2026 ERA Conference Speaker Line-Up

Biographies are listed alphabetically by last name and include the session(s) in which each speaker participates. Click on the session name to link to its description.

Dayna Badhorn
Regional President, Americas, Avnet
Session: Winning, Growing and Keeping the Best Talent in Electronics

Dayna Badhorn is regional president of Americas electronic components at Avnet. In this role, she leads all activities tied to Avnet’s electronics components business in the Americas where she oversees operations and sales teams supporting business in the region.

Since joining Avnet in in 1998, Badhorn has held leadership roles in sales, technical support, supplier management and business development. Most recently, she served as global vice president, strategic planning and corporate marketing, where she worked across global business units to identify growth opportunities to enhance Avnet’s overall business portfolio, financial strength and market value.

She serves on the board of CoValence Laboratories and is committed to community service and leadership development through her work with Homeward Bound. She was featured on CRN’s 2021 Women of the Channel List for her work accelerating channel growth. Badhorn earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute and an MBA from the University of Phoenix.

Ellen Coan, CPMR 
Vice President, C C Electro Sales, Inc.
Session: Winning, Growing and Keeping the Best Talent in Electronics

Ellen Coan, CPMR, joined her family’s firm after completing her BSEE at Purdue University. She earned her MBA from Indiana University while learning the rep business the first few years of her career. Along with her brother, Matt Cohen, she is a second-generation rep owner of C C Electro Sales, Inc. – a firm started by her mother, Carol Cohen, in 1981. Ellen handles IT, HR, Finance, FAE, as well as outside sales for key customers.

Ellen has been an officer in the local Indiana-Kentucky ERA chapter for many years. As a White Pin member, she helped initiate the ERA Mark Motsinger Internship Program as her passion is to promote the rep model to new talent. In 2021 Ellen joined the ERA National Executive committee as senior vice president of education overseeing the STEP and ERA Conference and introduced the ERA NEXGEN Special Interest Group for new rep members to network nationally.

Tobi Cornell, CPMR
President, Kruvand Associates
Session: AI Swap Shop: Real-World AI Use Cases that are Transforming the ERA Community

Tobi Cornell graduated from Texas Christian University in 1994 with BBA, and entered the electronics industry that same year working for manufacturers’ rep firm, DJ Sales (Dallas, TX). Tobi worked in inside sales covering the Houston market for 2 ½ years, and then moved into outside sales in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area for DJ Sales. In 1998, manufacturers’ rep firm Kruvand Associates acquired DJ Sales, and Tobi took on the distribution manager role, in addition to account responsibility. She continued to work in that capacity for 17 years, and was named vice president of distribution in 2015. Tobi continued fostering and growing close relationships with Kruvand’s manufacturers, channel partners and customers in her market, and was honored to be named president of Kruvand in 2023. Tobi also currently serves as president for the SW Chapter ERA, and is proud to support the ERA at the Conference in Austin each year. Other honors include holding the position of conference chair for the 2023 ECIA Executive Conference, WE Career Corner Lead and attending EDS on behalf of Kruvand every year.

Heather D’Amico, MBA, CPMR
Vice President, Brainard-Nielsen Marketing
Session: Beyond the Basics: Strengthening the Regional Manager-Rep Relationship

Heather D’Amico is vice president at Brainard-Nielsen Marketing, a manufacturers’ rep firm specializing in the sales of electro-mechanical components serving Illinois and Wisconsin. Prior to joining BNM in 2020, Heather previously worked for manufacturing companies, including OTTO Engineering. Her experience working for manufacturers provides insight on how sales reps must proactively market target customers. As the creative director at BNM, Heather develops and executes in-territory marketing strategies for the manufacturers on BNM’s line card. She is thrilled anytime a marketing effort can help open the door for her sales team to meet with a customer and find new opportunities. Heather has an MBA from Lake Forest Graduate School of Management. In 2010, Heather helped co-found the Michael P. Savoca Memorial Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to raising public awareness and funds on behalf of pulmonary fibrosis.

Adrian Dahlin
Marketing Strategist, G&G Creative Services
Session: How Buyers Find You in 2026: Strategies to Drive Organic Revenue

Adrian is a marketing strategist with a data science background. He was previously a nonprofit marketing director, Fortune 100 marketing operations lead, and fractional CMO. Now he helps clients drive organic revenue from Google and AI search.

