Speakers

Karl is Associate Director of the Honors Program, Associate Professor of Design at the University of Rhode Island, and Visiting Associate Professor in Ethnology at the University of Iceland. A Ph.D. in Anthropology and Material Culture at Boston University followed twenty years designing for theater, film, and public art. Karl has authored three design textbooks, and his co-authored volume on Icelandic culture-creation was nominated for the 2017 Icelandic Literary Prize. Within the 100 Year Starship organization he has focused on textile needs in long-duration spaceflight, leading to human factors, ecological issues, and circular economies both in space and on Earth.

Ted Fetterman is Vice President, Sales and Marketing for Bally Ribbon Mills (BRM) located in Bally, PA, USA. Bally Ribbon Mills (BRM) is a manufacturer of woven, narrow fabrics that range from simple webbings such as those used in seat belts & safety equipment to high-tech 3D thermoset composite materials that are used in the Aerospace industry (several of our product rests on Mars). Ted has been with Bally Ribbon Mills (BRM) for 31 years. Although he possesses a B.A. in Economics from Bucknell University, he has great interest and work experience in several Engineering disciplines. Ted is responsible for all front office sales operations as well as R&D and Engineering. Part of Ted’s responsibility is new product innovations. He has been responsible for bringing to market E-WEBBINGS® which are smart textiles constructed of structural narrow fabrics that contain embedded conductive elements which enable the transmission of data, sensations, and power. Ted has spent the last several years promoting E-WEBBINGS® into various industries and identifying both barriers and opportunities relative to Smart Textiles. In addition to managing BRM’s medical market strategy, Ted is leading current new developments in narrow fabrics for NASA’s Artemis program as well as LEO commercial space applications. Ted is married with young adult children. He enjoys hunting, fishing, gardening, carpentry, cooking, and musical performance.

Robert Finnegan currently serves as the Head of Education and Workforce for the Advanced Fabrics of America. Robert has more than two decades of experience in connecting talented people to STEM careers and is keenly passionate about having industry at the table when crafting programs that drive experiential learning or talent pipelines. He has held leadership roles in educational companies, nonprofits, and as an entrepreneur. He is the founder and chief consultant of Guided Impact Solutions, which supports mission-driven organizations in strategic planning, identifying sustainable funding, and launching career-connected programming. A native of Lowell, MA, the history and legacy of textiles and fabrics runs deep in his blood, and he is excited to support government and industry in rekindling and innovating advanced textiles manufacturing.

John Geros partners with manufacturers across the Americas to modernize cutting rooms and production environments, delivering measurable ROI through practical Industry 4.0 solutions. With deep experience across industrial segments, he focuses on phased, scalable modernization that combines software and equipment to drive long-term value and improve material utilization.

John helps secure cross-functional stakeholder buy-in (Ops, IT, Finance, Engineering, Execs) and builds strategic roadmaps that target the right customers—lighthouse accounts and industry leaders—so successful implementations can be scaled enterprise-wide.

Sanjaya D. Gunawardhana is a Postdoctoral Researcher in the School of Electronic Engineering, Dublin City University, Ireland under the supervision of Dr. Shirley Coyle and Prof. Tomas Ward.

Sanjaya formally completed a PhD in the areas of Triboelectric energy harvesting, Self-powered sensing, and micro/nanofabrication targeting wearable electronic applications. He completed his bachelor’s degree in Textile Process Engineering in 2018 and master’s degree by research in the field of wearable energy harvesting in 2020 at the University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka. Before moving to Ireland, Sanjaya was a research scientist at the Sri Lanka Institute of Nanotechnology, conducting research with wearable sensor fabrications.

Ethan Halpern is the President and owner of American Awning & Blind Co. (AAABC), a commercial awning, canopy, and shade structure fabrication and installation company headquartered in North Hollywood, California. Over his 12 years leading the business, Ethan has transformed AAABC from a small residential-focused operation into a commercial contractor serving general contractors and commercial developers across California and the western United States.

Under his leadership, the company's product capabilities have expanded significantly — from standard fabric awnings and canopies to a full range of commercial-grade structures including aluminum and metal canopies, standing seam awnings, architectural louvers, shade sails, and large-scale waterproof retractable systems. Geographic reach has grown from a Los Angeles-only footprint to statewide California coverage and active operations in Nevada, Arizona, and Utah. Revenue has grown fivefold over that period.

Ethan oversees all aspects of the business, including estimating, fabrication, field operations, and business development, with a focus on building long-term relationships with general contractors on commercial and retail construction projects. He has been a member of the Advanced Textiles Association (ATA, formerly IFAI) for over a decade and currently serves on the PAMA board.

Outside of work, Ethan enjoys spending time with his family — whether coaching his son's hockey team, hitting the golf course with his daughter, or getting out on the mountain bike trails.

Frank Henderson began his career at Amoco Fabric Textile Division of Amoco Chemical in Nashville, GA; after finishing Auburn University Textile Engineering department. Frank’s work at Amoco began with engineering and prototyping for polypropylene fabric development.

In 1976 Frank returned to Henderson Sewing Machine Company, one of the largest family-owned distributors of industrial sewing machines, parts, supplies, and automatic systems for sewn product manufacturers in the world.

Entering into his 52nd year at Henderson Sewing Machine Company, Frank has had the opportunity to travel domestically to 47 states and internationally to more than 67 countries, visiting manufacturers and suppliers of more than 80 different product types of textile sewn products.

Frank speaks at industry events and conferences numerous times a year across the global textile industry. Industry trade associations SPESA, SEAMS, ATA, AAPN, ARM, and NIB regularly seek presentations regarding Automation, Robotics and Advanced Manufacturing. Frank serves on Board of Directors for many of these industry associations.

Advanced Robotic for Manufacturing (ARM), Advanced Functional Fibers & Fabrics (AFFOA) and NIST organizations have provided the Henderson Sewing Machine R & D Team the opportunity to participate in many successful textile related Automation projects.

Aimee Heuschkel serves as Marketing Director for Lectra and brings over 25 years of integrated marketing expertise across both B2B and B2C environments. She is passionate about using technology to connect data, people, and processes in ways that drive tangible business outcomes. In her role, she guides marketing strategy across apparel and industrial segments, helping companies navigate and accelerate their digital transformation. Aimee is known for blending real world practicality with a future focused approach to innovation.

Robert Hinsch is Vice President of Business Development at TVF. He leads business development efforts across our industrial, apparel, and home décor sales teams. Robert began his career in textiles in 1984 and joined TVF in 1987. With more than 40 years of textile experience, Robert has amassed an incredible amount of market and in-depth product knowledge.

Robert’s particular focus areas are military and law enforcement materials, industrial applications, recreational apparel fabrics, weaving, finishing, and printing. His authentic desire to help customers and co-workers reach their full potential, along with his technical expertise and problem-solving abilities, are key factors in his long-term success and TVF's success.

Whether helping customers understand the risks of improper fabric selection, figuring out proper end-use requirements, or sharing market knowledge, Robert’s strategic insight helps guide any project to successful completion.

Steven Huisman is a specialist in printed and coated technical textiles with experience in large-format print, material performance, and architectural textile applications. His work focuses on the intersection of aesthetics and durability, helping translate material science into practical insights for designers and engineers.

Terry Kelm is the President of Sunbelt Business Broker’s Resales program. That program is specifically geared toward assisting franchise business owners with their transition at the end of their franchise life cycle. Terry started with the division in 2003 and became President in 2014.

Sunbelt’s Re-sales program works with over 120 associations, franchises and name brand concepts, and has been a part of over 600 transactions during Terry’s tenure. In 2020, Terry was recognized with the Career Achievement Award in Dealmaking by the industry publication Franchise Times. Sunbelt Resales has been a supplier member of ATA for a few years.

Terry is a graduate of the University of Minnesota and along with his wife and 3 daughters, lives in St. Paul Minnesota.

Lelia Lawson is Founder and Chief Technology Officer of ZyloTex®, a Canadian advanced materials company developing next-generation regenerated cellulosic fibres from hemp. She holds a BSc and MSc in Human Ecology (Textiles & Clothing) and is currently completing a PhD at the University of Alberta, where her research focuses on agricultural feedstocks for solvent-spun fibre systems.

With more than 25 years of experience across the textile sector, Lawson brings deep expertise spanning fibre science, manufacturing, and commercialization. She serves on the Boards of Directors for the Canadian Hemp Trade Alliance, the Alberta Hemp Alliance, and the Federation of International Hemp Organizations (FIHO), contributing to the advancement of sustainable fibre ecosystems at both national and global levels.

Dr. Rui Li is a Research Assistant Professor and the Manager of the Laboratories for Functional Textiles and Protective Clothing in the Department of Apparel, Events, and Hospitality Management at Iowa State University. He received his Ph.D. degree in Apparel, Merchandising, and Design from Iowa State University. His research focuses on functionality and performance evaluation of textile materials and clothing systems, including testing device development, hazards simulation, and customized assessment tool and protocol development.

Matt O'Sickey is currently the director of Education and Technical Affairs at INDA, the Association of the Nonwovens Fabric Industry. He has prior experience leading operations, R&D, marketing, and product management with RKW North America and Tredegar Corp. O'Sickey has multiple patents, has received industry innovation awards, provided innumerable presentations, is a training course instructor, and is a contributing columnist for International Fiber Journal and International Filtration News. He has a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering and is an alumnus of Purdue University and Virginia Tech, where his studies had heavy emphasis on the processing-structure-property relationships of polymeric materials.

