TechND will facilitate a breakout session during the Cultivate Conference that will feature a panel discussion on Enhancing Technology Innovation.

Date: November 14 Time: 12:40 – 1:50 p.m. Location: Avalon Events Center, room TBD

Panel Description:   Our world is changing. Technology is ever prevalent in day-to-day life and is impacting virtually every industry, including agriculture. Technology continues to be an economic driver for North Dakota and a shining opportunity for economic diversification. It impacts virtually all industries, from agriculture to health care and finance to energy, and is proven to stimulate job growth and innovation.Over the past decade, the contribution of the technology industry to the state’s GDP grew 89 percent with a current contribution of nearly $3 billion, but there is opportunity for continued growth. Recognizing this, the state has made significant investments in unmanned aerial vehicle systems, research and cybersecurity.This panel will explore how North Dakota can take technology innovation to the next level, specifically related to agriculture. Participants will discuss opportunities, barriers and policy needed (or not needed) to stimulate a climate of innovation into the future.

 

Register for the Cultivate Conference using promo code TECHND and receive your special ticket price of $60 off the general admission ticket!

For more information about the conference, head to www.emergingprairie.com/cultivate

Panelists

JUSTIN FORDE (Facilitator)

PRESIDENT OF TECHND

SENIOR DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT RELATIONS AT MIDCO

As Senior Director of Government Relations for Midco, Justin Forde oversees the company’s government affairs team in Kansas, Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota, as well as at the federal level. Forde has testified before Congress and speaks frequently about rural broadband and Midco’s role in connecting the digital divide. Before joining Midco, Forde worked as regional director for Senator John Hoeven’s office, development manager for Bismarck State College and assistant director of marketing for North Dakota State University. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Northern State University and his master’s degree from Florida State University.

BARRY BATCHELLER

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD APPAREO SYSTEMS AND INTELLIGENT AG

Barry Batcheller has a B.S. degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from NDSU. Following graduation, he joined Steiger Tractor, Inc as an electronics design engineer. In 1983 he founded Integrated Technical Systems Corporation in Valley City, ND on behalf of Steiger and was their Chief Operating Officer. He founded Phoenix International Corporation in 1987 and was President and CEO of Phoenix until the company was purchased by John Deere in 1999. Barry was appointed Director of Technology Growth at John Deere in 1999. He founded Appareo Systems, LLC in 2003, and now serves as their Chairman.  Barry has received numerous awards related to his contributions to the state of North Dakota and the city of Fargo. He has over 30 patents.

ANTHONY MOLZAHN

CO-FOUNDER AND CEO PROJECT PHOENIX

After graduating with a degree in Fine Arts and Photography from the University of Minnesota Duluth, Anthony began his career designing, developing, and managing all things remote sensing in precision agriculture. Over an eight-year period in this space, Anthony and his team architected an image analysis platform that automatically streamed variable rate classification maps into the controllers of farm equipment across the world. With this insight, Anthony co-founded Project Phoenix in 2017 and is currently the Chief Executive Officer. At Project Phoenix, Anthony works closely with his staff to develop what he calls a “universal connection layer”; it is a middleware that instantly builds application programming interface libraries for SQL-based relational databases.

DREW RYDER

SERIAL ENTREPRENEUR

Drew Ryder is a Minnesota-based agricultural and food technology entrepreneur. He has founded, funded, and run a number of start-ups in precision farming and food production. He pioneered the use of robotic systems in commercial-scale research facilities which have allowed the livestock industry to conduct trials more accurately and efficiently as well as accelerate discovery of new products and techniques to lower the cost of production. He also spearheaded development of new sensor systems, IoT platforms, and information software to allow farmers and large food suppliers manage supply chains more efficiently, control risk and reduce costs. In his latest gig, he is working on blockchain-enabled networks in the food supply chain which will enhance food safety and decommoditize agricultural products.

PETER SCHOTT

FOUNDER GENESIS FEED TECHNOLOGIES

Peter grew up on a fourth generation family farm in Kulm, ND. In his past lives he has picked rocks, ran a seed dealership, and implemented ERP software at ag companies across North America. "Implemented ERP software" is a fancy way of saying he helped busy men and women who didn't know what Windows was learn how to use computers to run a business on one. Peter is the co-founder of Genesis Feed Technologies, a mobile platform for the animal feed industry. When he's not in front of his computer he likes to spend time with his wife and three girls. In the remaining hour of the month he will sometimes read a book or workout.