AIM Summit Speakers
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Sprague Ackley
Mr. Ackley is an AIDC expert and a named inventor on many bar code and RFID patents. Mr. Ackley participates on the bar code and RFID technology committees of ISO and AIM and is a member of the AIM Board of Directors. Mr. Ackley has supported application standards development groups in the Automotive, Retail, Healthcare, Electronics, and Material Handling industries. Mr. Ackley is a recipient of the AIM Dilling Award, the AIAG Outstanding Achievement Award and the IEC 1906 Award and was inducted as a charter member of the AIDC100. Mr. Ackley’s prior work experience is a Fellow at Honeywell and a Technologist at Intermec. Mr. Ackley’s educational background includes an undergraduate degree from Bowdoin College and a master’s degree in physics from Stony Brook University in New York
Lucas Ahlstrom
COO, founder and member of the board in the Scandinavian/Hungarian Company Loxtore RFID Systems AB, provider of security, medical cabinets, and safety systems.
International project and development manager for the healthcare and security projects!
Consultant and Industrial Liaison at the iPack center, in the Royal Institute of technology (KTH). Project coordinator between the doctors of science and the industrial area.
Richard Aufreiter
Richard Aufreiter, director of product marketing, HID Global. He is driving HID’s diverse and flexible portfolio of identification technologies across frequencies and applications. With vast expertise in RFID/NFC, encryption systems, PKI, biometry and mobile security, he brings over 20 years of leading product management and engineering in the IT industry.
Faycal Benayad-Cherif
Faycal Benayad-Cherif, Ph.D., is Business Manager (Vision & Software) at FOBA. He has more than 25 years of experience in the development and management of products. He has developed laser based imaging solutions and artificial vision technologies that offer unique ways to improve laser marking and engraving processes. He is an international speaker on UDI, educating audiences on the convergence of regulations and new technologies.
Dr. Benayad-Cherif is the author of several technical publications and holds several U.S. and international patents on robotics, lasers and 3D imaging technology.
Patti Blessing
Patti Blessing is the Vice President of Business Development at Dayton, Ohio based CAVU Group. In her role, Ms. Blessing works closely with customers in the Life Sciences, Healthcare, Medical Device and Diagnostics industries to solve today’s rapidly changing thermal management and monitoring needs using advanced sensor technologies. Her primary focus is the enablement of business process improvement to protect high value assets in the supply chain. A graduate of Indiana University, Ms. Blessing has over 20 years of experience in leadership roles in supply chain operation and technology sales. She is current on the Board of AIM, supports local colleges in course development efforts and sits on the Advisory Boards of several start-up companies in Southwest Ohio.
Andreas Bley
Andreas is co-founder and managing director of MetraLabs GmbH. The company develops, manufactures and implements professional mobile robots for retail, in particular for transport, inventory and as a guide.
Andreas studied in industrial engineering & management with a focus on automation technology and earned his doctorate as a fellow of the German Business Foundation (sdw) in the field of economics at the Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg.
Anja Van Bocxlaer
Anja Van Bocxlaer is the Chief Editor and Publishing Director at Verlag & Freie Medien. Her trade magazine RFID im Blick has been part of the technological media landscape throughout the German-speaking world for nearly 15 years. Van Bocxlaer expanded the publishing house’s portfolio in 2016 by printing the first issue of RFID & Wireless IoT Global, the English-language version of her technology-focused magazine. In addition to two magazines, Van Bocxlaer runs two bilingual websites, created an international search engine for IoT wireless technologies, and is a proven event planner. From 2006 until 2014, she organized an annual conference called the ‘CeBIT Forum AIDC and RFID’. Since 2011, Van Bocxlaer has also organized the annual ‘RFID & Wireless IoT tomorrow’, an international conference and exhibition that has grown exponentially over the years and is now Europe’s leading wireless IoT event.
