Speakers

Neeli Bendapudi has served as the nineteenth president of Penn State since May 9, 2022. With a nearly thirty-year career in academia, President Bendapudi is committed to student success, fostering inclusive excellence, and creating opportunities for students, faculty, and staff to thrive.

Raised in India, Bendapudi moved to the United States to pursue her doctoral studies at the University of Kansas and to launch her career as an academic leader and educator.

Prior to coming to Penn State, where she leads the University's twenty-four-campus network and top-ranked online World Campus, Bendapudi was president of the University of Louisville from 2018 to 2021. During this time, she oversaw a series of transformative efforts spanning academics; finance; the health enterprise; philanthropy; athletics; diversity, equity, and inclusion; and more. Under her leadership, the university recruited its largest and most diverse freshman class, reached record enrollment levels, improved four-year graduation rates, increased annual sponsored research, improved the university's financial stability, and stabilized the health system.

Among her professional achievements, Bendapudi has served as provost and executive vice chancellor at the University of Kansas from 2016 to 2018, dean of the School of Business at the University of Kansas from 2011 to 2016, and as founding director of the Initiative for Managing Services at the Ohio State University (OSU) from 2005 to 2011. As an educator, she has taught marketing at the University of Louisville, University of Kansas, Texas A&M University, and OSU.

In addition to her higher education leadership experience, Bendapudi previously served as executive vice president and chief customer officer for Huntington National Bank and has consulted for some of the world's largest companies and organizations, including AIG, Proctor & Gamble, and the U.S. Army.

With a background in the study of consumer behavior in service contexts, her research focuses on customers' willingness to maintain long-term relationships with firms and with the brands and employees that represent them. Her work has been published in the Journal of Academic Medicine, Harvard Business Review, Journal of Marketing, Journal of Marketing Research, Journal of Retailing, and Journal of Service Research.

Bendapudi has been recognized for contributions in her field and has been honored at the national and university levels, including with the Academy of Marketing Science Outstanding Marketing Teacher Award. In 2014, she was inducted into the University of Kansas' Womens Hall of Fame, which recognizes individuals for significant contributions and achievements, overall impact, and outstanding character.

In addition, Diverse Issues in Higher Education referenced Bendapudi as one of twenty-five women "who have made a difference in the academy" (2021), Enterprising Women recognized her among a select group of women who "are making a difference in business and in the community" (2021), and Louisville Business First highlighted Bendapudi among twenty-five local leaders named to the publication's annual list of "Most Admired CEOs" for strong leadership exhibited during a year of unprecedented challenges (2020).

Along with her professional endeavors, Bendapudi is a former Leadership Foundation Fellow, a member of the International Women's Forum, and serves on the board of the American Council on Education and Internet 2.0.

Bendapudi earned her bachelor's degree in English and MBA from Andhra University in India and her doctorate in marketing from the University of Kansas.

Geoff Martha is Chairman and CEO of Medtronic, the global leader in healthcare technology. In his role, Geoff leads the $32 billion company and its 95,000 employees to deliver ground-breaking technology solutions for more people in more places around the world. Medtronic served 78 million patients in FY24. Geoff leads the enterprise in pursuit of fulfilling the Medtronic Mission to use technology to improve human welfare. Since becoming CEO in 2020, he has been recognized as a driven and innovative executive, including as a top CEO in healthcare technology by the Healthcare Technology Report and as one of Modern Healthcare's most influential people in healthcare.

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The Medtronic Mission - to alleviate pain, restore health, and extend life - has inspired its researchers and engineers to create some of the most meaningful medical technologies in the history of healthcare: a pacemaker the size of a vitamin pill, the world's first hybrid closed-loop diabetes pump, neurostimulators for pain and brain disorders, and more.

Under Geoff's leadership, Medtronic is leveraging the latest advances in cutting edge technology to transform healthcare, including manufacturing processes, robotics, data, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. Recognizing the power of partnerships and innovative collaborations, Geoff has accelerated Medtronic's strategic acquisitions, boldly pursued novel R&D funding models, and embraced new ways to partner across industries and global borders.

