STEM Talks
Two Days. Endless Inspiration.
Debuting at the 2025 Conference, these inspiring and interactive short-form lectures and/or moderated panel discussions give sponsors a platform to feature individual or groups of engineers, scientists or technology professionals and showcase their personal stories, professional journeys or technical research. This is also a valuable medium to highlight opportunities within their companies or industries, and offer expert insights on topics relevant to the audience of mostly college students.
STEM Talks have already been confirmed by Sandia National Laboratories, Cohere, Conectado, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and Disney.
STEM Talks Schedule
Thursday, September 17th
STEM Talk #1 – Systems EnginEARing - The Magical Method
Presenters: Myles Cupp - Sr. Control Systems Engineer, Disneyland and Guillermo Varela - Manager, Controlls Engineering, Disney Experiences
Description coming soon.
STEM Talk #2 – Quantum Computing and AI
Welcoming Presenter: Rita Gonzales, Deputy Laboratories Director – Nuclear Deterrence & Science and Chief Technology Officer, Sandia National Laboratories
Presenters: Nathan Brown, PhD, Mike Descour, PhD – Sandia National Laboratories
Join Sandia National Laboratories for a discussion on the future of Quantum and AI. Speakers will explore how AI is being used at Sandia to accelerate the engineering design process and deliver solutions that are stronger, faster, and lighter in a fraction of the time. The discussion will highlight a wide range of AI-driven engineering applications, including emerging tools for 3D modeling, simulation, and additive manufacturing. Additionally, the speakers will cover quantum topics in quantum computing and quantum sensing, key challenges, and some cautious predictions for when these technologies are likely to have impact on Sandia's mission.
Friday, September 18th
STEM Talk #3 – Two Paths to the Final Frontier: Careers, Innovation, and the Future of Space
Presenters: Dr. Joeletta Patrick, Patrick and Associates, Former NASA Engineer; Casey deRaad, CEO, New Space Nexus
There has never been just one path to a career in space—and today, the possibilities are expanding faster than ever. In this special STEM Talks program, two accomplished leaders will share distinctly different journeys through America's evolving space sector. Dr. Joeletta Patrick, a longtime NASA flight control engineer and STEM leader, will offer an inside look at building a career within America's storied space program, from the technical challenges and teamwork behind complex missions to the opportunities available for the next generation of engineers and scientists. Casey Anglada DeRaad, founder of NewSpace Nexus and a driving force in New Mexico's rapidly growing commercial space economy, will share her journey from the U.S. Air Force and national security community to entrepreneurship and her work helping build the partnerships, companies, and innovation ecosystem powering the emerging private space sector.
Following their individual STEM Talks, Patrick and DeRaad will come together for a dynamic fireside chat exploring the next frontiers in space—from the growing intersection of government and commercial space to emerging technologies, new career pathways, and the opportunities awaiting today's students and young professionals. Together, their stories demonstrate that the future of space will be built not through a single pathway, but by people willing to explore new ones.
STEM Talk #4 – STEM, Technology, and AI with Purpose
Presenter: Guillermo Diaz, Conectado
What could become possible for you—and for the people you help—when STEM, technology, and AI meet with purpose? Join Guillermo Diaz, Jr. as he shares his journey from Pueblo, Colorado, through the U.S. Navy to technology leadership at Cisco and the corporate boardroom. Discover how learning, perseverance, and people who opened doors shaped his career—and why he believes expanding opportunity matters so deeply in this moment of AI. You'll leave with a human perspective on AI, renewed confidence to pursue your own next chapter, and concrete ways to help others move forward. Come ready to see new possibilities and ask yourself: "Why not me?"
About Guillermo Diaz
Guillermo is a transformative global business leader and the Founder and CEO of Conectado Inc., an innovative Immersive AI digital education platform. Conectado's mission is to accelerate access for all—especially historically underrepresented communities—to opportunities and increased representation in AI and STEAM fields.
Previously, he was a transformational innovator across Cisco Systems, serving as Global Chief Information Officer responsible for the global IT organization, strategy, and services. Never forgetting where he came from, Guillermo also championed equity and connection as an active leader and sponsor for Cisco's Hispanic and Veteran Employee Resource Groups. His technology career began with a U.S. Navy scholarship leading to a B.S. in Business Administration from Regis University in Denver, Colorado, followed by leadership roles at respected Silicon Valley companies including Silicon Graphics, Ingram Micro, and Alza Corporation.
Deeply committed to fostering a community of inclusion and growth, Guillermo is the immediate past Chairman of the Hispanic Technology Executive Council (HITEC). In the boardroom, he currently serves on the boards of Blue Shield of California, Stellarus, Jack in the Box, and the University of California, Santa Cruz. Furthermore, he continues to drive innovation as an active advisor and investor to fast-growing tech startups and small businesses.
STEM Talk #5 – Data Representation and AI: Who's In, Who's Out and Why it Matters
Artificial intelligence is only as smart as the information used to teach it. When AI models are trained on incomplete data—leaving out certain groups of people, rare real-world events, or specialized scientific information—they end up making mistakes, showing bias, and failing when we need them most. If entire communities or unique real-world conditions are excluded from the start, the resulting technology will predictably work well for a select few while leaving others behind. To ensure these systems truly benefit society, we must actively guarantee that all voices and critical edge cases are included in the data that shape our future. Experts across state government, industry, academia, and national research labs agree that building AI that works for everyone requires fixing these critical gaps through better community partnerships, clear data quality standards, and strong privacy safeguards.
