Fran Wlodarczyk
Senior Vice President, Architecture & Software | Rockwell Automation

Fran Wlodarczyk, Senior Vice President, Architecture & Software at Rockwell Automation is responsible for strategy development, driving global growth, and the worldwide performance of the Architecture & Software reporting segment of the company. 

Architecture & Software (A&S) is a $2.9 billion business with more than 3,400 employees and contractors globally. It is the leading supplier of industrial automation hardware and software products in North America and is making significant inroads in the global market. Consisting of five business units, A&S provides industrial automation and information products to thousands of customers in hundreds of industries. 

Fran has 30 years at Rockwell Automation, with leadership experience in both business segments and multiple regions. Fran has considerable knowledge of customer applications, and can help determine how best to combine Rockwell technology and domain expertise to produce positive business outcomes. Most recently, Fran led the Control Visualization Business (CVB) in A&S. 

Fran holds a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Pennsylvania State University in University Park, Pennsylvania. 

Mary Burgoon
Business Development Manager | Rockwell Automation

Mary Burgoon is the Business Development Manager for the Academy of Advanced Manufacturing at Rockwell Automation. In this role, Mary is responsible for leading the development and implementation of strategies and programs that address customer challenges with innovative solutions to address workforce challenges in Advanced Manufacturing.  

Prior to her current role, she worked in Global Strategic Industry Marketing at Rockwell Automation and has  broad experience in engineering, manufacturing, sales, marketing and government affairs for Rockwell Automation and other Industrial firms. 

Mary is a graduate of Loyola University with a Masters of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Missouri at Rolla. 

She serves as a Board Director on the Hunger Task Force, STEMForward and TEMPO Milwaukee.

Daniel Aardsma
Machine Builder Libraries, Engineering Manager | Rockwell Automation

Technical Session: Utilizing Machine Builder Libraries Content to Deploy Robust, Reliable, and Repeatabe Solutions

Dan has been with Rockwell Automation since 2005 and is currently an Engineering Manager - Machine Builder Libraries. With experience across multiple industries, he has guided companies in adopting to new technologies and application techniques. He is well-versed in software design considerations and serves as a consultant to develop best practices for software deployment.

Tim Barthel
VP Automation Solutions | Cybertrol Engineering

Technical Session: Improve Production and Uptime with FactoryTalk Batch and PlantPaX

Tim Barthel is the Vice President of Automation Solutions for Cybertrol Engineering. At Cybertrol, Tim seves as the project lead for a number of multimillion-dollar dairy controls projects. Tim specializes in new facility network and Automation System design. He has 22 years of controls engineering experience and holds an Electrical Engineering Degree from the Milwaukee School of Engineering.

Bruce Butler
Network Solutions Sales Engineer | Werner Electric Supply

Lab: Introduction to Network Security

Bruce Butler, Network Solutions Sales Engineer at Werner Electric Supply, has 34 years of experience in the industrial automation and electrical industry. Ten of those years were spent working directly for an industry leader of industrial Ethernet switches, cellular routers and IIOT solutions. Bruce’s past sales expertise contributes to the Werner Network Solutions team by educating customers of the need to plan, design, implement, and validate their networks due to the increase of Ethernet enabled devices for use on the plant floor and in office datacenters. Bruce holds certifications as a Cisco Certified Networking Associate Industrial, Cisco Small Business Account Manager and has completed the Panduit PIN training program.  He has degrees in Electrical and Electro-mechanical Engineering Technology from Michigan Technological University, a Bachelor degree in Electrical Engineering Technology from Milwaukee School of Engineering and a Masters of Business Administration degree from Keller Graduate School of Management.

Richard Ciammaichella
Director | The Rovisys Company

Technical Session: Keep OT in Your IIoT Projects

Dick is Director for Chemicals, Specialty Chemicals and Materials at RoviSys, with over 40 years of experience in process control and instrumentation. His work with clients in various process industries allows them to take advantage of process control and analysis of information collected from the plant floor, to improve quality and efficiency. His background spans technology of sensors, controls, and MES, which helps provide a holistic approach to modernization.

