For this year’s first Keynote Address we are excited to welcome back Christos Maravelias, Ph.D., an alumnus of our department who now serves as the Chair of the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at Princeton University and the Anderson Family Professor in Energy and the Environment. Dr. Maravelias started his academic career at University of Wisconsin in 2004. He moved in 2020, by which time he served in multiple roles as the Paul E. Elfers Professor, as a team lead at the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, and as the outgoing chair of the computing and systems technology division of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. Currently, Dr. Maravelias’ research focuses on utilizing advanced computer models to optimize highly complex systems, including supply chains for renewable energy technologies. He has received a number of awards over his career including the National Science Foundation CAREER Award and the Production and Operations Management Society Applied Research Challenge Award.

The second Keynote Address will be given by Carl Belshause, Vice President of Operations at Impossible Foods. Prior to this position Mr. Belshause obtained a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology. He then joined Anheuser-Busch, as General Manager and Senior Brewmaster. As VP of Operations at Impossible Foods, Mr. Belshause oversees all product and ingredient manufacturing within 7 facilities, as well as 150 employees across North America. Mr. Belshause has a passion for innovating to make the Consumer Packaged Goods food and beverage industry more sustainable.