Ben Zoghi
Dr. Ben Zoghi is a full-time professor and founding director of the RFID Oil & Gas Solution Group Consortium in the College of Engineering at Texas A&M University. He is a Motorola Fellow and has extensive technical and managerial experience with the electronic, telecommunication and semiconductor industries. Dr. Zoghi has published over 140 articles in academic and practitioner journals and conferences, seven books and been awarded over $3.5 million in funded research projects and gifts. Dr. Zoghi has led teams in the design and implementation of over 25 RFID projects. Dr. Zoghi is a senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), Sigma Xi, Tau Beta Pi, Tau Alpha Pi and the American Society for Engineering Education. He has been recognized with the highest honor Texas A&M bestows on a faculty member twice by the Association of Former Students of Texas A&M University Distinguished Teaching Award. Dr. Zoghi holds a bachelor's degree from Seattle University and a master's degree from The Ohio State University, both in electrical engineering. He also holds a Ph.D. from Texas A&M University.
Dr. Ben Zoghi is a full-time professor and founding director of the RFID Oil & Gas Solution Group Consortium in the College of Engineering at Texas A&M University. He is a Motorola Fellow and has extensive technical and managerial experience with the electronic, telecommunication and semiconductor industries. Dr. Zoghi has published over 140 articles in academic and practitioner journals and conferences, seven books and been awarded over $3.5 million in funded research projects and gifts. Dr. Zoghi has led teams in the design and implementation of over 25 RFID projects. Dr. Zoghi is a senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), Sigma Xi, Tau Beta Pi, Tau Alpha Pi and the American Society for Engineering Education. He has been recognized with the highest honor Texas A&M bestows on a faculty member twice by the Association of Former Students of Texas A&M University Distinguished Teaching Award. Dr. Zoghi holds a bachelor's degree from Seattle University and a master's degree from The Ohio State University, both in electrical engineering. He also holds a Ph.D. from Texas A&M University.
Konrad Konarski
Konrad Konarski is co-founder of the RFID Oil & Gas Solution Group Consortium and President of Merlin Concepts & Technology. He holds a Bachelor of Software Engineering from the University of Concordia and carries over 12+ years of experience in industrial automation, radio frequency identification, and wireless mobility technologies and application systems. Konarski has been engaged throughout his career with a variety of advisory councils and strategic initiatives with the petroleum, mining, and aerospace market space. He has served as the managing principal for the successful delivery of information technology systems for Federal Organizations and Fortune 500 companies worldwide. Konarski also participates as an active advocate of RFID technology and its application uses within the supply chain, having partaken in multiple national and international television interviews, magazine features, and round table discussions, he like the other members of the Oil & Gas Solution Group, serves as an ambassador to the technology.
Konrad Konarski is co-founder of the RFID Oil & Gas Solution Group Consortium and President of Merlin Concepts & Technology. He holds a Bachelor of Software Engineering from the University of Concordia and carries over 12+ years of experience in industrial automation, radio frequency identification, and wireless mobility technologies and application systems. Konarski has been engaged throughout his career with a variety of advisory councils and strategic initiatives with the petroleum, mining, and aerospace market space. He has served as the managing principal for the successful delivery of information technology systems for Federal Organizations and Fortune 500 companies worldwide. Konarski also participates as an active advocate of RFID technology and its application uses within the supply chain, having partaken in multiple national and international television interviews, magazine features, and round table discussions, he like the other members of the Oil & Gas Solution Group, serves as an ambassador to the technology.
Sam Falsafi
Sam Falsafi, Sr. Director of Business Solutions at Shipcom Wireless: is a co-founder of the RFID Oil & Gas Solution Group Consortium and 10 year veteran of the IT industry. He is an expert in the field of assessing the Impacts of RFID Technology in a multilayer supply chain, working mainly with large and medium sized companies developing RFID strategies, planning and implementing process improvements. Sam has several years of progressive end-to-end supply chain management, information technology management, business development and management consulting leadership for innovative solutions to improve business. He has led teams in the delivery of more than 50 international RFID projects. He is a frequent speaker on topics such as RFID and supply chain re-engineering. Sam is currently the lead RFID and supply chain customer advocate for Shipcom's Oil & Gas practice. He sits on the advisory committee of Microsoft Global RFID advisory council, CompTIA RFID Cornerstone Committee and EPC Global Canada strategic advisory committee and their strategy and R&D sub-committees.
Sam Falsafi, Sr. Director of Business Solutions at Shipcom Wireless: is a co-founder of the RFID Oil & Gas Solution Group Consortium and 10 year veteran of the IT industry. He is an expert in the field of assessing the Impacts of RFID Technology in a multilayer supply chain, working mainly with large and medium sized companies developing RFID strategies, planning and implementing process improvements. Sam has several years of progressive end-to-end supply chain management, information technology management, business development and management consulting leadership for innovative solutions to improve business. He has led teams in the delivery of more than 50 international RFID projects. He is a frequent speaker on topics such as RFID and supply chain re-engineering. Sam is currently the lead RFID and supply chain customer advocate for Shipcom's Oil & Gas practice. He sits on the advisory committee of Microsoft Global RFID advisory council, CompTIA RFID Cornerstone Committee and EPC Global Canada strategic advisory committee and their strategy and R&D sub-committees.
Chris Mahler (EPCglobal)
Bio coming soon.
Bio coming soon.
Gary Smith
Gary Smith is the Subject Matter Expert for Dow Chemical's RFID - GPS - AutoID Expertise Center. This Expertise Center has ownership of all of Dow's Auto ID and Label applications implemented throughout the world and is responsible for establishing corporate direction in the form of "Most Effective Technology" (MET) in these areas. Auto ID includes Bar Codes, RFID, and GPS while labels includes EH&S product regulatory label production systems. Gary brings more than 30 years of Information Technology, SAP and Auto ID experience to this position having held various positions in Manufacturing, I/T and Supply Chain. Gary is also certified as a Six Sigma MAIC Black Belt. Gary holds a Bachelors degree from Southern Illinois University. He and his wife reside in Sweeny, Tx.
Gary Smith is the Subject Matter Expert for Dow Chemical's RFID - GPS - AutoID Expertise Center. This Expertise Center has ownership of all of Dow's Auto ID and Label applications implemented throughout the world and is responsible for establishing corporate direction in the form of "Most Effective Technology" (MET) in these areas. Auto ID includes Bar Codes, RFID, and GPS while labels includes EH&S product regulatory label production systems. Gary brings more than 30 years of Information Technology, SAP and Auto ID experience to this position having held various positions in Manufacturing, I/T and Supply Chain. Gary is also certified as a Six Sigma MAIC Black Belt. Gary holds a Bachelors degree from Southern Illinois University. He and his wife reside in Sweeny, Tx.
John Rommel
John Rommel is a fifteen year Auto ID veteran and has spent seven of those years focused on RFID. He has guided the installation of numerous RFID projects at places such as the Boeing, Raytheon, the Seattle Public Library, Disney World, and Mattel. At Motorola he is responsible for shaping the company's RFID direction for the future by being the primary RFID interface to the company's vast network of reseller partners.
John Rommel is a fifteen year Auto ID veteran and has spent seven of those years focused on RFID. He has guided the installation of numerous RFID projects at places such as the Boeing, Raytheon, the Seattle Public Library, Disney World, and Mattel. At Motorola he is responsible for shaping the company's RFID direction for the future by being the primary RFID interface to the company's vast network of reseller partners.
Jason Brewer
Jason Brewer is a Strategic Account Manager at Avery Dennison. He holds Radford University Bachelor of Business Administration, Human Resources/Organizational Management, 1994. His responsibilities include sales, education, channel support, project management, support for standard and development work streams. With 6 years of experience in the RFID industry he specializes in media and entertainment in addition to supply chain and logistics as well as some Pharma and WIP applications. Previously Jason was Sales and Business Development Manager at Precisia, developers and producers of conductive and advanced inks. In this position, Jason was responsible for business development including strategic partnerships to advance the business goals of the company. Prior to joining Avery Dennison, he was the North American RFID Marketing Manager for NCR.
Jason Brewer is a Strategic Account Manager at Avery Dennison. He holds Radford University Bachelor of Business Administration, Human Resources/Organizational Management, 1994. His responsibilities include sales, education, channel support, project management, support for standard and development work streams. With 6 years of experience in the RFID industry he specializes in media and entertainment in addition to supply chain and logistics as well as some Pharma and WIP applications. Previously Jason was Sales and Business Development Manager at Precisia, developers and producers of conductive and advanced inks. In this position, Jason was responsible for business development including strategic partnerships to advance the business goals of the company. Prior to joining Avery Dennison, he was the North American RFID Marketing Manager for NCR.
Thomas Chen
Thomas C. Chen is a research professor in the department of industrial engineering at the University of Houston and director of the RFID and Sensor Research Laboratory. He holds a BS (1968) in industrial engineering from Tunghai University, Taiwan; an MS (1971) in industrial and systems engineering from the University of Pittsburgh; and a PhD (1976) in industrial engineering and management from Oklahoma State University. Chen is a registered professional engineer in Texas.
Thomas C. Chen is a research professor in the department of industrial engineering at the University of Houston and director of the RFID and Sensor Research Laboratory. He holds a BS (1968) in industrial engineering from Tunghai University, Taiwan; an MS (1971) in industrial and systems engineering from the University of Pittsburgh; and a PhD (1976) in industrial engineering and management from Oklahoma State University. Chen is a registered professional engineer in Texas.
Gary Gaukler
Gary M. Gaukler is an assistant professor in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering at Texas A&M University and is the director of TAMU's RFID and supply chain systems lab. He is a supporting member of the oil and gas RFID solution group standards development board and has published in academic and business journals on the topics of RFID in retail, inventory control, supply chain management, and manufacturing. Gaukler holds a BSc (1998) in engineering and management science from Universitat Karlsruhe, an MS (2000) in industrial and systems engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology, an MS (2003) in operations research from Stanford University, and a PhD (2005) in management science and engineering from Stanford.
Gary M. Gaukler is an assistant professor in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering at Texas A&M University and is the director of TAMU's RFID and supply chain systems lab. He is a supporting member of the oil and gas RFID solution group standards development board and has published in academic and business journals on the topics of RFID in retail, inventory control, supply chain management, and manufacturing. Gaukler holds a BSc (1998) in engineering and management science from Universitat Karlsruhe, an MS (2000) in industrial and systems engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology, an MS (2003) in operations research from Stanford University, and a PhD (2005) in management science and engineering from Stanford.
Curt Smith
Curt Smith is the Applications Director in BP's Chief Technology Office. Curt is a Geologist by background before moving into the world of Information Technology. He has worked on a wide range of RFID solutions in BP from passive to active applications. He is currently leading the development of the world's first Location Aware Safety System for positively accounting for people in the event of an emergency evacuation in industrial heavy metal environments using Utra-wide Band technology. Previous roles in BP include: Program Director Global Projects, West Coast IT Manager, Region Infrastructure Services Manager Latin America, IT Manager Venezuela, Head of Consultancy Colombia, Project Manager Client-server migration Alaska, and Delveopment Manager for the Production Databases in the North Slope Alaskan Oil Fields.
Curt Smith is the Applications Director in BP's Chief Technology Office. Curt is a Geologist by background before moving into the world of Information Technology. He has worked on a wide range of RFID solutions in BP from passive to active applications. He is currently leading the development of the world's first Location Aware Safety System for positively accounting for people in the event of an emergency evacuation in industrial heavy metal environments using Utra-wide Band technology. Previous roles in BP include: Program Director Global Projects, West Coast IT Manager, Region Infrastructure Services Manager Latin America, IT Manager Venezuela, Head of Consultancy Colombia, Project Manager Client-server migration Alaska, and Delveopment Manager for the Production Databases in the North Slope Alaskan Oil Fields.
Larry Blue
In April 2006, Larry Blue was appointed as the CEO of Hi-G-Tek. Prior to joining Hi-G-Tek, Blue served as the Vice President and General Manager of the RFID Tag Sector of Symbol Technologies. In this role, Blue maintained responsibility for product development, marketing, and operations of the Symbol RFID Tag Business Unit. Blue previously worked as the Senior Vice President of Engineering at Matrics, Inc. and as the Vice President of Engineering at Zagros Networks. From 1992 to 2001, Blue was the Vice President of VLSI Engineering for Hughes Network Systems in Germantown, Maryland. As Vice President, Blue was responsible for the strategic planning, contract management, personnel development, and product support for VLSI teams at multiple locations. While at Hughes, Blue was at the forefront in the company's development of a new, state-of-the-art IC Design organization that included digital, mixed signal, analog, and RF IC design capabilities. Blue began his career with IBM, where he held a number of progressively senior positions for close to 13 years. In his final role at IBM as Program Manager, Blue directed over 130 technical professionals involved with the development of microprocessor, token ring, and digital signal processor systems. Blue obtained both a bachelor's degree and master's degree in electrical engineering from Duke University. He is a member of several industry associations and currently holds two U.S. patents and has authored numerous papers on communications and RFID.
In April 2006, Larry Blue was appointed as the CEO of Hi-G-Tek. Prior to joining Hi-G-Tek, Blue served as the Vice President and General Manager of the RFID Tag Sector of Symbol Technologies. In this role, Blue maintained responsibility for product development, marketing, and operations of the Symbol RFID Tag Business Unit. Blue previously worked as the Senior Vice President of Engineering at Matrics, Inc. and as the Vice President of Engineering at Zagros Networks. From 1992 to 2001, Blue was the Vice President of VLSI Engineering for Hughes Network Systems in Germantown, Maryland. As Vice President, Blue was responsible for the strategic planning, contract management, personnel development, and product support for VLSI teams at multiple locations. While at Hughes, Blue was at the forefront in the company's development of a new, state-of-the-art IC Design organization that included digital, mixed signal, analog, and RF IC design capabilities. Blue began his career with IBM, where he held a number of progressively senior positions for close to 13 years. In his final role at IBM as Program Manager, Blue directed over 130 technical professionals involved with the development of microprocessor, token ring, and digital signal processor systems. Blue obtained both a bachelor's degree and master's degree in electrical engineering from Duke University. He is a member of several industry associations and currently holds two U.S. patents and has authored numerous papers on communications and RFID.
Phil Abbott
Phil has been engaged in the Auto ID/RFID field for over 28 years. He has held various sales and marketing positions in the data collection arena at several of the world's leading Auto ID organizations - IDENTEC SOLUTIONS, Telxon, PSC, Avnet, etc. Over the last 7 plus years Phil has been involved directly in the sales and support of RFID technology in various vertical markets including technologies of both passive and active varieties. Presently he is Director of Business Development focusing on the Oil, Gas and Mining sector for IDENTEC SOLUTIONS, INC. the global leader in long-range commercial RFID-based products deployed in a wide variety of applications, industries and environments. Recently, IDENTEC SOLUTIONS brought home top honors at an event held by Red Herring where it announced the Global Top 100 private technology companies.
Phil has been engaged in the Auto ID/RFID field for over 28 years. He has held various sales and marketing positions in the data collection arena at several of the world's leading Auto ID organizations - IDENTEC SOLUTIONS, Telxon, PSC, Avnet, etc. Over the last 7 plus years Phil has been involved directly in the sales and support of RFID technology in various vertical markets including technologies of both passive and active varieties. Presently he is Director of Business Development focusing on the Oil, Gas and Mining sector for IDENTEC SOLUTIONS, INC. the global leader in long-range commercial RFID-based products deployed in a wide variety of applications, industries and environments. Recently, IDENTEC SOLUTIONS brought home top honors at an event held by Red Herring where it announced the Global Top 100 private technology companies.
Dan Hough
Dan Hough is an Oil &Gas Executive in Oracles Industry Business Unit to provide solutions to the Oil Industry. Mr. Hough started his career with Exxon USA as an Exploration Geologist and as his experience progressed through management assignments in Exploitation, Land and Royalty Ownership Relations, G&G Operations, IT and Training. Mr. Hough is an experienced at leading IT, operations and administrative teams through all phases of large-scale technology rollout including cost analysis, planning, vendor selection and acquisition. He has also worked for Bearing Point and Celerant in the Oil and Gas Sector managing Operational Excellence, Continuous Improvement, Oracle and SAP ERP projects. Mr. Hough is a Geologist based in are Houston office and is a member of the SPE, BCIU, IEEE and AAPG.
Kathleen Hanafan
Kathleen Hanafan, Chief Executive Officer, joined AirGATE in 2007 where she is responsible for managing the day-to-day activities of the corporation. Ms Hanafan has 20 years of executive experience driving revenues for both major corporations and highly successful niche-focused companies. Ms. Hanafan was founder, president and CEO of Onit Communications, a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) IP Centrex Company. Ms Hanafan grew the company into one of the largest B2B VoIP enterprises nationally through a combination of organic growth and key mergers and acquisitions. Before founding Onit, she was Senior Vice President of worldwide sales and marketing for VCampus Corporation, where she significantly increased market share in the corporate, government and commercial segments.
Kathleen Hanafan, Chief Executive Officer, joined AirGATE in 2007 where she is responsible for managing the day-to-day activities of the corporation. Ms Hanafan has 20 years of executive experience driving revenues for both major corporations and highly successful niche-focused companies. Ms. Hanafan was founder, president and CEO of Onit Communications, a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) IP Centrex Company. Ms Hanafan grew the company into one of the largest B2B VoIP enterprises nationally through a combination of organic growth and key mergers and acquisitions. Before founding Onit, she was Senior Vice President of worldwide sales and marketing for VCampus Corporation, where she significantly increased market share in the corporate, government and commercial segments.
Kamal Farid
Kemal directs the strategy of the business, including technology development and global expansion. Kemal is one of Merrick's founders and is a major shareholder. He has a background in automation and process control with twenty five years of software development experience and twenty years in the oil and gas industry. His academic qualifications include a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin and executive business education at Rice University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Kemal directs the strategy of the business, including technology development and global expansion. Kemal is one of Merrick's founders and is a major shareholder. He has a background in automation and process control with twenty five years of software development experience and twenty years in the oil and gas industry. His academic qualifications include a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin and executive business education at Rice University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Hank Tomarelli (Texas Instruments)
Bio coming soon.
Bio coming soon.
Ray Cavanagh
Mr. Cavanagh brings to Axcess over 25 years of experience selling high technology solutions to Fortune 1000 companies, government agencies and educational institutions. Prior to joining Axcess, Mr. Cavanagh was Senior Vice President of Worldwide Sales Operations at OpenService, Inc., a software developer of Network and Security Information Management Solutions. Mr. Cavanagh started his career at Minolta Corporation's headquarters based in New Jersey. Cavanagh holds an Executive MBA from Northeastern University in International Business where he also completed his undergraduate studies. He has also taught Sales and Marketing courses at Bentley College. He has also held senior executive roles at First Virtual Communications, Aprisma Technologies, Interleaf, PictureTel, and Wang Laboratories.