Himanshu Rajak is a Project Associate at the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Mohali, and an AI/ML researcher with a background in Computer Science and Engineering. His experience spans the foundations of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning to emerging deep-tech areas including Generative AI, Computer Vision, Graph Neural Networks and Quantum Machine Learning.

His technical work covers the AI/ML pipeline, from mathematical foundations, data processing and classical machine learning to deep learning, Large Language Models, multimodal AI and hybrid quantum-classical machine learning. He has hands-on experience with Python, PyTorch, TensorFlow, Qiskit and PennyLane, and has worked on research and projects involving medical imaging, graph-based learning, generative models and intelligent AI applications.

Alongside his research and technical work, Himanshu currently mentors a postgraduate certification program in Artificial Intelligence at C-DAC. The program is a six-month, national-level certification course focused on developing practical and industry-relevant skills in AI and Machine Learning. He actively teaches and mentors learners across programming, Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Generative AI, LLMs and emerging AI technologies.

He is particularly interested in bridging the gap between fundamental AI concepts and cutting-edge deep-tech research, making complex technical ideas accessible through practical demonstrations, experimentation and hands-on learning.

Himanshu Rajak is a Project Associate at the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Mohali, and an AI/ML researcher with a background in Computer Science and Engineering. His experience spans the foundations of Artificial Intelligence ... Show more

Magesh T. Rajan, Ph.D., P.E., MBA, is Vice President for Research & Innovation at Prairie View A&M University, where he leads the university’s research, innovation and economic development enterprise. His leadership has focused on expanding research capacity, strengthening faculty competitiveness and creating pathways that connect students to research, mentorship and workforce opportunities. Under his leadership, PVAMU achieved Carnegie R2 classification, expanded undergraduate and graduate research opportunities and developed programs such as Faculty RISE and Panther RISE to support faculty scholarship and student engagement. Dr. Rajan is a licensed Professional Engineer, professor and higher education executive whose work centers on building institutional systems that strengthen research excellence, student success and long-term public impact.

Magesh T. Rajan, Ph.D., P.E., MBA, is Vice President for Research & Innovation at Prairie View A&M University, where he leads the university’s research, innovation and economic development enterprise. His leadership has focused on expanding research ... Show more

Analytical thinker driven by fast-paced learning platforms in higher education with a significant experience of over five years in statistical modeling and quantitative data analyses utilizing R, SPSS, Excel, Tableau, Power Bi, MPlus, AMOS, Dbeaver, and SAS

Experienced in qualitative research methodologies including leading and participating in multisite collaborations and liaison responsibilities

Analytical thinker driven by fast-paced learning platforms in higher education with a significant experience of over five years in statistical modeling and quantitative data analyses utilizing R, SPSS, Excel, Tableau, Power Bi, MPlus, AMOS, Dbeaver, ... Show more

Marshall Wilmot serves as Deputy Assistant Director of Systems Support for the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS), where he provides leadership for systems and initiatives supporting Arizona’s Medicaid eligibility and enrollment operations. His work spans current eligibility systems, operational improvement, systems governance, and the modernization efforts preparing AHCCCS for the next generation of eligibility technology.
Marshall began his career in Arizona state service as an Eligibility Worker in 1990. After several years working in Arizona’s public assistance programs, he continued his career in South Florida as a Medicare Advantage plans contractor. He returned to AHCCCS in 2011 and subsequently helped develop and implement Health-e-Arizona Plus (HEAplus), Arizona’s integrated eligibility application and processing system.
Over the course of his career, Marshall has combined frontline eligibility experience with systems, operational, project, and leadership roles. He remains actively engaged in professional organizations supporting eligibility and public assistance professionals and is committed to developing future leaders, strengthening partnerships, and modernizing the systems that support the people Arizona serves.

Marshall Wilmot serves as Deputy Assistant Director of Systems Support for the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS), where he provides leadership for systems and initiatives supporting Arizona’s Medicaid eligibility and enrollment o... Show more

Wanda Suila Ruth is a finance professional, community development leader, digital inclusion advocate and the Founder of Wanda's Legacy Foundation, a youth led organization dedicated to advancing menstrual health, gender equality, and digital dignity for girls and women in Cameroon.