Panelists
- Manny Barreras | New Mexico Cabinet Secretary & State CIO
- Sara Del Valle | Chief Scientist, Associate Laboratory Directorate for Global Security, Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL)
- Dana Grisham | Manager, R&D Science & Engineering, Sandia National Laboratories
- Abdullah Mueen | Professor of Computer Science and Associate Department Chair, University of New Mexico (UNM)
- TBD | Microsoft
Moderator
Enrico Pontelli | Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Special Advisor to the Provost for AI at New Mexico State University (NMSU), and Southwest Lead for the Computing Alliance of Hispanic-Serving Institutions (CAHSI)
STEM Talk #6 – National Labs Panel on AI Career Pathways
This panel brings together national laboratory leaders and researchers to explore how AI is transforming scientific research, high-performance computing, operations, and workforce development. Speakers will discuss responsible and ethical AI, emerging career pathways, and what the future of AI means for students and faculty preparing to contribute to mission-driven research.
Panelists
- Lorenzo Gutierrez | Director of the Energetics, Power, and Program Integration Center, Sandia National Laboratories
- Dr. Suzanne Parete-Koon, Oak Ridge National Laboratory; currently leads user training for the Oak Ridge Leadership Computing Facility and serves as Ecosystem Engagement Lead for the DOE Quantum Science Center
- Dr. Rekha Pillai, Executive Operations Leader and Chief Data Officer for Operations, Los Alamos National Laboratory
- Dr. Edgar Leon, Computer Scientist, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Moderator
Jamie Lewis, Business Operations Administrator, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL)
Panelists
Jamie Lewis
Moderator
Lorenzo Gutierrez
Lorenzo Gutierrez is a senior leader with over 25 years of experience in semiconductor manufacturing, high-performance computing, operations modeling and simulation, quality assurance, and high-consequence national security missions. He is currently the Director of the Energetics, Power, and Program Integration Center at Sandia National Laboratories, where he also serves on the AI Director Council. Lorenzo excels at building strong, accountable teams that thrive in high-stakes environments, combining technical expertise, people savvy, and strategic insight to enable success. He holds a Master of Science in Predictive Analytics from Northwestern University, an Executive MBA, and a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of New Mexico. In addition to his professional pursuits, Lorenzo has a variety of hobbies, and really enjoys helping people navigate challenging times as a leadership coach and as a volunteer with Hospice of New Mexico.
Dr. Suzanne Parete-Koon
Dr. Suzanne Parete-Koon leads workforce development efforts in high-performance computing, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, where she develops hands-on learning programs that connect emerging technologies with real scientific problems. Her career has spanned computational astrophysics, leadership-class and exascale computing, scientific user support, technical training, and cross-laboratory workforce initiatives. She currently leads user training for the Oak Ridge Leadership Computing Facility and serves as Ecosystem Engagement Lead for the DOE Quantum Science Center.
Parete-Koon holds a PhD in astrophysics from the University of Tennessee and began her scientific career developing computational models of stellar explosions. She also served as a Foreign Affairs Officer at the U.S. Department of State through an American Institute of Physics fellowship, giving her an unusual background spanning scientific research, computing, policy, and workforce development.
Rekha S. Pillai
Rekha S. Pillai, Ph.D. is an accomplished executive operations leader and Chief Data Officer for Operations at Los Alamos National Laboratory, where Rekha drives enterprise data governance and AI4Ops enablement in high-consequence, compliance-driven environments. Rekha established LANL’s inaugural federated hub-and-spoke governance model, chairs the Cross-domain Data Governance Council, and serves as the institutional point of contact for DOE/NNSA on data policy alignment.
In this role, Rekha defines and enforces cross-domain guardrails for metadata, lineage, interoperability, and AI readiness, ensuring secure, auditable, and reusable data assets across science, weapons, and operations domains. Rekha leads governance cadence, certification gates, and compliance reporting, while advancing inter-lab interoperability and DOE-wide standards through active participation in national forums.
Beyond CDO responsibilities, Rekha brings 30+ years of leadership across DOE national laboratories (LANL, INL, ORNL), specializing in enterprise operations, governance, and transformation. Rekha has modernized institutional management systems, strengthened contractor assurance, and improved compliance outcomes through initiatives such as LANL’s System of Management Systems (SoMS/iSoMS) transformation and integrated annual planning processes adopted across NNSA sites. Rekha has directed strategic planning and investment portfolios, managed multi-million-dollar R&D programs, and led operational continuity during crises, including LANL’s COVID-19 response and telework/hybrid operating model implementation.
A recognized thought leader in governance and performance systems, Rekha combines deep expertise in data strategy, operational excellence, and stakeholder engagement to advance DOE’s vision for secure, interoperable, and AI-enabled operations.
Edgar León
Edgar León is a computer scientist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) and an IEEE Senior Member specializing in high-performance computing systems and runtime technologies. He earned his Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of New Mexico. León has contributed to leading supercomputers including Sequoia (17.5 PF), Sierra (125 PF), and El Capitan (2.7 EF), and previously worked at IBM Research and Sandia National Laboratories. His research focuses on power-aware computing, performance modeling, and resource management for extreme-scale systems. He is the author of mpibind, mpileaks, and Quo Vadis, libraries that improve portability, correctness, and topology-aware resource management in HPC. He is committed to advancing exascale computing and mentoring future computer scientists.