Govindrajan "Raj" Mudaliar

CEO, Savitriya Technologies

Raj is the visionary CEO of Savitriya Technologies, where innovation meets industry. With a career spanning over two decades, Raj has become a pioneering force in the IT services sector, transforming how businesses operate in today’s digital-first world. His leadership is characterized by a deep understanding of technology's potential to revolutionize industries, and his work has consistently pushed the boundaries of what's possible.

At the helm of Savitriya Technologies, Raj has spearheaded the company's expansion into niche domains, including automotive technology, travel management, Sales, Multivendor Marketplace Ecommerce and Outlet Management Solutions for large retail chains. His approach is anything but conventional. Raj believes that true innovation arises from understanding the unique challenges of each industry and crafting solutions that not only solve problems but also unlock new opportunities.

Raj's approach is deeply rooted in a passion for technology and a commitment to pushing boundaries. He believes in leveraging the latest advancements, such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, to create transformative solutions that deliver real-world impact. His leadership has fostered a culture of innovation at Savitriya Technologies, where creativity and collaboration are at the core of every project.

Outside of his professional life, Raj is an avid traveler and a food enthusiast, always eager to explore new cultures and cuisines. His personal interests fuel his professional creativity, allowing him to bring fresh perspectives to his work. Raj is also dedicated to mentoring young professionals, believing in the power of education and innovation to shape the future of technology.

Jane Clark

Vice President of Member Services, NationaLease

Jane Clark is Vice President, Member Services for NationaLease. In this position, she is focused on managing the Member Services operation, as well as working to strengthen member relationships, reduce member costs, and improve collaboration within the NationaLease supporting groups. Prior to joining NationaLease, Jane served as Area Vice President for Randstad, one of the world’s largest recruitment agencies, and before that, she served in management posts with QPS Companies, Pro Staff, and Manpower, Inc. Jane received a B.A. degree in Communication from North Central College and an MA in Communication from Northern Illinois University.

Brian Hirko

Employee Benefits Segment Leader, High Street Insurance Partners

Brian is national employee benefits segment leader at High Street Insurance Partners. In his role, he works with employers to solve important issues impacting their benefits program, such as cost, compliance and employee education. Over his career, Brian has managed large projects and consulted in areas such as: health care strategy, program design, negotiating financial arrangements, total health management, mergers and acquisitions and legislative and compliance. Brian has 25 years of industry experience. Prior to joining High Street Insurance Partners, Brian spent 20 years at a large national HR consulting firm where he held various leadership roles.

O’Dell Hobson

Information System Security Manager (ISSM), NAVWAR

O'Dell Hobson's journey began in the small town of Brandon, MS, where he nurtured his passion for music and computer science. As a recipient of an academic music scholarship, he embarked on a journey to Arizona State University in Tempe, AZ, studying Music (Minor) and Computer Science (Major).

Facing financial challenges during his university years, O'Dell made a significant decision to enlist in the United States Navy. As a young sailor, he completed his coursework "abroad" and honed his skills in the emerging field of Information Technology (IT). This experience ultimately paved the way for his successful career in Cyber Security.

Having served in the Navy until December 1999, O'Dell's dedication to the Navy and its sailors remains unwavering. Presently, he serves as the Information System Security Manager (ISSM) at NAVWAR, overseeing Cyber Security products for both afloat and shore platforms. Additionally, O'Dell holds the position of president at the local ISC2 chapter (501c), actively promoting a skilled Cyber Security workforce to support San Diego's industry.

O'Dell Hobson's expertise is reinforced by his CISSP and CRISC certifications, making him a sought-after authority in the field. With a passion for maintaining information and network security, he emphasizes the significance of Cyber Hygiene. By implementing robust security measures, educating users about cyber threats, and prioritizing diligence, O'Dell advocates for safer online experiences and protected data.

