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Louis J. Pascarella, Principal Consultant, Geometric

Louis (Lou) J. Pascarella is a Principal Consultant with Geometric, focused on Product Creation Methodologies, Product Lifecycle Management and Application Management. He has been working with global automotive, aerospace, and software vendors for over 35 years in the areas of Visualization, CAD, PLM, and Software Lifecycle Management with a focus on strategy, planning, consulting, systems engineering, and knowledge capture & management. Lou has a strong background in PLM technology development and implementation (Teamcenter, Windchill, and ENOVIA), solution architecture, and enterprise middleware technologies (EAI, SOA).

Gerald J. Deren, Executive Director, Americas Business Development & Consulting, Siemens Strategic Industries Americas

Gerry Deren leads a team of Business Development & Consulting professionals and Solution Architects across Siemens PLM industry business units as well as new and emerging markets. Mr. Deren has spent the past 25 years primarily focused on Automotive, and Aerospace and Defense, and the last eight years dedicated to Space and Global supply chains. He also represents Siemens as part of the Stanford Global Supply Chain consortium and has been as a speaker on the topic of global collaboration and taken part in multiple panel discussions.

Business Development & Consulting is responsible for capturing the voice of the customer and representing it through the solution development process and to provide back to the customers - insight into current industry and market trends, Value of change and Leading Practices. It is through this customer interaction that we are able to map the proper solution to address customer’s needs and help them determine their return on their investment.

Mr. Deren began his career in 1972 in the automotive industry in systems/electro-mechanical product development. He joined Computervision in 1980 as a systems engineer before he became part of a team that invented PLM business consulting. He joined Siemens to develop their business development organization in 1998.

Dr. Nicholas (Nick) Bell, CIO, Global Product Development, Information Technology, General Motors

Nick Bell was appointed as the CIO, Global Product Development in December 2012 and is responsible for all IT applications development and support of GM’s Global Product Development function, as well as contributing to the IT Transformational journey in General Motors IT.

Prior to his current position, Nick was Executive Director Vehicle Solutions IT. He has also served as the Global CIO for GM Information Technology, Manufacturing & Labor (from April 2010) and responsibility for GM IT’s “2010 Program” (re-contracting of out-sourced IT Global Service Contracts). Nick served as Chief Information Officer for General Motors North America from 2007 through 2009. In this position, Bell had accountability for all Information Technology and Systems for GM’s North American Operations.

Bell joined GM in 2005, as GM North America region, Process Information Officer for Sales, Service & Marketing Systems, from Volvo Car Corporation, where he was VP and CIO with responsibility for developing Volvo’s global Information Technology Strategy, as well as implementing IT change to align with Corporate objectives and create synergy with Ford Motor Company. Nick joined Ford Motor Company in 1984, in the United Kingdom, as a Systems Analyst, and progressed through a variety of leadership positions in Ford’s IT group in Europe and the US.

Bell holds a Ph.D. in Engineering from London University, UK. He earned a master’s degree from Imperial College of Science and Technology, London University, England, where he also received his bachelor’s degree.

Mike Perez, Strategic Projects and Services Manager, Technical Information Solutions, Caterpillar Inc.

Mike Perez is the Strategic Projects and Services Manager for Technical Information Solutions at Caterpillar. Mike and his team are responsible for the management of Caterpillar’s Technical Information Transformation which is a joint development project with PTC to migrate, develop, and implement an integrated off-the shelf solution for technical information authoring, management, delivery, and access, replacing Caterpillar’s legacy solution. Mike is also responsible for operational support of the current technical information delivery system, media delivery, and Caterpillar’s Translation Services. Over his 28 year career at Caterpillar Mike has worked globally in the areas of Product Support and New Product Development supporting Caterpillar’s Dealer Network and customers. Mike holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois.