Chief Innovation Officer of Nova Southeastern University (NSU)
Executive Director of the Alan B. Levan | NSU Broward Center of Innovation

John Wensveen is responsible for overseeing a multimillion-dollar public-private partnership to support the growing entrepreneurial ecosystem by attracting and retaining industry-leading entrepreneurs, technology, sources of investment capital, and supporting resources to create a premier innovation center and technology hub.

Vice President of Space Commerce & Entrepreneurship at Space Foundation

Kelli Kedis Ogborn drives organizational and product growth in disruptive technology commercialization of space and defense innovations. With extensive experience in R&D and cutting-edge technology applications for the U.S. government and private sector, her qualitative and quantitative methodologies guide organizations and companies that are transitioning from development ecosystems to market capitalization.

Co-Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Terran Orbital

Marc Bell is the Co-Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Terran Orbital Corporation, a leading satellite manufacturer serving U.S. and Allied aerospace and defense industries. The company offers comprehensive satellite solutions, covering design, production, launch planning, mission operations, and on-orbit support for diverse customers. Beyond Terran Orbital, Marc is an accomplished entrepreneur, taking a $250 million SPAC public in 2008, which acquired Armour Residential REIT now valued at over $8 billion. His career began in 1989 as the founder of Globix, an Internet Infrastructure company with extensive global reach. Marc is also a successful Broadway producer, credited with Tony Award-winning shows like Jersey Boys and August Osage County, as well as the Tony-nominated Beetlejuice. He holds a Master's in Real Estate Development and Investment from NYU and a Bachelor's in Accounting from Babson College, actively participating in various boards and foundations.

Founder & CEO of Spaced Ventures
Aaron Burnett is a 10 year product and community expert turned space financier. He is the Founder and CEO of Spaced Ventures, the planet’s only dedicated Space Neo-Broker, which has facilitated more $12M in funding for more than a dozen space companies since its launch. Over the last 3 years, Aaron has built a world class space network spanning hundreds of companies and thousands of founders, investors, and partners.

CEO of Launch On Demand Corporation

Prior to founding Launch On Demand Corporation, Burton was the Commander of the US Air Force’s 45th Operations Group, 45th Space Wing, with operations at Patrick AFB, FL, Cape Canaveral AFS, FL, and Kennedy Space Center, FL. He has extensive knowledge and operational experience at both the U.S. Eastern and Western Ranges. He was instrumental in leading ground-breaking launch support and services for a myriad of new commercial launch customers on the Eastern Range, including SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Moon Express. Burton was also a Director of Cyber and Space Programs for the Department of Defense (DOD) at the Pentagon where he was responsible for the budgeting, acquisition, and procurement of multi-billion-dollar, state-of-the-art IT equipment and systems, to include support for all DOD classified space programs. Burton has productive relationships across the USAF, Space Florida, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Department of Commerce, and other industry stakeholders.

Vice President Business & Economic Development

Matt Chesnut joined Space Florida in December of 2018 as a member of the business development team. Utilizing his experience in economic development in Florida, Matt works closely with economic development organizations, airport organizations, and local governments in utilizing Space Florida’s tool kit in the attraction of aerospace companies. Matt’s role also involves working with aerospace related businesses who are considering locating or expanding in Florida.

David Coddington, Senior VP at the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance

Since June 2010, David has overseen business development at the Alliance. He aids companies worldwide in expanding or relocating to Greater Fort Lauderdale and supports local ones with their expansions. David focuses on IT and the marine industry, founding the South Florida TechGateway to boost the regional tech ecosystem, and he's a Co-Chair of the Global Business Luncheon committee for the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. He also participates in numerous boards and committees related to economic development and education.

