Agenda

AI Frontiers 2025: Driving the Next Revolution in Smart Manufacturing

An entrepreneurial software engineer with global business leadership experience and a passion for digital transformation. Lucian has worked in the industrial software and automation industry since 1998. He holds a BSEE from Cleveland State University and an MBA in Entrepreneurial Finance from Case Western Reserve University. He has worked in various positions: software development, product development, training, marketing, pre-sales, product management, M&A integration and global marketing. Lucian has served as the World Trade Center Cleveland Representative for Eastern Europe and as a Board Member for the Promisepartner.biz. He teaches in the Electrical & Computer Science Department at Cleveland State University (CSU) focusing on Industrial Automation & Industrial IoT and currently serves on the Board of Industry Advisors, Engineering Technology, CSU. He was selected to represent the United States in Europe for Technology and Services on the economic trade mission lead by Dr. Samuel Bodman, undersecretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce. Interests: skiing, playing soccer, global travel.

Chris Huff is a growth-focused tech and SaaS executive with a proven track record in scaling enterprise software companies backed by private equity and venture capital. He’s known for building strong teams and driving value through operational efficiency, revenue growth, and product innovation. Prior to joining Adlib, Chris was CEO at Base64.ai and Chief Strategy & Growth Officer at Tungsten Automation (formerly Kofax), where he led strategy, product, AI, GTM, marketing, and partnerships. He also co-led Deloitte’s U.S. Public Sector Intelligent Automation practice and served as a Major in the U.S. Marine Corps. Chris brings deep expertise in AI, automation, and digital transformation—and a clear vision to expand Adlib’s impact across regulated industries.

Anthony has 20+ years of experience in Business Workflow and Intelligent Document Processing segment with prior roles at Kofax, Nuance, Notable Solutions (NSi), and Xerox. Anthony brings a well-rounded set of experiences with solution-related roles in Product Management, Alliance and Partner Management, and Product Development. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Master’s Degree in Information Technology, both from the Rochester Institute of Technology.

As the Founder and CEO of Gauss Machine Learning GmbH, Jonathan Spitz is at the forefront of revolutionizing the manufacturing landscape through innovative machine learning solutions. With a robust background in Mechanical Engineering and Robotics, Jonathan leverages his diverse expertise to drive the development of cutting-edge algorithms that enhance operational efficiency and sustainability in manufacturing processes. His passion for technology and continuous learning fuels his commitment to staying ahead of industry trends, ensuring that GaussML remains a leader in the application of AI-driven solutions.

Under Jonathan's leadership, GaussML has embarked on several key projects aimed at integrating machine learning into traditional manufacturing workflows. These initiatives not only optimize production but also contribute to reducing waste and energy consumption, aligning with a vision for a more sustainable future. His hands-on approach encompasses every facet of the startup, from full-stack development and algorithm design to sales, marketing, and strategic fundraising. This multifaceted involvement enables him to maintain a holistic view of the business while fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration among his team.

Jonathan's technical skills, including proficiency in programming languages such as C and Matlab, combined with his research acumen and teaching experience, empower him to mentor the next generation of engineers and entrepreneurs. As a husband and father, he values the importance of balancing professional ambitions with personal commitments, embodying the belief that a well-rounded life enhances creativity and problem-solving capabilities. Through GaussML, Jonathan Spitz is not just building a company; he is shaping a more sustainable and technologically advanced manufacturing future.

„AI isn’t just a dream - it is a decision!“

As a serial entrepreneur and co-founder of SwissCognitive, I bridge global AI expertise with business innovation. Passionate about empowering startups, I advise and invest in early-stage AI ventures while guiding C-suite leaders to kickstart their AI journey and unlock the transformative potential of their companies.

Let’s connect to explore the future of #AI in business.

I’m passionate about #ArtificialIntelligence and its impact on society, ethical aspects and unleashing new business potentials.

Throughout his 20-year professional journey, Sebastián has specialized in Market Research and Advisory, Industrial Automation, Industrial Software, Operational Technologies, Process Control, and Manufacturing. His extensive experience of 17 years working for large industrial organizations and conglomerates in Engineering and Business Development roles has given him a deep understanding of the technical and business needs and challenges of those industries.

In 2021, he joined Frost & Sullivan as an analyst, and now he manages the Industrial Automation & Software Global Research team, analyzing markets, industries, and technologies of the entire industrial value chain, i.e., design and engineering, operations (control, maintenance, and optimization), business/enterprise, lifecycle services, and industrial digital transformation (Industry 4.0 and Smart Manufacturing).

