Keynote Speakers
Registration to attend: https://www.xcdsystem.com/IEOM/attendee/index.cfm?ID=sejdN9d
Day 1- August 4, 2026 (Tuesday) – InterContinental Hotel
8:30 am – 8:40 am: Conference Opening
Ing. José Barrios Ng
President and Chairman of the Board
Universidad Latina de Panama
José Barrios Ng, co-founder and partner at ABCO Global, is a successful business director and entrepreneur.
He has worked as Director of Planning and Project Manager and/or Vice-President of Finance in companies such as ESSO, Cervecería Nacional (largest brewery in Panama), Cable & Wireless and the Panama Canal.
In 2002 José Barrios Ng joined the managing team at the Panama Canal Authority as Executive Vice President for Administration and Finance, where he was responsible for planning, financial analysis, risk management, administration of ACP contracts, and the strategy and policy design of financial continuous improvement. In 2007, he was appointed Deputy Administrator of the Panama Canal where he directed the group that managed the financing for the five billion dollar expansion project of the Panama Canal.
He currently acts as president and chairman of the board for one of the largest private universities in Panama, Universidad Latina de Panama. Under his leadership, enrollment at Universidad Latina has more than doubled. He is also board member of two other universities: Universidad Americana and UNESCPA, a university specialized in training and certifying public accountants.
José Barrios Ng serves as President for 4AB Distribution Company, and has served as President of the Panama Stock Market for 3 years, President for Optima Insurance, the media group Nueva Prensa Financiera (Capital Financiero newspaper), and the Panama Rotary Club. He is a member of the Board of Directors for numerous important enterprises including ABCO Global, Panama Metro, Panama Maritime Authority, the real estate trust Alianza Properties, and San Fernando Hospital, accumulating vast experience in diverse economic sectors.
José Barrios is a distinguished ex alumnus and member of the Advisory Board of the School of Engineering of Georgia Tech.
In 2014, he was awarded Doctor of Humanities, Honoris Causa, from Southeastern Louisiana University, and has received numerous other recognitions such as: Executive of the Year (Capital Financiero); Financial Executive of the year, 1996 & 2011 (Panama stock exchange); Outstanding Teaching Award 1997, 2000, 2001 (ULACIT); and Outstanding member award- Rotary Club of Panama, among others.
He is an Electrical Engineer from Louisiana State University, has a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Georgia Tech, and a Master’s degree in Economic Engineering from the University of California—Los Angeles (UCLA), and completed additional post graduate studies in Operational Investigation at UCLA. He is currently pursuing a PhD at the University of Pennsylvania in Higher Education Administration.
8:40 am – 9:20 am: Keynote 1
Dr. Ying Xie
Director of Logistics Cluster
University of Central Florida (USA)
Ying Xie is currently the Director of the Logistics Cluster at the University of Central Florida. She was a Professor of Supply Chain Analytics at Cranfield University, United Kingdom. She is an internationally recognized leader in supply chain management, operations research, machine learning, big data analytics, and intelligent decision-support systems. She has held numerous senior academic leadership positions, including Director of the Centre for Intelligent Supply Chain and Head of School at Anglia Ruskin University, where she led strategic initiatives in research, education, and international partnerships. A Principal Fellow of Advance HE, Prof. Xie has successfully led and managed research and innovation projects funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), Innovate UK, the European Union, and major industry partners. Her research focuses on digital supply chains, sustainable aviation, logistics, maritime systems, artificial intelligence, and supply chain resilience. She serves on several national strategic advisory boards and is widely recognized for fostering collaboration among academia, industry, and government to develop innovative, data-driven solutions that enhance global supply chain performance and sustainability.
Dr. Xie earned her Ph.D. in Supply Chain and Operational Research from Coventry University, United Kingdom, and a Master of Science with Distinction in Intelligence Engineering from the University of Liverpool, specializing in Artificial Intelligence, Control Theory, and Fuzzy Systems.
