A3 Business Forum Speakers
Jon Battles
VP Technology Strategy, Collaborative Robotics
Follow on LinkedInA distinguished industry expert in Autonomous Supply Chain and Robotics, Jon has designed over 150 greenfield facilities, overseen multibillion-dollar capital improvement investments, contributed to over 80 robotics-related patents, and played a critical role in integrating Kiva Robotics Systems into Amazon's operation. Jon brings 40+ years of experience in enterprise systems, robotics and automation, including 17 years at Amazon and 25 years at Hallmark Cards. Jon has served on multiple Boards including Secretary RIA Robotics Industry Association, University of Washington ME Board and currently A3 Artificial Intelligence Industry Board.
Session(s):
PANEL DISCUSSION: The Next Frontiers: Where Automation is Going Next | Tuesday, January 21, 2025 - 1:30 PM (EST)
Alan Beaulieu
Principal, ITR Economics
With a reputation as an accurate, straightforward economist, Alan has been delivering award-winning workshops and economic analysis seminars in countries across the world to thousands of business owners and executives for the last 30 years.
He is co-author of Prosperity in the Age of Decline, a powerful look at how to make the most of the US and global trends over the next 20 years. Alan also co-authored Make Your Move, a practical and insightful guide on increasing profits through business cycle changes, and noted by one reviewer as “simple, yet awesome.”
As the result of his years of work with domestic and international associations, it has been remarked that Alan’s “insight into our business, a track record of accurate forecasting, and unparalleled knowledge of global markets has earned him the respect and appreciation of key business leaders in our industry.”
Pronouncements from ITR Economics™ and/or Alan have appeared in/on: the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Knight Ridder News Services, Business Week, Associated Press, The Washington Times, and numerous other outlets.
Session(s):
KEYNOTE: 2025 Global Economic Update – Align Resources for the Rise Ahead | Tuesday, January 21, 2025 - 9:15 AM (EST)
Rajat Bhageria
Founder and CEO, Chef Robotics
Rajat Bhageria is the Founder and CEO of Chef Robotics, a company based in San Francisco that designs and deploys AI-enabled robotics that help high-mix food manufacturers flexibly automate their manufacturing process to help them overcome labor issues and increase production volume.
Session(s):
PANEL DISCUSSION: The Next Frontiers: Where Automation is Going Next | Tuesday, January 21, 2025 - 1:30 PM (EST)
Rodney Brooks
CTO and Co-Founder, Robust.AI
Dr. Rodney Brooks is the CTO and Co-Founder of Robust AI. Prior to that, he was the Founder, Chairman, and CTO of Rethink Robotics. He is also a Founder, former Board Member, and former CTO of iRobot Corp. Additionally, Dr. Brooks is the former Director of the MIT Artificial Intelligence Laboratory and then the MIT Computer Science & Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL). He received degrees in pure mathematics from the Flinders University of South Australia and a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Stanford University in 1981. He held research positions at Carnegie Mellon University and MIT, and a faculty position at Stanford before joining MIT in 1984. Dr. Brooks' publications include model-based computer vision, path planning, uncertainty analysis, robot assembly, active vision, micro-actuators, planetary exploration, representation, artificial life, and more. He is the recipient of numerous and prestigious awards, including the 2023 IEEE Founders Medal, the Computers and Thought Award at the 1991 IJCAI (International Joint Conference on Artificial Intelligence). In 2008 he won the IEEE Inaba Technical Award for Innovation Leading to Production. In 2014 he won the Robotics Industry Association's Engelberger Robotics Award for Leadership.
Session(s):
KEYNOTE: The Hype-notism of Our Human and Robot Future | Tuesday, January 21, 2025 - 11:00 AM (EST).jpg)
Jeff Burnstein
President, Association of Advancing Automation (A3)
Jeff Burnstein is President of the Association for Advancing Automation (A3), the world’s leading robotics & automation trade group, representing over 1300 global companies involved in robotics, artificial intelligence, machine vision, motion control and related automation technologies. Burnstein joined the association in 1983 and has held a variety of senior positions, culminating in his promotion to President in 2007. He is a frequent commentator in the media, often discusses automation issues with policy makers, and regularly speaks at global conferences on issues such as global automation trends, the impact of automation on jobs and the future of automation beyond the factory floor. Burnstein also serves on the Executive Board of the International Federation of Robotics (IFR). In 2023 he received the Engelberger Award for Leadership, considered the “Nobel Prize of Robotics.”
