KEYNOTE SPEAKERS & PRESENTERS

Keynote Speakers:

• Dr. Eli Capilouto, President, University of Kentucky
• Lisa Cassis, Ph.D., Vice President for Research, University of Kentucky
• Secretary Jeff Noel, Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development

Emcee:

• Monique Quarterman, Executive Director, Office of Entrepreneurship & Innovation

Presenters:

• Gaylene Anderson, US Director of Strategic Research Relationships, Boehringer Ingelheim 
• Robert Bunn, Founder and CEO, UltraSound AI 
• Stephanie Davis, Small Business Program Lead, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) 
• Roger England, Vice President and Chief R&D Officer, Valvoline Global Operations 
• Stephanie Fertig, Director, NIH Small Business Program, in SEED 
• Stacey Finster, Founder and CEO, Healthyr 
• Ana Carolina Félix, Business Sustainability Director, Dow Consumer Solutions 
• Danielle Harmon, System Director, Community Development, Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH) 
• Ron Gregorsok, Director of Supply Chain Management, Fischer Homes 
• Fran Lockwood, President, Solar Energy Solutions
• Lisa Morsman, Managing Director, Healthcare Solutions, UPS Healthcare 
• Summer Goldman, Chief Operating Officer, Metals Innovation Initiative (MI2) 
• Joshua Ravenscraft, CEO and Co-founder, New Frontier 
• Jared Ravenscraft, COO and Co-founder, New Frontier 
• Rob Samuels, Managing Director, Maker’s Mark 
• Nancy Schoenberg, Associate Vice President for Research, Health Disparities, Director of Center for Health Equity Transformation (CHET) 
• Eric Smith, Tech Hub Program Director, EDA 
• Doug Smith, Senior Vice President of Operations, Fischer Homes 
• Anil Yadav, Vice President of Operations, North American Stainless

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

DR. ELI CAPILOUTO

President

University of Kentucky

Dr. Eli Capilouto became the 12th President of the University of Kentucky July 1, 2011. Under his leadership, the Commonwealth's flagship and land grant research university has grown from $2.7 billion to $3.9 billion in total operations and has gained significant momentum in fulfilling its multi-faceted mission of teaching, research, service, and health care.

President Capilouto has led a seven-year, $2.3 billion transformation of the campus, aimed at enriching the living-learning experience of UK's students, ensuring their success; strengthening the University's research infrastructure dedicated to solving Kentucky's most intractable health and economic challenges; and expanding UK HealthCare's capacity to teach, heal, and serve. Through partnerships with the private sector, increased philanthropy, and effective financial management, UK is self-financing the vast majority of this aggressive infrastructure development.

Under his leadership, the priorities outlined in the Strategic Plan and the innovation of the campus has resulted in historic student success, a dynamic research enterprise, a sophisticated health care operation capable of serving more patients with increasingly complex needs, and continued service to the people of Kentucky. The progress on the campus is resulting in a high-quality workforce and improved well-being for the Commonwealth UK has served for more than 150 years. 

A native of Montgomery, Alabama, Dr. Capilouto previously served as Provost of the University of Alabama-Birmingham (UAB) and Dean of the UAB School of Public Health -- a period of remarkable growth and transformation at one of the leading academic and health sciences institutions in the South. Dr. Capilouto holds several undergraduate and graduate degrees from schools within the University of Alabama system, a Doctorate of Dental Medicine from UAB, and a Doctorate in Health Policy and Management from Harvard University. He and his wife, Dr. Mary Lynne Capilouto (D.M.D.) a former Dean of the UAB School of Dentistry, have one daughter.

DR. LISA CASSIS

Vice President for Research

University of Kentucky

Dr. Cassis has served as the University of Kentucky's Vice President for Research since June 2015.

As VP for Research, she leads the university’s research enterprise and oversees research proposal development, grants and contracts administration, human subjects protection, 13 multidisciplinary research centers and institutes, and seven service core facilities. She has provided leadership on the UK Strategic Plan and for the new $265 million research building—which will focus UK research efforts on Kentucky’s most pressing health challenges in the areas of cancer, obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and substance abuse. The building opened in fall 2018.

