Connect With Industry Leaders on May 7th, 2026
REGISTER FOR OUR EXCEL TECH CONFERENCE
Excel Engineering is proud to bring you our annual technical conference on May 7th, 2026, an event designed to bring professionals, clients, and business partners together for a dynamic and educational experience. Our conference is the premier event for anyone looking to advance their knowledge and skills in engineering and technology.
Attendees can attend informative workshops throughout the conference, engage in thought-provoking discussions, and network with peers and industry experts. With a focus on the latest advancements and best practices, our conference provides a platform for attendees to gain insights and knowledge that will help them stay ahead in their careers.
In addition to providing valuable education opportunities, our conference is also an opportunity for us to share knowledge with our clients and business partners. Our team of experienced professionals will be on hand to answer questions, share their experiences, and engage in productive discussions.
Thursday, May 7th 2026 Agenda
7:45 AM – 8:00 AM Check-in, Coffee & Juice
General Morning Session
| 8:00 AM – 8:05 AM | Welcome, Introductions, Logistics |
| 8:05 AM – 9:00 AM | “AI Ethics” by Peter Carlson, Itasca Innovation |
| 9:00 AM – 9:10 AM | Refreshment/Stretch Break |
| 9:10 AM – 10:00 AM | “Seeing the Invisible: Advanced Atmospheric Sensing with Honeywell’s HALAS System” by Patrick Fletcher, Honeywell Aerospace |
| 10:00 AM – 10:50 AM | “Overview of Genome Engineering and CRISPR” by Steph Kennelly and Branden Moriarity, University of Minnesota |
| 10:50 AM – 11:00 AM | Refreshment/Stretch Break |
| 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM | “Iron Nitride Magnetic Technology” by John Larson, Niron Magnetics |
| 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM | Buffet Lunch |
1:00PM – 4:45PM CONCURRENT AFTERNOON SESSIONS
Industry 4.0 Session
| 1:00 PM – 1:50 PM | “Overview of the Small Modular Reactor Industry and its impact on Power Industry” by Mike Brasel, Deep Fission |
| 1:55 PM – 2:45 PM | “Innovating and Problem Solving in the Modern World” by Gabriel Harren and Mark Van Driel, Portica AI |
| 2:45 PM – 3:00 PM | Refreshments/Stretch Break |
| 3:00 PM – 3:50 PM | “Foundations First: A Blueprint for Strengthening Cybersecurity on the Plant Floor” by Jackie LaFleur, Van Meter |
| 3:55 PM – 4:45 PM | “Developing an Industry 4.0 Manufacturing Workforce” by Sean O’Neil, Minnesota Chamber Foundation |
Controls & Automation Session
| 1:00 PM – 1:50 PM | ” Maximizing Production, Yield, Quality and Energy with MPC – Multivariable Predictive Control and Autonomous Process Optimization. ” by Tom Steffen, Rockwell Automation |
| 1:55 PM – 2:45 PM | “IIOT and IO-Link in Automation” by Nolan Kariniemi, Pepperl+Fuchs Inc |
| 2:45 PM – 3:00 PM | Refreshments/Stretch Break |
| 3:00 PM – 3:50 PM | “VFDs and IEEE519 compliance” by Sean Chycota, Allient Milwaukee |
| 3:55 PM – 4:45 PM | “Optimizing Your Engineering Drawing Workflow With the Cloud” by Paul Goleniak, Eplan |
Electrical Engineering Session
| 1:00 PM – 1:50 PM | “Implementation of Rogowski Coil-Based Differential Protection for EAF Transformers in Steelmaking Facilities” by Josh LeBlanc and Mudit Kumar, Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL) |
| 1:55 PM – 2:45 PM | “Microgrid Updates” by Mahmoud Kabalan, PhD, PE |
| 2:45 PM – 3:00 PM | Refreshments/Stretch Break |
| 3:00 PM – 3:50 PM | “The Forgotten Data Center” by Peter McGurran, 2NSystems |
| 3:55 PM – 4:45 PM | “Available Fault Current and Equipment Ratings” by Dan Neeser, Eaton Bussmann Division |
2026 Conference Speakers
Topic: Seeing the Invisible: Advanced Atmospheric Sensing with Honeywell’s HALAS System
Session: Morning – General Session
Dr. Patrick Fletcher holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University of Louisville J.B. Speed School of Engineering, where he graduated with highest honors in 2006 and 2008, as well as an MBA from the UofL College of Business. He went on to complete his Ph.D. and postdoctoral research in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign in 2011, where his work focused on developing tools for nanometrology and tip-based nanofabrication.
In his early career, Fletcher joined Seagate Technology, where he helped improve the reliability of the laser and integrated photonic path for next-generation magnetic hard drives. At Seagate, he became known for solving high-impact engineering problems under tight deadlines—from pioneering thermal metrology techniques to leading teams diagnosing mission-critical product failures. He also co-led a nanophotonics manufacturing project in Northern Ireland, deploying multimillion-dollar metrology tools across Seagate’s global factories, and is a co-inventor on several HAMR-related patents.
