There’s still time – but not much – for you to register to attend WRAL TechWire’s Executive Exchange event this evening which focuses on opportunities and challenges in the rapidly growing drone industry. Read the bios of our expert participants if you need more reasons to attend.

  • Bob Young of PrecisionHawk and co-founder of red Hat, founder of Lulu
  • Four startup executives
  • Five experts on legal issues

And don’t mis our story about the new report prjecting strong drone industry growth this year.

Join us from 4-7 p.m. today at the PNC Triangle Club at Durham Bulls Athletic Park to learn about the business and opportunities presented by drones along with legal issues and demonstrations of the latest technology.

Our keynote:

  • Bob Young, PrecisionHawk CEO

As an internationally recognized technologist and business leader, Bob Young brings more than 20 years of software development, management, and marketing experience to PrecisionHawk. Young began his career building computer finance businesses before co-founding open-source software company Red Hat (NYSE: RHT). Red Hat is now a member of the S&P 500 Index. After leaving Red Hat, Young, among other projects, founded and served as CEO of Lulu.com, a leading global online publishing platform. Prior to being named as PrecisionHawk CEO, Young was an early investor in PrecisionHawk and served as Chairman of the Board.

Our legal panel:

  • Moderator: Kyle Snyder, Director, NextGen Air Transportation Program, NC State University

n 2012, Kyle returned home to North Carolina to lead the development of an Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Ecosystem as part of an effort to transition the state to a modern air transportation system. Through his experiences in industry, academia, government, and the non-profit sector, Kyle has developed a unique perspective and skill set for transitioning new aviation technologies from research laboratories and prototype phases into operational products. In the role as the NGAT Program Director, Kyle is reaching across North Carolina to connect researchers and educators with industry and government offices that are preparing for future aviation capabilities. Having seen the initial Space Shuttle launches from his backyard as kid, to standing on the flight line for a couple of the last SR-71 flights at NASA Dryden, to being a driving force in the domestic integration of UAS for civil and commercial operations, Kyle continues to be inspired by science of flight and seeks to share those moments with those around him (especially his wife and young son!).

Participants:

  • Stephen Hartzell, Brooks Pierce Law Partner

Stephen Hartzell is a law partner with Triangle office of Brooks Pierce. He’s found a variety of enterprises and industries are chomping at the bit to incorporate unmanned aircraft systems into their commercial business models, and has been advising media and other clients on the commercial use of unmanned aircraft systems for the past few years. As the law develops, he will advise UAS clients on compliance with FAA and state operational and licensing regulations, help businesses navigate contractual and intellectual property issues, and provide counsel on drone-related privacy issues. Stephen has also filed multiple Section 333 Exemption petitions for clients in the past year. Through Stephen’s involvement, Brooks Pierce was a founding member of North Carolina’s NextGen Air Transportation Center. Stephen is a frequent speaker on drone law issues, and is regularly quoted in state and national media.

  • Brian Schoolman, Safran Law Attorney

Brian earned his Juris Doctor from the Duke University School of Law, and graduated magna cum laude from Claremont McKenna College, earning his B.A. with honors in Government. His practice includes construction litigation, commercial litigation, and appellate practice, both in state and federal courts. He is admitted to the North Carolina and California state bars, the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals, and all three Federal District Courts in North Carolina. Brian is a member of the ABA Forum on the Construction Industry, and the North Carolina Bar Association Construction Law Section. He is also certified as a Superior Court Mediator by the North Carolina Dispute Resolution Commission (NCDRC). Brian has been with Safran Law Offices since 2003.

  • Patrick (Pat) Togni, King & Spalding Associate

Mr. Togni is an associate in King & Spalding’s International Trade and Litigation Practice Group. Mr. Togni assists clients in all aspects of international trade law, and has developed substantial experience in trade remedy proceedings, litigation, and regulatory compliance. Mr. Togni is resident in both the Washington and Charlotte offices.

Mr. Togni has also litigated cases in state and federal courts around the country, and has represented complainants and respondents in intellectual property litigation before the U.S. International Trade Commission in matters affecting a broad array of industries including consumer electronics, medical devices, and pharmaceuticals.

Mr. Togni’s practice also involves the provision of counsel to clients on legislative and policy matters. In addition, Mr. Togni is a frequent author of client alerts and legal articles on relevant topics which are regularly selected for publication by Lexology.

  • Representative John A. Torbett, N.C. General Assembly

The Peoples’ House District 108

North Carolina General Assembly

In the late 70’s John built single-family homes and commercial properties and received his real estate license from the State of Tennessee.

He began his professional career in the corrugated converting industry in 1978. With 25 years in the industry spanning from Tennessee, Arkansas, to North Carolina with service in all southeastern states, Latin American, and Asian countries. He worked as a Layout and Design Specialist, Material Management Specialist, Production Mgr., Sales Mgr., Plant Mgr., Senior Technical Consultant, CEO, and retirement.