She is principal investigator on several, multi-million-dollar federal grants, including serving as program director of an $11.3 million National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant that supports the Center of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) focusing on obesity and cardiovascular diseases. She has published more than 150 scholarly articles, has been continuously funded by the NIH for 30 years, has served on several NIH standing study sections, and is the recipient of several national research awards.

Cassis joined the faculty at UK in 1988 and is currently a professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, the Saha Cardiovascular Research Center, the Graduate Center for Toxicology, the Barnstable Brown Diabetes and Obesity Center, and the College of Pharmacy.

Cassis earned a Bachelor of Science in pharmacy and Ph.D. in pharmacology from West Virginia University and held postdoctoral positions at the University of Wurzburg in Wurzburg, Germany, and the University of Virginia.

SECRETARY JEFF NOEL

Kentucky Cabinet For Economic Development

Jeff Noel was appointed secretary of the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development in June 2022. He is responsible for the development and administration of executive policies designed to support and promote the attraction of new jobs and investment to the Commonwealth of Kentucky, maintenance of existing industries and overall support of economic growth for the state. Noel previously served as Whirlpool’s corporate vice president of Communications and Public Affairs, reporting to the Chairman and CEO, a position he held since 2004. He also served as the president of Whirlpool Foundation, which includes oversight of the company’s 20-year relationship with Habitat for Humanity that has touched over 200,000 families.

PRESENTERS

GAYLENE ANDERSON

US Director of Strategic Research Relationships, Boehringer Ingelheim 

As Boehringer Ingelheim’s US Director for Strategic Research Relationships, Gaylene is responsible for creating partnerships and pathways for external collaboration with the US Research Organization through internal synergies as well as engagement of external scientific partners. 

Previously, she was the Director, Global Transactions and Contracts Management, and responsible for negotiating global license/collaboration deals, research agreements, and managing strategic alliance programs. Prior to joining Boehringer, Gaylene served as the Senior Director for the Cleveland Clinic/ University of Notre Dame Global Alliance Commercialization Program – managing all life science IP, negotiating license deals and research opportunities, and spinning out startup companies. 

Throughout her career, she has had a strong focus on economic development and entrepreneurship activities. As a result, Gaylene created over a dozen startup companies, developed relationships with investor groups around the U.S., and helped grow research collaboration and licensing opportunities for university programs. Prior to the Cleveland Clinic, she worked for the University of Idaho and the University of Hawaii, as a Senior Licensing Associate. 

ROBERT BUNN

Founder and CEO,

UltraSound AI 

Robert Bunn is the CEO and Founder of Ultrasound AI, where he is revolutionizing women's health through artificial intelligence and data science applications in ultrasound imaging. With a professional journey spanning over 15 years, Robert has honed his expertise in data science, AI, software development and data mining. His mission is to improve the lives of women and their families by leveraging AI and data science to advance women's health. 

STEPHANIE DAVIS

Small Business Program Lead, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Stephanie Davis, Ph.D. has served as the Small Business Program Lead at the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) since 2020. Stephanie received her B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in 2012 from Florida Southern College. She received her M.S. in Medical Sciences (2015) and her Ph.D. in Molecular Pharmacology (2016) from the University of South Florida. Stephanie was a postdoctoral scholar at the University of Kentucky in the Department of Neurology. In addition to her postdoctoral appointment, she also interned part-time with the UK Office of Technology Commercialization from January to July 2019. Before joining the Innovation Office, Stephanie was selected for the 2019-2020 Executive Branch AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellows Program, where she served as a Program Manager in the National Institute on Aging Office of Small Business Research. 

ROGER ENGLAND

Vice President and Chief R&D Officer, Valvoline Global Operations 

Dr. England is currently Chief R&D Officer of Valvoline Global Operations. He joined Valvoline in 2017, and prior to that he had been working for Cummins Inc. for 4 decades. A renowned metallurgist, Dr. England received his PhD in mechanical engineering from Florida State University. 