Jodi Estevez
Vice President, Supplier Business Development, Americas, Avnet
Session: From Components to Solutions: Capturing Value in the Fastest Growing Electronics Ecosystems

Jodi Estevez leads the Avnet Americas Supplier Development team, which develops and strengthens supplier partnerships in the Americas. She has been with Avnet since 1993 and has held a variety of key roles. They include inside sales, product specialist, pricing analyst, director of strategic commodity management and director of supplier business development.

Estevez has a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Eastern Michigan University and supports the nonprofit Homeless Youth Connection.

When she is away from the office, Estevez enjoys spending time with her family, attending concerts and watching her son play professional golf.

Danielle Gaglioti
Partner, G&G Creative Services
Session: How Buyers Find You in 2026: Strategies to Drive Organic Revenue

Danielle Gaglioti is a creative strategist and partner at G&G Creative, where she leads projects in design, branding, and digital strategy. With a background in social impact, Danielle thrives on helping small to mid-sized businesses innovate and grow through thoughtful, creative solutions.

Cesare Giammarco
Consultant, Cesare Giammarco Sales & Management Consulting, LLC – ERA Expert Access Consultant
Session: From Components to Solutions: Capturing Value in the Fastest Growing Electronics Ecosystems

Cesare Giammarco has been in the field of sales and sales management since 1971, with 35 of those years in the electronic component industry. In those 35 years, he has instituted, managed and integrated manufacturers reps globally into multiple organizations. Starting in 1984 with Elmwood Sensors, a privately-owned global manufacturer of temperature sensing products, he led successful integration of the rep sales model through four acquisitions of this business, culminating with Honeywell Sensing and Controls in 2002. He retired from Honeywell in May 2015 as North American Sales Director. Since then he has worked as an independent consultant for global manufacturers assisting in instituting and supporting manufacturers reps as their primary sales channel. He is also a special consultant to ERA on best practices to further facilitate the rep sales model. Cesare has been recognized over the course of his career for innovative and mutually beneficial sales rep management practices and procedures that reinforce the rep model with manufacturers. He holds a B.A. in economics and an MBA from Bryant University. He resides in Cranston, R.I., with his wife Angela. They have three children and two grandchildren.

Adam Glazer, Esq.
Managing Partner, Schoenberg Finkel Beederman Bell Glazer LLC
Session: From Risk to Reward: Ten Legal Mistakes that Cost Reps Money and How to Fix Them

John Hutson, CPMR
President, MacInnis Group
Session: Beyond the Basics: Strengthening the Regional Manager-Rep Relationship

John Hutson is president of MacInnis Group, a manufacturers’ representative firm in the Northeast. Huston joined MacInnis in 1992. Prior to that, he held a sales engineer position at Tyco Printed Circuit Group. Hutson has held numerous New England ERA Chapter level positions, is presently chapter president, and has held various roles on the ERA Conference Committee, including 2019 ERA Conference Committee Chair. Hutson currently serves as Senior Vice President of Finance on the ERA Executive Committee. He has a bachelor’s degree from Syracuse University and a master’s degree from Wesleyan University. During his free time, Hutson enjoys skiing in the winter, golfing in the summer and travels year-round.

Chris Hodge
Sales Engineer, ANRO Associates
Session: Winning, Growing and Keeping the Best Talent in Electronics

Chris Hodge is a seasoned manufacturers representative in the electronics industry with over a decade of experience in field sales and distribution leadership. A graduate of Texas A&M University’s industrial distribution program, he spent ten years in the Dallas–Fort Worth market, where he was actively involved in Southwest ERA as an officer, before relocating to Nashville in late 2024 to join ANRO Associates. He currently serves as a field sales engineer supporting Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi, and remains engaged in the industry as a member of the ERA NexGen group. In his spare time Chris enjoys playing pickleball, golf and attending Aggie football games with his family.

Tim Kilfoil
President, JF Kilfoil Co.
Session: Beyond the Basics: Strengthening the Regional Manager-Rep Relationship

Tim Kilfoil is president of JF Kilfoil Co., a third-generation manufacturers representative agency based in Cincinnati, Ohio. After starting as an account manager with JF Kilfoil in 1994, he moved to open an office for the company in Cleveland, Ohio. He later opened locations in Indianapolis, Pittsburgh, Grand Rapids and Farmington Hills, Mich. Today, he is focused on growing JF Kilfoil’s relationships with high-quality manufacturers on the supplier and customer side, as he looks to expand the base of services and geography the company offers. As a strong believer in the representative model, he continues to invest in those areas he feels manufacturers’ representatives hold advantages over direct selling.

