After 9+ years of exploring the dynamic landscapes of Linux, Open Source, DevOps, Cloud, and Microservices, I have embarked on a new chapter as a Customer Success Engineer at HashiCorp. My mission? To be the advocate for our customers, ensuring they maximize their use of HashiCorp’s cutting-edge tools and continue to scale their infrastructure with confidence.

In my journey, I’ve always been driven by a passion for finding innovative solutions that transform complex challenges into success stories. From consulting and developing ideas to shaping the future as a solution architect, I’ve honed my skills to guide customers through the world of technology, all while fostering lasting relationships that deliver results

After 9+ years of exploring the dynamic landscapes of Linux, Open Source, DevOps, Cloud, and Microservices, I have embarked on a new chapter as a Customer Success Engineer at HashiCorp. My mission? To be the advocate for our customers, ensuring they ... Show more

Nicholas Manella has established himself as a leader in the technology sector, particularly within the healthcare and life sciences industry.

His leadership and punctuality defined Nicholas's college years at Penn State University. He graduated in May 2013 with a degree in Criminal Justice. While there, he was a reporter for the student newspaper, The Daily Collegian, and a Penn State boxing team member. His leadership skills were evident in his writing and in the boxing ring.

Nicholas also participated in a study program in Amsterdam, where he gained exposure to various cultures and perspectives, broadening his global and technological outlook.

After graduating, Nicholas completed the Information Technology Leadership Development Program at Johnson & Johnson, marking the beginning of his career in technology. He demonstrated a strong commitment to learning and growth, moving from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia to consult on digital marketing for the healthcare and life sciences industry. Over the past eight years, he has driven successful initiatives by leveraging his leadership and punctuality.

Despite not having a formal background in computer science, Nicholas was accepted into a master's program at Tufts University. He maintains a punctual and systematic approach to graduate studies while working as a Technology Strategist.

Nick Manella has achieved several milestones in his career. He has supported the commercialization of over six pharmaceutical drugs and launched an artificial intelligence/machine learning offering for pharmaceutical commercialization. His work has driven impressive revenue results, generating over $250,000 in his first month as a Technology Strategist.

Nicholas resides in New Hope, PA. He is passionate about physical fitness and enjoys activities like weightlifting and backpacking. He cares for his poodle, Coco, and plays guitar, reads, writes, learns chess, and cooks. As his career progresses, he aims to become more involved in climate change, renewable energy, and conservation.

Nicholas is committed to charitable activities, such as aiding animal rescue and rehabilitation centers. He has supported Farmette Animal Rescue and regularly donates to organizations such as the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Tabby's Place Cat Sanctuary, and The Donkey Sanctuary. He also supports environmental causes and organizations like Grist and the Hawaii Community Foundation, reflecting his concern for the environment and climate change.

Nicholas Manella's journey from a student in New Jersey to a respected Technology Strategist in Pennsylvania highlights his leadership qualities and the importance of punctuality. His journey continues with passion and dedication, inspiring future leaders in the field.

Nicholas Manella has established himself as a leader in the technology sector, particularly within the healthcare and life sciences industry. His leadership and punctuality defined Nicholas's college years at Penn State University. He graduated in... Show more

Bill started down the path of software development in the nineties, building games and web pages instead of doing his chores. His professional career began in 2005, and his passion for programming has only grown in the years since. He is most at home when buried deep in front-end code, but has done a little bit of everything. He is currently a Principal Engineer at Prescryptive Health, specializing in meme-fu, as well as front-end development and architecture. When not at work, Bill can be found playing with his kids, messing with his 3D printer, or joining friends for a bit of Minecraft.

Bill started down the path of software development in the nineties, building games and web pages instead of doing his chores. His professional career began in 2005, and his passion for programming has only grown in the years since. He is most at home... Show more

Jenny Cuevas is a Microsoft-certified Dynamics 365 Functional Consultant with a strong track record of leading successful enterprise-level digital transformations. Her journey with Dynamics CRM began as an end user with an on-premises CRM 2011 implementation, where she transitioned from SME to PM—a move that launched her career in technology.

Jenny advanced through the ranks to Director of Software Solutions, leading a team responsible for delivering and maintaining business-critical systems. She later focused on Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement (CE) and the Power Platform, deepening her expertise in Microsoft cloud technologies.

With extensive experience spearheading large-scale D365 CE implementations, Jenny leads cross-functional teams through complex digital transformation initiatives. Her work encompasses requirements gathering, business analysis, solution design, product configuration, close collaboration with technical teams, client relationship management, and driving user adoption strategies—all within an agile-based delivery framework.

Known for her ability to translate business needs into scalable, user-friendly Microsoft solutions, Jenny is a leader that delivers measurable impact across the full project lifecycle.

