Steven King is an associate professor of innovation and emerging technologies at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill holding a joint appointment with the Hussman School of Journalism and Media and Kenan-Flagler Business School. He combines computer science concepts, human-centered design and storytelling to create new ways to present information through emerging technologies such as virtual and augmented reality, artificial intelligence, and other interactive media forms. Steven is the Chief Innovations Officer of UNC Blue Sky Innovations, which leverages emerging technologies to solve difficult problems for corporations and is working to invent the future of higher education. The joint program with Kenan-Flagler Business Schoool and the Hussman School includes ground-breaking research in applied uses of Emerging Technologies. He is an award-winning journalist and former Editor of Innovations and Director of Video for The Washington Post with a master’s in computer science.

Joe Loparco has dedicated his entire 45+ year career to the vending industry, showcasing his versatility and entrepreneurial spirit. He started by selling coin and currency counting machines in New York City before working for Bally Manufacturing in Chicago. Returning to Connecticut, he founded a business selling used vending machines and built a successful amusement operating company. In the 1980s, Loparco recognized the growth potential in the Southeast US and acquired Service America's refurbishing center in Charlotte, NC. However, in 1995, he decided to explore new horizons and headed to Russia to pioneer the vending industry there. His accomplishments in Russia include developing the first bill validator for the Russian ruble and securing a contract to install machines in Moscow schools. After divesting his interests in the operating company in 2005, Loparco returned to Southern California to establish new roots in the industry.

Melanie Endres as CEO of Code Factory SL from Spain has been with the company for 15 years. She has helped shift directions from a development company for the world´s first screen reader for mobile devices for the blind and visually impaired to a company that will now bring a revolutionary product to the kiosk world. Taking advantage of the company's expertise in voice enabled products, voice controlled food ordering is the future vision for this company and will take customer experience in the self ordering market to a new level. As a German living in Spain having graduated with a MSc in Scotland, doing business worldwide comes naturally.