Jamil Abo-Shaeer, PhD
Vector Atomic
CEO and Co-founder
Jamil Abo-Shaeer is CEO of Vector Atomic, which he co-found in 2018. Previously he was the VP of strategic planning at AOSense, a startup providing atom-based navigation and timing solutions to reduce/eliminate GPS reliance. He has also worked as an associate consultant at Booz Allen Hamilton, and, for four years, as a program manager at DARPA, overseeing a variety of high-risk, high-reward projects. He has a BA in Physics from UC Berkeley and a PhD in Physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Vector Atomic
CEO and Co-founder
Jamil Abo-Shaeer is CEO of Vector Atomic, which he co-found in 2018. Previously he was the VP of strategic planning at AOSense, a startup providing atom-based navigation and timing solutions to reduce/eliminate GPS reliance. He has also worked as an associate consultant at Booz Allen Hamilton, and, for four years, as a program manager at DARPA, overseeing a variety of high-risk, high-reward projects. He has a BA in Physics from UC Berkeley and a PhD in Physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
TIm Day, PhD
ColdQuanta
Executive Chairman
Tim Day is Vice President and General Manager of DRS Daylight Solutions, a manufacturer of molecular detection and imaging products. He concurrently serves as the executive manager for Daylight Defense, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of DRS Daylight Solutions, established to serve the defense and security markets. Dr. Day has over 25 years of experience in both technical and business management in the photonics industry, having developed extensive patent and product portfolios and transferred numerous products into production. He began his career as a cofounder of New Focus, where he served from 1990 through 2004, concluding with the sale of the company to Bookham Technology. He holds both a BS and an MS in Physics from San Diego State University and a PhD in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University. Dr Day joined the Board of Cold Quanta in 2018.
ColdQuanta
Executive Chairman
Tim Day is Vice President and General Manager of DRS Daylight Solutions, a manufacturer of molecular detection and imaging products. He concurrently serves as the executive manager for Daylight Defense, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of DRS Daylight Solutions, established to serve the defense and security markets. Dr. Day has over 25 years of experience in both technical and business management in the photonics industry, having developed extensive patent and product portfolios and transferred numerous products into production. He began his career as a cofounder of New Focus, where he served from 1990 through 2004, concluding with the sale of the company to Bookham Technology. He holds both a BS and an MS in Physics from San Diego State University and a PhD in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University. Dr Day joined the Board of Cold Quanta in 2018.
John Dexheimer
LightWave Advisors
President
John Dexheimer is President of LightWave Advisors, and has a record of success in helping leading edge technology growth firms. He has advised on over 100 completed company financings and mergers in photonics, software, communications, electronics, and materials. He is also a partner of First Analysis Private Equity Fund, a growth equity investor with a long record in private capital investing. Previously he led the IPO of Uniphase, subsequently managed the equity research and venture organization of CE Unterberg Towbin, and was in the software industry with GE, DRI, and Broadview International. He has a bachelor's degree from the University of Minnesota’s Institute of Technology and an MBA from Harvard.
LightWave Advisors
President
John Dexheimer is President of LightWave Advisors, and has a record of success in helping leading edge technology growth firms. He has advised on over 100 completed company financings and mergers in photonics, software, communications, electronics, and materials. He is also a partner of First Analysis Private Equity Fund, a growth equity investor with a long record in private capital investing. Previously he led the IPO of Uniphase, subsequently managed the equity research and venture organization of CE Unterberg Towbin, and was in the software industry with GE, DRI, and Broadview International. He has a bachelor's degree from the University of Minnesota’s Institute of Technology and an MBA from Harvard.
