April 9 will be the fourth annual technology conference at the Pennsylvania College of Technology which will be hosted by Technology Futures of North Central Pennsylvania.
Ian Walsh, chief of staff and chief innovation officer of Textron Systems' Lycoming Engines, will be the keynote speaker at the event, discussing how his business has been innovative, according to Lauri Moon, Industrial Modernization Center marketing and events coordinator.
"He is going to talk about how Textron Systems as a whole has been innovative with their product and gone to market with various different solutions and products," Moon said.
The organization wanted Walsh to be the keynote speaker because of him being a local manufacturer and the manufacturing industry is the IMC's primary client base, according to Moon.
Lycoming Engines is a viable part of the community, employing about 500 locally, according to Moon.
"Talking about innovating products and improving technology, Walsh's company, not just locally, but as a whole, has been very good about innovation," Moon said.
The IMC has worked with Lycoming Engines numerous times over the years, according to Moon.
There is availability for two more speakers at the event, one to speak on Marcellus Shale and the other a manufacturer, according to Moon.
"We are trying to find a local manufacturer that would be willing to be part of the panel part of the agenda and talk about how they have innovated a product and taken it to market," Moon said. "We also hope to have an industry rep from the gas industry to discuss some of the things that they run into at the drill site regarding water management."
Hopefully, a gas industry sponsor will take place in the event, according to Moon.
"We are looking for one of the gas industry's local reps to step up and be a sponsor of the event and if one does, we would like to offer them a spot, rather than filling it with someone else and the sponsor not having some access to the agenda," Moon said.
Excluding Walsh, other individuals slated to speak at the conference are Anna Griffith, of Discovery Machine Inc.; Rick Hoover, research director of Penn State Materials Research Institute; Dr. Mylisa Parette, research manager of Keystone Nano, Keith Kuzio, president of TerraAqua Resource Management; Debbie Nifong, director of strategic initiatives for the Department of Community and Economic Development, Ray Murphy, manager of Major accounts at PPL; and Don Brown, inventor of the AbRoller, according to Moon.
Tickets for the event are $50, with registration beginning at 8 a.m. at the Penn College Field House April 9.
Individuals interested in attending, may do so by registering online at www.techfuturesncpa.org or by calling Lauri Moon at 329-3200 ext. 8085.