Session(s):
PANEL DISCUSSION: Advocacy and Automation: Shaping the Future of Policy | Wednesday, January 22, 2025 - 11:15 AM (EST)
Geoff Colvin
Senior Editor at Large, Fortune
In four decades at Fortune, Geoff Colvin has established himself as one of business journalism’s most respected minds on trends driving business change. He reports on AI and the infotech revolution, leadership, business strategy, global business, government regulation, competition, the economy, worker/workforce issues, and related topics. With close ties to top business leaders, Geoff reveals what they’re thinking, seeing, and doing to transform their companies and win in spite of relentless change. “Winning companies and leaders confront reality faster than the competition,” he says. “They stop protecting the past and invest in inventing the future.” Geoff’s insights reveal a clearer path for an uncertain future. His columns and cover stories for Fortune have earned him millions of loyal fans. He’s also heard on the CBS Radio Network, where he reaches seven million listeners each week. Geoff’s bestselling books include The Upside of the Downturn, Talent Is Overrated, and Humans Are Underrated. A keynote speaker with compelling content, Geoff is also a brilliant panel moderator and interviewer.
In addition to writing for Fortune and his regular CBS Radio Network segments (he’s done over 15,000 since 1995), Geoff has appeared on Today, Good Morning America, Squawk Box, CBS This Morning, ABC's World News Tonight, CNN, PBS's Nightly Business Report, and dozens of other programs. He also served as anchor of Wall $treet Week with Fortune on PBS.
In addition to speaking, Geoff is also a brilliant panel moderator, emcee, and interviewer whose subjects have included Madeleine Albright, Ben Bernanke, Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, George W. Bush, George H.W. Bush, Bill Gates, Timothy Geithner, Alan Greenspan, Henry Kissinger, Henry M. Paulson, Colin Powell, Robert Reich, Condoleezza Rice, Desmond Tutu, H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, Jack Welch, Janet Yellen and many others.
Geoff is a respected author whose groundbreaking international bestseller, Talent Is Overrated: What Really Separates World-Class Performers from Everybody Else, has been published in a dozen languages. The Upside of the Downturn: Management Strategies for Difficult Times was named “Best Management Book of the Year” by Strategy + Business magazine. Geoff’s latest book is Humans Are Underrated: What High Achievers Know That Brilliant Machines Never Will. It’s based on the idea in his wildly popular Fortune article “In the Future Will There Be Any Work Left for People to Do?” It looks at the trend of advancing technology performing ever more tasks better than people perform them, and the ways humans will create value for their organizations and their careers in the changing economy. The ideas he shares have profound implications for every business and industry.
A native of Vermillion, South Dakota, Geoff Colvin is an honors graduate of Harvard with a degree in economics and has an M.B.A. from New York University’s Stern School of Business.
Session(s):
KEYNOTE: The Global Business Climate: Navigating What You Can’t Control | Tuesday, January 21, 2025 - 4:00 PM (EST)
Ayanna Howard
Dean of Engineering, Ohio State University
Dr. Ayanna Howard is an innovator, entrepreneur, leader, and international expert in robotics and AI. She is also the author of the best-selling audiobook – Sex, Race, and Robots : How to be Human in the Age of AI. Currently, Dr. Howard is the Dean of Engineering at The Ohio State University and Monte Ahuja Endowed Dean's Chair. In addition, she serves on the Board of Directors for Autodesk and Motorola Solutions.
Prior to Ohio State, Dr. Howard was the Linda J. and Mark C. Smith Endowed Chair in Bioengineering and Chair of the School of Interactive Computing at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Previously, she was at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory where she held the title of Senior Robotics Researcher and Deputy Manager in the Office of the Chief Scientist. Her research encompasses advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), assistive technologies, and robotics, and has resulted in over 275 publications. At NASA, she worked on designing advanced technologies for future Mars rover missions. Now, she works on projects ranging from healthcare robots to developing methods to mitigate bias and trust in AI.
To date, Dr. Howard’s unique accomplishments have been highlighted through a number of awards and articles, including highlights in Vanity Fair, USA Today, and TIME Magazine, as well as being recognized as one of the 23 most powerful women engineers in the world by Business Insider. She is a Fellow of IEEE, AAAI, AAAS, the National Academy of Inventors, and elected member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. She regularly advises on issues concerning robotics, AI, and workforce development. She is a media expert source for venues such as CNN and NPR and regularly gives invited talks at venues such as the Smithsonian Design Museum, TEDx, Science Museum of London, and the National Security Agency. She has also been featured in various interviews and podcasts hosted by places like PBS, Discovery Channel, BBC, and Huffington Post.