Matthijs Glastra
Novanta
CEO
Mr. Glastra was appointed CEO of Novanta in September 2016, having joined the company in 2012 as Group President and becoming COO in February 2015. Before joining Novanta, he led global technology businesses in advanced manufacturing and medical end-markets during an 18-year career with Philips, both in Europe as well as Silicon Valley. He most recently served as CEO of Philips’ Entertainment Lighting and COO of Philips Lumileds. He has also held multiple general manager and leadership positions at various Philips divisions and served as Director of Corporate Strategy in the Philips’ corporate headquarters. He started his career as Product Manager of Computed Tomography in the Philips’ Healthcare division. Mr. Glastra holds a MS in Applied Physics from Delft University of Technology, an Advanced Engineering Degree from ESPCI in Paris, and an MBA from INSEAD in Fontainebleau, France.
Novanta
CEO
Mr. Glastra was appointed CEO of Novanta in September 2016, having joined the company in 2012 as Group President and becoming COO in February 2015. Before joining Novanta, he led global technology businesses in advanced manufacturing and medical end-markets during an 18-year career with Philips, both in Europe as well as Silicon Valley. He most recently served as CEO of Philips’ Entertainment Lighting and COO of Philips Lumileds. He has also held multiple general manager and leadership positions at various Philips divisions and served as Director of Corporate Strategy in the Philips’ corporate headquarters. He started his career as Product Manager of Computed Tomography in the Philips’ Healthcare division. Mr. Glastra holds a MS in Applied Physics from Delft University of Technology, an Advanced Engineering Degree from ESPCI in Paris, and an MBA from INSEAD in Fontainebleau, France.
Bo Gu, PhD
Bos Photonics
An independent consultant advising photonics companies doing business in China and Asia, Dr. Gu has worked for 25 years in small, mid-, and large laser companies in the US and China, including IPG Photonics, GSI Group, and Resonetics. From 2008 to 2011, he was the director of IPG Asia operations and general manager of IPG China, responsible for developing Asian and Chinese markets. He became the first foreign national elected to become a vice president of the Chinese Optical Society Laser Processing Committee in 2010, and deputy secretary-general of COS in 2017.
Bos Photonics
An independent consultant advising photonics companies doing business in China and Asia, Dr. Gu has worked for 25 years in small, mid-, and large laser companies in the US and China, including IPG Photonics, GSI Group, and Resonetics. From 2008 to 2011, he was the director of IPG Asia operations and general manager of IPG China, responsible for developing Asian and Chinese markets. He became the first foreign national elected to become a vice president of the Chinese Optical Society Laser Processing Committee in 2010, and deputy secretary-general of COS in 2017.
Tom Hausken, PhD
OSA—The Optical Society
Senior Industry Advisor
Dr. Tom Hausken is Senior Industry Advisor for the OSA and OIDA. For 13 years until 2012, he led market research and strategy consulting for lasers, image sensors, and a range of other photonics products at PennWell’s Strategies Unlimited group. In the past he was also an analyst at OIDA and telecom policy analyst at the U.S. Congressional Office of Technology Assessment, and held R&D and production positions at Alcatel and Texas Instruments in photonics and electronics. He received his BS in electrical engineering from Montana State University-—Bozeman, and PhD in optoelectronics from the University of California, Santa Barbara.
OSA—The Optical Society
Senior Industry Advisor
Dr. Tom Hausken is Senior Industry Advisor for the OSA and OIDA. For 13 years until 2012, he led market research and strategy consulting for lasers, image sensors, and a range of other photonics products at PennWell’s Strategies Unlimited group. In the past he was also an analyst at OIDA and telecom policy analyst at the U.S. Congressional Office of Technology Assessment, and held R&D and production positions at Alcatel and Texas Instruments in photonics and electronics. He received his BS in electrical engineering from Montana State University-—Bozeman, and PhD in optoelectronics from the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Conard Holton
Laser Focus World
Editor at Large
Conard Holton, Editor at Large of Laser Focus World, has 30 years of science and technology editing and writing experience. He was formerly a staff member and consultant for government agencies such as the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and the International Atomic Energy Agency, and for engineering companies such as Bechtel. He joined Laser Focus World in 1997 as senior editor, becoming editor in chief of WDM Solutions, which he founded in 1999. In 2003 he joined Vision Systems Design as editor in chief. He was then editor in chief of Laser Focus World from 2011 to August 2018, when he became Editor at Large.
Laser Focus World
Editor at Large
Conard Holton, Editor at Large of Laser Focus World, has 30 years of science and technology editing and writing experience. He was formerly a staff member and consultant for government agencies such as the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and the International Atomic Energy Agency, and for engineering companies such as Bechtel. He joined Laser Focus World in 1997 as senior editor, becoming editor in chief of WDM Solutions, which he founded in 1999. In 2003 he joined Vision Systems Design as editor in chief. He was then editor in chief of Laser Focus World from 2011 to August 2018, when he became Editor at Large.
Todd Jaeger, PhD
Heraeus
Global Sales Director
Todd Jaeger Global Sales Director for Heraeus Quartz Commercial Optics. In addition to his roles at leading companies in the photonics industry, he is a former member of the NASA Laser Risk Reduction Program through Goddard Space Flight Center. He is currently based in the Buford, GA Heraeus Quartz North America facility. He holds a PhD in physical chemistry with an emphasis on lasers and spectroscopy from the University of Georgia.
Heraeus
Global Sales Director
Todd Jaeger Global Sales Director for Heraeus Quartz Commercial Optics. In addition to his roles at leading companies in the photonics industry, he is a former member of the NASA Laser Risk Reduction Program through Goddard Space Flight Center. He is currently based in the Buford, GA Heraeus Quartz North America facility. He holds a PhD in physical chemistry with an emphasis on lasers and spectroscopy from the University of Georgia.
Ralf Kimmel
TRUMPF Laser Technology
General Manager
Ralf Kimmel has been General Manager of the TRUMPF laser division business in North America since 2017, including responsibility for service, applications, and sales. The TRUMPF laser technology center in Plymouth, MI is one of the biggest TRUMPF sales subsidiaries within the laser division and provides laser technology to the US, Mexico, and Canada. The primary business drivers are the automotive industry, additive manufacturing with laser technologies, applications in e-mobility, consumer electronics, and medical industries. His career began in 1996 as a design engineer at Robert Bosch in Stuttgart and continued as a project manager in the German Aerospace Center (DLR). He joined TRUMPF Laser- und Systemtechnik in 2000. Mr. Kimmel has a degree in mechanical engineering with focus on cybernetics from the Universität Stuttgart.
TRUMPF Laser Technology
General Manager
Ralf Kimmel has been General Manager of the TRUMPF laser division business in North America since 2017, including responsibility for service, applications, and sales. The TRUMPF laser technology center in Plymouth, MI is one of the biggest TRUMPF sales subsidiaries within the laser division and provides laser technology to the US, Mexico, and Canada. The primary business drivers are the automotive industry, additive manufacturing with laser technologies, applications in e-mobility, consumer electronics, and medical industries. His career began in 1996 as a design engineer at Robert Bosch in Stuttgart and continued as a project manager in the German Aerospace Center (DLR). He joined TRUMPF Laser- und Systemtechnik in 2000. Mr. Kimmel has a degree in mechanical engineering with focus on cybernetics from the Universität Stuttgart.
Chris Monroe, PhD
IonQ, Inc.
Chief Scientist and Co-founder
Chris Monroe is an atomic physicist and quantum information scientist who demonstrated the first quantum gate realized in any system at NIST in the 1990s. At the University of Michigan and University of Maryland, he discovered new ways to scale trapped ion qubits and simplify their control with semiconductor chip traps, simplified lasers, and photonic interfaces for long-distance entanglement. He received the American Physical Society I. I. Rabi Prize and the Arthur Schawlow Laser Science Prize and has been elected into the National Academy of Sciences. He is Co-founder and Chief Scientist at IonQ and is a leading advocate of the National Quantum Initiative. He has an SB in Physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and a PhD in Physics from the University of Colorado Boulder.
