Upcoming Events
Where Infrastructure, Energy & Digital Transformation Converge
September 17th
HOUSTON ENERGY & CLIMATE WEEK SEPTEMBER 13-18, 2026
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Registration Now Open!
JW Marriott Downtown Houston
806 Main St, Houston, TX 77003
Questions? Email info@digitwinglobal.com
Tentative Schedule
Digital Twin Crash Course
4 Professional Development Hours (PDH)
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Time |
Topic |
Presenter(s) |
|---|---|---|
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8:00 – 8:50am |
Digital Twin Fundamentals and Architectural Components |
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8:50 – 9:00am |
Break |
|
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9:00 – 9:50am |
Digital Twin Infrastructure: Software Tools, Platforms, and AI accelerating the time to value |
Malay Ghose Hajra, Ph.D., P.E. |
|
9:50 – 10:00am |
Break |
|
|
10:00 – 10:50am |
Digital Twins at the Intersection of Energy and Climate |
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10:50 – 11:00am |
Break |
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11:00 – 11:50am |
Legal, Financial, and ROI considerations in the governance of Digital Twins |
James (Scott) Fargason, LLM, JD, CPA (TX) |
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11:50 – 12:00pm |
Closing Remarks |
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12:00 – 1:00pm |
Luncheon Keynote Presentation “Architecting the Energy Future: How Global Digital Infrastructure Will Shape the Gulf Coast” |
Speaker |
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1:15 – 2:15pm |
Fueling the Future: Bridging Early-Stage Innovation and Corporate Investment in Louisiana’s Energy Sector Panelists: |
Moderated by (FUEL) |
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2:15 – 3:15pm |
Planning, Design, Engineering and Construction of Energy Infrastructure through Digital Transformation Panelists: |
Moderated by (Digi Twin Global) |
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3:15 – 3:30pm |
Student Poster Presentation awards |
|
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3:30 – 4:30pm |
Workforce development and Academic Training and Research Interests in Digital Innovation Panelists: |
Moderated by (Digi Twin Global) |
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4:30 – 7:00pm |
Professional Mixer Reception |
Facilitated by |
Student Poster Competition
Students: Showcase your work at the Digital Delta Symposium.
Submit your poster abstract by August 28, 2026 for a chance to present, network with industry leaders, and compete for scholarship funds.
Speakers
Joey J. Coco, P.E., MBA
JCoco@DigiTwinGlobal.com
Russell “Joey” Coco, P.E., MBA, brings exceptional engineering leadership and pioneering digital twin expertise to his role as President and CEO of Digi Twin Global. As President and CEO of Forte and Tablada, Inc., one of Louisiana’s most respected civil and structural engineering firms, Joey has built a career defined by technical excellence, innovative thinking, and strategic vision. A graduate of Louisiana State University with degrees in civil engineering and business administration, Joey also holds a coastal engineering certificate from Old Dominion University. His engineering portfolio spans bridge design, building infrastructure, water resource structures, forensic investigations, and flood-resistant design, including service on the national ASCE 24 committee standardizing flood resilience practices. Joey co-authored the cover story “Digital Twins: The Next Frontier of Civil Engineering and Infrastructure” in the ASCE Louisiana Section’s Louisiana Civil Engineer and led a landmark digital twin pilot study at the 17th Street Canal pump station, demonstrating practical implementation of data-federated digital systems for critical infrastructure. He was also recognized with the A.B. Paterson Award for an Engineer in Management by the Louisiana Engineering Society. A multi-award-winning engineer and dedicated ASCE leader, Joey’s unique fusion of engineering depth, business acumen, and digital twin advocacy positions Digi Twin Global to lead the industry globally.
