Speakers

Sara provides government consulting services and trade analysis to U.S. manufacturers and associations and works in government relations advocating on behalf of the domestic textile industry. Her work focuses on tracking pending trade initiatives and pressing for strong textile rules in U.S. free trade and preference agreements. Sara represents the United States Industrial Fabrics Institute (USIFI) and Narrow Fabrics Institute (NFI), two divisions of the Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI), and the National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) as well as serving on the Industry Trade Advisory Committee on Textiles and Clothing (ITAC 13).

Paige Beert is the R&D Production Manager at Renegade Plastics, a company dedicated to designing coated textiles for a circular economy. She leads the pilot R&D line, combining technical expertise with a commitment to climate tech and sustainable manufacturing. A graduate of NC State with degrees in textile and chemical engineering, Paige brings experience from both startups and global manufacturers and is passionate about advancing environmentally responsible innovation in the textiles industry.

Amy Berg is a Partner at Ice Miller LLP assisting clients with complex environmental regulatory and compliance issues. She counsels clients in the permitting, operations, and reporting processes of federal and state regulatory programs and contributes her experience to litigation and administrative proceedings, including matters related to emerging contaminants such as PFAS.

Morgan Campbell is a designer and textile researcher with experience ranging from Australian Fashion Week to prototypes for future missions to the Moon. She earned her BFA in Fibers with minors in Fashion and Design for Sustainability from Savannah College of Art and Design. She specializes in creating garments that accomplish tasks and keep the wearer safe in extreme environments. Morgan currently works at the David Clark Company on the Aerospace Life Support Systems research and design team.

Matt Clark is the president of Millark Inc., including W&W Associates, Inc., and Identity Plus. Millark is a family-owned business specializing in custom labels and branding solutions, from woven to PVC labels. Since acquiring the two companies with his wife, Lisa, W&W Associates (2017) and Identity Plus (2023), Matt has leveraged over 55 years of industry expertise to transform the customer experience in sales and manufacturing from the W&W Associates and Identity Plus team. Matt holds an undergraduate degree from UNLV and an MBA from Roosevelt University. He has worked in sales, sales development, and executive management for the last 25 years, from food services, hearing device sales, and now in the textile industry

In addition to his role at W&W Associates, Matt serves as the President of the Fox Valley Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR). Under his leadership, the chapter has engaged in various community initiatives, including honoring local heroes and promoting historical preservation. Matt is also actively involved with the Pingree Grove and Countryside Fire Protection District, where he serves as Secretary. He also serves on the Three Fires Council Board, working with the local scouts in his community with programs, fundraising, and leadership training with youth.

Cindy Cordoba is an Assistant Professor at Cal Poly Pomona, a functional apparel designer, and PI of the HeatShield Apparel project, a California Climate Action Corps-funded initiative to design circular thermoregulating textiles for agricultural workers facing extreme heat. She holds a Ph.D. from Cornell University and an M.S. from Louisiana State University. She integrates fiber science, circular design, and user-centered research to develop next-gen protective clothing.

Elizabeth Denly serves as TRC’s PFAS Initiative Leader and Chemistry Director and leads a group of scientists devoted to staying informed of current PFAS issues, science, and regulations. She works on many different types of PFAS investigations with a specific focus on risk/liability assessment and management, chemistry, data interpretation, forensics, and analytical methodologies. Ms. Denly is an active leader on the Interstate Technology and Regulatory Council (ITRC) PFAS team and she won the 2017 and 2022 ITRC PFAS Team Member of the Year Awards for her contributions.

Robin DuBroy brings over 10 years of educational and training experience to Wholesale Shade. As Director of Operations at Shazeebo, a division of Wholesale Shade, she oversees all aspects of being a shade sail contractor from designing, selling, and marketing to training and project management giving her invaluable hands-on experience. Being a teacher at heart, Robin wrote the book on the shade sail industry and enjoys supporting the trade through training and education as part of the Shade Sail University system.

Dr. Brian Jing is Senior Scientist at Exponent in their Polymers & Chemistry Practice. He completed his undergraduate degree at UMass Amherst and doctoral degree at University of Illinois Urbana Champaign. During his doctoral studies, he performed research on designing recyclable thermosets to act as functional materials, expanding their capabilities beyond self-healing and recycling. At Exponent, Dr. Jing utilizes his expertise in polymer science and engineering to assist client with complex problems relating to a variety of polymeric materials that include material selection, failure analysis, structure-property relationships, reliability, and long-term field performance.

Robert (Bobby) Jones earned his BSME from the University of Kentucky in 2005 where he worked on a multidisciplinary team developing an unmanned aerial vehicle for Mars. His first job out of college was with ILC Dover in their space suit design group. He worked there for 11 years with a focus on Phase VI gloves and advanced suit development like the Z-2. Next, he worked with Redwire for 7 years, a company that builds experiment payloads (like a 3D bio-printer) and roll out solar arrays for ISS. For the past four years, he's worked as a contractor for NASA’s Advanced Suit Team. Work there has included the design and development of the Environmental Protection Garment for the xEMU suit and he has been the technical lead for a project developing ASTM testing for space suit gloves and fabrics. His current project involves developing a novel textile to protect astronauts from hazards at the south pole of the moon as part of the Artemis mission program. He’s married and has a daughter from China. Most of his free time is spent with them although he does find time for running, biking and swimming.

Terry Kelm is the President of Sunbelt Business Broker’s Re-sales program. That program is specifically geared toward assisting business owners with their transition at the end of their business life cycle. Terry started with the division in 2003 and became President in 2014. Sunbelt’s Re-sales program works with over 120 trade associations, buyer groups, franchises and name brand concepts, and has been a part of well over 500 transactions during Terry’s tenure.

