Manufacturing & Industrial Materials

A roster of manufacturing and materials specialists at the forefront of innovation in the production and utilization of industrial materials

Aldeen Simmonds-Thorpe

Aldeen Simmonds-Thorpe

Having loved NAV/BC as a user, Aldeen has taken her experiences and learnings from the Food Manufacturing and Operations world and transformed them into valuable insights. Now as a Senior Consultant and Trusted Business Advisor, she continues to challenge the boundaries of technology and employ innovative solutions to empower users and drive real business results.

Having loved NAV/BC as a user, Aldeen has taken her experiences and learnings from the Food Manufacturing and Operations world and transformed them into valuable insights. Now as a Senior Consultant and Trusted Business Advisor, she continues to chal... Show more

Deb Schaffer

Deb Schaffer

•Team Manager | Sr. Solution Architect on the Dynamics SMB Delivery team at Stoneridge Software
•25+ years of experience in functional consulting for Dynamics implementations and upgrades, as well as directly supporting SMB clients for Dynamics GP, CRM, and Business Central
•Microsoft certifications:
• Microsoft Certified Trainer
• Microsoft Business Central
• Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Sales

•Team Manager | Sr. Solution Architect on the Dynamics SMB Delivery team at Stoneridge Software •25+ years of experience in functional consulting for Dynamics implementations and upgrades, as well as directly supporting SMB clients for Dynamics GP, ... Show more

Masaharu Kanda

Masaharu Kanda

Masaharu Kanda began his career as an electrical and embedded software engineer. He worked on the development of Blu–ray–compatible optical drives, taking responsibility for electrical design and firmware development. Later, he contributed to the development of cloud gaming servers, focusing on Linux device drivers.
After that, he joined another startup, where he was involved in project management and the development of edge AI applications.
He is currently at NTT, Inc., participating in the IOWN concept and working on the design of a disaggregated computing controller.

Masaharu Kanda began his career as an electrical and embedded software engineer. He worked on the development of Blu–ray–compatible optical drives, taking responsibility for electrical design and firmware development. Later, he contributed to the dev... Show more

Christopher Watson

Christopher Watson

Chris Watson is a Manager at RSM US LLP with deep expertise in Microsoft Teams and Dynamics 365 Contact Center. He has worked with Microsoft Teams since 2017 and has architected and overseen deployments across Healthcare, Education, Financial Services, and Manufacturing. Chris has been a Dynamics 365 Contact Center architect since its release, specializing in contact center architecture, integration, and enterprise-scale implementations.

Chris Watson is a Manager at RSM US LLP with deep expertise in Microsoft Teams and Dynamics 365 Contact Center. He has worked with Microsoft Teams since 2017 and has architected and overseen deployments across Healthcare, Education, Financial Service... Show more

Michael Schwartz

Michael Schwartz

I have over 28 years' experience with ERP software packages with applications ranging from textiles to general manufacturing to process manufacturing to engineer to order. I have been working with Dynamics AX/D365 for over 20 years and have in-depth knowledge of X++ development in addition to experience with trade and logistics, projects, production, and security within D365. I am certified in D365 with the MB-500 and MB-330 certifications.

I have over 28 years' experience with ERP software packages with applications ranging from textiles to general manufacturing to process manufacturing to engineer to order. I have been working with Dynamics AX/D365 for over 20 years and have in-depth ... Show more

Frank Maier

Frank Maier

Frank Maier is the CEO of DynamicsGlobalProjects GmbH and has been involved in the Microsoft Dynamics ecosystem for over two decades. He began his career as a developer, quickly advancing to consultant and project manager roles. His passion has always been large-scale international ERP implementations with Business Central and NAV.

Frank was formerly CEO of OctoCon AG and, following its successful acquisition, served on the executive team of YAVEON GmbH. Since 2003, he has also been a board member of Directions EMEA, helping shape the future of the Dynamics partner community.

He lives with his wife and children in the countryside of Southern Germany.

