) cybersecurity committee in a sworn-in role to the USCG as Chair of Threat Intelligence and Cybersecurity for the outer continental shelf (OCS).  

He has been an InfraGard member since 2014 and is currently serving as President of the Houston Members Alliance.  

Building a Personal Brand

Jeff Winter , President, Business Strategy , Critical Manufacturing

Topic(s): Leadership Career Skills

Type(s): Stage 3

Show more
Jeff Winters - 100px
Jeff Winter President, Business Strategy Critical Manufacturing

Jeff is a globally recognized thought leader in Industry 4.0 and manufacturing, with over 55 million views of his content and 110,000 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.

From Tabletop to Taxiway: Uniting Stakeholders to Secure Airport Innovation

Tim Staney , Senior Technical Program Manager , Tampa International Airport

Topic(s): Cybersecurity Standards & Regulations

Type(s): Stage 1

Show more

Airports are among the most complex digital ecosystems, linking IT, IoT and OT across passenger services, security, operations and compliance. This session explores how shared governance and tabletop exercises—drawing on ISA/IEC 62443 and HSEEP frameworks—can balance risk with innovation. Attendees will see how connected devices and new technologies can be introduced in ways that strengthen safety, resilience and alignment with business goals. 

Learning Objectives 

  • Learn how scenario-driven exercises strengthen cross-disciplinary coordination between IT, OT, engineering, vendors and business stakeholders. 
  • Understand how ISA/IEC 62443 positions tabletop exercises as a core method for validating incident response, governance and security program effectiveness. 
  • Identify practical ways tabletop exercises expose gaps in roles, communications, and processes and how those findings drive continuous improvement. 
  • Recognize the role of tabletop exercises in the 62443 security-lifecycle, moving beyond policy to practiced readiness and demonstrable compliance. 
  • Apply the ISA/IEC 62443 roles-and-responsibilities matrix across the IT/OT lifecycle to clarify accountability and strengthen governance
Tim Staney
Tim Staney Senior Technical Program Manager Tampa International Airport

Tim Staney is a Senior Technical Program Manager at Tampa International Airport, where he leads initiatives at the intersection of information technology, security and public safety. He plays a central role in IT/OT governance by convening the Cybersecurity Council and collaborating across Operations, Maintenance, Risk and IT teams to strengthen security in highly interconnected environments. Tim also guides product intake and contract security reviews, ensuring new systems and sensors are introduced in ways that balance business objectives with risk management and safety. 

Trained in HSEEP (Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program) and CIPR (Cyber Incident Planning and Response), Tim applies these frameworks to enhance preparedness, resilience and governance. He also advances IT/OT shared governance using standards such as NIST and ISA/IEC 62443. 

Nationally, Tim contributes to the Airports Council International–North America (ACI-NA) Business Information Technology Committee and its Artificial Intelligence Working Group and is an active member of InfraGard. Tim lives in St. Petersburg, Florida with his husband of 20 years and an embarrassing number of dogs. 

Sponsored Session by ZEDEDA: The Path to Scalable AI-Powered Computer Vision

Sachin Vasudeva , Vice President of Product Marketing , ZEDEDA

Topic(s): Artificial Intelligence (AI) Digital Transformation

Type(s): Stage 2

Show more
Real-time AI at the industrial edge delivers measurable impact through use cases like PPE compliance, assembly line defect detection, and predictive maintenance. Yet, deploying these solutions in demanding environments is challenging, as massive data volumes and unreliable connectivity make a cloud-first vision approach impractical. This session explores how to build and automate a scalable edge infrastructure that processes data at the source, boosting worker safety, enhancing quality control and minimizing downtime in manufacturing.
sachin-vasudeva
Sachin Vasudeva Vice President of Product Marketing ZEDEDA
Sachin Vasudeva is the Vice President of Product Management for ZEDEDA, where he leads product strategy and development. Sachin has extensive experience driving product innovation, developing and delivering multimillion-dollar customer cloud services, software products and embedded systems. An experienced leader, Sachin has held executive and senior management at companies including Plume Design, Calix and Juniper Networks. Sachin holds a Master of Business Administration and a Master of Computer Science.

Panel Discussion: Safety and Cyber Concerns for Physical AI Systems

Moderator: Sunil Doddi , CAP, CFSE, CFS , Pennsylvania

Steve Mustard , President , au2mation

Felipe Sabino Costa , Senior Product Marketing Manager - Networking & Cybersecurity , Moxa Americas

Dr. Johnathan Mell , Assistant Professor , University of Central Florida

Clint Bodungen , Founder , ThreatGEN

Topic(s): Cybersecurity

Type(s): Stage 1

Show more

There is a rapid expansion of AI deployment in cyber-physical systems like autonomous vehicles, co-bots and smart manufacturing. While AI can provide improved performance in complex tasks, particularly perception and control, the use of AI in these safety-critical and security-critical applications introduces new risks. This panel will discuss common challenges for implementing AI technologies in cyber-physical systems and AI risks for safety and security. The discussion will cover key questions, including:  

  • How will the emerging AI industry integrate into our physical world? 
  • What are the safety and security concerns in the physical world when implementing AI?  
  • Is industry preparing for AI in the physical world?
  • What are the future work directions and remaining challenges for AI in the physical world?
  • Is the current excitement around AI in the physical world overlooking safety and security risks?
     

