Thomas Evans, incumbent Board member
Chief Technology Officer Robotics & AI
Honeywell International
Thomas has extensive experience and proven leadership in automation, robotics, artificial intelligence, and business operations with a broad network of partnerships and customers in government, academia, and commercial sectors.
Christelle Keefer, incumbent Board member
Global Business Development Manager
ABB Inc.
Throughout her career at ABB, Christelle has worked to develop an understanding of robotics and automation technologies, market dynamics, and strategic growth opportunities. Her strong network encompasses all business lines within ABB globally, along with connections outside of ABB with industry partners. This unique position enables her to foster collaboration and align efforts that drive the advancement of automation solutions across sectors.
Her promotion to Global Business Development Manager is a testament to her industry credibility and her ability to cultivate strong partnerships. This role reflects her ongoing commitment and dedication to robotics and automation. She is also proud to have been recognized as one of the top ten influential women in robotics by the International Federation of Robotics (IFR) in 2024.
As a current member of the A3 Technology Strategy Board, she has provided valuable insights on industry trends and brought forth ideas that have been implemented, such as expanding the education pavilion at Automate to increase reach. She also brings a unique perspective through her involvement in the education sector, where she understands the needs of academia, students, and industry, to help prepare future industry leaders. She participated in reviewing and providing feedback on the A3 safety training developed, led by Ritch Ramey. She has participated in videos and articles promoting A3, robotics, and automation, and she is consistently responsive to surveys, ensuring the board has the information requested. Her active participation in discussions and attendance at all in-person meetings has supported the board's ongoing success.
Stuart Shepherd, incumbent Board member
President
Shepherd Solutions, Inc.
Stu has served the Association in multiple capacities since 2004. Stu is a past RIA Board Member and Chairperson, plus past A3 Board Member and Chairperson. Stu also contributed to the development of A3 through engagements in the Certified Systems Integrator, A3 Mexico, A3AI, and One A3 initiatives.
In addition to the ability to bring the voices of the underserved members forward, Stu believes he can work with the Board to create new A3 value opportunities to retain current members and attract new members (especially end-users and education institutions) in alignment with the recently established A3 priorities. He also proposes that A3 further expand its reach through partnering or acquiring other robotics-related and/or adjacent associations in new markets such as the Association for Robots in Architecture and related construction industry members, CSIA and others. Other contributions will be through Stu's continued work and connectivity with the R15 SAC/R15.06/TAG to ISO TC 299, Engelberger, CSI, and Education Committees and sharing bridge-building initiatives with the American Welding Society and other Associations with various A3 Boards and their members.
Ted Rozier, incumbent Board member
Director Of Digital Advanced Technology and Robotics/ Head Of Solution Center NA
Festo
Ted Rozier currently serves on this board. He values the power of the A3 Association; this is a group of individuals that has the desire and power to make a difference within the automation manufacturing sector and more. He would cherish the opportunity to continue his tenure at such a fantastic time for the growth around several forms of robotics.
Matt Rendall, incumbent Board member
Co-Founder and CEO
OTTO by Rockwell Automation
Matt Rendall is CEO and Co-Founder of OTTO Motors, provider of self-driving vehicle technology for material transport, where he is responsible for driving the company vision and strategic commercialization of the companies Autonomous Mobile Robots. Rendall began his career by developing and commercializing complex electro-mechanical systems, and held various research and development positions in automation, automotive, and defense industries. He holds a BS in Applied Science and a MA in Business, Entrepreneurship and Technology, both from the University of Waterloo. Rendall has been recognized as an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of The Year Award for Young Entrepreneur and Business Insider’s 40 Under 40 People to Watch.
Gary McMurray
Deputy Director, Institute for Robotics and Intelligent Machines
Georgia Tech
Gary McMurray is the Deputy Director for the Institute for Robotics and Intelligent Machines at Georgia Tech. An expert in robotic systems development, his research career spans 34 years, focused on building intelligent robots to perform complex tasks in unstructured environments. His work brings together a unique blend of basic and applied research with the latest advances in AI for robotic tasks ranging from grasping and manipulation to task planning and perception to advanced control techniques for visual servoing and force feedback. Gary also has a long history of working with a variety of industries to solve real-world problems and bring technology innovations to market.
Satyandra Gupta
Co-Founder and Chief Scientist
GrayMatter Robotics
Dr. S.K. Gupta has more than thirty years of experience in the field of human-centered automation. His experiences span academia, government, and industry. He has made numerous advances in physics-informed artificial intelligence to realize smart robotic solutions that operate in domains characterized by model uncertainty, complex physics, and fast decision-making speeds. He is currently developing smart robotic cells for a wide variety of manufacturing applications such as assembly, composite prepreg layup, kitting, finishing, inspection, and machine tending.
