CONVERGE '26 - The Hudson Valley Digital Innovation Conference

Dr. de Pablo is the inaugural Anne & Joel Ehrenkranz Executive Vice President for Global Science and Technology at NYU and the Executive Dean of NYU’s Tandon School of Engineering. In these roles, he leads cross-university, multidisciplinary, and globally focused initiatives aimed at accelerating NYU’s science and technology enterprise to address humanity’s most pressing challenges. A renowned leader in materials science, his research focuses on the thermophysical properties of soft materials and molecular engineering. He is a member of the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering and a fellow of both the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the American Physical Society. He earned his Ph.D. in chemical engineering from the University of California, Berkeley.

Deepesh Chandra is the Chief Information Officer at Montefiore Einstein, where he leads the technology function for the health system and all its member entities. At Montefiore, he is leading a step-change in the organization’s use of technology and its digital transformation enabling the care delivery and business operations.

Previously, Deepesh was the Chief Analytics Officer of Bon Secours Mercy Health and President of Accrete Health Partner, BSMH’s digital health and investment subsidiary. In his role, he led the vision and strategy on digital, data, analytics, and AI capabilities for the organization and its markets across seven states, while running health system’s diversified growth agenda on health tech and services.

Deepesh has a wealth of experience and leadership, including his work at McKinsey & Company as an Associate Partner, where he focused on technology and digital transformation for payers, providers, medical groups, post-acute, public sector, and private equity clients. Additionally, he has held leadership roles at Mount Sinai Health System, Tata Consultancy Service, and served as a board member and advisor to several health tech and services companies.

Throughout his career, Deepesh has collaborated closely with a variety of health care leaders in bringing together strategy, technology, and execution, and then directed large cross-functional teams across clinical, operations, product development, and vendor ecosystem, to deliver repeated success. During his work in the private equity space, he worked closely in health tech, leading end-to-end deals, delivering growth imperatives, and shaping the exit strategies with the investors and management team.

Deepesh holds an M.S. in Business Analytics from NYU Stern School of Business and a B.S. in computer science
engineering from the National Institute of Technology & Management in India.

Dr. Li-Chiou Chen is the Interim Dean and a professor at the Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems, Pace University. She holds a Ph.D. in Engineering and Public Policy from Carnegie Mellon University. Her research areas include security risk perception, data analytics in cybersecurity, user authentication, cybersecurity education, and network security. She has published papers in top academic journals, including Computer & Security, Decision Support Systems and IEEE Transactions. Dr. Chen had been a PI for five National Science Foundation (NSF) grants and a PI or Co-PI on more than 20 Department of Defense (DoD) grants. Her most recent $3.8M grant from NSF supports the CyberCorps: Scholarship for Service program at Pace University. The program aims to educate a cohort of students studying cybersecurity and to become cybersecurity professionals working for the government. Her DoD grants provided scholarships, built academic pathways and established research initiatives in attracting and preparing students to study cybersecurity. Since becoming the Interim Dean of the Seidenberg School in 2024, Dr. Chen has dedicated herself in establishing new initiatives to advance computing research and education and to broaden student outreach and participation in the rapidly changing landscape of computing.

Peter Feldman is the CEO of QTD Systems LLC and Novum Industria QTD is a data center, global connectivity hub and fiber infrastructure company at 60 Hudson Street in NYC,  the site was formally the Equinix NY8 IBX. QTD Systems is integrating the Quantum technology future into the digital domain . Peter has over 20 years of experience in data center development, operations, management and design, with a focus on implementing energy-efficient high technology. He has held CEO, CTO, president, and founding roles at several successful startups including the Telx group, now Digital realty Trust, a national leader in datacenter colocation services: Datagryd Data Centers LLC, now Hudson IX , one of NYC largest Wholesale data centers: Digital Crossroads Lake Michigan and the Quantum Corridor network, the most energy efficient data center campus in NW Indiana, Novum-Industria , High Energy Physics research JV with MIT plasma fusion scientists, awarded multiple DOE and NSF grants including superconductivity, high field magnets and Cryogenics: Currently the science team has been developing the infrastructure technologies to support Quantum devices and networks as a member of the QED-C and the commercialization of superconducting technology for energy transport and storage, high field magnet devices for particle accelerators, proton therapy, energy storage and scientific research. The recent acquisition of the NY8 facility will provide a real world platform for testing and deployment of the upcoming technologies. Mr. Feldman and his team hold several industry-related patents and is an active member of a number of professional trade organizations, including the IEEE, QED-C,Open-IX, iMasons, AFCOM, COMSOC, the Green Building Council and the Cloud Computing Council.

