Defense Industry Day

7:00 AM  |  Speaker

Kimberly Gibson | Industrial Base Integration Director, America Makes

Kimberly Gibson serves as the Industrial Base Integration Director at America Makes, where she plays a critical role in expanding and strengthening the additive manufacturing (AM) network. In this position, she leads efforts to grow membership, cultivate strategic partnerships, and increase awareness of the Institute’s mission. Kimberly actively engages with government stakeholders, industry leaders, and the broader AM community to convene the industrial base landscape and drive meaningful collaboration. Since stepping into the role in 2021, Kimberly has worked closely with the Office of the Secretary of Defense Manufacturing Technology (OSD ManTech) Office and the Government Program Management team to ensure that America Makes aligns with the broader mission of the Department of Defense (DoD). Her work directly supports the Institute’s goal of driving value for and from its members while maturing the U.S. AM infrastructure.

Kimberly brings a deep passion for additive and advanced manufacturing technologies, coupled with extensive experience in network building, stakeholder engagement, and strategic communications. Her relationship with America Makes began well before her current role. She was honored with the America Makes Ambassador Award for her leadership during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. While at IC3D, a member organization, she played a pivotal role in the development and distribution of 3D-printed personal protective equipment (PPE).

Prior to joining America Makes, Kimberly served as the Communications Director at Lightweight Innovations For Tomorrow (LIFT), where she further honed her expertise in industry engagement and public-private partnerships. Beyond her professional accomplishments, Kimberly is deeply committed to community service. She is on the board of a charter school network in inner-city Columbus that focuses on dropout recovery and integrates career and technical education. Additionally, through her work with IC3D, she led the groundbreaking launch of the first-ever 3D-printed Toys for Tots initiative in partnership with the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, delivering over 100,000 toys to children in need each year.

9:15 AM  |  Speaker

Elana Broitman | Principal, The Roosevelt Group

Elana Broitman joins The Roosevelt Group after 30+ years of experience in government, the technology space, and nonprofits. Elana specializes in defense industrial base issues and acquisitions, international trade and defense issues, and technology issues from cybersecurity to blockchain and semiconductor manufacturing.

A Capitol Hill veteran, Elana spent a dozen years serving as NY Senator Gillibrand’s Senior Advisor on Senate Armed Services and Senate Foreign Relations Committees, where she helped usher in national cybersecurity programs, ensure the health and stability of New York military installations, and pass sanctions legislation. Before that, Elana served as counsel on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, overseeing intelligence and counter-narcotics programs and Eastern European policy.

Elana’s government security service includes her position as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manufacturing and Industrial Base Policy, and Senior Advisor for Rule of Law at USAID, responsible for former Soviet states. At DOD, Elana led the establishment of Manufacturing Institutes, CFIUS, and merger reviews, and addressed numerous acquisition and Supplier issues are facing the country’s defense industrial base. Elana brings experience in the technology arena, having helped to build a domain name start-up, establish a digital identity non-profit, and launch the New York affiliate of the think tank, New America. Elana is well known for her publications and speaking engagements on technology policy, including a paper on technology’s impact on the SDGs for the UN Secretary General.

10:15 AM  |  Moderator

Dave Temeles, Midwest Defense Accelerator

Dave Temeles is a Founding Director of the Midwest Defense Accelerator, a nonprofit initiative operating under the Sagamore Institute dedicated to connecting Midwest manufacturers with defense opportunities and building a more resilient regional defense industrial base. A licensed attorney and accountant by training, with degrees from Washington and Lee University and the University of Notre Dame, Dave also serves as President of Third Coast Federal, Inc., a defense technology and federal contracting consultancy based in South Bend, Indiana. Over the past 10 years, he has been at the forefront of organizing and energizing the Midwest defense manufacturing community, convening stakeholders from across the Great Lakes region on issues ranging from autonomous systems and maritime industrial base development to workforce and supply chain resilience, and developing multi-state corridor strategies to position the Midwest as a connected and competitive defense manufacturing region.