Mike Collins
National Sales Manager | Yeary Controls

Technical Session: Understanding Control Valve Attributes

Mike Collins is a National Sales Manager for Yeary Controls, manufacturer of the Sharktooth Control Valve, a new technology that allows butterfly valves to be used for precise process control. Previously, Mike pioneered studies in control valve performance, diagnostics and severe service applications. His background includes Outside Sales Engineer for General Meters and Controls (Novaspect) and manager of a valve repair control facility. Mike received his Mechanical Engineering degree from Iowa State University.

Mike Cousino
IoT/M2M Specialist | PTC

Technical Session: Addressing Workforce Challenges Through the Use of Technology

Mike is a leading technology evangelist with over 25 years in high tech applications sales and consulting. Currently Mike is working with the Rockwell Global team to deploy the Rockwell Innovation Suite, powered by PTC which includes the ThingWorx IOT platform, Vuforia 3D Computer Vision technology and the FactoryTalk Analytics Platform.

Kevin DeWitt
Global Process Technician Consultant | Rockwell Automation

Technial Session: Improve Plant Operations Through Better Graphics

As Global Process Technician Consultant with Rockwell Automation, Kevin assists customers in developing standards to implement PlantPAx Control Systems. It’s important for traditional DCS users migrating to PlantPAx to maintain the built-in functionality they expect without spending additional time programming. In addition, Kevin helps implement special requests from customers for additional features and the development of easy-to-use systems for total system maintenance, modification and migration of control systems.

Eric Eckman
Channel Sales Manager | Stratus Technologies

Technical Session: Industrial IT for the Connected Enterprise

Mr. Eckman has over 20 years experience helping organizations implement technology to improve business operations. For the last 6 years, his focus has been on working with Operational Technologists (Controls Engineers, Electricians, etc....) to develop plans to evaluate and choose technology solutions that are designed around KPIs at the plant floor level. He attended Ohio State University and resides in Cleveland, Ohio.

Marty Edwards
Director of Strategic Initiatives | International Society of Automation (ISA)

Cyber Security Discussion: Lunch, Day 1

Marty Edwards, a globally recognized industrial control systems cybersecurity expert and speaker, serves as Director of Strategic Initiatives for ISA and Managing Director of the Automation Federation.  Prior to joining ISA in mid-2017, Edwards—a 25-year industry veteran—was the longest-serving Director of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Industrial Control Systems Cyber Emergency Response Team (ICS-CERT). Edwards holds a diploma of technology in Process Control and Industrial Automation (Magna cum Laude) from the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT), and in 2015 received the institute’s Distinguished Alumni Award. In 2016, Edwards was recognized by FCW in its “Federal 100 Awards” as being one of the top IT professionals in the U.S. federal government.

Dan Egan
Business Director - Process and Network Solutions | Werner Electric Supply

Technical Session: EtherNet/IP in the Process Industries and Highlights from ODVA Industry Conference

As an Automation Professional for nearly 35 years Dan has performed a variety of customer facing roles including Field Service Technician for CNC equipment to PLC and Software Application Engineering, and account management roles. Dan’s favorite part of any customer engagement has always been the ‘nickel tour’. This is where you truly get to learn ‘How Things are Made.’ As the Director of Process and Network Solutions at Werner Electric, Dan has the distinct pleasure of helping to build out corporate sales initiatives that complement the Rockwell Automation product offering. Dan enjoys classic American muscle cars, is an avid Wisconsin sports fan and is a year-round bicyclist and bike camper.

