Sessions

The Next Renaissance

In the age of Artificial Intelligence, everything is changing, from how we work to how we create. How can you take advantage of this change to improve your life and career? As the former Head of Go To Market for OpenAI, Zack Kass has been at the forefront of AI's global transformation for over 15 years. In this compelling keynote, Zack counters the conventional dystopian narrative of AI, sharing a positive vision that offers the potential for game-changing innovation, opportunity, and human potential. Audiences will come away understanding how technology will reshape their industries, organizations, workforce, and lives for the better.

Economic and Policy Update – What to Expect in 2026 and Beyond

The world is undergoing significant change this year. New administrations across North America and Europe are driving geopolitical and economic shifts, while an emboldened China is asserting its power in a variety of ways. A disconnect between “hard” economic data such as retail sales and industrial production, and “soft” sentiment indicators suggests that while risk of recession has risen, a severe downturn is by no means a certainty in the latter half of 2025.

The US administration’s policy agenda has been a source of much uncertainty and anxiety in recent months. To reshape the global economy President Trump has embraced unilateral action on trade, with sweeping tariff action (or threats thereof) being enacted by executive order. This has led to a substantial drop in consumer confidence and business optimism across the globe, both of which are bound to have a tangible impact on the broader economy and on your industry specifically. What does all this mean for your business? This presentation will assess the current macro and trade landscape, analyze the potential impact of tariffs, and deliver practical and actionable advice designed to help industry leaders plan for future operating conditions.

Attendees will walk away from the session with the following insights:

• An objective assessment of time-sensitive economic indicators such as consumer spending, business investment, inflation, interest rates, and tariffs
• Concrete advice on how to navigate the current macroeconomic climate and plan for the future, with a particular focus on tactical advice

Uncrapify Your Future - The Most Innovative Innovation Keynote In The History Of Ever

If you’ve listened to anyone talk about innovation recently, you’ve probably heard something along these lines: “The world is changing at a crazy fast rate. Everything you’re doing now is about to become obsolete. If you don’t come up with some amazing, industry-changing ideas in the next 18 seconds, your business is basically going to disappear. Have a nice day.” And if that’s the kind of doomsayer message that you and your friends love hearing, then you can stop reading now.
But if you’d like to present innovation as a simple process that literally everyone is capable of performing, then you might want to listen to Uncrapify Your Future! Filled with the trademark wit that has made Jeff Havens one of the most in-demand speakers in North America, Uncrapify Your Future! will make the process of coming up with new ideas easier and more rewarding than you ever thought possible. Because it turns out that every innovation in every industry – from automobiles to streaming music, coffee cup holders to wartime treaties – follows the same straightforward pattern.
Your business is always changing, and so you will always need people to anticipate and capitalize on those changes. If you want them to think that being innovative is a daunting task that only a few elites can handle, listen to someone else. But if you want your audience walking away realizing that they’re all capable of greatness, then Uncrapify Your Future! is for you.
Oh, and did we mention that it’s also hilarious? Well it is. And imagine that – a keynote that’s both educational and enjoyable. How innovative!

Electronic Components Industry Analysis and Outlook 

In this session, Chief Analyst Dale Ford will provide a comprehensive overview of the latest ECIA research, offering a deep dive into the most recent market and industry trends. He will analyze the factors influencing these developments and assess the current health and resilience of the supply chain. Attendees will gain valuable insights into the forces shaping the industry, equipping them with the knowledge to make informed decisions in today’s dynamic market environment.

David Loftus, ECIA

David Loftus will give an update on the Association, industry projects, membership and more.

Joining David will be chair of the board, Mark Shiring, and council chairs; Karim Yasmine, Tom Wichert, and Adam Grigor. 

Thuy Nguyen, Crowdstrike

eCrime adversaries have streamlined their go-to-market by creating specialization and standardizing playbooks for TTPs which results in a faster, more nimble and flexible adversary. In this session, Thuy Nguyen, Sr. Director of Field Engineering for CrowdStrike, will review a brief history of the evolving eCrime economy and discuss how growing trends like AI adoption lower the barrier to entry for even less skilled threat actors to execute highly sophisticated targeted campaigns. Example incidents, from our extensive IR engagement history (scrubbed for confidentiality) will be reviewed and recommendations will be made that are product agnostic.