Chris has been lead counsel in several precedent setting cases involving nuanced areas of zoning and claims under the Federal Communications, Fair Housing and Civil Rights Acts. Chris represents wireless carriers, tower small cell and fiber companies, residential and commercial developers, retailers, community solar and public utilities typically in the states of New York and Connecticut.

Clients consult with Chris on varied aspects of infrastructure and real estate development and frequently seek his advice regarding the Telecommunications Act, New York’s State Environmental Quality Review Act, Connecticut’s Public Utility and Environmental Standards and numerous other federal, state and local laws regulating development. He routinely appears before state and municipal land use, zoning and environmental permitting agencies such as local planning boards, zoning commissions and the State of Connecticut Siting Council. Chris has extensive experience in the siting of wireless facilities and telecommunications infrastructure at the local, state and national level.

Chris serves in several leadership roles for national and state trade associations. He is a founding board member of the New York State Wireless Association (NYSWA) and served as its President from 2012-2018. He currently serves as NYSWA’s State and Local Government Affairs Advisor. He was appointed to WIA’s Innovation and Technology Council and chaired a working group focusing on municipal government relations and small cell policy. Chris also serves as Board Chair of the Westchester County Association Board and leads its Digital Connectivity Initiative including a National Science Foundation/US Ignite Grant to address the digital divide in Yonkers, New York. Chris is recognized by City & State as one of New York’s Power 50 in Telecommunications.

Noel is the CEO of Qunnect, a company pioneering hardware to transform the existing telecom infrastructure into quantum networks for advanced security and distributed computing applications.  Prior to this role, she was an investor with the Accelerate NY Seed Fund, where she built a successful portfolio of deep technology and life science companies in Downstate NY.  Before joining the startup community, Noel was a professor of physics at Hunter College, CUNY and a Junior Fellow of Harvard University.

Dr. Yaron Kanza is a computer scientist whose research work spans data management, computer networks, geospatial systems, and quantum systems. He is a Principal Inventive Scientist in the Data Science and AI Research group at AT&T, a role he has held since 2015. Prior to joining AT&T, he was a faculty member at Cornell Tech (Cornell University), and previously at the Technion in Haifa, Israel. He received his Ph.D. in Computer Science from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and completed postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Toronto. He has published more than 100 scientific papers, and he is a co-inventor on more than 30 U.S. patents. He is also an active leader in the geospatial research community, serving as an Associate Editor of ACM Transactions on Spatial Algorithms and Systems and as a member of the organizing committee of ACM SIGSPATIAL.

Margaret Käufer is the President and Chief Visionary Officer of The STEM Alliance. Under her leadership, The STEM Alliance has grown from a grassroots organization into a Westchester County leader in STEM enrichment. Meg has championed STEM and digital access as core workforce development pillars, inspiring next generation leaders while connecting underserved populations — from Pre-K to beyond — to skills that lead to increased employability and higher wages. Her Digital Pathways initiative provides computers, internet access, and tech education to those in need, bridging the digital divide for thousands across Westchester and New York City. (BA, Brown University; M.Ed., Teachers College, Columbia University)