9:20 am – 10:00 am: Keynote 2
Dr. Luis Rocha Lona
Professor in Operations Management, Business School
National Polytechnic Institute of Mexico
México City, Mexico
Tec de Monterrey, Campus Santa Fe
Luis Rocha-Lona is a professor in Operations Management at the Business School at National Polytechnic Institute of Mexico and at Tec de Monterrey, Campus Santa Fe. Luis Rocha graduated from the National Polytechnic Institute of Mexico (IPN) as Automation Control Systems Engineer. Then, he pursued an MSc in Control Systems with a major in information systems/manufacturing at the University of Sheffield, UK. He holds a PhD in Operations Management from The Manchester Business School. Dr Luis Rocha-Lona has eight years of working experience in the public and private sectors. He has lead several projects involved with service and manufacturing organisations and is currently supervising Master and PhD students at National Polytechnic Institute of Mexico.
10:00 am – 10:40 am: Keynote 3
Dr. Ivan Garibay
Associate Professor
Industrial Engineering and Management Systems
University of Central Florida
Orlando, Florida, USA
Director, UCF Artificial Intelligence and Big Data Initiative
Director, Master of Science in Data Analytics
Director, Complex Adaptive Systems Laboratory
Founding Director, UCF I-Corps program
Affiliated appointments to Computer Science and Modeling and Simulation
Dr. Ivan Garibay is an Associate Professor at the Department of Industrial Engineering and Management Systems, University of Central Florida. He is the Director of UCF Artificial Intelligence and Big Data Initiative, Director of Master of Science Program in Data Analytics, and the Director of the Complex Adaptive Systems Laboratory. He is also the Founding Director of the UCF I‐Corps program. His interests lie in studying complex socio‐technical systems such as social media and artificial social intelligence. He received Ph.D. in Computer Science and M.S. in Computer Science from University of Central Florida, P.E. in Electronic Engineering (Titulo Profesional) and B.S. in Electronic Engineering from Ricardo Palma University, Peru.
10:40 am – 11:00 am: Break
11:00 am – 11:30 am, Tuesday, August 4, 2026 – Keynote 4
Dr. Dario Solís
Business Development Director for Innovation and Technology Partnerships
Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering
Arizona State University (ASU)
Tempe, Arizona, USA
Dr. Dario Solís is the Business Development Director for Innovation and Technology Partnerships at the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University (ASU). In this role, he leads strategic initiatives that connect academia, industry, and government to accelerate innovation, workforce development, and technology-based economic growth. His work focuses on building partnerships that transform research into real-world impact while advancing emerging technology sectors.
Dr. Solís earned his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Iowa and has built a distinguished career at the intersection of engineering, innovation, higher education, and public policy. Throughout his career, he has developed and led collaborative initiatives that strengthen advanced manufacturing, semiconductor and microelectronics ecosystems, entrepreneurship, and international research partnerships. His experience spans the United States and Latin America, where he has worked closely with governments, universities, and private industry to create sustainable innovation ecosystems that support talent development and long-term economic competitiveness.
A strong advocate for cross-sector collaboration, Dr. Solís is passionate about connecting people, institutions, and ideas to solve complex technological challenges. His expertise includes innovation strategy, technology partnerships, research development, workforce development, advanced manufacturing, and international collaboration. He has helped establish programs that align education, research, and industry needs to create opportunities for students, researchers, and technology-driven companies.
Dr. Solís is also recognized for his commitment to mentoring the next generation of engineers and technology leaders. He was the inaugural recipient of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) McDonald Mentoring Award, a prestigious honor recognizing his outstanding and sustained commitment to mentoring and developing students and professionals.
11:30 am – 12:00 pm: Keynote 5
Dr. Juan Marcos Castillo
Professor
Universidad Tecnológica de Panamá (UTP)
Panama
Presentation Title: The Potential Title: Uncertainty Management in the Supply Chain: Math, Tech, and Wisdom
Dr Juan Marcos Castillo holds a PhD in Industrial Engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington, he is a professor at the Universidad Tecnológica de Panamá (UTP) and directs a Panama & Perspective Analytics, a Think Tank in Logistics, and the Smart Logistics Lab which is attached to the C TASC AIP, a Center of Education, Research, Development and Innovation in Semiconductors. Dr Castillo is a Husband, a Father, a visionary and Christian leader.