Sebastián is passionate about helping organizations, executives, and industry leaders succeed in the industrial and manufacturing landscapes. He focuses on identifying market opportunities and tech trends, leveraging data analytics and insights to unlock businesses' growth and innovation potential. Nothing is more precious to him than building long-lasting relationships based on trust, loyalty, business value, and winning results.

Sebastián is an SME, evangelist, advocate, and influencer in industrial technologies. His enthusiasm fuels his interest in data analysis, trends, strategies, business models, and competitive landscapes shaping the industrial and manufacturing realms.
He holds a B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering from Universidad Tecnológica Nacional, Argentina (Summa Cum Laude honors).

Above all, Sebastián cherishes spending time with his son, Mateo, his wife, Valeria, and his family.

Madalina Ciortan is Director of Machine Learning and AI in Operations IT DA&AI. Her academic journey includes a degree in engineering, a master's in computer science, a post-master’s in bioinformatics and a doctorate in data science. With close to two decades of professional experience, she navigated diverse roles encompassing software development, architecture, applied data science, and research. Her expertise spans a wide array of domains, from computer vision and natural language processing to time series analysis within the industry.

Peter Sorowka is an expert in Industrial IoT and the technical architecture of data-driven industrial production. In 2015, he founded Cybus – the Industrial IoT company specializing in secure and governance-strong IIoT edge and smart factory solutions. As CEO and co-founder of Cybus, he has been advising and supporting the industry for more than 10 years in its transition to decentralized, secure smart factories and data-driven smart services.

Dr. Raunak Bhinge, a visionary in the field of smart manufacturing and digital technologies, embarked on an innovative journey with Infinite Uptime. With a decade of experience in predictive maintenance and industrial IoT, Dr. Bhinge's goal was clear: to transform the traditional manufacturing industry through cutting-edge technology. His academic background, including a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Master’s degree in Automotive Design from IIT Madras, laid a solid foundation for his venture into revolutionizing plant reliability and maintenance.

Senior executive with extensive business development/management experience in manufacturing operations enterprise software, including services, sales, marketing, software implementation, professional services and design and development of complex software solutions. An executive with the ability to apply people management skills, strong writing skills, software development expertise and business acumen to work collaboratively with customers in solving complex business process problems.

Dr. Angela Zeng is the Founder & CEO of Karviva, a multi-award-winning wellness beverage company inspired by Traditional Eastern Medicine and backed by modern nutritional science. With a Ph.D. in Pathology from St. Louis University School of Medicine and an MBA from Washington University in St. Louis, she has combined scientific research with entrepreneurial insight to pioneer innovations in clean-label functional drinks. Angela has leveraged AI tools across product development, sourcing, and operational strategy to stay ahead of evolving consumer demands and global manufacturing challenges. She was recently named one of USA Today’s “Top 10 Women Leaders to Watch in 2025” and is a Titan 100 CEO St. Louis honoree.

Bernd Gross is the CEO of Cumulocity. With over 30 years of international experience, Bernd is a recognized pioneer in digitization, cloud computing, IoT, and Industry 4.0. Bernd co-founded Cumulocity in 2012 and successfully positioned it as a key player in the IoT space. Cumulocity was acquired by Software AG in 2017; however, the brand continued to operate independently, with Bernd serving in the dual capacity of CTO at Software AG and CEO of Cumulocity. Prior to this, he held leadership positions at Nokia and Nokia Siemens Networks, where he led global innovation management.

He holds a Master’s degree in Information & Communication Technology and an MBA from London Business School.

Arlen Nipper brings over 40 years of experience in the SCADA industry to Cirrus Link as President and CTO. He was one of the early architects of pervasive computing and the Internet of Things and co-invented MQTT, a publish-subscribe network protocol that has become the dominant messaging standard in IoT. He has worked for Amoco and Koch Oil, and served as President and CTO of Arcom Control Systems and Eurotech Inc. His experience covers a broad range of technology from the design and manufacturing of embedded systems to SCADA system infrastructure implementations. Arlen holds a bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering (BSEE) from Oklahoma State University.