In 2003 John accepted a position as Vice President of Business Development for Defense Technologies Inc., a US Department of Defense Contractor specializing in Command and Control Software Development for Unmanned Air, Ground, Sea and Sub Surface Systems, and Equipment Life Extension of avionic and weapon systems where he was able to blend a lifelong interest in military history and aviation with over the horizon technological advancements to aid and assist US warfighters. John played an essential role in DTI receiving a coveted and exceptional Experimental Aircraft Certification with active operational airspace within National Air Space (NAS) from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

In 2010 John accepted the position of Vice President of Business Development for NextWave Technologies. NextWave applies advanced technologies in such areas as the US Department of Defense, US Department of Agriculture, US National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and Global Commercial markets in such areas as Unmanned System Applications, Sensor Technologies, Energy, Security, and develops and enables advanced technologies to a wide array of future growth sectors of Global importance.

After entering the North Carolina State House, John decided to take a corporate hiatus to focus intently on the needs of the 108 District and his fellow North Carolinians across the state.

Our opportunities panel (moderated by me):

  • Tyler Collins, Managing Director of Airspace Services at PrecisionHawk

Collins graduated from the Indiana State University UAS program with a degree in aviation technology and unmanned systems. While attending ISU, Collins established the Unmanned Systems Club and was awarded the Aviation Association of Indiana scholarship. He came to PrecisionHawk in 2012 as a field engineer and has since grown to lead many of the company’s partnership initiatives, including the most recent one with USAA. Collins, a certified pilot, has written each of the company’s COA applications and Section 333 Exemptions. He is well versed in the regulatory landscape and coordinates with PrecisionHawk clients to obtain authority so that they may fly in the United States. In 2014, Collins created PrecisionHawk’s LATAS [Low-Altitude Traffic and Airspace Safety] platform, which has received significant interest as a means to encourage widespread adoption of UAVs through the FAA Pathfinder Program and the NASA UTM project. He currently serves as Managing Director of Airspace Services and Lead of the LATAS project.

  • Robert Koenekamp, Aerial Look CEO

In 2014, Robert Koenekamp’s plan was to invest in drones. At first his team started building a drone that incorporated a tool belt to enhance several industries. In order to generate revenue for the development, they strapped a camera onto the drone and started capturing homes for sale. That business took off and due to its success, Robert and his team decided to pivot from developing drones. Aerial Look now utilizes drones and 3D technology to change the way users experience real estate from homes to hotel rooms. The company’s technology arm develops applications for drones and 3D content while its service arm captures Real Estate throughout the U.S. and China.

  • Travis Jack, Flyboy NC Founder

Read more about his company in this WTW feature story.

Flyboy was founded by husband and wife team Travis and Megan Jack in Raleigh, NC in 2013. Flyboy was the first professional UAV photography company based in the Triangle region of North Carolina. Travis Jack was born in the mountains of East TN where he lived for the first 26 years of his life. He then moved away to pursue a brief career in federal law enforcement before settling in Raleigh with his beautiful wife Megan, a Durham native. Travis always had a passion for photography and technology, and in late 2013 he and Megan formulated an idea to combine the two into a business venture. This is how Flyboy Aerial Photography was born. The combination of sophisticated flying machines and high-resolution cameras result in some unique and stunning aerial photographs and video footage that capture perspectives not previously seen. While the main passion, and the driving force that created Flyboy, is photography. Travis has developed a love for videography and cinematography and continues to hone his skills behind the video camera as well. Megan has also become a very skilled camera operator and assists on many of the video projects.

  • Ted Lindsley, Olaeris Founder & CEO

Ted Lindsley is the founder and CEO of Olaeris, manufacturer of a VTOL unmanned aircraft called AEVA that was developed to fly in controlled airspace with conventional manned air traffic. After a 6-month design review with HAECO, the company recently moved into production of AEVA 2.0 which will be exhibited at the upcoming HAI Heli-Expo in Louisville, KY, March 1-3. With his wife Heather, Ted recently relocated to Raleigh from Bangkok, Thailand, to launch Olaeris operations in North Carolina. Prior to Olaeris, Ted founded a robotic satellite services and manufacturing company that was featured as the best product of CES 2004 on Good Morning America and eventually sold to $2.3 Billion Andrew Corporation on the Nasdaq. In his early career he spent 13 years in C-level, IT and technical sales recruiting where he built successful teams for more than 50 startup companies in Silicon Valley and dozens of public companies like Cisco, Microsoft, Southwest Airlines and KPMG.

Register at:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/first-in-flight-the-ups-downs-of-drone-technology-tickets-19913489784