Debate safe autonomy, cyber risks and assurance cases in Connect Forums: 

Sunil-Doddi
Moderator: Sunil Doddi CAP, CFSE, CFS Pennsylvania

Sunil Doddi, CAP, CFSE, CFS, currently serves as a Senior Principal Process Controls Engineer in Pennsylvania, where he develops process control systems and leads functional safety and cybersecurity initiatives for the global Hydrogen Refueling Systems (HRS) product line.

His career highlights include leading the development of the world's first fully automated hydrogen generation plant product line, a groundbreaking achievement that has garnered significant attention in the hydrogen industry. As a respected professional in his field, Sunil regularly authors papers on cybersecurity and functional safety and is frequently invited to speak at industry events.

His expertise in cybersecurity has earned him recognition in academia, and his work is incorporated into cybersecurity courses in universities.

Sunil is deeply involved with the International Society of Automation (ISA), contributing to standards development and serving in various roles. His recent contributions include:

  • Editorial board member for ISA 84.91.03
  • Member of ISA 99 Working Group 16 white paper
  • Active contributor to ISA 106

He holds below certifications:

  • ISA Certified Automation Professional (CAP)
  • Exida Certified Functional Safety Expert (CFSE)
  • ISA Cybersecurity Fundamentals Specialist certificate

In his leisure time, he indulges in reading about ancient technologies and continues to contribute actively to the ISA community.

 

Steve Mustard - 100px
Steve Mustard President au2mation

Steve Mustard, PE, CAP, GICSP, CMCP, has over 35 years of experience in the automation industry. He has developed embedded software and hardware for military applications and created products for industrial automation and control systems. Currently, much of his work focuses on assessing the cybersecurity readiness of organizations in critical infrastructure.

In addition to being the former 2021 ISA President, Mustard holds multiple certifications and professional engineering licenses. These include being a licensed Professional Engineer (PE), an ISA Certified Automation Professional (CAP), a UK-registered Chartered Engineer (CEng), a Fellow of the Institution of Engineering & Technology, a European-registered Engineer (EUR Ing), a Global Industrial Cyber Security Professional (GICSP), and a Certified Mission Critical Professional (CMCP).

Felipe Costa - 100px
Felipe Sabino Costa Senior Product Marketing Manager - Networking & Cybersecurity Moxa Americas
Felipe Sabino Costa is the Cybersecurity Director and an official ISA/IEC 62443 industrial cybersecurity instructor at both ISA and EC-Council. He also serves as the Senior Product Marketing Manager at Moxa Americas, overseeing networking and cybersecurity initiatives across the U.S., Canada and LATAM. With over 20 years of experience in the industrial sector and more than 30 cybersecurity certifications—including a master’s degree in industrial cybersecurity and CISA certifications from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security—Felipe is a recognized expert in automation, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. He has shared his expertise at global conferences across different continents, including the last two editions of NASA’s AI Congress.
Dr. Johnathan Mell
Dr. Johnathan Mell Assistant Professor University of Central Florida

Dr. Johnathan Mell is a professor, researcher and technology innovator working at the crossroads of artificial intelligence, human behavior and engineering. Dr. Mell is a tenure-track professor at the University of Central Florida, where he lectures on AI in video games, and leads the ScionAI lab, which researches topics relating to making and understanding more human-like AI systems. He received his Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Southern California and holds further degrees from Wharton School of Business and Penn Engineering. Dr. Mell has appeared at numerous global conferences and is also regularly invited as a panelist or speaker to both academic conferences and popular science venues to discuss AI. He aims to connect business, gaming and cutting-edge artificial intelligence in a fully integrated way utilizing modern techniques to make consistent, trustworthy and useful AIs. His current work is focused on artificial negotiation and human-AI communication.

Clint Bodungen
Clint Bodungen Founder ThreatGEN

Clint is a globally recognized ICS cybersecurity professional and thought leader with 30 years of experience focusing primarily on industrial cybersecurity, red teaming and risk assessment. He is the author of two best-selling books, "Hacking Exposed: Industrial Control Systems" and “ChatGPT for Cybersecurity Cookbook.” He is a United States Air Force veteran and has worked for notable cybersecurity firms like Symantec, Booz Allen Hamilton, Kaspersky Lab and is currently the Founder/Head of Product Innovation at ThreatGEN as well as the Director of Cyber Innovation at MorganFranklin Cyber.

