November 6-9, 2023 | Nashville, Tennessee
Your Synergis Family and Adept Community, All Together
Adept Experience is the only event where you can learn, share and connect with knowledge experts from Synergis and the Adept community. Make lasting connections with your peers, give input to our roadmap, and gain insights and expertise that will propel your company to a new level of operational excellence.
Featured Speakers
Melissa Chiotis is the Project Manager for all the Adept projects in Gas and Electric Operations. In addition, she provides Adept technical support for the approximately 1,800 Gas and Electric users.
Melissa has worked for Con Edison for over 20 years in various positions. She started in Electric Operations as a field supervisor maintaining electric distribution equipment. Then she worked in the Electric Control Center directing the efforts of Emergency Response personnel. She transitioned from operations to project work, where she developed and implemented a new Work Management software system for Electric Operations. She was involved in Organizational Design, Training, and Reporting. Prior to her current position, she headed the Engineering team responsible for the design of new business electric installations and upgrades in the Bronx and Westchester.
Melissa is currently a part-time employee and full-time mom. She homeschools her three children and enjoys spending time with them while nurturing their growth and education. In her free time Melissa loves playing board games and reading.
William (Bill) J. Kovacs Jr. P.E. is a highly accomplished professional with over 43 years of experience in the cement industry. As the Director of Engineering and Project Management at Buzzi Unicem USA, Inc., based in Bethlehem, PA, Bill brings extensive expertise and leadership to his role.
Bill’s educational background includes a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA. Throughout his career, he has been an active member of professional organizations, including 18 years as a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and 16 years as a member of the Cement Industry Committee (CIC).
With a rich history in the industry, Bill has held various professional positions in sectors such as cement, minerals, steel, automotive, food, and pulp/paper. He has worked on both domestic and international projects, demonstrating his versatility and adaptability across different locations and industries.
Throughout his career, Bill has worked for and managed electrical consulting, engineering, and control automation firms. He has also provided direct support to heavy industrial electrical construction firms and worked with cement and mineral processing equipment suppliers. This diverse range of positions and experiences has honed his expertise in the heavy industrial sector.
Registered as a Professional Engineer since 1988 with licenses in several states, Bill specializes in power distribution, controls, instrumentation, general automation, and installations. He has a proven track record of successfully managing complex projects and delivering exceptional results. With his vast knowledge, experience, and commitment to excellence, he remains at the forefront of the industry, driving innovation and delivering successful outcomes for Buzzi Unicem USA, Inc.
William (Bill) J. Kovacs Jr. P.E. is a highly accomplished professional with over 43 years of experience in the cement industry. As the Director of Engineering and Project Management at Buzzi Unicem USA, Inc., based in Bethlehem, PA, Bill brings extensive expertise and leadership to his role.
Bill’s educational background includes a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA. Throughout his career, he has been an active member of professional organizations, including 18 years as a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and 16 years as a member of the Cement Industry Committee (CIC).
With a rich history in the industry, Bill has held various professional positions in sectors such as cement, minerals, steel, automotive, food, and pulp/paper. He has worked on both domestic and international projects, demonstrating his versatility and adaptability across different locations and industries.
Throughout his career, Bill has worked for and managed electrical consulting, engineering, and control automation firms. He has also provided direct support to heavy industrial electrical construction firms and worked with cement and mineral processing equipment suppliers. This diverse range of positions and experiences has honed his expertise in the heavy industrial sector.
Registered as a Professional Engineer since 1988 with licenses in several states, Bill specializes in power distribution, controls, instrumentation, general automation, and installations. He has a proven track record of successfully managing complex projects and delivering exceptional results. With his vast knowledge, experience, and commitment to excellence, he remains at the forefront of the industry, driving innovation and delivering successful outcomes for Buzzi Unicem USA, Inc.
Kristen has an impressive track record spanning over 30 years and has amassed invaluable experience in sales, marketing, and professional services development. Starting with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from Millersville University, Kristen worked for over a decade at Xerox Corporate as Regional Agent Channel Manager, Sales Manager, and Marketing Manager before joining Synergis. Her tenure at Synergis has included various key roles.
From 2015 to 2017, she served as the VP of Sales for both divisions, leveraging her years of sales training and experience. Prior to that, from 2002 to 2015, Kristen held the position of divisional VP of Synergis EDS, where she spearheaded the growth of Autodesk solutions sales and services across diverse markets such as AEC, Infrastructure, Manufacturing, Education, and the Public Sector. Her commitment to excellence led to Synergis Engineering Design Solutions achieving the prestigious status of an Autodesk Platinum Partner under her guidance. Kristen's unwavering dedication to the industry and her knowledge of the markets we serve is further exemplified by her continuous service as a member of the Autodesk Partner Advisory Board since 2002.