Scott Friberg
Solutions Architect | Cisco

Cyber Security Discussion: Lunch, Day 1
Technical Session: Building Converged Plantwide Ethernet (CP2E) Architectures
Technical Session: Transforming Traditional Industrial Networks to IoT Architectures

Scott Friberg is a Solutions Architect for Cisco Systems focusing on Industrial Networks with Rockwell Automation. He holds a CCIE in routing & switching, and has worked with Rockwell for 10 years creating the CPwE architectures and introducing Cisco technology into Industrial Networks.

Ed Garibian
President/CEO | LLumin, Inc

Technical Session: Condition Based Maintenance and Notification WorkFlow Using READYAsset and FactoryTalk

Edward Garibian is founder and CEO of LLumin, Inc. (formerly eRPortal), a leading asset and materials management software provider. Prior to LLumin, Mr. Garibian founded Applied Software Technologies, a New England area IT Solutions provider and held product-marketing positions at Analog Devices and engineering positions at Texas Instruments and EMC (formerly Data General).

Justin Grubka
Global Product Manager - Smart Services | Armstrong International

Lab: ISA 100 Wireless Workshop

Justin Grubka is the Global Product Manager for Armstrong International’s Smart Products Group. Previously, as a Solutions Specialist for Armstrong’s wireless products, he assisted customers in implementing, installing and utilizing wireless monitoring to improve their overall steam system efficiency. Justin now focuses on global sales strategies in markets around the world. He graduated from Western Michigan University with a degree in Supply Chain Management and earned his MBA from Spring Arbor University, Michigan.

Bruce Hall
Senior Electrical Solutions Engineer | Rockwell Automation

Technical Session: Integrating Power and Control

Bruce began as a facility/project engineer at Marathon Oil Company. During commissioning of an offshore gas compression platform, his responsibilities included design and implementation of a new power management system to integrate the new platform's power system into existing facilities. In 2017, Bruce joined Rockwell Automation as an Electrical Solution Engineer and reviews electrical system designs and integrates power system information into an overall control system. He received a BS cum laude in Electrical and Mechanical Engineering from Michigan Technological University.

Mark Hassman
Program Director | Crane Engineering Sales

Technical Session: Centerlining for Manufacturing Processes

Mark Hassman leads the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Project developing a Mobile Septage Treatment System for developing countries. Before that, Mark worked in the tissue industry for 30 years, improving iconic brands in the US and Europe, specializing in through-air-drying manufacturing.

Rodney Howard
Product Manager - Process Control | Werner Electric Supply

Demo: MiA Deep Dive

Rodney Howard, Process Product Manager at Werner Electric, has expertise in Process Solutions including hands-on training, programming, instrumentation, controls, DCS engineering, and electrical engineering. At Werner Electric, he has designed and teaches process control with our new state-of-the-art training device, MiA, which simulates automation process controls. Rodney’s certifications include Professional Control System Engineer with the State of Wisconsin, Automation Professional (CAP) and Education Chair of the Fox River Valley International Society of Automation (ISA), and certified PROFIBUS Network Engineer through PROFIBUS International. Prior to joining Werner Electric in 2016, Rodney was a Senior Project Engineer at WEC Energy Group, a Senior Control Specialist at Foth Production Systems, and an Electrical Engineer at a large brewery in the Pacific Northwest.

Dan Jacoby
Automation Solution Consultant | Malisko Engineering LLC

Technical Session: Industrial Network - The Backbone of Legacy Migrations

Dan spent most of his career working in the dairy manufacturing industry. He has knowledge of both sides of manufacturing, due to his roles in continuous improvement for a large dairy plant and providing automation consultations at Malisko Engineering. Dan’s career focuses on providing guidance to manufacturers in finding technology-based solutions to ever-evolving challenges.

Vaithianathan Jothi
Global Product Manager | Rockwell Automation

Technical Session: Intrinsic Safety Barriers & Signal Conditioners

VJ is the Global Product Manager for Intrinsic Safety Barriers and Signal Conditioners at Rockwell Automation. VJ has been with Rockwell for the last eight years supporting various products in the Industrial Components Business segment.