Renowned for his creative approach to cybersecurity education and training, Clint has been at the forefront of integrating gamification and AI applications into cybersecurity training. He created “ThreatGEN® Red vs. Blue,” the world's first online multiplayer computer designed to teach real-world cybersecurity, and “AutoTableTop,” which uses the latest generative AI technology to automate, simplify and enhance IR tabletop exercises. As AI technology continues to evolve, he hopes to help revolutionize the cybersecurity industry using gamification and generative AI. 

Revolutionizing Preventative Maintenance: Harnessing IIoT and Industry 4.0 for Reduced Downtime and Increased Efficiency

Dr. Brian Romano , Director of Technology Development , The Arthur G. Russell Co., Inc.

Dr. Ravindra Thamma , Associate Dean , Central Connecticut State University

Topic(s): Digital Transformation

Type(s): Stage 2

Show more

Industry 4.0 is transforming the manufacturing landscape by enabling smarter, interconnected systems that enhance operational efficiency. This session explores how cutting-edge Industry 4.0 technologies—such as the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI) and digital twins—are revolutionizing preventative maintenance. Attendees will learn how real-time monitoring, predictive analytics and automated decision-making can reduce unplanned downtime and improve overall equipment effectiveness. Through case studies and industry examples, this session will provide practical insights into the implementation of these technologies, addressing both their benefits and integration challenges. Participants will leave with actionable strategies to optimize maintenance processes and leverage Industry 4.0 for a more resilient and efficient operation. 


Share preventative maintenance wins, strategies and success in Connect Forums:   

Brian Romano
Dr. Brian Romano Director of Technology Development The Arthur G. Russell Co., Inc.

Dr. 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, he 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, Brian holds an AS, BS, MS and MBA and Ph.D. in Technology and Innovation. He has been designing and implementing Industry 4.0 solutions, starting initially in 2004 connecting factory floor data systems to customer business systems.

Understanding the skills gap and workforce shortage in the control systems engineering profession, Brian leverages his 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. Brian has been presenting at trade and professional society conferences for several years, publishes articles and has been quoted and interviewed for several automation publications.

Ravindra Thamma
Dr. Ravindra Thamma Associate Dean Central Connecticut State University

Dr. Ravindra Thamma is a nationally recognized engineering educator and strategist who has built his career on bridging the gap between academic theory and industry practice. As Associate Dean at Central Connecticut State University’s School of Engineering, Science and Technology (SEST), he founded the first ABET-accredited Robotics and Mechatronics Engineering Technology program in the U.S., aligning education directly with Industry 4.0 needs. 

With over 100 industry partnerships, 4.3M+USD in funding and a global footprint in STEM access, Dr. Thamma has transformed classrooms into launchpads for innovation, employment and entrepreneurship. His pioneering Faculty-in-Residence model embeds faculty and students in live industry projects, while his student-centered philosophy ensures graduates are prepared not just to enter the workforce—but to lead it. 

A passionate advocate for equity, he founded CCSU’s Young Engineers Summer Institute (YESI) and delivers free robotics education globally. He serves on the ATMAE Accreditation Board and was recognized with the FANUC Excellence in Robotics Education Award (2023) and nominated for ISA Fellow (2025). Through visionary leadership and deep domain expertise, Dr. Thamma is shaping the future of engineering education—where academic excellence meets real-world impact. Guided by the belief that education must empower students to shape the future, Dr. Thamma continues to bridge academic gaps with industry realities—preparing the next generation of engineers to lead with innovation, vision, and purpose. 

 

The "Beeness" of Leadership

Leigh-Kathryn Bonner , CEO , Bee Downtown and BDT Leadership Institute

Topic(s): Leadership

Type(s): Stage 3

Show more
Leigh-Kathryn Bonner
Leigh-Kathryn Bonner CEO Bee Downtown and BDT Leadership Institute

Bridging the Gap Between Data and Insight

Peter Baxter , Vice President Operations , visCo, US

Type(s): Expo Stage

Show more
generic head shot icon
Peter Baxter Vice President Operations visCo, US

Panel Discussion: From Raw Data to Reliable Decisions: Data Governance in Action

Moderator: Steve Mustard , President , au2mation

Nathan Boeger , Compliance Manager , Inductive Automation

M. Dominique Pouliquen , CEO , Cintoo

Jeffrey Schroeder , Product Manager , HighByte

Topic(s): Data Management

Type(s): Stage 2

Show more
In the rush toward digital transformation, many organizations focus first on tools and technologies—but successful data governance begins with people and process, not software. Whether you deploy cutting-edge analytics platforms or rely on everyday tools like Excel and Word, the critical factor is embedding governance into daily workflows and staffing it with the right expertise.
 
