2026 Agenda

Sponsored by Midwest Optical Systems, Yaskawa, ATI - A Novanta Company, Magswitch, Integrion Automation, and mhXa

Kick off the Forum with our A3 Golf Scramble, a fun and relaxed networking opportunity. Connect with fellow members and build relationships on the green while enjoying a friendly round of golf before the main event begins!

Waldorf Astoria Golf Course, 18 holes
Tee Time: 8:30 AM
Round of Golf: $295 (payable through the Forum registration form)
Club rental: $75 + tax per set (payable directly to the Club House)
Shoes: $15 per pair (payable directly to the Club House)

Pre-registration required. Click here to secure your spot! 

Registration is Now Closed

This hour is a special opportunity for women in the A3 community to connect, share experiences, and celebrate one another. Come join us for an inspiring gathering that honors strength, resilience, and collective success in a welcoming and empowering environment.

Step into a world of connections and opportunities at our exclusive First Timers' Briefing, the perfect start to your Forum experience! This briefing is designed especially for those attending the conference for the first time. Come, join our vibrant community, and let this briefing set the stage for a conference filled with inspiration, growth, and meaningful connections. Your journey starts here!

As we continue to navigate supply chain constraints, talent and labor shortages, and the onslaught of technological disruption, now, more than ever, we need to build resilient leaders, agile organizations, and high performing teams – no matter the uncertainty.

In this hard-hitting and highly directive keynote, your leaders will learn to:

1. Increase agility by telling themselves the truth and take ownership in the new reality. There is no going back and there will be no more certainty.
2. Differentiate between temporary and permanent change and respond accordingly.
3. To turn a burning platform into a burning ambition that inspires people to continue to give their discretionary effort.
4. Accelerate change without burning their teams out by eliminating friction and increasing alignment.
5. Embrace progress over perfection to avoid paralysis as they do their best to manage ambiguity.

Peter Sheahan

C-Suite Advisor, Author, Speaker
Peter Sheahan, LLC

Kick off your event experience with our Tech Sector Opening Receptions—exclusive gatherings designed to bring each sector’s community together from the start. These receptions offer the perfect opportunity to connect with fellow innovators, thought leaders, and professionals who share your focus and expertise.

• Robotics Opening Reception - Waterside 2 & 3
• Motion Control & Motors  Opening Reception - Floridian C
• Vision & Imaging and AI Opening Reception - Floridian B

Join us for an unforgettable evening of connection and camaraderie at the opening networking dinner of our membership conference. Let's spark conversations and build fellowship in a welcoming atmosphere.

Sponsored by Midwest Optical Systems, Yaskawa, ATI - A Novanta Company, Magswitch, Integrion Automation, and mhXa

Take a step towards well-being with our invigorating Wellness Walk/Run. Lace up your shoes, breathe in the fresh air, and embrace a healthier you. Start your morning on the right foot with our friendly 5k! We'll meet in the hotel lobby and provide the route. Optional for all attendees.

Sponsored by Harmonic Drive LLC

Business owners and operators stand to benefit significantly from understanding ITR Economics’ outlook for 2026 and early 2027. The insights provided can help decision makers anticipate and navigate the complex economic landscape that lies ahead. Given that ITR has leading indicators that are already suggesting that the mild business cycle rising trend that will be present at the start in 2026 will potentially fade for some industries during the second half of the year and on into 2027, it is crucial for businesses to stay informed and proactive. Key reasons include:

• Anticipation of economic shifts: Businesses can adjust their strategies to align with predicted changes in GDP and Industrial Production growth.
• Risk management: Early awareness allows for the implementation of measures to mitigate potential downturns in volume and increases in cost.

Furthermore, the ability to anticipate weak periods and set plans to act accordingly can be the deciding factor between merely surviving or thriving. As industries face varying impacts, specific insights into which sectors are more likely to falter will be invaluable. Additional reasons why the outlook is essential include:

• Investment planning: Businesses can make informed decisions about capital expenditures and resource allocation.
• Competitive advantage: Early movers can gain an edge by adapting ahead of their competitors.

