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The Future of
Diablo Valley Conference

Watch business leaders, college faculty and staff, community organizers, and elected officials in a discussion about where we're headed

Date: Friday, Sept 30, 2022

Time: 8:30am to 2:30pm (agenda)

Location: Diablo Room @ Diablo Valley College

Presented by Diablo Valley College and the Diablo Valley Tech Initiative

The Diablo Valley Tech Initiative and Diablo Valley College invite you to watch discussions about how to enable the Diablo Valley to cultivate and benefit from a thriving technology sector. Join business leaders, academics, community organizers, and elected officials as we explore the future of the Diablo Valley.

The event was held earlier this year at

The Diablo Room @ Diablo Valley College

on Friday, September 30, 2022

Agenda

Introduction

Introduction by Joseph Gorga, VP Equity and Instruction at DVC.

8:00AM

MORNING SESSION

AVIATION TECHNOLOGY

WELCOME

8:30-8:45AM

Remarks by Supervisor Diane Burgis

KEYNOTE

Keynote by Chris Anderson, COO of Kitty Hawk and former editor-in-chief of Wired magazine

8:45-9:30AM

PANEL

9:30-10:15AM

Panel featuring leaders of two local aviation tech companies: Arthur Dubois, VP Engineering of Xwing and Steve Boyle, CEO Essential Aero. Moderated by Greg Baer, Director of Airports for Contra Costa County.

DISCUSSION

Small group discussions about local aviation technology opportunities, hosted by a facilitator at your table

10:30-11:15AM

AFTERNOON SESSION

BIOTECH AND AGTECH

KEYNOTE

12-12:45PM

Keynote by Gregory Theyel, Ph.D., Executive Director of the Biomedical Manufacturing Network and professor at CSU East Bay

PANEL

Panel featuring a biotech consultant and a land use entrepreneur: Gordon Zagar, CEO of Zagar Consulting and James DeKloe, Founder of the Industrial Biotechnology program at Solano College. Moderated by Lindy Johnson, Policy Director at East Bay Leadership Council.

12:45-1:30PM

DISCUSSION

1:30-2:15PM

Small group discussions about local biotech and agtech opportunities, hosted by a facilitator at your table

CLOSING

Closing of the conference by the DVTI Chair.

2:15 - 2:30 PM

Schedule

Speakers

Contra Costa County Supervisor Diane Burgis

Supervisor Diane Burgis proudly serves the 222,000 residents of Contra Costa County's 3rd Supervisorial District - covering Antioch, Bethel Island, Brentwood, Byron, Discovery Bay, Knightsen, Oakley, and unincorporated Clayton in East Contra Costa County.

Chris Anderson
COO, Kitty Hawk

Chris is the COO and Head of Product at Kitty Hawk. He co-founded of 3D Robotics which he sold to Kitty Hawk. He is the former Editor in Chief of Wired and author of New York Times bestselling book The Long Tail and Makers: The New Industrial Revolution

Gregory Theyel, Ph.D.
Director, Biomedical Manufacturing Network

Gregory is the director of the Biomedical Manufacturing Network. He published more than 50 peer-reviewed articles on the innovation and diffusion of biomedical manufacturing technology with a focus on production location and supply chain traceability.

Lindy Johnson
Policy Director, East Bay Leadership Council

Lindy is the Policy Director at the East Bay Leadership Council. Previously, she was a district representative for both the California State Senate and Contra Costa County. Lindy holds a Master's in Public Administration from CSU Dominguez Hills.

Greg Baer
Director of Airports, Contra Costa County

Greg is the Director of Airports for Buchanan Field and Byron Airport in Contra Costa County. Greg has over 20 years of public works experience and was recently the Airport Manager for Napa County Airport. He is also a licensed private pilot.

Steve Boyle
CEO, Essential Aero

Steve is the CEO of Essential Aero. Steve works at the intersection of machine intelligence (AI) and aviation. He is currently working on projects in application development, systems development, community standards (ASTM/SAE/RTCA), and FAA regulations and compliance.

Arthur Dubois, VP of Engineering, Xwing

Arthur Dubois is from Xwing, an aviation company on a mission to radically improve human mobility through the use of fully autonomous airplanes. He passionate technical leader with proven expertise in aircraft design. An engineer who strives to take problems down to basic physics without losing sight of business strategy. A team builder who believes that alone we go faster, but together we go further.

Gordon Zagar
President, Zagar Consulting

Gordon Zagar is the President of Zagar Consulting. He is an expert in facilities operations, real estate optimization and project management. Gordon has provided leading edge solutions that have helped solve for building and real estate selection, including FDA readiness and numerous product launches.

James DeKloe, Professor, Industrial Biotechnology program at Solano College

Professor DeKloe is the Distinguished Professor of Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing at Solano College. He recently designed a Certificate of Achievement in Cell and Gene Therapies – the first certificate of its kind in the country to focus on this emerging field.