Saloni Purandare is the Program Chair and Instructor of the Textile Technology Program. Saloni's academic journey started with a Bachelor's in Textile Engineering from D.K.T.E.S. Institute, Shivaji University, India. She went on to complete a Master of Science from Colorado State University and a Ph.D. from Iowa State University in the USA. Saloni's research interests lie in functional textiles, particularly channeling efforts towards material innovation for the betterment of people and the planet. Saloni's research work spans across non-toxic antimicrobial textiles, biomimicry, nanotechnology, green spinning, and firefighter gear, resulting in published manuscripts, book chapters, conference proceedings, and a pending US patent. Saloni is also a passionate educator with teaching experience across a variety of textile courses. As an educator, Saloni's goal is to impart knowledge while instilling an appreciation for learning.

Rebecca R. Ruckdashel is a Research Engineer in Textiles at Advanced Structures and Composites Center at the University of Maine. She investigates the rheology of materials, melt-spinning of filament yarns, material characterizations, and novel manufacturing techniques related to textiles. She has a B.S. from Cornell University in Engineering Physics, an M.S. from NC State University in Textile Engineering, and a Ph.D. from NC State University in Fiber and Polymer Science. Her master’s thesis was on the dyeability of polypropylene yarn with an additive while her dissertation was on the formation of hollow fibers during melt-spinning by way of a 4-C, segmented arc die geometry. During her post-doc at UMass Lowell in Plastics Engineering, she melt spun and characterized bicomponent filament yarns and used modelling techniques to iteratively improve a die for profile extrusion for filament deposition modelling. As a Lead Fiber Scientist for Kintra Fibers in Brooklyn, NY, she developed sustainable polyester fibers for fashion through polymer melt spinning and handknitting.

Guowen Song, Ph.D. is Professor and Noma Scott Lloyd Endowed Chair in the Department of Apparel, Events, and Hospitality Management in the College of Health and Human Sciences at Iowa State University. He directs LABS – Labs for Advanced Protective Technologies, is a member of the Center for Multiphase Flow Research and Education (CoMFRE) and holds courtesy and affiliated appointments in Mechanical Engineering and Interdepartmental Microbiology.

Dr. Song’s research focuses on personal protective technologies and systems at the interface of materials, engineering, and occupational/environmental health. His group develops integrated experimental–computational approaches to understand environmental hazards, personal exposure, intervention strategies, thermoregulation, contamination, and related health impacts. A central theme of his program is “digitizing smoke” from structural, wildland–urban interface, and lithium-ion battery fires using controlled smoke generation and aging, silicone-based passive sampling, and PAH/ultrafine particle analytics. These exposure characterizations are coupled with cell-based assays using customized smoke to quantify toxicological responses and health impacts, as well as decontamination studies, AI-assisted anthropometry, and multiscale modeling to translate hazards into improved PPE design, predictive tools, and risk-assessment frameworks.

Dr. Song has secured multi-million-dollar extramural support as PI/lead from FEMA/DHS, NIH/CDC (NIOSH), the Department of Defense (SERDP/ESTCP, STTR), and other sponsors, and has authored numerous peer-reviewed articles and several books on protective clothing, thermal comfort, and respiratory protection. He has served on the National Academies’ Standing Committee on Personal Protective Equipment, is a voting member of ASTM F23, an NFPA contributor, and holds multiple editorial leadership roles.

Dr. Song leads an interdisciplinary, multi-institution research team that includes research faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate students at Iowa State University as well as collaborators across several universities, industry partners, and government laboratories, working collectively to advance next-generation protective technologies that improve workers and public health, safety, and comfort.

Daryl L. Thompson is Director of Scientific Initiatives at Global Research and Discovery Group (GRDG Sciences, LLC), a private biodefense think tank and advanced research organization. He leads multidisciplinary efforts to develop biologically inspired solutions that intersect national defense, material innovation, and global health.

Thompson’s work integrates biomimicry as a core engineering principle, translating natural systems into technologies for biodefense, functional materials, and strategic applications. Under his leadership, GRDG has advanced next generation platforms in smart textiles, passive radiative cooling fabrics, and multifunctional material systems that address both defense requirements and real world operational challenges.

His applied research and technology development have supported defense partners, humanitarian missions, and commercial transitions, demonstrating the power of nature inspired design to solve complex threats and enhance performance across environments.

Michael McKeldon Woody is CEO of Trans-Tex LLC, a textile company based in Cranston, RI. He is currently chair of the Rhode Island Textile Innovation Network (RITIN), past president of the Narrow Fabrics Institute (NFI), a division of the Advanced Textile Association (ATA), and a past member of former Rhode Island governor Gina Raimondo’s Manufacturing Advisory Council. In 2017, his book American Dragon: Winning the Global Manufacturing War Using the Universal Principles of Fewer, Faster, and Finer was named a finalist for Business and Economics Book of the Year by Foreword Indies.