UK Innovate Webinar: Metals Innovation Initiative (MI2)

Join MI2 Director of Strategic Communications Sam Ford and CEO Vijay Kamineni to learn more about how you can submit your innovation ideas for MI2’s Metals Innovation Search. Sam and Vijay will also discuss MI2’s inaugural Annual Conference on “The Factory of the Future" in Louisville, KY on 9/5 and 9/6. There will be time for Q&A.

Moderator: 

• Landon Borders, Executive Director, UK Innovation Connect, UK Innovate

Presenters:

• Sam Ford, Director of Strategic Communications, MI2
• Vijay Kamineni, CEO, MI2

Presenter Bios:

Sam Ford is Director of Strategic Communications for MI2. In this role, he oversees the communications strategy and execution for MI2 across all channels–working closely across the Metals Leadership Council, Strategy Groups, and the MI2 Project Management Office. Throughout his career, Sam has worked with various organizations on innovation approaches, audience engagement, cultural intelligence, and media/storytelling strategies. Currently, Sam also serves as Executive Director of the nonprofit AccelerateKY, which launched in 2021 as a result of Kentucky becoming the first U.S. state to go through the MIT Regional Entrepreneurship Acceleration Program and which took on as one of its first major projects supporting the concept, formation, and launch of MI2. Sam is an Innovation & Culture Fellow at the Western Kentucky University Innovation Campus and, complementing that work, collaborates with the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce to help drive strategy for recruiting companies in emerging tech and storytelling to the region. He is a research affiliate with MIT Comparative Media Studies/Writing, a project co-creator with the University of Southern California Civic Imagination Project, a Knight News Innovation Fellow with Columbia University’s Tow Center for Digital Journalism, and a board member for Kentucky-based nonprofits Kentucky to the World, Canopy, and Employward. Throughout his career, Sam has worked on innovation strategies with a wide range of companies, including Paramount, Univision and various other organizations.

Vijay Kamineni is Chief Executive Officer of the Metals Innovation Initiative (Mi2), a Kentucky-focused nonprofit focused on strengthening the region’s metals industry innovation ecosystem. He also leads organization-wide transformation activities through process innovation & digital initiatives at Logan Aluminum Inc as Chief Innovation & Technology Leader with the company’s Strategic Business Management Unit. Vijay started working in Kentucky’s metals industry when he joined Logan Aluminum in February 2009. Prior to his current role at Logan, he held various positions as Business Transformation Leader and Development Team Leader. He played visionary and change management roles in many successful continuous improvement programs at Logan, leveraging his lean six sigma, agile project management, and advanced analytics skills. His most recent work at Logan has involved leading the company’s Smart Industry/I4.0 initiative, bridging Operations and Information Technology. Vijay brings more than 30 years of international experience in various management and information technology experiences to his work with MI2. He previously worked in India, Malaysia, Philippines, and the United States, with business activities in many other countries as well.