Dominik Böesl
In January 2019, Dominik Boesl joined FESTO AG & Co. KG as Vice President & Head of Robotic Futures leading FESTO’s robotics business unit and defining its automation strategy. Before, he had been responsible for Innovation and Technology Management at KUKA. In 2012, he became Corporate Innovation Manager at KUKA AG. Dominik graduated with a diploma in Computer Science from the University of Augsburg and an MBA degree from the University of Pittsburgh. In addition to his career, he has constantly been lecturing at different universities, e.g. Munich Technical University (TUM), and is an author of technical and scientific publications. At TUM School of Education, he is researching „Technology, Robotic & AI Governance. Since September 2019, Dominik is Professor for Digital Sciences, Automation and Leadership at the Hochschule der Bayerischen Wirtschaft (HDBW) and active in the IEEE Robotics and Automation Society.
Carlo Carminati
Carlo knowledge and competence start more than 25 years ago, by applying his passion for Information Technologies Systems and Solutions. Traducing the hobby into a job during the studying years (Computer Expertise, Telecommunication Engineering), he entered in SAIT as a Computer and Telecommunication Systems Expert, where he quickly integrates his passion and theory with a lot of real projects and customer requirements. His competence brings him quickly to manage the Operation and Customer Care division of the company, and in the next years puts him beside the CEO to manage the whole company business. Nowadays, after 20 years of experience, Carlo is in charge for the business development, marketing and sales management for SAIT.
Dr. Zhang Chao
Dr. Zhang Chao PhD in Technical Economics and Management, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS). Mr. Zhang chao is the Deputy Director of S&T Commission of the Central Committee of China Democratic League, the Dean of ZIIOT), the Executive-Director of UTC Global, the Secretary- General of the Organizing Committee of International Two-Dimensional Code Industry Development Summit.
He is one of the main promoters of the regulated development of the two-dimensional code industry. He creatively proposed and established the 2D code unified identification mechanism system (IDcode System), and designed the main framework of the global 2D code registration and resolution public service platform. He led the preparation of a series of industry reports such as the 2D code industry development report, the 2D code object identifier white papers, the 2D code public service platform construction and development report, and successfully promoted and established a global 2D code standard organization and code issuing agency.
Jeanne Duckett
Jeanne Duckett leads the Transparency Initiative Development for Avery Dennison Printer Systems investigating: Blockchain, Distributed Computing, RFID, networking and new technology and other relevant technologies for products in the 3-5 year.. She manages the Food IP portfolio for Avery Dennison’s Printer Systems in addition to holding multiple patents in imaging, RFID handling, and various aspects of printer design including design of Food Freshness Printers. Jeanne is a contributing member of AIM Global and GS1 inter-industry organizations. Currently on AIM NA Board and chairs the AIM North America Food Policy Committee and previous chairman of the IOT and Blockchain Council, RFID Experts Group. Participates on Technology Symbols, Wireless Communication, GS1 Supply Chain Visibility and GS1 Foodservice Initiatives. Also a contributing member of the GS1 Global Traceability Initiative. Jeanne has spoken at several industry events including Industry food shows focusing on technology, RFID Journal Live, GS1 Connect and State Association Restaurant Shows.
Chuck Evanhoe
Mr. Chuck Evanhoe, President of Evanhoe & Associates, Inc., is internationally recognized as an expert in Automatic Identification and Data Capture and Collection (AIDC) technologies, a key enabler for the Internet of Things (IoT).
He volunteers as an active member and Chair of the US Technical Advisors Group (ADC1 TAG), the U.S. mirror committee to ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 31 -Automatic Identification and Data Capture Techniques, for radio frequency identification (RFID), real-time locating systems (RTLS) and bar code standards and the past Convenor of SC 31’s Work Group (WG) 8 – Application of AIDC Standards. He is also Chair of the INCITS IoT TAG, the U.S. mirror committee to ISO/IEC/JTC 1/ SC 41 – IoT Standards, and a member of the INCITS Artificial Intelligence (AI) TAG. In addition to serving as Chairman, Association for Automatic Identification & Mobility (AIM, Inc.) Board of Directors, he is also an active member of AIM’s RFID Experts Group (REG), the RAIN RFID Marketing Alliance and the ANSI MH10.8 Sub-committee on Coding & Labeling of Unit-Loads. He is also a Sr. Member of IEEE.