Session(s):
KEYNOTE: Embodied AI: Technology, Trust, and How Not to Lose Your Cool | Tuesday, January 21, 2025 - 2:45 PM (EST)
Leland Melvin
Leland Melvin is an engineer, educator, author, former NASA astronaut and NFL wide receiver. He served on board the Space Shuttle Atlantis as a mission specialist on mission STS-122 (2008) and STS-129 (2009), helping to construct the International Space Station.
Leland served co-chair of the White House’s Federal Coordination in STEM Education Task Force and as NASA Associate Administrator for Education.
“Houston, we have a problem.” Leland Melvin was 25 feet under water in the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory, a 6 million gallon pool, training to perform spacewalks as a NASA astronaut when he called the test director and asked him to turn the volume up in his headset. He never heard a reply and was immediately hoisted out of the pool to learn that he was deaf. Emergency surgery resulting in only partial recovery to his hearing led him to being medically disqualified to fly in space by NASA flight surgeons.
This is just one of the many career ending challenges Leland has overcome in his life. Before becoming an astronaut Leland was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the 1986 College Draft to play professional football but a hamstring injury thwarted his NFL career with Detroit and then later with the Dallas Cowboys. Through determination and perseverance Leland ultimately traveled off-planet twice on Space Shuttle Atlantis to help construct the International Space Station, logging a over 565 hours in space. Leland is the first person drafted into the National Football League to have also flown in space. The Pro Football Hall of Fame honored his athletic and academic accomplishments by placing his Detroit Lions jersey under glass in Canton, Ohio. Through these professional experiences working on high stakes teams he developed a deep and nuanced understanding of effective team dynamics.
Leland has a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry and a master’s degree in materials science engineering. He worked at NASA Langley Research Center in the area of nondestructive testing creating optical fiber sensors for measuring damage in aerospace vehicles resulting in publications in numerous scientific journals. After hanging up his space boots he was appointed head of NASA Education and served as the co-chair on the White House’s Federal Coordination in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education Task Force developing the nation’s 5-year STEM education plan. Leland was the United States representative and chair of the International Space Education Board (ISEB), a global collaboration in space. He uses his life story as an athlete, astronaut, scientist, engineer, photographer, and musician to help inspire the next generation of explorers to pursue Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics (STEAM) careers. Leland was also recently seen as the host of the Lifetime competition series "Child Genius" and as a judge for ABC's robot competition series "BattleBots." He was featured on National Geographic's "One Strange Rock", hosted by Will Smith, where he explained how his brain repaired itself after an injury that left him deaf and almost stopped him from ever going to space. Leland was also a consultant for the second season of National Geographic's "Mars."
He was chosen as an ICON MANN with Quincy Jones, Forrest Whitaker, Steve Harvey and 24 other men selected for their ability to inspire people of all ages through their vision and commitment to creating positive change throughout the world. Leland has been honored with the NFL Players Association “Award of Excellence” for inspiring athletes to pursue excellence on and off the field. Leland holds six honorary doctorates for his service in education, the sciences, and philanthropy. In 2024, he was awarded the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Public Service Award for demonstrating sustained and visible support for aviation and space goals through the promotion of STEAM and aerospace to young people. Leland also received the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award under the Biden Administration
He has written a chapter on the power of visualization in Venus Williams’ book "Come to Win." Leland has appeared on "Top Chef" as a celebrity judge and "Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmerman," while Cesar Milan helped him with his unruly pooch Jake on an episode of "The Dog Whisperer." He was featured in a Sci Fi Channel program documenting the making of the “Reach for the Stars” will.i.am song, which was transmitted to Mars and back to inspire students to pursue STEAM. He is the Executive Producer of National Geographic's documentary film “The Space Race.”
Leland currently serves on the Board of Directors for BWX Technologies in Lynchburg, VA.
In his memoir, Chasing Space: An Astronaut's Story of Grit, Grace, and Second Chances Leland shares his personal journey from the gridiron to the stars, and examines the intersecting roles of community, perseverance, and grace that align to create opportunities for success.
Session(s):
KEYNOTE: Chasing Space: An Astronaut's Story of Grit, Grace, and Second Chances | Monday, January 20, 2025 - 6:15 PM (EST)
Ritesh Ragavender
Founder & CEO, Reflex Robotics
Follow on LinkedInRitesh Ragavender is a visionary entrepreneur and the founder of Reflex Robotics, a cutting-edge company specializing in advanced robotic solutions. With a background in robotics engineering and artificial intelligence, Ritesh has dedicated his career to pushing the boundaries of technology to improve efficiency and enhance everyday life.
Before founding Reflex Robotics, Ritesh held key positions in leading tech firms, where he led innovative projects that harnessed the power of automation. His passion for robotics was ignited during his studies, culminating in a groundbreaking thesis that received recognition in industry circles.