STEPHANIE FERTIG

Director, NIH Small Business Program, in SEED

Ms. Fertig is Director, NIH Small Business Program, in SEED (Small business Education and Entrepreneurial Development) at the NIH. She currently oversees the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, which are congressionally mandated set-aside programs that provide over $1.3 billion dollars per year to small business concerns. Prior to joining SEED, she managed the SBIR and STTR Programs at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). During her tenure at NIH she has led the development and implementation of multiple programs focused on small businesses and translational research. Ms. Fertig has a BS in Chemistry from UVA and an MBA from the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business. 

STACEY FINSTER

Founder and CEO,

Healthyr

Healthyr’s founding member, Stacey brings 25 years of executive healthcare leadership to Healthyr. She has an unharnessed passion for bringing healthcare solutions that will positively impact patient health outcomes. Stacey is an entrepreneurial visionary with expert experience in the execution of strategic commercial initiatives from startups to Fortune 25 companies. Her past healthcare experience draws from national pharmaceuticals and medical consulting. 

ANA CAROLINA FÉLIX

Business Sustainability Director, Dow Consumer Solutions 

Ana Carolina Felix holds the position of Director of Sustainability for the Americas within Dow's Consumer Solutions Business. In this role, she leads the development and implementation of the global climate strategy for the Dow Consumer Solutions business, aiming for carbon neutrality across scopes 1, 2, and 3. Additionally, she works on Dow's overarching corporate climate initiative, focusing on the development of go-to-market strategies for carbon-efficient technologies. With over a decade of experience at Dow, Ana has undertaken a diverse range of roles in Technical Development, Marketing, Value Chain, and Product Management across Brazil, Mexico, and the US. She has a bachelor's degree in biotechnology from the Federal University of Alfenas, Brazil. 

DANIELLE HARMON

System Director of Community Development, ARH

Danielle Harmon is the System Director of Community Development at Appalachian Regional Healthcare, a 14-hospital healthcare system covering Eastern Kentucky and Southern West Virginia. She is a graduate of the National Leadership Academy for Public’s Health, and holds a degree in Public Health from the University of the Cumberlands. In her community development role, Danielle works to further the mission of ARH, creating new educational programs, funding opportunities, partnerships and coalitions that better the health and well-being of Appalachians. She also manages corporate sponsorships, community benefit, Regional Advisory Councils, and the organizations Community Health Needs Assessments. 

RON GREGORSOK

Director of Supply Chain Management, Fischer Homes

Ron Gregorsok currently holds the position of Director of Supply Chain Management for Fischer Homes, a Top-30 residential homebuilder operating in 9 markets across the Midwest and Southeastern United States. He is responsible for leading the Supply Chain organization comprised of the Procurement, Innovation and New Product Development teams supporting all 9 Divisions and is based out of Fischer’s Corporate Office in the Cincinnati, OH area. Ron has over 20 years of experience in Supply Chain roles across multiple industries and has previously held Senior Leadership Roles in Procurement and Supply Chain with companies such as AmerisourceBergen (now Cencora), EssilorLuxottica, and Johnson & Johnson. 

Ron graduated from the University of Dayton with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and served as an Officer in the U.S. Army, achieving the rank of Captain. Ron currently resides in Loveland, OH and loves spending time with his wife and two teenage children while enjoying his favorite hobbies which include cars, flying, auto racing, and his bourbon collection. 

FRAN LOCKWOOD

President,

Solar Energy Solutions

Fran Lockwood co-founded (2006) and currently serves as President of Solar Energy Solutions LLC (SES), a regional renewable energy company serving Kentucky, the Midwest, and Virginia. Previously she was senior vice president and chief technology officer of Valvoline LLC, retiring from that role in 2020.

Fran has led the development and commercialization of hundreds of new products and is an inventor on 30 U.S. patents. Her recent work has focused on solar electric systems for residential and commercial installations.

She is a member of the National Academy of Engineering, a Fellow of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers and a Fellow of the Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers. Fran holds a bachelor’s degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a master’s degree and doctorate in chemical engineering from The Pennsylvania State University. She also holds a professional engineering license in the state of Kentucky. 