Steve Halliday
Steve is the President of RAIN, the UHF RFID Alliance. The Alliance was formed to promote the understanding, acceptance, and ubiquitous adoption of UHF RFID technology and applications to improve business and, ultimately, people’s lives.
As well as being president of RAIN, Steve is the president of High Tech Aid, a company based in Pittsburgh, PA providing consulting services about Automatic Identification and Data Capture technologies. He graduated from the University of Manchester, UK, with a degree in Electronic Engineering and he has been involved in automatic identification and data capture technologies since 1980. He is a member of the AIDC 100 and is the 2010 winner of the Richard R Dilling award for services to the AIDC industry. He is also a 2012 winner of the IEC 1906 Award and is a Senior Member of the IEEE.
Jan Hoffmann, LL.M.
Jan Hoffmann works at the Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety of the European Commission. He is an expert on regulatory issues related to fast moving consumer goods and supply chain security, with a particular interest in the interplay between law and technology. In his current role, Jan coordinates EU policies on the fight against illicit trade in tobacco products. Most recently, this involved the development and implementation of a regulatory framework establishing a traceability system for tobacco products that provides 360 degrees visibility of the supply chain across the EU. Prior to joining the European Commission, Jan was advisor to the Executive Board of a leading international research university. He holds a Master of Laws (with distinction) from Maastricht University.
Dieter Horst
Dieter Horst is Head of Product Management Industrial Identification at Siemens AG. Identification has been keeping him busy for the past 23 years with different roles in R&D and product management.
As a member of the board of AIM-D he supports the development of AutoID technologies and contributes actively in regulation and standardization in ETSI, DIN and AIM.
He holds a degree in Communications Engineering acquired at the University of Applied Sciences Regensburg, Germany.
Matt Kowalski
Matt directs customer relations and business development for the Enterprise Software division of Zebra Technologies’ Chief Technology Office (CTO). Matt’s experience spans a wide array of disciplines and functions – product management, competitive intelligence, business and customer development, market research, operations, portfolio marketing, intellectual property, business strategy, product lifecycle management and voice of the customer.
Matt’s global product launches include long-range barcode scanners as well as enterprise smart phones and software. He holds a patent in wearable technology along with four other patents pending.
Matt has a BA from New York University (NYU), a Professional Certification in Market Research from the University of Georgia, a Six Sigma Green Belt and an MBA from Fordham University’s Gabelli Business School at Lincoln Center in New York City.
Josef Preishuber-Pflügl
Josef Preishuber-Pflügl is EVP, CTO and business manager RFID+NFC of CISC Semiconductor and gathered significant experience in RFID since starting in 1995. He worked in international collaborative research projects over the past 16 years. He is author and co-author of a significant number of patents in the field of RFID. Due to his standardization involvement and competency he became chairman of the RAIN RFID “Technical WG”, the Austrian ASI “IT and RFID Standardization“ group, and ISO/IEC JTC1 SC31 WG4 “RF communications” including RFID, RTLS and security. Furthermore, he is project editor of multiple standards including ISO/IEC 18000-63 “UHF RFID” and ETSI EN 302 208 “UHF RFID radio regulations”. In 2011 he received the IEC 1906 award.
Bertus Pretorius
Bertus Pretorius has been involved with automated identification since 1994 and became active in the standards world in 1998. He focuses mainly on the RAIN RFID air protocol (method, performance, crypto and data) and barcodes (performance, crypto and data). He is the project editor for ISO/IEC data standards 15961-1, 2, & 3, 15962 and 20248 and the crypto tag performance standard 21277. He is the sub-chair for the RAIN Developers Group and editor of the RCI Guideline. He is project edited the Electronic Vehicle Identification and contributed many RAIN presentations and to technical and developers work. He is championing resolutions to the issues of RAIN flooding and acid RAIN.
