Summerfest Tech 2021

Chuck serves on several company boards and is the bestselling author of The Innovator’s Spirit.

At Cree, Chuck helped lead the company from $6 million in revenue to over $1.6 billion as they started the LED Lighting Revolution that led to the obsolescence of traditional light bulbs. Chuck is a co-inventor on 25 patents covering LED and lighting related technology.

In 2010, Chuck was named Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year for the Carolinas. During his time as CEO, Cree was recognized as MIT Technology Review’s 50 Smartest Companies for 2014 and as one of Fast Company’s World’s 50 Most Innovative Companies in 2015.  

Since joining Zurn Water Solutions, formerly Rexnord Corporation, Mike has held leadership positions in Information Technology, Customer Care, and (IIoT) Connected Products.  Mike has led initiatives to modernize global systems/processes, improve the customer experience, and increase sales efficiency.  Mike has also led numerous digital transformations supporting digital marketing, eCommerce, connected products, and advanced analytics.

Before joining the organization in 2007, he was with AT&T, Lucent, and Agere Systems in various senior information technology positions implementing global industry leading solutions and processes.

Mike has a Master’s degree in Management from Purdue University and a bachelor’s degree in Computer & Information Science from the University of Delaware.

Wisnefske been at Sargento for 16 years and has over 28 years of experience in the food industry.  He received his B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from UW – Madison and MBA from Marquette University. In recent years, his focus has been on Manufacturing 4.0 initiatives, enterprise manufacturing and maintenance systems, along with Mfr 4.0 Education partnerships.

Sabha is a technologist who is inspired to increase diversity among tech professionals. She enables infrastructure needed to empower and deliver digital transformation and industrial IoT for their multiple manufacturing plants and 24,000+ employees globally.

Sabha is a highly driven, results-orientated tech leader with experience in portfolio management, managing large programs and complex enterprise initiatives. She has a diverse skill set focused on leadership, delivery and results harbored with technical knowledge and expertise in global program management, IT transformation, agile principles, project and organizational design, and a customer service focus. Described as forward thinking, versatile, proactive, and a relationship builder who is driven by new challenges, Sabha’s passion is IT transformation, business analysis and continuous improvement.

In addition to her role with Rockwell, Sabha is a part-time adjunct professor, Lean Six Sigma certified, and an active volunteer for Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE).  She enjoys educating others about the changing careers in tech, especially technical career paths.

Chris Nardecchia is senior vice president, Information Technology and Chief Information Officer at Rockwell Automation. Chris is responsible for strategic vision, operational excellence and change leadership for the development and implementation of information technology initiatives and architecture across our company. Chris drives our corporate information technology strategy and internal transformation, creating digital solutions that enhance our Rockwell Automation capabilities internally and externally. Chris began his career at Rockwell Automation in 2017. Prior to joining the company, Chris was vice president and CIO, Global Operations and Supply Chain, at Amgen, Inc. He also held leadership roles at Pfizer and Warner Lambert, which was aquired by Pfizer. At these companies, he led IT-enabled business and digital strategy and accelerated growth through technology and data analytics. He drove business innovations that improved profitability, globalization, restructuring and mergers. He has an extensive background with portfolio management, engineering, operations, mergers and acquisitions, IT risk management, analytics and using technology to drive business insights. He was also the Rockwell Automation executive sponsor at Amgen. Earlier in his career, Chris also held process, and production engineering roles in the pharmaceutical, chemical and nuclear industries. Chris holds a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from State University of New York at Buffalo in Buffalo, New York, and an MBA from Michigan State in East Lansing, Michigan.

Lee Lane is vice president and general manager of the Sensing, Safety & Industrial Components Business, part of the Intelligent Devices segment of Rockwell Automation. Lee joined Rockwell Automation in 1992 and has held roles of increasing responsibility across the enterprise application engineering, commercial engineering and business management functions, including as director, hardware for the Control & Visualization Business. Most recently, Lee was vice president, Safety, Sensing and Connectivity Business. Prior to that role, he was director, Sensing Business. He also established and ran our system release process and worked across our enterprise to prioritize system capabilities, develop the system roadmap and direct application engineering solutions to make our products system enabled. He also created our Product Security Office. Lee holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Maine in Orono, Maine.

Tim Dickson has served as Generac Power System's Chief Information Officer since August 2020. Dickson previously served as the Vice President of Front Office IT at Motorola Solutions from 2015-2018, and additionally served as a divisional CIO leading Emerging Technologies, M&A, and User Experience for Dell, Inc from 2004-2015.

