With over 35 years of experience, Lee has held executive roles in companies such as Digital Equipment, Fluor Corporation, Rockwell International, and the Vincula Group. He has significantly contributed to business performance using cutting-edge technologies, including Business Innovation, Digital Transformation, and artificial intelligence (A.I.). Active in both local and international professional activities, Lee has chaired the Carolinas' Engineering Cluster, served as a Director on the IEEE Board of Directors, and participated in the IEEE Internet Initiative and Digital Transformation Standard as a Senior Member. Lee's specialties include Executive Management, Management Consulting, Strategic Partnerships, New Business Development, Business Process Improvement, Program Management, Internet of Things (IoT), Innovation, Start-Ups, Venture Capital, Engineering Management, Systems Integration, Cybersecurity, Electric and Connected Transportation, Manufacturing, Automation, Battery Technologies, artificial intelligence (A.I.) (AI), and Machine Learning (ML).

With more than 35 years of experience in executive roles, engineering management, and project management, Ray Sheen has collaborated with GE, the US Air Force, and served as an independent consultant specializing in innovation and digital transformation. He possesses multiple engineering degrees and holds a graduate certificate in Digital Leadership and Strategy. His expertise encompasses the management and implementation of technologies across various industries and business functions, including marketing, engineering, manufacturing, service, IT, and finance. As a Fellow at the Institute for Digital Transformation, he focuses on Digital Changeover. This involves evaluating opportunities, developing strategies, identifying projects, partners, and suppliers, and providing coaching, consulting, and training. Mr. Sheen assists companies in creating and executing digital processes to enhance efficiency and achieve cost savings.

Dale Scott has over 35 years of experience in the IT field, specializing in enterprise change management, software development management, and startups of IT organizations, data centers, and infrastructure. Their experience spans a wide variety of industries, including manufacturing, logistics, international trade, process and product engineering, Artificial Intelligence (AI), environmental management, and law enforcement. Mr. Scott possess a combination of technical understanding, soft skills, and practical experience, enabling them to guide clients smoothly through transitions into new systems, infrastructure, and operational changes. Their commercial background includes work at Hewlett-Packard, Compaq, Digital Equipment, S.A.I.C., and Northrop Grumman. They have also collaborated with the United States Air Force, State Department, DOE, and USPS. Mr. Scott is certified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM) and a fellow-level certification in Production Activity Control.

Col. Christopher Bourne served as an infantry officer during a 28-year active-duty career. Their service included command at every level, numerous overseas deployments, and combat operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. In their final assignment, they served as Chief Training Officer and Chief Technology Officer at a major command, overseeing advanced training, wargaming, simulations, and the experimentation and fielding process for new equipment, tactics, and operational procedures. After leaving active duty, they helped launch a Washington, DC-based consulting practice providing business development and federal marketing services. They joined the Department of Housing and Urban Development as a Senior Policy Advisor to Secretary Carson in June 2017. They conceived and formed the Office of Innovation, becoming the Department's first Deputy Assistant Secretary for Innovation. Col. Bourne hold a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Boston University, a master’s degree in military studies from the Marine Corps Command and Staff College, and a master's degree in National Security Strategy from the National War College in Washington, DC.

Keith Plemmons combines career and education experiences to engage a broad spectrum of organizational levels, providing solutions to technical, complex, and often complicated situations. With a background in engineering, systems, and project management, Mr. Plemmons possesses expertise in the complete project life cycle, from initiation to startup, turnover, and commissioning. Keith thrives in challenging situations, guiding projects and project teams to deliver valued results. Their dedication to building people (reskilling), delivering value, and serving the community underscores his commitment to maintaining positive momentum and making the world a better place. Mr. Plemmons is an Adjunct faculty member of the University of South Carolina where he teaches “Management of Engineering Projects”. He is also an Associate Professor at The Citadel School of Engineering.

Dr. Yu Yuan is a veteran researcher and practitioner in Consumer Electronics, Transportation, and the Internet of Things. They founded Senses Global Corporation, a multinational technology company specializing in Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, Human Augmentation, and Smart Robots. Previously, he served as the president of CATE Global, a think tank providing world-class expertise to clients and projects globally. They were also the CEO of Motiveware Technology, developing technologies and standards for mobile internet, location-based services, connected vehicles, drones, and 3D printing. Earlier in their career, he worked as a research scientist at IBM Research and was a key contributor to the IBM IoT Technology Center. They have extensive experience in the patent process and invention development, having filed numerous patents and received multiple IBM Invention Achievement and High Value Patent awards. Dr. Yu Yuan has published extensively in referred conferences and journals and have organized many major conferences as general chair or program chair.

