Speakers & Panelists

Nicholas E. Karangelen

Nick Karangelen is the founder and President of Trident Systems Incorporated.

Trident is a veteran-owned high tech small business and has been providing innovative and affordable technology solutions to the Department of Defense for almost 25 years, including the first L-Band Foliage Penetration (FOPEN) Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) for small UAVs, the first wireless local area network on a US Navy nuclear submarine, the first NSA approved cross-security domain chat room, as well as design and development of many other vital applications for US warfighters. Trident also has a large commercial customer base and has provided real-time touch screen solutions to hundreds of customers in over forty countries including the New York and Toronto stock exchanges, Caterpillar and GM factory floors, and Motorola 911 call centers across the country.

Mr. Karangelen is also a board member of the Small Business Technology Counsel (SBTC), which represents many high technology small businesses who supply products and services to the Department of Defense and other Federal agencies.

Prior to establishing Trident, Mr. Karangelen worked at IBM and TRW Defense Systems Group as a Systems Engineer for Naval Warfare Systems. He also served as a Naval Officer in the US Nuclear Submarine Force during the Cold War, where he directed the 30-man weapons department on USS GROTON (SSN-694) in the operation, maintenance, and repair of digital sonar, fire control, and weapons-handling systems.

Mr. Karangelen has a Bachelor's in Physics from the U.S. Naval Academy, where he graduated with distinction receiving the Trident prize. Upon graduating he completed the U.S. Naval Nuclear Power Program.

Bernhard Laib

Bernhard "Bernie" Laib is director, Global Supply Chain for Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems Battle Management & Engagement Systems Division, headquartered in Bethpage, N.Y. He is responsible for all global supply chain activities from advanced planning through delivery to the shop floor, including MRP, procurement, subcontracts, business management, kitting, warehousing, distribution, transportation and traffic.

As director, Laib's duties also include requirements planning, developing subcontract management and procurement strategies, processes, policies, systems, and resources to ensure that business area program objectives are achieved, and to ensure IPT customer satisfaction and superior Global Supply Chain performance. His organization’s primary responsibility will be to develop international partnering and subcontracting initiatives to support the global business development objectives.

Laib brings thirty years' experience in subcontract management and procurement to this position and was most recently credited with managing the complete acquisition process related to procurement production and non-production material and services for the sector’s former Eastern Region business area.

Laib began working for Grumman Corporation in 1979 in the procurement department. Eventually he held positions as the procurement program manager on the F-14, AFX and E-2C programs. After leaving in 1995, he returned to Northrop Grumman in June 2003 having spent eight years as the director of materiel for the Reconnaissance and Surveillance Systems business area for BAE North America (and its predecessor companies Lockheed Martin and Loral.)

Laib holds a bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering and a master's degree in management sciences from Polytechnic Institute of New York. Laib and his wife, Adriana, have three daughters: Angelica, Alyssa and Amanda.

Franklin Madison, Jr.

Franklin Madison, Jr. is the technology program director for the Industrial and Technology Assistance Corporation (ITAC), located in New York City. Mr. Madison is responsible for the strategic development and implementation of new programs to assist growing high tech firms. In that role, he serves as the NYSTAR-designated SBIR regional specialist for NYC, Long Island and the Mid-Hudson regions, and program manager of the Space Alliance Technology Outreach Program. Mr. Madison works one-on-one with high tech companies, providing technical assistance in the areas of business plan development, access to capital from private and public sources, R&D assistance, technology transfer commercialization opportunities and strategic partnerships. Mr. Madison serves on several corporation boards and has diverse affiliations within the business community. He holds an A.A. in Liberal Arts/English from CUNY, and Certificates from NYU in Business Administration and in Real Estate Practice in NY.

Rep. Dan Maffei

Congressman Dan Maffei was sworn into office on January 6th, 2009 and is serving his first term as U.S. Representative to New York's 25th Congressional District, which includes all of Onondaga and Wayne counties and parts of Cayuga and Monroe counties.

A proud graduate of Syracuse's public school system, Congressman Maffei believes that every child should have the necessary resources to succeed just as he did. After high school, Congressman Maffei earned a Bachelor's Degree in History from Brown University and Masters Degrees from Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism and Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government.

Congressman Maffei is a former staff member for U.S. Senators Daniel Patrick Moynihan and Bill Bradley and served as a senior staff member on the House Ways and Means Committee for seven years. During that time, he earned a reputation as strong advocate for social security and healthcare. Congressman Maffei understands the challenges facing families in Upstate New York and is committed to honest and open government that is accessible to all.

