Seventh Annual Economic Development Summit

Dr. Ray Perryman is President and CEO [Chief Executive Officer] of The Perryman Group, an economic research and analysis firm based in Waco, Texas.

He holds a BS [Bachelor of Science] in Mathematics from Baylor University and a PhD [Doctor of Philosophy] in Economics from Rice University. He always felt that the BS would have been somehow more appropriate for Economics. He took his first economics course on a coin flip between economics and psychology. If it had gone the other way, there might be some really messed up people in the world. In addition to his earned degrees, Dr. Perryman has received an honorary doctorate from the International Institute for Advanced Studies. After that one, he told his kids they had to start calling him “Doctor Doctor.” They preferred dork, dweeb, nerd, geek, and loser (on a good day).

Dr. Perryman has held numerous academic positions in his career, including ten years as Herman Brown Professor of Economics and five years as University Professor and Economist-in-Residence at Baylor University, as well as five years as Business Economist-in-Residence at Southern Methodist University. He has authored several books and more than 400 academic papers, and served as President of both the Southwestern Economic Association and the Southwestern Society of Economists. His current academic roles include Senior Research Fellow of the IC² [Innovation Creativity and Capital] Institute of the University of Texas and Institute Distinguished Professor of Economic Theory and Method at the International Institute for Advanced Studies. He also lives in Odessa while working in Waco, is the father of five native Texans (although some have temporarily resided elsewhere for decades) and the grandfather of five, gets lost on his own block (he lives on a circle), and once ran one of his cars into another one.

In the professional arena, Dr. Perryman has authored more than 3,000 trade articles, publishes a subscription forecasting service and a monthly newsletter, writes a weekly syndicated newspaper column, hosts a daily radio commentary, and appears regularly on National Public Radio (NPR [National Public Radio] ). His firm engages in a broad range of complex projects and has served the needs of more than 3,000 clients, including 12 cabinet departments, over half of the Fortune 100, two-thirds of the Global 25, and the 12 largest technology firms, six largest energy companies, and the five largest financial institutions in the world. In other words, he is an obsessive-compulsive workaholic.

Dr. Perryman has been called a “genius” by The Wall Street Journal, a “world class scholar” by Business Week, the “unofficial state economist” by The New York Times, “the most quoted man in Texas” by Texas Monthly, “the conscience of Texas” by NPR [National Public Radio] , and, his personal favorite, “the state’s premiere barbecue connoisseur” by The Dallas Morning News. What his wife calls him can’t be repeated in mixed company.

Dr. Perryman has received hundreds of prestigious awards for his academic and professional efforts. He has been named the Outstanding Young Economist and Social Scientist in the US, the Outstanding Young Person in the World in Business and Economic Innovation, one of Ten Outstanding Young Americans and Ten Outstanding Young Persons in the World. It is highly unlikely that he will ever receive another award with the word “Young” in it, or even “Middle-Aged” for that matter.

Dr. Perryman has been honored by The Democracy Foundation for his role in promoting capitalism in China, The Asia and World Institute for promoting international trade and academic exchange, and the Systems Research Foundation for his contributions to the field of modeling (that would be “economic” modeling, not “fashion” modeling; he seems to think there might be some confusion). He has also received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Institute for Advanced Studies. He was skeptical about that one, thinking it was something you received just before you croaked. He has never played in the NBA [National Basketball Association] , but he has played in Wilson Pickett’s band, sang the National Anthem at a Cubs game at Wrigley Field, and had his name and picture in lights on the marquee in Times Square.

Dr. Perryman has received citations from governments around the world, presidents, governors, Congress, and national and state administrative and legislative bodies, and has been nominated for the Bank of Sweden Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel (Nobel Memorial Prize in Economics). He has received far more citations from the Texas Department of Public Safety. He has also served on numerous governmental task forces dealing with major issues including, trade agreements (NAFTA [North American Free Trade Agreement] , USMCA [United States Mexico Canada Agreement] , and others), the savings and loan crisis, Y2K [Year 2000] , 9/11, the mortgage crisis and Great Recession, and COVID-19.

Some of Dr. Perryman’s most gratifying work has been related to economic development, where he has played a key role in the creation of trillons of dollars in investment and millions of jobs and significant pro bono efforts seeking solutions to major social problems such as poverty, hunger, indigent health care, discrimination, and child maltreatment. He is a past recipient of the Outstanding Texas Leader Award and has been honored by the Texas Legislature for his “tireless efforts in helping to build a better Texas.” Dr. Perryman was selected as the 2012 Texan of the Year by the Texas Legislative Conference; received the 2013 Baylor University Distinguished Service Medal; was inducted into the Texas Leadership Hall of Fame in 2014; received the 2016 Cesar E. Chavez Legacy Award for his humanitarian efforts; was named the Most Dynamic Economic Researcher in the US in 2018 by Global Business Insights; received the 2019 Chairman’s Award for Lifetime Achievement in Economic Development from the International Economic Development Council; was selected for the 2019 “Go Global” Award from the International Trade Council as the outstanding global economic analyst for his work on trade, energy, the environment, and other international issues; named the Best Economic Research Service in the US in 2021 by Corp Today Magazine; received the 2023 Lifetime Achievement in Philanthropy Award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals; and received the 2025 Sissy Farenthold Social Justice Award. He is also an honorary Kilgore Rangerette, although his high kick leaves a lot to be desired, so he is not yet on the traveling squad (but there is always next year!!).

Dr. Prabhas V. Moghe is the sixth president of The University of Texas at Dallas, which has been recognized as one of the most dynamic, fastest growing research universities in the country.

Moghe previously served as the executive vice president for academic affairs at Rutgers University, New Jersey’s flagship public university, where he provided strategic leadership over all academic and research operations across four chancellor-led campuses and 29 academic units. From 2020 to 2025, Moghe helped lead Rutgers through a 40% increase in research funding — from $689 million to nearly $1 billion, just as Rutgers was becoming recognized among the top-15 national public universities.

Moghe earned a degree in chemical engineering at the University of Bombay, followed by a PhD [Doctor of Philosophy] in chemical engineering (bioengineering) at the University of Minnesota and completed postdoctoral training at Harvard Medical School/Massachusetts General Hospital before joining the Rutgers faculty in 1995. Moghe held the title of distinguished professor in the School of Engineering at Rutgers over the past decade.

Moghe’s research has led to innovations in cancer detection and potential nanotechnology therapies for brain degenerative disorders like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases. His lab at Rutgers secured nearly $30 million in funding and generated 29 PhD [Doctor of Philosophy] s, more than 130 peer-reviewed journal publications, and over 300 podium and plenary talks.

An advocate for graduate education, Moghe has directed two National Science Foundation-sponsored graduate training programs spanning 12 years — in biointerfaces and in stem cell science and engineering. He has also served as an adjunct professor of surgery at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School since 2008 and was a full member of the Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey. Inducted recently as a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Moghe was previously named a fellow of the Biomedical Engineering Society, the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering, and the International Union of Societies for Biomaterials Science and Engineering.

Moghe is a champion for academic excellence, undergraduate and graduate success, and for strengthened faculty recruitment and advancement. He also is an advocate for elevating cross-disciplinary research and has launched programs to foster a more vibrant, innovative and creative mindset among students.

Dave is known internationally as a technologist and visionary, leading the conversation on how deep tech can transform markets and shape our world’s future.

Dave has founded, launched, and sold two AI [Artificial Intelligence] companies that deployed machine learning and artificial intelligence across thousands of companies worldwide. Recently awarded DallasInnovates’ Startup Leader of the Year and named EY [Ernst & Young Global Limited] ’s 2024 Entrepreneur of the Year for the Central US, he was previously recognized as Emerging Company CEO [Chief Executive Officer] of the Year in Texas while leading Brainspace. Dave currently serves as CEO [Chief Executive Officer] of Worlds, building the only end-to-end AI [Artificial Intelligence] platform for the physical world, empowering organizations to improve productivity, efficiency, and safety through AI-based automation in their physical operations.

Dave holds a BA [Bachelor of Arts] from the University of North Texas. He is an invited member of the Aspen Institute’s Roundtable on AI [Artificial Intelligence] , the XPRIZE Visioneering Board, the US Government’s Council for Competitiveness, and serves as a Capital Factory Partner. He frequently speaks on AI [Artificial Intelligence] and entrepreneurship at conferences, universities, and incubators worldwide.

