KEYNOTE
Partnership Ecosystems for Small Business Growth & Rapid Implementation of Advanced Technology

Headshot of Nolan Strall

Nolan Strall, Fiber Dynamics/FILL USA
As part of an innovative industry partnership, Nolan Strall is responsible for Strategy and Sales for Fiber Dynamics, Inc and oversees U.S. Business Development for FILL USA. Working in partnership with FILL, Nolan is growing and scaling FDI’s need for high-volume composites manufacturing in the automotive, aerospace and defense markets. At the same time, Nolan works to bring FILL’s Automated Solutions for nondestructive testing, aluminum die casting, aluminum die cast CNC machining, profile machining and assembly, and wood panel manufacturing to the U.S. market – enabling the onshoring of advanced manufacturing technology and capability for the future. Prior to working with Fiber Dynamics and FILL, Nolan was the President of KraussMaffei USA from 2022-24, and Vice President of Operations and Aftermarket from 2020-21.  Nolan began his career in 2002 for Siemens Industry and eventually moved into Aerospace Composite and Metal Cutting Equipment in 2010, working for Fives High Precision Machines before moving to KraussMaffei at the end of 2019.  Nolan has a B.S. in industrial engineering and a minor in business administration from Ohio University.

PRESENTER BIOS

  • Rob Carpenter, Managing Director, Defense Innovation OnRamp Hub

    Rob brings nearly 15 years of experience in the aviation industry in both commercial and business jet development, including leadership roles supporting major projects. He’s spent the last five years supporting technology development for various DoD customers.  As Managing Director of the Defense Innovation OnRamp Hub: Kansas, he oversees operations and strategic initiatives, connecting mission partners from the Department of Defense with technology teams delivering cutting-edge solutions. Strategic and driven, he leverages his extensive background in the design and implementation of major aerospace structures - encompassing planning, scheduling, resource management-to advance the next generation of DoD technologies.

  • Denny Deegan, Quality Mgr./Sr. Dimensional Metrologist, Advanced Machining & Prototyping, WSU-NIAR
    Denny Deegan is the quality manager for NIAR's Advanced Machinining & Prototyping Lab. He is also the metrology training instructor for industry-based courses. He has 36 years of experience in dimensional metrology.
  • Julian Gonzalez-Salamanca, Procurement Counseler, Kansas APEX Accelerator

    Julian Gonzalez-Salamanca is a professional with over a decade of experience in international trade, diversity, equity, inclusion initiatives, and government contracting. He is a procurement counselor at the WSU-Kansas APEX Accelerator program. During the last four years at APEX, he has assisted businesses that want to begin their journey in government contracting. Julian has served as a board member for many nonprofit organizations, and he’s passionate about seeing small businesses grow and achieve success stories that contribute to the development of the Kansas business ecosystem. In 2016, Julian earned his MBA with an emphasis in International Trade from Newman University. 

  • Joshua Goertz, Sr. Research Engineer, Advanced Technologies Lab for Aerospace Systems, WSU-NIAR
    Joshua Goertz leads automated manufacturing research for NIAR's Advanced Technologies Lab for Aerospace Systems (ATLAS). Prior to joining NIAR in 2021, Goertz was a mechanical engineer for Electromech for ten years. He has a B.S. in mechanical nuclear engineering from Kansas State University. 
  • Andy Jonas, Manager, Advanced Machining & Prototyping, WSU-NIAR
    Andy Jonas is an experienced leader in machining and manufacturing operations specializing in machining and prototyping industries and large, complex parts and assemblies.  His operations are forward-leaning, and his research focuses on developing the processes necessary to support the new materials and applications of today and tomorrow’s needs. Andy and his team with with various industry sectors and small to large OEMS. Andy oversees the new Advanced Machining and Prototyping Lab, a 90,000 sq ft facility featuring state-of-the-art equipment. The lab’s support services include engineering, project planning feasibility assessments, programming, tooling, machining, and quality and component prototype and assembly.
  • Jeswin Joseph C., Assoc. Dir. / Program Mgr., Emerging Technologies and CAD/CAM, WSU-NIAR
    Jeswin Joseph C., is a versatile R&D expert in the areas of complex automated scanning; composite manufacturing and advanced material systems; sustainment; design engineering and additive manufacturing – with experience in the operation and maintenance of reverse engineering and additive manufacturing equipment. Jeswin is a Dassault Systèmes CATIA Champion and has developed patent pending technology for automated scanning and pathing of robotic/cobotic applications and software for large scale AM applications. He also contributed to the patented Composite Repair Patch technology. He has a master’s degree from šW“·e·Ö°ń, Project Management Professional certification; and completed the FAA’s Composite Manufacturing Technology awareness program. He has 15 years of experience in the field.
  • Scott Lucas, Ph.D., Vice President, Manufacturing and Workforce Solutions, WSU Tech