Congressman Maffei previously served as a Senior Vice President of Pinnacle Capital Management, LLC and is a former board member of Central New York's Spanish Action League, the Tech Central Community Advisory Board, and Donors Choose. He is a member of the DeWitt Rotary Club and a parishioner at Holy Cross Church. A former television reporter in his hometown of Syracuse, Congressman Maffei is a past member of NABET Local 211 of the Communications Workers of America.

Congressman Maffei is married to Abby Davidson Maffei, who is attending a joint graduate degree program at Syracuse University's Maxwell School and the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.

Jack McGowan

John A. (Jack) McGowan is a Project Manager at Insyte Consulting in Buffalo, where he provides consulting and assistance to manufacturing and technology companies in business & strategic planning, Lean initiatives, finance, ISO quality management systems and marketing. Mr. McGowan serves as a NYSTAR-designated SBIR/STTR regional specialist, offering information and proposal development assistance to technology-based small businesses to help them successfully access the SBIR grant program. Mr. McGowan manages the Western NY Business Development Fund, a pre-seed stage investment fund and serves as director of the Western NY Venture Association. He is a certified Professional Business Advisor and trainer in Lean Office & Administration through the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership. In addition, he has received provisional certification as an ISO 9001:2000 Lead Auditor and is a certified Eureka! Winning Ways Growth Coach. Mr. McGowan holds an MBA from SUNY Buffalo and a BS in Business Management from Cornell University.

Vice Admiral John G. Morgan, Jr. (retired)

Mr. Morgan is the Senior Vice President & Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) of Sensis Corporation. As CSO‚ he is responsible for strategic direction‚ including developing business strategies‚ identifying opportunities for growth inside and outside of Sensis’ core businesses and engaging in new ventures. Additionally‚ Mr. Morgan oversees the company’s corporate marketing‚ communications and government affairs.

Prior to joining Sensis, Mr. Morgan retired from the Navy after a distinguished 35–year career‚ where he attained the rank of Vice Admiral. As Vice Admiral, he held many leadership positions including participation in the Joint Chiefs of Staff‚ with his last assignment as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Information‚ Plans and Strategy. Mr. Morgan has participated in numerous Sea tours including the first strikes of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. He holds a BS in Economics from the University of Virginia.

John Simmons

Mr. Simmons joined Akin Gump in 2001 and created the military base enhancement practice, which successfully defended all of the firm's clients through the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure round. John's defense practice concentrates on research, development and procurement programs throughout the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security, traditional military construction, military housing privatization initiatives and military base enhancement. His appropriations practice focuses on securing competitive and non-competitive federal grants for research, equipment and capital improvements. Mr. Simmons' client base includes universities, small R&D firms, large companies targeting government procurement, state economic development entities and local communities. Before joining Akin Gump, John served as appropriations associate and military legislative assistant to Rep. James T. Walsh (R-NY) from 1991 to 2001. Mr. Simmons received his B.S. in finance with a concentration in international relations from the Rochester Institute of Technology.

Marcene S. Sonneborn

Marcene S. Sonneborn is the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Specialist for the Central New York Technology Development Organization (TDO). In this capacity, Marcie conducts workshops across a 24-county region for companies interested in federal technology programs including SBIR, Small Business Technology Transfer Research (STTR), the Advanced Technology Program (ATP), and others. She also provides one-on-one assistance to companies and entrepreneurs to help them to coordinate proposal preparation.

Marcie also provides technical and business development assistance to TDO clients, principally in the areas of research and development, technology transfer and commercialization, intellectual property protection and licensing agreements, technology-business organizational planning, management team development, and strategic marketing.

Marcie has her MBA from the Syracuse University School of Management and received her degree in the Innovation Management Program, with emphasis in marketing and finance. Marcie is an adjunct faculty for the SU School of Management Entrepreneurship and Emerging Enterprises Program, teaching both a classroom-based and a distance learning course.

Ronald Tabbitas

Ron Tabbitas is the Director, Subcontracts, Cost Analyst, and Technical Support for Telephonics Corporation headquartered in Farmingdale, Long Island New York.

Mr. Tabbitas and the “World Class” Telephonics Subcontract Management Team is responsible for the end-to-end management and control of the critical Telephonics Supply Chain employing a collaborative approach anchored by tried and tested subcontract management practices and principles with a trust but validate business approach to ensure success.

Mr. Tabbitas is also an Adjunct Professor of Business at both Dowling and St Joseph’s College on Long Island, New York and a staunch supporter of workforce development and revitalization of the manufacturing sector in America. Mr. Tabbitas works closely with both Long Island industry and academia to bring each together in order to develop targeted training and certification programs to address the industry skillset needs of both today and tomorrow including new skills required in response to the needs of the emerging energy efficient and renewable energy industries.