This panel will unpack why 90% of analytics is really about preparing data—and how governance reduces that burden by addressing ingestion, contextualization, and normalization at the source. We’ll explore how data governance, when owned jointly by automation professionals and IT, ensures that operational data reflects its true context.
 
Panelists will discuss how governance must be treated as a core operational discipline, not a side project, and how automation expertise is vital when dealing with automation data. Finally, the conversation will highlight why robust data governance is not just housekeeping—it is the foundation for transformation. Without it, AI-driven decision-making risks being unreliable at best, and dangerously wrong at worst.
 

Compare policies, access control and quality metrics in Connect Forums:  

Steve Mustard - 100px
Moderator: Steve Mustard President au2mation

Steve Mustard, PE, CAP, GICSP, CMCP, has over 35 years of experience in the automation industry. He has developed embedded software and hardware for military applications and created products for industrial automation and control systems. Currently, much of his work focuses on assessing the cybersecurity readiness of organizations in critical infrastructure.

In addition to being the former 2021 ISA President, Mustard holds multiple certifications and professional engineering licenses. These include being a licensed Professional Engineer (PE), an ISA Certified Automation Professional (CAP), a UK-registered Chartered Engineer (CEng), a Fellow of the Institution of Engineering & Technology, a European-registered Engineer (EUR Ing), a Global Industrial Cyber Security Professional (GICSP), and a Certified Mission Critical Professional (CMCP).

Nathan Boeger
Nathan Boeger Compliance Manager Inductive Automation
Nathan Boeger joined Inductive Automation’s Sales Engineering team in 2022 following a 20-year career as a U.S. Navy Information Warfare Officer, where he led cybersecurity teams and served as a strategic planner. He holds a B.A. in Computer Science from the University of California, Davis,\ and earned a Master’s degree with Highest Distinction in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance from Carnegie Mellon University. He holds numerous cybersecurity certifications, including the CISSP-ISSAP.  
 
As Compliance Manager at Inductive Automation, Nathan has led major cross-functional initiatives, including the company’s achievement of ISASecure / IEC 62443-4-1 certification, progress toward ISO 9001 certification, and implementation of the NIST Secure Software Development Framework (SSDF). He represents the company during audits, security questionnaires and regulatory requests and is a key voice in external-facing assurance. Nathan authored guidance on Security Hardening, 21 CFR Part 11 compliance and NERC CIP best practices when deploying Ignition. 
Jeffrey Schroeder - 100x1007
Jeffrey Schroeder Product Manager HighByte

ATT&CK’ing the Death Star while Bow-TIEs D3FEND

Jim Gilsinn , Principal ICS Cybersecurity Engineer , MITRE

Topic(s): Cybersecurity

Type(s): Stage 1

Show more

The MITRE ATT&CK framework provides fingerprints of an attack, but it can lose the context of how attackers chain TTPs together to achieve their objective. Other analysis, like ICS Kill Chain or bowtie, can provide more narrative, but may not include the nuances that ATT&CK provides on the TTPs. Combining these two sets of analysis with the ATT&CK and D3FEND mitigations and the requirements from standards like the ISA/IEC 62443 allows you to better understand how to respond to cybersecurity risks. This talk takes a fun look at linking these models using Star Wars as a backdrop. 


Share analyses and mitigations mapped to attacker techniques in Connect Forums: 

Jim Gilsinn
Jim Gilsinn Principal ICS Cybersecurity Engineer MITRE

Jim Gilsinn is a Principal ICS Cybersecurity Engineer at MITRE with over 30 years engineering experience and nearly 25 years ICS/OT cybersecurity experience developing, designing, implementing, and assessing secure and reliable systems. At MITRE, he is assisting rural and municipal utilities increase their cybersecurity posture. Prior to MITRE, Jim was a consultant for 12 years at Dragos and Kenexis and an electrical engineer in the NIST Engineering Lab working on robotics, sensors and cybersecurity. 

Jim has been a member of the ISA99 committee developing the ISA/IEC 62443 standard series since its inception in 2002 and was the committee co-chair from 2012-2022. Jim is also an adjunct professor at GMU teaching Critical Infrastructure Protection and ICS Security. 