Frank Maier is the CEO of DynamicsGlobalProjects GmbH and has been involved in the Microsoft Dynamics ecosystem for over two decades. He began his career as a developer, quickly advancing to consultant and project manager roles. His passion has alway... Show more

Antonio Chapinal

Antonio Chapinal

As a Cloud & AI Solutions Engineer at Microsoft and a Telecommunications Engineer by trade, I design highly complex technical architectures that drive real business value. Beyond the cloud, I am a Quantum Computing enthusiast, dedicated to understanding and leveraging the next frontier of technology to solve complex, global problems.

As a Cloud & AI Solutions Engineer at Microsoft and a Telecommunications Engineer by trade, I design highly complex technical architectures that drive real business value. Beyond the cloud, I am a Quantum Computing enthusiast, dedicated to understand... Show more

Jim Donahoe

Jim Donahoe

Jim is a Data Engineer 4 for Blueprint Technologies. He lives just outside of Pittsburgh, PA in a small suburb called South Park. He loves working with all things Azure(ARM templates, Azure SQL Database, SQL on IaaS). He is an avid collector of retro video games! He was a member of the Idera ACE program for 2018.

Jim is a Data Engineer 4 for Blueprint Technologies. He lives just outside of Pittsburgh, PA in a small suburb called South Park. He loves working with all things Azure(ARM templates, Azure SQL Database, SQL on IaaS). He is an avid collector of retro... Show more

Mohan Vamsi Potti

Mohan Vamsi Potti

Mohan Vamsi Potti is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) with extensive experience in project controls, scheduling, and construction management across large-scale energy and industrial projects. Currently serving as a Project Controls Analyst at Gemma Power Systems in Austin, Texas, he specializes in developing comprehensive construction schedules, cost tracking, and earned value management for multi-million-dollar power generation facilities.
With a strong foundation in Primavera P6, MS Project, Power BI, and project management platforms like Procore and InEight, Mohan has managed complex projects including SLEC's $600M Combined Cycle Natural Gas Power Plant and Venture Global's $100M Plaquemines LNG facility. His expertise encompasses critical path analysis, schedule risk assessment, resource and cost loading, and change order management, ensuring projects remain on schedule and within budget.
Before his current role, Mohan served as a Field Engineer at PCL Construction, where he led the development of detailed work packages, streamlined RFI processes, and reduced material shortages by 40% through effective inventory management. His hands-on experience includes safety auditing, quality tracking, and coordination with cross-functional teams across projects for Formosa Plastics and Chevron Phillips Chemical.
Mohan holds a Master of Science in Civil Engineering with a specialization in Construction Engineering and Management from Texas A&M University, where he was recognized with the Zachry Department Excellence Fellowship. He earned his Bachelor of Technology in Civil Engineering from the prestigious National Institute of Technology, Warangal, India.
His technical proficiency extends to design and markup tools, including Revit, Bluebeam, and AutoCAD, complemented by advanced skills in data analytics and financial forecasting. Certified in PMP, FE Civil, and OSHA 30-hour Construction, Mohan brings a comprehensive approach to project delivery, combining technical expertise with strategic planning and stakeholder communication. He is committed to driving project success through innovative solutions, continuous improvement, and collaborative leadership.

Mohan Vamsi Potti is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) with extensive experience in project controls, scheduling, and construction management across large-scale energy and industrial projects. Currently serving as a Project Controls A... Show more

Srilekha Sangaraju

Srilekha Sangaraju

Srilekha Sangaraju is an experienced SAP Technical Consultant with over 16 years of expertise in designing and delivering enterprise solutions. As a Technical Lead specializing in SAP Master Data Governance (MDG) and SAP ABAP, she brings proven expertise in system integration, custom development, and performance optimization across complex SAP landscapes.
Currently with IBM, Srilekha leads critical initiatives, including MDG Customer implementation and ESW Data Migration projects. She demonstrates exceptional capability in configuring business functions, managing data governance workflows, and orchestrating system integrations using enterprise web services. Her technical proficiency spans SAP S/4HANA, SAP Fiori, and SLT tools.
Throughout her career at Tata Consultancy Services, Srilekha established herself as a versatile technical architect. She led a 35-member team during the One Kubota HANA implementation, designing enterprise solutions that integrated manufacturing, procurement, and sales processes. Her work on the Delphi ECC upgrade demonstrated her ability to manage complex system migrations, custom code remediation, and large-scale technical transformations. She has successfully executed projects spanning DDMRP integration, Ariba Sourcing, and multiple international rollouts across Honduras, Russia, and India.
Her technical toolkit includes advanced ABAP programming, Fiori application development, Adobe Forms, IDOC/ALE integration, and enterprise web service architecture. Srilekha holds SAP certifications in ABAP for S/4 HANA 2.0 and SAP ECC 5 – NetWeaver 6, complemented by specialized training in SAP Fiori and UI5.
Beyond technical delivery, Srilekha excels at translating complex business requirements into scalable solutions. She has conducted technical overviews on S/4 HANA and Fiori technologies and consistently delivers end-user training and comprehensive documentation. Her collaborative approach with cross-functional teams and proven track record in driving process improvements make her a valuable asset for organizations seeking to optimize their SAP investments and achieve digital transformation objectives.