As President and COO of aicas, Johannes M. Biermann has a clear vision: to scale the company in order to take full advantage of aicas’ technological expertise in the embedded sector. One significant milestone illustrates his success: aicas solutions connect 31M+ embedded edge devices and vehicles in 2025. He is also driving aicas to be firmly integrated into the fast-paced embedded tech ecosystem, engaging with senior leaders of customers and partners to identify and capture value through go-to-market and technology collaboration.

Johannes possesses extensive leadership experience in transforming organizations to reach for more and enabling their teams to achieve sustainable business success. He previously held leadership roles at Hewlett Packard, Palo Alto and Roseville, California, as well as at Siemens AG in Munich, Germany. His professional tenure of almost 30 years in technology markets covers corporate strategy, management consulting, product management, marketing, and operational roles.

Johannes’ professional and pro bono affiliations include the American Council on Germany (ACG) where he served as the director of the San Francisco Eric M. Warburg Chapter for over ten years. He also was an advisory board member of the Institute of European Studies (IES) at the University of California in Berkeley, as well as member of the German American Business Association (GABA), Northern California, and the American Chamber of Commerce Germany in Berlin.

Hamish Mackenzie operates as a Fractional Chief of Staff to space and deep-tech startup/scaleup CEOs, providing the focus, clarity, and execution leverage they need to turn complex technology into reliable growth — without adding full-time headcount.

With 20+ years in B2B technology and GTM strategy, he helps founders align their teams, sharpen their message, and build predictable momentum — by combining strategic GTM support with AI-enhanced operating systems that unlock leadership capacity across the business.

Ben Corbett is a Solutions Engineer at InfluxData. He has been working in the real-time solutions space since graduating with a 1st class Masters from the University of Bath in Mechanical Engineering, putting his love for connecting the digital and physical worlds into practice through developing many IoT platforms and real-time applications across the Energy, Manufacturing, Agriculture, Construction, Smart Building, and Electric Vehicle sectors. Since joining InfluxData, Ben has worked with our EMEA and APAC customers to understand and demonstrate the value of InfluxDB as applied to their specific use case or time series challenges.

As the Global Industry Lead for Manufacturing, Helena Jochberger is responsible for the strategic design, development and direction of CGI’s global manufacturing portfolio. In this role, she supports client relationship development, drives decision-making on industry strategies at both the global and local levels, steers investments in growth areas and solutions, and engages with senior client executives to accelerate CGI business units’ growth plans. A certified design-thinking facilitator, Helena is highly experienced in digital transformation and change management and is a thought leader on these topics.

Digital Technology enthusiast with more than 15 years of experience & education in industrial software and building technologies. Extensive experience gained at both lead corporations and startup teams in development of IIoT platforms, disruptive digitalization / software, AI solutions and ecosystems.

Jan Burian, a global manufacturing industry analyst, serves as the Head of Industry Insights at Trask. His expertise spans digital transformation, management, leadership, and the geopolitical influences shaping manufacturing and global supply chains. Prior to his role at Trask, Jan led Manufacturing Insights Europe at IDC and held consulting positions at EY and Deloitte.

Andrew is the CEO and Co-founder of Arch, working with top-tier global manufacturers to drive intelligent actions from machine and factory data for efficiency and predictability at scale. Andrew has published over 20 scientific papers in the fields of semiconductor electronics, electronics manufacturing, and renewable energy. He holds a Ph.D. in Materials Science from Stanford where he fabricated world record silicon photoanodes enabled by a background building custom fabrication and inspection equipment in collaboration with top semiconductor equipment vendors. Andrew also helped build StartX, a top worldwide startup accelerator that invested over $200M across various companies. Outside of Arch you can find Andrew spending time with his family, sports, or advising other technologists and entrepreneurs around Silicon Valley.

Driven with passion and perseverance, I'm a techno functional professional helping Manufacturing Enterprises to solve their business problems through digital technologies. This helps to increase their productivity and profitability through a data-driven fashion with proven business cases.