Joseph works on the Project Operations Team at BlocPower. He is responsible for the coordination and execution of BlocPower’s clean energy and Wi-Fi projects and helps manageBlocPower’s strategic partnerships. He is currently based in Los Angeles, where he also oversees BlocPower’s work in California. Born and raised in Milwaukee, WI, Joseph earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science & Sustainability from The University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. He has spent the entirety of his career working in cleantech at the intersection of energy efficiency and renewable generation and real estate. Prior to joining BlocPower, Joseph worked in utility consulting at Waypoint Energy and sold efficiency and renewable solutions directly to commercial buildings at Carbon Lighthouse.

Supervisory Special Agent Amanda J. Knutson entered the FBI in 2010 as a Special Agent and was assigned to the Los Angeles Field Office where she worked on a Cyber squad responsible for conducting both criminal and national security computer intrusion investigations. In 2016, SSA Knutson was promoted to Supervisory Special Agent and served as a Program Manager within Cyber Division at FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C. In 2018, SSA Knutson was selected and served as the Unit Chief over Asia Cyber Operations Unit within Cyber Division. In these roles, Ms. Knutson managed several high-profile national security Cyber investigations. In 2019, SSA Knutson was selected as a Supervisory Special Agent at the Milwaukee Field Office to run the Cyber Task Force. Prior to her appointment at the FBI, SSA Knutson worked as a microbiologist in the pharmaceutical industry focused on biological quality assurance. SSA Knutson holds a Bachelor of Science degree in biology and forensic chemistry. 

Kesha Williams is an award-winning technology leader with a passion for hands-on building and developing the next generation of leaders. During her 26-year journey in tech, Forbes, Amazon Web Services (AWS), and Oracle have applauded her contributions. She's recognized, by Amazon, as an AWS Machine Learning Hero and Alexa Champion. Her expertise in machine learning led her to the TED stage as a winner of TED's Spotlight Presentation Academy. She currently serves as a Senior Principal at Slalom in the AWS Cloud Residency and on the Board of Directors for Women in Voice

Matthew teaches a Graduate level class: Applied Web 3.0: Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain in UWM’s new $10 million Lubar Entrepreneurship Center that promotes entrepreneurial and design thinking with emphasis on cross pollination of disciplines.  

Matt is also a Lubar Entrepreneurship Ideas Challenge Fellow, National Science Foundation (NSF) I-Corps mentor and is working with other faculty and staff on cross disciplinary learning.  

The focus of Matt’s course will be applie hands-on development in emerging technologies including AI Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain innovations.  Matt has an BS in engineering from UWM and MS in Engineering and MBA from Marquette University with focus on entrepreneurship and has consulted on software projects for Northwestern Mutual, Summerfest, RW. Baird, and Kohls.  

He now brings his experience in startups, investing, and advance technologies to the creation of a new collaborative cross disciplinary startup-tech ecosystem at UWM.

Upon being named President & CEO of MARN in 2019, Mal Montoya began a two-and-a-half-year project to build what would become the new MARN ART + CULTURE HUB in Milwaukee’s Historic Third Ward. With a focus on art, innovation, and technology, Mal turned his focus to activating the HUB, creating a new and exciting multi-faceted destination for artists and those who appreciate their work.

Mal now leads the team that manages a contemporary art gallery, innovation studio, local maker’s marketplace, and a wine and coffee café within the HUB that also serves as the organization’s headquarters. Anticipating the new world of Web 3.0 Mal has formed an Innovation Committee that is venturing into the novel decentralized future of organizations and economic opportunities.

In addition to his work with MARN, Mal serves on the Board of Directors for Imagine MKE, Arts Wisconsin, and is the Treasurer of the Historic Third Ward Association.

Christopher Perceptions is an internationally known Web3 entrepreneur. Christopher is the founder of PerceptForm, an end-to-end ecosystem, and the co-founder of NoCodeClarity, a startup creating NoCode toolkits to aid in the frictionless development of Bitcoin decentralized applications through Stacks, a Layer 1 blockchain. Along with being a serial entrepreneur, Christopher is a highly sought-after crypto consultant and works with the Stacks Foundation as well as the Black Wall Street digital wallet, which is founded by Hill Harper and Najah Roberts.

Since 2016, Christopher has been active in the cryptocurrency industry and has brokered deals such as the Stacks Card, which is a crypto debit card launching in over 50 countries by the end of 2022. Christopher has a passion for empowering people through education and has aided thousands in understanding cryptocurrency. As an expert, Christopher has the unique ability to simplify the complexity surrounding blockchain technology. Christopher Perceptions is building in the cryptocurrency industry because he believes it is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for fairness, innovation, and wealth creation through revolutionary strategies.