2025 ERA Conference Keynote & General Sessions
KEYNOTE SESSION
Session: Digital Leadership: Future Proofing You and Your Business from Innovation to AI
Sponsored by:
Presented by: Erik Qualman
Digital leaders are made—not born. With the massive virtual shift that has occurred these last few years, the key is understanding & never forgetting the powerful harmony between the offline and online. With the potential for AI to transform the way you operate and innovate, it’s essential that businesses start preparing now for this exciting technological revolution. Knowing that technology changes every second, but human nature never does, learn the habits that allow you to always be a year ahead of your competition but never a year ahead of your customers and partners. In short, all digital leaders understand that focusing on relationships is at the core of energizing any transformation.
GENERAL SESSIONS
Session: From Tariffs to Taiwan: Key Economic & Geopolitical Challenges Shaping Our Industry
Sponsored by:
Presented by: Melissa Dailey Fairbanks
Melissa Dailey Fairbanks is vice president of equity research at Raymond James, and a financial analyst covering the semiconductor and IT supply chain sectors. She graduated cum laude from the University of Michigan with a bachelor’s degree in business administration.
In her general session, she will speak to issues that directly impact the electronics components industry, such as tariffs, inventory, sales trends and specific geopolitical issues in China, Taiwan and Europe.
Session: Facing our Futures: How Foresight, Futures Design and Strategy Creates Prosperity and Growth
Sponsored by:
Presented by: Nikolas Badminton
In his Conference general session, “Facing our Futures: Looking to 2030 and Beyond,” Badminton will teach us how to embrace “futures thinking” to understand and anticipate the trends challenging our world. Attendees will learn how to supercharge strategic thinking through signals and trends identification, and unlock growth by shifting our mindset from “what is” to
“what if.”
The session will also touch on: Global and domestic megatrends such as population growth, renewable energy shifts, metals and minerals, microchips and waste; the impacts and effects of AI/GenAI and data center growth; how smart cities and offices, smart homes and consumer electronics adoption are changing industries and consumer behavior; and how sustainability practices—reduce, reuse and recycle—will build a burgeoning new economy and change how we design products.
Session: FutureNomics: Navigating Economic Trends and Strategic Leadership for the Electronics Industry
Sponsored by:
Presented by: Dr. Mary Kelly
This dynamic program will provide a comprehensive overview of macro and microeconomic trends shaping the global electronics market, including supply chains, trade policies and emerging technology. Dr. Kelly will break down complex economic concepts into actionable insights, empowering participants to anticipate changes and adapt effectively. Beyond economics, FutureNomics emphasizes strategic leadership tailored to the unique challenges of the electronics industry.
Session: Growth is a Choice: Amplifying Marketing Effectiveness to Elevate Your Personal Brand, Dominate Sales and Expand Your Influence
Sponsored by:
Presented by: Kaplan Mobray
Kaplan Mobray will present “Growth is a Choice” at Tuesday afternoon’s general session. This session will dive into the critical marketing strategies and tools designed to help you elevate sales growth, build trusted customer relationships and enhance brand reputation. Attendees will be inspired to shift their mindset to be more intentional about shaping the connection between your personal brand, industry credibility and business results. Kaplan will share insights on how to leverage emerging trends, digital platforms and client-focused marketing strategies to nurture leads effectively and close high-value contracts. The presentation offers practical insights and actionable steps for boosting marketing effectiveness in our fast-changing industry.