Education
- B.S. in Civil Engineering, Louisiana State University, 2000
- MBA, Louisiana State University, 2006
James Scott Fargason, JD, CPA
sfargason@digitwinglobal.com
Malay Ghose Hajra, Ph.D., P.E., BC. GE, ENV SP, F.ASCE
mghosehajra@digitwinglobal.com
Dr. Malay Ghose Hajra, brings over two decades of expertise in civil, geotechnical, and coastal engineering to his role as Vice President of Digital Twin Design and Implementation at Digi Twin Global. A licensed professional engineer and Fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers, Dr. Ghose Hajra combines deep technical engineering knowledge with hands-on experience in digital twin development and infrastructure data systems. As Chief Engineer at the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority East, he directly contributed to the development of digital twin capabilities for the Hurricane and Storm Damage Risk Reduction System, leveraging drone photogrammetry, laser scanning, 3D modeling, and data federation. He also advanced drone and sensor technology for infrastructure inspection and maintenance, establishing a practical foundation for scalable digital systems in the built environment. A prolific researcher, educator, and published author, Dr. Ghose Hajra has secured research funding and supervised numerous graduate researchers across geotechnical, coastal, and infrastructure disciplines. His work bridging engineering practice, emerging technology, and academic research positions him as a leading voice in digital twin adoption for civil infrastructure. He is actively engaged in ASCE leadership and industry outreach at the national level.
Education
- Ph.D., Civil Engineering, Kansas State University, Kansas, USA, May 2001
- M. Tech., Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (I.I.T.), Kharagpur, India, , July 1998.
- B.E., Civil Engineering, University of North Bengal, India, August 1996.
Patrick Downs, P.E.
pdowns@digitwinglobal.com
Patrick is a PE with extensive experience, he is Vice President of Administration at Forte and Tablada, Inc. and he is a member of the Louisiana Army National Guard.
Education:
- B.S. in Civil Engineering, Louisiana State University, 2019
- Master of Public Administration (MPA), Louisiana State University, 2016
- Bachelor of Arts, Louisiana State University, 2006
Conner LeBlanc
Conner LeBlanc is a Louisiana-licensed attorney and a 2020 graduate of the LSU JD/MBA program. He serves as Senior Development & Compliance Manager at Baton Rouge-based cybersecurity service provider General Informatics, where he has worked since 2021 alongside business leaders across South Louisiana to improve technology utilization and data compliance readiness.
In addition to serving on various economic and workforce development boards across the New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Lafayette, and Bayou regions, Conner is a frequent presenter on artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and cloud computing. His work places a particular emphasis on highly regulated industries, including legal, banking, healthcare, and maritime.
Conner was first introduced to immersive content production (360 cameras), extended reality platforms (VR/AR/MR), and digital twin technologies (LiDAR, photogrammetry, and point cloud-driven assets) while working as a graduate assistant under Dr. Fargason at LSU. Recognizing the potential of these emerging technologies, he co-founded Project Zenith in 2019, a custom virtual tour services company that he continues to own and operate today.
Through his ongoing efforts to educate and engage the South Louisiana business community, Conner focuses on both the risks and opportunities presented by Aldriven digital transformation. His core objective is to support the long-term economic viability of the businesses and communities he has seen continue to steadily decline throughout his entire adult life.
Stephen Loy
Stephen Loy is FUEL’s Director of Technology Commercialization, where he drives initiatives to position the state as a global energy innovation leader by transforming research into innovative enterprises. Stephen leverages his extensive background in public relations and marketing to help entrepreneurs start and grow their companies, pushing them to know their customers and make smart and quick decisions. Before joining the FUEL team in October 2024, Stephen spent more than 20 years at Nexus Louisiana Technology Park starting as Director of Public Relations and eventually advancing to Executive Director. Prior to working at Nexus, Stephen worked for the Louisiana Retired Teachers Association and LSU. He also served on the board of the Baton Rouge Area Chamber and the Foundation for East Baton Rouge Parish Schools, and is former president of the Louisiana Business Incubation Association and the Public Relations Association of Louisiana-Baton Rouge. He holds his Universal Accreditation in Public Relations.