Geoff assumed his role as CEO as the COVID-19 pandemic rocked communities around the world. As part of his commitment to lead with purpose, Geoff quickly mobilized the company and took action to help global healthcare professionals and partners continue to treat patients and protect themselves. In addition to accelerating the development of remote solutions, he made the unprecedented move to open source the company's intellectual property, making proprietary ventilator designs available to manufacturers around the world. The move helped address growing global demand for ventilators, resulted in new partnerships, and broke down barriers across industries to enhance care. For these efforts, Medtronic received a Fortune Change the World award in 2020, and in 2021, the Ireland-U.S. Council awarded him with the Global Achievement Award to recognize his role in overseeing Medtronic's significant contributions to the fight against the pandemic.

During Geoff's tenure, Medtronic has been lauded for its innovation in healthcare technology. In 2022, the company was yet again named to Fortune's Change the World list for its GI Genius™ intelligent endoscopy module, the first commercially available system that uses AI to help physicians detect polyps and flag signs of colon cancer.

Geoff has also helped further Medtronic's reputation as a world-class business and employer. Medtronic was ranked number one in Healthcare Technology Report's Top 100 Health Tech Companies of 2023, was recognized as one of Fortune's Most Admired Companies in 2021, 2022 and 2023, and has consistently been named one of America's Most JUST Companies by JUST Capital and CNBC.

Medtronic was selected as one of the World's Best Employers by Forbes in 2022. In 2023, the company was included in the Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index for the first time and ranked second in DiversityInc's Top 50 Companies for Diversity - reflecting its unwavering commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Since joining Medtronic in 2011, Geoff has remained an ardent supporter of Medtronic- sponsored philanthropic and diversity initiatives. He is a member of the Medtronic Foundation Board of Directors and serves as Medtronic's Executive Sponsor to FIRST Robotics. Geoff also led the Medtronic African Descent Network ― an internal resource group focused on recruitment, engagement, retention, and development for employees of African descent.

Prior to becoming CEO of Medtronic, Geoff held various leadership roles on the company's executive committee, including SVP, Strategy and Business Development; Chief Integration Officer; and Executive Vice President, Restorative Therapies Group.

Notably, he led the acquisition and subsequent integration of Covidien, the largest acquisition in the history of the medical technology industry. Before joining Medtronic, Geoff spent 19 years in a variety of business development, strategic marketing, and sales management roles at GE Healthcare and GE Capital.

Geoff is an active member of the global business community, sitting on the Business Roundtable and the World Economic Forum's International Business Council, as well as serving on the Board of Directors for NextEra Energy and the U.S.-China Business Council, and as Treasurer for AdvaMed. He is a member of the Board of Trustees for the Asia Society, a leading educational organization dedicated to promoting mutual understanding and strengthening partnerships among peoples, leaders, and institutions of Asia and the U.S. in a global context. He is also President of the Executive Committee of the board of directors for the Minnesota Business Partnership. In 2021, he served as co-chair of the Taskforce on Health and Life Sciences for B20, a G20 engagement group.

Passionate about socioeconomic issues, Geoff serves on the Board of Directors for several non-profit organizations including the Northside Achievement Zone (NAZ), a Minneapolis-based community collaborative that works to end generational poverty and build a culture of achievement so low-income children of color graduate college and are career-ready, and the YMCA of the North, which works to nurture the potential of every child and teen, ensuring everyone has the opportunity to become healthier, more confident, connected and secure. He was also one of the founding members of OneTen coalition, an, organization committed to breaking down systemic barriers for Black Americans.

Geoff received a bachelor's degree in Finance as a member of the Scholars Program from Pennsylvania State University, graduating with highest honors. He was captain of the Penn State men's hockey team and later inducted into its Hockey Hall of Fame. In 2016, the University awarded him the Penn State Hockey Distinguished Alumni Award. He is also a member of Penn State's College of Liberal Arts Development Council.

Benjamin Birnbaum is a Partner at Keyframe, a special situations fund based in NYC that targets $20-100m investments related to the impact of energy transition on industry. Prior to starting Keyframe, Ben founded TeraWatt, an infrastructure developer, owner, and operator for large scale (10MW+) electric vehicle charging. TeraWatt has raised >$1B and provides fleet charging to the likes of Pepsi and Waymo.