Since 2020, she has led programs such as One Girl, One Sanitary Pad and the LEVEL UP trainings, reaching over 7,000+ people across the Center, Littoral, South West, and North West regions of Cameroon. Her work also addresses technology-facilitated gender-based violence and promotes safe digital spaces for young women.
Under her leadership, Wanda's Legacy Foundation was awarded the REDVOCATE Award 2025 from the International Menstrual Hygiene Coalition.

Wanda believes that, when girls are empowered and informed, the entire community rises, and she works daily to make that a reality in Cameroon.

Wanda Suila Ruth is a finance professional, community development leader, digital inclusion advocate and the Founder of Wanda's Legacy Foundation, a youth led organization dedicated to advancing menstrual health, gender equality, and digital dignity ... Show more

Sean Bugler leads innovation and experience efforts for the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, reimagining how teams work, share, and get things done. With a background in collaboration tech and passion for untangling legacy constraints, he works with teams to move past the status quo and toward smarter, more human ways of working. An alum of Arizona State University’s Technological Entrepreneurship & Management program, he now helps shape its future as an industry advisor.

Sean Bugler leads innovation and experience efforts for the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, reimagining how teams work, share, and get things done. With a background in collaboration tech and passion for untangling legacy constraints, he work... Show more

Jazmin Johnson is a higher education professional, supervisor, and leadership educator with experience in residence life, student leadership development, fraternity and sorority advising, and organizational effectiveness. She currently serves as a Residence Life Coordinator at the University of South Carolina, where she oversees residential communities, supervises student staff, manages crisis response, and designs educational initiatives that help students build the skills needed for success both inside and outside the classroom.

Passionate about developing emerging professionals, Jazmin enjoys creating engaging presentations that bridge theory and practice. Her sessions focus on supervision, managing up, accountability, leadership development, communication, and building healthy workplace cultures. She is particularly interested in equipping entry-level professionals with practical strategies for navigating organizational dynamics, advocating for themselves, and leading effectively regardless of their title.

Outside of her professional role, Jazmin advises collegiate members of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., mentors emerging leaders, and combines her background in software engineering with student affairs to create innovative systems that improve organizational operations and engagement.

Whether facilitating a conference session, leading a workshop, or mentoring one-on-one, Jazmin strives to create learning experiences that are interactive, actionable, and immediately applicable. Her goal is for every participant to leave with greater confidence, practical tools, and a clearer understanding of how to lead with authenticity, purpose, and impact.

Jazmin Johnson is a higher education professional, supervisor, and leadership educator with experience in residence life, student leadership development, fraternity and sorority advising, and organizational effectiveness. She currently serves as a Re... Show more

Dr. Allison Alimayu is a public interest futurist, keynote speaker, and founder of Alimayu Studio. Her work sits where decisions about children and families are actually made: in how health care is paid for, in the votes of public boards, and in the evidence that funders and regulators accept.

She spent more than a decade in managed care at UnitedHealthcare and DaVita Integrated Care, where she designed a five-state value-based reimbursement program that averaged $8.5 million in monthly savings. She was elected to the Nevada Board of Regents in 2012, served a six-year term including as vice chair, and later ran for US Congress. The US Secretary of Health and Human Services appointed her to the Medicare Evidence Development and Coverage Advisory Committee, and in 2026 she joined the North Carolina Oil and Gas Commission.

She holds a PhD in biomedical informatics from Rutgers University, taught at Tufts University School of Medicine, and was a 2025 to 2026 Fulbright US Scholar at Research Ireland. She has delivered more than 200 keynotes, panels, trainings, and media appearances, including TEDx Carlow College, Fox News, and the CNN post-debate spin room. She published earlier work as Allison Stephens.

Dr. Allison Alimayu is a public interest futurist, keynote speaker, and founder of Alimayu Studio. Her work sits where decisions about children and families are actually made: in how health care is paid for, in the votes of public boards, and in the ... Show more

As an Assistant Director of Residence Life, Corey helps provide direction and leadership in the daily operations of housing and residence life alongside the other Assistant Directors. He directly supervises the Residence Life Coordinators and Assistant Residence Life Coordinators in Osprey Fountains, The Flats at UNF and Osprey Ridge Residence Hall. He also serves as a member of the Housing and Residence Life Senior Leadership team.