Stephen is married to Sheri, who teaches first grade. They have three grown sons.
David Armstrong
david.armstrong@bentley.com
David Armstrong is the Senior Director of Asset Performance Services – Asset Management at Bentley Systems, where he specializes in physical asset performance, reliability engineering, and digital transformation for capital-intensive industries including transportation, mining, and energy. With over two decades of international leadership experience, spanning operational roles at ArcelorMittal and Hendrickson Canada to his current focus on AI-enabled asset management and digital twins, David advises infrastructure owners and operators on leveraging advanced technology to optimize project delivery, ensure design quality, and lower total lifecycle costs. A recognized thought leader in asset management governance (ISO 55000) and Reliability-Centered Maintenance (RCM), he frequently moderates and speaks at premier industry forums such as the Transportation Research Board and SMRP to advocate for the modernization of infrastructure management through digital delivery.
Dylan Underhill
Dylan Underhill helps construction teams bridge the gap between technology, project delivery, and field execution.
With a background in Architectural Technologies and over a decade of experience across design, construction, BIM, VDC, and digital project delivery, Dylan specializes in improving how complex projects are planned, coordinated, and executed.
Throughout his career, Dylan has worked on major commercial, healthcare, hospitality, infrastructure, mixed-use, nuclear, and data center hubs. He helps teams by leveraging BIM, prefabrication, data forward workflows, and emerging technologies to improve project outcomes.
Joseph Boccuzzi, Ph.D.
Joseph Boccuzzi, Ph.D., is a wireless communications and AI-native network expert with more than 30 years of experience advancing cellular technologies from 1G through 5G-Advanced and the emerging foundations of 6G. His work focuses on AI-Native Networks, AI-RAN, O-RAN architectures, and software-defined, GPU-accelerated communications systems.
Dr. Boccuzzi has helped define and build pioneering AI-RAN and Massive-MIMO solutions, contributed to GPU-based software-defined 5G technology, and co-developed a 5G reference design proposed as a foundation for 6G. He holds more than 50 issued and pending U.S. and international patents and is an author and educator in wireless communications and digital signal processing. He regularly presents technical innovations at leading global forums, including NVIDIA GTC and Mobile World Congress.
Ana Sanz
Ana Sanz is co-founder of EcoGlobe World, a B2B marketplace and consulting platform that helps industrial operators recover value from underused material streams and gives buyers a dependable route to reused and bio-based supply. She brings 22 years in energy and chemicals, including 14 years at Shell, where she worked in Gulf of Mexico offshore operations and moved from geoscience, innovation, and investment valuation into carbon accounting, circularity, and technology partnerships. Ana holds an MSc in Geophysics from the University of Houston and a Master’s in Sustainability from Harvard.
At Shell she co-founded and led Grassroots, an internal network of some 600 volunteers that built circular business models across refining and chemicals — work associated with roughly 10 million tons of CO₂ avoided and tens of millions of dollars in value for Shell and its customers. Today she negotiates the actual economics of circularity with refiners, petrochemical producers, and buyers across the US, EU, and Latin America. Having worked in Spain and the Netherlands and now based in Houston, Ana argues from the plant floor and the deal table.
Elliot Metzger
Elliot Metzger is Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Whiptail Midstream where he oversees the operation, development, and growth of the company’s natural gas midstream assets. He has more than 13 years of experience in the energy industry, with a background spanning engineering, business development, operations, and financing of natural gas midstream businesses.
Prior to joining Whiptail Midstream, Mr. Metzger spent two years independently advising clients pursuing energy infrastructure investments. Mr. Metzger also spent 10 years at Williams focused on the gathering, processing, and transmission of natural gas. He holds an MBA from the Jones School at Rice University and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Pennsylvania State University.
