tech talk

Marcus Johansson

Director of Advanced Metering Infrastructure Delivery Program
Xcel Energy

Marcus Johansson is director of the Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) Delivery Program within Xcel Energy’s Advanced Grid Intelligence and Security (AGIS) initiative. AGIS is a multi-year initiative that impacts all of Xcel Energy’s customers. Marcus works with his team and enterprise partners to enable the technology to implement Xcel Energy’s grid modernization strategy, and focuses on modeling what builds a highly motivated, effective, and successful team: collaboration and forward-looking leadership.

Marcus’ most recent focus has been to transform the Operating Model within the Customer Portfolio – Meter Data Insights group with a keen focus on Innovation and Sustainability.

Marcus has led digital strategy transformation in hospitality, earned leadership awards in the medical device and health insurance industry, and Chairman Awards in the financial services industry.  Career highlights include divestiture initiatives at Ameriprise Financial, Pricing strategy play at Best Buy, digital transformation at Marriott and Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group. At Xcel Energy, prior to his work on the AGIS initiative, Marcus has led Cyber Security initiatives and Data and Analytics projects.

Marcus holds a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and executive education on Digital Strategy and Innovation in Medical Devices from University of Minnesota – Carlson School of Management.

Dave Rummler

Vice President of Sales
EOS IT

Dave Rummler is a 25-year veteran in collaboration and video deployments. David is currently acting as Vice President of Sales for EOS IT Solutions.​ EOS is a global systems integrator operating in 195 countries who has a specialty practice around smart and sustainable workspaces.​ Prior to EOS, David ran Cisco’s Enterprise Video business in North America and has held leadership positions at Tandberg, Acano and Pexip; bringing collaborative solutions to large enterprise customers in North America. ​

Srini Somayajula

VP, Global Technology Partnerships & Development
Ecolab

A chemical engineer by training, Srini Somayajula started his career with Ecolab in 2001 as a researcher in Institutional new business opportunities, working on water purification and air filtration using polymeric sequestration of volatiles.

During his tenure in research, he played a leadership role in establishing Ecolab’s Corporate Licensing Program and rose to his current job as Vice President, Global Technology Partnerships. Over the years, Srini has structured and successfully negotiated collaborations with Fortune 500 companies, startups and Venture Capital groups.

As the lead technology-centric deal negotiator for Ecolab, he has in the past and is currently working on a broad range of opportunities spanning oil & gas, industrial water treatment, IoT/automation, sensing & detection, infection prevention and advanced materials technologies.

Rosie Nestingen

Rosie Nestingen is a Fargo, ND native and South Minneapolis resident. Her experience focuses on workforce and program transformation across technology, marketing, management consulting, nonprofit, and hospitality spaces. Rosie represented her home state of North Dakota at the Miss America Competition where she received the top score talent award. Her duties included delivering presentations and training on DEI which continues to fuel her passion to be an inclusive leader. Rosie has been highlighted in Fast Company, Twin Cities Business Magazine, Wall Street Journal, and Cosmopolitan, and has been a featured speaker for The Knot, and on the podcast Terrible, Thanks for Asking. 

In 2016, Rosie debuted a new work musical as the composer-lyricist, co-creator, and co-producer of a show titled Right, Wrong or Bomb: A Dating Musical! and is always looking for her next creative project. In her spare time, Rosie volunteers for The Link, a nonprofit in North Minneapolis, and spends time around Lake Harriet with her husband Hans, their daughter, Raine Moses, and dog, Oakland. 

Maria Vittone

Career Advisor & Director of Nontraditional Programming – North Hennepin Community College and Hennepin Technical College

Though Career Advisor & Director of Nontraditional Programming is Maria’s official title, she wouldn’t feel complete without adding a few more descriptors: Student Retention Champion, Workforce Connector, Mentorship Matters Spokesperson, and ‘Bloom Where You are Planted’ Coach. Maria finds her passion in places where change and reinvention are happening. She currently holds that space for her students, where she supports those who find themselves as ‘one of few’ in their newly chosen careers.

Maria’s gender equity program, Be Bold- Break the Mold: Women Succeed in Nontraditional Careers, was a notable program singled out at North Hennepin Community College for the National HEED Award in 2021 (Higher Education Excellence in Diversity). As a contractor with Hennepin Technical College & North Hennepin Community College, Maria recently received a MnACTE (MN Association for Career and Technical Education) Partnership Award for her mentoring and empowerment initiatives. In conjunction with Women’s History Month, she was co-awarded Campus Program of the Year. She was also the recipient of the National Academic Association for Academic Advising for an adult-learner orientation program.

Matt Versaggi

fmr Senior Director of Artificial Intelligence and Cognitive Technology + Distinguished Engineer – Optum Technology

Matt Versaggi is a senior leader in the AI Space with Fortune-5 healthcare experience who possesses a unique blend of business, technology, entrepreneurial, and academic backgrounds. Matt is an experienced public speaker, strategist, and mentor; holds multiple patents; is a distinguished engineer and has international business experience. He built the organization’s “College of Artificial Intelligence”, introduced, and matured both Cognitive Technology and Quantum Computing, and has chaired multiple Patent Review Boards. Matt is a seasoned pole vault coach of 15+ years, on 2 continents, 3 states, 4 clubs, and 1 high school, who has produced national, state, regional, and local champions. He is a former D3 NCAA decathlete, and current USATF master’s Athlete.