Under Ritesh's leadership, Reflex Robotics has rapidly gained prominence for its pioneering products that blend functionality with user-friendly design. His commitment to fostering a culture of creativity and collaboration has positioned the company at the forefront of the robotics industry.
Ritesh is also an advocate for STEM education and actively supports initiatives aimed at inspiring the next generation of engineers and innovators. In his spare time, he enjoys mentoring aspiring entrepreneurs and exploring the latest advancements in technology. With a focus on sustainability and social impact, Ritesh envisions a future where robotics seamlessly integrates into society, enhancing the way we live and work.
Session(s):
PANEL DISCUSSION: The Next Frontiers: Where Automation is Going Next | Tuesday, January 21, 2025 - 1:30 PM (EST)
Sam Richter
Founder and CEO, SBR Worldwide/Know More
Sam Richter is an internationally recognized expert on sales intelligence and online reputation management. His award-winning experience includes building innovative programs for start-up companies and some of the world's most famous brands.
Sam is founder and CEO of SBR Worldwide/Know More. Through his in-person keynote presentations and workshops, webinars, online University, and books, Sam has trained leading organizations and entertained tens of thousands of persons around the world to rave reviews. Sam’s programs promise to be the highest-content, most take-home-value program attendees have ever experienced. In 2014, the National Speakers Association honored Sam with its CSP Designation, reserved for the top 10 percent of the world's professional speakers. In 2017, Sam was inducted into the Minnesota Speakers Hall of Fame.
He is the author of the best-selling book, Take the Cold Out of Cold Calling, considered the preeminent publication on finding information online and using it for sales success. Take the Cold was named "Sales Book of the Year" by the American Association of Inside Sales Professionals, and it was also named a "USA Book News Winner" and a "Sales Book Awards Silver Medalist."
In addition to speaking and writing, Sam has developed a number of technologies including the world's top news search engine, YouGotTheNews, a Blog search engine, and the Facebook search engine YouGotSocial. Sam is a partner at Contata Solutions, a big-data/machine learning firm that produces sales, marketing, and business intelligence software, and at ActiFi, one of the leading technology solutions firms in the financial services industry. Sam also serves on the Boards of Directors for Brandpoint, one of the world's leading content management platforms, and Argos Risk, a business financial health and credit monitoring software platform.
Multiple times Sam was named by InsideView as one of the Top 25 Most Influential People in Sales, and he was also named as one of the Top Chief Marketing Officers on Twitter and he has been recognized by LinkedIn as having one of the world's most viewed profiles. Sam has been featured in thousands of television and radio programs and national and online publications.
For more than six years, Sam was president of the James J. Hill Center, a not-for-profit business library, where he led the transformation of an eighty-five-year-old private, non-profit business research organization into a nationally renowned institution serving entrepreneurs and small businesses via cutting edge online resources. Sam also spent more than eighteen years in the advertising, public relations, and e-commerce/e-marketing industry owning his own firm and working for internationally recognized organizations as a creative director, group director, and marketing director. Sam has led product launch and strategic marketing programs for companies including Microsoft, Coca-Cola, Major League Baseball, Polaris Industries, and National Geographic.
Sam has won regional, national and international awards including Best of Show and Gold Awards at numerous sales and marketing competitions, Webby Awards, and a Gold Award at the International Film Festival. He's also won a Retail Vision Award and a Codie Award "the "Oscars" of the software industry" for Best E-commerce Software. He is a member of the Business Journal's "Forty Under 40" list honoring the top Minnesota business leaders under the age of forty. While at the Hill Center / Library, Sam was named a finalist for Inc. Magazine's Entrepreneur of the Year.
He received his B.A. from the University of Minnesota School of Journalism and Mass Communication and was twice named Scholastic All-American while also a four-year player and a letter winner on the University of Minnesota varsity football team. He has a graduate certificate in Executive Leadership and another in Corporate Boards of Director ethical leadership.
Sam lives in Minnetonka, Minnesota with his wife and two children, and he enjoys volunteering his time working with non-profit organizations and mentoring individuals in his community.
Session(s):
KEYNOTE: Creativity Unleashed: Generative AI and Your Future – Transform Your Business, Your Communications, Your Job, and Your Life | Wednesday, January 22, 2025 - 9:00 AM (EST)
Tony Samp
Principal Advisor | Head of AI Policy, DLA Piper Global Law Firm
Tony is a Principal Policy Advisor who represents clients before the US Congress and federal agencies. Based in Washington, DC, he focuses on formulating, synthesizing and executing complex business development and risk mitigation strategies for senior policymakers and business executives.