The Technical Expert vs. Business Leader Dilemma: Choosing Your Career Journey

Co-moderator: SherrProfile%3AACoAABh_kgIB8CaUE03hwl5B9kwGW4vY0NQTWOs&lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_search_srp_all%3BBcG4LmbqS2GPBCy LaBonne , Software Product Manager, Industrial Automation & Controls Engineer , Rockwell Automation

Julie Robinson , Business Director , Rockwell Automation

Marco Ayala , President , Houston InfraGard Members Alliance

Dr. Soloman Almadi , Principal Scientist , Aramco

Topic(s): Leadership Career Skills

Type(s): Stage 3

Show more
Julie Robinson (1)
Julie Robinson Business Director Rockwell Automation
Marco Ayala
Marco Ayala President Houston InfraGard Members Alliance

Marco has 30 years of field experience, during which time he designed, implemented and maintained process instrumentation, automation systems, safety systems and process control networks. In his role with a large global manufacturing company, he is responsible for applications globally that are specific to plant site operations and corporate governance.  

With around two decades focused specifically on industrial cybersecurity, he has led efforts to secure the oil and gas (all streams), maritime port, offshore facilities and chemical sectors supporting federal, local and state entities in securing the private sector.   

Marco is highly active in the International Society of Automation (ISA) and is a longtime member and newly elected to the Executive Board. He is a 22-year Senior Member and a certified cyber instructor for ISA/IEC 62443 with volunteering commitments and contributor to the AMSC Gulf of America (Mexico) cybersecurity committee in a sworn-in role to the USCG as Chair of Threat Intelligence and Cybersecurity for the outer continental shelf (OCS).  

He has been an InfraGard member since 2014 and is currently serving as President of the Houston Members Alliance.  

Soloman Almadi
Dr. Soloman Almadi Principal Scientist Aramco
Dr. Soloman Almadi is currently a professional engineering principal scientist in process control systems, digital transformation programs, and open process automations at Saudi Aramco. Soloman Almadi holds a PhD in simulation and computing from Brunel University, UK, an M.S. degree in Electrical Engineering from Southern Methodist University, USA and a B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Texas, USA.

Panel Discussion: Next-Gen SCADA Integrations and Use Cases

Moderator: Dave Ubert , Senior Project Manager , McKim & Creed, Inc.

Francisco Alcala , Automation Engineer , CDM Smith

Karoleen Joseph , Sr. Product Manager , Honeywell

Christine Lee , Sales Engineer , Inductive Automation

Barry Baker , President , VTScada by Trihedral, Inc.

Type(s): Expo Stage

Show more
generic head shot icon
Moderator: Dave Ubert Senior Project Manager McKim & Creed, Inc.
Francisco Alcala
Francisco Alcala Automation Engineer CDM Smith
Francisco Alcala is an automation engineer with over 33 years of experience in the design and integration of automation and instrumentation systems for water, wastewater, oil, gas and the beverage industry, with a focus on field instrumentation, SCADA, DCS, PLC, programming, application development and automation best practices and advanced control strategies. Mr. Alcala was also a technical contributor to the Fourth Edition, Belap Liptak Instrument Engineers Handbook and a contributor to technical articles for the consulting specifying engineer magazine and the ISA water wastewater newsletter. Francisco is currently in the process of writing a book related to Machine Learning for Industrial Automation Engineers.
generic head shot icon
Karoleen Joseph Sr. Product Manager Honeywell
generic head shot icon
Christine Lee Sales Engineer Inductive Automation
generic head shot icon
Barry Baker President VTScada by Trihedral, Inc.

When Robots Start Acting Crazy (A Security Approach)

Jordan Bonagura , Senior Security Consultant , Secure Ideas

Topic(s): Robotics Cybersecurity Connectivity Artificial Intelligence (AI) Threat Intelligence Automation Control Data Management Incident Response

Type(s): Stage 1

Show more

In today’s rapidly evolving technological landscape, robots are becoming integral to business operations, from Robotic Process Automation (RPA) tools streamlining workflows to Low-Code/No-Code (LCNC) platforms enabling business users to automate processes without deep programming expertise. But what happens when these robots, designed to improve efficiency and reduce human error, start to behave unpredictably? When automation goes awry, it can lead to vulnerabilities, operational disruptions and even security breaches. In this session, we will explore the intersection of automation and security, focusing on the risks posed by RPA and LCNC technologies. We'll dive into real-world scenarios where robotic automation “goes rogue” and examine the potential impact on your organization’s data, infrastructure and compliance posture. From unexpected behavior in automated workflows to security loopholes in custom-built LCNC applications, we'll cover how to recognize, mitigate and recover from these challenges.


Explore anomaly detection, safety interlocks and response for robotics in Connect Forums:

Jordan Bonagura
Jordan Bonagura Senior Security Consultant Secure Ideas

Jordan is a Senior Security Consultant for Secure Ideas. With more than 20 years of experience in information security, he is passionate about helping companies and clients protect their data and applications from threats and vulnerabilities. As a principal security researcher, he led teams conducting vulnerability management, risk assessments, penetration tests and boundary-setting to comply with standards for companies in different segments. Jordan contributed to significant projects, such as developing an integrated GNSS positioning system and an encryption communication protocol between ground and satellite at the Brazilian National Institute of Space Research. He also has had the opportunity to speak at some of the most important security conferences around the globe, be a college professor and course coordinator, and consult for the Brazilian police in crime solving.