Dr. Lee is a principal consultant at TechIPm LLC, a consulting and incubating firm specializing in digital technology innovation and IP development. They are also the founder of the ESG Digital Transformation (ESGDX) Forum. Their current focus includes applications of digital/information technology—such as metaverse, digital twins, AI, blockchain, and IoT—for ESG sustainability management and investing, providing innovative frameworks and solutions for sustainable enterprise development. With nearly 30 years of experience, he is a technology innovation and strategy professional with expertise in high technology fields such as digital/software technology, telecommunications, information technology, semiconductor electronics, and cybersecurity. He has had experience in the roles of researcher, university professor, government official, business executive, and legal expert in the US and South Korea. They hold a Ph.D. in Physics from Johns Hopkins University, a J.D. from Suffolk University Law School, and a Strategy and Innovation Certificate from the MIT Sloan School of Management Executive Program. They are a New York State attorney, US patent attorney, and Certified Licensing Professional (CLP).

Dr. Taiber is the CTO of the International Transportation Innovation Center (ITIC), a non-profit organization. They focus on developing and applying innovative methods for system validation in connected, automated, shared, and sustainable mobility, collaborating with industrial and academic partners. Born and raised in Germany, they received their master’s degree in mechanical engineering from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETHZ) in 1991 and completed their PhD in Technical Sciences in 1996. They initiated a global consortium for designing and operating smart mobility testbeds led by SAE International (International Alliance for Mobility Testing and Standardization - IAMTS). Dr. Taiber develops, implements, and operates mobility testbeds at national and international scales. He is also engaging in developing new mobility-related businesses through his private venture practice. Dr. Taiber continues to serve as an adjunct professor at Clemson University’s CU-ICAR and act as a smart mobility advisor for the IOTA Foundation (blockchain and distributed ledger technologies).

Manuel Vexler is the Executive Director of AKFI, a global nonprofit specializing in ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) challenges and the integration of sustainability and digital transformation. He also instructs business management at Cornell University, focusing on sustainability, 5G innovation, Blockchain, and digital transformation. They have tutored over 1,300 business managers and executives from over 50 nations at Cornell. He holds a Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering - Medical Electronics (MSc.EE) from the University of Iasi, Romania, a Network Engineering and Management Certificate from the University of Toronto, and an Executive Marketing Certificate from Queen's University, Kingston, Canada. More recently, he earned three certificates in System Thinking, Digital Transformation, and Intrapreneurship from Cornell University, NY.

Dr. Tom Coughlin, President of Coughlin Associates, has over 36 years of experience in the data storage industry, they have held engineering and management positions at high-profile companies. He is a widely respected digital storage analyst and a business and technology consultant. In 2024, Dr. Coughlin served as the IEEE President. He is also a fellow of the IEEE, Member of IEEE-HKN, Chair of the 2011 IEEE Sections Congress, past director of IEEE Region 6 and Past-President of IEEE-USA. He is one of the founding members of the SNIA Solid State Storage Initiative (now part of the Compute, Memory and Storage Initiative), an active member of SMPTE and has been active in IDEMA. His expertise includes Hard Disk Drives (HDDs), Solid State Drives (SSDs), Magnetic Tape, Storage Area Network (SAN), Network Attached Storage (NAS), Cloud Storage, Professional Services, Software as a Service (SaaS), Business Alliances, and Business Development. With a strong technical background, they hold a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Shinshu University.

Robert Fields is the CEO of PivotSC and a board member of several startup IoT companies. He is also the founder of ETS CROUP Company Inc., a group of nine companies engaged in developing and manufacturing medical devices, sports products and sensor devices which collectively hold five patents. With 30 years of turn-around and startup experience in textiles, sensors, and IoT projects, they have been involved in all aspects of product and business development, particularly in privately held companies. As a developer of several industrial parks in the Southeast, they possess a unique international network that provides access to new ideas and products. They attend CES annually to stay updated on industry trends. Robert’s educational background includes an economics degree from Duke University (1976) and a banking certificate from Campbell College (1977). They have previously held Series 7, 63, and 39 security licenses and have been a member of Rotary since 1979.