Peter Kaprielian
CTO | SyTech, Inc

Technical Session: Reporting Live from HMS eWON Flexy

Peter Kaprielian is a founder and Chief Technology Officer of SyTech, a company which provides software and analytic solutions for process automation. Peter has held senior technical management positions including HMI/SCADA and business systems since 1980. He holds a B.S. in Mathematics and Computer Science and a Ph.D in Mathematical Engineering from the University of Nottingham.

Mason Khan
Global Product Manager | Rockwell Automation

Technical Session: Designing Highly Reliable DC Powered Control Systems

Mason Khan is a Rockwell Automation Global Product Manager responsible for Supply of Power products. With 14 years of experience in industrial and process automation, he has experience as a systems design engineer, development engineer, project engineer and product manager. Mason holds an Electrical Engineering degree from Milwaukee School of Engineering and a Master’s Degree in Management from MSOE’s Rader School of Business.

Jason Kuhr
Product Manager - HMI and Software | Werner Electric Supply

Lab: ThinManager Basics

Jason Kuhr has been employed with Werner Electric for over 22 years and holds a technical degree in Automated Manufacturing Systems. In 1996, Jason was hired to work as a support technician to assist customers with Rockwell Automation product selection, system troubleshooting as well as teaching and developing technical training. In 2005, Jason was promoted to HMI and Software Product Specialist where his focus was set to more specialized technical sales and support of the software and operator interface products offered by Werner. In 2010, Jason was promoted to his current position of HMI and Software Product Manager.

Kyle Lindsay
Solutions Consultant | Rockwell Automation

Technical Session: Paper Mill Sees Clearly - the Benefit of a Single Pane of Glass

Kyle Lindsay is a Rockwell Automation Solutions Consultant for the System and Solutions Business in Process for Heavy Industries. He has broad experience in chemical engineering and process control in the Pulp, Paper and Bleaching industries and received a chemical engineering degree from North Carolina State.

Jennifer Mansfield
Product Marketing Manager - Embedded Analytics and Mobile App | Rockwell Automation

Technical Session: Getting Started with Embedded Analytics and Mobility

Jennifer joined Rockwell Automation as a certified Project Manager Professional, focusing on financial validity and justification for industrial automation projects. In her current role of Global Sales, she focuses on global industrial automation and the importance factors such as cost, reliability and obsolescence play. She supports customers in implementing data analysis and in becoming Smart Manufacturers or Smart Machine Builders. She holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Youngstown State University, Ohio, and is a member of the International Society of Automation (ISA).

Craig Moeller
Technical Sales Manager | ESE, Inc.

Technical Session: Faster Reaction Time with PlantPAx

Craig Moeller is a Technical Sales Manager at ESE, Inc. His industry experience includes pulp and paper, consumer products, and food and beverage. After ten years as an electrical engineer, he transitioned to business development to help clients spot inefficiencies in their process, create modernization plans for antiquated control hardware, and develop project charters for new process control systems. Craig holds a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from UW – Platteville.

Lawrence Ortner
Technical Support Manager | Werner Electric Supply

Lab: Using Alternate Programming Languages in the Logix Environment

Lawrence Ortner’s background in educational and instructional fields applies directly to his Technical Support Team Manager role at Werner Electric Supply for the past seven years. Prior to this managerial position, Lawrence worked directly with customer applications in the areas of PLC’s and networking at Werner Electric.

Nicholas Putman
Sr. Commercial Engineer | Rockwell Automation

Demo: ThinManager Overview

Nick works as a Senior Commercial Engineer for the Rockwell Automation ThinManager® product group. His primary responsibilities include pre- and post-sales support, technical advancement, and channel support. Prior to joining the ThinManager® team, Nick worked in the Characterization Lab helping to develop the PlantPAx Modern DCS. Nick holds an M.S. from the University of Michigan and a B.S. from Michigan State University, both in Mechanical Engineering.