IonQ, Inc.
Chief Scientist and Co-founder
Chris Monroe is an atomic physicist and quantum information scientist who demonstrated the first quantum gate realized in any system at NIST in the 1990s. At the University of Michigan and University of Maryland, he discovered new ways to scale trapped ion qubits and simplify their control with semiconductor chip traps, simplified lasers, and photonic interfaces for long-distance entanglement. He received the American Physical Society I. I. Rabi Prize and the Arthur Schawlow Laser Science Prize and has been elected into the National Academy of Sciences. He is Co-founder and Chief Scientist at IonQ and is a leading advocate of the National Quantum Initiative. He has an SB in Physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and a PhD in Physics from the University of Colorado Boulder.
Jessica DeGroote Nelson, PhD
Optimax Systems
Director of Technology & Strategy
Jessica DeGroote Nelson is Director of Technology & Strategy at Optimax Systems, working with a large team to build future product and technology roadmaps through a continuous strategic planning process. She joined the company in 2007 to help build their R&D department fueled by several SBIRs focused on conformal and freeform optics. She is also an adjunct assistant professor at the University of Rochester’s Institute of Optics, teaching both graduate and undergraduate classes on optical materials, fabrication, and testing. Dr. DeGroot Nelson is active in several local and national optics societies, and serves as co-chair of OSA’s Optical Fabrication and Testing, OSA’s Freeform, and SPIE’s Optifab events. She has a BS, MS, and PhD in optics from the University of Rochester’s Institute of Optics, and an executive MBA degree from the Simon School at the University of Rochester.
Optimax Systems
Director of Technology & Strategy
Jessica DeGroote Nelson is Director of Technology & Strategy at Optimax Systems, working with a large team to build future product and technology roadmaps through a continuous strategic planning process. She joined the company in 2007 to help build their R&D department fueled by several SBIRs focused on conformal and freeform optics. She is also an adjunct assistant professor at the University of Rochester’s Institute of Optics, teaching both graduate and undergraduate classes on optical materials, fabrication, and testing. Dr. DeGroot Nelson is active in several local and national optics societies, and serves as co-chair of OSA’s Optical Fabrication and Testing, OSA’s Freeform, and SPIE’s Optifab events. She has a BS, MS, and PhD in optics from the University of Rochester’s Institute of Optics, and an executive MBA degree from the Simon School at the University of Rochester.
Allen Nogee
Strategies Unlimited
Laser Analyst
Allen Nogee tracks hardware trends in lasers and laser-related industries worldwide for Strategies Unlimited. He has more than 25 years of experience in the photonics and electronics industry in hardware and software development, in addition to semiconductor market analysis. In the past, Nogee has been a Research Director and Principal Analyst at In-Stat, where he tracked RF semiconductors, cellular infrastructure, and wireless technologies. Mr. Nogee is President of Laser Markets Research (Scottsdale, AZ), and has an MBA from Arizona State University and a Bachelor of Engineering Technology in Electrical Engineering from Rochester Institute of Technology.
Strategies Unlimited
Laser Analyst
Allen Nogee tracks hardware trends in lasers and laser-related industries worldwide for Strategies Unlimited. He has more than 25 years of experience in the photonics and electronics industry in hardware and software development, in addition to semiconductor market analysis. In the past, Nogee has been a Research Director and Principal Analyst at In-Stat, where he tracked RF semiconductors, cellular infrastructure, and wireless technologies. Mr. Nogee is President of Laser Markets Research (Scottsdale, AZ), and has an MBA from Arizona State University and a Bachelor of Engineering Technology in Electrical Engineering from Rochester Institute of Technology.
Mike Powell
Woodside Capital Partners
Partner and Managing Director
Mike Powell is the Managing Partner of WCP UK, focusing on the technology, media, and telecom (TMT), and advanced materials sectors. He has advised multiple companies on M&A, financing, corporate strategy and tactics. In particular, he has focused on photonics and efficiency technologies, bringing 25 years of senior level experience, leading, advising, managing, and negotiating corporate projects and transactions for both private and public companies. Prior to founding Woodside Capital Partners UK from a background in defense contracting with GEC Marconi, he founded, funded, grew, and then sold IOC international, K2 Optronics, and Pelikon. He has a degree in Physics from Imperial College London.
Woodside Capital Partners
Partner and Managing Director
Mike Powell is the Managing Partner of WCP UK, focusing on the technology, media, and telecom (TMT), and advanced materials sectors. He has advised multiple companies on M&A, financing, corporate strategy and tactics. In particular, he has focused on photonics and efficiency technologies, bringing 25 years of senior level experience, leading, advising, managing, and negotiating corporate projects and transactions for both private and public companies. Prior to founding Woodside Capital Partners UK from a background in defense contracting with GEC Marconi, he founded, funded, grew, and then sold IOC international, K2 Optronics, and Pelikon. He has a degree in Physics from Imperial College London.
Jannick Rolland, PhD
Brian J. Thompson Professor of Optical Engineering The Institute of Optics University of Rochester
Brian J. Thompson Professor of Optical Engineering The Institute of Optics University of Rochester
Linda Smith
Ceres Technology Advisors
President
As President of Ceres Technology Advisors, Linda Smith provides merger and acquisition advisory services to photonics companies. She is well-known for her role in identifying opportunities in optics and laser markets. She held founding and leadership roles at early stage, venture capital financed companies commercializing photonics technologies, as well as marketing and sales management positions at Thermo Electron/Spectra Physics and LINOS Photonics/Qioptiq. She is an Accredited Senior Appraiser (ASA) in business valuation. Linda Smith holds a BS in Optics and Mathematics from the University of Rochester and MBA from Babson College.
Ceres Technology Advisors
President
As President of Ceres Technology Advisors, Linda Smith provides merger and acquisition advisory services to photonics companies. She is well-known for her role in identifying opportunities in optics and laser markets. She held founding and leadership roles at early stage, venture capital financed companies commercializing photonics technologies, as well as marketing and sales management positions at Thermo Electron/Spectra Physics and LINOS Photonics/Qioptiq. She is an Accredited Senior Appraiser (ASA) in business valuation. Linda Smith holds a BS in Optics and Mathematics from the University of Rochester and MBA from Babson College.
William Telford
Head of the Flow Cytometry Core Facility at the National Cancer Institute
William Telford is Head of the Flow Cytometry Core Facility at the National Cancer Institute, with over 20 years of experience in flow cytometry. He was recruited as a Staff Scientist and manager of the Experimental Transplantation and Immunology Brand (ETIB) Flow Cytometry Facility in 1999, and became a Senior Associate Scientist in 2017. He is extensively involved in both national and international cytometry education programs, including the National Flow Cytometry Resource and the International Society for Advancement of Cytometry. Dr. Telford maintains a small independent research and development program in the Facility aimed at both hardware and wetware development, particularly in the area of novel laser technology. He received his PhD in microbiology from Michigan State University, where his laboratory developed some of the earliest techniques for flow cytometric detection of apoptosis.
Head of the Flow Cytometry Core Facility at the National Cancer Institute
William Telford is Head of the Flow Cytometry Core Facility at the National Cancer Institute, with over 20 years of experience in flow cytometry. He was recruited as a Staff Scientist and manager of the Experimental Transplantation and Immunology Brand (ETIB) Flow Cytometry Facility in 1999, and became a Senior Associate Scientist in 2017. He is extensively involved in both national and international cytometry education programs, including the National Flow Cytometry Resource and the International Society for Advancement of Cytometry. Dr. Telford maintains a small independent research and development program in the Facility aimed at both hardware and wetware development, particularly in the area of novel laser technology. He received his PhD in microbiology from Michigan State University, where his laboratory developed some of the earliest techniques for flow cytometric detection of apoptosis.