10:15 AM  |  Panelist

Ryan O’Quinn, Oshkosh Defense

Ryan O’Quinn is the Director of Business Development for Oshkosh Defense, where he leads partnership and business development initiatives supporting lifecycle sustainment, aftermarket services, and emerging defense platforms and technologies. Appointed to the role in 2025, Ryan brings extensive experience in defense acquisition, program management, and military operations, along with a strong background in advanced manufacturing and defense innovation. Prior to joining Oshkosh Defense, he served as Business Development Director for Detroit Defense, formerly Ricardo Defense.

A retired U.S. Army Colonel, Ryan completed a distinguished 26-year military career that included leadership assignments across operational units and acquisition organizations, as well as overseas deployments to Germany, Kosovo, Iraq, and Afghanistan. His final Army assignment was as Combat Systems Contracts Director for the Army Contracting Command, where he oversaw contracting and procurement activities for the Army’s M1A2 Abrams Main Battle Tank program. Ryan holds the Department of Defense’s highest certifications in both Program Management and Contract Management and has served in senior acquisition leadership roles across the Department of Defense, Defense Logistics Agency, and Defense Contract Management Agency. He earned his undergraduate degree from Michigan State University and an MBA from Madonna University.

11:20 AM  |  Panelist

Claire DeLay, IEDC

Claire DeLay is Manager of Clean Energy Production and Manufacturing at the Illinois Economic Development Corporation, where she supports clean energy and advanced manufacturing companies looking to establish, expand, and invest in Illinois. Her work focuses on business attraction, economic development strategy, and fostering relationships with companies seeking to grow their presence in the U.S. market. Claire brings a strong international perspective to her role, with specialized experience supporting East Asian companies navigating market entry and expansion opportunities in the United States.

Fluent in Mandarin, Claire has spent more than five years living in Asia and has worked extensively with East Asian trade and development organizations. Her background combines global business engagement with economic development expertise, particularly in cross-cultural partnership building and international investment strategy. Claire earned her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from University of Colorado Boulder and a Graduate Certificate in Chinese-U.S. Studies from Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.

11:20 AM  |  Panelist

Tony Papke, MxD

Tony Papke is Vice President for Industry Engagement at MxD, where he leads partner engagement and business development initiatives that connect organizations with MxD’s mission to advance digital manufacturing and innovation. In his role, Tony works closely with industry partners to align strategic opportunities, foster collaboration, and support the growth of the U.S. manufacturing ecosystem through technology and workforce advancement initiatives.

Prior to joining MxD, Tony spent more than 15 years in the medical device industry, serving in leadership roles spanning account management, engineering, operations, customer service, strategy, and business development. Most recently, he managed national account relationships at Brainlab, where he focused on expanding partnerships and driving business growth. Tony earned a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Marquette University and an MBA from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

12:30 | Accelerating Advanced Manufacturing

Dr. Jyoti K. Malhotra , NIST

Division chief of National Programs and Platforms at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP)
Dr. Jyoti K. Malhotra serves as the division chief for National Programs and Platforms within the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) program. She leads strategic planning, operations, and partnership development across federal laboratories, industry, academia, and the nonprofit sector to deliver key national programs and services that advance the MEP National NetworkTM mission to serve U.S. small and medium-sized manufacturers. She played an integral role in implementing the MEP Strategic Plan and drove supply chain and workforce initiatives that earned her the NIST George Uriano Award for innovative cross-agency collaborations.

Dr. Malhotra has extensive experience in interdisciplinary materials and device research, product development, manufacturing, and commercialization, enabling applications across semiconductors, electronics packaging, energy storage, microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), flexible printed electronics, LED lighting, and medical devices. She is an inventor on multiple fully issued U.S. patents and has numerous scientific publications.

Working primarily with U.S. small manufacturers, Dr. Malhotra spent approximately two decades in private industry. Prior roles include chief operating officer and chief compliance officer at a medical device manufacturer, director of technology advancement at a chemical manufacturer, and director of industry partnerships at Saint Louis University.

Dr. Malhotra received her doctorate from the Missouri University of Science and Technology and completed her postdoctoral work at the Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory.