As an Assistant Director of Residence Life, Corey helps provide direction and leadership in the daily operations of housing and residence life alongside the other Assistant Directors. He directly supervises the Residence Life Coordinators and Assista... Show more

Dr Andrea Kennel studied computer science at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETH) and added a PhD in computer science. In her more than 25 years of professional experience, she has always combined practice and teaching. Since 2014, Andrea is a lecturer a lecturer at the University of Applied Sciences Brugg/Windisch (www.fhnw.ch), where she is responsible for database lectures in computer science and data science. She also supervises bachelor theses and project teams that implement customer projects. In addition, she runs her own company, which she founded in 2005 (www.infokennel.ch). In this function she worked and still works mainly in Oracle DWH projects as Lead Data Architect and as developer or project manager. She regularly gives presentations at conferences and writes articles.

Dr Andrea Kennel studied computer science at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETH) and added a PhD in computer science. In her more than 25 years of professional experience, she has always combined practice and teaching. Since 201... Show more

Natalie Crüe is a cultural producer, consultant, Global Hip-Hop connoisseur, and activist. Natalie sees arts and culture as a vehicle for social change - spearheading various cultural, brand, and social impact initiatives around the globe that aim to foster civic engagement, spark dialogue, and amplify communities.

She co-developed the Metaverse Music Festival aka MVMF, the first global music festival rooted in the metaverse; Co-produces Huellas Festival in Southern Spain; and contributes to a number of DAOs and creative communities in the Web3 ecosystem. Recently, she founded Web3 Uncut -- a dynamic tech lab building micro experiments to support creators on chain and a newsletter centering Web3 arts & culture.

You can find her on Twitter and Instagram @NatalieCrue.

Natalie Crüe is a cultural producer, consultant, Global Hip-Hop connoisseur, and activist. Natalie sees arts and culture as a vehicle for social change - spearheading various cultural, brand, and social impact initiatives around the globe that aim to... Show more

Mumshad Mannambeth is the founder of KodeKloud, a pioneering EdTech platform dedicated to teaching Cloud Native and DevOps technologies. His approach has empowered millions of students worldwide to master essential skills in cloud native. Mumshad is committed to advancing Cloud Native education and fostering a community of continuous learning and innovation.

Mumshad Mannambeth is the founder of KodeKloud, a pioneering EdTech platform dedicated to teaching Cloud Native and DevOps technologies. His approach has empowered millions of students worldwide to master essential skills in cloud native. Mumshad is ... Show more

Jack Qian is the founder of AI Man Jack, a Dallas company that runs hands-on AI training for business teams. He teaches non-technical employees and leaders to use ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Claude and Grok on work they already do, with clear rules for checking the output and keeping sensitive data out of AI tools.

In 2026 he hosted six community AI sessions in Dallas and Plano (309 sign-ups), ran a 37-person AI hackathon, and was the invited featured speaker at a DFW IT Association fireside chat. By day he is a business planner at a Dallas semiconductor company, so every workflow he teaches is one he runs on his own job first. He also writes Real Agent Use Cases, a weekly newsletter on the AI agents working professionals actually use.

Jack speaks in English or Chinese, onsite in Dallas–Fort Worth or online.

Jack Qian is the founder of AI Man Jack, a Dallas company that runs hands-on AI training for business teams. He teaches non-technical employees and leaders to use ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Claude and Grok on work they already do, with clear rules f... Show more

Yev Malichevskyy is a Lisbon-based impact facilitator, event host, and founder of Evolution Tribe (https://evolution-tribe.lovable.app/).

With over 8+ years of experience and having designed and facilitated more than 300+ dialogue workshops, men's circles, team buildings, and retreats (running weekly for over 2.5 years straight), Yev specializes in transforming conversational friction and social isolation into psychological safety, team clarity, and collective ownership.