Vice President, North American Operations of International Space University

Dr. Ken Davidian has worked over 40 years in the space sector, including 20 years at NASA (Lewis/Glenn Headquarters), 14 years at the FAA’s Office of Commercial Space Transportation, and 5 years in private industry/academia. Davidian currently wears many hats, as (i) the Vice President of North American Operation for the International Space University, (ii) the Editor-in-Chief of the New Space journal, (iii) an Adjunct Professor for Virginia Tech's Pamplin College of Business, and (iv) owner of Impossible Research, a research, research consulting, and STEAM outreach company. Davidian is an Associate Fellow of the AIAA, a Full Member of the International Academy of Astronautics, and is internationally active as an officer or advisor on multiple committees and groups. Davidian received a BS degree in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering, a MS degree in Mechanical Engineering, and a doctorate in Business Administration focusing on market-level organizational change, innovation, and space market emergence.

Assistant Executive Director, Programs at Levan Center of Innovation

Jaap oversees the four pillar programs of the Levan Center, Ideate, Incubate, Accelerate and Post-Accelerate as well as other programs. Jaap has close to 30 years of economic development experience, including over 25 years with the Miami-Dade Beacon Council, the economic development partnership for Miami-Dade County as Senior Vice President, Research & Strategic Planning. In this role he has been involved in the entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem in South Florida, including BioFlorida Southeast Chapter leadership, Life Science South Florida Executive Committee and past member of the eMerge Americas Steering Committee.

Co-Founder, Chief Executive Officer, GoKnown, LLC

Connie is a co-founder of GoKnown, LLC, a tech company established in 2018 with a focus on data privacy and security both on Earth and in Space. The company's KNOWN distributed ledger is a pioneering solution for decentralized general-purpose computing. Their debut product, MyKNOWN, is a cybersecure, NoCode LowCode distributed ledger designed for wide adoption and swift development of decentralized applications. Prior to GoKnown, Connie co-founded and led two prosperous startups in the financial and technology sectors. Her extensive background includes roles as an analyst on Wall Street and contributions to regulatory discussions on market regulation and disaster recovery. Additionally, Connie has shared her expertise through presentations and published articles on topics like data value and security.

Founder & CEO of Bifarm

Wanjun Gao founded BIFΛRM in 2017, an AgTech startup specializing in precision aeroponics solutions. Under his leadership, Bifarm has innovated compact, modular cultivation systems suitable for both home and commercial use. Their flagship product, Future Farm©, was a finalist at the SXSW 2020 Innovation Award and the S&P Global Energy Award 2021. Gao has also patented processes for precise nutrient delivery in aeroponics, which boasts 300% more yields using only 5% of the water compared to traditional methods. He actively collaborates with universities and advocates for sustainable agriculture, playing a pivotal role in food security initiatives globally.

CEO at LightRidge Solutions

Bill Gattle, CEO of LightRidge Solutions, boasts 35 years of expertise in the aerospace and defense industry, specializing in high-performance space and air collectors, sensors, and cutting-edge AI/ML technology. Formerly, he served as President of Space Systems for L3Harris Technologies, overseeing strategy, financial performance, and program execution within the space systems sector. Prior to this, Gattle led Harris Corporation’s Space and Intelligence Systems segment, managing a diverse portfolio covering intelligence solutions, surveillance, electronic warfare, and C4I systems. He holds a Bachelor's and Master of Science in mechanical engineering from the University of Florida and is a member of several prestigious engineering organizations.

VP of Sales at Satellogic

Luciano Giesso is a multinational executive with more than 25 years’ experience in technology & services.

Mr. Giesso has led multi-country teams of 100+ employees in many countries occupying several management and sales positions in technology companies, including a 14-year tenure in IBM.

Fluent in English, Spanish, French, Portuguese and German, Mr. Giesso holds an Engineer’s Degree from UCA and an MBA from San Andrés University, both in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

He has also completed executive programs in Harvard Business School and MIT Sloan School of Management.

