Vasant Manwadkar
CEO - Microtek Systems Inc
One of the most empowering principles of Vasant Manwadkar’s entrepreneurial success is the belief that “Entrepreneurship is neither a science nor an art, it is a practice.” He is a visionary technocrat, bringing 26 years of extensive experience in the IT industry and a thought leader in building disruptive technology companies that re-shape the way we think, live and work.
Vasant’s rich expertise across various industries includes Banking & Finance, US Federal Government, Manufacturing, Logistics, Educational Research, Energy and Utilities, Telecom, Military, IT Services, United Nations and the Stock Market; spanning across the geographies of US, India, Africa, Europe, Middle East, Japan and Australia. He attended management schools in Indian School of Business (ISB), Wharton School of Management, Northwestern University - Kellogg’s School of Management and University of Maryland USA.
B. S. Shimpukade
Chairman & Managing Director - Shimpukade Group of Companies
Mr. Shimpukade has a vast experience of over 40 years mainly as an Entrepreneur and is Managing Director of several organizations in the Mechanical, Engineering and Automation sectors. He graduated as a Mechanical Engineer and holds postgraduate degrees in Business Management as well as Labor Management. He is one of the very few Engineering Graduates who also completed the I.C.W.A.I. course in 1986. He has also been a profound figure in the Educational field, being a Professor of MBA for over 30 years in multiple Universities. He has also served as a Principal and Senior Professor of KIT Engineering college.
Mr. Shimpukade’s group of companies has bagged many awards at the state, national and international levels. He has been an active Rotarian for 27 years managing significant posts in the District Council and was the President of Rotary Club of Kolhapur Midtown during the Centennial year.
Raju Kondalkar
CEO – Konnet
Raju Kondalkar is an Electronics engineer and has spent 27+ years in the industry as a leading Entrepreneur in the field of computer networking & electronic security for providing end-to-end solutions. Raju has been the pioneer in providing outstanding solutions in IT by creating an unbeatable, unique experience in technology that is customized for the clients. Given his years of experience and expertise in niche areas of IT, his partnership is an invaluable asset to organizations. His agile approach is the foundation of how he is driven to deliver the unique experience that his clients usually look for.
Raju was awarded Premier 100 Award 2013 from Channel World and the Fastest Growing Indian Company Excellence Award received in 2014 at International Achievers Conference at Bangkok at the hands of Justice OP Verma, Former Governor of Punjab and Korn Dabbaransi, Former Deputy PM of Thailand.
Dr Mark Johnson
Professor at Pittsburg State University
Dr. Mark Johnson holds Ed.D. from University of Arkansas in 1993 and Ed.S., M.S. and BSBA from Pittsburg State University in the 80's
Career Highlights:
- Served on five national boards of directors in the field of career and technical education, including the Association for Career & Technical Education® (ACTE) National Board of Directors and as president of the ACTE Trade & Industrial Division.
- Named the National ACTE Teacher of the Year in 2000.
- Frequent presenter at state and national conferences, and to thousands of apprenticeship trainers in more than 30 states across the U.S. and Canada since 2014.
- Received PSU Outstanding Faculty Award three times.
- Training consultant for the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts of the United States, Its Territories and Canada (IATSE).
- Work with the United Brotherhood of Carpenters (UBC), the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT), the Utility Workers Union of America (UWUA), and the United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters (UA)