Operating at the crossroads of human well-being, technology, and intentional culture, Yev speaks and facilitates on:
• The Attention Diet: Reclaiming human depth and focus in an age of algorithmic burnout and digital overstimulation.
• Psychological Safety & Tension-to-Clarity: How leadership teams navigate difficult dialogues without avoidance.
• Intentional Living & Culture Alignment: Moving from reactive hustle into grounded presence and sustainable high performance.

Yev brings an electric, vulnerable, and grounded presence to conferences, executive retreats, and founder summits across Europe.

Yev Malichevskyy is a Lisbon-based impact facilitator, event host, and founder of Evolution Tribe (https://evolution-tribe.lovable.app/). With over 8+ years of experience and having designed and facilitated more than 300+ dialogue workshops, men's... Show more

I build systems for curriculum management, program approvals, and academic operations. Thirteen years inside a public college taught me where those processes break, and the last three and a half have gone into rebuilding them on the Microsoft Power Platform.

Most of that work is in Dataverse and model-driven apps, taken from discovery and data modelling through to build, deployment, and ultimately governance in the Power Platform admin centre.

I run Busilla Business Solutions, a consulting practice for colleges and universities.

I build systems for curriculum management, program approvals, and academic operations. Thirteen years inside a public college taught me where those processes break, and the last three and a half have gone into rebuilding them on the Microsoft Power P... Show more

From Dirt Road to Mental Health Priest: Turning Pain Into Purpose and Adversity Into Success

Dr. Patrice Shavone Brown is a dynamic motivational speaker, mental health leader, accomplished entrepreneur, author, and founder and CEO of Restoring Bodies and Minds LLC, a nationally accredited mental health services organization based in North Carolina.

Her extraordinary journey from poverty, single motherhood, and humble beginnings on a dirt road to becoming a successful business owner, author, and real estate investor is a powerful example of resilience, faith, determination, and personal transformation.

With more than 14 years of leadership in the mental health industry, Dr. Brown has dedicated her career to helping individuals overcome emotional challenges, identify barriers to success, establish meaningful goals, and restore their lives. Under her leadership, Restoring Bodies and Minds LLC has maintained national accreditation since 2013, providing services that promote mental wellness, recovery, personal independence, and community integration.

Beyond the mental health industry, Dr. Brown has built an impressive entrepreneurial portfolio that includes ownership of more than 15 real estate properties. She is also the author of seven books, including Secrets of a Crazy Mental Health Counselor and Restoring Bodies and Minds: By Identifying the Issues and Setting Goals. Through her writing, she explores mental health, family relationships, personal struggles, spiritual healing, and the importance of setting goals to achieve lasting success.

As a speaker, Dr. Brown combines personal storytelling, professional mental health experience, humor, authenticity, and practical strategies to inspire audiences to transform their lives. Her signature presentation, "From Dirt Road to Mental Health Priest," reveals how she overcame financial hardship, societal expectations, family challenges, and personal adversity to build a meaningful career and lasting legacy.

She is especially passionate about empowering women, single mothers, entrepreneurs, mental health professionals, and individuals who have experienced rejection, setbacks, or difficult beginnings.

Her presentations challenge audiences to move beyond survival, recognize their worth, strengthen emotional resilience, develop confidence, and take intentional steps toward personal and professional achievement.

Dr. Brown is available for keynote presentations, mental health conferences, women's leadership summits, corporate wellness events, entrepreneurship conferences, educational institutions, and community empowerment programs.

Her message is powerful and universal:

"Your past may explain where you started, but it does not have the authority to determine where you finish. Identify the issue, set the goal, and restore your life."

Dr. Patrice Shavone Brown — Credentials, Honors & Speaking Experience

Academic and Professional Credentials

Master of Arts in Forensic Psychology

Bachelor's Degree in Psychology

Associate of Applied Science (AAS)

Qualified Professional (QP) — Mental Health

Mental Health Leader and Life Transformation Coach

Founder and CEO, Restoring Bodies and Minds LLC

Leadership of a CARF International-accredited behavioral health organization

Awards, Honors and Recognition

2019 Women Worth Watching Award Winner — Healthcare Leadership

2026 P.O.W.E.R. (Professional Organization of Women of Excellence Recognized) — Mental Health Care recognition and membership