Ben holds bachelor's and master's degrees in accounting from Pennsylvania State University, graduating with both from Smeal in 2012. He lives in NYC with his wife Amy (also PSU '12, now an orthopedic surgeon). Ben is competing in the Happy Valley Ironman in June.

After gaining experience in civil engineering and building forensic analysis, Mr. Burchlaw earned an MBA from The University of Texas in 2000. With nearly two decades of experience in the real estate industry, he continually recognized the difficulties real estate investment firms faced in managing information and assessing their portfolios. This insight led him to create RE Analytics to address these challenges.

Mr. Burchlaw has a wealth of experience on the principal side of the business. He began his real estate career at a private equity investment firm in Dallas, TX, working as an acquisitions and asset management associate. Over ten years at Forest City Enterprises (which was acquired by Brookfield Asset Management in 2018), he oversaw three major mixed-use development projects in Dallas. As Executive Vice President for a family office, he served as lead developer on a 66-acre super-regional mall redevelopment project.

Charles is a seasoned executive with a distinguished record of leadership in the commercial real estate industry. With nearly two decades of experience, he has held senior positions at prominent firms, first at The Abbey Company in Los Angeles and as a Partner at ABS Partners Real Estate in New York City, where he managed vast portfolios of commercial properties.

His expertise spans sales, leasing, asset management, and the implementation of forward-thinking sustainability initiatives. Charles has successfully led multidisciplinary teams and overseen numerous high-profile projects, including the repositioning and re-development of major commercial buildings. These initiatives demanded an in-depth analysis of energy infrastructures, equipping him with a robust understanding of building energy systems that he expertly applies in his current endeavors.

In addition to his real estate accomplishments, Charles has developed a deep knowledge of the rapidly evolving prop-tech and climate-tech sectors, honed through his role as founder and managing partner at Caesium Ventures.

Charles has also contributed to the community through his service on the board of the Union Square Partnership in New York City and currently serves as a board member of the Borrelli Institute for Real Estate Studies at Penn State University.

He holds a Bachelor's degree from Penn State University.

Adam Wicks is shareholder in Buchanan's Pittsburgh office and leads the firm's Private Equity and Venture Capital Practice Group. As a strategic, business-minded negotiator, Adam's business transactions practice focuses on representing private equity and venture capital firms, independent sponsors, family offices and other sources of private capital and their portfolio companies in their corporate development, investment and acquisition strategies. Additionally, Adam regularly represents private business owners exploring the sale of their business and other strategic transactions.

Adam also serves as outside corporate counsel to clients ranging from startups to publicly-traded companies, advising on entity formation and corporate governance, financings and offerings, mergers and acquisitions (M&A), federal and state securities law compliance, commercial matters, and connecting his clients to key professionals and experts in other practice areas within Buchanan as various needs arise.

Adam's clients span a variety of industries including software, retail, security and fire alarm and protection, sports and gaming, medical devices, residential and commercial services, manufacturing, and professional services. Adam has received Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch recognition in the Corporate Law and Securities / Capital Markets Law categories since 2021, and Super Lawyers Pennsylvania Rising Stars recognition since 2023.

Tina is Co-Leader of the firm's Life Sciences Industry Team, and a shareholder in the FDA/Biotechnology group. She focuses her practice on issues related to the approval, regulation, promotion, sale and reimbursement of drugs, medical devices, biologics, dietary supplements, foods and cannabis-related products.

Tina assists clients in their interactions with various federal agencies including the following:

• Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

• Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)

• Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

• Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

In addition to advising clients on how to obtain approvals for their FDA-regulated products, Tina's experience includes reviewing and revising the labeling of drugs, medical devices, foods and dietary supplements to ensure compliance with the FDA law and regulations. She works with clients to petition the FDA to ensure the safety and effectiveness of drug products on the market, and assists clients in a wide range of compliance and enforcement matters. She also advises clients on user fee issues, federal and state Sunshine Act reporting obligations, state price transparency disclosure rules, and state licensing requirements.