LISA MORSMAN

 Managing Director, Healthcare Solutions, UPS Healthcare 

As Managing Director of UPS Healthcare Solutions and Program Management, Lisa Morsman supports a team of Solutions professionals and their efforts to help clients maintain an efficient supply chain. Her Global team focuses in the areas of IT, Sustainability, Engineering, and Supply Chain Optimization.

Lisa obtained her bachelor’s degree from the University of Louisville and her master’s degree from Webster University.

Committed to supporting her UPS partners and her community, Lisa is a member of the UPS Women’s Leadership Development Program and is a UPS Sustainability Trailblazer. She currently serves on the Woman’s Club of Louisville board of directors and the Louisville Sustainability Council. She is also a member of the Bourbon Women Association.

Outside of her professional responsibilities, Lisa enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, supporting her community, learning to play bridge and golf, and occasionally sipping the fine spirit native to the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

SUMMER GOLDMAN

Chief Operating Officer, Metals Innovation Initiative (MI2)

Summer Goldman serves as Metals Innovation Initiative (Mi2) Chief Operating Officer and is the founder of Dixon Strategies. At Mi2, she supports the work of the Technology Innovation, Talent and Workforce, Sustainability, and Grants and Funding initiatives. She also seeks operational efficiencies through project management and process improvement. 

Summer is passionate about supporting people to find success and support from leadership, structure, processes, and systems in the workplace. Dixon Strategies is a vehicle to support businesses in aligning operational strategy with big goals and, of course, supporting people. She has supported a wide range of businesses, from healthcare startups to mid-size manufacturers, since founding the firm. Prior to Dixon Strategies, Summer enjoyed a 20-year corporate career. 

MONIQUE QUARTERMAN

Executive Director, Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation,

KY Innovation

Monique Kuykendoll Quarterman is the Executive Director for the Office of Entrepreneurship & Innovation, also known as KY Innovation, at the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development. A globally recognized expert in inclusive innovation, she is a co-founder of the Kentucky Intellectual Property Alliance, a co-founder of the NIH Proof of Concept Network Action Committee on Equity, Diversity & Inclusion, the former Executive Director of Kentucky Commercialization Ventures, a multi-institutional reviewer of higher education and small business innovation programs, and a Louisville-based entrepreneur. Her efforts have contributed to more than a quarter billion dollars in equitable access to capital dollars coming into Kentucky over the past 10 years.

JOSHUA RAVENSCRAFT

CEO and Co-founder,

New Frontier

Joshua Ravenscraft, 27, is a native of Morehead, Kentucky. Following his education at Rowan County Senior High School, Joshua embarked on his academic journey at Morehead State University. Before delving into Business Management studies, he gained valuable experience as a janitor during the summer break between high school and college. Together with his brother Jared, Joshua co-founded New Frontier in 2016. New Frontier is an Appalachian apparel and clothing brand with a mission to bring positive environmental change to the textile industry while enhancing the lives of their employees and the broader community. 

JARED RAVENSCRAFT

COO and Co-founder,

New Frontier 

Jared Ravenscraft, 31, is a native of Morehead, Kentucky. He graduated from Bath County Senior High School before pursuing his education at Morehead State University. As a student-athlete, Jared dedicated four years to the Men's Basketball team while studying strategic communications. Alongside his brother Joshua, Jared co-founded New Frontier in 2016. New Frontier is an Appalachian apparel and clothing brand with a mission to bring positive environmental change to the textile industry while enhancing the lives of their employees and the broader community. 

ROB SAMUELS

Managing Director,

Maker's Mark

The Samuels family has been producing whisky in Kentucky for over 200 years, and today, Rob Samuels is continuing the family legacy as an 

eighth-generation whisky maker and Managing Director of Maker’s Mark®. 

Rob has dedicated himself to upholding the distinctive legacy of craft and heritage established by his grandparents, Maker’s Mark founders Bill Sr., and Margie Samuels. Growing up in Kentucky, Rob spent time working every job at the distillery; from operating the grain and roller mill to handdipping the bottles. In 2010, Rob took over the company reigns from his father and current Chairman Emeritus, Bill Samuels, Jr. Rob has ensured that as Maker’s Mark expands, it remains true to the purposefully inefficient ways and quality standards of its creators.

