Executive Dinner

Grant Ecker is the Founder and Chairman of the Chief Architect Network, and most recently the Vice President Chief Enterprise Architect at Danaher where he partnered closely with the architects across the company to lead strategy development, establish technology standards and to identify opportunities for modernization and transformation.  Prior to Danaher, Grant was the VP, Global Head of Architecture at Walgreens Boots Alliance, and he held a similar role at Medtronic. Earlier in Grant’s career he held architecture and management roles with expanding responsibility at Lowe’s and General Mills.  Grant is a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach, he received an MBA from University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management, and his BS in Computer Science from Washington University in St. Louis.  Grant is a board member of the Women in Architecture initiative and he holds various board advisory roles out of Chicago, Illinois. Please connect with Grant at

An international keynote speaker, Microsoft MVP, ASPInsider, MCSD, PSM II, PSD, PSPO, and PST, and a passionate member of the developer community, Phil Japikse has been working with .NET since the first betas, developing software for over 35 years, and heavily involved in the agile community since 2005 as well as a Professional Scrum Trainer. Phil has taken over the best-selling Pro C# books (Apress Publishing), including "Pro C# 10", is the Lead Director for the Cincinnati .NET User’s Group and the Cincinnati Software Architect Group, co-hosted the Hallway Conversations podcast, founded and runs the CincyDeliver conference, and volunteers for the National Ski Patrol. During the day, Phil works as the CTO for Pintas & Mullins. Phil always enjoys learning new tech and is always striving to improve his craft. You can follow Phil on Twitter and read his blog.

Nelson Soares is a dynamic entrepreneur and executive with extensive experience in leadership, consulting, and strategic partnerships. As the Founder & CEO of C-Vision International, Nelson has played a key role in organizing high-profile events for C-suite executives globally. With a focus on innovation and go-to-market strategies, he has helped early-stage startups, particularly from Israel, bridge the gap between technical expertise and business acumen. His work in guiding these companies has made C-Vision a trusted partner in the business world. In addition to his role at C-Vision, Nelson is the Founder and CEO of NS Advisory Group Inc., where he helps organizations scale and succeed. He serves as a CXO advisor to various startups and established solution providers, guiding them through critical growth stages. Nelson's expertise spans cybersecurity and information technology, with a global presence overseeing teams in EMEA, LATAM, and APAC, while managing complex sales goals across major U.S. cities. He also holds an Executive Board position at Pocket Security, a non-profit organization. Beyond his professional responsibilities, Nelson is deeply committed to mentorship and team development, emphasizing resilience, accountability, and fostering strong team dynamics. Outside of work, he is passionate about fitness and enjoys spending time with his wife Deimile and their two daughters, Skyla and Savannah.