ISA112 SCADA Systems - A Case Study - City of Odessa, TX - Water Utilities

Manoj Yegnaraman, PE , ISA112 Voting Member, Vice President and Chief Instrumentation Engineer , Carollo Engineers

Kaylani Ganesan , Senior Instrumentation Control Engineer , Carollo Engineers

Topic(s): SCADA ISA112 Standards & Regulations Water/Wastewater Instrumentation

Type(s): Stage 2

Show more

The upcoming ISA112 SCADA Standard is key to creating efficient, interoperable SCADA systems that meet global best practices. This presentation will showcase how a collaborative SCADA Master Planning process between a Water/Wastewater Utility, Engineer, and SCADA vendor not only maximizes operational efficiency but also results in a SCADA Systems Standards document that aligns seamlessly with the upcoming ISA112 SCADA standard. It's a win-win for all end-users, asset/system owners looking to future-proof their SCADA systems!


Discuss alarm management, HMI and lifecycle considerations in Connect Forum: Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) 

Manoj Yegnaraman
Manoj Yegnaraman, PE ISA112 Voting Member, Vice President and Chief Instrumentation Engineer Carollo Engineers
Manoj Yegnaraman is a Vice president and Chief Instrumentation Engineer with Carollo Engineers with 21 years of experience. His specific expertise includes project management, SCADA master planning and engineering services during all phases of water and wastewater projects. Manoj is a voting member of ISA’s upcoming global standard for SCADA Systems – ISA112. He was the Director for ISA's Water Wastewater Industry Division and served as its Board Member.
generic head shot icon
Kaylani Ganesan Senior Instrumentation Control Engineer Carollo Engineers

Building Your System of Management: Six Tools That Create Clarity, Consistency, and Results

Jeremy Wall , Co-Founder & CEO , GoalMakers

Topic(s): Leadership Career Skills

Type(s): Stage 3

Show more
Jeremy Wall
Jeremy Wall Co-Founder & CEO GoalMakers

Running a team without a system of management is like trying to steer a ship without a rudder—it leads to confusion, wasted effort and missed opportunities. In this keynote, Jeremy Wall shares six simple but powerful tools that any leader can use to create structure, consistency and momentum for their team. 

From one-on-ones and team huddles to leadership meetings, reward programs, and position descriptions, Jeremy reveals how to turn everyday management practices into a repeatable system that drives long-term results. Drawing from his experience training hundreds of businesses across industries, Jeremy shows that building a management system isn’t about complexity—it’s about consistency. Attendees will walk away with a framework they can adapt to their own organization, ensuring less chaos, more clarity and stronger performance at every level. 

Next-Gen Water Intelligence: AI-Powered Groundwater Forecasting

Yaroslava Yingling , Kobe Steel Distinguished Professor and University Faculty Scholar , Department of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE)

Topic(s): Water/Wastewater Digital Transformation Data Management

Type(s): Stage 2

Show more

Accurately assessing and managing risks associated with inorganic pollutants in groundwater is imperative. Historical water quality databases are often sparse due to rationale or financial budgets for sample collection and analysis, posing challenges in evaluating exposure or water treatment effectiveness. We utilized and compared two advanced multiple data imputation techniques, AMELIA and MICE algorithms, to fill gaps in sparse groundwater quality data sets. AMELIA outperformed MICE in handling missing values, as MICE tended to overestimate certain values, resulting in more outliers. Field data sets revealed that 75% to 80% of samples exhibited no co-occurring regulated pollutants surpassing MCL values, whereas imputed values showed only 15% to 55% of the samples posed no health risks. Imputed data unveiled a significant increase, ranging from 2 to 5 times, in the number of sampling locations predicted to potentially exceed health-based limits and identified samples where 2 to 6 co-occurring chemicals may occur and surpass health-based levels. Linking imputed data to sampling locations can pinpoint potential hotspots of elevated chemical levels and guide optimal resource allocation for additional field sampling and chemical analysis. With this approach, further analysis of complete data sets allows state agencies authorized to conduct groundwater monitoring, often with limited financial resources, to prioritize sampling locations and chemicals to be tested. Given existing data and time constraints, it is crucial to identify the most strategic use of the available resources to address data gaps effectively. This work establishes a framework to enhance the beneficial impact of funding groundwater data collection by reducing uncertainty in prioritizing future sampling locations and chemical analyses.