Scott Lindberg
President, Quell Corporation
Session: Beyond the Basics: Strengthening the Regional Manager-Rep Relationship

Scott has extensive experience on both the rep and manufacturer side of the relationship, having spent more than 20 years as a rep (and rep firm owner) and the past 16 years as a manufacturer. Today he is president of Quell Corporation in Albuquerque, N.M., a manufacturer of EMI filters and transient protection products for connectors. He is a visiting professor at the University of Texas, Austin, where he teaches multiple CPMR certification courses, including “Line Profitability Analysis,” “Understanding Your Manufacturer” and more. He has been a member and officer of the CPMR Board of Governors, member of MRERF’s executive committee, and has served on the ERA National Board and Executive Committee. Scott has presented at past ERA National Conferences as well as many other national associations, sharing his innovative sales and marketing approach.

Chris Lins
Founder and Head Coach, Lins Co. 
Session: Turning Strategic Relationships into Innovation Engines

Christopher Lins is the Founder & Head Coach of The Lins Company, a growth advisory and coaching platform helping teams build greatness from the inside out. A sought-after public speaker, Chris has led go-to-market transformations, developed vertical strategies for high-growth companies, and delivered breakthrough customer experiences in complex B2B environments. With a track record of turning skeptics into believers and vision into revenue, Chris brings humor, heart and a whole lot of hard-earned wisdom to every room he enters.

Dave Norris
President, Norris & Associates
Session: Passing the Baton: ERA Leadership in Transition

Dave Norris is founder and president of Norris & Associates, a manufacturers’ representative firm based in Boston, covering the six New England states. Dave has served as Chairman of the ERA Executive Board, President of the EDS Show Corporation, Board & Executive Committee Member of ECIA and has chaired both ERA and ECIA Conferences. Dave began his career in the electronic components industry at Northeast Representatives, leading the organization prior to launching Norris & Associates in 1988.

In his free time, Dave enjoys woodcarving, nature photography and choral singing, celebrating over four decades of singing with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Boston Pops. Father of five and grandfather to six, his life is full of many blessings.

Michael Knight
Corporate Senior Vice President of Strategy, TTI, Inc.
General Session: Great Disruption is the Mother of Great Opportunity

Michael Knight, an electronics industry favorite, has been in the electronics industry for more than 30 years, working for several electronic private and public component manufacturers and distributors. At TTI, Inc., his roles have included VP of Product and Marketing, President of the Exponential Technology Group and currently, Corporate Senior Vice President of Strategy. Knight also has a long history of service and leadership on the boards of directors of for-profit and not-for-profit organizations and is a frequent guest on a wide range of podcasts, and regular keynote speaker at many industry conferences.

Adam Maxwell, Esq.
Litigation Attorney, Schoenberg Finkel Beederman Bell Glazer LLC
Session: From Risk to Reward: Ten Legal Mistakes that Cost Reps Money and How to Fix Them

Adam Maxwell is a Chicago-based litigator who has successfully handled jury trials in courts across the nation. He has over a decade of employment-related litigation and advisory experience behind him, which is why companies and individuals regularly call on him to handle their contractual employment disputes. Maxwell is often the first call when a dispute erupts, and for good reason: he is a natural problem solver who leverages his business degree and experience to blend forward-thinking guidance with legal strategy to obtain exceptional outcomes.

Independent sales reps regularly call on Maxwell because he has recovered millions of dollars in unpaid commissions and other compensation from public and private companies. Among the employment, business and commercial disputes he handles are the defense of former employees against misappropriation and breach of fiduciary duties claims, the voiding or enforcing of post-employment non-compete and non-solicit obligations, and the obtaining of injunctions to stop unlawful conduct on an emergency basis.

Annelise McCarthy
Founder, HER Speaking Coach, International Speaker and Communications Expert
Keynote session: When Innovation Speaks: The Power of Human Connection in a Digital World
Breakout session: Connection Starts with Better Questions
Breakout session: The Art of Meaningful Conversation

McCarthy is an international speaker, communication expert and one of Australia’s most dynamic modern voices in leadership and public speaking. With more than 15 years of formal training and professional experience, McCarthy combines deep expertise with a vibrant, relatable energy that captivates audiences worldwide. She holds a diploma in teaching public speaking, as well as a double bachelor’s degree in law and languages & culture, majoring in Mandarin. A finalist at the World Public Speaking Championships (and a self-professed “total speaking nerd”), McCarthy has trained thousands of professionals, leaders and founders across 20+ industries and 15 countries, helping them speak with confidence, clarity and authority.

