Keynote Biographies
Dr. Sophie Vandebroek
Chief Technology Officer, Xerorx Corporation
Dr. Vandebroek holds nine patents and is a Fellow of the Institute
of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, a Fulbright Fellow, and a Fellow
of the Belgian-American Educational Foundation. A native of Leuven,
Belgium, Vandebroek earned a master's degree in electro-mechanical engineering
from the Katholieke Universiteit, Belgium, and a doctorate in electrical
engineering specializing in microelectronics from Cornell University
in Ithaca.
Prior to being named Chief Technology Officer, Dr. Vandebroek served
as a Chief Engineer, where was responsible for coordinating Xerox's
engineering efficiency and effectiveness, a period during which Xerox
refreshed more than 95 percent of its office product line and launched
its flagship iGen3 Digital Production Press. Prior to that, she
served as chief technology officer at Carrier Corp. From 1991 until
2000, Vandebroek held a number of increasingly responsible roles at
Xerox including technical advisor to Xerox's chief operating officer
and director of the Xerox Research Centre of Canada. Before joining
Xerox, she performed research at the IBM T.J. Watson Research Center
and the Interuniversity Microelectronics Center in Belgium.
Mr. Phil Edholm
Chief Technology Officer and Vice President of Network Architecture,
Nortel
Phil Edholm is the Chief Technology Officer and Vice President of Network
Architecture for Nortel Networks Enterprise Networks. Leveraging his
experience as a technology leader across Nortel Networks enterprise
line of data and voice networking products, Phil now focuses on the
Nortel Enterprise Portfolio and driving enterprise edge solutions to
Service Providers and the enterprise customers. In this role, he is
responsible for < defining the vision and architecture in the enterprise
and next generation edge networks. He also is responsible for portfolio
architecture and advanced network engineering.
At Nortel, Phil has led the development of VoIP solutions and multimedia
communications as well as IP transport technology. Phil's background
includes extensive LAN and data communications experience, including
9 years with Sytek/Hughes LAN Systems and 4 years with Silicon Valley
start-ups. Phil was a member of the IEEE 802.3 standards committee during
the definition of broadband Ethernet and 10BaseT, developed the first
multi-protocol network interfaces, and was a founder of the Frame Relay
Forum. He has been a featured speaker at many international conferences
and is recognized as an industry visionary and leader of the convergence
transformation. Phil has 6 patents with 12 patent applications pending.
He holds a BSME/EE from GMI/Kettering University.
Matthew J. Espe
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
IKON Office Solutions
Matthew J. Espe joined IKON Office Solutions in August 2002 as President
and CEO, and was elected to the additional position of Chairman of the
Board of Directors in February 2003. Espe brings more than 20 years
experience in distribution, sales and marketing to the position with
a proven track record for building and leading businesses on a global
scale.
Since joining IKON, he has developed and executed a comprehensive strategy
of operational excellence and market leadership, designed to establish
IKON as the world's largest independent distribution channel for document
management systems and services.
Working with the IKON senior team, Espe has implemented various initiatives
with key suppliers to enhance IKON's product portfolio, and has invested
in channel expansion initiatives and targeted growth programs for North
American metro markets and major cities across Western Europe. With
a focus on operational excellence, Espe has strengthened efficiencies
and implemented programs to leverage IKON's infrastructure, including
the internal adoption and implementation of Six Sigma. In addition,
under his leadership, the company launched IKON Enterprise Services,
a world-class services organization to complement IKON's best-in-class
hardware portfolio and grow the company's document management services
offerings.
Prior to joining IKON Office Solutions, Espe served in various positions
at General Electric Corporation, including President and CEO of GE Lighting
until 2002. After positions of increasing responsibility in sales and
marketing management, he was appointed a Company Officer of GE in 1998
and appointed President, GE Plastics Asia. In 1999 he was appointed
President, GE Plastics Europe. Espe returned to the U.S. in 2000 and
was named president and CEO of GE Lighting and senior vice president
of General Electric.
In addition to his duties at IKON, Espe serves on various boards and
outside advisory councils, including the Board of Directors for Unisys
Corporation, the SIFE Board of Directors and the Advisory Board of the
University of Idaho. He is an active volunteer with the United Way and
a member of the prestigious G100 organization, an elite group of chairmen
and chief executive officers from major, publicly traded companies from
around the world.
Espe earned a bachelor's degree in marketing from the University of
Idaho and an MBA from Whittier College.