1:45 |  Breakout Speaker

Tim Weber, Cyber 74

Tim Weber is Vice President of Channel Growth at Cyber74, a national advanced Managed Security Services Provider (MSSP) within the New Charter Technologies platform. With more than 25 years of experience in IT and cybersecurity, Tim works with clients and partners across North America to strengthen cybersecurity strategies, improve risk management, and build more secure technology environments. Prior to helping launch Cyber74 in 2022, Tim spent 28 years with ADNET Technologies, where he held a variety of technical and leadership roles, most recently leading the company’s cybersecurity practice.

A recognized cybersecurity thought leader and frequent conference speaker, Tim is known for helping organizations think differently about cybersecurity and operational risk. He has been featured as a cybersecurity expert in national and regional media, including multiple appearances in The New York Times. Tim holds several industry certifications, including CMMC-AB Registered Practitioner, CISSP, and Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), and earned a Master of Science in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance from Western Governors University. Outside of his professional work, Tim serves as Chief of his local fire department, where he focuses on leadership, training, and mentorship.

1:45 |  Breakout Speaker

Ian Quan, Center Director, Illinois APEX Accelerator at Chinese Mutual Aid Association

Ian Quan serves as Center Director for the Illinois APEX Accelerator at the Chinese Mutual Aid Association, where he helps businesses navigate and succeed in the government contracting marketplace. Bringing firsthand experience as both a small business owner and longtime industry professional, Ian offers practical expertise across the full government contracting lifecycle, including registrations, contract vehicles, supplier and prime contractor partnerships, and bid development.

With more than 20 years of experience in government contracting and sales, Ian has worked extensively with U.S. manufacturing and distribution companies in the safety and personal protective equipment (PPE) industries. Over the course of his career, he has supported more than 40 GSA Schedule contracts, helped secure over 150 National Stock Numbers (NSNs), and contributed to winning more than $100 million in federal and state contracts. His experience includes major multi-year agreements with agencies such as the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Navy, Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Air Force, and TSA, spanning IDIQ, BPA, and fixed contract vehicles.

1:45 |  Breakout Speaker

Willette LeGrant, SBA

Willette LeGrant joined the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) in February 2024 and currently serves as the District Director for the Illinois District Office. She is responsible for promoting small business resources across Illinois including access to capital, counseling and training, government contracting, international exporting, and disaster relief.

Prior to joining SBA, Ms. LeGrant served as the Deputy Division Chief for Field Operations at the U.S. Census Bureau within the Department of Commerce. During a distinguished 16-year career with the Census Bureau, she held senior leadership roles with responsibility for planning, directing, and overseeing large-scale nationwide data collection operations that support some of the federal government’s most critical statistical programs.

Ms. LeGrant has a passion for developing and advocating for young children.  She has served as a Court Appointed Advocate for Children (CASA) for more than 15 years.

1:45 |  Breakout Speaker

Christa Madison, Xartis

Christa Madison advises entrepreneurs and family-owned business leaders through some of the most significant financial and personal transitions of their lives. Specializing in exit planning, business succession, investment strategy, retirement planning, and tax-efficient wealth transfer, she helps clients prepare for successful business transitions while aligning outcomes with their long-term financial goals and family legacy. Known for her thoughtful and strategic approach, Christa works closely with business owners before, during, and after a sale to help them navigate complex decisions with confidence and clarity.

Before entering the financial services industry, Christa built an impressive career in competitive athletics. She was selected to the Midwest Olympic Development Program in women’s soccer, participated in the inaugural women’s program at IMG Academies, and earned a full collegiate soccer scholarship on the East Coast. Following her playing career, she became one of the nation’s top female soccer referees, officiating Big Ten women’s matches and other elite competitions across the country. Christa lives in Schaumburg, Illinois, with her spouse and two children, and continues to pursue her passion for athletics through participation on her local roller derby team.

1:45 |  Breakout Speaker

Mark Piekos, McHenry County EDC

Mark Piekos is the Executive Director of the McHenry County Economic Development Corporation, supporting business attraction, retention, and expansion across McHenry County, Illinois. He brings a grounded perspective to economic development, having spent nearly a decade as a business owner before leading the Illinois Small Business Development Center at McHenry County College. At MCEDC, Mark oversees Strong Transitions, a program focused on ownership succession for closely held and founder-led businesses, helping manufacturers and other employers evaluate transition strategies.