The NM Energy: Powering The State’s Economy conference will focus on business and technology challenges, trends and opportunities for major areas of energy applications, to inform decisions manufacturers in the energy sector will need to make. Critical frameworks for the energy industry will be addressed by nationally and locally recognized experts and practitioners to provide insight for the development of New Mexico’s energy technology manufacturing infrastructure.
As New Mexico contemplates the manufacture of advanced energy technologies for next-generation energy applications, businesses should be mindful of the current state of affairs. Presently, the energy industry is unusually dynamic and in an explosive transition. Traditional energy generation and distribution technologies are perceived to be insufficient, offering New Mexico the opportunity to exploit and profit from its critical assets – numerous natural energy resources, valuable intellectual capital, vibrant workforce development capacity and an energetic entrepreneurial spirit. However, profits and prosperity won’t occur spontaneously or effortlessly. Committed collaboration across the state will be required to make the best use of these assets and successfully facilitate the development of an energy manufacturing ecosystem for all energy applications.
This conference will begin the journey toward realizing success. Attendees will:
Keynote Speaker
Chancellor, New Mexico State University, Chief Executive of the New Mexico State University System
Chancellor Dan Arvizu joined NMSU last summer, as the most recent step in his distinguished career. He brings to NMSU experience in advanced energy research and development, materials and process sciences, and technology commercialization. He has deep experience working in the public and private sectors. Dr. Arvizu served as the Chief Technology Officer for CH2M Hill Companies, Ltd. and was the 8th Director of the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colorado. He was also appointed by two separate presidents to serve on the National Science Board, and he chaired the board that oversees the National Science Foundation his last four years. Chancellor Arvizu is a member of the National Academy of Engineering and the National Academy of Public Administration. He received a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from New Mexico State University and a Master of Science and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University.
Deputy Director Education and Workforce Development
Dr. Stephen Catt is the Deputy Director of Education and Workforce Development at Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM). ARM’s mission is to be the leading catalyst of robotics innovation and expertise, accelerating growth in U.S.-based manufacturing and high value careers. This nationwide initiative seeks to enhance existing education and training by identifying and promoting best practices in preparing an adaptive workforce for Industry 4.0.
Prior to joining ARM, Dr. Catt taught higher education administration, organizational development, and management at the Master and Baccalaureate levels. He worked as an administrator for a community college for 30 years where he was a catalyst in regional development of advanced manufacturing programs, an associate degree in robotic technology, STEM coalitions among businesses and education, and other creative workforce initiatives.
He worked in the departments of Student Affairs, Workforce Development, Foundation, and Academics and earned his Certified Fund-Raising Executive (CFRE) certification while acquiring over $1 million in new grant funds a year. At the college, he transformed the strategic planning process, formed a new Workforce Development department, and was critical in developing and implementing new curriculum in robotics, energy production, cybersecurity, and disaster training.
At ARM, Dr. Catt coordinates project calls, convenes experts around the nation to solve workforce challenges, and helps companies and workers adapt to new technologies.
Vice President - Industry, Labor, & Economics | Center for Automotive Research
Kristin Dziczek is Vice President of Industry, Labor & Economics at the Center for Automotive Research (CAR). Dziczek joined CAR in 2005 and has more than 25 years of experience as a researcher and policy analyst. She is globally recognized as an expert on automotive labor, employment and talent issues, especially on the topic of labor union relations and contracts, and she regularly presents at conferences and industry events throughout North America.
Kristin leads the ILE team—a group whose expertise includes economic analysis, forecasting & modeling, policy, and economic development. The ILE team’s research portfolio is focused on developing a better understanding of the connections between the automotive industry, technology, the economy, society, and public policy, and is home to CAR’s Automotive Communities Partnership program. Kristin’s research includes analyzing the competitive cost position of the U.S. automotive industry, and evaluating how different tax, trade, or industrial policies and incentives could impact overall automotive sales, production, and employment.
Prior to joining CAR, Kristin served as the associate director of the Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center, and has worked for the U.S. Congress, International Union UAW, and General Motors Corporation. She has published articles in the Monthly Labor Review, Industrial and Labor Relations Review, the Journal of Technology Transfer, and the Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, among others. She earned her B.A. in economics, M.P.P. in public policy, and M.S. in industrial and operations engineering, all from the University of Michigan.
Founder and Managing Director | Advanced Technology Management
Wendy M. Elliott is the Founder and Managing Director of Advanced Technology Management (ATM), founded in 1997 to address technology and management issues for global corporations, academic institutions, and government agencies, providing thought leadership and improved economic returns.
At ATM, Ms. Elliott worked with the governmental agency Enterprise Ireland and the Canadian Consulate to:
She has expertise in advanced materials, product manufacturing, and medical device development. Ms. Elliott contributes to overall organic growth in an organization by addressing client challenges, new business development, feasibility assessments and technology licensing agreements. Select clients include BASF, Bose, Corning and Mitsubishi Pharmaceuticals. Ms. Elliott also co-developed curriculum and training in the area of technology-based entrepreneurship for the National Collegiate Inventors Innovators Alliance. This program is now used at over 50 US universities.
In addition to her duties at ATM, Ms. Elliott managed an experiential learning program for medical device development for Harvard University’s School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. The program was created to help students design and build engineering prototypes with their foreign student and faculty counterparts. This summer exchange program took place in India.
Ms. Elliott previously was involved in improving education through engineering for students in grades K-12. Elements included educator training, robotic workshops, and interactive collaboration with museums.
As a Corporate Relations Manager in MIT’s Industrial Liaison Program (ILP), Ms. Elliott brokered relationships between MIT faculty and researchers and the program’s corporate members. This innovation program fostered research and technology collaboration between corporations, faculty and researchers. Her successful identification of mutual interests led to sponsored research agreements, resource management and new corporate executive education programs. In addition, Ms. Elliott was the liaison between the ILP and the Technology Licensing office. Her responsibilities were in several sectors including materials and manufacturing, biopharma manufacturing, and defense. Her company portfolio included several European companies and she led similar work in Thailand.
Early in her career, Ms. Elliott was a research engineer in the areas of polymer coatings and filter dye development. She has manufacturing expertise in magnetic media (tape and flexible disks) at Polaroid Corporation.
She has been a Visiting Scholar at the 304 Hospital in Beijing, China and continues today as a Research Affiliate at MIT focusing on entrepreneurship in developing economies.
Ms. Elliott received both her BS in Chemical Engineering and her MS in Engineering, with concentrations in Industrial Engineering from Northeastern University. She also has an SM in Management of Technology from the Sloan School of Management/School of Engineering at MIT.
“University, Industry, Government: Overcoming Existing Challenges And Paving New Avenues For Effective Collaboration ”
States and communities are in a high stakes battle amid worldwide competition to secure their economic health and well-being. Innovation and advanced technology are and will continue to be critical to the structure and stability of economic growth throughout the United States and especially in New Mexico. As a dependable source of economic prosperity and sustainability for the most successful states, innovation has only grown in importance in this era of divergent economic outcomes and rapid technological disruptions1. In this regard, innovation, which includes creating new ideas and purposing them for commercial use, helps resolve economic sine waves in numerous ways such as increased product exports, expanded supply chain networks, increased ancillary businesses, improved social well-being, and many more.
New Mexico can double down on its commitment to an innovation economy. The state can increase investments in capital, people, and most of all collaboration. This round table will explore elements that should be included in the formation of a robust and effective system of collaboration that warrants a healthy research and industry nexus. This revolutionary platform will ensure continuous success for New Mexico’s innovation economy.
The overarching question for this discussion addresses the research and industry nexus. It asks, How can Universities (U), Industry (I), and the Government (G) work together to find novel solutions to compelling problems in mutually-beneficial ways by applying an effective peer-to-peer model?
Questions will be posed to the table participants to collect the perspective of each of the represented sectors – university, government and Industry, to understand the unique challenges within each sector and to identify common patterns in their experiences.
The bottom line for this exercise is to identify specific courses of action required to create the best conditions for UIG collaborations.
Dr. Patricia Sullivan, New Mexico State University, serves as Associate Dean for Outreach and Recruitment in the College of Engineering and is currently on assignment as Director for Strategic Initiatives in the Office of the Chancellor. With over 34 years’ experience at NMSU, Dr. Sullivan provides direction for advancing system-wide strategic initiatives as well as directing statewide engineering extension and outreach and recruitment programs under the College’s Engineering New Mexico Resource Network. Dr. Sullivan serves as PI for an EDA i6 Challenge Grant entitled Innovation and
Commercialization for a Regional Energy Workforce (ICREW) and is PI for EPA and USDA grants to advance adoption of energy efficiency and pollution prevention best practices by business and industry statewide. Additionally, Dr. Sullivan serves on a variety of regional, state and local boards and commissions where she is regarded for her professional and visionary leadership, including over 13 years on the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE), a founding member of the board of directors for Enchantment Land Certified Development Company (a program that certifies SBA 504 loans in support of economic development), and a member of the New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority’s Tax Allocation Committee. She has received the NM Distinguished Public Service Award, the Outstanding MAESstro Bravo Award from the national MAES organization, was named a Women of Influence by Albuquerque Business First, was named Energy Executive of the Year by the NM Association of Energy Engineers and is a graduate of the Leadership New Mexico program. Most recently, she was elected to the Board of the American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE) College Industry Partnership Division for a three-year term.
An Energy Manufacturing Ecosystem for New Mexico Capital, Supply Chain/Logistics, Export, Workforce Development and State Government
The objective of the panel is to collectively introduce the audience to a few of the critical entities, agencies, and organizations that comprise the broad and complicated system needed to support a vibrant and successful energy manufacturing ecosystem. The panelists will provide a 30,000-foot overview of their area of expertise, creating a taste for the deep dives that will occur in future Energy Manufacturing summits and symposiums. Please read about this distinguished list of professionals below:
Celina Bussey, Chief Workforce Development Officer, Central New Mexico Community College–
Celina spent nearly eight years as Cabinet Secretary for the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions, overseeing all agency operations, budget and personnel, prior to joining CNM in 2018 as their Chief Workforce Development Officer. She has held multiple positions related to workforce development, specializing in apprenticeship and innovative strategies to address workforce needs in the community. A native of Albuquerque, Celina earned her B.A. in Political Science and Communications from the University of New Mexico.
Please find here.
A block of rooms have been reserved at the Sheraton Airport Hotel at a conference rate of $106 per night. To take advantage of that rate, call 1(800)227-1117 and provide the group code “CTR”.