Solving problems that most people find impossible is what drives Preston Hadley. He's an industry leader and is on the front lines daily, making automation come to life all around him. He got his start in IT but fell in love with automation and controls and never looked back. Preston is taking it upon himself to address the skills gap in the industry, and his Change a Life Giveaway is one of the most impactful stories you'll hear. It centered around a drawing where the winner would receive a Siemens S7-1200 starter kit. The story gets even better when he shares that the winner was able to land a job in his desired field within a four-week span of taking the prize. Talk about immediate impact!

A problem solver with over 20 years of experience in various roles in automation, manufacturing, and data solutions. I have a unique set of skills and experiences that allow me to be a consultant, coach, architect, mentor, or implementer as the need fits. From my start as an engineer doing automation work in industrial manufacturing through the founder of a data solutions company, my experiences help me bring insight into issues that industrial companies struggle with today. Throughout my 20 years, I have also developed a tremendous network of people who are among the best in the world at what they do. Those partnerships allow me and my company to deliver solutions beyond my capability.

"My passion for the Automation Engineering business translates into providing creative solutions for my customers. Every project is a new challenge that I take on with the objective of exceeding customer expectations." In 2004 I saw the need for an on-call high-talent automation service and project support provider and started PowerLab Control Technologies. The twelve-employee business grew until the asset sale of the corporation in 2010.

I am a high-energy business development and sales leader with over 24 years of factory automation market development and sales experience in the development and implementation of strategies to meet and exceed business growth goals. I have a passion for technology and people and am driven to leverage my knowledge, experience, and relationships across a wide range of industries to understand a customer's needs and collaborate to develop and implement optimal factory automation solutions to achieve their goals.

All June long we've been talking about Systems Integrators. Different verticals. Different perspectives. One thing we (mostly) agree on is the fact that Systems Integration will be different five years from now than it is today. Join Vlad and Dave as we talk all about our experiences and predictions.

Making science fiction real... Ever wonder how industrial automation works? I have the privilege of helping design and build the systems which power it! At Instrulogic, I help to build cutting-edge control systems which don’t (always) cost as much as a Deathstar. I thrive working in critical infrastructure, with water/wastewater being incredibly close to my heart. I enjoy being conservative with customer resources and liberal with my own. And I firmly believe adding value to those I work with is mutually beneficial, and I am humbled to help lead a company with the same belief.

Experienced MES developer and former controls engineer. Skilled in designing, developing, and implementing Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) following the ISA-95 standard. Adept in analyzing complex manufacturing processes, identifying areas for improvement, and developing solutions to optimize production efficiency and reduce downtime. Proven track record of successful MES projects, delivering solutions on-time and within budget.

Inductive Automation started out as a group of Systems Integrators looking for a better product. Join us as we talk with Travis about the journey from integration to product and the last 20+ years of the journey. Along the way, IA has been able to work with a number of leading integration companies and OEMs. We'll ask Travis what will be in store for the next 20 years of integration. Are you a Home Automation fan? Stay tuned for some bonus conversations as to what we can do to put technology into the hands of people sooner.

I am passionate about the concepts of Smart Manufacturing, Industry 4.0, and Digital Transformation: studying, discussing, evaluating, developing, and planning how we can apply innovations in computing, networking, and data to the manufacturing space. I believe that Smart Manufacturing technologies can improve our everyday lives by delivering new and innovative products to market safely, efficiently, and at a lower cost than ever before. In my 12+ years in manufacturing and automation, I have hands-on experience with a wide range of technologies from PLC and SCADA-based control systems to advanced data collection historians, IoT devices, MES, and analytics in industries ranging from food and beverage to pharmaceuticals to renewable energy. Now, I am proud to leverage that experience along with the latest trends and techniques in the market to bring Smart Manufacturing and Industry 4.0 to manufacturers around the world through professional consulting, product management, and thought leadership.