12:00 pm – 12:30 pm: Keynote 6
Mr. Cristian Rincon
Associate Professor and Researcher
UNIMINUTO
Colombia
Presentation Title: Manufacturing in a VUCA World: Evolving from Resilience Recovery to Antifragile Advantage
Cristian Rincón-Guio is an Industrial Engineer and a PhD candidate in Engineering – Industry and Organizations at Universidad Nacional de Colombia. He serves as Associate Professor and researcher at UNIMINUTO, where he leads research projects on resilience in manufacturing. Classified as Senior Researcher by MINCIENCIAS (2025), he has authored over 20 Scopus-indexed publications and delivered more than 15 presentations at international conferences including IEOM, POMS, DSMIE, and ICIEN. His current research focuses on how manufacturing firms build resilience capabilities to adapt to volatile disruptions in VUCA environments.
12:30 pm – 1:00 pm: Keynote 7
Dr. Miguel Torres Miranda
Director of CITEP, the Center for Innovation in Technology and Electronics of Panama
Panama City, Panama
Presentation Title: Technological Development in Panama: A Perspective from Engineering, Microelectronics, and Innovation
Miguel Torres Miranda holds a BSc in electronic engineering from the Technological University of Panama, an MSc in Microelectronics from the University of Grenoble, France and a PhD in MicroElectronics from the Sorbonne Université in Paris, France. He has worked with different hardware technologies: designing and manufacturing integrated circuits with flexible materials at Ecole Polytechnique in Paris and Joanneum Research in Graz, Austria, and testing novel X-Ray detector chips at CEA Leti in Grenoble, France. He has also developed a career in the technical side of medical devices, designing and testing brain and heart monitors and microfabricating brain-computer interfaces with graphene materials. After several years, he decided to focus on commercializing hardware technologies in different companies and earned an MBA from ESADE Business School. He is currently the director of CITEP, the Center for Innovation in Technology and Electronics of Panama, a new private project fostering technical education for industries and professionals focusing mainly on IoT and edge AI.
Day 2- August 5, 2026 (Wednesday) – InterContinental Hotel
8:30 am – 8:40 am: Day 2 Conference Opening
Prof. Oscar León
Founder, President and Chairman of the Board
Quality Leadership University (QLU), Panama
Oscar León received his Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration in 1989 and his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in 1988, both from the University of Louisville. He is a Fulbright Scholar and the State Department International Visitor Leadership Program alumni.
León is the President and Founder of Quality Leadership University (QLU), a Panamanian Higher Education Institution he founded in 1997. QLU has offered undergraduate and graduate programs in academic cooperation with University of Louisville since 1999, and both institutions have graduated more than 2,000 Latin American professionals in Panama. Panamanians are the largest nationality of undergraduate students´ population at UofL main campus.
León serves as Secretary of the Board of Directors of the American Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Panama. He served as President of the Private Sector Council for Educational Assistance, an organization composed of more than 30 business associations. He was also a member of the Permanent Multisector Council for the Implementation of the National Commitment to Education.
León is a member of the Board of Directors of the Panamanian Fulbright Association. He was also a member of the National Council for University Evaluation and Accreditation of Panama. León formerly served as President of the Association of Private Universities of Panama and as a Treasurer of the Association of Private Universities of Central America.
León is a member of the Lions Club International. León is founding and building the PK-12 Notre Dame Academy of Panama in 2023, institution that will educate more than one thousand students with a STEM focus.
8:40 am – 9:20 am: Keynote 8
Dr. Mariana Leon
Academic Vice President, Researcher, and Professor
Quality Leadership University – University of Louisville Panama
Researcher at Centro de Investigación Educativa (CIEDU)
Panama
Mariana holds a Bachelor of Political Science in International Relations from the University of Louisville, a Master of Business Administration from Florida International University, and a Doctor of Education in Entrepreneurial Leadership in Education from Johns Hopkins University. Mariana has more than 15 years of experience managing academic and research programs. As Academic VP she is responsible for the design of academic programs, research, and engagement.
9:20 am – 10:00 am: Keynote 9
Dr. Maria Auxiliadora Cannarozzo Tinoco
Associate Professor in Industrial Engineering
Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Brazil
Maria Auxiliadora Cannarozzo Tinoco is an Associate Professor in Industrial Engineering at the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Brazil, where she currently serves as Chair of the Department of Industrial Engineering and Transportation. She holds a Ph.D. and M.Sc. in Industrial Engineering from UFRGS and a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering. Her academic trajectory includes leadership roles in undergraduate program coordination and active engagement in the university’s innovation ecosystem.