Srilekha Sangaraju is an experienced SAP Technical Consultant with over 16 years of expertise in designing and delivering enterprise solutions. As a Technical Lead specializing in SAP Master Data Governance (MDG) and SAP ABAP, she brings proven exper... Show more

Subbu Muthukrishnan

Subbu Muthukrishnan

Subbu Muthukrishnan leads Data & AI Solutions Engineering at iLink Digital, a Microsoft Fabric Featured Partner. He drives global technical strategy for Fabric implementations across Fortune 500 clients in Energy, Manufacturing, Retail, and Healthcare. A Columbia University graduate, Subbu co-innovated Project Green Sky with Microsoft's Energy team, demonstrating Real-Time Intelligence for environmental monitoring.

Subbu Muthukrishnan leads Data & AI Solutions Engineering at iLink Digital, a Microsoft Fabric Featured Partner. He drives global technical strategy for Fabric implementations across Fortune 500 clients in Energy, Manufacturing, Retail, and Healthcar... Show more

Aldo Henrique

Aldo Henrique

Possui graduação em Sistemas de Informação pela Universidade Federal de Viçosa (2014) e mestrado em Informática pela Universidade de Brasília (2017), atualmente Dourando em Ciências da Computação na UnB. Tem experiência na área de Ciência da Computação, com ênfase em Sistemas de Informação, atuando principalmente nos seguintes temas: Java, C#, mobile, web e negócios. Professor universitário na Unieuro e Analista de Sistemas IV no CNI

Possui graduação em Sistemas de Informação pela Universidade Federal de Viçosa (2014) e mestrado em Informática pela Universidade de Brasília (2017), atualmente Dourando em Ciências da Computação na UnB. Tem experiência na área de Ciência da Computaç... Show more

Gilcimar Francisco Dias

Gilcimar Francisco Dias

Atualmente, atuo como Gerente de Desenvolvimento de Soluções na Confederação Nacional da Indústria (CNI), liderando uma equipe talentosa de 25 pessoas que, juntas, entregam soluções de alto impacto e enfrentam grandes desafios com excelência. Sou apaixonado por resolver problemas e desenhar soluções tecnológicas que realmente fazem a diferença no dia a dia dos nossos colegas e na organização. É essa busca por agregar valor e transformar desafios em oportunidades que me motiva diariamente.

Atualmente, atuo como Gerente de Desenvolvimento de Soluções na Confederação Nacional da Indústria (CNI), liderando uma equipe talentosa de 25 pessoas que, juntas, entregam soluções de alto impacto e enfrentam grandes desafios com excelência. Sou apa... Show more

Nina Karisik

Nina Karisik

Nina Ajnira Karisik is a software engineer, speaker, and founder of MadeApt, a fashion-tech startup reimagining how clothing is made and experienced. With a background in AI, development, and community-building, Nina’s work blends technical depth with a human touch. She’s known for creating interactive sessions where audiences co-create apps live, exploring the joys and messiness of coding with AI. Her talks and talks have been featured in Australia, India, Spain and beyond

Nina Ajnira Karisik is a software engineer, speaker, and founder of MadeApt, a fashion-tech startup reimagining how clothing is made and experienced. With a background in AI, development, and community-building, Nina’s work blends technical depth wit... Show more

Luigi Bai

Luigi Bai

Luigi is a managing attorney at Lone Star Legal Aid. Their teams help appeal evictions, publish disaster content, and make legal information accessible to self-representing persons (SRLs) across the state of Texas. SRLs have access to legal interviews and document assembly, text reminders and information about eviction appeals, and videos explaining legal topics. Visitors are guided to targeted information about real property, landlord/tenant, employment, benefits, and other legal topics.