Richard J. Leibfried, ARM

President, RJL Insurance Services

Richard Leibfried has been an insurance professional since 1976. In his current position with RJL, Leibfried provides insurance and risk management consulting services to the middle market business community. Acting essentially as a “part-time” risk manager for his clients, Leibfried brings both traditional as well as innovative, proprietary risk management strategies to these companies. Leibfried’s experience is extensive. As an underwriter, broker and consultant he has been involved in the design, evaluation, and ongoing management of insurance programs for a wide range of businesses. Additionally, Leibfried has been directly involved in the formation and management of nine captive insurance companies as well as a variety of other self-insurance arrangements for his clients.

Glen Kedzie

Principal, Energy & Environmental Strategies LLC

Glen serves as a Principal at Energy & Environmental Strategies LLC in Tysons Corner, Virginia where he strategically navigates clients through the myriad of complexities involving transportation public policy and regulatory and legislative development in the areas of energy, environment, sustainability, and technology at the state, federal, and international levels.

Glen served as Assistant General Counsel and as Vice President, Energy & Environmental Counsel for the American Trucking Associations based in Washington, DC for over 22 years. While there, he managed ATA's highly-respected energy, environmental, and sustainability practice and spearheaded its legal, regulatory, and public policy agenda; advocated on Capitol Hill and before federal agencies; counseled clients on complex matters involving alternative fuels, tax, up-stream/down-stream energy issues, and compliance with federal and state environmental laws; and lead industry efforts in decarbonizing the transport sector.

In his role with TRALA, Glen will strategize with TRALA's government relations team to determine how TRALA's members should traverse the coming changes to the trucking industry as it moves away from diesel and toward alternative sources of power. TRALA will utilize his expertise to help lobby CARB, EPA, and other entities with respect to environmental matters.

Vince Kellen

Chief Information Officer, University of California

Vince Kellen is the Chief Information Officer for the University of California, San Diego, as well as a member of the Chancellor's Cabinet, and vice chancellor and chief financial officer's senior management team. UC San Diego is recognized as a top 15 university world-wide and 7th best public university in the world, with over $1.1 billion in annual research funding, 36,000 students, 16 Nobel laureates who have taught on its campus and 161 faculty with national Academy memberships.

Vince's recent work has been in the areas of student success and learning analytics and application of advanced technology in higher education. Vince is a recipient of the CIO Magazine “Top 100” award in 2007 and 2014, was one of InformationWeek’s “Chiefs of the Year” in 2013, received the Computerworld “Honors Laureate” award in 2013, and was one of four recipients selected globally for Dell’s 2012 “Transformational CIO” award. Vince has authored more than 220 articles, four books and more than 150 presentation on IT topics and is a Fellow with Cutter Consortium, a leading IT industry think tank, where writes on digital transformation and data and analytics topics.

Vince is a Board of Director member for IMS Global and has served on advisory boards for Apple, Microsoft, Dell, SAP, AT&T and Blackboard. He was previously CIO and Senior Vice Provost at University of Kentucky and CIO at DePaul University. Before his tenure in higher education, Dr. Kellen was an IT strategy consultant working with Fortune 500 firms on marketing and CRM digital transformations. Vince has taught graduate and undergraduate courses on IT strategy, information strategy, and enterprise systems at DePaul University and University of Kentucky. He earned his Ph.D. in computer science, an M.S. degree in information systems, and a B.A. degree in communications all from DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois.

Dr. Kent Griffith

Asst. Professor of Chemistry and Affiliate Professor of Chemical Engineering, University of California

Dr. Kent Griffith is an Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Affiliate Professor of Chemical Engineering at the University of California, San Diego. He is also the Founder and CEO of Niobe Energy LLC, a technical consultancy, and an expert in battery materials with experience translating advanced materials to commercial applications. He received his PhD from the University of Cambridge for work with Professor Clare Grey on the discovery and development of new fast-charging and high-power electrodes for electrochemical energy storage. At UC San Diego, he holds the William A. Lee Chancellor’s Endowed Junior Faculty Fellowship.