She is an active researcher affiliated with the Organizational Engineering Research Group (NEO/UFRGS) and the Innovation and Sustainability Center (NIS/UFRGS), leading projects on digital technologies for vocational and training education, as well as new business design based on public data. She currently leads initiatives focused on the modernization of engineering education, supported by CAPES and the Fulbright Commission, involving benchmarking with North American universities. Her research interests include Service Management, Quality Management, Sustainable Product-Service Systems, Innovation, and Engineering Education, with a recent emphasis on the integration of Artificial Intelligence.
10:00 am – 10:40 am: Keynote 10
Dr. Waldemar Karwowski
Pegasus Professor and Chairman
Department of Industrial Engineering and Management Systems
University of Central Florida
Orlando, Florida, USA
Waldemar Karwowski is Pegasus Professor and Chairman, Department of Industrial Engineering and Management Systems, University of Central Florida, USA. He holds an M.S. in Production Engineering and Management from the University of Technology Wroclaw, Poland, and a Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering from Texas Tech University, USA. He was awarded D.Sc. in management science by the Institute for Organization and Management in Industry, Warsaw, and received the National Professorship title from the President of Poland (2012). Three Central European universities also awarded him Doctor Honoris Causa degrees. Dr. Karwowski served on the Board on Human Systems Integration, National Research Council, USA (2007–2011). He currently is Co-Editor-in-Chief of Theoretical Issues in Ergonomics Science journal, Editor-in-Chief of Human-Intelligent Systems Integration journal, and Field Chief Editor of the Frontiers in Neuroergonomics. Dr. Karwowski has over 550 research publications, including over 200 journal papers. He is Fellow of the Ergonomics Society (U.K.), Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (HFES), Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers (IISE), and the International Ergonomics Association (IEA), and served as President of both HFES (2006-2007) and IEA (2000-2003). He received the William Floyd Award from the Chartered Institute of Ergonomics & Human Factors, the United Kingdom in 2017, and the David F. Baker Distinguished Research Award. Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers, Atlanta, USA, in 2020. He was elected to Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine of Florida (ASEMFL), Orlando, Florida, USA, November 2020.
10:40 – 11:00: Break
11:00 – 11:30, Wednesday, August 5, 2026 – Keynote 11
Dr. Elida de Obaldía
Professor, Universidad Tecnológica de Panamá
Representative of Panama’s Advanced Semiconductor Technology Center (C-TASC)
Elida de Obaldía, Professor, Universidad Tecnológica de Panamá, and representative of Panama’s Advanced Semiconductor Technology Center (C-TASC). Dr. Elida de Obaldía is an internationally accomplished physicist, senior researcher and academic leader who serves as a central architect in Panama’s emerging advanced technology sector. She is a professor and researcher at the Universidad Tecnológica de Panamá affiliated with the Pierre y Marie Curie Laboratory in the School of Science and Technology and a member of Panama’s prestigious National Research System. She also serves as Deputy Director for R&D and Talent Development in Panama’s Advanced Semiconductor Technology Center, a strategic national initiative designed to integrate the country into the high-potential global microelectronics and semiconductor supply chain. De Obaldía’s leadership model bridges the gap between deep scientific research and macroeconomic execution. Her strategic priority at C-TASC centers on fostering active public-private-academic synergies, positioning Panama as a regional nucleus for high-value technological innovation and specialized human capital. Grounded in decades of experience across both corporate laboratories and academic environments, her philosophy emphasizes that national scientific self-reliance is achieved by building robust international research alliances. At UTP, she actively serves as a research liaison, engineering strategic pathways and academic agreements that connect Panamanian students and faculty directly with top-tier research institutions in the United States and globally. Widely recognized as a pioneer in advanced materials science, nanomaterials and solid-state physics, de Obaldía earned her Ph.D. in Applied Physics from Boston University, followed by postdoctoral training at AT&T Bell Labs in Murray Hill, New Jersey. She spent over 15 years in the private semiconductor sector at Texas Instruments in Dallas, Texas, culminating in her role as chief technical officer of product engineering for wireless connectivity, where she managed interdisciplinary engineering teams, optimized time-to-market systems and pioneered RFCMOS technology methodologies. Since returning to Panama, she has built an extensive, highly cited body of research focused on sustainable energy storage, thin-film nanotechnology and biosensors. Her work ranges from developing polycrystalline diamond coatings to improve lithium-ion battery lifetimes, to engineering piezoelectrically actuated microcantilevers for advanced biosensing. Her impeccable reputation as a consensus builder, mentor and rigorous experimentalist makes her a vital asset to international partners looking to navigate or invest in Panama’s high-tech and semiconductor roadmap.