2026 VoyageRaleigh Magazine — Featured Entrepreneur and Mental Health Leader

Recognized in a published mental health coaching industry feature

Selected Speaking Engagements

Girls Who Brunch — Guest Speaker

Everything Girls — Guest Speaker

She Rises for Women — Women's Empowerment Speaker

Fat Girls Conference — Confidence and Empowerment Speaker

The BookFest, Spring 2021 — Mental Health and Physical Wellness Panelist

Professional Accomplishments

Founder of Restoring Bodies and Minds LLC, established in 2011

Mental health service experience dating to 2003

Author of seven books

Founder of the Confident Fat Girls Movement

Entrepreneur and real estate investor with a portfolio of more than 15 properties

Areas of Speaking Expertise

Mental Health and Wellness | Women's Empowerment | Leadership | Entrepreneurship | Body Confidence | Resilience | Personal Transformation | Healing and Goal Setting

From Dirt Road to Mental Health Priest: Turning Pain Into Purpose and Adversity Into Success Dr. Patrice Shavone Brown is a dynamic motivational speaker, mental health leader, accomplished entrepreneur, author, and founder and CEO of Restoring Bo... Show more

Edney "InterNey" Souza has worked in technology since 1990 and is one of the leading voices on Artificial Intelligence in Brazil. In 2026 he was named one of the 30 most influential voices in AI in Brazil by the Pulso 2026/2027 study.

He is a professor at ESPM, Insper, PUCRS, USP and IBGC (Brazilian Institute of Corporate Governance), where he teaches AI for boards of directors. He writes a column for InfoMoney and is the author of the Amazon best seller "Engenharia de Prompts na Pratica" (Prompt Engineering in Practice).

He delivers keynotes and in-company training for Vivo, Bayer, Vale, JBS, Pirelli, MetLife, Volkswagen and SAP, spoke on the main stage of RD Summit 2025 for 5,000 people and leads executive delegations to SXSW and VivaTech. He collaborates remotely with STURM und DRANG (Hamburg) and Start2 Group (Munich). Talks in English, Portuguese and Spanish on AI for business, AI governance, AI productivity, data culture and cybersecurity for leaders.

Edney "InterNey" Souza has worked in technology since 1990 and is one of the leading voices on Artificial Intelligence in Brazil. In 2026 he was named one of the 30 most influential voices in AI in Brazil by the Pulso 2026/2027 study. He is a prof... Show more

DeAnna Pellecchia is a professional dancer, choreographer, educator, and Founder and Artistic Director of Boston-based KAIROS Dance Theater. For more than 25 years, she has built a career in professional dance—an industry defined by rejection, financial uncertainty, physical risk, public exposure, criticism, and constant change. Along the way, she founded KAIROS Dance Theater from the ground up, building an organization, an ensemble, an audience, and a body of work without a roadmap or any guarantee that the next risk would pay off.

A faculty member at Boston University and New England Conservatory, Pellecchia has performed and taught internationally, developing an interdisciplinary practice rooted in collaboration, somatic awareness, and human connection.

For more than two decades, she has also danced with horses, exploring the extraordinary relationship between fear, trust, communication, and the limits of control. Working with a thousand-pound animal demands presence, clarity, adaptability, and the willingness to respond to what is actually happening rather than what we expect or intend.

Today, Pellecchia brings these experiences to audiences through three presentations: Dancing With Fear: The Courage to Move Before You're Ready, Collaboration in Motion, and Deep Listening & Leadership. Drawing on a lifetime of creative risk-taking, organizational leadership, and embodied practice, she offers a distinctive perspective on navigating uncertainty, strengthening communication, building trust, and finding the courage to act before the outcome is known.

DeAnna Pellecchia is a professional dancer, choreographer, educator, and Founder and Artistic Director of Boston-based KAIROS Dance Theater. For more than 25 years, she has built a career in professional dance—an industry defined by rejection, financ... Show more

With over 20 years of enterprise Java experience, Frederieke has seen (and probably debugged) it all, from legacy monoliths to reactive messaging systems and the occasional front-end adventure. She’s especially interested in how Domain-Driven Design and reactive principles can help teams build systems that are both robust and adaptable.