Aimee LaFleur
Aimee LaFleur is a Houston-based technology leader and venture investor focused on advancing solutions for the energy transition. She brings experience in commercial dealmaking, business opportunity development, technology economic evaluation, and large-scale technology operations. Currently with Vycarb, LaFleur works at the intersection of technology, investment, and innovative business models to accelerate practical solutions addressing energy and climate challenges.
Brad Mcfarland
bradleyjmcfarland@yahoo.com
Brad McFarland is a Director at Worley specializing in digital transformation, digital twin, AI, IoT, and simulation solutions across energy and industrial sectors. With a diverse background spanning software development, product management, engineering, and technology strategy in both startups and large enterprises, Brad bridges the gap between technical execution and executive strategy—notably managing product portfolios driving up to $120M in revenue. He holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Tulane University, a Master’s in Engineering Management from USC, and is pursuing a Master’s in Computer Science at Georgia Tech. Brad leverages deep expertise in IoT platforms, digital asset management, and advanced simulation to help organizations scale emerging technologies and unlock new data capabilities.
Fernando C. Hernandez
Fernando C. Hernandez is a globally recognized energy and low-carbon technology leader who began his career specializing in hydrogen, CO₂, and LNG systems and has since been featured by Forbes. He serves as Global Chairman of the Society for Low Carbon Technologies, bringing together leaders from organizations including NVIDIA, Siemens Digital, Microsoft, and Equinor. Appointed as a Business Ambassador to Scotland, he works to strengthen international trade and energy relationships across the Americas. Hernandez has advised the U.S. Department of Energy on carbon removal and energy integration strategies and contributed to Brazil’s pioneering carbon capture and storage legal framework. An XPRIZE Recognized Innovator, he has led groundbreaking low-carbon projects, including the world’s first commercial electrified biogas-to-clean fuels initiative in Uruguay. His achievements have earned international recognition, culminating in being named Energy Thought Leader of the Year by illuminem, Italy’s leading sustainability platform.
Josh Fleig
Josh Fleig fosters innovation and entrepreneurship across Louisiana, supporting small businesses with programs that accelerate growth and high-value job creation. He has over 20 years of experience in technology, economic development, and education.
Josh previously served as Senior Vice President of Business Development at Greater New Orleans, Inc., where he led a $20 billion project pipeline and advanced key industries in Southeast Louisiana. He also played a central role in Louisiana’s technology growth at Louisiana Economic Development and has held leadership roles in media and interactive technology with SinglePoint and NBCUniversal.
Josh grew up in Lafayette and earned his bachelor’s degree from LSU and his M.F.A. from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. He lives in New Orleans with his wife Amanda and their two daughters.
Lacy McManus
Lacy McManus is the Workforce Development Director for the FUEL initiative, working across her home state of Louisiana to build a comprehensive workforce ecosystem supporting current and future energy talent needs. Prior to her role with FUEL, Lacy served as the Executive Director of Future Energy for the H2theFuture project, where she advanced a diverse coalition of partners spearheading alternative uses of hydrogen across the South Louisiana industrial corridor. Lacy returned to economic development in Louisiana after nearly three years with Amazon Web Services’ (AWS) Education Programs. Prior to joining AWS, Lacy served as the Vice President for Strategic Initiatives at the regional economic development organization in New Orleans. where she oversaw a portfolio of workforce, education and environmental programs that enhanced the economic competitiveness of the region. Her work in Louisiana was launched at the Center for Planning Excellence (CPEX) where she was Strategic Initiatives Manager. Lacy holds a B.A. in Journalism from the University of Georgia, a MA in Global Communications from the American University of Paris, and a MBA from Tulane University. She and her husband Bryan are proud New Orleans residents, raising their three daughters and rescue dog Uptown.