Brian Beaulieu

CEO and Chief Economist
ITR Economics

Join top executives from leading A3 member companies for a high-level, tech sector-spanning discussion on the forces shaping automation today and what’s coming next. This panel brings together experts across vision, robotics, motion control, and AI to examine the current state of the industry, highlight emerging technologies, and unpack the business and market trends influencing automation’s rapid evolution.

André Marino

Senior Vice President Industrial Automation North America
Schneider Electric

Gabe Zingaretti

Chief Operating Officer
OSARO

Johannes Zurin

Chief Marketing Officer
Allied Vision

Mike Cicco

President and CEO
FANUC America

Robert Huschka

Vice President of Education Strategies
Association for Advancing Automation (A3)

An inside view from the customer’s perspective on escaping pilot purgatory and turning autonomous robotics into scalable, enterprise-ready manufacturing solutions.

Paul Stephens

Global Strategy Manager
Ford Motor Company

Automation, robotics, and AI are redefining what's possible for humanity. These technologies have the potential to transform industries, enhance the quality of life, and solve the major challenges we face in modern day. 

Join us for the launch of The Age of Automation, a new branded content film series presented by A3 and produced for them by BBC StoryWorks Commercial Productions. The series highlights inspiring stories of innovation in robotics and automation from around the world. 

Watch a teaser here: https://youtu.be/q1CZhm4HHVQ?si=dcjdmKCG2x9-CiGn

Daisy Walsh

Senior Creative Producer
BBC Studios

Deb Kling

VP Marketing
Association for Advancing Automation (A3)

Join Anoop Sinha and Renelito Delos Santos as they navigate the evolving landscape of AI in industry, demonstrating how combining AI collaboration and AI automation creates highly effective solutions. The speakers will ground these concepts in practical examples, including the groundbreaking Google and NTID partnership, featured in the BBC’s upcoming Age of Automation film series.

Anoop Sinha

Research Director
Google

Renelito Delos Santos

Staff Technical Program Manager
Google

In this high-energy keynote, award-winning entrepreneur and customer experience expert Brittany Hodak reveals how to design memorable moments, leverage technology, and build a brand people brag about. 

Brittany Hodak

Customer Experience Keynote Speaker and Author of Creating Superfans

Sponsored by ABB Inc., COVAL Vacuum Technology Inc., Macron Dynamics Inc., and SCHUNK Inc.

Get ready to play and party with an energetic Sports Night! Join us for an evening of friendly competition, memories, and jubilation. Remember to wear your favorite sports jersey, vintage or current!

We stand at an unprecedented inflection point in history where AI is intersecting with cybersecurity, geopolitics, and the future of human society itself. Drawing from two decades at the epicenter of global politics and the tech revolution – from the United Nations to SpaceX – this keynote explores the kaleidoscopic futures now emerging from AI’s rapid advancement. Rather than focusing solely on technical security measures or regulatory frameworks, this session takes the long view, examining how AI-enabled threats and opportunities will reshape the foundations of trust, data provenance, and societal resilience over the coming decades. From AI-augmented cyberwarfare to the potential for new forms of global cooperation, we’ll explore both the dystopian and utopian scenarios ahead—and the critical choices that will determine which world we ultimately build.

Dex Hunter-Torricke

Emerging Technologies Expert
Former Communications Executive at Google, SpaceX, & Facebook

This session will explore the latest data and trends shaping the automation industry, providing a deep dive into key market drivers, emerging opportunities, and challenges. Gain valuable insights to help your organization stay ahead in the fast-evolving world of automation.

Alex Shikany

Executive Vice President
Association for Advancing Automation (A3)

Join us for a special live recording of Automated, A3’s newly launched podcast spotlighting the people shaping the future of automation. Host Brian Heater, Managing Editor at A3, sits down with Mikell Taylor, Director of Robotics at General Motors, for an in-depth conversation on the evolving role of robotics, navigating innovation inside a legacy manufacturer, and what’s next for automation in automotive—recorded exclusively at the A3 Business Forum.

Brian Heater

Managing Editor
Association for Advancing Automation (A3)

Mikell Taylor

Director, Robotics Strategy
General Motors