Jessica Rudd, Ph.D. is currently based in Atlanta, GA. Jessica brings 15 years of experience in analytics, more recently specializing in machine learning and artificial intelligence software development.

Jessica’s expertise includes the development of end-to-end machine learning pipelines, enterprise-grade software development, high-quality synthetic data generation, data security, privacy, and compliance regulations, AI ethics, applied statistics, sports analytics, and healthcare technology.

Jessica holds a PhD in analytics and data science from Kennesaw State University and a Masters in Public Health & Global Epidemiology from Emory University.

Jessica Rudd, Ph.D. is currently based in Atlanta, GA. Jessica brings 15 years of experience in analytics, more recently specializing in machine learning and artificial intelligence software development. Jessica’s expertise includes the developmen... Show more

Dr. Nishi Patel, M.D., is a board-certified cardiologist specializing in advanced heart failure and cardiac critical care at WellSpan York Hospital in York, Pennsylvania. Renowned for his clinical acumen and compassionate patient care, Dr. Patel also serves as the National Director of Cardiac Imaging for Access Physicians/SOC Telemedicine, a national leader in expanding specialized telehealth services to rural hospitals. In this capacity, he drives initiatives in echocardiography and cardiac CT imaging, ensuring that high-quality cardiovascular diagnostics are accessible to patients regardless of their location.

Dr. Patel’s educational journey began at Drexel University, where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Biology in 2009 and his Doctor of Medicine degree in 2013. He completed his internship and residency at Hahnemann University Hospital in Philadelphia. Dr. Patel then further specialized with fellowships in Cardiovascular Disease and Advanced Heart Failure & Transplant Cardiology at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. He holds board certifications in Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease, Advanced Heart Failure & Transplant Cardiology, Echocardiography, Cardiac CT, and Nuclear Cardiology.

At WellSpan York Hospital, Dr. Patel is at the forefront of advanced heart failure care. He manages critically ill patients who require complex interventions, such as ECMO, Impella, and LVAD support, as well as heart transplantation. Dr. Patel has been instrumental in developing comprehensive heart failure programs, emphasizing local care to minimize patient travel and maximize support networks. His leadership has also extended to establishing clinics for survivors of cardiogenic shock, pioneering virtual and molecular autopsy protocols to understand genetic risks, and implementing remote monitoring solutions, such as CardioMEMS, to prevent hospitalizations and improve outcomes.

A national leader in telehealth, Dr. Patel’s work with Access Telecare has helped hundreds of rural and community hospitals deliver expert cardiac imaging and specialty care previously available only in major academic centers. His commitment to leveraging technology for patient-centered care has transformed cardiovascular services for many underserved populations.

Dr. Patel’s research career began in residency, investigating heart failure and arrhythmias in animal models. He has since contributed to the medical literature with publications and presentations on ventricular assist devices, heart failure therapies, transplantation, and the genetics of cardiac disease. He recently received the prestigious Zoll Foundation Research Grant to advance genomic approaches to sudden cardiac arrest and cardiogenic shock. Dr. Patel is also Editor-in-Chief for Cardiology and Cardiac CT at StatPearls and reviews manuscripts for several major journals.

As an educator, Nishi Patel is an Associate Professor at Drexel University College of Medicine and a recipient of the Golden Apple Award for excellence in teaching. He is actively involved in charitable work and professional societies and enjoys martial arts and outdoor pursuits in his time.

Dr. Nishi Patel, M.D., is a board-certified cardiologist specializing in advanced heart failure and cardiac critical care at WellSpan York Hospital in York, Pennsylvania. Renowned for his clinical acumen and compassionate patient care, Dr. Patel also... Show more

Bharath Reddy Baddam is a seasoned Salesforce consultant with 9 years of comprehensive experience across the Salesforce ecosystem. Currently serving as a Senior Salesforce Developer at New York Life Insurance, he specializes in Service Cloud, Sales Cloud, Experience Cloud, and Health Cloud implementations.
Bharath holds 8 Salesforce certifications, including Platform Developer I & II, Sales Cloud Consultant, Service Cloud Consultant, and Experience Cloud Consultant. His expertise spans custom development using Apex, Lightning Web Components, and Visualforce, along with complex integrations involving MuleSoft, REST APIs, and third-party systems.
Throughout his career at Fortune 500 companies including Meta, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Amgen, and McKesson, Bharath has delivered scalable solutions that enhanced customer experiences and streamlined business processes. He has successfully implemented Einstein Chatbots, built custom Experience Cloud communities, and led digital transformation initiatives from requirements gathering through deployment.
His technical proficiency includes CI/CD tools (AutoRABIT, Gearset, Copado), agile methodologies, and cross-functional collaboration with business analysts, architects, and QA teams. Bharath combines deep technical knowledge with strong business acumen, making complex Salesforce concepts accessible to diverse stakeholders while driving measurable business outcomes.