Kaytlin Henderson
Kaytlin Henderson is the AI Leader in Enterprise Data & AI at Dow. In her 14 years at Dow, she has held leadership positions in data and analytics, Dow’s digital manufacturing transformation, and roles in reaction engineering R&D and manufacturing operations. Her expertise bridges applied chemical engineering and AI, with deep experience in reactor optimization, predictive analytics for manufacturing reliability, digital tools deployment, and enterprise data strategy. She has led large-scale AI deployment programs across Dow’s manufacturing footprint, including predictive maintenance, third-party data integration, and enterprise-wide AI adoption. She currently leads the federation of AI across Dow: the policy, standards, and safeguards that make enterprise AI fast in delivery, proven in value, and safe by design. Her strategic priorities span Responsible AI frameworks, generative AI, and emerging agentic AI capabilities. Kaytlin is an active member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), recently serving as Chair of the Career and Education Operating Council and the Membership Committee. She chairs Dow’s Insight Scientist Community, the cross-functional community of AI and analytics practitioners across the company. Kaytlin holds a BS in Chemical Engineering from Lafayette College and a PhD in Chemical Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University.
Dr. Srinivasan Ambatipati
Dr. Srinivasan Ambatipati is Dean of the College of Engineering and Sciences at McNeese State University. Prior to academia, he worked in the energy industry, with experience in research, technology development, and commercialization. His leadership focuses on strengthening industry-academia partnerships, advancing engineering and science education, workforce development, and creating experiential learning opportunities for students. Dr. Ambatipati is actively engaged in initiatives supporting the energy industry and regional economic development.
Amir Hermes
Amir Hermes is the Business Development Manager for SLB New Energy, located in Houston, a position he assumes since 2023.
Prior to this role, Amir held various Technology Development and Operations Management positions including most recently Product Line Manager for SLB’s North America Offshore geounit, based out of Houston, Texas.
He started his career with Schlumberger in 2003 in France and has worked since then internationally in the Middle East, the United States and in Europe, holding roles in several business functions including Engineering & Manufacturing , Operations, Sales, and Marketing.
Amir holds an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Ecole Centrale Paris in France and a Master’s in Management of the Energy Industry from the Heriot Watt university in United Kingdom.
Gordy Rush
More than three decades after his final collegiate snap, LSU football fans still remember Gordy Rush as a fierce and relentless special teams standout for the Tigers from 1988 to 1990. A native of New Orleans, Rush brings that same passion and intensity to his role as Vice President of Business Development for Guaranty Communications, Gatorworks, and Guaranty Health Solutions
This fall marks Rush’s 26th season as the Sideline Reporter for the LSU Sports Radio Network, a role in which his deep knowledge and dynamic presence continue to enrich the game-day experience for fans across the state.
Rush’s excellence in broadcasting has earned him numerous accolades, including the Louisiana Association of Broadcasters’ “Broadcaster of the Year” in 2013 and the “Golden Mike Award” in 2009, making him the first individual to receive both honors and the youngest to win Broadcaster of the Year at age 44. In 2022, he was named the recipient of Radio Ink’s prestigious “Radio Wayne” Award, recognizing him as the top Radio General Manager in the United States. He has also been featured on Radio Ink’s “Top Managers in Radio” list six times (2014, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2020, and 2021).
Rush began his collegiate journey at Purdue University on a football scholarship, serving as backup cornerback to future NFL Hall of Famer Rod Woodson. He transferred to LSU in 1987 and went on to earn three varsity letters. He was part of The Sporting News Magazine’s “Best Special Teams Unit” in 1988 and was named LSU’s Special Teams Player of the Year in 1990. He graduated from LSU’s E.J. Ourso College of Business in 1991.
A proud alumnus of Jesuit High School in New Orleans, Rush is the son of Beth and the late Gordon Rush II of Gretna, Louisiana, and has one sister, Lynn. He is married to former LSU All-American softball pitcher Ashley Lewis. Together, they have three children—Gordon “G” L. Rush IV (18), Jax Michael (15), and Jordyn Jean (13)—and reside in Greenwell Springs, Louisiana.