11:30 am – 12:00 pm: Keynote 12
Enitza George, MD, MBA, MSAI
Physician Executive, Society of Teachers of Family Medicine (STFM) AI Task Force and co-Chair STFM AI Collaborative. Health Systems Program Ambassador
Binghamton University. Binghamton, New York. USA
Dr. Enitza George is a physician executive, board-certified family physician, and health systems leader with more than 30 years of experience in clinical practice, academic medicine, and healthcare transformation. She serves on the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine (STFM) Artificial Intelligence Task Force and is Co-Chair of the STFM AI Collaborative, advancing the responsible integration of AI into medical education and clinical practice. She is also the Health Systems Program Ambassador for the School of Systems Science and Industrial Engineering at Binghamton University. Dr. George holds a Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare and is pursuing a PhD in Industrial and Systems Engineering, where her research focuses on AI governance, systems management, and organizational accountability in healthcare.
12:00 pm – 12:30 pm: Keynote 13
Fernando Gonzalez Aleu, Ph.D. CPEM
Professor and Researcher
Engineering Department
Universidad de Monterrey (UDEM)
Monterrey, NL, Mexico
Presentation Title: OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE + SHINGO MODEL
Fernando Gonzalez Aleu is a Professor and Researcher at the Universidad de Monterrey (UDEM) in Mexico. He received a BS in Mechanical and Management Engineering at UDEM, a MS at ITESM in 1999, and both an MS and PhD in Industrial and Systems Engineering from Virginia Tech in 2015 and 2016, respectively. His research focuses on the applications of continuous improvement projects. Prior industry experience includes 15 years implementing quality systems, environmental systems, and management systems. He is member of the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers, the American Society for Engineering Management, and the American Society for Quality.
12:30 pm – 1:00 pm: Keynote 14
Dr. Alfonso Sarmiento
Associate Professor
Industrial Engineering
Faculty of Engineering
University of La Sabana
Chía, Colombia
Presentation Title: From Single-Paradigm to Hybrid Simulation: Methodologies for Integrated Modeling
Dr. Sarmiento is currently a professor and researcher in the Industrial Engineering program at the University of La Sabana. Dr. Sarmiento received his PhD in Industrial Engineering from the University of Central Florida (Orlando, USA) with emphasis in simulation of systems applied to the supply chain. His master’s degree was from the University of Florida (Gainesville, USA) with a specialty in Operations Research focused on Logistics. His professional career combines the experience gained over several years as a consultant in industrial engineering (process improvement, production line balance, facility layout, costing, etc.) with teaching in the academic area in courses on quantitative decision-making methods and operations management. His current lines of research include the application of different simulation paradigms (system dynamics, discrete event and agent simulation) and reinforcement learning to model and analyze complex systems.
Day 3- August 6, 2026 (Thursday) – U Latina Learning Villa
8:45 am – 8:55 am: Day 3 Conference Opening
Dr. Ángela Laguna Caicedo
President
Technological University of Panama (UTP)
Dr. Ángela Laguna Caicedo is the President of the Technological University of Panama (UTP) and one of the country’s most respected academic leaders. A distinguished civil engineer, educator, and administrator with more than four decades of service, she has devoted her professional life to strengthening engineering education, advancing environmental sustainability, and fostering institutional excellence. Throughout her remarkable career, she has served in numerous leadership positions at UTP, including Academic Coordinator, Director of the Experimental Engineering Center, Dean of the Faculty of Civil Engineering, Vice Rector for Academic Affairs, and now President. She has also made significant contributions to public policy through her work with Panama’s Ministry of Health and has been recognized nationally and internationally for her leadership in engineering, higher education, and professional organizations.