Today, Fletcher is Lead R&D Scientist in the LiDAR group at Honeywell Aerospace in Minneapolis, Minnesota. There, he directs development of HALAS, a remotely operated, ground-based system for high-altitude atmospheric measurements. He leads a team of engineers integrating lasers, optics, mechanics, and network systems into mobile laboratories that support customers in the space launch, weather forecasting, and pseudo-satellite industries. He also manages multimillion-dollar customer contracts and travels nationally to install and operate HALAS systems.
Fletcher is a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and a co-inventor on multiple U.S. patents spanning MEMS devices, magnetic hard drives, thermal metrology, and high-altitude laser sensing technologies.
Topic: Overview of Genome Engineering and CRISPR
Session: Morning – General Session
Dr. Branden Moriarity is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology/Oncology. He graduated from Saint Olaf College in 2007 with a BA in Biology, Chemistry, and Biomolecular sciences. He received his PhD in Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Biology & Genetics at the University of Minnesota in 2012. From 2012-2014 he was a post doctoral fellow in David Largaespda’s lab, where he worked on identifying the genetics of pediatric sarcomas. He joined the Department of Pediatrics Faculty in 2014.
Dr. Moriarity runs a basic/translational research laboratory working to develop novel cellular therapeutics for gene therapy and cancer immunotherapy with the goal of translating new therapeutics to the clinic. To accomplish these goals, the Moriarity lab uses cutting edge genome engineering technologies, including CRISPR/Cas9, base editor technology, transposons, and rAAV. These tools allow for high frequency gene knockout, gene knock-in, induction of targeted sequence changes, and activation and/or repression of endogenous gene expression. Target cells for engineering include T cells, B cells, NK cells, Monocytes, and hematopoietic stem cells. In addition to developing cellular based therapeutics, the Moriarity lab also performs preclinical drug testing for pediatric cancers, such as osteosarcoma, in order to launch new clinical trials using antibody therapies rather than toxic chemotherapy.
Topic: Iron Nitride Magnetic Technology
Session: Morning – General Session
John Larson is Chief Operating Officer of Niron Magnetics, where he leads operations and manufacturing scale-up for the company’s rare-earth-free magnet technology.
Prior to joining Niron in 2016, Larson held senior engineering roles at International Rectifier and Cypruss Semiconductor, where he led the development and pilot production of advanced interconnect and GaN-on-silicon process technologies. He began his career at Spinnaker Semiconductor as a Project Manager and Principal Scientist, guiding next-generation embedded non-volatile technology platforms. Larson has also served as Adjunct Faculty at the University of St. Thomas, advising senior engineering design projects.
He holds a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Minnesota and a B.A. in Mathematics and Physics from St. Olaf College. He is certified in Lean and Six Sigma (Green Belt and Black Belt)
Topic: Unlocking Growth in Minnesota’s Manufacturing Sector
Session: Afternoon – Industry 4.0
Sean directs the Minnesota Chamber Foundation’s economic development program, Grow Minnesota!, which works in partnership with local chambers around the state to collect on-the-ground insights from Minnesota companies and connect businesses to resources to grow and expand. Additionally, he leads economic research projects through the Minnesota Chamber Foundation focused on the long-term development of the state’s economy.
Topic: Maximizing Production, Yield, Quality and Energy with MPC – Multivariable Predictive Control and Autonomous Process Optimization.
Session: Afternoon – Controls and Automation
With over 40 years of experience in the automation industry, Tom Steffen is a seasoned Solution Consultant at Rockwell Automation. Throughout his career, Tom has worked across various industries, helping clients achieve their automation goals. His expertise lies in Digital Transformation, Safety, and Operational improvements, leveraging cutting-edge information technologies to drive success. Tom’s commitment to innovation and excellence has made him a trusted advisor in the field of automation and information.
Topic: VFDs and IEEE519 compliance
Session: Afternoon – Controls and Automation
Sean Chycota has worked for 28 years in the electrical industry in various sales positions. The last 17 years with TCI, working with engineering firms, VFD OEM’s, contractors and electrical distributors helping customers design electrical systems that meet IEEE519.
Topic: Implementation of Rogowski Coil-Based Differential Protection for EAF Transformers in Steelmaking Facilities
Session: Afternoon – Electrical Engineering
Josh LaBlanc received his BS in electrical engineering from the University of North Dakota in 2011. After graduation, Josh worked for an oil and gas pipeline company, Enbridge Energy, then an electric power utility, Minnesota Power. Josh has most recently spent 6.5 years working as an application engineer for Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc. (SEL). His primary roles are providing application and technical support and training on power system protection topics. Josh is a registered professional engineer in the state of Minnesota.