Jenny Cuevas is a Microsoft-certified Dynamics 365 Functional Consultant with a strong track record of leading successful enterprise-level digital transformations. Her journey with Dynamics CRM began as an end user with an on-premises CRM 2011 implem... Show more

Jayavelu Balaji (Jay) is Director of AI/ML Engineering at Flextecs, where he leads enterprise LLM platform strategy, agentic AI systems, and intelligent automation at scale.
With over a decade of experience across financial services, healthcare, and fintech, Jay has architected and shipped production-grade AI systems for Fortune 500 organizations. At JP Morgan Chase, he designed autonomous multi-agent pipelines that cut workflow execution time by 81% and improved document data accuracy by 50%. He has held AI/ML engineering leadership roles at Credit Karma, DrFirst, and Coforge, building across AWS, GCP, and leading LLM platforms including Anthropic Claude and AWS Bedrock.
Jay holds a Post-Graduate certification in AI/ML from the University of Chicago and an MS in Computer Science from Illinois Institute of Technology. He is passionate about making enterprise AI practical, observable, and production-ready.

Jayavelu Balaji (Jay) is Director of AI/ML Engineering at Flextecs, where he leads enterprise LLM platform strategy, agentic AI systems, and intelligent automation at scale. With over a decade of experience across financial services, healthcare, and... Show more

Ralph is the Director of Security of Gridlock Security (GridlockSec) - a company he founded that focuses on cybersecurity consulting services. He has 10 years experience in the industry as a Security Consultant/Pentester/Security Researcher for a few companies such as Microsoft, NCC Group, Hewlett-Packard (HP), Forward Security, and Ernst & Young (E&Y).
His expertise is mainly Web, Mobile, and Network Pentesting, Threat Modelling, Security Architecture Review, and Security Design Reviews. When he was a Senior Security Engineer at Microsoft, he dealt with security architecture reviews, security design reviews, threat modelling, security research, code reviews, and pentesting on the dedicated product he is directly working on with 100+ software engineers. The threat modelling practice he had daily done with his software engineers had helped secure the product and promoted a culture of secure coding and engineering of the said software.

He is also a major active contributor and a member of the working group for the OWASP Application Security Verification Standard (ASVS) project, making the standard better for fellow pentesters and developers alike.

He trained attendees at BSides Vancouver 2025, BSides Orlando 2025 and BSides Luxembourg 2026 for the same workshop, "Threat Modelling Starter Training" which had been well received. He has presented his talk entitled, "OWASP ASVS: A Methodical and Practical Approach to Application Security Testing" on OWASP AppSec Pacific Northwest conference (PNW) 2024 in Vancouver, BC Canada. He has also presented a similar presentation aimed for beginners delivered online at HackStop Cybersecurity Summit 2024 held in Ljubljana, Slovenia.

Ralph is the Director of Security of Gridlock Security (GridlockSec) - a company he founded that focuses on cybersecurity consulting services. He has 10 years experience in the industry as a Security Consultant/Pentester/Security Researcher for a few... Show more

I'm a Database Administrator with a passion for SQL Server performance tuning and sharing what I've learnt with others

I'm a Database Administrator with a passion for SQL Server performance tuning and sharing what I've learnt with others Show more

Radoslav Gatev is an experienced solution architect and consultant, specializing in designing and building complex solutions in Microsoft Azure.

His expertise lies in crafting highly performant and resilient applications that maximize the efficiency of the cloud for companies worldwide, ranging from startups to enterprises. Radoslav is a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) for Microsoft Azure, recognized for his ongoing contributions to the community. With an unwavering passion for staying at the forefront of technology, he embraces the cutting-edge and constantly seeks innovative approaches.

Radoslav Gatev is an experienced solution architect and consultant, specializing in designing and building complex solutions in Microsoft Azure. His expertise lies in crafting highly performant and resilient applications that maximize the efficie... Show more

MadhuSudhanaRao Chebrolu is an accomplished engineering leader, architect, and mentor with extensive experience building scalable, low-latency, and high-availability software platforms across advertising, e-commerce, market research, and healthcare domains. Over the course of his career, he has consistently translated complex business requirements into resilient technical solutions, combining architectural depth with a strong focus on operational excellence.
Currently serving as an Engineering Manager at Dynata, Madhu has led the design and evolution of advanced advertising and measurement platforms, including ADimension. His work centers on building scalable ad measurement systems, developing robust data pipelines, and enabling accurate audience validation and brand lift analysis. He has also driven modernization initiatives by transitioning legacy systems to microservices and service-oriented architectures, improving scalability, deployment flexibility, and fault isolation. In addition, he has partnered closely with product and data science teams to define roadmaps and deliver high-impact digital advertising solutions.
Previously, as a Principal Software Engineer at Big Binary, Madhu led the development of a customizable permissions framework for healthcare providers and enhanced user onboarding experiences for digital platforms. Earlier in his career at True Sparrow Systems, he played a key role in engineering scalable e-commerce applications, designing microservices for payment management and fraud detection, and supporting global expansion initiatives.
Madhu’s technical expertise spans distributed systems design, data engineering, observability, and performance optimization. He is proficient in multiple programming languages, cloud technologies, and modern DevOps practices. Passionate about mentorship and team development, he is known for fostering collaborative engineering cultures, aligning technical strategy with business objectives, and delivering reliable, high-performing platforms that drive meaningful impact.