Bharath Reddy Baddam is a seasoned Salesforce consultant with 9 years of comprehensive experience across the Salesforce ecosystem. Currently serving as a Senior Salesforce Developer at New York Life Insurance, he specializes in Service Cloud, Sales C... Show more

Tajinder Singh is an AI Architect at Virginia Tech. He is passionate about distributed systems, cloud computing, observability, data, AI and scalability. He enjoys mentoring others to be successful. During his free time, he likes to jog and enjoy awesome chai.

Tajinder Singh is an AI Architect at Virginia Tech. He is passionate about distributed systems, cloud computing, observability, data, AI and scalability. He enjoys mentoring others to be successful. During his free time, he likes to jog and enjoy aw... Show more

Xamantha Descallar is a college student who studies Microbiology at Texas A&M University and Lone Star College. She is fluent in English, understands Cebuano and Japanese, and dedicates her time to volunteering at medical facilities, including Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Medical Center and Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital. Her academic focus is centered on nursing, pathology, and forensic science. Outside her studies, she enjoys digital art, photography, cooking, learning musical instruments, dancing, singing, and studying languages.

Xamantha Pearl Gales Descallar was born in Cebu, Philippines. Her family moved to the United States when she was only a year old, which gave her exposure to different languages and cultures early in life. Her home mainly used Cebuano, while English remained a common language in daily life.

Her education began in Lehighton, Carbon County, Pennsylvania, where she did well in her primary and secondary classes. She later moved to Spring, Texas, and attended Irons Junior High School and Oak Ridge High School. During this time, she joined many clubs and organizations that reflected her varied interests, such as the Robotics Club, Science Bowl, Art Club, Yearbook Club, Drone Club, and Biotechnology Club. She was also involved in the National Art Honor Society and the National Honor Society. As Science Bowl team captain, she led her group to a third-place finish.

Xamantha earned several recognitions for her academic achievements. She secured first place in the District 5 CYO Spelling Bee for three consecutive years from 2013 to 2015 and received Student Achieving Excellence awards and an Academic Excellence award in 2019. In 2020, she placed second in the SCI: TECH Biotechnology Competition for her data analysis work. She graduated in 2023 from Oak Ridge High School in the top 10% of her class with Magna Cum Laude honors. She is now working on finishing her Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology earlier than planned, with goals to obtain licensure in Microbiology and join an accelerated nursing program.

Xamantha’s volunteer experience started in April 2019 at IRONMAN Texas in The Woodlands, Texas, where she set up and resupplied aid stations. In November 2019, she helped at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion's Children’s Festival, assisting with games and children’s activities, and returned in 2022. She also volunteered at the Montgomery Food Bank from December 2021 through 2023, where she sorted goods and organized produce. In the summer of 2022, she joined the Houston Methodist Caring Teen Summer Internship Program, working in the Nursing and Food & Nutrition Departments. Her other volunteer efforts included helping at the Fall Festival in Conroe, the Family Gift Market in Spring, and Breakfast with Santa at Houser Elementary School.

In September 2024, she participated in a Service Learning Workday at The Gardens at Texas A&M University. In April 2025, she volunteered at the Science Olympiad competition in College Station. As of June 2025, she continues volunteering at Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Medical Center, assisting in the Courier and Pre-Operation departments with tasks such as patient discharges, deliveries, and inventory.

Xamantha Descallar is fluent in English and conversational in Cebuano, with intermediate Japanese skills. She has tried studying Norwegian, Russian, and German and recently started learning Spanish. Her long-term goal is to achieve fluency in these languages to better connect with people and serve patients from diverse backgrounds.

In her free time, she plays online games to keep in touch with friends. She creates digital art inspired by media, personal experiences, and friendships. Photography has become one of her interests, with a focus on nature and everyday scenes. She enjoys cooking and often photographs the meals she prepares. Her musical journey began with the recorder and piano and later expanded to the acoustic guitar and ocarina. She has danced on stage and hopes to explore Hip-Hop dance classes in the future. Singing is another passion she shares with friends and family, often through karaoke during gatherings. For Xamantha Descallar, these hobbies bring joy and connection to her busy academic life.