Keith Robinson
Keith Robinson has over 20 years of business experience in general IT sales and management as well as 15 years in the enterprise mobility and AIDC markets. Having started his career in software development, designing mission critical solutions, he moved into sales and has worked in roles covering global and EMEA regions with blue-chip manufacturers and distributors.
Doug Seitz
Doug Seitz joined ON Semiconductor as the Product Marketing Manager for Smart Passive Sensors in 2017. Previously Douglas was Worldwide Director for Industrial/RFID Printers for Ricoh, Business Development manager for AIDC labels at Seagull Scientific, and has over 30 years’ experience in IBM managing Technical Support, Field Support, and Marketing organizations.
Claude Tételin
Graduate from ISEN-Lille in 1991, Claude Tételin received his PhD from University of Lille in France in 1996. Former Professor of Telecommunications and Radio frequencies in a French Engineering School (ISEN), he specialized in contactless systems (RFID and secure contactless smart cards).
From September 2008 to December 2018, he has been the chief technical officer of the French RFID National Centre. Its main tasks related to the implementation of the most appropriate RFID technology vis-à-vis industrial and organizational constraints of the end-users. During this period, he was the chairman of the French mirror committees of ISO/IEC JTC1/SC31 (AIDC) and ISO/IEC JTC1/SC41 (IoT).
He is involved in many other standardization committees and is a strong advocate of implementation of standard based solutions. Chairman of the European committee for standardization of automatic identification and data capture (CEN/TC225), he is in charge of all issues related to privacy (EN 16571) and is also involved in the discussions related to the security assessment of the IoT (Internet of Things) applications. Since January 2019, he joined GS1 Global Office in the AIDC team as Subject Matter Expert for EPC/RFID standards and applications.
Mari Waldron
Digital transformation is taking business by storm. Companies are looking to modernize systems and processes in an effort to keep pace with customer demands, regulatory requirements and shrinking budgets. Labeling systems are no exception. At NiceLabel, Mari works to spread the message of the benefits of modernizing legacy labeling systems to improve quality assurance processes, increase speed and drive efficiency. In the end, this digital transformation translates to direct and indirect cost savings and allows companies to capitalize on otherwise missed opportunities to speed up time-to-market and sell more. Mari has an MSc (Econ) in Business and Marketing and a 20 year track record in the AIDC industry, working for industry leaders such as Zebra Technologies and Honeywell, prior to her appointment at NiceLabel.
Andreas Walsner
Andreas Walsner is the responsible Sales Manager for the EMEA Automotive & Aerospace market at Smartrac Technology Group. A professional with extensive knowledge in connecting everyday items to the IOT with deep experience in global roll-out of E2E-Solutions across different verticals.
Niels Wartenberg
Niels has been directly involved in the implementation of AutoID in laboratory settings since 1992. He worked for Beckman Coulter Inc. for more than ten years, addressing AutoID solutions and issues, with roles in R&D, Systems Support, and management. He transitioned into a role as senior applications engineer for Microscan Systems Inc. (now “OMRON Microscan Systems”). Niels provided consultancy for the implementation of AutoID in blood analyzers for OEM life science customers in North America, Asia, and to a smaller extent in Europe. For over 10 years he led all-day short courses on bar code technology for the Association for Laboratory Automation/Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening. He has presented at the American Association for Clinical Chemistry’s annual conference and authored multiple articles on the topic of AutoID in laboratories.
Since 2013, Niels has been involved with work on global AutoID standards for the Clinical & Laboratory Standards Institute, specifically the use of 2D symbologies in clinical settings. He is now part of the training and education team at the headquarters of the global automation company SICK AG in Germany.
Wang Yi
Wang Yi, 44, graduated from Northeastern University of China, Applied Physics subject, have been in AIDC industry for 18 years. He is a Research fellow of GS1 China, Project Editor of ISO/IEC 20830 Han Xin Code, Secretary of TC28/SC31, China mirror committee of ISO/IEC JTC1 SC31.