SK is a co-founder and Chief Scientist at GrayMatter Robotics, a company focused on robotic automation solutions for high-mix manufacturing applications. GrayMatter Robotics' smart robotics cells are installed in many factories in the US serving aerospace & defense, specialty vehicles, marine & boats, metal fabrication, sports equipment, and furniture & sanitary ware sectors. These cells are helping companies to increase human productivity, reduce ergonomically challenging work, compress cycle times, expand capacity and improve sustainability. GrayMatter Robotics was awarded RBR50 Innovation Award for its Scan&Sand solution by the Robotics Business Review editorial team. They also received Most Innovative System Award at Automate 2024 for their Scan&Grind solution. SK holds twenty-one patents. He also serves on Forbes Tech Council.
He also holds Smith International Professorship in the Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering Department and the Department of Computer Science in the Viterbi School of Engineering at the University of Southern California. He is also the founding director of the Center for Advanced Manufacturing at the University of Southern California. Prior to joining the University of Southern California, he was a Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and the Institute for Systems Research at the University of Maryland, College Park. He was also the founding director of the Maryland Robotics Center and the Advanced Manufacturing Laboratory at the University of Maryland. Before joining the University of Maryland, he was a Research Scientist in the Robotics Institute at Carnegie Mellon University. Dr. Gupta has authored more than five hundred articles in journals, conference proceedings, and book chapters. He has delivered more than two hundred invited seminars and lectures.
He served as a Program Director for the National Robotics Initiative at the National Science Foundation from September 2012 to September 2014. He also served as a guest researcher at National Institute of Standards and Technology from September 2011 to August 2012. He currently serves as a member of the Technical Advisory Committee for Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Institute and a member of the National Materials and Manufacturing Board (NMMB). He testified at Make It in America Hearing for the US House of Representatives in 2015. He served as a member of the 2015 Autonomy Summer Study Task Force for the Defense Science Board. He was a member of the committee that conducted a study titled Options for a National Plan for Smart Manufacturing for National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine in 2023.
He has received numerous honors and awards for his contributions to the automation community. Representative examples include: Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) from President Bush in 2001, Invention of the Year Award at the University of Maryland in 2007, Kos Ishii-Toshiba Award from ASME in 2011, Excellence in Research Award from ASME Computers and Information in Engineering Division in 2013, Distinguished Alumnus Award from Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee in 2014, ASME Design Automation Award in 2021, Distinguished Alumni Award from Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi in 2022, and Lifetime Achievement Award from ASME Computers and Information in Engineering Division in 2024. He is a fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME), and Solid Modeling Association (SMA).
Suzy Teele
Chief Strategy Officer
ARM Institute
Suzy Teele is the Chief Strategy Officer for the ARM Institute, the nation’s leading manufacturing innovation institute for robotics and artificial intelligence. In this role, Suzy drives the ARM Institute’s overall strategy related to new programs, outreach efforts, stakeholder strategy, and partnership activities.
Suzy Teele helped to drive the formation of the ARM Institute in 2017 and has been instrumental in developing and implementing the ARM Institute’s overall strategy and growing its consortium of over 400 organizations committed to strengthening U.S. manufacturing through innovations in advanced manufacturing technology, particularly robotics and artificial intelligence (AI), and preparing the workforce to operate these technologies. Working across industry, government, and academia, the ARM Institute fosters collaboration between those who can create & maintain robotics with those who can leverage it for maximum economic impact. As an industry expert, Suzy has spoken at dozens of conferences about the use of robotics in manufacturing and the need to attract and upskill the workforce. Suzy is also passionate about bringing more women into advanced manufacturing roles using robotics. She has supported the development of the Industrial AI courses current offered by A3 and has been involved in A3's workforce initiatives.
Suzy has over thirty years of experience in technology-based business strategy, product commercialization, customer acquisition and retention, marketing, sales, and business development. Suzy was also an executive at several international software companies, driving strategic revenue growth in roles that included General Manager, COO and CMO. Prior to joining the ARM Institute, she was an executive consultant and advisor to venture-backed, early-stage technology companies. She has mentored hundreds of technology companies on profitable growth strategies and product commercialization.
Robert Komljenovic
CEO
Acieta
Robert “Robby” Komljenovic’s extensive leadership experience in the robotics and advanced manufacturing industries makes him an outstanding candidate for the Robotics Tech Sector Board. With over two decades of experience, including roles as Chairman & CEO of Acieta LLC, President/CSO at SW North America, and President at Hermle Machine Company, Robby has consistently demonstrated strategic vision, operational expertise, and a deep understanding of the industry’s dynamics. His commitment to mentoring students and guiding the next generation of talent further underscores his dedication to the future of robotics and advanced manufacturing. This combination of leadership experience, industry knowledge, and passion for talent development uniquely qualifies him to provide valuable insights and strategic direction as a board member.
Volker Schmitz
CEO
Schmalz Inc.
Volker has been a member of A3/RIA since 2007 and have seen the growth of the organization and can bring board experience across from other Industry trade associations of similar and bigger size. His perspective would also cover Mexico and Canada and representing their interests as well.