- Instrumental in setting up and leading Smart Factory team comprising of Industrial IoT experts, Domain consultants and application enablement teams
- Key enabler in taking lean manufacturing to the next level of digitalization
- Profound Competency on Industrial IoT Technology Stack
- Design and develop 'fit-for-purpose' I4.0 solutions
- Built strong business cases with clear cost-benefit analysis with deployment plan for I4.0 solution rollouts
- I4.0 Application Portfolio Management
- Partnership and alliances
- Startup connect
- Thought leadership in enterprise digital transformation
- Agile methodology
- DevSecOps Practitioner
- Requirements Engineering

Worked with: Manufacturing & Logistics, Sales, Maintenance, Quality, EHS, Manufacturing Engineering, Product Engineering, Lean, Product Management, Technology Partners, Industry 4.0 Consulting, Marketing & Delivery

I4.0 Technologies:
- IoT
- Edge Computing
- Blockchain
- Industrial Analytics
- AR / VR

Specialties:
- TOGAF 9.2 Certified
- Professional Scrum Product Owner
- Trained I4.0 Maturity Assessor by RWT Aachen University
- Use Case Identification
- Solution Consulting
- Industrial IoT Solution Architecture
- Digital Advisory
- Program Management
- Market Intelligence
- Intrapreneurship

Other Interests:
- Love to drive, travel to explore new places and interest towards KP Astrology

Jonathan Wise was appointed the Vice President of Technology of the Clean Energy Smart Manufacturing Innovation Institute (CESMII) in July of 2019, and currently serves as Chief Technology Architect. Mr. Wise boasts an impressive background, strongly aligned to CESMII’s vision and efforts, developed through roles with industry leaders, like Rockwell, Amazon, Microsoft, GE and Activplant. He is a key member of the senior leadership team, reporting to CESMII’s Chief Technology Officer.

Mr. Wise possesses a unique and very valuable combination of integrated OT/IT (Operations/Information Technology) experience. While at Rockwell, he led product development for automatic discovery of industrial devices and data, as well as embedded industrial analytics, both key elements of CESMII’s Smart Manufacturing Platform™ deliverables. He was a software development leader for both GE Fanuc’s Proficy Production Management Software business and Manufacturing Intelligence-pioneer Activplant Corporation. Those leadership experiences were further sharpened through his role as a cloud platform evangelist with Microsoft and the product management experience he gained on Amazon’s digital device team.

Commenting on the addition of Mr. Wise to the leadership team, CESMII’s Chief Technology Officer, Haresh Malkani commented, “The integration of Operations Technologies (OT) and Information Technologies (IT) is central to accomplishing CESMII’s mission to democratize Smart Manufacturing Technology through our collaborative platform. Jonathan brings a unique combination of technical expertise and leadership experience to our team where he will spearhead the development and execution of our platform strategy – a critical part of bringing value to our members and U.S. manufacturers of all sizes.”

Vatsal Shah is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer at Litmus Automation. Vatsal earned his M.S. in Global Entrepreneurship from Em-Lyon (France), Zhejiang University (China), and Purdue University (USA) jointly and his B.S. in Electronics Engineering from Nirma University, India.

Hamish Mackenzie operates as a Fractional Chief of Staff to space and deep-tech startup/scaleup CEOs, providing the focus, clarity, and execution leverage they need to turn complex technology into reliable growth — without adding full-time headcount.

With 20+ years in B2B technology and GTM strategy, he helps founders align their teams, sharpen their message, and build predictable momentum — by combining strategic GTM support with AI-enhanced operating systems that unlock leadership capacity across the business.

Kenny Ralph M. Santos is an accomplished Industrial Operations Executive and Control & Automation Engineer with over two decades of experience leading transformative initiatives in the manufacturing and metal-mechanics industries across Latin America and Europe. He has successfully led multimillion-dollar projects in collaboration with global players such as Vale, Danieli, SAP, and EY, with a focus on operational excellence, digital transformation, and sustainable growth.

Kenny is widely recognized for integrating AI, IIoT, and advanced analytics into industrial operations to drive significant improvements in OEE, reduce lead times, and deliver measurable ROI. His leadership was instrumental in one of Latin America's largest steel production expansions, resulting in a $350 million revenue increase and the implementation of cutting-edge technologies, including twist-free spooled bar production.

At AI Frontiers 2025, Kenny will present his paper titled “Artificial Neural Networks in Predicting Maximum Induction Welding Speed: A Novel Approach to Predicting the Maximum Welding Speed of a Steel Tube Line,” published by Springer Nature in The International Journal of Materials.

Asif Kabani is a seasoned professional with over 25 years of experience in the Manufacturing and Industrial Sector, with a specialized focus on Sustainability and Technology. As a public speaker, he shares his expertise at world-leading AI and IoT events and in recent years served as a keynote speaker for EMSA in Europe in his capacity as the Executive Director of the SDG Centre, Geneva. His experience also includes serving as a Head of Research and an international consultant, where he has provided guidance to ministries of industries, innovation, and production for various international organisations, business and governments globally to advance Sustainable Development initiative for Smart Manufacturing using AI and IOT.