Continue the exchange on modeling techniques, data sources and deployment at scale in Connect Forums: 

Yaroslava Yingling-1
Yaroslava Yingling Kobe Steel Distinguished Professor and University Faculty Scholar Department of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE)
Dr. Yaroslava G. Yingling is the Kobe Steel Distinguished Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at North Carolina State University, USA. She earned her University Diploma in Computer Science and Engineering from St. Petersburg State Polytechnical University and a Ph.D. in Materials Engineering from
Penn State University. Her research primarily focuses on the development and application of advanced multiscale molecular modeling methods and data-science approaches for investigating the properties and processes in soft, colloidal, biomimetic and biological materials. Dr. Yingling’s work also integrates
artificial intelligence (AI) and modeling techniques to tackle challenges in water quality prediction and environmental sustainability. She has received numerous accolades, including the NSF CAREER Award, the ACS Open Eye Young Investigator Award, the NC State Alumni Association Outstanding Research Award and induction into the NC State Research Leadership Academy. 

SCADA AI Virtual Assistants: Is the Control Room Ready for AI?

Francisco Alcala , Automation Engineer , CDM Smith

Robert Ivanovic , Automation Practice Leader , CDM Smith

Topic(s): Artificial Intelligence (AI) Digital Transformation SCADA

Type(s): Stage 2

Show more
SCADA systems have traditionally delivered plant information through rigid, specification-driven interfaces requiring operators and supervisors to navigate predefined displays, alarm summaries, and static reports. While effective for process control, this approach limits flexibility, adaptability, and real-time decision-making in today’s dynamic industrial environments. Moreover, traditional SCADA architectures are not inherently designed to support emerging paradigms introduced by AI, such as real-time anomaly detection, predictive modeling, integration with digital twins,  large language model applications, and advanced time-series forecasting.
 
This presentation explores how AI-driven SCADA Virtual Assistants can transform operator–supervisor interaction beyond static screens. By leveraging natural language processing, predictive analytics and multimodal engagement (voice, chat and visual dashboards), SCADA systems can evolve into intelligent,
responsive, user-centric platforms.
 
Key capabilities enabled by this shift include:
  • Natural language interaction for dynamic data queries.
  • Predictive analytics for proactive decision-making.
  • Flexible, on-demand reporting for real-time and historical data.
  • Multimodal engagement through voice, chat, and dashboards.
  • Lower integration costs for new applications and features.
 
The session’s objectives are to:
  • Introduce a framework for a General-Purpose, Multi-Modal AI SCADA Assistant adaptable across industries and vendors.
  • Demonstrate how AI and machine learning enhance situational awareness to enhance plant operations.
  • Highlight the benefits of flexible, user-tailored SCADA interactions.
 
This roadmap helps organizations modernize SCADA operations by bridging structured automation with dynamic, human-centered intelligence—driving efficiency, adaptability and superior decision-making.
Francisco Alcala
Francisco Alcala Automation Engineer CDM Smith
Francisco Alcala is an automation engineer with over 33 years of experience in the design and integration of automation and instrumentation systems for water, wastewater, oil, gas and the beverage industry, with a focus on field instrumentation, SCADA, DCS, PLC, programming, application development and automation best practices and advanced control strategies. Mr. Alcala was also a technical contributor to the Fourth Edition, Belap Liptak Instrument Engineers Handbook and a contributor to technical articles for the consulting specifying engineer magazine and the ISA water wastewater newsletter. Francisco is currently in the process of writing a book related to Machine Learning for Industrial Automation Engineers.
Robert Ivanovic
Robert Ivanovic Automation Practice Leader CDM Smith
Robert Ivanovic brings over 30 years of expertise in operational technology (OT) systems for the water sector, with 26 years dedicated to implementing solutions for water and wastewater utilities. His career blends deep technical knowledge in automation, integration and controls with strategic leadership in technology modernization. Robert has led transformative SCADA Master Planning initiatives, driving digital transformation programs that integrate advanced analytics, AI/ML and data modeling into plant operations. His work encompasses the full spectrum of technology lifecycle planning—from defining cybersecurity architectures and compliance strategies to creating intelligent data management frameworks. He has successfully delivered complex SCADA replacement and upgrade programs in live plant environments, ensuring uninterrupted operations while introducing high-performance human-machine standards, advanced alarm management philosophies and integrated OT/IT security measures. Robert’s approach combines innovative technology adoption with practical, real-world implementation, enabling utilities to modernize operations, enhance resilience and unlock efficiency in the evolving OT and SCADA landscape.