Jim Ralston
Director of Channel Sales - Industrial Automation | Softing, Inc.

Technical Session: How to Design Mission Critical Data Collection using PLC/PAC Based SQL Database Modules

Jim Ralston has been assisting engineers with industrial network design and data architectures for over 25 years. In his current role as Director of Channel Sales - Industrial Automation for Softing, Jim focuses on OT/IT solutions, OPC-UA technologies and network troubleshooting tools.

Dale Reed
Principal Engineer | Rockwell Automation

Technical Session: The Six - Fundamental Control Strategies Every Control System Designer Must Know

Dale Reed is a Principal Engineer at Rockwell Automation working on the Library of Process Objects for the PlantPAx Distributed Control System. He is an ISA Certified Automation Professional, serves on the ISA Standards and Practices Board, and is an active member of the ISA 18, 101 and 106 committees.

Scott Retzlaff
Product Specialist - PLC & HMI | Werner Electric Supply

Lab: Introduction to the PlantPAx Distributed Control System for Operations and System Engineering

Scott Retzlaff, PLC & HMI Product Specialist at Werner Electric Supply, has 24 years of experience in the industrial automation industry. Scott’s past automation expertise contributes to the Werner Automation team by helping customers in the design, migration and implementation of all PLC and HMI hardware and software.

Bob Rice
VP of Engineering | Control Station

Technical Session: Find-It/Fix-It: Innovations for Isolating and Correcting Underperforming PID Controllers

As Control Station’s Vice President of Engineering, Bob serves as thought leader and chief product architect overseeing product development and engineering services. He has published extensively on topics such as automatic process control, including multi-variable process control and model predictive control. He has expertise in both model-based and advanced controls, including unstable and integrating processes. Bob has received numerous ISA awards and was recognized as Engineering Leader Under 40, by Control Engineering Magazine.

Danny Smith
Regional Sales Manager | ProSoft

Technical Session: Phased Modernization Tools and Techniques: Modernize on your Maintenance Budget

Danny Smith is the Regional Sales Manager at ProSoft Technology, responsible for the Upper Midwest. ProSoft supplies industrial communication solutions that enable dissimilar automation control equipment to share information and transfer data through wired and wireless connectivity. They enable the phased migration of control systems, and provide connectivity to remote equipment.

Todd Stauffer
Director - Alarm Management Services | Exida

Technical Session: Alarm Management: A Journey, Not a Destination

Todd Stauffer, Principal Engineer, is responsible for Exida’s alarm management business, including products, services, training, partnerships, marketing and business development. Todd is an editor and voting member of the ISA 18.2 Standards Committee on alarm management. He is editor of TR1, and Co-Chairman of TR3 and ISA 84.91.03 - Functional Safety of SCAI.

Tom Steffen
Solution Architect | Rockwell Automation

Technical Session: The Sequencing Continuum
Demo: Best Practices for PlantPAx: Proper Project Sizing, Add-On Instructions, Graphic Libraries

Tom Steffen is a Solution Architect for Rockwell Automation with over 35 years of experience in automation. Throughout his career, Tom has worked in a number of different industries helping customers achieve their automation goals by primarily focusing on process and operational improvements and utilizing information technologies.

John Tertin
Director of Sales | ESE, Inc.

Technical Session: Hitting Pay-Dirt with CIP

John Tertin is Director of Sales at ESE, Inc. With roots in power generation, he has spent the last 13 years in the sanitary process market. After ten years as a Process Control Engineer, he founded the Manufacturing Information Systems group within ESE to help customers realize the benefits of Smart Manufacturing and Industrial IT. John holds a bachelor’s degree in Computer Information Systems from UW – Stevens Point.

