Shape the Future Together - Bridging AI and Humanity
On behalf of the Chinese Institute of Engineers/USA – Dallas/Fort Worth Chapter(CIE/USA-DFW), we cordially invite you to the CIE/USA-DFW’s Annual Convention on September 20, 2025, at the Davidson-Gundy Alumni Center at the University of Texas at Dallas.
The Annual Convention is a celebration of the services that CIE/USA-DFW delivers to the DFW community, and affirms the partnership we have with the industries, universities, government and community in which our members live and work.
In this year’s theme, “Shape the Future Together – Bridging AI and Humanity,” there are Career Development session, Think Tank Forum, and Reception for networking. We invite industry leaders, researchers, and policy makers to explore how we can harness the power of artificial intelligence to enrich human potential and build a better tomorrow.
Let’s connect, collaborate, and shape the future—together.
Registration Options:
General Admission: $20
Seats are limited, first come first served
FREE for CIE members and invited guests
FREE for students
FREE for sponsors
FREE for volunteers
FREE for low-income families
2025 Annual Convention
Keynote speaker
Dan Sinawat is a visionary leader in artificial intelligence and a driving force in the Dallas tech ecosystem. As CEO of VC ARENA, he is on a mission to transform Dallas into the next Silicon Valley, bringing together Venture Capitalists, Family Offices and Founders to fuel innovation and investment. Recognized by Dallas Innovates, the Dallas Regional Chamber, and Dallas AI for his leadership as Founder of AI CONNEX, he has been named one of the Most Innovative Leaders in AI in DFW (AI75). Dan continues to play a pivotal role in building a global AI community and connecting cutting-edge technology with real-world applications. 🚀✨
Think Tank Forum - Bridging Minds and Shaping the Future
Kris Fitzgerald
Former Chief Technology Officer, NTT DATA Services
Dr. Mark A. Wynne
VP and Associate Director of Research,
Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas
Since joining the Dallas Fed in 1989, he has had a variety of responsibilities, including advising the Bank’s president on national and international economic conditions prior to meetings of the Federal Open Market Committee, briefing the Bank’s board of directors and leading the Bank’s international economics group. He has conducted research on the effects of fiscal policy, the drivers of business cycles, inflation measurement, the regional impact of global shocks, the natural rate of interest and the workings of monetary unions, among other topics. His research has appeared in many of the leading peer-reviewed academic journals and Federal Reserve publications. He co-edited the volume The Federal Reserve’s Role in the Global Economy: A Historical Perspective with Michael D. Bordo, which was published by Cambridge University Press in 2016. Wynne has taught at University College Dublin, the University of Rochester, Southern Methodist University and the University of Texas at Dallas. He is a member of the American Economic Association, the European Economic Association, the Econometric Society, the Council on Foreign Relations and the Dallas Committee on Foreign Relations. He earned first-class-honors BA and MA degrees from the National University of Ireland–University College, Dublin, and holds MA and PhD degrees in economics from the University of Rochester.
Bo Gu
Director of Data Science & Generative AI,
AT&T
Bo leads the design and deployment of generative AI solutions to improve operational efficiency across call centers. He previously oversaw a segment of AT&T’s internal “Create and Deploy AI” platform, empowering data scientists, citizen data scientists, and business analysts to rapidly build and scale AI solutions.
Before joining AT&T, Bo held leadership roles in data science and analytics at Caesars Entertainment and PepsiCo, and founded a SaaS startup in China. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Beihang University, a Master’s in Electrical and Computer Engineering from The Ohio State University, and an MBA from Vanderbilt University.
Bo is deeply engaged in the Asian community, serving as Membership & Engagement Officer for InspirASIAN National and as a past president of the DFW IT Association. He is also the founder of LingoForge, a non-profit organization leveraging AI to create educational tools for K-12 students. He lives in Allen, Texas, with his wife, Rose, and their 10-year-old son, Brandon.
Dr. Roger Malina
Distinguished Chair Professor of Arts, Humanities, and Technology at UTD
Roger Frank Malina is a hybrid researcher, educator, former editor, former astrophysicist. Co-founded the ArtSciLab. And Co-Director of the Off Center for Emergence Studies at UTDallas. We develop data performance, transdisciplinary, transcultural and transgenerational convergence research .; our current publishing platform is called Creative Disturbance. President of the Observatoire Leonardo des Arts et Technosciences in Paris. Former NASA PI University of California Berkeley Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer satellite. Former CNRS Director Observatoire Astronomique de Marseille Provence, Marseille. Former Executive Editor Leonardo Journal and Book Series, MIT Press. BS Physics MIT 1972, PhD Astronomy UC, Berkeley 1979. Honorary Doctorate from the Polytechnic University of Valencia.