MadhuSudhanaRao Chebrolu is an accomplished engineering leader, architect, and mentor with extensive experience building scalable, low-latency, and high-availability software platforms across advertising, e-commerce, market research, and healthcare d... Show more

Dr. Joel Ross has dedicated nearly 40 years to medicine as a physician, clinical researcher, teacher, lecturer, and author. His professional life reflects a consistent commitment to patient care, medical education, and clinical research, with a strong focus on older adults. His achievements include being named Teacher of the Year, becoming the first geriatrician in New Jersey, and establishing the state's first geriatric fellowship program. He has also been recognized as a Best Doctor in New Jersey and has contributed to the development of FDA-approved oral and transdermal medications for Alzheimer’s disease. He is the founder and CEO of J&D Pharmaceuticals LLC in Monmouth, New Jersey.

His clinical expertise centers on geriatric medicine, including the diagnosis and treatment of conditions associated with aging. Dr. Ross has focused on caring for patients with cognitive disorders while also managing a wide range of medical conditions that affect older adults. His work emphasizes careful evaluation, evidence-based decision-making, and long-term continuity of care.

On a personal level, he has been happily married for nearly 47 years and maintains an active lifestyle. He is ranked number one in the country at the highest level of expertise in men’s doubles pickleball, ages 70-74, and is ranked in the top 5 nationally in men’s singles. His accomplishments include many gold, silver, and bronze medals earned in both singles and doubles competition.

Dr. Joel Ross received his undergraduate education at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York, where he earned a BA in Biology. He later obtained his Medical Degree from Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn and became chief resident at Nassau County Medical Center. He completed a Fellowship in Geriatric Medicine at Mt. Sinai Medical Center in New York under the mentorship of Dr. Robert N. Butler, the first Director of the National Institute on Aging.

Following his formal training, he was selected as the first Medical Director of the Anna Alexander Greenwall Geriatric Program at Monmouth Medical Center, an endowed position. He also served as Director of the Geriatric Fellowship Program at Monmouth Medical Center, which became the first geriatric fellowship program in New Jersey and trained physicians who later practiced throughout the state and the United States.

He later served for seven years as Director of the Geriatrics Section in the Department of Internal Medicine at Jersey Shore Medical Center in Neptune. In 2000, he opened the Memory Enhancement Center of America in New York and New Jersey, where multidisciplinary teams provided care for patients with cognitive disorders and conducted clinical research focused on Alzheimer’s disease.

Dr. Joel Ross has also played an essential role in pharmaceutical development and clinical research leadership. He co-founded RN NanoPharmaceuticals, LLC, in Monmouth Beach, and in 2023, founded J&D Pharmaceuticals, continuing his long-standing focus on translating scientific research into potential treatments for severe medical conditions.

Through this work, he and his collaborators completed an animal study on traumatic brain injury at the University of Oklahoma. In that study, proprietary compound JD-005 reduced acetylated tau levels and significantly improved neurological outcomes in rats following head trauma.

He and his colleagues at the University of Florida in Gainesville are currently conducting clinical research examining acetylated tau as a biomarker in traumatic brain injury patients. J&D Pharmaceuticals has received three Orphan Drug Designations from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for compounds JD-004 and JD-005, including for Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease, Progeria and related laminopathies, and hepatocellular carcinoma. In addition to his research leadership, he has lectured widely, authored peer-reviewed publications, holds several patents, and volunteers at Parker Health Center in Red Bank, where he provides free medical care, testing, and medications to underserved populations.

Dr. Joel Ross has dedicated nearly 40 years to medicine as a physician, clinical researcher, teacher, lecturer, and author. His professional life reflects a consistent commitment to patient care, medical education, and clinical research, with a stron... Show more

Shalini Sivasamy is a Senior AI & Machine Learning Engineer specializing in building scalable, enterprise-grade artificial intelligence solutions across financial services and cloud ecosystems. Currently contributing to advanced AI initiatives at leading institutions, she focuses on leveraging Generative AI, Agentic AI, and Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) to transform complex business workflows and decision-making processes.

With deep expertise in machine learning, natural language processing, and intelligent document processing, Shalini has developed production-ready AI systems that enhance operational efficiency, reduce processing time, and unlock actionable insights from unstructured data. Her work spans end-to-end AI system design from model development and evaluation to deployment using cloud-native architectures.

