Lena DeLaet

Organization: Summerfest Tech 

Title: Director, Sales & Summerfest Tech 

Areas of interest/expertise: Fostering partnerships among business, non-profits, career seekers, educational institutions and vendors under the Summerfest Tech umbrella. Identifying and supporting synergies among businesses and community organizations. Shining a light on opportunities in Milwaukee & SE Wisconsin. 

Heather Bennett

Heather Bennett is the driving force behind the exceptional digital customer experience at IEWC, bringing with her over two decades of expertise in marketing and leadership. Her approach is deeply rooted in understanding and improving how customers interact online, ensuring the digital space is not only efficient but also genuinely engaging.

Heather’s community involvement is equally impressive. She previously served as president of the Friends of the Hales Corners Library, where she played a pivotal role in fundraising initiatives to support literacy—a cause close to her heart. She also served as president of NBF’s Women’s Leadership ERG, where she championed inclusivity and empowerment. Her latest endeavor took her to Havana, Cuba, through her involvement with Global Volunteers.

She is an alumna of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts, and she holds a master’s degree from Marquette University. Her personal interests include a love for reading—she’s always on the lookout for the next great book recommendation—and a passion for hiking and exploration, reflecting her dynamic approach to both her professional endeavors and her personal pursuits.

Leia Ferrari Traner

Leia Ferrari Traner (she/her/ella) is the founder of Carmen Diana LLC, a business & nonprofit consulting firm. Her not-so-linear career path is at the intersection of communication and technology. She spends her professional life making people’s jobs easier, and business goals more achievable, by way of effective communication strategies and efficient use of technology.

She is proud of the impact and outcomes she has driven with the Milky Way Tech Hub, Girls Who Code, i.c.stars |* Milwaukee, MARS Solutions Group and Dev Bootcamp to name a few. After graduating from UW-Madison, she worked in Chicago and San Francisco before taking a sabbatical in Latin America and landing back in Wisconsin.

Leia’s two primary beliefs are that organized communities have the power to transform the world for the better, and  that technology, when wielded responsibly and ethically, has the power to be the greatest economic equalizer of our lifetime.

She is a daughter, sister, wife, auntie/tia and friend who identifies as Latina, white, cisgendered, sober and neurodivergent with invisible disabilities. In her free time, she likes to garden, exercise and volunteer with Professional Dimensions, a leading women’s association in Milwaukee.

Prashant Mehrotra

Prashant Mehrotra is the Chief AI Officer of U.S. Bank, where he leads the strategy and implementation of Artificial Intelligence for the organization. He is an accomplished AI executive, patent holder and speaker, with extensive experience creating, building and leading AI and Machine Learning initiatives across finance, insurance, and retail sectors. Prior to joining U.S. Bank, he was As the Head of the AI Center of Excellence at Allstate, where he led intelligent automation, developed innovative AI-driven platforms, and scaled teams to accelerate AI adoption. Previously, Prashant held key leadership roles at Capital One and Staples, where he successfully implemented advanced analytics ecosystems and data strategies. He earned his Bachelor of Technology from IIT Delhi and executive education from Kellogg.