Speakers

Jack is a founder and Managing Director of Pantek Partners, Pantek is a boutique investment banking firm focused on the hard science sectors with deep networks in the North American, European and Asian technology centers. Strong expertise in advanced materials, advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, batteries, alternative energy platforms, computer vision systems and biotechnology. Our mission is to provide our clients with unique insight and access to strategic investment, M&A and business development channels globally coupled with seasoned execution capabilities. Founded in 2007, Pantek has advised over a 300+ clients with regards to their global capital raising, strategic business development and M&A initiatives.

Mark was CEO of Bloomfield (acquired by Kubota Corporation), an ag-tech company using AI to help specialty crop growers across the US, EU, Africa and South America. Previously, he cofounder and CEO of RoadBotics (acquired by Michelin), which used AI to assess roadway infrastructure across seven countries. Prior to RoadBotics, he cofounded kWantix (acquired by Moody Aldrich Partners), a quant energy hedge fund, and cofounder and CEO of kWantera, an energy trading company, both using deep learning technology. Previously, he was CEO of Think Through Learning (acquired by Imagine Learning), an online tutoring company and US Managing Director of ANGLE Technology, PLC, a UK-based venture capital firm and consultancy.

Earlier in his career, Mark was the Director of Government Relations for Texas Instruments and held policy positions as a Senior Policy Analyst in The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy in the Administration of George H. W. Bush. He was also staff assistant to late U.S. Senator John Heinz was a management consultant with Booz Allen.

Mark is an Adviser to MIR Ventures in Palo Alto and Cascadia Capital in Seattle. He is also an Adjunct Professor of Entrepreneurship at Carnegie Mellon University. Mark holds MS in Technology Management from The American University, a PhD in Public Policy from the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University and a Doctorate in Business Administration from the Fox School of Business at Temple University. He also completed the AI Academy at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Joe Ferrara is a Board Member of Security Journey, a private equity-backed cybersecurity SaaS company. Joe is also strategic advisor to BlastPoint and Hoxhunt, both venture-backed startups. He was most recently the CEO of Security Journey and previously the CEO of Wombat Security which was acquired by Proofpoint for $225 million, delivering over a 10X return for venture capital and angel investors. Other positions include GM of Proofpoint's Security Awareness Division, CEO of Tollgrade Communications, CEO Marconi Communications North America, and GM of Ericsson's Routing and Switching division. Joe has been involved with both sell side and buy side mergers and acquisitions throughout his career and is a proud Penn State alumnus.

Nicholas Kuhn, has been CEO of Setex Technologies for 6 years. Recently he led an asset sale for the company to Shin-Etsu, a multi-billion advanced materials company. He is a serial entrepreneur with extensive experience in the medical device, advanced materials and consumer products arenas. Prior to Setex, He was the Founder, President, and a Director of Curavi Health, Inc; a UPMC Enterprises healthcare IT spinout. He was the founding CEO of ALung Technologies, leading that company through technology development, clinical trials, CE approval, and global commercialization. Mr. Kuhn holds a B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering from Notre Dame, and a M.B.A. from the Kellogg School of Management. Mr. Kuhn is the winner of the Pittsburgh Technology Council Enterprise Business plan competition; as well as Carnegie Science Start-Up Entrepreneur of the Year.

Corey Phelps was appointed as the John and Karen Arnold Dean of Penn State's Smeal College of Business, effective July 15, 2024. He oversees all aspects of one of the largest business schools in the nation. Phelps brings a wealth of experience in higher education and business. Prior to Penn State, he served as the dean of the University of Oklahoma Michael F. Price College of Business, Fred E. Brown Chair of Business, and professor of entrepreneurship and strategy.

Phelps holds a Ph.D. and a master's degree in business administration from New York University's Stern School of Business and an MBA and bachelor's degree from San Diego State University. His academic career includes positions at McGill University, HEC Paris, and the University of Washington's Foster School of Business. His research on strategy, entrepreneurship, and innovation has been widely published and cited more than 9,500 times. He co-authored the book "Cracked It! How to Solve Big Problems and Sell Solutions Like Top Strategy Consultants."