A strong advocate for responsible and trustworthy AI, Shalini actively explores challenges related to model reliability, governance, and real-world deployment of large language models. She has authored peer-reviewed publications and contributed to academic and industry research, while also serving as a reviewer for international conferences and journals in AI and data science.

Beyond her technical contributions, Shalini is a recognized thought leader and speaker in AI innovation, frequently sharing insights on enterprise RAG systems, agentic workflows, and AI-driven transformation in financial institutions. Her unique ability to bridge traditional software engineering with cutting-edge AI makes her a key voice in advancing intelligent, scalable, and responsible AI solutions.

Shalini Sivasamy is a Senior AI & Machine Learning Engineer specializing in building scalable, enterprise-grade artificial intelligence solutions across financial services and cloud ecosystems. Currently contributing to advanced AI initiatives at lea... Show more

Software Engineer • FlutterFire • AI Enthusiast • GDG on Campus Lead’25 • Tech Trainer, Content Creator & Speaker

Software Engineer • FlutterFire • AI Enthusiast • GDG on Campus Lead’25 • Tech Trainer, Content Creator & Speaker Show more

Russ Abrams has extensive experience leading transformation efforts across various industries, including healthcare, government, telecommunications, information systems and retail. As a consultant and trainer, he applies innovative Lean Six Sigma solutions to drive the strategy execution, reduce costs and increase customer satisfaction. Russ excels at building strong teams, processes and control systems in a unique way that enables organizations to live continuous improvement, not just learn it.
Highlights
• Highly skilled deployment leader, executive coach and trainer
• Lean master and Six Sigma Master Black Belt
• High-level experience across transactional and manufacturing environments
• Created innovations in telecommunications, retail and healthcare
2014 Keynote Speaker Gemba Lean Summit, Brazil

Started a non-profit all volunteer organization building devices for people with disabilities. using the same skills for understanding the customer's needs and providing innovative solutions.

Russ Abrams has extensive experience leading transformation efforts across various industries, including healthcare, government, telecommunications, information systems and retail. As a consultant and trainer, he applies innovative Lean Six Sigma sol... Show more

An experienced #SAAS Executive with a proven track record of excellence in Wealth and Asset Management technology, specializing in CRM, the Microsoft Power Platform and Copilot. With over 20 years of experience, Tanya has honed expertise in client engagement, leadership, strategy, process improvement, and leading the delivery of innovative technology solutions to drive success for organizations.

Throughout her career, Tanya has worked with a wide range of clients from startups to Fortune 100 firms, contributing to CRM strategy adoption excellence, integration and automation to support organic growth, innovation and adoption. She leads a North American team of professionals across Professional Services, Support, Relationship Management and Project Management. She is recognized for her such as problem-solving, leadership, strategic planning, technical expertise, and her ability to distill complex issues into manageable bites.

Currently, Tanya serves as a Sr. Director leading the Microsoft Dynamics + Power Platform practice at SS&C Technologies, a global FinTech company and Microsoft Gold Partner, where she plays a key role in customer success across the Microsoft Dynamics + Power Platform product suite. Passionate about continuous learning and professional development, Tanya stays ahead of industry trends by engaging in thought leadership events like the Dynamics User Group, Microsoft conferences, speaking at and attending wealth tech conferences and diving deeper into all things AI!

Outside of work, Tanya enjoys being a sideline coach for skiing, basketball and soccer for her twin boys, and managing a Kids Coding club to teach the next generation about AI. She is dedicated to making a meaningful impact in kids technical and financial literacy.

An experienced #SAAS Executive with a proven track record of excellence in Wealth and Asset Management technology, specializing in CRM, the Microsoft Power Platform and Copilot. With over 20 years of experience, Tanya has honed expertise in client en... Show more

Mehdi is a senior software developer and system architect. Since 2000, he has been responsible for the design, implementation, and development of several different systems in the field of office automation, CRM, healthcare management, and automation in industry and logistics solutions. Mehdi specifically works in the field of software development based on .NET technology. Mehdi is a staunch fan of object-oriented programming. Since 2016, Mehdi has worked more or less with cloud computing systems.

Mehdi is a senior software developer and system architect. Since 2000, he has been responsible for the design, implementation, and development of several different systems in the field of office automation, CRM, healthcare management, and automation... Show more

6+ years of experience as Data Engineer in various industries and business application. Maintain lovely job as if a wife with bunch ETL pipeline process, data to business insight, and options of technologies. Suppose to have lovers as named Python but also affair to one named SQL. Currently falling to Google and Confluent environment for big data technology and streaming.

