GetWireless

Dave Smith is the Vice President of IoT solutions with responsibility for technical advisement and thought leadership around products, solutions, and services; both inside and outside of the GetWireless portfolio. Dave is a tenured information technology professional skilled in LPWAN, IoT, Wireless Technologies, Telecommunications, Software Development, Testing, and Embedded Systems. David began his career at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and prior to joining GetWireless served as CTO and CDO for two Innovative IT and IoT hardware manufacturers in the Twin Cities area.

US Cellular

James Brehm & Associates

An independent advisor and technology evangelist, James Brehm is a regular speaker at industry conferences and one of the leading voices on the state of the IoT and M2M market today. Mr. Brehm is a regular contributor to CNBC and is frequently quoted by media outlets such as Business Week, RCR Wireless, ComputerWorld, PC Magazine, and the San Jose Mercury News. Over the past decade, Mr. Brehm has spoken to various groups on topics including wireless services, mobile marketing and advertising, mobile content, VoIP, activation and provisioning, service creation, mobile apps, premium messaging, wireless security, fixed-mobile convergence, mobile broadband (LTE and WiMAX), the telecom regulatory environment and vertical market deployment of web-enabled services. From 2011 to 2014, Brehm served as practice leader, strategist and senior consultant for Compass Intelligence. Prior to joining Compass Intelligence, Mr. Brehm served in multiple roles for nine (9) years at Growth Consulting firm Frost & Sullivan. Prior to joining Frost & Sullivan, Mr. Brehm worked in marketing, sales management, and business development roles for Rackspace Managed Hosting and Interland (now Web.com), two of the largest pure play web hosting companies in the U.S. His responsibilities included research on the competitive landscape of the market, developing new product offerings, assessing emerging markets, improving the over all value chain for Global 1000 clients, due diligence, and acquisition analysis. Mr. Brehm entered the high tech arena in the mid 1990’s working in sales management within the telecom arena for MCI and later working for Gateway, Inc in multiple roles including product marketing, product management, training, and sales management.

Transforma

Matt is a well-respected commentator and technology industry expert with 25 years’ experience at the cutting edge of technology research and consulting. He is a thought-leader in Telecommunications, Digital Transformation and the Internet of Things. He is widely quoted in trade publications and frequent speaker at conferences. His podcast, The Wireless Noodle is a weekly guide to the impact of disruptive technologies on business. In 2020 Matt co-wrote a book The Internet of Things Myth. Matt is currently Founding Partner at Transforma Insights, the leading advisors on IoT, AI and Digital Transformation. Previously he was Founder and CEO of Machina Research, which was acquired by Gartner in 2016. Prior to founding Machina Research Matt was a technology industry analyst, working at firms including Analysys Mason and Yankee Group. Matt holds an MSc in Telecoms from University College London.

The Besen Group

City of Atlanta Dept. of Public Works

Keith Robinson is a visionary and accomplished creative senior-level strategy executive with 20+ years of experience in transforming strategic plans into workable solutions. Mr. Robinson has served in several roles at the City of Atlanta. Currently, he is the Deputy Commissioner for the Department of Public Works (DPW). The department is currently going through innovative change with the use of technology and new business practices to improve operational efficiencies and improve outcomes for residents. Prior to his current role, Mr. Robinson served as the Deputy Director for the Mayor’s Office of Innovation and Performance. In this role, Mr. Robinson was responsible for providing tactical support for the development of the City’s budget. His team was also responsible for citywide financial and operational performance. During his tenure he has worked closely with City department heads to develop strategic initiatives. In addition, Mr. Robinson has worked on groundbreaking projects that include connected vehicles, smart cities, smart homes, mHealth, public/private partnerships, big data, public financing, and cybersecurity just to name a few. In the private sector, Mr. Robinson was global director for a consulting firm. His client based ranged from start-ups to Fortune 500 companies. He brings a considerable amount of experience in various industries such as: oil/gas, industrial automation, intelligent buildings, supply chain & logistics, telecommunications, electronic manufacturing, water/wastewater, transportation, and government. This insight gives him a comprehensive view on various best practices, business models and insight on trends that will shape society in the future. He is a graduate of Fisk University and currently resides in the Atlanta area with his wife and kids.

SEMPRE

SEMPRE is led by Dr. Rob Spalding, Brig Gen USAF (ret), former senior director of strategy at the National Security Council, White House. He is supported by a team of experienced industry veterans. SEMPRE is a continuation of his vision of secure digital infrastructure created while at the NSC. Rob has served in senior positions of strategy and diplomacy within the Defense and State Departments for more than 26 years, retiring as brigadier general. He was the chief architect for the current widely praised National Security Strategy and the Senior Director for Strategy to the President at the National Security Council. Rob’s innovation while serving in the White House has led to a reset in national security and public policy regarding telecommunications in the US as well as globally. Rob has written extensively on national security matters. His academic papers and editorial work are frequently published and cited, both nationally and internationally. He has been interviewed about the economy and national security on FOX News, BBC, OAN and CNBC, as well as numerous radio and YouTube channels, both nationally and internationally. Rob is a skilled combat leader and a seasoned diplomat. Under Rob’s leadership, the 509th Operations Group—the nation’s only B-2 Stealth Bomber unit—experienced unprecedented technological and operational advances. Rob led his team through complex B-2 technological issues all the while achieving tremendous results at little to no cost to the government. He is a former China strategist for the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Joint Staff at the Pentagon, as well as having served as the senior defense official and defense attaché in Beijing. Rob’s relationship with business leaders, fostered during his time as a Military Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, allowed him to recommend pragmatic solutions to complex foreign policy and national security issues, now driving positive economic outcomes for the nation. Rob is an Olmsted Scholar, a Life Member of the Council on Foreign Relations, a Senior Fellow at the Hudson Institute, Washington, D.C., as well as a Senior Associate Fellow at the Henry Jackson Society of London. He has lectured globally, including engagements at European Cybersec 2019, KAS-ASPI, S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, and Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory. He holds a doctorate in economics and mathematics from the University of Missouri, Kansas City.

Vodafone

Erik Kling has more than 25 years of experience in the communication technology field covering hardware, software, services and solution elements of the industry. Erik has held senior sales and product management roles at Siemens Communications and wireless startup companies along with over 15 years specifically in the IoT space. Erik joined Vodafone in September 2010 and is currently leading the Vodafone IoT business in the Americas as Head of Sales. He most recently held the position as Vice President IoT New Business Development. His responsibilities include building and developing the IoT domestic team including the Latin America region, driving IoT solutions into Vodafone large multinational accounts along with additional customers and markets and defining, developing and nurturing the IoT ecosystem. Erik’s experience has spanned the globe with multiple roles in Europe, based in Spain and Germany, and over 10 years in the Americas. Erik was born in Germany and has lived in Spain, Mexico and Canada.

Somos

Parallel Communications

John has extensive expertise in a broad range of technology fields including telecommunications, IoT, AI and ML, AR/VR/XR, holography, radiometric sensing, mobility, agriculture and environmental technology, semiconductors, and fintech. He serves on the DevNetwork AI/ML Advisory Board, as well as an advisor to multiple nonprofits. He has over 35 years of experience in engineering, product development, marketing, business development, and public relations in technology fields. Before joining Parallel, John was responsible for marketing and business development for a semiconductor startup, and was a divisional manager at NEC America where he successfully launched multiple product lines and managed new technology introductions. John holds a bachelor’s degree in Broadcasting from the University of Wisconsin–Platteville.