Frederieke enjoys helping people grow, whether that’s through mentoring, improving team practices, or just asking the right questions. Outside of work, she’s an active contributor to the Java Meetup in Groningen (NL), where she shares ideas and learns from colleagues in her local community.

When she’s not coding or speaking, you’ll likely find her out on a trail. She once hiked the Grand Canyon and is always looking for the next adventure.

With over 20 years of enterprise Java experience, Frederieke has seen (and probably debugged) it all, from legacy monoliths to reactive messaging systems and the occasional front-end adventure. She’s especially interested in how Domain-Driven Design ... Show more

Mike Gifford is an open standards and practices lead at CivicActions and a thought leader on digital accessibility in the public sector. He is also a W3C Invited Expert and recognized authoring tool accessibility expert.

Previously, he was the Founder and President of OpenConcept Consulting Inc., a web development agency specializing in building open source solutions for the open web. Mike has served as a Drupal Core Accessibility Maintainer in 2012.

Mike Gifford is an open standards and practices lead at CivicActions and a thought leader on digital accessibility in the public sector. He is also a W3C Invited Expert and recognized authoring tool accessibility expert. Previously, he was the Fou... Show more

Muskan Kashyap is a B.Tech CSE Second year Student as well as startup and community enthusiast with experience across founder’s office operations, sales development, outreach, and community building. She has worked as a Sales Development Representative at GoDigitify and in founder’s office roles at Peggy Ice Cream and CN8 at Indian School of Buisness ( ISB ), where she is currently gaining exposure to the startup ecosystem.

Beyond her internship experiences, Muskan is actively involved in community outreach and networking, serving as an ambassador for GFG, Reskill, and Innovation Mission Punjab and Gemini, while contributing to community engagement and relationship-building initiatives. She enjoys connecting people, initiating conversations, building meaningful professional relationships, and exploring opportunities at the intersection of technology, entrepreneurship, and community growth.

Passionate about helping people step beyond their comfort zones, Muskan believes that communication, curiosity, and the courage to reach out can open doors to opportunities that go beyond a resume

Muskan Kashyap is a B.Tech CSE Second year Student as well as startup and community enthusiast with experience across founder’s office operations, sales development, outreach, and community building. She has worked as a Sales Development Representat... Show more

I'm a Project Manager with a track record of delivering large-scale, complex programs in high-stakes environments — currently driving technology modernization at New York State's Integrated Eligibility System, one of the most operationally complex programs in state government.
I thrive at the intersection of people, process, and technology. Whether I'm aligning a room of executives, untangling a dependency across 13 vendors, or building the data infrastructure that gives leadership real-time visibility — I bring the clarity and structure that keeps programs on track.
My work spans program strategy, stakeholder alignment, cross-functional team leadership, and delivery governance. I believe the best project managers don't just manage schedules — they build the systems, culture, and communication that let great teams do their best work.

I'm a Project Manager with a track record of delivering large-scale, complex programs in high-stakes environments — currently driving technology modernization at New York State's Integrated Eligibility System, one of the most operationally complex pr... Show more

Charles Sieg is a software engineer, cloud architect, inventor, author, and founder and CEO of Renkara Media Group. He is the sole inventor on 51 filed U.S. provisional patent applications covering adaptive learning, knowledge synthesis, and assessment. His experience spans enterprise software, mobile applications, and cloud infrastructure, with consulting work for organizations including General Motors, American Airlines, Pearson Education, and Moderna. He shipped the original AccelaStudy on the App Store’s opening day in 2008 and grew Renkara's mobile-app business to 30 million downloads. He designed AVIAN, the adaptive learning architecture behind AccelaStudy AI, and built the platform entirely through agentic coding. He is based in Keller, Texas.

Charles Sieg is a software engineer, cloud architect, inventor, author, and founder and CEO of Renkara Media Group. He is the sole inventor on 51 filed U.S. provisional patent applications covering adaptive learning, knowledge synthesis, and assessme... Show more

When Douglas Beaven deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan, with the 993rd Transportation Company, he expected combat dangers. He didn't expect to bring home a deadly enemy.