6+ years of experience as Data Engineer in various industries and business application. Maintain lovely job as if a wife with bunch ETL pipeline process, data to business insight, and options of technologies. Suppose to have lovers as named Python bu... Show more

Samson Okemakinde is an Engineering Manager with solid experience in IT consulting, systems architecture, and software development. He has led engineering teams, driven digital transformation initiatives, and delivered resilient, scalable solutions across fintech, health tech, and other technology-driven domains.

He is passionate about helping professionals and organizations harness technology for career growth and business success. Outside of work, Samson enjoys multimedia production, football, and reading.

Samson Okemakinde is an Engineering Manager with solid experience in IT consulting, systems architecture, and software development. He has led engineering teams, driven digital transformation initiatives, and delivered resilient, scalable solutions a... Show more

Soy ingeniero mecatrónico con sólida experiencia como arquitecto de soluciones en la nube, especializado en servicios de inteligencia artificial, data y seguridad sobre AWS. A lo largo de mi carrera he combinado habilidades con una fuerte orientación al negocio, liderando iniciativas que integran servicios como Amazon Bedrock, Amazon Q, Amazon Quick y Kiro entre otras, para resolver desafíos reales de los clientes.

Llevo más de 9 años dentro TD SYNNEX y una de mis pasiones es compartir conocimiento y rodearme de personas que comparten mis mismas pasiones.

Soy ingeniero mecatrónico con sólida experiencia como arquitecto de soluciones en la nube, especializado en servicios de inteligencia artificial, data y seguridad sobre AWS. A lo largo de mi carrera he combinado habilidades con una fuerte orientación... Show more

I am a mechanical engineer by education and software professional by passion. If I am not exploring technology, I am doing music, music is my other passion. I work for Cardinal Health currently and I have been developing software solutions within Banking & Financials, Engineering, and Health Care domains. Prior to Cardinal Health, I have held several technical leadership roles at companies such as General Electric, Morgan Stanley, JP Morgan Chase, and a few start-ups. I also contribute to various open-source projects, occasionally. I am also a speaker at conferences like SpringOne.

I am a mechanical engineer by education and software professional by passion. If I am not exploring technology, I am doing music, music is my other passion. I work for Cardinal Health currently and I have been developing software solutions within Ban... Show more

As an Engineering Manager for Digital Health Platforms in Spain, he oversees the delivery of the core technical capabilities powering our navify solutions. His mandate centers on the strategic development of technical excellence and the synchronization of individual career trajectories with our platform’s overarching objectives
Previously at Roche, he was helping delivery teams to focus on their core business by taking the responsibility of automating tasks, optimising processes and providing the required infrastructure for building software. Author of several scientific articles, he previously worked as software engineer at University College Cork (Ireland) in multiple research projects related to different areas such as Supply Chain Optimisation, Scheduling, Energy Efficiency, Cloud Computing, and e-Health, designing and implementing solutions for complex problems. Òscar also created and directed the MSc in DevOps and Cloud Computing at University of Barcelona.

As an Engineering Manager for Digital Health Platforms in Spain, he oversees the delivery of the core technical capabilities powering our navify solutions. His mandate centers on the strategic development of technical excellence and the synchronizati... Show more

My name is KirtiKumar Anandrao Ramchandani, and I'm a cybersecurity researcher. I specialize in securing browsers and kernels and am passionate about making the internet a safer place for everyone. I have received World Record as the Youngest Cyber Security Researcher and Tech Savvy Award.

My name is KirtiKumar Anandrao Ramchandani, and I'm a cybersecurity researcher. I specialize in securing browsers and kernels and am passionate about making the internet a safer place for everyone. I have received World Record as the Youngest Cyber S... Show more

Dr. Sheila Volante is an award winning technology and strategy leader with over 20 years of experience guiding digital transformation across Fortune 1000 organizations. As a Fractional CIO and Co-Founder of CollectiveLogik, she partners with executive teams to benchmark readiness, modernize infrastructure, and deliver measurable value across people, process, and technology. With deep expertise spanning healthcare, hospitality, aerospace, and entertainment, Dr. Sheila is renowned for her ability to translate complex technical challenges into clear, actionable strategic roadmaps. Her signature approach blends data driven innovation with organizational empathy to ensure sustainable transformation and high adoption rates.

Dr. Sheila Volante is an award winning technology and strategy leader with over 20 years of experience guiding digital transformation across Fortune 1000 organizations. As a Fractional CIO and Co-Founder of CollectiveLogik, she partners with executiv... Show more

Daniela Petruzalek is a developer relations engineer at Google focused on Google Cloud Platform. Her specialisation is backend development and data engineering. She has previously worked at companies like JPMorgan, Oracle and ThoughtWorks. On her spare time she contributes to open source, plays video games and pets random cats on the streets.