Topic: Implementation of Rogowski Coil-Based Differential Protection for EAF Transformers in Steelmaking Facilities
Session: Afternoon – Electrical Engineering
Mudit Kumar, PE, received his Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical Engineering from Thapar University, Patiala, India, in 2015, and his Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from Michigan Technological University in 2019. He has over 6 years of experience in power engineering, specializing in substation automation, field testing, microgrid controls, distribution automation and controls, and project management. Since 2019, he has been serving as a project engineer at SEL Engineering Services, Inc., (SEL ES) in Plymouth, Michigan. He is a licensed PE in the state of Michigan.
Peter McGurran
Senior Business Development Manager,
2NSystems
Topic: The Forgotten Data Center
Session: Afternoon – Electrical Engineering
As Founder and CEO of 2NSystems, Peter lead a team dedicated to delivering UPS power, cooling, and turnkey infrastructure solutions for mission-critical environments — primarily in manufacturing, healthcare, and financial and legal markets.
Peter leads a team that values accountability, technical expertise, and precision in execution. Together, they help their clients strengthen resilience, reduce risk, and maintain confidence in environments where uptime and performance are non-negotiable.
Topic: Available Fault Current and Equipment Ratings
Session: Afternoon – Electrical Engineering
Dan Neeser is a Field Application Engineer with Eaton’s Bussmann Division. He had been with Eaton (Cutler-Hammer and Bussmann) since 1993 and specializes in the design and application of overcurrent protective devices and equipment in electrical distribution systems in accordance with the National Electrical Code? and equipment in accordance with the various product standards. He participates in IEEE (Sr Member), NEMA, NFPA (NEC CMP-1 and CMP-13 and NFPA 79), UL (508/60947, 508A) and IAEI activities.
Topic: Foundations First: A Blueprint to Strengthening Cybersecurity on the Plant Floor
Session: Afternoon – Industry 4.0
Jackie LaFleur has spent 20 years in Industrial Automation, including 13 years as an Automation & Software Technical Specialist and the last 7 years leading teams of Technical Specialists, Engineers, and Project Managers at Van Meter. Drawing on deep expertise in controls, industrial networking, software, and manufacturing technology, she now focuses on enabling engineering and project teams to deliver high‑value solutions across multiple industries. Jackie is passionate about manufacturing and leverages strong customer partnerships, technical leadership, and practical industry insight to help teams collaborate effectively and support manufacturers in achieving better performance through automation and technology.
Topic: Small Modular Reactors: Hype, Reality, and Outlook
Session: Afternoon – Industry 4.0
Michael Brasel is Chief Operating Officer at Deep Fission, responsible for managing operations across the enterprise. Previously, he was Senior Vice President, Nuclear Product Solutions at Blue Wave AI Solutions where he implemented AI-based solutions for the nuclear industry. Prior to joining Blue Wave, Mr. Brasel was at NuScale Power where he held multiple roles including Senior Director for the Carbon Free Power Project, Supply Chain Development & Manufacturing, Product Cost Management, Projects, and Licensing.
Mr. Brasel earned his engineering degree from Old Dominion University Michael and started his career in the Navy Nuclear Power Program on two nuclear power guided missile cruisers. He later received an MBA from the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse and joined Dairyland Power Cooperative where he was the Plant Manager of the La Crosse Boiling Water Reactor. He has also supported the DARPA Unmanned Aircraft project and the Counter Underground Facility Program at Centra Technologies. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for Lake Region Electric Cooperative and Great River Energy in Minnesota.
Topic: Optimizing Your Engineering Drawing Worflow With The Cloud
Session: Afternoon – Controls and Automation
Paul Goleniak is a seasoned engineering and automation professional with over two decades of experience at Eplan LLC, where he has been a dedicated team member since 2004. Currently serving as the Head of Consulting for Professional Services, Paul leads a team of experts in delivering advanced engineering solutions and strategic guidance to clients across various industries.
Throughout his career at Eplan, Paul has played a pivotal role in driving digital transformation through the implementation of Eplan’s engineering software solutions. His deep technical knowledge, combined with his leadership capabilities, has consistently helped customers streamline their design processes, improve project efficiency, and achieve long-term success.
Paul is passionate about innovation, team development, and fostering strong client relationships. His commitment to excellence and forward-thinking approach continue to make a significant impact within Eplan and the broader automation and engineering community.
Technical Minds. Creative Solutions.
Since 1990, we’ve remained intensely focused and invested in understanding how our clients operate at every level. It’s this attention to detail that has allowed us to produce higher-quality work and to establish longer-term partnerships with businesses like yours. Get to know our story and why we’re the only engineering firm capable of delivering on your most challenging and complex objectives.
Let’s Get Started
Whether you’re ready to kick off a project or would like to discuss some ideas, our team is ready to get to work.