In 2020, Terry was recognized with the Career Achievement Award in Dealmaking by the industry publication Franchise Times. Terry is a graduate of the University of Minnesota and along with his wife and 3 daughters, lives in St. Paul Minnesota.

Dr. Alexander Laubach is the Head of Business Development for Medical Technologies & Biocompatibility at Hohenstein Laboratories. He works closely with manufacturers to support the development, testing and safety evaluation of medical devices, with a focus on biocompatibility and toxicological risk assessment.

With more than 10 years of laboratory experience across regulated industries, Dr. Laubach brings deep technical expertise in the documentation and compliance requirements for medical devices. His background spans analytical chemistry, toxicology, and regulatory science, helping ensure product safety and market readiness.

Dr. Laubach holds a Doctorate of Natural Sciences in Chemistry from the University of Hamburg.

Ben Mead serves as the Managing Director of Hohenstein Institute America. In this role, he is the company’s liaison with industry collaborations, government agencies and trade associations, while leading a team spread over North and Latin America. He also oversees OEKO-TEX® responsibilities for the U.S. Prior to joining Hohenstein in 2014, Ben consulted with various brands and industry associations, including Textile Exchange and AFIRM. In those roles, Ben established partnerships with industry leaders and experts to increase industry engagement in green chemistry and sustainable textile processing.

While working for Nike, Ben helped develop a restricted substances program and was involved in the implementation of sustainable materials and water programs.

Ben holds degrees in Chemistry and Textile Chemistry from North Carolina State University and a certificate in Green Chemistry from the University of Washington.

Andrew Nasarczyk is the subject matter expert at GALE Pacific on both coated and knitted Technical Textiles. He has been involved in various production, technical, and development roles over his tenure, including a three-year assignment to establish GALE’s world-class knitting plant in Ningbo, China. Leveraging over 20 years of manufacturing experience, Mr. Nasarczyk is GALE’s Director of Research and Development and enjoys exploring new materials, technologies, and innovations to propel the company and broader industry into the future. Andrew sits on the Standards Committee for Australia’s Synthetic Shade Standard and has a Bachelor of Engineering in Polymers.

Adam Penner is an Authorized Rhino Trainer, CNC technician, and consultant who works to help businesses of all sizes transform their processes.

After graduating from the Colorado School of Mines in 2017 with his degree in Engineering Physics, Adam went to work at Paul's Custom Canvas. In 2019 Adam was part of the team at PCC to receive an MFA Outstanding Achievement award. Afterward, Adam went to work for SDS Automation where he installed and repaired automation equipment all over the world.

Combining all this experience at AP Consulting, Adam takes digital fabrication to the next level. He specializes in taking manual processes and digitizing them, combining artistry and craftsmanship with modern manufacturing techniques so that businesses can work more efficiently and profitably.

David is a skilled courtroom advocate and trusted business advisor for technology-focused companies facing high-stakes commercial and intellectual property disputes. As a partner in the IP & Technology Litigation Group at Robins Kaplan LLP, and a leader of the firm’s trade secret litigation practice, David provides pragmatic advice that aligns legal strategies with business goals, guiding his clients through complex legal disputes. David’s clients appreciate his leadership, integrity, and proven ability to deliver business-minded solutions for their most sophisticated commercial and IP-related challenges.

As an experienced trial attorney and counselor, David has represented clients from individual inventors and small businesses to Fortune 500 companies in the assertion and defense of their intellectual property and contractual rights. David’s record of success includes a judgment of more than $12 million for infringing upon patents covering audio player technology, as well as multiple confidential settlements in the maritime navigation industry involving the assertion of navigation and display patents applicable for navigating aircraft.

As defense counsel, David was lead trial counsel for two small-business clients in a jury trial on claims of copyright infringement, breach of contract, and tortious interference with prospective economic advantage; on the plaintiff’s jury demand of $27.4 million, a jury delivered a complete defense verdict in favor of our clients. The plaintiff had initially demanded over $160 million.

When not practicing law, David can be found on the sideline of a soccer, hockey, or softball game, or a dance competition, for one of his three children.

Adam is the founder of Radar Talent Solutions, a firm dedicated to bringing Fortune 5 efficiency to businesses of all sizes. With 15 years of corporate experience, including 8 years as a leader at Amazon, Adam spent four years building Amazon’s logistics recruiting programs, scaling high-volume hiring across the country. His transition into entrepreneurship began when his son was placed on a waitlist for afterschool care, inspiring him to use his expertise to support his son’s school with effective talent solutions. That success led to the creation of Radar Talent Solutions, which now partners with organizations to design recruiting processes that deliver speed, quality, and operational excellence.

Jasper Rosenau is the Associate Sales Manager at Renegade Plastics, a company pioneering coated textiles to create a circular economy. He oversees sales and logistics across the Midwest and supports R&D initiatives. With a background in Chemistry and Biology from the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay and experience in early-stage startups, Jasper brings a well-rounded perspective and a passion for driving positive change.

Ayesha Siddika is a PhD student in Fiber and Polymer Science at NC State University and a Research Assistant at the Smart Holistically Integrated Functional Textiles (SHIFT) lab. Her work focuses on textile-based electrodes for sensing applications, emphasizing conductive inks, durability, and washability and signal accuracy. With a minor in Electrical and Computer Engineering, she integrates electronics into fabrics to advance smart textiles that combine functionality and comfort, bridging textiles and wearable electronics for next-gen wearable applications.