Daily Challenges = Daily Opportunities for Growth

Steve Pflantz , Fellow Process Automation & Safety , CRB Engineers and Consultants

Topic(s): Career Skills Leadership

Type(s): Stage 3

Show more
Whose career is not littered with challenges, setbacks and chaos?  As engineers and technical professionals, our jobs are fundamentally us coming up with ways to solve problems.  We are also in a profession where we deal with a lot of progress and new technology.  One of the keys to a successful career is how you embrace that fact and deal with it.  I spend a lot of time training and mentoring others, and a key takeaway I stress is that people need to make it a daily habit to learn and improve their skills; continual learning and growth is needed or you will get left behind.  A good attitude and a simple habit can take you a long way down the road to success.  
Steven Pflantz
Steve Pflantz Fellow Process Automation & Safety CRB Engineers and Consultants

ISA Standards Overview

Moderator: Scott Reynolds , President , ISA

Vince Mezzano , Chair, ISA96 & Managing Director, ISA75, Fluor Senior Fellow , Control Systems Engineering

Chris Monchinski , Chief Technology Officer , InflexionPoint

Ashley Weckwerth , President-elect Secretary , ISA

Steve Ferguson , Managing Director of Standards and Technical Activities , ISA

Topic(s): Standards & Regulations Leadership

Type(s): Stage 1

Show more

This panel will provide an overview of the ISA Standards. Panelists will discuss the purpose and impact of ISA Standards and explain why they are essential for advancing global automation practices. Attendees will also learn how to actively participate in shaping the future of automation by joining an ISA Standards Committee. Whether you're new to ISA or looking to deepen your involvement, this session will offer valuable guidance and actionable steps for engagement.

Scott Reynolds is the Industrial Security Manager at Johns Manville. He has over 15 years of Industrial Engineering experience and is an active member of the OT/IT community. 

 Scott has held leadership roles in the International Society of Automation (ISA) for over 10 years and is currently serving as president of the society. Scott has an Electrical Engineering Technology degree from the University of Maine and an MBA from the University of South Dakota. 

Vince Mezzano
Vince Mezzano Chair, ISA96 & Managing Director, ISA75, Fluor Senior Fellow Control Systems Engineering
Chris Monchinski - 100px
Chris Monchinski Chief Technology Officer InflexionPoint
As the CTO at InflexionPoint, Chris Monchinski leads the charge in empowering clients to revolutionize their manufacturing and operations through cutting-edge digital technologies. His responsibilities span strategy development, forging strategic partnerships, enhancing client engagement and driving the evolution of our solutions. 
 
He thrives on tackling complex challenges, offering thought leadership, strategic insight and hands-on guidance in Digital Transformation and Data Analytics. Early in his career, he and his colleagues coined the term "tweeners" for their unique position bridging IT and Operational Technology (OT). Back then, IT and OT were siloed, but they successfully bridged that gap—an endeavor that remains a cornerstone of my work as IT/OT convergence becomes mainstream. He is passionate about leveraging data from all corners of an organization, turning it into actionable insights that drive excellence. 
 
Chris’ commitment to the industry extends beyond the boardroom. He actively contributes to key organizations, serving as a member of the Smart Manufacturing Model Committee at MESA and chairing both the MESA Analytics Working Group and Knowledge Committee. His leadership roles include former Vice President of the ISA Standards and Practices Board (2019-2020), Managing Director of the ISA Standards and Practices Board and Chair of the ISA 95 committee on Enterprise-to-Control System Integration. As the convenor of the IEC/ISO JWG5, he oversees the maintenance of the IEC-62264 standards series. 
 
He is a frequent speaker at industry events, sharing insights at conferences hosted by MESA, ISA and ISPE. Collaborating with fellow experts to advance our industry fuels his passion for innovation and knowledge sharing. 
 
Ashley Weckworth - 100px
Ashley Weckwerth President-elect Secretary ISA
Ashley Weckwerth is a passionate and enthusiastic project manager at one of the best places to work as an engineer, Burns and McDonnell. As a project manager, Ashley leads an incredible team that completes over 500 SCADA work packages a year. Even though Ashley is a chemical engineer by degree, Ashley has been in the automation space for over 12 years within Burns and McDonnell. She started as an instrumentation and controls (I&C) engineer for oil and gas clients working mainly on midstream refining. After executing those projects over eight years, Ashley moved into her dream job of managing automation projects for the best clients. Ashley is responsible for making the client successful and is driven by that mission every day.
Steve Ferguson (1)
Steve Ferguson Managing Director of Standards and Technical Activities ISA
Steve is the Senior Director for Advocacy for the International Society of Automation, and his career has been spent working with industry engineering standards, regulations, model building codes and supporting standards development through research. Before working at ISA, he was the Director of Research at the American Society of Mechanical Engineering, and the Senior Manager of Standards at the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers. He has experience in automation, heating, ventilating, air conditioning (HVAC), energy efficiency, sustainability, renewable energy, energy policy, robotics, pressure technology, and bioengineering. He attended undergraduate and graduate school at Vanderbilt where he got his bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering and spent time in graduate school developing fault detection software for Robonaut at NASA Johnson Space Center.