Past Agendas

Host Welcome & Opening Remarks

Andrew Rencich, Chair, Technology Coast Manufacturing & Engineering Network (TeCMEN)

Panel #1 – Building the Future Defense Workforce

Panelists –Dale Marks, Executive Director, 96thTest Wing, Eglin Air Force Base; Joe Veranese, President & CEO, Advanced Manufacturing International (AMI); Joe Marino, Executive Director, Veterans Florida

Morning Break

Sponsored by General Dynamics OTS

Panel #2 – Federal Contracting

Panelists – Cynthia Savage, Chief, Base Installation Contracting Division, AFTC / PZI, Eglin AFB; Jonathan Terry, Director of Contracting, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Eglin AFB; Rob Burns, Director, AFSOC Small Business Office, Hurlburt Field; Richard Compton, Small Business Professional & Commodities Flight Chief, 1st Special Operations Contracting Squadron, Hurlburt Field

Lunch & Learn – Utilizing Artificial Intelligence for Business Optimization

Panelists–Dr. Paul Marty, Professor, Florida State University School of Information; Dr. Joel Davis, Director of David F. Miller Retail Center & Clinical Professor ofInformation Systems andOperations Management, Warrington College of Business, University of Florida; Cole Allen, Assistant Vice President and Chief Information Officer, Northwest Florida State College; Jerry Williams, President & CEO, Eglin Federal Credit Union

Sponsored by CHELCO and PowerSouth

1:30 – 2:30

Speed Matchmaking Sessions (Pre-registration required)

Table hosts to include Melissa Hoover, Contracting Officer, TETRAS Contract Vehicle, Eglin AFB; Emma Jones, Team Lead, TETRAS Contact Vehicle, Eglin AFB; Capt Alyssa Hurst, Contracting Officer, EWAAC contract vehicle; Anita Jackson, Director, Small Business Office, Eglin AFB, Cameron White, Contracting Officer, AFLCMC 

Afternoon Workshop – Florida’s Manufacturing Sector

Sponsored by FloridaMakes

Networking Reception

Sponsored by LiveOak Fiber

Registration Desk Opens; Exhibit Hall Opens for the Day

Kick-off Refreshments sponsored by Dynamic Software Solutions (DS2)

Host Welcome & Opening Remarks

Holly Karr, Chair, Technology Coast Manufacturing & Engineering Network (TeCMEN)

Panel #1 – A Conversation With Northwest Florida’s Autonomous Systems Leaders

Moderator – Jennifer Conoley, President & CEO, Florida’s Great Northwest
Panelists – Amanda Negron, CEO, HSU Educational Foundation; Michael Lawson, CEO, Skyborne Technology;
Maynard Factor, Vice President of Business Development, Kratos Defense & Security Solutions

Panel #2 – Digital Transformation

Moderator – Devon LaMonica, Innovation and Collaboration Facilitator, Doolittle Institute
Panelists – Scott Teel, Chief Engineer, AFRL/RW; Jaromy Kuhl, Dean, Hal Marcus College of Science & Engineering, University of West Florida; Mike Edwards, Director, Doolittle Institute; Matt Zimmermann, CEO, Beast Code

Networking Break

Sponsored by General Dynamics OTS

Workshop Session #1 – MakeMore on the Road: Producing More Talent for the Manufacturing Industry 

Moderator – Wes Hudgens, Lead Project Manager, FPL

Zoraida Velasco, EVP, FloridaMakes; Ernie Friend, Executive Director, Florida Advanced Technological Education Center; Marcelo Dossantos, Director for Workforce Development, FloridaMakes

Sponsored by FloridaMakes and Florida Power & Light

Keynote Luncheon – Col David Hoffman, Commander, 96th Cyberspace Test Group, Eglin Air Force Base

Sponsored by CHELCO and PowerSouth

Workshop Session #2 – Advanced Manufacturing and Industry 4.0

Jolee Martin, Business Advisor, FloridaMakes; Tim McDonald, CEO, Fort Walton Machining; Robert Linder, Senior Operations Manager, GE Renewable Energy; Tom Myers, Director, Talent Development, Rex Lumber

Sponsored by FloridaMakes

Panel #3 – Federal Contracting

Moderator – Jason Monroe, Director of Solution Consulting, Bit-Wizards
Panelists – Christi Fruhwirth, Director of Contracting, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Eglin AFB; Anita Jackson, Director of Small Business, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Eglin AFB; Kevin Jans, President, Skyway Acquisition; Richard Compton, 1 SOCONS Small Business Professional & Commodities Flight Chief, Hurlburt Field

Networking Reception

Sponsored by Okaloosa Gas District

Registration Desk Opens; Exhibit Hall Opens for the Day

Kick-off Refreshments sponsored by Dynamic Software Solutions (DS2)

Host Welcome & Opening Remarks

Leslie Sheekley, Chair, One Okaloosa Economic Development Council (EDC)

Nic Dezinski, Chair, Technology Coast Manufacturing & Engineering Network (TeCMEN)

Future of Aerospace Growth at Bob Sikes Airport

Dr. Paul Hsu, Founder, HSU Educational Foundation

Panel #1 – Innovation Spotlight: Northwest Florida State College Aviation Center of Excellence

Moderator – Dr. Deidre Price, Vice President of Academic Affairs, Northwest Florida State College

Panelists – Dr. Devin Stephenson, President, Northwest Florida State College; Dr. Michael Erny, Dean of Career Education, Northwest Florida State College; Chris Abadia, Powerplant Faculty, Northwest Florida State College; Michael Holderness, Director of Maintenance, Gulf Air Group

Panel #2 – Innovation Spotlight:  Federal Contracting

Moderator – David Haines, Precision Measurement Inc.

Panelists – Stacey Darhower, Director of Contracting, AFTC, Eglin AFB; Christi Fruhwirth, Director of Contracting, AFLCMC, Eglin AFB; Anita Jackson, Deputy Director of Small Business, AFLCMC, Eglin AFB; Ayesha Haider, Associate Director, Florida Small Business Development Center at University of West Florida

Workshop Session #1 – Air Force Collaborative Missions
Sponsored by Doolittle Institute

Chad McCoy, Director, Doolittle Institute; Helena Krusec, Deputy Engagements Lead, AFVentures;
Elizabeth M. Escamilla, DAF S&T Tech Connect Lead, AFMC AFRL/SB; Joseph Gordon, Program Director,
AF Technology Transfer and Transition

Concurrent Workshop Session #2 – Air Force Collaborative Missions

Sponsored by Doolittle Institute

Chad McCoy, Director, Doolittle Institute; Helena Krusec, Deputy Engagements Lead, AFVentures;
Elizabeth M. Escamilla, DAF S&T Tech Connect Lead, AFMC AFRL/SB; Joseph Gordon, Program Director,
AF Technology Transfer and Transition

(Repeat of Session #1)

Panel #3 – Industry Newcomers to the Great Northwest

Moderator – Scarlett Phaneuf, Economic Development Representative, PowerSouth Energy
Panelists – Chris Hart, CEO, Central Moloney Inc.; Dennis Wikoff, President & COO, Vertex Solutions;
Mike Mullen, President & CEO, Circulogene; Michael Litton, CEO, American Metal Bearing