As President of Synergis Technologies, LLC, Kristen Tomasic brings her expertise and passion to bear on the success of both Synergis Software and Synergis Engineering Design Solutions (EDS). With a comprehensive portfolio of responsibilities, Kristen oversees crucial facets of the organization, including Customer Success, Sales, Marketing, Software Development and Release, Finance, HR, and Professional Services operations. Her ultimate objective is to drive the flawless execution of strategic growth initiatives, ensuring customer satisfaction and achieving exceptional financial outcomes.
Kristen brings a unique perspective to the business world, firmly recognizing the profound impact of love and service on human connections, and advocates for love and service in every aspect of Synergis. From fostering love for employees and customers to nurturing a genuine passion for products and work, she believes that love has the transformative ability to create a contagious and positive change within organizations, ultimately improving lives.
Under Kristen's leadership, Synergis Technologies embarks on a journey of growth, innovation, and a genuine commitment to making a difference in the world of business.
Todd Cummings is the Vice President of Research and Development at Synergis Software, the developer of Product Data Management (PDM) solutions for design and engineering organizations. Synergis Adept offers unprecedented scalability and simplicity to meet the most complex engineering/design needs simply and easily, without adding enterprise-scale cost and complexity.
Todd Cummings’ career in the development of engineering and CAD-based product data management software spans 20 years, including solution architecture, product development and strategy, product marketing, and partner development.
An avid writer and speaker, Todd has been a regular presenter at CAD and engineering –focused conferences for Autodesk’s and SOLIDWORKS’ communities, as well as ASME, TAPPI, and the United State Coast Guard CADD and GIS Symposium. He has delivered hundreds of technical presentations to SMBs and Fortune 100 companies.
As the Vice-President of Professional Services for Synergis Technologies, Mark has direct responsibility for the company’s service offerings for the building, academic, manufacturing, infrastructure, and Synergis Software divisions. He uses his deep understanding of customer needs to ensure the company develops programs that continually meet those needs, delivered through training, implementation, consulting, assessments, process audits, and data management consulting services for each engineering discipline. In addition, Mark leads the training, support, application development, and solutions professionals to make certain engineering professionals who work with Synergis have a first-class experience that helps them improve upon their business processes and competitive advantage.
Mark has over 30 years of engineering experience, and most of his career with Synergis. He joined Synergis in 1998 as a Mechanical Solutions engineer and took over as the Director of Manufacturing Solutions in late 2001. During that time, he earned significant professional recognitions including being among the first to become an Autodesk Inventor certified expert and a Manufacturing Solutions implementation certified expert. Prior to joining Synergis Mark worked at American National Can Co. as a Project Engineer. He worked on many projects where he was responsible for reducing spoilage and increasing the efficiency of several manufacturing facilities across North America. Mark is a graduate of Penn State University with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering.
A Partner and member of the executive team, Scott brings more than 30 years of marketing, sales, and channel experience to Synergis Software.
Scott was instrumental in the creation of Synergis Software in 2001, and his passion and focus is on strategies to position Adept software as the global leader in engineering document management for the energy, process, life sciences, and mining industries. Scott has been immersed in CAD, PDM, PLM, and ECM markets since 1991 and has helped hundreds of companies transform their work processes from chaos to clarity and automation.
Scott holds a degree in business management from Canisius University, and resides in the suburbs of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Beyond his Synergis mission, Scott is a yoga practitioner and teacher and is passionate about helping others improve their quality of life through wellness initiatives.
Randy Nettles is an accomplished professional with a proven track record of success in managing complex projects and driving technical innovation. As a Platform Product Owner, Randy brings sophisticated software development and engineering skills, combined with a genuine enthusiasm for resolving business challenges to the Product Management team at Synergis Software. With a focus on strategic vision, Randy excels at bridging the gap between business and technology, defining product strategies, and delivering solutions that meet customer needs.
Throughout his career, Randy has demonstrated exceptional leadership skills, successfully managing high-performance cross-functional teams through servant leadership. He has cultivated productive relationships with executive management, business leaders, and technical teams to align strategic goals and drive organizational success.
Randy has a strong background in developing commercial software systems, ranging from TOC analyzer systems servicing various industries to CAD systems for the real estate market, and a mobile platform for the manufacturing sector. His expertise extends to a wide range of software specialties, including front-end web and desktop development, back-end development, IT systems, engineering design tools, maker automation, and document management systems.
As a recognized expert, Randy has presented technical topics at industry events such as the Adept Experience Conference, FileNET Conference, EA Systems User Group, and Delphi User Group Conference. He is highly proficient in a variety of software tools and technologies, including Angular, .ASPNet Core, Docker, Azure Cloud, Amazon Cloud, C#, VB.NET, SQL Server, PowerShell, AutoCAD, and many others.
With his extensive knowledge and experience, Randy Nettles is known for his ability to drive successful change, lead high-performing teams, and deliver innovative solutions that meet the evolving needs of organizations.