Kent has more than 50 peer-reviewed scientific publications, patents, and book chapters on lithium-ion batteries and future-generation energy technologies. He has also written dozens of articles for industry-leading battery magazines. His work has been recognized with a number of national (US and UK) and international awards including the Churchill Scholarship—awarded to the top 14 science, math, and engineering university graduates from across the US each year; the Sheelagh Campbell Electrochemistry Award from the Royal Society of Chemistry; the Charles Hatchett Award from the Institute of Materials, Minerals, and Mining (IOM3); the STFC Futures Early Career Award from the UK Science and Technology Facilities Council; and the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship established by the United States Congress to recognize merit in the natural sciences, engineering and mathematics.

Dan North

Senior Economist, Allianz Trade North America

Dan North has been with Allianz Trade North America since 1996, using macroeconomic analysis to help manage Euler’s risk portfolio of more than $150 billion in annual U.S. trade transactions.

He has appeared on CNBC, Fox Business News, and Bloomberg Radio and Television. He has been quoted by Business Week, the Financial Times, NBC, the BBC, the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal. After having predicted the 2008/2009 recession and its implications accurately, he was ranked 4th on Bloomberg’s list of the 65 top economic forecasters in 2010.

Dan holds an MBA from the Wharton School of Business.

Scott Ruygrok

Principal Attorney, Jackson Lewis P.C.

Scott Ruygrok is a principal in the Orange County, California office of the national labor and employment defense firm, Jackson Lewis, P.C. Scott regularly advises clients on compliance with federal and state labor and employment laws such as the Fair Employment and Housing Act, Fair Labor Standards Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, National Labor Relations Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act. He advises clients on a variety of other labor and employment issues, including wage and hour compliance, leave of absences, paid sick leave, employee benefits, social media, and sexual harassment. In addition, Scott has represented clients in both federal and state courts, as well as before administrative agencies, including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, California Department of Fair Employment and Housing, and California Department of Labor Standards Enforcement.

Dean Vicha

President, NationaLease

An industry leader with over 30 years of experience, Dean Vicha's success in the truck leasing industry comes from the principals of personal responsibility, unrelenting perseverance and confidence focused on the growth of the customers, members, and business partners of NationaLease.

Vicha began his career with NationaLease as a National Account Executive for the Midwest in 2005, where he substantially grew the National Account Program to more than $447 million in term sales. In 2008, he became Vice President of Member Services, executing a strategy that provided a sustainable competitive advantage to NationaLease members and growing the membership base. In 2010, Vicha became the Vice President of National Accounts, leading that team to a record-breaking year in sales. In 2012, Vicha was named President of NationaLease, where he helps members increase their market share and decrease their cost of business. In the last decade, he has grown the company in terms of size and scope. Today, NationaLease has more than 1,000 locations and a fleet count of over 184,000 throughout the United States and Canada.

Jim Vogt, CFE, MS

Glazer Outstanding Lecturer Fellow with San Diego State University

Jim Vogt, CFE, MS is presently a Glazer Outstanding Lecturer Fellow with San Diego State University, teaching Fraud Examination, Forensic Accounting, Reporting for Accountants, and other courses. He also teaches courses in Fraud Examination, Forensic Accounting, and Fraud Auditing for the University of Colorado Denver.

Jim is the CEO and founder of the Fraud Protection Institute and provides anti-fraud training and consulting for organizations (Board of Directors, management teams, and employees) focused on fraud awareness, prevention, detection and deterrence, and fraud risk assessment. He is the current President of the San Diego Chapter of the ACFE, as well as a John C. Maxwell Certified Leadership Coach and Trainer.

Jim has undergraduate degrees from Regis University in Business Administration and Psychology. In 2007, he completed his MS in Economic Crime Management from Utica College of Syracuse University. In 2008, he earned his credentials as a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE).

Prior to teaching, Jim had a long career in financial services. He is passionate about teaching and increasing fraud awareness and loves making a difference in the lives of his clients and students. Jim is originally from Denver, Colorado and now resides in San Diego, CA.