Few individuals have shaped the history of the Technological University of Panama as profoundly as Dr. Laguna. Early in her career, she had the privilege of serving as an assistant to Dr. Víctor Levi Sasso, the visionary founder of UTP, an experience that profoundly influenced her lifelong commitment to the institution’s mission. Inspired by his vision, she has become one of the principal architects of the university’s continued growth and modernization. As a visionary leader, Dr. Laguna has championed the development of the Observatories Initiative, transforming UTP into much more than an institution of higher learning. Under her leadership, the University has strengthened its role as an “antenna” for emerging technologies, anticipating global trends while connecting academia, industry, and government. These observatories position UTP not only as a center of education and research but also as a catalyst for innovation, strategic intelligence, and national development, helping drive the Republic of Panama toward a more competitive, sustainable, and knowledge-based future. Her leadership is characterized by wisdom, humility, and an unwavering belief that universities must not simply respond to change—they must help create it.
8:55 am – 9:10 am: A conversation about the Quality Institute. Their organization, projects, and success in Peru.
Dr. José Carlos Flores Molina
Director, Quality Institute
Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú (PUCP), Peru
Dr. José Carlos Flores Molina is the Director of the Quality Institute at the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú (PUCP) and a Full Professor in the Department of Industrial Engineering. He is an internationally recognized expert in quality management, Lean Six Sigma, operational excellence, continuous improvement, and organizational performance.
Dr. Flores earned his Ph.D. in Industrial and Systems Engineering from Florida International University, USA, and his Master of Science in Quality Engineering from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom. He also holds Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt certification from TMAC at The University of Texas at Arlington, USA, and is an ISO 9000 Lead Auditor certified by the British Standards Institution (BSI), UK. He received his Industrial Engineering degree from the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú.
As Director of the Quality Institute at PUCP, Dr. Flores leads academic, research, executive education, consulting, and outreach initiatives that promote quality management, operational excellence, innovation, and organizational competitiveness throughout Peru and Latin America. Under his leadership, the Institute has become a leading center for professional education, applied research, and industry collaboration, supporting organizations in both the public and private sectors through quality improvement, Lean Six Sigma implementation, process optimization, and organizational transformation.
Dr. Flores has held numerous national and international leadership positions. He currently serves as President of the National Society of Accredited Organizations in Quality Systems (SNOASC) and previously served as President of the Permanent Standardization Committee of Peru’s National Institute for Quality (INACAL) under the Ministry of Production from 2016 to 2019. Internationally, he served as Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean of the American Society for Quality (ASQ), where he promoted quality initiatives and professional development across the region. In recognition of his outstanding contributions to the quality profession, he was elected an ASQ Fellow, one of the organization’s highest professional honors.
Throughout his distinguished career, Dr. Flores has advised numerous organizations in implementing Lean Six Sigma, quality management systems, operational excellence, and continuous improvement methodologies. His work has significantly contributed to enhancing productivity, quality, and competitiveness across manufacturing, service, healthcare, education, and government organizations.
At the IEOM Conference, Dr. Flores Molina will participate in a featured conversation on the Quality Institute at PUCP, highlighting its mission, organizational structure, major projects, industry partnerships, research initiatives, and its contributions to advancing quality, operational excellence, and industrial competitiveness in Peru and throughout Latin America.
9:10 am – 9:50 am: Keynote 15
Dr. Luis Rabelo
Professor
Department of Industrial Engineering & Management Systems
University of Central Florida
Orlando, FL, USA
Dr. Luis Rabelo received the BS in Electro-Mechanical Engineer from the Technological University of Panama in 1983, an MS in Electrical Engineering from the Florida Institute of Technology in 1987 Master’s and Doctorate in Engineering Management from the University of Missouri. He was a Postdoc at the University of Missouri in Nuclear Engineering. Dr. Rabelo received a dual MS in Systems and Management from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He has worked for the Advanced Technology Group (Goodrich) and Honeywell Laboratories. Dr. Rabelo was a NASA Fellow from 2002 to 2005, and a Project Manager at NASA from 2009 to 2011. He is currently Professor in the Industrial Engineering and Management Systems Department at UCF. He is also the Undergraduate Coordinator. He has written more than 300 articles and a book in Artificial Intelligence. He has been the principal advisor for 39 Master’s students and 29 PhDs. He received the award for the Best Scientific Article of the Year 2004 from the Society of Automotive Engineers, received the distinction “ONE NASA” in 2006. He was the recipient of the Fulbright Distinction in 2008. In November 2008, he received the honor of the Technological University of Panama (UTP) of being the 2008 Distinguished Alumni. In 2011, he was the Henaac Award Winner in Education. In 2013 and 2018, he received the Forest R. McFarland Award from the Society of Automotive Engineering (SAE). Lately, he received the SAE Russell S. Springer Award for his article on the modeling of space operations systems in 2017.