Angela Kelly is a Professor of Physics and STEM Education at Stony Brook University. Her roles include teaching and advising students in the Ph.D. Program in STEM Education, directing the M.A.T. Physics Program, and teaching undergraduate physics. She completed her Ph.D. in Science Education (2006) at Teachers College, Columbia University, New York. Her research is focused on quantum information science and technology (QIST) education, equity in precollege and university physical science and engineering education, reformed teaching practices in undergraduate science, and sociocognitive influences on STEM access and participation. Recent innovative work in precollege QIST teaching and learning, in collaboration with Tzu-Chieh Wei and Dominik Schneble, has involved 800 middle and high school students and 130 teachers in outreach programs at Stony Brook and New York Hall of Science. They also hosted two International Year of Quantum Educational Leadership Conferences in 2025 that attracted 235 K-12 school district leaders and STEM teachers. She chaired the Education and Workforce Development Working Group for the commissioned report, SUNY STRIVE (STrategic Research InVEstment): Strengthening and Accelerating Quantum Information Science and Technology in New York State (2026). This ongoing work is designed to strengthen QIST workforce development by engaging students early in the STEM academic pipeline.

Deborah Novick is the Director of Entrepreneurship and Innovation within the Westchester County Office of Economic Development, where she oversees the Element 46 tech accelerator program, Launch1000, and the Westchester County Life Sciences Initiative.  In addition, she looks for opportunities to enhance and expand the entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystem in Westchester. In collaboration with the NYCEDC, she is facilitating the growth and coordination of the New York State Quantum Consortium. Since February 2020, she has been a member of the Board of the Westchester County Association.

Novick was most recently Director of the Biotechnology Incubator at New York Medical College, a position she held since late 2017. Among her responsibilities was creating a collaborative community within the incubator and recruiting new start-ups. She was also responsible for overseeing the design and physical expansion of the incubator, which doubled in size after achieving full occupancy during her tenure.

Her background also includes having served as an instructor for a course on entrepreneurship at the Women’s Enterprise Development Center; co-founded a successful real estate staging firm and served as fund manager for several venture capital funds.

A resident of Larchmont, Novick earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Cornell University’s College of Industrial and Labor Relations. She also earned a Chartered Financial Analyst designation.

Sharon has combined experience in business strategy and technical research. Sharon is the Associate Vice President for the Office of Research Initiatives and Development reporting to the Executive Vice President for Research at Columbia University. Her responsibility is to drive research across the University fostering interdisciplinary research. Previously Sharon served as the Executive Director of Strategic Programs Prior at the Data Science Institute. Prior to joining Columbia University in 2014, Sharon spent 11 years at BAE Systems identifying and pursuing new business opportunities in leading edge technology. She began her career at Bell Laboratories managing and coordinating material characterization as well as developing new and innovative tools. Sharon moved on to become the strategic marketing manager at Lucent/Agere with a variety of responsibilities, from leading the technical evaluation of merger and acquisition candidates to defining product planning for the optical networking group and components. Sharon received a B.S. in physics from State University of New York at Binghamton and an M.S. in physics from Stevens Institute of Technology.

Sharon has served as a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the CHIST-ERA and the Tulsa Innovation Labs Leadership Council. Currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Alliance for Data Science and AI (ADSA). Sharon has over 40 peer reviewed publications and 4 patents.

Aaron Werley is Zayo’s SVP of Engineering, based out of Boulder, CO.  He oversees the technical organizations developing and supporting Zayo’s network infrastructure and service delivery functions.  In this role, he is responsible for the architecture, network planning, engineering, and capacity management across Zayo’s global network.  Originally joining Zayo through the acquisition of PPL Telcom, Aaron has helped care for Zayo’s network and systems through 50 acquisitions over the last 18 years. He has extensive experience engineering and operating service provider networks utilizing Fiber, Ethernet, IP, and WDM technologies and holds multiple related patents.

Aaron received his B.S. and M.S. in Computer Science, graduating Magna Cum Laude, from Kutztown University of Pennsylvania.  He currently resides in Erie, CO with his wife and three daughters.