Martha Cotton
Managing Director and Global co-Lead

Fjord Trends is Accenture Song’s annual report that looks at human and consumer behavior changes over the past year, and maps the trends we believe will impact business, design and tech in the next 12 months and beyond. An exploration of opportunities, we examine the changes thrust upon us, the innovations we’ve seen emerge, and set out how we move forward from here.
Fjord Trends 2022 collectively tell a story of people and their relationships with the planet, technology, brands, and each other. A unique set of challenges and opportunities arose for businesses in 2021, including supply chain issues, explosive new technologies, dramatic evolutions in people’s view of themselves and their priorities, and the realization that we can no longer behave as though people were separate from nature.
What matters now is how organizations respond to the evidence-based observations we’ve crowdsourced from more than 2,000 designers and innovators in Fjord studios around the world.

Jayshree Seth
Corporate Scientist, 3M

Jayshree Seth is a Corporate Scientist at 3M and currently holds 77 patents for a variety of innovations, with several additional pending. She joined 3M in 1993 after an MS and PhD in Chemical Engineering from Clarkson University, New York. She is a Distinguished Alumni Award recipient from her alma mater REC Trichy India, now NIIT Trichy, where she earned a B. Tech. in Chemical Engineering.

Jayshree was appointed 3M’s first ever Chief Science Advocate in 2018 and is using her scientific knowledge, technical expertise and professional experience to advance science and communicate the benefits of science and the importance of diversity in STEM fields. She is also a member of Carlton Society which is the 3M Science and Engineering “Hall of Fame.” Jayshree is the fourth woman and first female engineer to be inducted. In 2020, she was awarded Society of Women Engineers (SWE) highest Achievement Award. She is also the first-ever winner of a Gold Stevie® Award in the new Female Thought Leaders of the Year – category in the 18th annual Stevie Awards for Women in Business in 2021. Jayshree was featured in a docuseries titled Not the Science Type that premiered during the 2021 Tribeca Film Festival and accepted for Brand Storytelling Showcase, a sanctioned event at Sundance Film Festival. She is the author of the books, The Heart of Science – Engineering Footprints, Fingerprints, & Imprints, and The Heart of Science – Engineering Fine Print published by the Society of Women Engineers, and all sales proceeds go to a scholarship for underrepresented minority women in STEM. She is a sought-after speaker, globally, on a multitude of topics such as innovation, leadership and STEM advocacy and has featured in local, national and international media.

Jayshree has served on the CEOs Inclusion Council, chaired the 3M Asian Employee Resource Group A3CTION and serves on the Steering Committee for 3M Technical Women’s Leadership Forum (WLF). She also serves on the Board of the Science Museum of Minnesota, Engineering Advisory Council for Clarkson University, AAAS Committee on Science, Engineering and Public Policy (COSEPP), Advisory Board for Innovation – The Conference Board, and Advisory Group of Aspen Institute Our Future is Science program.

Jayshree has two adult kids, and her husband also works at 3M.

Chakra Sankaraiah

Sr. Director of Technology
Land O’Lakes

Chakra is a visionary Technology leader with a proven track record in driving strategic business growth. As the Sr. Director of Technology at Land O’ Lakes for the past 7 years, he has successfully built and implemented ROI-driven data science solutions, including propensity modeling, churn analysis, quality prediction, pricing strategies, and cross-selling opportunities.

In his current role within the office of CTO/CIO, Chakra focuses on three key areas: leading the digital transformation of the Digital Ag Products family, establishing a strategic partnership with Microsoft to drive water and soil stewardship, food supply security, and vibrant communities, and driving digital innovation through emerging technologies such as AI, AR/VR, IoT, Blockchain, and Generative AI.

With prior experience at notable organizations, including Cloudera, Target, IBM, and Capgemini, Chakra brings a wealth of expertise in building data and digital products.

Chakra holds an undergraduate degree in electrical engineering, an MBA from the University of Minnesota, and has completed an executive CTO program at the University of California, Berkeley. Based in south Minneapolis, MN, he enjoys boating, fishing, and golfing in his leisure time.

Willie Jett

Commissioner
Minnesota Department of Education

Willie Jett understands the challenges and strengths of all communities, and his career is characterized by a commitment to raising student achievement and closing opportunity gaps. He is committed to preparing our future citizens, growing Minnesota’s workforce and supporting professional educators.

Prior to his appointment as commissioner, Jett served as an instructor in the Education Administration Licensure program in the Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development at the University of Minnesota. He has also taught and led in urban, suburban and greater Minnesota School districts for more than three decades. He earned his master’s degree from the University of Pittsburg and his bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago.