2025 Annual Conference: Technology

Mark Benson

Head of SmartThings
Samsung

Mark oversees SmartThings’ growth and development strategy, furthering its mission to achieve mass smart home adoption with a unified and intelligent home experience.

Prior to SmartThings, Mark held executive leadership roles at several technology companies across industries ranging from software development to design and manufacturing. Mark is a recognized speaker on the value of connected products to users and businesses and has authored several technical papers on strategic planning, organizational behavior, competitive strategy, product management, software engineering leadership, data analytics, and information security. Mark is also the author of The Art of Software Thermal Management for Embedded Systems (Springer 2014).

Mark earned a Master of Science in Software Engineering from the University of Minnesota and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Bethel University.

Sandra Gardner and Mark Sehmer

Chief Information Officer; Manager of Emerging Technologies
Promega

Mark Sehmer is a seasoned technology leader based in Stoughton, Wisconsin, currently contributing his expertise at Promega Corporation, a global biotechnology company headquartered in Madison. With a robust background in emerging technologies and a commitment to advancing scientific research, Mark plays a pivotal role in supporting Promega’s mission to provide innovative solutions for the life sciences industry.

Mark’s educational background includes studies at the University of Wisconsin–Stout, where he focused on fields that have equipped him with a solid foundation in technology and innovation. His commitment to advancing scientific research and his contributions to technological advancements underscore his pivotal role in supporting Promega’s objectives in the biotechnology sector.

Sandra Gardner is a dynamic technology leader with over 25 years of experience driving strategic innovation across healthcare, insurance, and government sectors. As Chief Information Officer at Promega Corporation, she leads with a commitment to kindness, curiosity, and respect, ensuring IT strategy aligns with business growth and fosters a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement.

Previously, Sandra held executive leadership roles at WPS Health Solutions, where she spearheaded large-scale technology transformations, achieving over $70 million in cost savings, restructuring teams of nearly 450 technologists, and securing top national usability ratings for provider portals. Her expertise in IT governance, data strategy, and emerging technologies has positioned her as a trusted advisor in bridging the gap between technology and business outcomes.
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A passionate advocate for innovation, Sandra excels at solving complex challenges, optimizing organizational structures, and delivering technology solutions that create lasting impact.

Denise Tilles

Chief Product Officer and Founder of Grocket,
Co-Author of Product Operations: How Successful Companies Build Better Products at Scale

Denise Tilles is the Chief Product Officer and Founder of Grocket, with over a decade of experience leading product strategy and operations. She has worked with top organizations including Bloomberg, Sam’s Club, and athenahealth to strengthen product capabilities in strategy, operations, organizational design, and operating models.

Her experience spans both B2B and B2C companies across industries such as SaaS, healthcare, fintech, media, nonprofit, and more. Previously, she built and led product teams at Cision, Condé Nast, and Understood.

Denise is also the co-author of the 2023 book Product Operations, written with renowned product expert Melissa Perri.

Additional speakers for this track will be named soon. Stay tuned!

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