Dr. Travis L. Scholten is a leading voice on the future of advanced computation in the United States, working at the nexus of advanced computing paradigms — such as quantum, AI, and HPC — and the public missions that depend on them. He shapes national‑level conversations on how converged compute architectures can strengthen America’s scientific leadership, economic competitiveness, and long‑term innovation capacity. His work translates frontier research into mission‑aligned insights for government, industry, and national laboratories, and he frequently engages multi‑stakeholder communities on opportunities at the intersection of technology, policy, and national strategy.

Dr. Scholten has led collaborative efforts in quantum benchmarking and applications, and he plays an active role in strengthening the national quantum ecosystem. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Unitary Foundation and on the Ecosystem Advisory Board for Fermilab’s Superconducting Quantum Materials and Systems (SQMS) Center , helping guide research and talent development across the field. He is also the creator of The Quantum Stack, a widely read Substack analyzing trends in quantum and advanced computing. As a non‑resident fellow with the Foundation for American Innovation — and former Policy Hacker Fellow — he explores how emerging compute technologies can advance U.S. prosperity, resilience, and scientific opportunity.

Dr. Scholten earned his PhD in Physics from the University of New Mexico and his BS in Physics from Caltech.

Dr. Scott Crowder is currently Vice President, IBM Quantum Adoption where he is responsible for the adoption and commercialization of quantum computing. Scott began his career as the lead engineer on the industry’s first logic-based embedded DRAM technology before becoming the executive responsible for the establishment and execution of the global semiconductor development alliances with industry leaders such as Samsung and Global Foundries.

He then served as Vice President of Technical Strategy for IBM, defining the cross-IBM technical strategy for IT infrastructure, analytics and cloud services. Prior to his current role, Scott served as the Chief Technical Officer for IBM Systems and in that mission initiated the IBM\ Quantum commercial program that has grown to have the largest ecosystem of developers and institutions from industry and academia that are driving the adoption and advancement of quantum computing. He has testified to committees of the US House of Representatives on multiple occasions on quantum computing technology and policy implications.

Scott received A.B./Sc.B. degrees in Electrical Engineering and International Relations from Brown University and a M.A. in Economics and M.Sc./Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University.

Assemblyman Steve Otis serves Sound Shore communities of Westchester County by using his work on local, county, state and federal issues and long-time leadership in the environmental community to win results and move issues of importance statewide and to the 91^st Assembly District.

Otis chairs the Assembly Science and Technology Committee. He is the leading advocate for digital inclusion programs in the state legislature. These programs provide broadband access, devices and training to individuals excluded from essential digital world most take for granted. Digital inclusion programs are the leading nationally recognized model for addressing digital equity issues based on race, age or economic ability. His initiative to create a state Digital Inclusion Grant program was included in the 2021-22 state budget.

The committee’s work includes a focus on legislation to improve cybersecurity protection, provide oversight of state government use of artificial intelligence and automated decision-making systems, and issues related to data privacy.

Assemblyman Otis also helped initiate the Water Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2015, the state grant program to assist municipalities in financing needed clean water projects. Since the creation of WIIA, the program has provided over $2.8 billion in water grants to over 1100 projects statewide: creating jobs, making environmental projects possible and making these projects more affordable for local taxpayers. Westchester communities have secured over $132 million in grants for 53 projects. In addition, the Assemblyman’s proposal for a $250 million municipal stormwater grant program was included in the voter approved 2022 Environmental Bond Issue.

Jayaswal, Gaurav is a Senior IT Solution Architect in NYPA’s Information Technology & Cyber Security organization, specializing in enterprise AI & Data platforms and solution architecture. At NYPA, Jayaswal, Gaurav helps lead AI adoption across operational and business domains, guiding teams on strategy, implementation, and responsible integration of emerging technologies. He contributes to NYPA’s AI Strategy Working Group and partners with industry to advance practical, scalable AI capabilities. Gaurav Jayaswal is based in White Plains and regularly collaborates with regional technology and innovation leaders.