Tina is a thought leader on artificial intelligence and machine learning in the life sciences industry. She has spoken frequently and published several articles on AI/ML in drug discovery and development as well as FDA's regulation of AI/ML-powered medical devices.

Tina is also a member of the firm's cannabis group, where she assists companies in navigating federal and state law issues related to the promotion and sale of cannabis-related products. Tina has helped companies work to bring FDA- approved cannabinoid drug products to market, as well as helped clients to navigate sale of cannabis and hemp-related products.

Tina chairs the Buchanan B.O.L.D. Affinity group, and is conversant in Mandarin.

In 2019 and 2020, Tina was named to the Washington, D.C. Super Lawyers Rising Stars list. Most recently, in 2024, Tina was named the Rising Star Award winner by the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity.

Erika Swift, MBA, MHA, serves as a Professor of Practice with a joint appointment at Penn State College of Medicine and Penn State Harrisburg. She is also the Director of the Center for Medical Innovation at Penn State College of Medicine, where she leads efforts to foster a thriving innovation ecosystem. The Center provides essential education and resources to drive medical innovation, ultimately generating both economic and social impact.

With over 20 years of experience in economic development, technology commercialization, and new business development across various industries-including medical devices, consumer goods, and dental equipment-Erika joined Penn State College of Medicine in 2015 to spearhead technology development initiatives. She was pivotal in establishing the Center for Medical Innovation, officially launched in February 2017, aligning with the College of Medicine's broader mission of cultivating a culture of innovation.

Beyond her role at Penn State, Erika served as President of BioStrategy Partners, Inc., a nonprofit consortium dedicated to advancing academic research into the marketplace, from 2018 to 2024. She continues to contribute as an Officer and Board Member.

Erika holds a Bachelor of Science in Business with a concentration in International Business from Bloomsburg University, an MBA from York College of Pennsylvania, and an MHA from Penn State University.

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.

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.

Ryan is a managing director in the Private Wealth Management business in the Consumer and Investment Management Division. He advises Fortune 500 executives, family office groups and Entrepreneurs in the management of their personal assets, as well as assets on behalf of foundations, endowments and pension funds. Ryan is a member of the Private Wealth Management Top Advisors, and is co-chair of the Market Intelligence Group. He also leads new associate business development training for the Private Wealth Management business each year. Ryan joined Goldman Sachs as an analyst in 2001 and was named managing director in 2019.

Ryan is a member of the External Advisory Board for the Schreyer Honors College at The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) and was co-chair of a fundraising campaign that raised more than $54 million for the Honors College. In 2011, he was awarded the Alumni Achievement

Award by Penn State, and in 2009, he was named the Outstanding Scholar Alumni Mentor by the Schreyer Honors College. Ryan is a chartered financial analyst charterholder.

Ryan earned a BS in Economics with a minor in Philosophy from the Schreyer Honors College at Penn State, where he was also a Schreyer Scholar.

Zander Isaacson is the CEO and Co-Founder of Xeal, a technology-first electric vehicle (EV) charging company operating at the intersection of proptech, energy, and loT. Prior to Xeal, Zander worked in investment banking at Citi Global Markets and Torreya Partners within the Mergers & Acquisitions division. Zander worked on a variety of M&A and licensing deals for technology companies, and more specifically in the Electric Vehicle space, working with a Formula E racing team. Prior to investment banking, Zander was the founder & president of Happy Valley VC, the first student-run venture capital fund at Penn State, as well as a Fund Manager in the Nittany Lion Fund.

Stak CEO/Co-founder, Diallo Powell, has been building socially impactful enterprises since 2008. He was a member of the founding team of the first B Corp health insurance company and Co-founder of Zipari (acquired), a platform to give health insurance subscribers greater transparency into the cost and administration of their care. Diallo co-founded Stak to catalyze the clean energy transition and realize positive climate and community impact.

Diallo resides in Brooklyn, NY with his wife and two children. He was also a founding board member and now Vice Chair of the Public Housing Community Fund ("The Fund") board. The Fund was created to engage people and partners to invest in transformative programs that enhance the lives of 500,000 residents across NYCHA communities.