Barbara Lange is the Principal and CEO of Kibo121, a boutique consultancy firm focused on guiding media tech companies toward sustainability. She completed 12 successful years at SMPTE, a global professional association that supports the technical framework and professional community making quality motion imaging available in various media formats. Ms. Lange has been an invited speaker on sustainability at industry events the NAB Show, SVG (Sports Video Group), IBC, SMPTE, and SMW (Streaming Media West). She is actively engaged in the industry groups developing a greener future in media, including Greening of Streaming, SMPTE’s working group on sustainability in media in the cloud. Lange serves as the program manager for the NAB Show’s Excellence in Sustainability Awards and co-founded the Media Tech Sustainability Summit. She is a member of the International Society of Sustainability Professionals (ISSP). Holding a BA in Chemistry and German from Washington and Jefferson College, Barbara also completed the Executive Development Program at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. Recognized for her leadership by Washington & Jefferson College, the IEEE, StudioDaily50, and with TV Newscheck’s 2020 Woman in Technology Award. In 2021, Ms. Lange was honored by TVB Europe as a Technology Leader to Watch and received the 2021 Tech Leadership Award from Broadcast & Cable .

Rebecca Stogner is a seasoned Management Accountant based in Greenville, South Carolina, this professional works with a contract packaging company in Upstate South Carolina. She holds a Certificate in Management Accounting and a Master's in Business Administration. With over 35 years of accounting experience across various industries, she offers a valuable financial perspective to the technical and academic teams they collaborate with.

Jim Frazer is a senior leader in the areas of IoT, Intelligent Transportation Systems, and Smart City business cases and applications. He is a systems engineering process domain expert with a focus on the complete project lifecycle, from defining stakeholder user needs to developing functional requirements and comprehensive test plans. Mr. Frazer is the founder of Gridaptive Consulting, which delivers impactful solutions in the IoT, Smart City, and Intelligent Transportation domains. His experience includes managing the systems engineering process for complex projects to design educational programs that empower industry professionals. Jim thrives on mentoring teams, launching innovative products, and building strong relationships that drive business growth. With a BSME in Mechanical Engineering from Rutgers University and an MBA in Strategic Management from Rider University, they bring a blend of technical expertise and strategic vision to every challenge.

Chris Tisdel is the Founder of Ruckus Innovation Consulting and holds a Master of Architecture. With over 25 years of experience, they have worked with a diverse range of organizations as designer, researcher, innovator, consultant, and strategic advisors. They assist global companies in generating, prioritizing, and implementing breakthrough ideas that offer tangible business value. His consultancy guides individuals and organizations through the journey of innovation using experienced facilitation, research-informed visual and design-thinking methodologies, vision and value prototyping, implementation strategies, and collaboration workshops. They have facilitated over 300 workshops with organizations such as IKEA, Disney, Fluor, 3M, and BP. As a startup founder, they have successfully launched and exited from three endeavors: AOBIM (2014), BIM Enterprises (2013), and SMART Modern Architecture (2011).

Peter Corcoran is an academic, an entrepreneur, an industry consultant, an expert witness, and a prolific inventor. With almost 30 years of experience as a Professor in Electrical & Electronic Engineering, they were elevated to IEEE Fellow in 2010 for their contributions to digital camera technology. He co-founded FotoNation in 2003, which is now a key business division of Xperi Corporation. Dr. Corcoran is a named inventor on more than 300 granted US patents and has actively participated in the drafting and prosecution of over 200 original patent disclosures. Their primary industry consulting activity is as an advisor on Intellectual Property matters. As an active researcher and technologist, they have more than 15,000 citations and a career h-index of 83 on Google Scholar (with a 5-year h-index of 57).

Dave McNamara professional has extensive experience in manufacturing, energy, enterprise software, and transportation. Recent accomplishments include the creation and management of South Carolina's funding and support of technology-based innovation, presenting the publication "Commercialization of Innovation: Considerations for the Researcher" to the National Academy of Science, and authoring a white paper titled "Blueprint for Technology-Based Economic Development," which has been utilized by several South Carolina city mayors to develop their innovation initiatives. With a background in sales and marketing, complemented by CPA and industrial engineering experience, Dave brings a comprehensive approach to situation analysis and solution creation. His forte is improving processes, especially as they relate to customer-facing activities such as business development, new product launches, sales management and customer service.

Soumya Kanti Datta is a Research Engineer working broadly on the generation of new ideas, development, and standardization of next-gen technologies such as IoT, Web of Things, Cybersecurity, Cloud, and Mobile apps. They are responsible for developing the EURECOM IoT Platform, which supports IoT common service functions. Soumya lead a team that has developed Digiotouch AI, a Generative AI-powered automation tool for improving productivity and managing meeting transcription, translation, and summary generation. In a world increasingly shaped by hybrid work dynamics, they provide real-time, accurate transcription and translation services that transcend language barriers, coupled with intelligent summaries and actionable insights, all while maintaining paramount security and data privacy principles. His paramount skills include Artificial Intelligence (AI), Cloud Computing, Entrepreneurship, Business Development and Cybersecurity.