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Program

Career Accelerator (North America)

We have an engaging and informative program featuring thought leaders in optics and photonics. The Career Accelerator begins on Sunday 16 February 2025 and concludes on Thursday 20 February 2025.  To learn more about the topics and speakers featured each day, please click on the tabs below.

Speakers and timing are subject to change.

Arrival Day

15:00 – 18:00

Hotel Check-In

Generator Hotel Washington DC

 

 

17:30 – 20:00

 

Opening Reception, Optica HQ 6th Floor

Welcome Remarks and Icebreaker

 

Genaro Montanez

Chief Employee and Membership Engagement Officer, Optica

 

John Taylor

Deputy Senior Director, Development & Fundraising, Optica Foundation

08:00 – 09:00

Breakfast, Optica HQ

 

 

Programming

Eberly Hall

 

 

09:00 – 09:15

 

Introduction of the Day

Tom Hausken

Senior Industry Advisor, Optica, USA

 

 

09:15 – 10:45

Sustainable Networking for Scientists and Engineers

Christina Willis

Director of Government Affairs & Senior Optical Scientist, Infleqtion, USA

Sustainability applied to networking is about treating professional support and assistance like a resource and creating more of it than you take. This workshop introduces how to use sustainable networking to create mutually beneficial professional relationships and to set and accomplish career goals. Through individual and group activities, participants will come away with personalized goals and a practical action plan for how to incorporate sustainable networking into their professional lives.

 

 

10:45 – 11:15

Break

 

 

11:15 – 12:15

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Where are the Jobs?: Finding a Role in a Company

Ashley Sapone

Sr Manager, Americas Talent Acquisition & Global Emerging Talent

MKS Instruments, Inc., USA

Uncover the many roles and growth prospects for scientists and engineers in the corporate sector. Learn about positions suitable for early-career professionals, ranging from R&D and sales to marketing, product management, and engineering. This session will help you navigate the corporate landscape while learning how MKS is structured.

 

 

12:15 - 14:15

Lunch, Optica HQ

 

12:45 - 14:15

Resume Review & Optimization: Stand Out in the Job Market Small Conference Room

Ashley Sapone

Sr Manager, Americas Talent Acquisition & Global Emerging Talent MKS Instruments, Inc., USA

Based off sign-up sheet in What to Know Before You Go Email. Must bring a printed-out copy of your Resume/CV.

 

 

14:15 – 15:15

Negotiation Skills

Amy Sullivan

Technical Marketing Manager, Thorlabs, USA

We will discuss a balanced approach to negotiation so you can feel confident navigating the workplace, from initial salary discussions to everyday workplace conversations.

 

 

15:15 – 16:15

 

 

 

Innovation and Product Development

Matthew Weed

Senior Director of Product Strategy, Luminar Technologies, USA

Understanding "value proposition" may seem simple, but continual focus on this empathetic idea is essential to successful research and products alike. From fundamental research through customer deployment, join in this exploration of how to identify pain points, enablers, and disruptors, as well as how to position each to generate market pull.

 

 

16:15 - 16:45

Break

 

 

16:45 – 17:45

Cultivating High-Performing Teams and Dynamic Group Collaboration

Chris Maloney

Managing Director of US Operations and Director of Business Development, VPIphotonics, USA

Strategic leadership involves guiding a team with a clear vision, making informed decisions that align with long-term goals, and fostering an environment where innovation and collaboration can thrive. Building cohesive teams and ensuring positive group dynamics is essential for the organization's success. Effective leaders help each team member understand their role, feel valued, and feel empowered to contribute to the shared vision. This approach drives performance, builds resilience, and creates adaptive teams ready to navigate challenges and seize new opportunities.

 

 

17:45 – 18:00

Daily Wrap-Up and Announcements

 

 

17:45 – 19:30

Dinner, Optica HQ

 

 

18:00 – 21:00

ARTECHOUSE

Metro cards will be distributed during dinner.

Metro Trip Planner.

08:00 - 09:00

Breakfast, Optica HQ

 

 

Programming

Eberly Hall

 

 

09:00 - 09:15

Introduction of the Day

Tom Hausken

Senior Industry Advisor, Optica, USA

 

 

09:15 – 10:15

The Role of the Sales Professional

Dan Christensen

Global Sales Manager - Life Science OEM, Lumencor, USA

Every company relies on sales to survive. Each of us plays a part in the sales process regardless of our titles and responsibilities. Like every discipline, success in sales depends on a combination of behaviors, attitudes, and techniques. In this session, learn what technical sales fundamentally is, what a day in the life of a salesperson looks like, what behaviors, attitudes, and techniques set apart exceptionally successful salespeople, and how to best support the sales efforts of your company no matter your role.

 

 

10:15 – 11:15

What is Corporate Strategy and Why is it Important?

Lisa Belodoff

Founder and CEO, Bell Collaborative, USA

Explore the essence of corporate strategy and its pivotal role in business success. Discover how technology companies formulate and implement their tech development strategies and gain insights into the diverse range of job opportunities and sought-after skills within this dynamic field.