Prashant Vajpayee
Sr. Product Manager (Secure Data, Integrations and AI) at Salesforce
Prashant Vajpayee is a lead researcher, global fellow AI2030, and product strategist specializing in agentic artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and data-centric systems integration. At the University of North Texas SCORE Lab, he leads interdisciplinary research focused on cybersecurity economics, explainable AI, critical infrastructure resilience, and intelligent optimization frameworks for Industry 5.0. His work advances adaptive defense mechanisms, responsible AI, and economic modeling to protect sectors such as transportation and supply chain ecosystems from emerging cyber threats. With a strong foundation in intelligent systems, strategic technology development, and interoperable data architectures, Prashant bridges cutting-edge innovation with scalable implementation—driving solutions that are both technically robust and operationally transformative. His contributions span product management, academic research, digital infrastructure design, educational outreach, and translational impact across public and private domains.
Dr. J.-C. Chiao
Mary and Richard Templeton Centennial Chair Professor of ECE at SMU (Moderator)
J.-C. Chiao is the Templeton Centennial Chair professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Southern Methodist University. He received his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering at California Institute of Technology.
Dr. Chiao is Fellow of IEEE, IET, SPIE, AAIA, NAI, and AIMBE. He has authored over 300 publications and holds 29 US patents. He received the Pan Wen-yuan Foundation Excellence in Research Award, O'Donnell Award in Engineering from The Academy of Medicine, Engineering and Science of Texas, Tech Titans Technology Innovator Award, IEEE Region 5 Outstanding Achievement Award, and Heroes of Healthcare Research in Medicine award. Dr. Chiao’s works have been covered by global media including National Geographic magazines and CBS television program Henry Ford Innovation Nation. He is currently a Project Lead in the Texoma Semiconductor Tech Hub designated by the U.S. Department of Commerce.
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Mei Lin
Microsoft CoPilot365 MVP & AI Champion
Mei Lin is a Microsoft CoPilot365 MVP, AI Champion, and a passionate advocate for community-driven leadership, Innovation, youth empowerment, and DE&I in technology.
Mei is on a mission to bridge the gap between technology, education, and leadership. Mei has empowered over 10,000 employees at Microsoft, spearheaded digital transformations, and tackled complex transformation projects at Texas Capital Bank and the City of Plano. Beyond the corporate world.
Mei is dedicated to building the next generation of leaders. She mentors youth through leadership programs, spearheads community-driven initiatives, and champions diversity, equity, and inclusion for all genders, race, ages, and culture —ensuring that innovation is accessible, inclusive, and empowering for all.
Jason Andrews
Microsoft Copilot Solution Engineer
Jason Andrews is a Microsoft Copilot Solution Engineer and an enthusiastic advocate for Artificial Intelligence (AI), Delivering consumer-facing applications using Natural Language Understanding since the early 2000s. Jason's professional journey is marked by a commitment to integrating Generative AI into everyday life. Educated at the University of North Texas, Jason has cultivated a rich background in AI that complements his dynamic career. Beyond the tech arena, he enjoys golf, poker, and yoga, showcasing a well-rounded personality that informs his holistic approach to AI and its applications.
Solomon Tsao
The founder of Resume Guru
With over 9 years of experience as an IT consultant in the e-commerce sector and a Master’s in Software Engineering, I specialize in architecting and delivering full-stack solutions that blend intelligent automation with scalable cloud infrastructure. I’m the founder of ResumeGuru.IO, a Microsoft for Startups project built on Azure AI Foundry, Azure OpenAI, Speech Services, Cognitive Services, and Avatar APIs—designed to revolutionize job interview preparation through multi-agent AI and facial emotion analysis.
2025 CIE/USA-DFW Annual Convention Programs
| Time | Program | Program Details |
|---|---|---|
| 9:30am - 10:00am | Check In | |
| 10:00am - 12:00pm | Career Development - Land Your Next Role with LinkedIn, Copilot, and Résumé Mastery | Panel Discussion and Hands-on Demonstration: |
| Mei Lin, a Microsoft CoPilot365 MVP, AI Champion, and Passionate Community Leader | ||
| Jason Andrews, a Microsoft Copilot Solution Engineer | ||
| Solomon Tsao, Founder of Resume Guru | ||
| 12:00pm - 1:00pm | Lunch / Job Information | |
| 1:00pm - 3:00pm | Think Tank Forum - Bridging Minds and Shaping the Future | A moderated forum with 4-5 panelists: |
| Dr. J.-C. Chiao, Mary and Richard Templeton Centennial Chair Professor of ECE at SMU (Moderator) | ||
| Kris Fitzgerald, former CTO at NTT data | ||
| Bo Gu, director of DS & Gen AI at AT&T | ||
| Dr. Mark Wynne, VP & Associate Director of Research at Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas | ||
| Dr. Roger Malina, Distinguished Chair Professor of Arts, Humanities, and Technology at UTD | ||
| Prashant Vajpayee, Sr. Product Manager (Secure Data, Integrations and AI) at Salesforce | ||
| 3:00pm - 3:30pm | Break | |
| 3:30pm - 5:30pm | Award Ceremony | Keynote speaker: Dan Sinawat, CEO and Founder at AI Connex and VC Arena |
| Debate on the topic of AI and Humanity | ||
| Community Service Award (Sponsor Recognition) | ||
| Young Achiever Award | ||
| individual Outstanding Community Service Award (iOCSA) | ||
| 5:30pm - 6:30pm | Reception - Dessert and Slider Bar / Drinks | Networking |