NANCY SCHOENBERG

Associate Vice President for Research, Health Disparities, Director of Center for Health Equity Transformation (CHET) 

Nancy Schoenberg serves as the Marion Pearsall Professor of Behavioral Science in UK’s College of Medicine and founding director of the Center for Health Equity Transformation, an Associate Vice President for Research, and an Associate Director of UK’s Center for Clinical and Translational Research. Dr. Schoenberg received her BA in Political Science and Development Economics from Franklin and Marshall College and her MA and PhD in anthropology from the University of Texas and University of Florida, respectively.  

Dr. Schoenberg’s research involves implementing culturally adapted interventions to prevent and control diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases particularly among rural residents and other underserved populations. Her research has been continuously funded over the past twenty years by the National Institutes of Health. She and her colleagues have published over 200 abstracts and over 175 peer reviewed publications. She regularly serves on grant review panels, editorial boards, and partners on research projects allowing her to forge invaluable networks of collaborators from across the nation and the world.  

Her passion for research is matched by her commitment to training the next generation of health equity scholars. She has served as PI, MPI or co-investigator on seven training grants, as mentor to NRSA and K awardees, and as a mentor to over 80 doctoral, postdoctoral, or junior faculty members. During her more than two decades on UK’s faculty, she has been privileged to participate in and lead efforts that empower community stakeholders, students and faculty to undertake creative and impactful research and scholarship to achieve health equity.  

ERIC SMITH

Tech Hubs Program Director,

EDA

Eric leads government investments in innovation and technology economies through EDA’s Tech Hubs program, which aims to strengthen our economic and national security by enabling the industries of the future to start, grow, and remain in the U.S. 

Eric was in-house counsel in fintech before joining government at the Patent and Trademark Office, focusing on wireless technologies. Earlier at EDA, he helped start its first innovation-centric program and improved EDA’s digital infrastructure. At NASA, Eric led digital services as Chief Customer Officer for SBIR/STTR, building software to manage $200+ million in annual small business R&D. 

Eric was (mostly) raised and educated in Indiana, is a member of the New York bar, and has lived and worked in Washington, DC, for more than a decade. He holds a J.D. from the Indiana University Maurer School of Law and a B.S. in computer science and mathematics from the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. 

DOUG SMITH

Senior Vice President of Operations, Fischer Homes 

Doug Smith is a highly accomplished professional with an impressive track record in the real estate industry. As the Sr. Vice President of Operations at Fischer Homes, he plays a pivotal role in driving the company's success. With a keen eye for detail and a strategic mindset, Doug spearheads the company's operations, ensuring seamless execution and exceptional results. 

Headquartered in Fischer Homes' corporate office, Doug leads a team of dedicated professionals, overseeing all aspects of the company's operations. His extensive experience and deep understanding of the industry have earned him a reputation for delivering excellence and exceeding expectations. 

Doug's passion for the industry is evident in his unwavering dedication to innovation and his relentless pursuit of excellence. With a focus on creating sustainable growth and fostering a productive work environment, he is committed to building a company that not only meets but exceeds customer expectations as well as embracing innovation and progressive change in the industry. 

Fischer Homes is the 10th largest private homebuilder in the country and the 30th largest homebuilder overall. They are a 45-year-old company that has grown from a single home upwards to over 3000 homes per year across 9 markets throughout the Midwest and Southeast.  

ANIL YADAV

Vice President of Operations, North American Stainless

Anil Yadav is the Vice President of Operations at North American Stainless. He holds an MS in Material Science from the University of Kentucky and a BS in Metallurgy from the College of Engineering, Pune (COEP). With a tenure at North American Stainless dating back to 1992, Anil has progressed from a supervisor to his current role as Vice President. In this capacity since October 2010, he leads the operations, maintenance, engineering and technical teams, overseeing critical areas such as safety & environmental compliance, quality assurance, cost management and production optimization.