Weston Timmers
OEM Product Specialist | Werner Electric Supply

Lab: Using Alternative Programming Languages in the Logix Environment
Demo: Best Practices for PlantPAx: Proper Project Sizing, Add-On Instructions, Graphic Libraries

Weston Timmers began his career with Werner Electric in the Rockwell Technical Support group. Weston quickly advanced to a PLC/HMI Specialist and is currently an OEM Product Specialist. In 2017, Weston attended Rockwell Automation's Engineer in Training (EIT) program, which gave him deeper knowledge of the Rockwell Automation portfolio. He holds a degree in Computer Engineering from UW-Milwaukee.

Bob Voss
Senior Principal Engineer | Panduit Corporation

Technical Session: The Importance of Physical Infrastructure to Achieving a Connected Enterprise
Cyber Secuirty Discussion: Lunch, Day 1

Bob Voss is Senior Principal Engineer at the Panduit Jack E. Caveney Innovation Center. Bob has four decades of control engineering and industrial process applications experience ranging from technology leadership, to futurist activities for Industrial Automation, and executive support research. He chairs the ODVA EtherNet/IP Physical Layer SIG and represents Panduit before standards development organizations including, IEEE 802.3, TIA TR-42, IIC and NEMA. He is also a member of the Converged Plantwide Ethernet architecture team.

David Vukosich
Sr. Electrical Engineering - Pulp & Paper | Ahlstrom-Munksjo

Technical Session: Paper Mill Sees Clearly the Benefit of a Single Pane of Glass

David Vukosich serves as Senior Electrical Reliability Engineer for Expera's Kaukauna Pulp & Paper facility. As an OEM and Corporate Staff Engineer he provides equipment and solutions for environmental controls for the wastewater, automotive, pulp & paper, and graphic arts/commercial printing industries. With 18 years of experience, his knowledge extends from cradle to grave system engineering of network designs, installation, replacements and/or upgrading of control systems of various PLC platforms and Foxboro distributed controls systems. 

Steve Webster
Manager - Product Services and Solutions | Yokogawa

Demo: PRM Asset Management

Steve is currently Product Manager for Services and Solutions for North America at Yokogawa Corporation. For the past 25 years, his positions included applications engineering, project management, account management, business development, and service and technical sales in the fields of instrumentation and automation. He has instructed technology/engineering programs in instrumentation, measurement and control theory. His vast portfolio of professional licensures and certifications include electrical engineering, engineering technologist, measurement, control and automation sales professional, certified profibus PA professional and senior member of ISA.

Jerry Wenzel
Founder & Chief Knowledge Officer | Trident Automation

Technical Session: Leveraging Logix Based Combustion Control (CC) and Burner Management Systems (BMS)

Jerry has served as Lead Controls Engineer on numerous large process systems and has expertise in distributed control systems, process design, configuration and start up. He founded Trident Automation in 2002 after serving in multiple corporate positions. Jerry has developed Trident’s continually expanding base of engineers through training and mentoring programs. He holds an electrical engineering degree from Milwaukee School of Engineering.

Gregory Wilcox
Principal Application Engineer Strategic Development | Rockwell Automation

Technical Session: Transforming Traditional Industrial Networks to IoT Architectures
Cyber Security Discussion: Lunch, Day 1

As Principal Application Engineer for Strategic Development at Rockwell Automation, Gregory Wilcox leads a multi-company effort to establish tested and validated architectures to enable reliable and secure Industrial IoT and Industrial IT (OT-IT) architectures. He holds multiple Cisco network and security certifications and has 35+ years of experience in designing and implementing industrial automation networks and security solutions.

Kevin Zamzow
Manager, Field Instrument and Edge Solution Product Marketing | Yokogawa

Lab: ISA 100 Wireless Workshop

Kevin has over 20 years of industrial and utility automation experience. He led ProSoft Technology’s global wireless program and was a Smart Grid consultant at Power Systems Engineering before joining Yokogawa in 2015. Kevin earned a BS ChE and an MBA, both from UW-Madison.