Xamantha Descallar is a college student who studies Microbiology at Texas A&M University and Lone Star College. She is fluent in English, understands Cebuano and Japanese, and dedicates her time to volunteering at medical facilities, including Memori... Show more

Agile Expert with 10+ years of experience, and sound expertise in Kanban, Scrum, and Lean-Agile processes, broadening the use of Agile by going beyond “traditional” areas.

Kanban Coaching Professional (KCP, Kanban University). Other relevant certifications: CXP (Fit for Purpose), KMP, FLSA (Flight Levels), ICP-ACC (Agile Coach). Experienced on Global Projects, across multiple time zones, with English (C2, CEFR) as a common language.

Recognized as a Trusted Advisor and Subject Matter Expert (SME) in Agile, Kanban, Flow Metrics, Cost-Waste Analysis, OKRs, Fit for Purpose, and Process Tools (Jira, Azure DevOps, etc.), across several clients. Primarily focused on Hard Skills, but also with great communication and social cohesion skills.

Speaker and Coordinator at Local and International Conferences on Agile, Kanban, Management, and Business Agility. Worked with clients across many industries, such as Tech, Banking, Healthcare, Payments, Consulting, and Financial Markets.

Main Skills: Management, Agile, Communication, Leadership, Creativity, Process Optimization, Metrics, OKRs/KPIs, Kanban, Customer Centricity, Team Building, Clients and Partners relationships, Networking. ... and good humor =)

MBA; Computer Engineer; Former Entrepreneur; Native Portuguese speaker; Proficient in English; Brazilian and EU Citizen.

Agile Expert with 10+ years of experience, and sound expertise in Kanban, Scrum, and Lean-Agile processes, broadening the use of Agile by going beyond “traditional” areas. Kanban Coaching Professional (KCP, Kanban University). Other relevant certi... Show more

Presenter Biography: Lt. Kenny Mitchell Jr (ret) began his fire service career in 2002 with The Virginia Beach Fire Department. Kenny was assigned to Fire Station 4 and served on the MIRT (Marine Incident Response Team) his entire time with VBFD. In 2007 he relocated to Chesterfield, Virginia where he was employed with Chesterfield County Fire & EMS until April 1, 2024, when he retired as a Lieutenant after nearly 23 years.

Kenny served in a variety of assignments during his time with Chesterfield County Fire & EMS including some time as a lead instructor in the Training Division, a member of the MIRT (Marine Incident Response Team), an active member of the Peer Support Team since 2009, the department interview panel having assisted in hiring hundreds of new firefighters and serving as the departments Public Information Officer during his time in the Fire & Life Safety Division.

Kenny has developed a deep appreciation and sympathy for the mental health challenges that so many humans, especially those who have served in the protector community, endure. His ability to place you into the moment of the worst personal life knockdown him and his seven-year-old daughter would face and the seven-year journey he had to go on to find himself and his new purpose is powerful. Kenny then takes you further through his fire service career and the loss of a close friend just seventeen days after meeting for lunch from suicide in 2020 that birthed Operation Yellow Tape.

His newfound purpose of helping first responders and their families overcome the invisible wounds of traumatic careers inside and outside the yellow tape will leave you wanting to take proactive action in your life immediately. Kenny is passionate about, and continues to advocate for, first responders who have experienced and are struggling with their own cumulative traumatic stress, critical incidents, family issues, and PTSI. He has spoken at several conferences and organizations across the country, along with numerous podcast appearances and has his own Operation Yellow Tape Podcast assisting thousands inside and outside the yellow tape monthly. Most recently spending two full days presenting in Wisconsin at the United for Waukesha Resiliency Center teaching mental health wellbeing for those affected by the November 21, 2021, Waukesha Christmas Day Parade Incident. Honored to have spoken in Port Orange, Florida on April 19th during their Operation Frontline Resilience Conference for Speak up; Tomorrow needs you and last week in Kentucky on May 5th as the keynote for the 2025 Tactical Tools for Thriving First Responders Mental Health Symposium.

We are going to drive home and continue to live by, "There are too many of us to ever feel alone!" Because WE ARE THE TOO MANY!