9:50 am – 10:25 am: Keynote 16
Dr. Lindsay Alvarez-Pomar
Associate Professor of Industrial Engineering
Universidad Distrital Francisco José de Caldas
Bogotá, Colombia
Dr. Lindsay Álvarez-Pomar is an Associate Professor of Industrial Engineering at Universidad Distrital Francisco José de Caldas in Bogotá, Colombia, where she is also an active researcher. She holds a Ph.D. in Engineering with an emphasis on Information and Knowledge Science, a Master’s degree in Industrial Engineering, and a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering.
Dr. Álvarez-Pomar’s research focuses on collective intelligence, urban mobility, simulation, knowledge management, and production management. Throughout her academic career, she has contributed to the development of interdisciplinary research addressing complex socio-technical systems and organizational challenges.
She is the co-founder and researcher of the SES (Business and Social Systems) Research Group at Universidad Distrital Francisco José de Caldas, where she leads and collaborates on research projects aimed at advancing knowledge in industrial engineering and systems thinking. Her work has been presented at national and international conferences and has contributed to the academic discussion on innovation, organizational learning, and sustainable development.
10:25 am – 11:00 am: Keynotes 17 and 18
Dr. Charles W. Davis, Jr.
Associate Professor of Engineering
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach
Charles W. Davis, Jr. is an Associate Professor of Engineering at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and a recognized leader in engineering education, leadership development, and systems engineering. He holds B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Central Florida and brings more than 25 years of industry experience and over 20 years in higher education.
Dr. Davis is a Past President and Fellow of the Florida Engineering Society (FES) and has received numerous recognitions for his contributions to engineering education and professional leadership, including the 2025 Florida Engineering Society Engineering Faculty Member of the Year Award. His research focuses on leadership, systems engineering, virtual reality, digital twins, quality engineering, and engineering education, and he is the author of A Systematic Guide to Leadership Selection Using Total Quality.
Edgar Gutierrez-Franco, PhD
Associate Professor
Externado University of Colombia
Edgar Gutierrez-Franco, PhD, is an associate professor at the Externado University of Colombia and an Affiliated Researcher at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is a supply chain management analyst with experience leading and developing data-driven strategies and models for corporate organizations. His focus is on the creation of optimization and simulation models, machine learning algorithms, and strategic management methodologies to drive efficient and sustainable operations in the supply chain and omnichannel channels, thereby supporting managerial decision-making processes.
He has experience in various aspects of the supply chain, including network design, last-mile logistics, capacity planning, inventory control and allocation, omnichannel sales strategies, and digital supply chain models. He has held leadership roles in cross-functional corporate teams, ensuring the successful delivery of projects within established deadlines and budgets. His communication skills and strong stakeholder relationships have allowed him to manage large-scale projects while fostering a collaborative work environment.
His work experience spans several industries, including retail, beverage, agribusiness, and consulting. In academia, he has advised projects and led courses related to Systems Engineering, Operations Research, Simulation, Machine Learning, and Supply Chain Management in the United States and Latin America since 2003. He is also the author and editor of books in the field of Supply Chain Analytics, including “Engineering Analytics: Advances in Research and Applications” (Taylor and Francis, 2021) and “Artificial Intelligence: Advances in Research and Applications” (Nova, 2018).
11:00 am – 11:50 am: Conversation
Leadership at the Highest Level: A conversation with two of Latin America’s most influential CEOs
Contact: info@ieomsociety.org