As a Product Owner for the Adept Development team, Chris is part of a product management team envisioning new products for Synergis Adept. Among these innovations are the highly anticipated Adept Mobile and Collaboration Portal, poised to transform the way our users interact with our software. In addition, Chris is actively involved in shaping forthcoming versions of Adept, ensuring that each release embodies our commitment to excellence.
Before assuming the role of Product Owner, Chris excelled as the Director of Solutions Architects, where he crafted captivating presentations for both internal and external audiences, showcasing Adept’s immense potential for many industries. Furthermore, Chris served as a pioneering Synergis Customer Advocate, working in close partnership with our valued customers, where he resolved a myriad of technical challenges, advocating on their behalf to the Development, Sales, and Leadership teams.
Drawing upon a remarkable 30-year tenure in the CAD/PDM/FM/EIM markets, Chris possesses an unparalleled depth of industry experience. Having showcased Synergis Software product solutions to countless individuals and organizations across the globe, he has garnered acclaim as a presenter at industry and company conferences.
Chris has pursued studies at the New Hampshire Technical Institute and the Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Furthermore, he holds a PPM certification from Boston University, further solidifying his credentials as a true authority in the realm of product management.
Why Attend Adept Experience
Need help justifying your attendance at Adept Experience 2023? Get a sample justification letter to give to your management.
Don't Just Take Our Word for It...
Past Adept Experience attendees are still raving about the moments they remember most.
Christopher Wood
Adept SME, Dow Chemical
“This has been my second Adept Experience and probably the most that I enjoyed was the ability to network with other folks and other companies.”
“I also had the privilege of presenting some of the things we're doing at Dow and the ability to share that and possibly help to influence the future direction of the Adept product has been fantastic.”
Karyn Dawes
Configuration Manager, Fluid Components International
“I would say my best experience so far has really been the connections in meeting people from other companies, seeing how they're using Adept and having some “aha” moments like I actually had this morning on how we can possibly improve our process based on how another company is using the system.”
Earlene Gibbons
Senior Director Operational Technology, A Biotech Company
“The conference had great learning sessions, but in addition to that we also had some really fun things that we were doing--some exercises that really not only helped with the networking but gave us ideas to take back to our companies and use there.”
Steve Danasko
Enterprise Solution Specialist, Greene Tweed & Company
“I met a lot of new people this time and I’m looking forward to helping them through their initial implementation.”
“We had the off-site event on Wednesday night and brought my wife and actually introduced her to the Synergis family. My wife really enjoyed meeting all these individuals that I talk about all the time. It was great.”
Randy Nettles
Senior Software Analyst, Dow Chemical
“It's always great to get together with a community like this and hear about the stories and about the experiences of other people and how they are able to implement Adept in a way that's different than we've done. It helps to spark creativity so we can go make the system we have even better.”
Mark Hastings
Vice President, Product Engineering, Visa Lighting
“They take very good care of us. The presenters are great. I especially liked the keynote speaker that was here—it was very inspirational.”
“I like the networking events because it exposes you to a lot of different types of industries. It's a unique experience in having that cross-discipline learning.”
Brian Cranston
CAD Administrator, LSI Industries
I think it's a great way to network. It's really easy to be isolated in your own world just working on this day to day so it's great to come and meet other people who are doing the same thing as you.
Teresa Yang
Product Manager, Document Management Systems, Dow Chemical
“I feel the best part in this conference is to listen to the other company's successful story. That's inspiring me to see how there was the problem they faced; how they solved the problem with Adept. That’s been the best learning experience for me.”
Jessica Riley
Contract Deliverable & Data Manager, Eastern Shipbuilding Group
“Getting insight into how other users are utilizing Adept has been invaluable. Being able to see how other users are using the software you realize, ‘I didn't even consider that. That's going to solve a problem for me.’ There's so much I'm taking away from it. I'm so glad that I came.”
Registration Options
Location Information
Sheraton Grand Hotel Nashville, TN
Awarded Trip Advisor's Travelers Choice Award in 2021, the Sheraton Grand hotel in downtown Nashville is located near attractions like the Nashville Historic District, Music City Center, the Tennessee Performing Arts Center, Nashville Convention Center, and more. Rooms feature luxury bedding, high-speed Wi-Fi, and HDTVs. You can even listen to your favorite vinyls in your room with the hotel's record rentals. Stay on top of your fitness in their 24-hour, fully equipped fitness center featuring Peloton bikes.
Hotel Registration Phone: 615.259.2000
Mention "Synergis Group" to get the special event rate of $259 per night
Call for Presentations
We are seeking presentations about the ways Adept brings value to your organization. Topics that feature Adept as a global solution for collaboration or highlight business process automation, including best practices, lessons learned, and any unique and innovative ways you are using Adept at your organization.