Assistant Executive Director, Operations

Teresa Grandal Cusse (aka Terry) serves as the Assistant Executive Director of Administration and Operations of the Alan B. Levan | NSU Broward Center of Innovation. She also spearheads the emerging technologies initiatives around cybersecurity, which includes a cyber range, spatial computing, and AI/machine learning. Prior to this role, Terry served as Director of Resource Development at Miami Dade College. Terry has over 15 years of experience in grants including writing, managing, and reviewing. As a skilled presenter and speaker, Terry has provided training workshops on a variety of topics including budget development and management, grant management, grant writing, improving sales skills, building relationships, and more.

Basil Hero, an award-winning former investigative reporter, delves into the profound life lessons gleaned from the twelve Apollo astronauts who journeyed to the Moon. Through exclusive interviews, these pioneers share insights on courage, leadership, and quiet patriotism. Hero distills key takeaways from their experiences, offering practical lessons applicable from classrooms to boardrooms. Beyond their lunar feats, the astronauts emphasize Earth's fragility and propose solutions for its challenges, advocating for a united global perspective in The Mission Of A Lifetime.

Senior Engineering Manager at Aerojet/Rocketdyne

Corry Johnson, a distinguished Senior Engineering Manager at Aerojet/Rocketdyne, boasts a career spanning two decades marked by pioneering aerospace engineering. He leads cross-functional teams in designing cutting-edge propulsion systems, propelling the aerospace industry forward. Corry's commitment to engineering excellence has resulted in the successful execution of high-profile projects, solidifying Aerojet/Rocketdyne's global reputation in propulsion technology. His collaborative leadership style and dedication to mentoring emerging talents inspire colleagues and mentees alike. Beyond the workplace, Corry actively contributes to industry conferences, influencing the future of space exploration. In his role, he remains at the forefront of innovation, driving Aerojet/Rocketdyne's mission to power the next era of space exploration.

Executive Vice President, Economic Development

James Kohnstamm is an experienced economic development professional who is passionate about expanding economic opportunities for all . As Executive Vice President for Economic Development, Kohnstamm leads a team that advises local, national and international business leaders on the economic trends and attributes of Miami-Dade County and delivers customized services to support expanding and relocating business that are making job generating investments. As an International Economic Development Council (IEDC) Certified Economic Developer (CEcD), Kohnstamm has directly managed over 200 economic development projects that have generated over 15,000 jobs and $3 billion of investment for Miami-Dade County. Clients include: Amazon, Blackstone, Boeing, Deloitte, Ford, JP Morgan Chase, LATAM Airlines, Microsoft, Ryder System, Spotify, Telemundo, Univision, and UPS. Kohnstamm is an ex-officio board member of the Coral Gables Florida Chamber of Commerce.

Luba Lesiva, Founding Partner at Palumni VC

Palumni VC invests exclusively in startups founded by Palantir alumni, from pre-seed to pre-IPO. Since launching in 2020, Palumni VC has grown to over 850 investors and has made 16 investments in 13 companies.

Previously, Luba Lesiva headed up investor relations at Palantir, raising $1.2bn across the company's Series J and Series K rounds. Prior to that, Luba invested $200m in venture capital on behalf of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the world's largest sovereign wealth funds. Luba started her career in Sydney, Australia, as an investment banker at Merrill Lynch, covering infrastructure and energy, before making and managing growth equity mining, utilities, and industrials investments on behalf of EIG Partners and Goldman Sachs.

Sr. Director of Maritime Business Development for ORBCOMM’s Maritime Services

Andrew heads global Sales, Business Development and Marketing efforts for its satellite AIS data services and new maritime product initiatives. Over the last 20 years Mr. Loretta has been involved in developing and implementing terrestrial- and satellite- based remote asset tracking solutions for the maritime and logistics industries, serving in Sales, Business Development, Product Management, and Operations roles in support of maritime related tracking and monitoring solutions. During this time, Mr. Loretta has managed relationships with a broad range of major government and maritime authorities, vessel owners, offshore energy operators and maritime information providers. Mr. Loretta graduated from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History, and is fluent in Portuguese and Spanish. Mr. Loretta resides in Miami, Florida, with his wife and two children.

Founder of AutoInnoMarket

With a wide-ranging career spanning startups to global enterprises, I've honed skills as a seasoned entrepreneur, especially in revenue generation and marketing. My international and domestic experiences offer a distinctive perspective on innovation, resilient processes, and diverse business ecosystems.

From early entrepreneurship funding my education, financial analysis for manufacturing, to Wall Street roles as a quantitative analyst, portfolio manager, and SaaS startup leader, I've thrived in varied cultures across continents. This journey fuels my passion for learning, innovating, and decoding unique company blueprints.

I firmly believe strategic innovation is transformative, not just supplementary. Marrying enterprise precision with technology empowers SMBs to compete and make significant market strides. As a revenue strategy and marketing execution company founder, we embody these principles daily."

CEO & Founder at Doroni Aerospace

Doron Merdinger is the Founder and CEO of Doroni Aerospace, a company focused on transforming transportation and shaping the future of urban air mobility. With a background in luxury design, he led Merdinger House of Design, creating exclusive collections of tabletop luxury goods. Previously, as CEO of Hazorfim Ltd., he achieved significant growth and worldwide recognition for the company. Doron holds a B.S. in International Finance from NYU Stern School of Business. With Doroni Aerospace, he is committed to providing safe, practical, and environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional automobile transportation.

Manager of the Technology Transfer Office at NASA

Hetal Miranda leads a team that has extensive experience in intellectual property management, technology licensing, and establishment of public-private partnerships. The Technology Transfer Office at Kennedy ensures that innovations developed for aeronautics and space exploration are made broadly available to the public – boosting the U.S. economy and maximizing the return on the nation’s investment in NASA.

University Partnerships & Small Satellite Capabilities Manager at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center

In his role at KSC, Jose is tasked with increasing collaborations between University Principal Investigators (PIs) and KSC investigators as well as leveraging infrastructure to increase University Small Sat development activities. His talk will provide an overview of NASA’s plans to the moon/mars as well as current NASA opportunities. In his 34 year career with NASA, he has performed in multiple leadership, engineering, project, and mission management roles working on the International Space Station (ISS) Program with Government, Contractor, and University personnel across the U.S. and Internationals such as Brazil, Canada, Japan, Germany, Italy, and Spain.

Physicist at NASA Kennedy Space Center in the Swamp Works Electrostatics and Surface Physics Laboratory

Dr. Olson works on lunar in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) and lunar dust mitigation technologies in support of the Artemis program. Aaron was born in Kikwit in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and was raised in Madison, WI. He earned a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering in 2012, completed his M.S. in Engineering Mechanics in May of 2014 and a Ph.D. in this same field in 2018 from the University of Wisconsin. During his undergraduate education, Aaron earned a minor in International Engineering from studying abroad at the Institut Supérieur de l'Aéronautique et de l'Espace in Toulouse, France. As a graduate student, Dr. Olson was a NASA Space Technology Research Fellow and collaborated on lunar ISRU research with NASA Kennedy Space Center’s Swamp Works Lab. Dr. Olson was named one of the Forward under 40 award winners from the University of Wisconsin – Madison’s Alumni Association in 2020 for his work with NovoMoto, Inc., a for profit social enterprise he co-founded in 2015 to provide clean, renewable, and sustainable electricity to communities in the DRC.

Project Scientist, Exploration Research and Technology Programs, Kennedy Space Center
Dr. O’Rourke is a Technologist serving as the Principal Investigator on an early career award to design and engineer an autonomous sequencer for spaceflight platforms in support of microbial and plant health monitoring. As a Project Scientist at the NASA Kennedy Space Center, Dr. Aubrie O’Rourke works within the Space Crop Production (SCP) group as the resident microbiologist and participates in bioregenerative life support systems (BLSS) planning from a SCP perspective. In this role she supports flight grants which conduct science on the International Space Station (ISS) as well as ground-based controlled environment horticultural projects in collaboration with the USDA focused on plant health monitoring using advanced imaging techniques. Dr. O’Rourke earned a Bachelor of Science degree from UC San Diego, a Master’s degree from UC Merced in Quantitative and Systems Biology focused on coral polyp development and a PhD from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Saudi Arabia in molecular marine biology focused on natural product drug discovery. She was awarded a NASA postdoctoral fellowship under the Microbes of the Built Environment (MoBE) Program to characterize the genotypic and phenotypic response of microbes from the ISS while at the J. Craig Venter Institute before joining NASA. She recently served on the National Academies Decadal review panel for Biological Sciences.

Global business developer and social entrepreneur focused on identifying transformative companies and supporting their scale and growth by leveraging the Miami business ecosystem as the gateway to impact and increase global business expansion.

A community engager and named Best of Miami Entrepreneur by Miami Today, Camilo adds well over 25 years as a marketing and business executive including private equity investment strategies. He has assumed various roles with companies in: telecommunications, entertainment technology, food services, healthcare, and social impact technology. Camilo leads as president of ASELA USA – Association of Entrepreneurs of Latin America, an active member of the Miami-Dade County Beacon Council and board chair of global partnerships for The Levan Center of Innovation at Nova Southeastern University.

Solutions Architect

Troy Parker is a strategic Solutions Architect with a degree from Florida State University. For the past thirteen years he has been a project director across multiple brand platforms. His IT projects include both B2B and B2C companies, with practical national and international expertise. He has setup custom IT solutions and enterprise level platforms across multiple verticals.

Troy is known for being a leader in the AI space, with products spanning over the last 7 years. Prior to co-founding CodeFirm he gained a reputation for helping deliver advanced mobile and web applications under budget for some of the most high-profile agencies in Central Florida. Known throughout the IT community Troy volunteers his time with Lab3, The Orlando Tech Community,, and giving consultation to new startups.

Managing Director at Fortuna Investments

Justus Parmar is an award-winning venture capitalist with over 15 years of public market experience. As the Founder and CEO of Fortuna Investments, Parmar leads a team with offices in Miami, Los Angeles and Vancouver that focuses on investing in and creating the emerging technologies and industries of tomorrow. A strong believer in giving back to local communities, Parmar is an active board member and fundraiser for Face of Today, a Vancouver-based charity working to end the stigma of mental health issues impacting youth. He is also the founder of the Fortuna Foundation, an organization passionate about giving back to the communities and CEOs of tomorrow. With a passion for guiding and mentoring the next generation of investors, Parmar established the Justus Parmar Group Scholarship Foundation, which has awarded scholarship funds to 10 University of British Columbia finance students to date. Parmar was a 2018 recipient of Business in Vancouver’s prestigious Forty Under 40 Award for his achievements and excellence in business, judgment, leadership and community contribution.

Senior Staff Writer at Space News

Jason Rainbow writes about satellite telecom, space finance and commercial markets for SpaceNews. He has spent more than a decade covering the global space industry as a business journalist. Previously, he was Group Editor-in-Chief for Finance Information Group, including its industry publication Connectivity Business (formerly SatelliteFinance and TelecomFinance).

USAF Colonel (Ret.)

Jason Roberson (USAF Colonel, retired) is part of the Dassault System Aerospace & Defense strategy and innovation team developing solutions to empower and enable the global space industry with virtual twin experiences. His primary focus is on North America Space and Defense Industries. He brings deep knowledge of the enabling power space brings to industry players, governments, and international policies, as well as data insights that come from space-based resources.

Prior to joining Dassault Systemes, Jason served 25 years in the U.S. Air Force as a Space Operations Officer, working with industry and international allies across air, space, and cyberspace. He served in numerous command & international staff positions, culminating as a Colonel and the Director of Space Forces for U.S. European Command & U.S. Africa Command.

Vice President for Recruitment, Retention, and Expansion at Business Development Board of Palm Beach County

Shawn has served in a variety of roles during his 16 year tenure at Palm Beach County’s public/private economic development agency, the Business Development Board of Palm Beach County, Inc. (BDB). In addition, he serves on the board of the Lake Okeechobee Regional Economic Alliance and serves on several industry advisory councils. While in his roles with Business Recruitment, Retention, and Expansion, he has been involved with facilitating some of the largest job creation projects in Palm Beach County from companies like ADT, Pratt & Whitney, Office Depot, TBC Corporation, Zimmer/Biomet, Modernizing Medicine, UTC, and Carrier to name a few.

Shawn is also the BDB staff liaison for task forces and committees at the BDB including the Aerospace/Aviation/Engineering Task Force and the Shovel Ready Sites Program Committee.

Regional Safety Director, Latin America and Caribbean at Airbus

Since joining Airbus in 2019, Santiago has been instrumental in driving safety initiatives and collaborating with industry stakeholders to enhance the region's safety record. Prior to Airbus, he held a pivotal role as Head of Tech Ops and Safety at the Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA) for over a decade, honing his expertise in various facets of the airline industry. An active member of ICAO's Regional Aviation Safety Group, Santiago currently co-chairs the Regional Aviation Safety Team, representing the industry's interests. With a rich background in aviation, including private pilot certification and academic achievements in airline management and travel and tourism, Santiago is also a certified professional coach.

Founder & CEO of Cyncrocity

Diego Sandoval is the Founder & CEO of Cyncrocity, an ecosystem intelligence startup with a suite of products for monitoring and enabling global innovation ecosystems. Diego represents Cyncrocity as a Latitud Fellow and an Entrepreneur in Residence at Blitzscaling Ventures, advised by Reid Hoffman, the co-founder of Linkedin.

Previously, Diego served as an IREX Program Officer in Washington D.C. implementing the U.S. Department of State’s flagship entrepreneurship network for the western hemisphere. He is a member of SONEAN's Network Science & Artificial Intelligence Laboratory in Frankfurt and is an alumnus of New York University Abu Dhabi with a degree in Social Research & Public Policy.

Co-Founder & CEO of eJet Aerospace

Saul Tarazona brings 16 years of dedicated experience in defense aviation programs, collaborating with governments like the U.S., Colombia, and the UAE. He's evolved from grassroots roles to a distinguished consultant and advisor in emerging technologies and innovation strategy. Holding an MBA from Coventry University and a degree in Aeronautical Engineering, Saul combines academic excellence with hands-on expertise. He's also an accomplished international speaker, adding depth to his versatile career. Beyond his professional roles, Saul excels as an adept investor and advisor for leading Family Offices worldwide, specializing in emerging technologies like Blockchain, Electric Vehicles, and FinTech. As Founder of String Group and Co-Founder at eJet Aerospace, Saul pioneers innovative solutions, contributing significantly to the technology and aviation landscape.

Small Business Technology Manager at Kennedy Space Center

Mike leads KSC SBIR/STTR activities and assists with technology development. Prior to this role, Mike served as one of KSC’s Commercial Partnership Development Managers, where he helped KSC transition to the busy multi-user spaceport it is today.

Global Product Lead at Google

David builds data products for Google Ads. He currently serves as an AI Policy Ambassador for Google’s Global Affairs, he is an AI Principles Advisor who stress tests Google’s AI-first software and hardware products, and he is a Generative AI Ambassador for Google Cloud.

In the community, David is host of the leading Applied AI and Responsible AI podcast HumAIn. He coordinates community mixers for venture capitalists, founders, and developers through Tech Dinner Series and startup ecosystem growth through investments at DataPower Ventures.

Prior to Google, David led Technical Enablement at SingleStore, an HTAP cloud database similar to BigQuery. Previously, he led Enterprise Data Science Professional Services at Galvanize and General Assembly across Financial Services, Retail, and Telco industries.