Daniela Petruzalek is a developer relations engineer at Google focused on Google Cloud Platform. Her specialisation is backend development and data engineering. She has previously worked at companies like JPMorgan, Oracle and ThoughtWorks. On her spa... Show more

Dr. James C. Rodríguez, MSW, CADC
President & Chief Executive Officer, Fathers & Families Coalition of America
Author | Founder, Borinqueño Within Press | Certified Executive Coach | Clinical Social Worker | Veteran | Researcher | Policy Architect | Curriculum Developer | International Trainer

"I am a Boricua. A dad. A soldier. A professional social worker. An advocate. A teacher. A professor. A counselor. And a friend. And with every role, I lead with love and serve with purpose."

Biography
Dr. James C. Rodríguez, MSW, CADC, is a globally celebrated architect of fatherhood engagement, social policy reform, and transformative leadership development. For over four decades, he has shaped public health, child welfare, mental health, and professional education—building bridges across disciplines, communities, and continents. His career is defined by multidimensional leadership and a relentless pursuit of equity, healing, and opportunity for all. A proud father, soldier, social worker, and visionary educator, he has devoted his life to helping people rediscover hope, dignity, and purpose. His reach spans early childhood education, public health, leadership development, and fatherhood advocacy—fields that, in his hands, become pathways toward healing and intergenerational equity.

"Insights give way to dreams—developing vision—creating purpose that ends in your why."

Foundations: Service, Resilience, and Cultural Identity
Born into a low-income household and shaped by the adversity of the child welfare system, James began his journey at age 17 as a U.S. Army Combat Medic. By 22, he became one of the youngest Substance Abuse Counselors in the Department of Defense, retiring with honors and meritorious distinction in the reserves. Over more than two decades of military service, he developed expertise in trauma response, behavioral health, and law enforcement. This experience forged his devotion to discipline, compassion, and advocacy for the vulnerable.

James's service has been recognized at the highest levels: he is the recipient of the Presidential Lifetime Call to Service Award (President Barack Obama), Points of Light Award (President George H. W. Bush), Meritorious Service Medal (U.S. Department of Defense), and Congressional Certificates from Maxine Waters, Sheila Jackson-Lee, Barbara Lee, and Diane E. Watson. He is deeply honored by the Ceremonial Elder Proclamation from the Qutekcak Native Tribe of Alaska, the National Social Worker Leadership Resolution (FFCA), and hundreds of additional accolades from national, state, tribal, and community organizations.

Architect of Systems Change: Building Movements, Securing Hope
As founder and CEO of the Fathers & Families Coalition of America (FFCA), Dr. Rodríguez transformed a grassroots Arizona network into an international force with offices in California and Puerto Rico, and active partnerships across North America, the Caribbean, Africa, Europe, and Australia. He was instrumental in creating one of the nation's first TANF-funded fatherhood programs, a model that generated over $75 million in resources and has been replicated nationwide. Under his leadership, FFCA's International Families & Fathers Conference—now in its 27th year—has become a global destination for educators, policymakers, and innovators, advancing justice and family well-being.

A founding steering committee member of the Fatherhood Research & Practice Network (FRPN) at Temple University, James has shaped federal research and policy, serving as principal investigator and senior research consultant on projects for the Office of Refugee Resettlement, CDC, NIMH, and the Oregon Center for Applied Science. His work has driven advances in public health, trauma-informed care, and family resilience.

Signature Curriculum Development and Thought Leadership
James is a master architect of transformational curricula and professional development, including the Advanced Practitioner Credential™ Course (NASW Arizona-approved), OAR Leadership Institute™ (Ownership • Accountability • Responsibility), FFCA DiSC Model™, Ikigai & The Power of Kintsugi™, and SAMHSA-approved Fatherhood and Mental Health Curriculum. He also developed the Strengthening Families Through Nurturing Leadership model. His trainings are lauded for blending cognitive science, neuroplasticity, emotional intelligence, trauma-informed care, and actionable leadership strategies, and have reached over 30,000 professionals—social workers, educators, clinicians, nonprofit leaders, and public officials—across the U.S. and four continents. Over 85% of program graduates report improved outcomes, including higher client engagement and service completion.

Certified as an Executive Coach, Master Trainer for The John R. Wooden Course™, Certified DiSC® Trainer, Life Coach, Ikigai Coach, and Schema Therapy Practitioner, Dr. Rodríguez's leadership development institutes have set new standards for excellence in behavioral health and family services.

Academic Impact, Mentorship, and Global Teaching
Dr. Rodríguez's educational reach is extraordinary. He has served as faculty, lecturer, or keynote at:

University of Southern California
Arizona State University
Morehouse College
Howard University
Columbia University
Yale University
University of Houston
Clark Atlanta University
Mesa Community College
Central Arizona College
Cornell University
Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico
University of the West Indies (Jamaica)
University of Guelph (Canada)
Malcolm X College
Sobo Tribal Nation
Navajo Nation
Qutekcak Native Tribe (Alaska)
Numerous First Nations and international partners
He developed and directed over 30 undergraduate and graduate courses, established statewide programs, and has keynoted and taught from Ivy League classrooms to tribal communities. He serves on the editorial board of PHYLON: The Clark Atlanta University Review of Race and Culture, which he joined upon the appointment of Dr. Obie Clayton, Jr., and supports scholarship on race, family, and social change.

