
21 - 25 January, 2024
YMCA of the Rockies - Estes Park Center
Estes Park, Colorado USA
We have an engaging and informative program featuring thought leaders in optics and photonics. The Career Accelerator begins on Sunday 21 January 2024 and concludes on Thursday 25 January 2024. 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 at Denver International Airport
7:00-18:00 Arrival and Check in to the YMCA of the Rockies
18:00-18:15 Welcome Remarks & Opening Reception
Speaker: Chad Stark, Executive Director, Optica Foundation
18:15-18:45 Icebreaker
18:45-20:00 Reception
08:00-09:00 Breakfrest
09:00-09:30 Introduction of the Day
Speaker: Tom Hausken, Senior Industry Advisor, Optica
09:30-10:30 Kickoff: Sustainable Networking for Scientists and Engineers
Speaker: Christina Willis, Senior Analyst, Infleqtion
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.
10:30-10:35 Break
10:35-11:35 Explore Career Opportunities in the Corporate Photonics Sector
Speaker: Brad Doerr, Vice President and General Manager, Keysight Technologies
Uncover the multitude of roles and growth prospects in the corporate sector for scientists and engineers. 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 Keysight is structured.
11:35-11:50 Break
11:50-12:50 From Resume Review to Final Offer: Inside HR and the Hiring Process
Speaker: Casie Hanson, Talent and Organizational Development Director, Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp
Get an insider's look at the hiring journey, from resume submission to the coveted job offer. Gain valuable insights on optimizing your resume for attention, acing interviews with do's and don'ts, and more. Explore the pivotal role HR plays in shaping corporate culture and providing valuable resources to staff.
12:50-14:00 Lunch
14:00-14:30 Back to Lecture Hall
14:30-15:30 Negotiation Skills
Speaker: Eve Griliches, Senior Product Manager, Cisco
The How, When and Why of Negotiation. You’ll learn what to negotiate when you get a job offer, how to negotiate when in a job, and knowing when to leave a job.
15:30-15:35 Break
15:35-16:35 Leadership Styles and Teams in the Corporate Environment
Speaker: Simin Cai, Vice President, President and CEO, Go!Foton
Discover the critical qualities of successful leaders from entry-level to CEO and learn about the values and characteristics that Go!Foton cherishes in its leaders. Explore how diverse personalities and perspectives can strengthen teams and drive innovation.
16:35-16:50 Daily Wrap-Up
16:50-19:00 Break
19:00-22:00 Activity
Roller Skating Party
08:00-09:00 Breakfast
09:00-09:30 Introduction of the Day
Speaker: Tom Hausken, Senior Industry Advisor, Optica
09:30-10:30 The World of Optical Engineering: Hardware Careers
Speaker: Benjamin Cromey, Senior Optical Engineer, Ball Aerospace
10:30-10:35 Break
10:35-11:35 Intellectual Property: Academia vs. Corporate Approaches
Speaker: Darius Sankey, Managing Director, Innovation Acceleration Capital
11:35-11:50 Break
11:50-12:50 The Language of Business: Managerial Reporting and Accounting for Decision Making (Part 1)
Speaker: George Bayz, Vice President and General Manager, Synopsys (retired)
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.
12:50-14:00 Lunch
14:00-14:30 Back to Lecture Hall
14:30-15:30 The Language of Business: Managerial Reporting and Accounting for Decision Making (Part 2)
Speaker: George Bayz, Vice President and General Manager, Synopsys (retired)
More fun with accounting.
15:30-15:35 Break
15:35-16:35 The World of Optical Engineering Software Careers
Speaker: David Vega, Lead R&D Engineer, Ansys
Optics modeling software supports the entire optics industry. I will expose how an optical engineer contributes to software, its impact, and how you can get involved. You will get insider perspectives of what it is like to work in software and how to succeed in this industry.
16:35-16:50 Daily Wrap-Up
16:50-18:00 Break
18:00-19:30 Dinner
19:30-20:00 Back to Lecture Hall
20:00-21:00 Putting Theory into Practice: The Financial Scavenger Hunt
After learning about all things around financials, now you get to put your skills to the test. Small groups will review a public company’s financial statement and report out about your organization. Can you find everything in time?
08:00-09:00 Breakfast
09:00-9:30 Introduction of the Day
Speaker: Tom Hausken, Senior Industry Advisor, Optica
09:30-10:30 Project Management for Engineering, R&D and Technology Teams
Speaker: Kenneth Barber, Director, Project Manangement
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.
10:30-10:35 Break
10:35-11:35 Identifying Emerging Technology Trends: Innovation and Product Development
Speaker: Jim Kafka, CTO at Spectra-Physics and Fellow at MKS
Embark on a journey to uncover the art of identifying emerging technology trends and seamlessly integrating them into research, development, and product strategies. Gain insights into how a visionary company like MKS thrives on innovation, and discover the specific skills and attributes sought after in employees with an entrepreneurial spirit. You will have a window into the dynamic world of innovation and emerging technology careers at MKS.
11:35-11:50 Break
11:50- 12:50 The Role of the Sales Professional
Speakers: Heidi Westbrook, Director of Cloud Infrastructure Providers, Fujitsu Network Communications
Discover the key skills and attributes that companies prioritize when hiring for sales positions. Explore why young scientists and engineers should be interested in sales, leveraging their technical knowledge to bridge gaps and drive innovation. Uncover how sales seamlessly integrates with other company functions, such as marketing, product development, and research and development, to maximize organizational success.
12:50-14:00 Lunch
14:00-14:30 Back to Lecture Hall
14:30-15:30 Navigating Corporate Strategy in Technology: Keys to Success
Speakers: Jun Shan Wey, Distinguished Member Of Technical Staff, Verizon
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.
15:30-15:35 Break
15:35-16:35 The Role of the Product Manager
Speaker: Olga Sachkouskaya, Product Manager, Brooks Automation
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.
16:35-16:50 Break
16:50-17:50 The Role of Marketing and Sales
Speaker: Anjul Loiacono, Vice President Quantum Matter Platforms, Infleqtion
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 is marketing, 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.
17:50-18:00 Daily Wrap-Up
18:00-20:30 Dinner
08:00-09:30 Breakfast and Room Check Out
09:30-10:00 Introduction of the Day
Speaker: Tom Hausken, Senior Industry Advisor, Optica
10:00-11:00 State of the Optics and Photonics Market
Speaker: Tom Hausken, Senior Industry Advisor, Optica
11:00-12:00 Adjournment and Lunch