Tony is among the foremost advisors in the US on issues related to national security, artificial intelligence (AI), space, and emerging technology.
Washingtonian Magazine named Samp to Washingtonian’s 2024 list of the 500 Most Influential People in Washington, DC. The list recognizes experts and advocates outside of government who "shape the laws and policies that govern our nation and ultimately affect the course of history."
Tony brings 18 years of experience working with members of Congress, industry, and the executive branch on emerging technologies. Earlier in his career, he served as senior policy advisor to Senator Martin Heinrich, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, the Senate Armed Services Committee, the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Tony heads DLA Piper's AI policy practice in Washington, DC. He was the founding director of the Senate Artificial Intelligence Caucus and was Senator Heinrich's principal author of US$2.2 billion legislation, the Artificial Intelligence Initiative Act (AI-IA), that was endorsed by 11 major associations and institutions to organize a national strategy for AI and invest in academia, national laboratories, and industry.
Tony was appointed an Adjunct Senior Fellow at the Center for a New American Security and is currently a Visiting Fellow at George Mason University's Antonin Scalia Law School bipartisan National Security Institute in Washington, DC.
Session(s):
PANEL DISCUSSION: Advocacy and Automation: Shaping the Future of Policy | Wednesday, January 22, 2025 - 11:15 AM (EST)
Nick Saunders
CEO & Founder, Hummingbird Systems
Nick has over 20 years of eCommerce brand creation, development and operational leadership. A founding member of Quiet Logistics, that ships $1.5B in eCommerce annually. He closed over $200 million of new business and was instrumental in leading Quiet to ultimate acquisition by AEO for $360MM.
Nick was a member of the leadership team that designed, developed and incubated Locus Robotics as a special project within Quiet. Locus is the leading AMR company in the world with over 100 sites shipping over 4Billion units globally.
Session(s):
PANEL DISCUSSION: The Next Frontiers: Where Automation is Going Next | Tuesday, January 21, 2025 - 1:30 PM (EST)
Brendan Schulman
VP of Policy & Government Relations, Boston Dynamics, Inc.
Follow on LinkedInBrendan is the Vice President of Policy & Government Relations for Boston Dynamics, the world's leading developer of agile robots that autonomously navigate uneven terrain, stairs, and even doorways using legs and arms. In this role, he collaborates with policymakers and stakeholders on a wide range of policy and ethics issues relating to the integration of beneficial robots into society. Previously, Brendan was in charge of global public policy for DJI, the world's leading manufacturer of commercial drones. A technology advocate, thought-leader, and champion of pragmatic solutions to the concerns that are raised by emerging technologies, Brendan has served on federal and state policy advisory committees, testified in the U.S. Congress and the U.K. House of Commons, speaks frequently, and is often quoted in the media on technology law and policy.
Session(s):
PANEL DISCUSSION: Advocacy and Automation: Shaping the Future of Policy | Wednesday, January 22, 2025 - 11:15 AM (EST)
Alex Shikany
Executive Vice President, Association for Advancing Automation (A3)
Alex Shikany is the Executive Vice President of the Association for Advancing Automation (A3), the leading trade association for robotics, vision and imaging, motion control, and artificial intelligence. In this role, he oversees A3’s internal operations, serves as the primary liaison to the Board of Directors, and leads strategic initiatives to enhance member value and industry impact. Since joining A3 in 2012, Alex has been instrumental in driving growth, including the rebranding that unified four organizations under the A3 umbrella and expanding membership to over 1,300 companies worldwide. A recognized thought leader and sought-after speaker, Alex is passionate about advancing the global adoption of automation technologies. He holds an MBA in Marketing and Finance from Michigan State University and brings over a decade of experience in market strategy, brand development, and industry leadership to his role.
Session(s):
KEYNOTE: The Latest Automation Statistics, Trends and Key Market Drivers | Wednesday, January 22, 2025 - 9:45 AM (EST)-2.jpg)
Adrian Stoch
Chief Automation Officer, GXO
Adrian Stoch serves as Chief Automation Officer of GXO and has global responsibility for advancing the company’s automation leadership position.
Stoch has led groundbreaking pilots of humanoid robotics in live operations and inked partnerships with leading developers in the humanoid space. He and his team are shaping the direction of emerging supply chain technologies through their operational incubator program.
Previously, Stoch served as Consumer Division President in GXO’s Americas & Asia Pacific region, where he automated fulfilment operations for several household-name brands. Stoch has more than three decades of experience across a range of industries, including omnichannel retail, pharmaceuticals and manufacturing. Prior to joining GXO, he held senior supply chain roles at Target, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries and Cardinal Health.