Luigi is a managing attorney at Lone Star Legal Aid. Their teams help appeal evictions, publish disaster content, and make legal information accessible to self-representing persons (SRLs) across the state of Texas. SRLs have access to legal interview... Show more

Luca Zarantonello

Luca Zarantonello

General Manager of Coesiva, a strategic consulting firm working with Italian manufacturing SMEs. I help business owners and managers identify where their time is wasted and how applied AI can remove that friction — not as a tool, but as a method.

I built a personal AI assistant with 60+ specialized skills that runs my daily workflow: email triage, delegation tracking, meeting prep, daily planning. Not to work more — to stop doing what didn't require my expertise.

12+ years advising organizations from CNA (Italy's largest artisan confederation) to multinationals (Generali, Epasa-Itaco, Regione Emilia-Romagna).
Certified Temporary Manager. Currently speaking on AI adoption patterns in Italian SMEs.

General Manager of Coesiva, a strategic consulting firm working with Italian manufacturing SMEs. I help business owners and managers identify where their time is wasted and how applied AI can remove that friction — not as a tool, but as a method. ... Show more

Michelle Francis

Michelle Francis

Michelle Francis is a seasoned technology professional specializing in enterprise systems and digital transformation within the manufacturing sector. At Lindsay Corporation, she leads initiatives that integrate Microsoft Dynamics 365, Power Platform, and AI-driven solutions to streamline operations and enhance business efficiency. With extensive experience in system analysis, process optimization, and change management, Michelle focuses on bridging the gap between IT and business teams to deliver scalable, secure, and innovative solutions. Her work emphasizes practical adoption strategies that drive measurable ROI and sustainable growth.

Michelle Francis is a seasoned technology professional specializing in enterprise systems and digital transformation within the manufacturing sector. At Lindsay Corporation, she leads initiatives that integrate Microsoft Dynamics 365, Power Platform,... Show more

Sahith Vibudhi

Sahith Vibudhi

Sahith Vibudhi is a Founding Software Engineer at Dots (Y Combinator S21), where he builds payments, tax compliance, and fraud detection infrastructure. Previously, he designed global manufacturing data systems at Tesla and helped scale Darwinbox from its earliest engineering team to unicorn status. He is also the creator of DataPup, an open-source AI-powered database client, and VibeTree, an open-source vibecoding tool.

Sahith Vibudhi is a Founding Software Engineer at Dots (Y Combinator S21), where he builds payments, tax compliance, and fraud detection infrastructure. Previously, he designed global manufacturing data systems at Tesla and helped scale Darwinbox fro... Show more

Nicolas Mengin

Nicolas Mengin

Head of Development at Traefik Labs, the company behind Traefik, the popular cloud-native Gateway Controller, and Traefik Hub, a comprehensive API Management solution for Kubernetes.
Responsible for overseeing the implementation of the Gateway API in Traefik.

Head of Development at Traefik Labs, the company behind Traefik, the popular cloud-native Gateway Controller, and Traefik Hub, a comprehensive API Management solution for Kubernetes. Responsible for overseeing the implementation of the Gateway API i... Show more

Ray Beste

Ray Beste

As Principal AI Strategist at Sikich, a leading professional services firm providing transformative business solutions, Ray leverages over 36 years of experience in the IT industry. Having served as a systems architect for complex CRM implementations utilizing Microsoft technologies, he now focuses on guiding organizations toward productive, responsible, and impactful use of AI technologies, particularly Generative AI. Passionate about innovation, Ray has been a featured speaker at numerous Microsoft centered events including SummitNA 2025, and served on the advisory board for the ExtremeCRM event series, shaping strategic content and contributing significantly to the Microsoft Dynamics community.