Policy Leadership, Board Service, and Community Engagement
Dr. Rodríguez's policy influence extends to every level of government. He has developed legislation for Connecticut's Fatherhood Initiative, served on Arizona and California TANF/family-strengthening task forces, and advised the New York City Mayor's Fatherhood Advisory Council, DYCD, and ACS. He has shaped policy in partnership with SAMHSA, Region II Head Start, the State of Maryland, and the National Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health. He has provided expert testimony before the U.S. House Ways & Means Committee. He collaborates with Congressman Danny K. Davis and hosts national Fireside Policy Roundtables on equity, child support, and education reform.

His board service is cross-sectoral and visionary, including:

100 Black Men – Arizona Chapter
AGAPE Adoption Agency
Maricopa County Human Services
Fatherhood Corrections Network
Black Family Preservation Institute
And numerous national, state, and tribal boards
Public Health, Equity, and Systems Innovation
James has led multiple national initiatives addressing mental health equity, early childhood wellness, and culturally responsive care—serving Latino, African American, Somali, First Nations, and other underserved communities. His work with the Somali Association of Arizona, the Hispanic/Latino and African American Parent Depression Research Project, and tribal partners has been recognized for its transformative impact on systems and inclusion.

Author, Storyteller, and Purpose-Driven Advocate
As founder of Borinqueño Within Press and author of the forthcoming The Purpose Within—Rise Out of the Ashes Like the Phoenix, Dr. Rodríguez's story is a testament to resilience, hope, and the enduring power of purpose. He weaves together memoir, leadership philosophy, and spiritual reflection, inspiring audiences to discover their own capacity to lead and transform.

Personal Values, Humanity, and Enduring Legacy
Above all, Dr. Rodríguez is a father, grandfather, and mentor. He draws daily inspiration from his children—Antonio (Cassandra), Amber Rodríguez-Young, LMSW (Daric), and Jazmín Rodríguez—and his grandchildren, Ariston and Adalena. His life and work are an expression of core values: love, empathy, humility, and a drive to uplift others. Whether leading a boardroom, inspiring a conference, or building coalitions for social change, James delivers wisdom, practical strategies, and hope—leaving every audience moved to action.

"Leadership is not about titles. It is about being water—shaping, flowing, and giving life wherever you go." — Bruce Lee.

If your organization seeks a keynote speaker, leadership institute facilitator, or strategic advisor who brings unparalleled experience, intellectual rigor, cultural fluency, and a proven record of impact, Dr. James C. Rodríguez is the transformative presence your audience deserves.

Contact:
james.rodriguez@fathersandfamiliescoalition.org
www.fathersandfamiliescoalition.org

"Never The End, Never Goodbye, Just I love You." – Your Friend, James

Dr. James C. Rodríguez, MSW, CADC President & Chief Executive Officer, Fathers & Families Coalition of America Author | Founder, Borinqueño Within Press | Certified Executive Coach | Clinical Social Worker | Veteran | Researcher | Policy Architect ... Show more

Equipping leaders to regulate pressure, repair trust, and lead in the age of uncertainty.

Shawntà Hooks is an award-winning global keynote speaker, author, and Leadership & Clarity Strategist known for unlocking clarity in high-pressure cultures. With a background as a former Fortune 100 Vice President of Automation Transformation and Certified Public Accountant, she brings rare executive credibility to the human side of leadership.

Through neuroscience-backed, multisensory experiences — integrating music, movement, mindfulness, and storytelling — Shawntà teaches leaders the bio hacks of presence, regulation, and influence. Her work reveals what’s felt but rarely named in modern organizations: how overstimulation, unregulated pressure, and emotional misalignment quietly erode performance, trust, and decision-making.

She is the founder of The Clarity Lab™ and creator of the Catch → Convert → Create™ system of nervous system regulation.

Equipping leaders to regulate pressure, repair trust, and lead in the age of uncertainty. Shawntà Hooks is an award-winning global keynote speaker, author, and Leadership & Clarity Strategist known for unlocking clarity in high-pressure cultures. ... Show more

Coming from a non-traditional background in International Business, I began my journey into Data Science and Machine Learning as a self-taught learner, driven by curiosity and a desire to solve real-world problems. Over time, my interest evolved into a clear mission: to apply technology in a way that creates tangible impact in healthcare.