Mr. Tabbitas brings with him twenty- seven (27) years of experience in subcontract management and material services. The Telephonics Subcontracts Management Team has been credited for the execution of multiple highly successful defense programs which involved complex supply chain integration and high volume ramp-up demands within extremely compressed customer schedules. Mr. Tabbitas began working for Telephonics Corporation in 1997 as Manager, Subcontracts.

Mr. Tabbitas began his career in Procurement at Grumman Corporation in 1987 after being accepted into a Grumman procurement training program. Mr. Tabbitas started at Grumman Corporation in 1982 where he held positions in the stockroom, warehousing, and logistics. Mr. Tabbitas left Grumman in 1992 to work for Loral Corporation (later Lockheed Martin and finally BAE Systems) as a Subcontract Administrator where he remained from 1992 to 1997 while rising through the ranks to Supervisor, Subcontracts and Procurement before his move to Telephonics Corporation where he remains today.

Mr. Tabbitas holds a Bachelor and Master’s Degree in Management from Dowling College, Long Island, New York. Mr. Tabbitas and his wife Elizabeth have a Daughter, Melanie and a Son, Branden.

Mary Ann Tyszko

Mary Ann Tyszko is President and CEO of SRCTec, Inc., an ISO 9001 registered company that provides manufacturing and logistics support for complex electronic systems. Together with its research and development parent organization SRC (formerly Syracuse Research Corporation), SRCTec is redefining possible™ through innovation in science, technology, and information. 

Ms. Tyszko helped create and has been responsible for directing SRCTec since its inception in 2006.  In this short time, she has staffed, organized, and led SRCTec to become an acknowledged leader in manufacturing counter-fire radar and electronic warfare products for its defense customers. Ms. Tyszko continues to broaden SRCTec’s business base through collaboration with SRC and by seeking partnerships with, and acquisitions from, other organizations.

Ms. Tyszko has over 30 years of experience in program planning, execution, and management.  She formerly served as Executive Vice President, Operations for SRC, responsible for the day-to-day management and financial results of SRC’s four business centers. In addition, she led the company’s strategic planning and business development, while helping to advance technological innovation and diversification. In the seven years she headed Operations, SRC expanded from $23M and five locations, with 278 people, to almost $500M, 10 locations and 760 people. Ms. Tyszko believes strongly in supporting and providing leadership for both industry and community organizations.

Marc Viggiano

Mr. Viggiano is the Senior Vice President & Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Sensis Corporation. As COO, Mr. Viggiano is responsible for all of Sensis' operating areas including Air Traffic Systems, Defense & Security Systems, Advanced Development and Operations.

Mr. Viggiano has more than 30 years of experience in the design and development of complex civilian and defense sensor and automation systems. Prior to becoming COO, Mr. Viggiano was Sensis' first Chief Strategy Officer. Additional roles at Sensis include leadership roles in Sensis' defense business as well as the launching of Sensis' Air Traffic Systems division in 1997 and the overseeing of its rapid growth as a leading supplier of air traffic surveillance and automation solutions.

Before joining Sensis, Mr. Viggiano worked in Advanced Sensor Systems within General Electric's Aerospace Group. He received his Executive Master's in Leadership from Georgetown University, MSEE from Syracuse University, BSEE from the Rochester Institute of Technology and is a graduate of the General Electric Advanced Course in Engineering.

William Wolf

William E. Wolf is the Executive Director of the Griffiss Institute for Information Assurance in Rome, New York. The Institute is an independent 501(c)(3) entity. The primary role of the Griffiss Institute is to advocate and facilitate the co-operation of private industry, academia and government in developing solutions to critical cyber security problems. The Griffiss Institute was established in 2002 to build upon technologies under development at the Air Force Research Lab Information Directorate to further strengthen security of our nation's cyber infrastructure. By partnering the Air Force Research Laboratory with private industry and academia, the Griffiss Institute was designed to facilitate and grow the technology base of the region.

Mr. Wolf began his career as a civilian working for Air Force in 1968 when he joined the Rome Air Development Center. He held a variety of assignments with progressive responsibility in both management and technical leadership positions. He retired from civil service in March 2006 as Chief of the Cyber Operations Branch, and later that year assumed his current position as Executive Director of the Griffiss Institute. His principal technical work was conducted in the fields of laser radar, signal processing and cyber security. During his career, he has served on numerous technical and international committees relating to cyber security. From 2004 through 2006, Mr. Wolf served as the US National Lead for The Technology Cooperation Program, an international group comprised of scientists from the US, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand addressing technology developments in cyber security.