The Top Manufacturing Keynote Conference Speakers

Michael Lynch

Michael is a creative and successful executive with extensive leadership experience in delivering innovative manufacturing and industry 4.0 solutions. Michael is the CEO of Praxie, one of the leading AI-Powered manufacturing technology platforms. Prior to founding Praxie, Michael led the Internet of Things business at SAP software. He joined SAP as part of the acquisition of Right Hemisphere Inc., where he held the position of CEO. During his tenure, he transformed a small tools provider for graphics professionals to the global leader in Visualization software for Global 1,000 manufacturers. He closed multiple rounds of venture financing with Sequoia Capital, Sutter Hill Ventures, SAP Ventures, NVIDIA, and others. Michael led the company to a successful acquisition by SAP. Previously, he was the VP in charge of creative product development at 7th Level where he helped grow the company from 20 employees to IPO. At 7th Level, he led the production of over thirty award winning Internet, education and entertainment software products for Disney, Real Networks, IBM, Microsoft and Sony. Prior to working in Technology, Michael was a successful actor/singer/dancer on Broadway where he starred as Marius in the blockbuster musical Les Miserables. Michael also starred on Television’s General Hospital and more. Michael often opens his keynotes with humorous stories about his prior career, which highlights the importance of creative thinking and innovation in driving the future of manufacturing.

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George Earle

George has spent the last 25+ years leading technology product and consulting businesses for the benefit of enterprise manufacturers who are transforming their energy, construction, manufacturing, defense, and aerospace markets into sustainable, lean, and digital modern businesses. This includes business modeling, value engineering, devising global markets, and designing global enterprise consulting services. As an engineering and commercial executive, he led modernizations at Northrop Grumman F35, Sikorsky helicopter, Chrysler, Caterpillar, Boeing, Saab, DOE SPR, and numerous other manufacturing processes into digital manufacturing. He has partnered with client success teams to deliver to over 250+ global industrial, aerospace, and consumer manufacturers, finance/ insurance/ banking and distribution and logistics companies, helping them increase product speed to market, revenue, market share, customer experience, and manufacturing excellence.  George’s keynotes highlight the practical aspects of driving manufacturing digital transformation through lean six sigma, quality, and technology innovation.

Soren Kaplan, Ph.D.

Soren has been recognized by the Thinkers50 as one of the world’s top thought leaders in business strategy and innovation. In 2020, Business Insider named him as one of the world’s top management experts shaping the future. Soren is also The Wall Street Journal bestselling and award winning author of Leapfrogging and The Invisible Advantage, an Affiliate at the Center for Effective Organizations at USC’s Marshall School of Business, a writer for Fast Company and Inc. Magazine, and a globally recognized keynote speaker. As a leading expert in disruptive innovation, organizational transformation, and scalable business models, he has worked with Disney, Kimberly-Clark, Colgate-Palmolive, Hershey, Red Bull, 3M, Medtronic, Roche, Philips, Cisco, and numerous others. Soren previously led the internal strategy and innovation group at Hewlett-Packard (HP), and has co-founded several startups. He has been quoted, published, and interviewed by Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, Inc., Forbes, CNBC, National Public Radio, the American Management Association, and USA Today, among many others. His keynotes focus on how to create a culture of continuous improvement and innovation, including the organizational change and people dynamics essential for business transformation.

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Gabriel Mendoza

Gabriel possesses extensive strategic and hands-on experience in artificial intelligence, including using AI to define and deliver innovative manufacturing processes and products. As former General Manager of eBay Marketplaces and Director of Product Innovation at Intuit, Gabriel leverages his deep expertise in technology, design thinking, blueprinting, rapid prototyping, and agile iteration to help manufacturing organizations transform their business processes to drive quality, process improvement, and business growth. He has successfully led cross-functional and cross-business unit teams across the globe including programs spanning the US, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Singapore, Russia and India. With 20 years of experience as an entrepreneur and intrapreneur across a wide range of companies and markets, Gabriel’s background spans industries globally. His latest Ted Talk highlights the importance of “bridging the artificial intelligence gap” to empower all workers to leverage the power of AI no matter their job function, level, or position.

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