Now, Douglas and Heather are bringing the discipline and resilience they learned in uniform to the domestic frontlines.

Their forthcoming book, Hard to Swallow: Don't Let Dying Kill You is woven together from journal entries, voice recordings, medical records, and public documents. By alternating between Douglas's and Heather's perspectives, the book captures the devastating diagnosis in real time, with all the uncertainty and urgency of events as they actually unfolded.

More than a medical memoir, Hard to Swallow: Don’t Let Dying Kill You is as much a rallying cry for accountability as it is a tribute to the devotion that gives us life when medicine alone cannot.

When Douglas Beaven deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan, with the 993rd Transportation Company, he expected combat dangers. He didn't expect to bring home a deadly enemy. Now, Douglas and Heather are bringing the discipline and resilience they le... Show more

Jesus Gil es un especialista el área de datos e Inteligencia Artificial, actualmente se desempeña como Arquitecto de Soluciones de Nube (CSA) en Microsoft
Por 12 años consecutivo fue nombrado MVP de SQL Server
Es coautor de 2 guías oficiales de Migración escritas para Microsoft Corporation y del libro Power BI MVP Book
Es ingeniero en sistemas, pero su pasión por la Educación lo llevó a obtener una maestría y un Doctorado en Ciencias de la Educación
Cuenta con +25 años de experiencia en la industria, desde el año 2007 ha dado entrenamientos tanto en México, USA, LATAM y Europa
Desde el año 2008 es un speaker habitual en eventos de tecnología dando charla en México, USA, LATAM y Europa

Jesus Gil es un especialista el área de datos e Inteligencia Artificial, actualmente se desempeña como Arquitecto de Soluciones de Nube (CSA) en Microsoft Por 12 años consecutivo fue nombrado MVP de SQL Server Es coautor de 2 guías oficiales de Mig... Show more

Dr. Frank Olmos helps public agencies, HR teams, and organizations put AI to work responsibly. He is President of DFO HR Consulting, an adjunct professor of statistics at Cal State LA, and a California merit system HR leader with more than 20 years of experience in classification, selection, testing, and workforce strategy.

Frank created the CHATPROMPT prompt engineering framework and has trained HR professionals, analysts, managers, and executives for cities, courts, school districts, special districts, and professional associations, including CPS HR Consulting, WRIPAC, PSHRA, CSDA, NCPERS, and NEOGOV Ignite. His sessions are practical and hands-on: attendees leave with prompts, policies, and workflows they can use the next day.

He is the author of Smells Like A.I. Spirit, Appetite for Differentiation, and Square Peg in a Round Hole, and received the 2024 Stephen E. Bemis Memorial Award. He holds an Ed.D. from UC Irvine and Cal State LA and presents in English and Spanish.

Dr. Frank Olmos helps public agencies, HR teams, and organizations put AI to work responsibly. He is President of DFO HR Consulting, an adjunct professor of statistics at Cal State LA, and a California merit system HR leader with more than 20 years o... Show more

Brock Satter is Director of Infosoul Laboratories in Salem, Massachusetts, which builds AI systems for libraries, unions, congregations and nonprofits on their own machines, with their own data, under their own control. He has spent thirty years in front of rooms as a community organizer and political candidate. At the University of Minnesota he was a BA student in science, technology and culture, in a major he designed, focusing on information technology, biotechnology and artificial intelligence. He is the author of the forthcoming book The AI Age, For the Layman, a primer for readers who are not engineers, and gives the public talk of the same name and hands-on workshops on running AI locally. He is not selling anything from the stage.

Brock Satter is Director of Infosoul Laboratories in Salem, Massachusetts, which builds AI systems for libraries, unions, congregations and nonprofits on their own machines, with their own data, under their own control. He has spent thirty years in f... Show more

I'm a Principal Architect at Microsoft specializing in the Microsoft Power Platform, Dynamics 365, Microsoft Copilot, and agentic AI solutions for U.S. State and Local Government.

Throughout my career, I've been driven by a simple belief: the people who understand a business problem best should have a meaningful voice in building the solution. That's why I'm so passionate about Microsoft's low-code and no-code platform. I love helping organizations empower business users to work alongside professional developers to create applications, automations, and AI experiences that solve real problems and deliver measurable value.