As Principal AI Strategist at Sikich, a leading professional services firm providing transformative business solutions, Ray leverages over 36 years of experience in the IT industry. Having served as a systems architect for complex CRM implementations... Show more

Ana Satiel Travieso

Ana Satiel Travieso

I have over 13 years of experience working in the technology field. I am a Systems Information Engineer by profession and hold a Master's degree in Project Management. I am accredited as a Professional Scrum Master, PMP, Agile Coach, and Business Enterprise Practitioner.

Currently, I work as an Agile Coach for the company I am employed by, as well as an independent consultant.

I have over 13 years of experience working in the technology field. I am a Systems Information Engineer by profession and hold a Master's degree in Project Management. I am accredited as a Professional Scrum Master, PMP, Agile Coach, and Business Ent... Show more

Adrian Hermes

Adrian Hermes

Dr. Adrian Hermes is an interdisciplinary researcher and professor working at the intersection of Industrial Engineering, Applied Mathematics, Operations Research, Mathematical Optimization, Computer Science, and Data Analytics. With a strong foundation in engineering and mathematical sciences and extensive international research experience, his work emphasizes the development of rigorous theoretical models together with practical design and implementation methodologies that translate advanced analytical concepts into real-world impact. His collaborations with international research teams span diverse application domains—including transportation systems, supply chains and logistics, forestry planning, systems engineering, viticulture and enology, and biological applications—where quantitative modeling plays a central role. His core expertise focuses on the formulation and solution of complex combinatorial and industrial optimization problems using mathematical programming and network optimization, supported by hybrid strategies that integrate heuristics and metaheuristics with exact, approximation, and stochastic optimization techniques.

Alongside his optimization research, Dr. Hermes brings a decade of experience in data analysis and data science across both scientific and industrial environments. His work centers on statistical modeling, machine learning, and advanced data analytics to extract actionable and interpretable insights from complex datasets. By combining statistical theory with computational implementation and modern analytical workflows, he contributes to interdisciplinary projects where data-driven methodologies support model validation, system understanding, and strategic decision-making. This integration of theoretical rigor with applied analytics enables him to bridge optimization and data science, delivering robust, evidence-based solutions across diverse application domains.

Dr. Adrian Hermes is an interdisciplinary researcher and professor working at the intersection of Industrial Engineering, Applied Mathematics, Operations Research, Mathematical Optimization, Computer Science, and Data Analytics. With a strong foundat... Show more

Jeff Landeen

Jeff Landeen

Jeff has been delivering, developing and deploying Navision and Business Central based solutions for over 20 years (starting with version 3.10) with a key focus on Food & Beverage and Manufacturing clients with complex Integration and EDI needs. He has a Bachelor of Mathematics from the University of Waterloo and resides outside Seattle, Washington.

Jeff has been delivering, developing and deploying Navision and Business Central based solutions for over 20 years (starting with version 3.10) with a key focus on Food & Beverage and Manufacturing clients with complex Integration and EDI needs. He ... Show more

Heikki Hellgren

Heikki Hellgren

Heikki is an Expert Lead Developer at OP Pohjola working with OP's internal Development Portal based on Spotify's Backstage.

Heikki is an Expert Lead Developer at OP Pohjola working with OP's internal Development Portal based on Spotify's Backstage. Show more

John Helveston

John Helveston

John Paul (JP) is an Associate Professor at George Washington University in the Department of Engineering Management and Systems Engineering. His research focuses on understanding how consumer preferences, market dynamics, and policy affect the emergence and adoption of low-carbon technologies, such as electric vehicles and renewable energy technologies. He also studies the critical relationship between the US and China in developing and mass producing these technologies. He has expertise in discrete choice modeling, conjoint analysis, survey design, exploratory data analysis, interview-based research methods, the R programming language, China, and the global electric vehicle industry. He speaks fluent Mandarin Chinese and has conducted extensive fieldwork in China. John holds a Ph.D. and M.S. in Engineering and Public Policy from Carnegie Mellon University and a B.S. in Engineering Science and Mechanics (ESM) from Virginia Tech.