Miranda Moonen combines deep industry expertise with technical innovation. She worked on chemical plants and tank terminals for over a decade before founding GUSTY, where she builds the foundations for AI-powered assistants that will support engineers in reducing downtime, improving preventive maintenance, and automating decision-critical admin. Her work focuses on combining ERP, IoT, and human feedback into one reliable, actionable system — turning messy data into real operational support.

John Dyck was appointed CEO of CESMII – The Smart Manufacturing Institute in June of 2018. CESMII is a public/private partnership committed to transforming the U.S. manufacturing market and increasing global competitiveness through the application of smart manufacturing technologies. John brings a highly pragmatic perspective to CESMII, and a crisp focus on outcomes that will benefit the nation’s energy and economic security by sharing existing resources and investing to accelerate development and commercial deployment of innovative smart manufacturing capabilities.

John is an execution-oriented visionary with a passion for driving the actualization of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. He’s known globally as a domain expert on both technology and business management in the nexus that often separates IT and Operations, and for the past 10 years, he has been at the vanguard of how innovations like Cloud and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) impact manufacturing. He has pioneered the application of these technologies in a wide range of manufacturing industries and supply chains. John was recently awarded a number of patents for the application of IIoT and analytics in manufacturing workflows and business processes.

John was recognized by the Society of Manufacturing Engineering (SME) in 2020 as one of ‘30 Leaders Transforming Manufacturing in the USA.

Prior to joining CESMII, John held senior leadership positions in large corporations like GE and Rockwell Automation, and was effective in raising VC funding and building a successful software startup called Activplant.

John currently serves as the past Chairman of MESA International’s (Manufacturing Enterprise Solutions Association) Board of Directors. Mr. Dyck holds a degree in Electronics Engineering from Conestoga College.

Aron Semle is the Chief Technology Officer of HighByte, focused on guiding the company’s product strategy through research and development and technical evangelism. His areas of responsibility include engineering and product development and validation.

Aron has more than 15 years of experience in industrial technology. He previously worked at Kepware and PTC from 2008 until 2018 in a variety of roles including software engineer, product manager, R&D lead, and director of solutions management, helping to shape the company’s strategy in the manufacturing operations market.

Aron received a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering from the University of Maine.

An entrepreneurial software engineer with global business leadership experience and a passion for digital transformation. Lucian has worked in the industrial software and automation industry since 1998. He holds a BSEE from Cleveland State University and an MBA in Entrepreneurial Finance from Case Western Reserve University. He has worked in various positions: software development, product development, training, marketing, pre-sales, product management, M&A integration and global marketing. Lucian has served as the World Trade Center Cleveland Representative for Eastern Europe and as a Board Member for the Promisepartner.biz. He teaches in the Electrical & Computer Science Department at Cleveland State University (CSU) focusing on Industrial Automation & Industrial IoT and currently serves on the Board of Industry Advisors, Engineering Technology, CSU. He was selected to represent the United States in Europe for Technology and Services on the economic trade mission lead by Dr. Samuel Bodman, undersecretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce. Interests: skiing, playing soccer, global travel.

I am a customer focused, technology inspired CTO who just dives into the amazing field of Industry 4.0 resp. smart manufacturing and related change and transformation processes - whether internally or on our customers' side.

On the personal side of life: I am an art enthusiast with a special passion for mosaics, both from an art history perspective as well as contemporary mosaics for the beauty of the medium.

At the forefront of GE’s transformation into the world’s foremost Digital Industrial company, leading a team of software, systems, analytics and domain experts in implementing the ways DATA can impact our industries to deliver business outcomes. I am also Member of the National Academy of Engineering and the 2023 Black Engineer of the Year.

Peggy Smedley hosts The Peggy Smedley Show where she facilitates meaningful discussions on enterprise technology adoption. Since its inception in 2008, The Peggy Smedley Show has been rated the #1 digital transformation podcast.

After moving to Columbia, SC, post-COVID, Smedley continues to advocate for citizens and communities on topics like the future workforce, resilience, and future of work, education, energy and sustainability initiatives. She serves on the board of inSkill.ai, and PITSCO, and has participated in the SC Home Energy Labeling Working Group, IFT, and IoT working groups.