For more than two decades, I've worked with government organizations to modernize business processes, improve citizen services, and accelerate digital transformation. I've partnered with agencies of every size to design solutions that combine enterprise architecture, modern application development, automation, data, and artificial intelligence into practical outcomes that users can embrace.

My favorite conversations are the ones where technology becomes accessible. Whether I'm presenting on Power Platform, Dynamics 365, Copilot Studio, or the latest advancements in agentic AI, my goal is always the same: to make complex technology approachable, demonstrate what's possible, and give people the confidence to build solutions they didn't think they could create themselves.

I believe the future of software development isn't about replacing professional developers—it's about expanding who gets to participate in creating great software. When analysts, subject matter experts, makers, architects, and developers collaborate using the Microsoft Power Platform, organizations build better solutions, faster. That's the future I'm excited to help shape.

I'm a Principal Architect at Microsoft specializing in the Microsoft Power Platform, Dynamics 365, Microsoft Copilot, and agentic AI solutions for U.S. State and Local Government. Throughout my career, I've been driven by a simple belief: the peop... Show more

Kaomi Joy Taylor, MPA is the founder of the Museum of Names and creator of Name Fluency™, a practical framework for understanding how names shape trust, belonging, connection, and the customer experience. She holds a master’s degree from Harvard Kennedy School and a Certificate in Adaptive Leadership and speaks on names, trust, belonging, and personalization in business. She is the former Executive Director of two nonprofit organizations, most recently the Governor's Institutes of Vermont, and served as a gubernatorial appointee on the Vermont Workforce Development Council. She has also been an adjunct professor of business ethics and strategy, musician, and freelance writer, and continues to consult and provide professional leadership training through the University of Vermont.

Kaomi Joy Taylor, MPA is the founder of the Museum of Names and creator of Name Fluency™, a practical framework for understanding how names shape trust, belonging, connection, and the customer experience. She holds a master’s degree from Harvard Kenn... Show more

## Salma Mohammed Salem Alketbi

**Emirati Educator & Researcher | Arabic Language Curriculum Specialist | Educational Leader & Innovator**

Salma Mohammed Salem Alketbi is a distinguished Emirati educator and researcher specializing in **Arabic language curriculum, educational innovation, and teacher development**. Currently serving as a **Vice Principal**, she has made significant contributions to advancing teaching practices, empowering educators, and enhancing student learning experiences in the United Arab Emirates.

Her outstanding educational achievements have earned her prestigious recognition, including the **Mohamed bin Zayed Award for Best Teacher** and the title of **Best Teacher in the Arab World**. She also became the **first Emirati teacher to enter the Guinness World Records** through a pioneering innovation in creative writing—an achievement that reflects her passion for transforming ideas into meaningful educational impact.

Throughout her career, Salma has led and contributed to several influential educational initiatives, including the **International Teachers’ Knowledge Fund Platform** and the **Tokkatsu Project**, focusing on teacher development, student character building, and innovative learning practices. She has also supported national programs promoting reading, writing, and student readiness for educational assessments.

As an active researcher and educational contributor, Salma has participated in research projects, conferences, and professional forums at both national and international levels, sharing innovative practices and contributing to curriculum development and educational advancement.

Salma believes that **education is more than the transfer of knowledge—it is a powerful force for shaping people, communities, and the future**. Her mission is to empower educators, inspire students, and cultivate lifelong learners who are prepared to make a meaningful contribution to society.

### Areas of Expertise

**Educational Innovation | Arabic Language Curriculum | Educational Leadership | Creative Writing | Teacher Development & Empowerment | Reading & Writing Strategies | Educational Research | Student Character Development | Educational Initiative Design & Implementation**

### Suggested Speaker Tagline

**“From the Classroom to Guinness World Records: An Emirati Journey of Innovation, Creativity, and Educational Impact.”**

## Salma Mohammed Salem Alketbi **Emirati Educator & Researcher | Arabic Language Curriculum Specialist | Educational Leader & Innovator** Salma Mohammed Salem Alketbi is a distinguished Emirati educator and researcher specializing in **Arabic ... Show more