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REGISTER FOR OUR EXCEL TECH CONFERENCE
Excel Engineering is proud to bring you our annual technical conference on April 24th, 2025, an event designed to bring professionals, clients, and business partners together for a dynamic and educational experience. Our conference is the premier event for anyone looking to advance their knowledge and skills in engineering and technology.
Attendees can attend informative workshops throughout the conference, engage in thought-provoking discussions, and network with peers and industry experts. With a focus on the latest advancements and best practices, our conference provides a platform for attendees to gain insights and knowledge that will help them stay ahead in their careers.
In addition to providing valuable education opportunities, our conference is also an opportunity for us to share knowledge with our clients and business partners. Our team of experienced professionals will be on hand to answer questions, share their experiences, and engage in productive discussions.
Thursday, April 24th 2025 Agenda
7:45 AM – 8:00 AM Check-in, Coffee & Juice
General Morning Session
| 8:00 AM – 8:05 AM | Welcome, Introductions, Logistics |
| 8:05 AM – 9:00 AM | “Ethics of AI” by Emily Laird, UW Stout |
| 9:00 AM – 9:10 AM | Refreshment/Stretch Break |
| 9:10 AM – 10:00 AM | “Economic conditions, covering economic activity, inflation, and the labor market” by Erick Garcia Luna, Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis |
| 10:00 AM – 10:50 AM | “Case Study on Data Center design and construction” by Thom Jackson, Dunham |
| 10:50 AM – 11:00 AM | Refreshment/Stretch Break |
| 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM | “Next Gen Wearable Technology” by Brad Holschuh and Lucy Dunne, UofM – Wearable Technology Lab |
| 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM | Buffet Lunch |
1:00PM – 4:45PM CONCURRENT AFTERNOON SESSIONS
Industry 4.0 Session
| 1:00 PM – 1:50 PM | “IIOT: Smart Cables and Interconnects for a Smart Factory” by Jerome Taylor, Nortech Systems |
| 1:55 PM – 2:45 PM | “Workforce Development Training for the Industry 4.0 Setting” by John Wentz, University of St. Thomas |
| 2:45 PM – 3:00 PM | Refreshments/Stretch Break |
| 3:00 PM – 3:50 PM | “Private LTE Networks: When WI-FI and Wired Ethernet Fall Short” by Brandon Dalida, Multitech Systems, Inc. |
| 3:55 PM – 4:45 PM | “Optimizing Supply Chain Management with AI” by Ibrahim Ahmed, Trane Technologies |
Controls & Automation Session
| 1:00 PM – 1:50 PM | “The future of HMIs” by Corey Jurek, Van Meter |
| 1:55 PM – 2:45 PM | “Wireless HART Network Sensing Technology” by Joel Lemke, Emerson |
| 2:45 PM – 3:00 PM | Refreshments/Stretch Break |
| 3:00 PM – 3:50 PM | “Exploring EPLAN for Automation and Controls Design” by Sean Mulherrin, EPLAN, LLC |
| 3:55 PM – 4:45 PM | “OT Network Architecture Security” by Andrew Jagger, Power/Mation |
Electrical Engineering Session
| 1:00 PM – 1:50 PM | “Infrared Thermal Imaging Inspection Techniques” by Mike Pratten, Fluke |
| 1:55 PM – 2:45 PM | “Power-Quality Capacitors and Active Harmonic Filters.” by Jeremy James, James Power Technologies |
| 2:45 PM – 3:00 PM | Refreshments/Stretch Break |
| 3:00 PM – 3:50 PM | “Backup Genset Power Transition Design” by Michael Munson, Cummins |
| 3:55 PM – 4:45 PM | “The latest in Electrical Equipment Technology” by Roger Horak, PE, ABB |
2025 Conference Speakers
Dr. Brad Holschuh
Associate Professor,
University of Minnesota
Topic: Next-Gen Wearable Technology
Session: Morning – General Session
Dr. Brad Holschuh is an Associate Professor of User Experience (UX) Design at the University of Minnesota, where he serves as Co-Director of the Wearable Technology Laboratory (WTL) and Director of Graduate Studies for the Human Factors and Ergonomics (HFE) graduate program and the Design Graduate Program. Since 2022, Dr. Holschuh also holds the title of UMN Distinguished University Teaching Professor and is a member of the UMN Academy of Distinguished Teachers. He earned his BS (’07), dual MS (’10), and PhD (’14) degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where as a NASA Space Technology Research Fellow (NSTRF) in the Man-Vehicle Laboratory (MVL) he researched advanced materials for next generation space suits. At UMN, Dr. Holschuh’s research focuses on the use of wearable technology to improve human performance both in space and on Earth, with a specific focus on integrating active materials technology into wearable systems. His work encompasses wearable technology, soft robotics, human factors design, textile engineering, aerospace engineering / bioastronautics, and materials science.