McCarthy has an engaged online community of more than 300,000 followers who resonate with her unapologetically modern approach. Her bold philosophy empowers others to embrace imperfection and challenge outdated norms.

Michael McCaig
Vice President & General Manager, Luscombe Engineering/L2 organizations 
Session: From Components to Solutions: Capturing Value in the Fastest Growing Electronics Ecosystems

Michael McCaig is the Vice President and General Manager for the Luscombe Engineering and L2 organizations covering Southern California, Northern California, and the Pacific Northwest. These rep firms specialize in interconnect, passive, electromechanical, power, thermal, and sensing components. As Vice President and General Manager, his role involves overseeing the sales organizations, managing supplier relationships, and ensuring they deliver value across the entire supply chain. Michael has been with Luscombe for over 16 years, and prior to the rep side of the business, he worked in distribution at Sager Electronics after graduating from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with a degree in business and marketing.

Holly Myers
Director of Supplier Marketing & Product Management, Sager Electronics
Session: AI Swap Shop: Real-World AI Use Cases that are Transforming the ERA Community

Holly Myers has been an active leader in the electronics industry since 2005, currently holding the position of director of supplier marketing and product management at Sager Electronics. Holly’s career in the industry began as a sales and marketing manager for Wallace Electronic Sales, a manufacturers’ representative firm in the Southeast. After serving in this role for 13 years, Holly has since been in distribution leadership roles.

She has been active in ERA since 2006, serving on many ERA Conference committees, and was named Chair of the 2017 ERA Conference. Holly was the recipient of the 2015 Jess Spoonts ERA White Pin Scholarship Award and ERA’s 2025 Tess Hill Award.

Nick Romano
Regional Sales Manager, Northeast
Bel
Session: Beyond the Basics: Strengthening the Regional Manager-Rep Relationship

Nick Romano has been in the field of sales and sales management in the electronics industry for 35 years, starting in 1990 in distribution with Newark as inside sales, followed by field sales roles at Wes Garde and Heilind for the metro NY/NJ market.

He moved into the rep side of the industry with TSI and GSA as a territory manager field sales covering the metro NY/NJ area. That led to sales management roles as regional sales manager for Weidmueller, then regional sales manager/channel manager for Schaffner. Romano joined Bel as regional sales manager for the Northeast in 2025.

Dennis Reed
Senior Analyst, Edgewater Research
Session: 2026 Outlook: Trends, Data and Opportunities from the Semiconductor and IP&E Markets

Dennis Reed is a senior research analyst in technology. Dennis started in the industry in 2005 at FTN Midwest Research on the technology & semiconductor team. In 2006, he was a founding member of Cleveland Research Company and continued to develop and extensive network of technology industry professionals in the semiconductor, distribution, memory and HDD industries throughout the world. Dennis worked at KeyBanc Capital markets in New York, on teams covering consumer staples and paper & packing companies. Dennis also brings wide level of experience working in various roles with Travelers Insurance, including market research and various product roles supporting business unit growth in targeted end markets. Dennis is a 2002 graduate of Ohio University with a major in Sports Management.

Jacob Shapiro
Geopolitical Analyst, Podcaster
Director of Research, The Bespoke Group
General Session: Geopolitics, Supply Chains and the New Electronics Landscape

Jacob Shapiro is a geopolitical analyst and Director of Research at The Bespoke Group, a wealth strategy firm. Shapiro is a prolific public speaker, delivering frequent keynotes and briefings across industries like finance, agriculture and energy, to name a few. He hosts “The Jacob Shapiro” podcast, which features interviews with subject matter experts in geopolitics, technology, markets and other fields.

Eddie Smith
ERA CEO
General Session: Everything Revolves Around Electronics
Session: Passing the Baton: Leadership in Transition

Smith is a seasoned and successful executive with more than 35 years of experience in the electronic manufacturing services (EMS) industry and the electronic components distribution industry. He served as CEO at Smtek International and then held several senior executive positions at Avnet for many years, including president for seven years. He then joined SMTC Corporation as CEO in 2017 and was later promoted to chairman. He currently serves on the Board of Directors at Data I/O and other private Boards.