Student Poster Competition Judges
Mindy Creamer
Melinda (Mindy) Creamer is the Director of Strategic Initiatives at Bentley Systems focusing on building high-impact alliances across the infrastructure digital twin ecosystem. She excels at aligning enterprise technology capabilities with partner objectives to accelerate commercial growth, drive co-innovation, and expand market reach. Mindy holds a bachelor’s degree in international marketing from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and a master’s degree in international management from Thunderbird University.
Shreya Hegde
Shreya Hegde is a Sr. Product Manager Tech with Amazon RME, where she collaborates with AWS, Work Health Safety and the People Experience Teams. Starting her career as a software developer, her passion towards building scalable enterprise products led to a transition into product management. Over the past 17 years, Shreya has launched technical products for airlines industry, healthcare startups, revenue cycle management companies, and US government programs. Shreya is a staunch advocate of women in tech, and serves as a circle leader for the Lean In (Non- Profit) Circle in Austin.
Nedra Davis Hains, D.Des., M.A.
nedrahains@digitwinglobal.com
Nedra Davis Hains, D.Des., M.A., serves as Vice President of Operations for Digi Twin Global, leading strategic partnerships, stakeholder engagement, and digital transformation initiatives. With more than 23 years of experience spanning infrastructure, coastal restoration, engineering, and organizational operations, she has held leadership roles across government, consulting, and higher education. Through her advisory practice, Atomic Blondeaux, LLC, she guides organizations in developing digital twin strategies and enterprise data environments that enable data-driven decisions. Dr. Hains is also the Executive Producer of LSU’s Digital Twin Symposium and an advocate for digital innovation through her leadership within the American Society of Civil Engineers.
Maruthi Devarakonda, Ph.D., F. ASME
Dr. Maruthi Devarakonda is a senior technical leader at Baker Hughes where he leads strategic research and external funding for the US for the $28B enterprise. He has 20+ years of experience in emissions abatement across industry, DOE national labs, and the US Department of Energy. Maruthi holds 40 patents, has published in 30+ peer-reviewed publications and holds a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Michigan Technological University. Maruthi was elected as a fellow at the prestigious American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) in 2024 for his contributions to developing and commercializing innovative low-emissions products across energy and transportation sectors. He serves on the advisory board of Texas A&M University’s Engineering Experimental Station (TEES) and was recently inducted as a distinguished alumnus into the Mechanical Engineering Alumni Network of Excellence and Service (MEANES) Class of 2026 at the University of Toledo.
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Morning
Digital Twin Crash Course
SESSION 1
Digital Twin: Definition, Architecture & Components
Core concepts, data architecture, component layers from sensors to visualization.
~50 min
SESSION 2
Tools & Platforms for Designing Digital Twins
Hands-on survey of platforms including Bentley iTwin, Cesium, reality capture, and GIS integration.
~50 min
SESSION 3
Digital Twin Integration Across Disciplines
Cross-sector applications — energy, water, transportation, coastal resilience, construction.
~50 min
SESSION 4
Legal, Ethical & Business Considerations
Governance, data ownership, liability, and the business case for digital twin adoption.
~50 min
4 PDH Credits · In-person + virtual simulcast option
Afternoon
Louisiana Future Energy Panels
Contractor-Led Technology
Featuring Louisiana-based industrial contractors (e.g., Turner Industries, Cajun Industries, and others) who are investing in digital transformation — with decision-makers headquartered in or deeply connected to Houston.
Digital Assets & Transformation
How Louisiana companies and institutions are leading the adoption of digital assets, BIM/digital twins, and datadriven infrastructure management across the Gulf Coast.
Workforce & Graduate Pipeline
LSU, Rice, UH, UT and the broader university system are producing graduates trained in digital twin technology — a direct talent pipeline for Houston energy employers.
Sustainability & Resilience
Louisiana’s unique position at the intersection of energy production, coastal resilience, and climate adaptation — and how digital twins drive better outcomes in each.