 

 

11:15 – 11:45

Break

 

11:45 – 12:45

The Language of Business: Managerial Reporting and Accounting for Decision Making Part #1

George Bayz

Retired Vice President & General Manager, Synopsys, USA

The art of accounting. We will discuss budgeting, explore the art of accounting, visit the stock market and dive into why this is something all scientists in industry should understand.

 

 

12:45 – 14:15

Lunch, Optica HQ

 

 

14:15 – 15:15

The Language of Business: Managerial Reporting and Accounting for Decision Making Part #2

George Bayz

Retired Vice President & General Manager, Synopsys, USA

More fun with accounting!

 

 

15:15 – 16:15

 

 

 

 

 

Patents and Intellectual Property 101

Payal Patel

Senior Division IP Counsel, Corning Incorporated, USA

Technology companies and institutions at all stages face a variety of intellectual property issues. Addressing these issues well can significantly increase value for the intellectual property owner, while missteps can have the opposite result. We will introduce important forms of intellectual property, including patents, trade secrets, and trademarks, and discuss the role each plays in an intellectual property portfolio.

 

 

16:15 – 16:45

Break

 

 

16:45 – 17:45

 

 

 

The Entrepreneur’s Experience: Thriving in the Startup Ecosystem

Adam Wax

Founder and President, Lumedica, Inc., USA

"The Entrepreneur’s Experience: Thriving in the Startup Ecosystem" explores the unique challenges and opportunities faced by entrepreneurs in the fast-paced startup world. This talk delves into the key strategies for navigating uncertainty, building a strong network, and fostering innovation to achieve sustainable growth. Learn how to turn ideas into successful ventures while thriving in the dynamic startup environment.

 

 

17:45 – 18:00

Daily Wrap-Up and Announcements

 

 

17:45 – 19:30

Dinner, Optica HQ

08:00 – 09:00

Breakfast, Optica HQ

 

 

Programming

Eberly Hall

 

 

09:00 – 09:15

Introduction of the Day

Tom Hausken

Senior Industry Advisor, Optica, USA

 

 

09:15 – 10:15

 

Project Management for Engineering, R&D and Technology Teams

Kenneth Barber

Sr. Director of Engineering, Edmund Optics, USA

Discover what it really means to be a Project management for Engineering, R&D and Technology Teams. Learn how to apply fundamental Project Management tools to any project in a practical way. Understand how you can leverage your technical know-how into a career in project management and beyond. Learn about key concepts like the triple constraints with fun examples.

 

 

10:15 – 11:15

The Role of the Product Manager

Olga Sachkouskaya

Product Manager, Semiconductor Robots, Brooks Automation, USA

Dive into the multifaceted role of a Product Manager within the corporate structure. Explore the essential skills and attributes required, uncover exciting career prospects, and understand the pivotal role Product Managers play in driving innovation, collaborating with R&D, and bridging the gap between sales/marketing and customer needs.

 

 

11:15 – 11:45

Break

 

11:45 – 12:45

 

Marketing in Photonics

Kelly Radziski

Strategic Marketing Manager, Ocean Optics, USA

Marketing plays a critical role in the success of businesses. In high-tech industries, such as ours, marketing varies widely across companies and often, roles in marketing are opaque to job seekers. In this session, I hope to demystify what marketing is, how it relates to sales and R&D, and how the role of marketing fits within high-tech companies’ objectives. Upon the conclusion of this session, I hope you will have a better understanding of the marketing function in the high-tech industry, which will subsequently help you determine your future career direction.

 

 

12:45 – 14:15

Lunch, Optica HQ

 

 

14:15 – 15:15

Beyond Equations: The Roadmap to Business Success for STEM Professionals

Simin Cai

President and CEO, Go!Foton, USA

Transitioning from an academic background to business management requires more than technical expertise—it demands a mastery of problem-solving, leadership, and communication. This session explores how STEM professionals can leverage their analytical mindset to excel in management roles while developing essential business skills.

Even for those STEM professionals who choose to remain within the academic environment, the ability to bridge the gap between technical expertise and business acumen is still essential for success in any career when they must navigate through grant proposals, funding opportunities, team management and cross-disciplinary collaborations.

 

 

15:15 – 16:15

 

Career Reflections: Insights for Early Career Success in Industry

Arlene Smith

Program Manager, Molex, USA

In this talk, I will share my own winding journey from a physics student to my current career focus on leading and managing successful engineering projects. I'll discuss the unexpected twists and turns I encountered along the way, the valuable lessons learned, and how I navigated the transition from academia to industry. We'll delve into practical advice on building a strong professional network, developing essential skills for success in industry, and finding your own unique path to fulfillment. Join me for an open and honest conversation about career exploration and building a rewarding career in the exciting field of optics and photonics.

 

 

16:15 – 16:45

Break

 

16:45 -17:45

 

Emerging Technologies

Vincent (Chuck) Mattera

Retired Chair and CEO Coherent Corp.

In Development.

 

 

17:45 – 18:00

 

Closing Remarks

Genaro Montanez

Chief Employee and Membership Engagement Officer, Optica

 

John Taylor

Deputy Senior Director, Development & Fundraising, Optica Foundation

 

 

17:45 – 20:00

Closing Reception, Optica HQ

 

08:00 – 11:00

Hotel Check-Out

Generator Hotel Washington DC

Image for keeping the session alive