When not being a geek, Dave enjoys collecting custom guitars and exotic cars and family time at his home on the island of Bequia in the Caribbean.

David Evans serves as the Managing Partner at Sentiero Ventures, an early-stage venture fund with a focus on artificial intelligence-enabled software businesses. A seasoned entrepreneur and technologist, David began coding at 14 on a TI-85 graphing calculator and launched his inaugural company at 19. His impressive track record includes multiple successful exits as both a founder and investor. Notably, he sold a national digital signage network to CBS and an Inc 500 eCommerce company to a strategic buyer.

In addition to his entrepreneurial pursuits, David is an Adjunct Professor of Entrepreneurship at the University of Texas at Dallas, where he instructs graduate courses on innovation and entrepreneurship. His commitment to fostering innovation extends beyond academia, as he is a key member of the Mentor Committee of the United Way Social Innovation Accelerator.

David also contributes to the North Texas start-up ecosystem as a member of the Steering Committee of Venture Dallas, the leading hub for venture innovation in the region. Additionally, he serves on the Research and Innovation Council for the University of Texas at Dallas and the Deep Technology Innovation Council at the University of North Texas.

David is a University of Connecticut alumnus, a former Beneficial Hodson Scholar at Johns Hopkins University, and holds a Certificate in Corporate Finance from Harvard University.

Joseph J. Pancrazio earned a B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Illinois, Urbana, in 1984, and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Virginia (UVa), Charlottesville, in 1988 and 1990, respectively. His Ph.D. training focused on the ion channel electrophysiology using the patch clamp technique. After postdoctoral training in pharmacology in the Department of Anesthesiology as a recipient of a National Research Service Award, he received a joint appointment in the Departments of Anesthesiology and Biomedical Engineering as an Assistant Professor of research at the UVa in 1991.

In 1997, he joined Georgetown University Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology as an Assistant Professor working at the US Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in Washington, DC. In 1998, he joined the NRL as a Principal Investigator at the Center for Bio/Molecular Science and Engineering, becoming the Head of Code 6920, the Laboratory of Biomolecular Dynamics, in 2002.

Dr. Pancrazio joined the Repair and Plasticity Cluster of NIH in the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) in January of 2004, where he served as the Program Director for neural engineering and the neural prosthesis program. In October 2009, he joined the faculty in the Volgenau School of Engineering as Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Director of the new Bioengineering Program. He served as the founding Chair of the Department of Bioengineering at Mason from 2011 to 2015. In 2011, Dr. Pancrazio was elected to the College of Fellows in the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering, a distinction reserved for the top 2% of the field.

Since 2012, he has served as the Chair of the Steering Committee for Neural Interfaces Conference, an international meeting central to the neurotechnology field. In August 2015, Dr. Pancrazio joined UT-Dallas as a Professor of Bioengineering and Associate Provost.

Dr. Pancrazio’s research focuses on the development and demonstration of novel neural interface technology for both in vitro and in vivo applications. The laboratory leverages advances in material science and microscale fabrication to create new devices capable of neural stimulation and recording. The laboratory conducts studies with implantable microelectrode arrays in animal models, in vitro neuronal networks cultured on microelectrode arrays for neuropharmacological applications, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy with accelerated aging of insulating and conducting materials, modeling of the tissue-electrode interface, and real time imaging of neuronal activity.

Taylor Shead is the visionary Founder and CEO [Chief Executive Officer] of Stemuli, an award-winning gaming company at the forefront of AI [Artificial Intelligence] , education, and workforce development. Stemuli combines a massively multiplayer online game and edtech’s first ever AI [Artificial Intelligence] -native game engine to personalize education and reimagine career mobility for all. Under Taylor’s leadership, Stemuli was named the 2024 United Nations Global Champion of AI [Artificial Intelligence] for Good, representing North America among global groundbreaking startups of AI [Artificial Intelligence] x Innovation.

Taylor’s passion for addressing inequities in workforce readiness drives her to bridge gaps between learning and career success. Honored as one of Dallas’ most influential CEOs, her work has earned accolades from Forbes, Yass Prize, QS, Google, and other global organizations. With a vision to defy gravity using AI [Artificial Intelligence] -powered gaming, Taylor aims to do what has never been done– finally making it possible to automate customized career-connected learning and align school to real-world jobs and workforce needs.