Topic: Next-Gen Wearable Technology
Session: Morning – General Session
Lucy E. Dunne is currently a Professor at the University of Minnesota, where she chaired the School of Apparel Design from 2011-2024 and co-directs the Wearable Technology Lab. She holds degrees in Apparel Design (BS 2002, MA 2004, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA), Electronic Technology (AAS 2004, Tompkins-Cortland Community College, Cortland, NY, USA). and Computer Science (Ph.D. 2007, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland). Her research focuses on textile- and garment-based wearable technologies, human factors of wearable systems, and manufacturing and use of next-generation clothing. She is a co-author (with Susan Watkins) of “Functional Apparel Design: From Sportswear to Space Suits” (Bloomsbury, 2015), and she has received the National Science Foundation’s CAREER award and the NASA Silver Achievement Medal for her work with functional clothing and wearable technology.
Dr. Lucy Dunne
Professor,
University of Minnesota
Brandon Dalida
Regional Sales Director,
Multi-Tech Systems Inc.
Topic: Private LTE Networks – When WI-FI and Wired Ethernet Fall Short
Session: Afternoon – Industry 4.0
Brandon Dalida is a results-oriented sales leader with over 15 years of experience in IIoT, LoRaWAN, and public and private cellular networks. As a Regional Sales Director, Brandon drives business growth through strategic sales, builds strong client relationships, and stays at the forefront of emerging wireless technologies. He also has extensive experience in vertical markets such as Utilities, Smart Buildings, Agriculture, and Oil & Gas, consistently delivering exceptional value and innovative solutions.
Topic: Optimizing Supply Chain Management with AI
Session: Afternoon – Industry 4.0
Ibrahim Ahmed is pursuing a career in machine learning for controls and data-driven optimization. His recent work uses language models for analytics, and data-driven physics models for energy optimization. In academia, his research was on reinforcement learning for adaptive control in smart buildings and UAVs. He is interested in applying his background in scientific machine learning towards optimizing supply chains.
Joel Lemke, PE
Senior Business Development Manager,
Emerson
Topic: Wireless HART Network Sensing Technology
Session: Afternoon – Controls & Automation
Joel Lemke is Senior Business Development Manager for Pervasive Sensing at Emerson. In this capacity, he is responsible for the proper application of wireless technology to improve plant health, mainly in the areas of safety, reliability, energy and sustainability. He has over 30 years of experience in the application of pressure, flow and acoustic measurements, with an emphasis on utility systems. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Minnesota, is an AEE Certified Energy Manager, and is a registered Professional Engineer in the State of Minnesota.
Topic: Backup Genset Power Transition Design
Session:Afternoon – Electrical Engineering
Mike is the Director of Sales Application Engineering for Northern Region within the Cummins Sales and Service organization. Mike leads a group of eight Sales Application Engineers covering 26 states in the Midwest and Eastern part of the US. Mike started his career in 1989 in the electrical distribution industry working for an independent switchgear manufacturer. Mike has held several positions since joining Cummins in 2004. He has served as a Regional Sales Manager for the Power Electronics group of Cummins Power Generation and as a Territory Manager for Cummins Power Generation covering Canada before taking on his current role. Outside of work, Mike enjoys outdoor activities, gardening, skiing, and travelling.
Topic: Economic Activity, Inflation, and the Labor Market
Session: Morning – General Session
Erick Garcia Luna is a regional outreach director at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. His responsibilities include tracking, analyzing, and reporting on several aspects of the economy of the Fed’s Ninth District. Erick is a co-author of the Beige Book and has published articles on inflation, business conditions, and labor. His work has been featured in local and national media, including Marketplace and Bloomberg TV.
Prior to joining the Minneapolis Fed, Erick held a variety of roles in the U.S. Senate, the City of Minneapolis, and the University of Minnesota. His academic credentials include coursework in economics and political science from the Autonomous Metropolitan University in Mexico City, and a degree in economics from the University of Minnesota.
Topic: Smart Cables and Interconects
Session: Afternoon – Industry 4.0
Jerome Taylor is a highly experienced Electrical Engineer with over 25 years of expertise in high-speed I/O, interconnects, hardware board design, and test system software. He holds a BSEE degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and currently serves as Principal Engineer at Nortech Systems. In this role Jerome is focused on custom interconnects, new product introductions (NPI) into the manufacturing process, Research & Development, and science & technology initiatives. He is tasked with guiding the company’s technological advancement and expanding the company’s intellectual property through thought leadership and by staying abreast of trends and emerging technologies.
Topic: Workforce Development Training for Industry 4.0
Session: Afternoon – Industry 4.0
John Wentz is the founding Director of the Center for Advanced Manufacturing at the University of St. Thomas, where he serves as Professor of Mechanical Engineering and past Department Chair. He earned his PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. An educator with 18 years of experience studying and researching manufacturing topics, he enjoys sharing his passion for advanced manufacturing processes through hands-on workforce development efforts that span K-12 to undergraduate and graduate engineering. His technical expertise is in design for additive manufacturing, machining optimization and wire-arc additive manufacturing. He is active in applied manufacturing process research with federal and industrial partners.
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