Presenter Biography: Lt. Kenny Mitchell Jr (ret) began his fire service career in 2002 with The Virginia Beach Fire Department. Kenny was assigned to Fire Station 4 and served on the MIRT (Marine Incident Response Team) his entire time with VBFD. In... Show more

Experienced data-driven API Product Manager with holding MBA from BIMM Pune and B-Tech from RGPV-Bhopal with 12+ years of experience in the industry across verticals of Payments ,Travel, Hospitality, Healthcare, Digital Marketing, e-Commerce.
Currently working as Senior Product Manager at PayPal and owning Transaction and reconciliation APIs.

Experienced data-driven API Product Manager with holding MBA from BIMM Pune and B-Tech from RGPV-Bhopal with 12+ years of experience in the industry across verticals of Payments ,Travel, Hospitality, Healthcare, Digital Marketing, e-Commerce. Curren... Show more

Wes Shields, Principal and founder of Synthminds.AI, leads a team of 15 experts, propelling clients' AI strategies and objectives with ethical and innovative solutions. Under his stewardship, his full-service Artificial Intelligence agency provides bespoke services that exceed their strategic needs to an extensive list of clientele from academia to various industries including aviation, customer service, legal, marketing, logistics, education and technology. He was named one of the first 18 global “OpenAI Experts”, an endorsement awarded and recognized formally by OpenAI. Shields' exemplary work has earned him and his Synthminds team the "Expert-Vetted" AI Consultant accolade from Upwork, a title conferred on the top 1% of the 18 million professionals on the platform.

Recognized as an accomplished strategist and speaker in the field of AI, he is also the host of the popular podcast, 'How to Talk to AI.' He has a notable presence on Promptbase.com, the premier prompt sales marketplace, where his prompts rank him amongst the top 200 worldwide.

Shields possesses an impressive academic portfolio, holding an MS in Operations Research from the Naval Postgraduate School, an MBA from the Mason School of Business at The College of William & Mary, and a BS in Economics from the esteemed United States Naval Academy. His contributions to academic research, particularly in the domains of complex network science and logistics technology integration, have been published and recognized, earning him graduate certifications from both the Kegan-Flagler School of Business at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill and the Naval Postgraduate School.

For more insights into his professional pursuits and areas of interest, visit https://synthminds.ai/.

Wes Shields, Principal and founder of Synthminds.AI, leads a team of 15 experts, propelling clients' AI strategies and objectives with ethical and innovative solutions. Under his stewardship, his full-service Artificial Intelligence agency provides b... Show more

Matt Herman, a respected insurance expert from Tamarac, Florida, is the founder and former CEO of Enhance Health. Recognized for his dynamic leadership and commitment to social responsibility, he has consistently achieved financial success while working to expand healthcare access and open doors for underserved communities.

Over just two years, he took Enhance Health from a $16 million shortfall to over $570 million in revenue, building one of Florida’s largest minority employers along the way. Through his leadership, more than a million Americans were able to enroll in health plans, with many navigating the healthcare system for the first time. His efforts have helped people secure vital coverage and gain a better understanding of the resources available to them.

His work ethic and values were formed early, starting immediately after graduating high school in 2004. Joining his family’s floor-covering business, he learned the importance of steady work and responsibility. Through his contributions, he helped the company become a leader in South Florida’s residential construction industry. The experience gave him practical skills in managing growth, building teams, and adapting to change—qualities that would guide him in the years ahead.

In 2008, he made a decisive move into the health insurance field, where he quickly advanced into leadership. He expanded a small agency into one with hundreds of agents, then established a field marketing organization that garnered national attention and ultimately led to a successful exit. This experience enabled him to focus on developing a business model centered on purpose rather than just profit.

With a renewed focus, he established a company centered on education, support, and access to care. Enhance Health gained recognition for offering practical guidance and assisting individuals, particularly those with limited financial means, in navigating their health coverage. His vision was to provide more than just enrollment—he wanted members to understand and utilize their benefits truly.

Beyond his career, he remains dedicated to supporting children with special needs and actively participates in community initiatives. He also enjoys basketball and weightlifting, reflecting his energetic and determined approach to life. Matt Herman continues to demonstrate that strong business leadership and a commitment to service can move forward together with purpose.

Matt Herman, a respected insurance expert from Tamarac, Florida, is the founder and former CEO of Enhance Health. Recognized for his dynamic leadership and commitment to social responsibility, he has consistently achieved financial success while work... Show more