    Dr. Lucas has been with WSU Tech since 2003 and has been an Academic Vice President since 2015 guiding many of WSU Tech’s Career and Technical Education initiatives. He has been recognized for work in his field by being named a 2024 Advanced Robotics in Manufacturing Institute Champion and a Wichita Business Journal Executive of the Year. He is a member of the ARM-Education and Workforce Advisory Council, the education committee for the Association for the Advancement of Automation, President of the Wichita Manufacturers Association, Past President of the National Coalition of Advanced Technology Centers, Vice President of the Kansas Council on Workforce Education, a member of the Wichita Public Schools Strategic Advisory Council, and serves on the District Advisory Board for the City of Wichita-District 6.

  • Victoria Philo serves as the program director for Advanced Technologies for WSU Tech. She is an electrical engineer with a passion for automation and innovation. A Michigan native and graduate of Michigan Technological University, she began her career at Whirlpool Corporation, where she worked in R&D developing cutting-edge automation for kitchen and laundry appliances. Growing up surrounded by the automation of the automotive industry, she developed a deep appreciation for smart manufacturing early on. Now based in Wichita, Kansas, she is dedicated to advancing automation through education and industry collaboration.

  • Mason Snyder is a cybersecurity and networking specialist with a passion for IoT and secure system design. His interest in technology started early, leading him to explore network security, architecture, automation, and data collection. While earning his degree, he worked in production, gaining firsthand experience with industrial operations and the challenges of maintaining secure, large-scale networks. Now, as IoT Coordinator for the SMART Factory, he focuses on optimizing network architecture, securing IoT ecosystems, and ensuring seamless data flow in advanced manufacturing environments.

  • Tariq Azmi is the founder of Azm Solution that provides services in Cybersecurity and Compliance i the regulated Industries. He has been in the IT field for over 20 years with the focus of Cyber Security Compliance for the last 8 years. Most recently he has focused on IoT, IIoT security and compliance with requirements. He was a project manager assisting with the implementation of Smart Manufacturing project at WSU TECH

  • Daron Mann, Sr. Dimensional Metrologist, Advanced Machining & Prototyping, WSU-NIAR
    Daron Mann has 18 years experience in metrology, engineering and large volume tooling.
  • Pierre Harter is the Associate Vice President for Industry and Defense Programs, Research Operations at šW“·e·Ö°ń (WSU). In this role, Pierre oversees R&D programs, identifies opportunities for new programs and partnerships and develops growth strategies for academic researchers as well as researchers in WSU’s Industry and Defense programs division .  Prior to joining WSU, Pierre was Executive Director of Advanced Manufacturing Strategy for Spirit AeroSystems with previous executive roles in program management and R&D. Prior to Spirit, he was an Engineering Director at Bombardier Learjet.  Earlier in his career, he worked in Denver Colorado as a consultant in the aerospace industry, was a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Designated Engineering Representative (DER), and held a variety of engineering and executive leadership positions at Adam Aircraft Industries developing and certifying general aviation aircraft.