DISTRIBUTECH® Keynote sessions ignite inspiration by bringing visionaries from a wide range of industries to the stage. These leaders share transformative innovations and strategies that fuel progress, offering new perspectives and solutions to drive the transmission and distribution industry forward.
Igniting inspiration through visionary leadership
Meet the DISTRIBUTECH® 2025 keynote speakers!
Sheryl Connelly
Former Manager, Global Consumer Trends and Futuring
Ford Motor Company
Jamie Siminoff
Founder
Ring
Morning Keynote
Jamie Siminoff | Founder, Ring
March 25 | 9:15-10:00 AM
A lifelong inventor and mission-driven entrepreneur, Jamie Siminoff created the world’s first Wi-Fi video doorbell while working in his garage in 2011. That doorbell has since transformed into Ring, the whole-home security powerhouse that was acquired by Amazon in 2018 for over $1b.
Prior to Ring, Jamie founded and sold several successful ventures, including PhoneTag, the world’s first voicemail-to-text company. Today Jamie focuses on a multitude of ventures through Shark Lake Explorations, his family office.
Jamie holds his Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurship from Babson College. When he’s not working, Jamie enjoys spending time with his wife, son, and two dogs Pancake and Biscuit.
Afternoon Keynote
Sheryl Connelly | Former Manager, Global Consumer Trends and Futuring, Ford Motor Company
March 25 | 3:30-4:15 PM
When Sheryl Connelly speaks, the business world takes notice. The former Chief Futurist for Ford Motor Company is a global trends and consumer expert whose mastery at identifying what’s next around the corner for businesses is unparalleled. Fast Company named her one of the “100 Most Creative People in Business”, Forbes’ magazine includes her among its list of “Most Influential Female Futurists”, and TechWeek listed her among it’s “Top 100 Innovators.” For nearly two decades of her 27-year career at Ford, Connelly and her team of designers, strategists and researchers led discussions on long-term thinking, planning and strategy. Their primary goal was to evaluate the resiliency of strategies throughout the company, including design, product development and capital allocation.
Connelly is a former member of the Global Advisory Committee for the World Economic Forum. Sheryl has been a featured speaker around the world including TED2018 and TED Global 2013. Her thought leadership and strategic viewpoints have been featured in leading publications, including The Wall Street Journal, Reuters, Financial Times, The Economist, and the BBC. She has also appeared on CBS’s “This Morning,” CNBC’s “Fast Money,” and NPR’s “All Things Considered.” She serves on multiple board of directors including the Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health, Cambrian Futures, and the American Society of Interior Designers. Before working for Ford, she practiced law. In addition to a Juris Doctorate, she holds a bachelor’s degree in finance and a master’s in business administration