My journey into tech started outside of the traditional path, but led me straight into the intersection of healthcare and data. Now as a Master’s student in Smart Medicine and Health Informatics at National Taiwan University, I’m focused on Biomedical Informatics - designing technologies that are not only intelligent, but also meaningful in real-world clinical settings.

I'm passionate about building solutions where clinical insight meets technical precision, and where ethical, explainable AI plays a critical role. I believe the future of healthcare isn’t just smart - it’s also transparent, human-centered, and inclusive.

Coming from a non-traditional background in International Business, I began my journey into Data Science and Machine Learning as a self-taught learner, driven by curiosity and a desire to solve real-world problems. Over time, my interest evolved into... Show more

Lokesh Karanam is a Staff Software Engineer specializing in Machine Learning Systems for Regulated Cloud Data Platforms and Generative AI Operations, backed by over five years of industry experience. He currently works at RR Donnelley (Austin, TX) and previously held a role as a Software Development Engineer at Amazon Web Services.
His educational background includes an M.S. in Computer Science from the University of Missouri.
Lokesh's career highlights feature significant original technical contributions, such as developing a large-scale, privacy-compliance deletion platform and implementing solutions that drove substantial cloud cost savings and platform efficiencies. He also led an AI marketing platform project with a pending patent. His scholarly contributions include multiple peer-reviewed publications in prestigious conferences like IEEE DeSE and AMIA, covering advanced topics from Intrusion Detection using deep learning to Continuous Anticipation of Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) in the ICU. Lokesh's contributions have earned him recognition, including the Diamond Award and service as a Session Chair at the IEOM conference.

Lokesh Karanam is a Staff Software Engineer specializing in Machine Learning Systems for Regulated Cloud Data Platforms and Generative AI Operations, backed by over five years of industry experience. He currently works at RR Donnelley (Austin, TX) an... Show more

Kieran is a Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Power Platform Solution Architect with over a decade of Microsoft Business Applications delivery experience across enterprise clients in both the public and private sector.

As a Microsoft Certified Trainer, Kieran supports organisations through digital transformation and the adoption of new Microsoft technologies, including AI-powered business applications and agents.

Kieran is a Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Power Platform Solution Architect with over a decade of Microsoft Business Applications delivery experience across enterprise clients in both the public and private sector. As a Microsoft Certified Trainer, K... Show more

Christophe Martinot is an international speaker, transformation advisor, and author of SPIRAL UP®, a framework designed to help individuals, teams, and organizations grow stronger through agility and resilience.

A former executive with over two decades of leadership experience in FMCG, pharma, and medical devices, Christophe has held strategic roles at L’Oréal, Danone, Abbott, and Sanofi.

As Managing Director and Co-Founder of SeedingEnergy, he now guides organizations across the USA, UK, and Europe in redefining their ways of working, building cultures that are more agile, human-centered, and purpose-driven.

He is a co-author of the Agile Customer Centricity Manifesto, part of the global leadership group shaping Agile Marketing Manifesto 2.0, and a co-initiator of the Business Agility Hub.

Christophe also shares his passion for agility and transformation with the next generation of leaders, teaching Agile Ways of Working at IED Barcelona and as a guest professor at ESADE.

A pragmatic optimist, he brings energy, empathy, and real-world experience to every stage, inspiring leaders and teams to Spiral Up through every challenge.
He works fluently in English, French, and Spanish.

Christophe Martinot is an international speaker, transformation advisor, and author of SPIRAL UP®, a framework designed to help individuals, teams, and organizations grow stronger through agility and resilience. A former executive with over two de... Show more

Nick is a co-founder of En Dash and a digital product leader with more than a decade of experience guiding product delivery, engineering execution, and Agile transformation across client engagements.
With a background spanning full-stack engineering, front-end specialization, product ownership, and delivery leadership, Nick is known for connecting technical depth with strong product judgment and a clear focus on improving end-user experiences.

Across engagements, Nick has stepped into the role most needed to help teams succeed, including Tech Lead, Product Owner, Scrum Master, Agile Delivery Lead, UX/UI Designer, Front-End Engineering Lead, and Full-Stack Engineer. That range has made Nick especially effective at working across functions, translating between business and technical perspectives, and helping teams collaborate more effectively around complex digital products.

Nick brings experience across design, product, and engineering disciplines, with hands-on expertise in tools such as Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, Jira, Confluence, and Notion, as well as modern development stacks including JS/TS, React, Vue, Angular, Next.js, Nest.js, cloud platforms, and microservice and micro-frontend architecture.

Motivated by software’s potential to improve customers’ lives, Nick combines analytical problem-solving, creativity, and a strong teaching instinct with a personable, team-oriented approach that helps teams learn, deliver, and continuously improve together.

Nick is a co-founder of En Dash and a digital product leader with more than a decade of experience guiding product delivery, engineering execution, and Agile transformation across client engagements. With a background spanning full-stack engineerin... Show more