Cody Tangeman
Key Accounts and Territory Manager, Pinnacle Marketing
Session: From Components to Solutions: Capturing Value in the Fastest Growing Electronics Ecosystems

Cody Tangeman is a manufacturer’s representative at Pinnacle Marketing with 14 years of experience in the electronics and electromechanical components industry. His primary focus — though not limited to — is helping OEMs in the commercial vehicle, ag/off-highway & rec vehicles, HVAC systems, and commercial kitchen equipment markets modernize existing equipment lines and support new product and NPI programs by introducing smarter electrical power and control components, navigating regulatory requirements and approvals and helping teams prepare products for connected and IoT-ready operation. When he’s not working, Cody enjoys spending time with his family — and occasionally testing just how far from the fairway a golf shot can still be considered “in play.”

James Taylor, MBA, FRSA
International Speaker, Advisor, Consultant
General Session: Supercollaboration: Cyborgs, Centaurs and The Rise of Human-AI Collaboration
Breakout Session: Supercollaboration

James Taylor, MBA, FRSA, who started his career managing high profile rock stars, is now an in-demand keynote speaker and internationally recognized leader in creativity, innovation and artificial intelligence. For more than 20 years, he has been advising CEOs, entrepreneurs, educators, governments, leaders, writers and rockstars on how to design innovative organizations, unlock creative potential and build a sustainable future. He has authored a new book: “SuperCreativity: Augmenting Human Creativity in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.”

Jeff Tilley
Outside Sales Representative, SJ Associates
Session: Winning, Growing and Keeping the Best Talent in Electronics

Jeff Tilley is an outside sales representative for SJ Associates in the New York metro market. Tilley loves working in this fast-paced and ever-evolving industry that is  electronics and semiconductors, and looks forward to seeing what this industry has in store for years to come. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with family and friends, playing sports and working out and following Boston sports teams.

Fred Tschirgi
Principal Information Security Consultant, LRQA
Session: CMMC Made Clear: A Practical Guide to Cybersecurity

Fred Tschirgi is a seasoned cybersecurity and compliance expert with over 20 years of experience in governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) frameworks, currently serving as lead information security consultant at LRQA. As a CMMC certified assessor (CCA), he has been instrumental in developing CMMC mock and gap assessment practices, authoring the CMMC curriculum for Norwich University, and contributing to CMMC certification exams, shaping industry standards for NIST SP 800-171 and CMMC compliance. His leadership spans roles at Verizon Wireless, Atos Origin and the U.S. Marine Corps, where he designed military-grade security solutions during deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan. Holding a B.S. in technical management from DeVry University, multiple Cisco and CompTIA certifications, and the President of the United States Volunteer Service Medal, Fred leverages innovative approaches like game theory to deliver tailored training and compliance strategies, establishing him as a trusted advisor for organizations navigating complex regulatory landscapes.

Walter Tobin
Outgoing CEO of ERA
Session: Passing the Baton: ERA Leadership in Transition

Walter just completed a 10-year tenure as CEO of ERA. Prior to that, Tobin was an electronics industry veteran with more than 30 years of experience in sales, marketing and executive/corporate management positions. For nine years prior to joining ERA, he was the corporate vice president of Future Electronics, and prior management positions included 12 years at Pioneer-Standard (acquired in 2003 by Arrow Electronics) and 15 years at Arrow Electronics. He holds both a B.S. and MBA from Boston College and is a former U.S. Army Captain.

ERA’s annual Tobin Bridge award, created and presented for the first time in 2020, was named after Walter and refers to a famous bridge in Boston. It recognizes individuals who successfully “bridge” and unite people across the electronics components industry.

Ed Wallace
Managing Director, AchieveNEXT Human Capital
Session: Relational Leadership: Connecting with the People Who Power Your Business

Ed consults with and speaks for corporations and associations across the globe with a client list that is a Who’s Who of Fortune 500 companies. He is the author of Fares to Friends, Creating Relational Capital, Business Relationships That Last and his most recent book is the#1 best seller: The Relationship Engine. Ed was recently published in the Harvard Business Review.

In addition, Ed speaks annually for the The Strategic Account Management Association, and is on the Executive Education faculty of Drexel’s LeBow College of Business and Villanova University’s Human Resources Master’s program.