A technologist and inventor with experience ranging from research in photonics and MEMS in the central research laboratories of Fortune 500 companies, TI and Corning, to leading R&D at CodeStream, a Richardson-based optical networking startup. His technical consulting activities include advising two Texas nanotechnology companies, Zyvex Corporation and Nanospectra, as well as several photonics and MEMS companies nationwide. Dr. Magel recently co-founded TIPRA, a global intellectual property brokering service, with other experts based in Dallas and Munich. Dr. Magel is a Senior Member of the IEEE, and is currently serving as a representative of the IEEE Lasers and Electro-Optics Society to the IEEE Nanotechnology Council. He is a former chairman of the Photonics Division of the Optical Society of America. He holds a B.S. degree from Rice University, and the M.S. and Ph.D. from Stanford University, all in electrical engineering.

Instrumental in strategy for formation of a new Raytheon company comprised of the former Raytheon, Hughes Electronics and Texas Instruments Defense Systems and Electronics Group. Thirty years service in engineering and manufacturing assignments at Texas Instruments.

Conference and management excellence as a result of his work at AME (Association for Manufacturing Excellence.) Numerous involvements include: Chair for Grayson County Airport; Director of Texoma Medical Foundation; and Advisor for Grayson County Planning Department.

A technology futurist. Current activities focused on evaluating current trends and applications in nanotechnology, mesomaterials, MEMS/NEMS, and semiconductors for profitable business insertion.

An IEEE Distinguished Lecturer. Taught "Introduction to Nanotechnology" at major conferences. Most recent published material is on nanotechnology, cleaning/contamination issues, nano patterning and cost effective application of technology. Has served on various committees and workshops for nanotechnology and MEMS at the State and Federal level.

Currently also a Director of the Trybula Foundation. Previously, Walt was with SEMATECH (Senior Fellow) for 13 years, General Electric (Senior Consultant Corporate) for 12 years, Ivy Systems (President), and Compunetics (Director).

Well-known for creating and managing key SEMI executive programs and supplier-sponsored technical conferences. Liaison to industry organizations and technical groups for program development as NanoElectronics technology programs interface with Semiconductor Industry.

Nicole has over seven years of experience in marketing and communication activities, as well as an extensive background in Sales and Sales Management. She has assisted over 200 companies in their marketing and promotional needs, including start-ups, Fortune 500 companies, and government agencies. She also has extensive experience in the marketing and promotion of conferences, workshops, and tradeshows.

Dr. Donna Nelson, associate professor of chemistry at Oklahoma University, obtained her PhD in chemistry at UT-Austin with MJS Dewar, did her postdoctorate at Purdue with HC Brown, and joined OU in 1983. 

Dr. Nelson researches three global challenges – energy, environment, and scientific workforce development, and frequently speaks on their interrelationship.  Dr. Nelson has over 90 publications and several honors, including Fulbright Scholar, NSF ADVANCE Leadership Award, SACNAS Distinguished Scientist, Women’s eNews “21 Leaders for the 21st Century”, AAAS Fellow, Guggenheim Award, NOW “Woman of Courage”, Ford Fellow, Sigma Xi Faculty Research Award, NSF Creativity Extension, and many keynote talks.

Dr. Nelson's chemical research involves functionalizing single walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs), with applications in energy research and technology development, and yielded the first COSY NMR spectrum of covalently functionalized SWNTs.

Neuroscientist. Eleven years of experience in studying the biology of nerve injury and the design of methods to direct and entice nerve regeneration. Developed a biosynthetic nerve implant for the repair of gap injuries and is involved in the design of peripheral neuro-electrical interfaces for the control of robotic prosthesis, incorporating the evaluation of carbon nanotubes as conductive substrates for cellular growth. He is past associate member of the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation Research Consortium on Spinal Cord Injury, and member of the International Association of Nanotechnology, the Tissue Engineering Society International, and the Society for Neuroscience.