BIO
Dr. Arvind Agarwal
Florida International University (FIU)
Dr. Arvind Agarwal is a Distinguished University Professor and Chair of the Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering at Florida International University (FIU), Miami, FL, USA. He also serves as the Director of the Advanced Materials Engineering Research Institute (AMERI). Prof. Agarwal’s current research interests include advanced materials processing, AM via cold spray, plasma spray, and wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM), ultrahigh temperature ceramics processing, nanocomposites and coatings, and biomedical applications of materials. Prof. Agarwal has published more than 350 technical articles, co-authored 3 books, and edited 7 books. He has delivered ~200 presentations at national and international conferences, including 35 keynote/invited lectures. Prof. Agarwal is an inventor holding 11 U.S. patents with 9 more pending. Prof. Agarwal is an an elected Fellow of ASM International, American Ceramic Society (ACerS), and American Association for Advancements in Sciences (AAAS). He also became a Senior Member of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI) in 2020.
BIO
Dr. Allison Beese
Pennsylvania State University
Dr. Allison Beese is an Associate Professor of Materials Science and Engineering and Mechanical Engineering at Penn State University, and the Director of Penn State’s Additive Manufacturing and Design graduate program. Her group performs research on experimentally characterizing, and computationally modeling, the impact of microstructure on the mechanical behavior of additively manufactured materials.
She has previously worked at Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory, served as a postdoctoral fellow at Northwestern University, and joined the faculty at Penn State University in 2013.
Dr. Beese has won the NSF CAREER award, the 2018 TMS AIME Robert Lansing Hardy Award, the 2017 International Outstanding Young Researcher in Freeform and Additive Manufacturing Award, and the 3M Non-Tenured Faculty Award.
She received her B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Penn State and her M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
BIO
Ms. Melanie Lang
Melanie Lang
FormAlloy Co-Founder & CEO
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Melanie Lang, FormAlloy Co-Founder and CEO, is motivated by developing a disruptive technology to deliver geometrically complex components made from exotic materials, at cost-effective prices, and with reasonable lead times. In addition to her role at FormAlloy, Melanie currently serves as the Vice President of Legislative Affairs for Navy League San Diego, America Makes executive committee, and is a Women in 3D Printing Ambassador.
BIO
Mr. Steve Prahalis
CEO - SME
Steve Prahalis joined SME in October 2003 and currently serves as its chief operating officer. Prahalis leads key strategic units including SME Media and SME Events while continuing to oversee Canadian Operations and SME Studios. His passion revolves around finding ways to amplify SME’s value to members, strategic partners, customers and volunteers to drive greater integration, ensure efficiency and enable stronger strategic execution across the entire organization.
Prahalis is focused on growing and diversifying a $50M portfolio of products and services, committed to continuous improvement and obsessed with innovation. He is responsible for several important initiatives and launches such as SME’s Corporate Membership program, the Manufacturing Technology Series (MT Series), Customer F1RST program and EventLIVE, SME’s digital community platform. Previously, Prahalis was president of the Canadian Division of Reed Exhibitions, a leading global producer of trade shows and events serving a variety of markets. He also served in various positions at Key3Media, including director of strategic alliances and vice president of its International Division. Prahalis is a member of the International Association of Expositions and Events, has served as chair on its Executive Task Force and received CAEM’s Lifetime Achievement Award. SME Member Since 2007
BIO
Ms. Mara Hitner
MatterHackers
Ms. Mara Hitner is the Vice President of Strategic Partnerships at MatterHackers. After 16 years in advertising and ad tech sales, Mara became obsessed with desktop 3D printing, and was inspired by the possibilities it held for the future of personal manufacturing.
Mara is thrilled to help corporations, educators, and enthusiasts embrace desktop digital manufacturing, and make product creation and customization native to the next generation. Through the COVID-19 crisis, she also managed the Maker Response Hub - coordinating over 5,000 volunteers with 14,000+ 3D printers across the USA to donate over 75,000 3D printed PPE to 180+ facilities in need.
Mara is a proud Ambassador for America Makes and Advisor for Women In 3D Printing: Next Gen programs. When not printing kitty rings for friends, Mara can be found singing in 80s and 90s tribute bands around Southern California.
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BIO
Mr. Tom Kelly
Automation Alley
Tom Kelly is a globally recognized expert on Industry 4.0 and its impact on business. As executive director and CEO of Automation Alley, Michigan’s Industry 4.0 knowledge center, Kelly oversees strategic planning and all ongoing activities for the organization, including programs and services designed to help businesses increase revenue, reduce costs and make strategic decisions during a time of rapid technological change.
Kelly joined Automation Alley in 2014 after seven years as a technology business consultant for the state of Michigan’s Small Business Development Centers, where he actively coached more than 300 technology startups in advanced automotive, life sciences, homeland security and alternative energy industries. In addition, Kelly has launched three startup companies of his own.
Kelly is regularly invited to speak at conferences and participate in panel discussions and roundtables. He has served on the Canadian National Research Council’s Peer Review Committee and is a current member of the World Economic Forum's Advanced Manufacturing Hub Working Group, the National Research Committee's Peer Review Committee, and is a board member of the Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center and the Jackson Area Manufacturers Association.
Kelly has a bachelor’s in electrical engineering from Clarkson University and a master’s in business administration from the University of Michigan.
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BIO
Ms. Kimberly Gibson
Kimberly Gibson joined America Makes as Ecosystem Director in late 2021. Gibson had already been recognized as an ambassador for America Makes for her role in bringing 3D printed personal protective equipment (PPE) forward during the initial COVID-19 outburst. She did this while working at IC3D, an America Makes member.
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Before that, she was working as communications director at Lightweight Innovations For Tomorrow (LIFT).
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Kimberly spends her free time on a charter school board for four high school dropout recovery programs in inner-city Columbus incorporating career tech education into the curriculum and, through IC3D, initiated the first-ever 3D printed Toys for Tots drive with the US. Marine Corps reserve, delivering 18,000 toys to needy children in 2020.
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BIO
Dr. Eric Wooldridge
Somerset Community College
Professor Wooldridge is the Director of the Additive Manufacturing Center at Somerset Community College, Somerset, Kentucky. He is a Professional Engineer in multiple disciplines including Architectural, Mechanical, and Manufacturing systems, and holds multiple patents regarding insulated cooler and embalming systems technology. His Master's degree is in Manufacturing Systems Engineering with an additive manufacturing focus.
The recipient of the 2021 NISOD Teaching Excellence Award, he is currently the Director of the Additive Manufacturing (AM) program for the statewide Kentucky Community and Technical College System. He also teaches and provides research and curriculum development from his AM Center located at Somerset Community College.
His most recent development is the Rapid Response Additive Manufacturing Initiative (RRAMI). A first of its kind project resulting from COVID-19 that has created a network of 10 AM sites across Kentucky, capable of providing a flexible, stop gap manufacturing response in both polymers and metals, to supply chain breakdowns and production opportunities for the state. Wooldridge’s goal is to scale his RRAMI network beyond Kentucky’s borders and to create a national AM response platform consisting of colleges and universities.
A fourth-generation cattle farmer, he also owns two private engineering and design firms, and has designed buildings and systems across the central and southern regions of Kentucky.
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