John Paul (JP) is an Associate Professor at George Washington University in the Department of Engineering Management and Systems Engineering. His research focuses on understanding how consumer preferences, market dynamics, and policy affect the emerg... Show more

Benno Löffler

Benno Löffler

Satheesh Nendrambaka

Satheesh Nendrambaka

Satheesh Kumar Nendrambaka is an SAP S/4HANA and ABAP professional with over 14 years of experience delivering end-to-end SAP implementations, cloud migrations, and enterprise-scale solutions across global supply chain, retail, fashion, manufacturing, and e-commerce domains. His work spans SAP ECC, SAP S/4HANA Cloud, SAP FICO, SAP Apparel and Footwear Solution (AFS), and SAP HANA–based architectures, with extensive involvement in greenfield implementations, rollouts, data migration, and post–go-live support.
He has led and contributed to multiple large-scale SAP S/4 HANA food service industry & SAP S/4 HANA fashion industry at NIKE at Compass group USA companies., where he designed and developed critical business applications such as Delivery Dashboard tools, customer payment and flexible profit and lose applications, customer payment and flexible profit and lose applications Sales Document Fiori applications, automation frameworks for change deployment, sales order and contract APIs, and analytical dashboards for inventory planning and order monitoring. His solutions supported complex order-to-cash, procure-to-pay, logistics, warehouse, and transportation processes within high-volume retail and fashion supply chains.
Satheesh has strong expertise in ABAP, ABAP on HANA, Core Data Services (CDS), AMDP, OData services, SAP UI5 Fiori, SAP BTP, SAP Business AI, SAP FICO and SAP NetWeaver technologies. His technical background includes developing asynchronous and synchronous APIs, BGRFC-based processing frameworks, automation tools, analytical CDS views, predictive analytics scenarios, and integrations with upstream and downstream enterprise systems. He has also worked extensively on SAP SCM, SAP MM, SD, FI, SAP Event Management, SAP EWM, and SAP Retail processes.
Throughout his career, Satheesh has collaborated closely with business stakeholders, functional consultants, and global delivery teams to gather requirements, conduct GAP analysis, provide effort estimations, design technical solutions, support user acceptance testing, and ensure high-quality delivery aligned with SAP best practices. He has experience working in Agile (Scrum) environments and is recognized for delivering solutions within agreed timelines while maintaining system performance and stability.
Satheesh holds a Master of Technology in Computer Science Engineering from VIT University and a Bachelor of Technology in Electronics Engineering from JNTU University. He is SAP-certified in ABAP and SAP S/4HANA Sales, has published a peer-reviewed journal article in the area of heterogeneous computing environments, and actively contributes to the SAP Community through technical blogs and knowledge sharing.

Satheesh Kumar Nendrambaka is an SAP S/4HANA and ABAP professional with over 14 years of experience delivering end-to-end SAP implementations, cloud migrations, and enterprise-scale solutions across global supply chain, retail, fashion, manufacturing... Show more

Pavneet Ahluwalia

Pavneet Ahluwalia

Pavneet is a Sr. PRODUCT MANAGER at Azure Kubernetes Service focusing on Scale and Performance. He has 4 years of experience working in containers and cloud platform. Prior to that he worked in Digital marketing, and data science and co-founded 2 startups with successful exits.

Pavneet is a Sr. PRODUCT MANAGER at Azure Kubernetes Service focusing on Scale and Performance. He has 4 years of experience working in containers and cloud platform. Prior to that he worked in Digital marketing, and data science and co-founded 2 sta... Show more

Mor Hananovitz

Mor Hananovitz

Data Science Team Lead @ LSports, ML products expert.
Senior Lecturer at the Hebrew University AI & Data Programs.
Woman in Data Science Israel Community lead and Mentor.
B.Sc, M.Sc. Engineering from Ben Gurion university, Israel.

Data Science Team Lead @ LSports, ML products expert. Senior Lecturer at the Hebrew University AI & Data Programs. Woman in Data Science Israel Community lead and Mentor. B.Sc, M.Sc. Engineering from Ben Gurion university, Israel. Show more

Andy Spamer

Andy Spamer

Andy is an Agile Coach and Transformation Practitioner who is gambling the next decade of his career on the shift to Agentic Coding and embedded AI Agents.

Andy is an Agile Coach and Transformation Practitioner who is gambling the next decade of his career on the shift to Agentic Coding and embedded AI Agents. Show more

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