Rockwell Automation

And as face-to-face interactions become even more valuable in an increasingly digital world, we'll explore how we can help teams focus on what matters most, creating experiences that resonate with people.

And today I'm thrilled to be joined by Crystal Waldoch, Global Experience and Engagement Strategy at Rockwell Automation.

Crystal is a customer experience and engagement strategist who designs moments that connect people, environments, and business outcomes.

Her work at Rockwell Automation extends beyond traditional experience centers, bringing together human behavior, environmental design, storytelling, technology, and customer insight to create experiences where people feel seen, heard, and engaged.

As AI makes information more abundant, Crystal believes human attention and face-to-face connection are becoming increasingly valuable, making thoughtful design experiences a competitive advantage.

And our CX Live listeners will recognize Crystal's name and her voice since she did a brilliant job helping to plan for and then interviewing me for our 100th episode that we just released two months ago.

right? What we're curating is a safe place where then they can feel comfortable and confident to share their biggest challenges.

And that's the root of what we're trying to pull at.

Chris has more than 25 years of experience in industry with a background in early stage technology across multiple startup companies.

He was the founder and CEO of 3D imaging specialist, Odos Imaging, a spin out from Siemens, which he led from its inception in 2010 until its acquisition by Rockwell Automation in late 2017.

He then served as director of advanced technology at Rockwell Automation, where he was responsible for identifying and developing strategic technology within the context of corporate development.

Chris is also the current president of the European Machine Vision Association, and he has served on the EMBA board for almost 10 years.

Vision Ventures is an M&A advisory firm specializing in strategic transactions in vision tech around the world.

AI is another big component.

and and so our clients are starting to recognize i just don't have the skills i can't find them i can't keep them and this this isn't stopping right the oems and system integrators that are helping us build these plants and support these plants and do this automation integration work etc bringing these machine centers in it's becoming harder and harder right and one to secure it and and two to be able to leverage tools like technology so we we see chasm as that that front door for all the various applications that we support for the clients who have a wide range of automation technology in their plants, the Rockwells, the Siemens, the Honeywells, the GEs, the Emersons, and the networking stuff and the cybersecurity stuff and a whole host of other technologies that are in there.

It's like, how can we best secure and protect that front door? But then also at the same time, the remote access in these environments is probably one of the biggest problems riskiest things that's out there that allows access in these environments.

At least that's been our experience.

I'm honored and privileged to be here.

But I'm a Wisconsin boy, grew up in central Wisconsin, and went to school at UW-Madison pursuing mechanical engineering, and then came over to the Milwaukee area for my first professional job at Rockwell Automation.

Yeah, awesome.

So spent a couple years there in the engineering rotation program, and I ended up as a production supervisor.

I know a little bit about both of those.

You know, it's interesting.

I'll admit that your history at Rockwell Automation, it slipped my mind.

But getting your career started there in that very chair that you're sitting in right now, probably two months ago, Chairman and CEO Blake Moret of Rockwell Automation was in here having the same similar conversation about the great things happening at Rockwell.

Following the PHP 2 shell exploitation warning, ICS vendors are auditing their products.

Rockwell Automation has so far confirmed none as affected.

Auti owners should watch for vendor advisories, since PHP often hides in embedded web interfaces.

Reported by Security Week, Microsoft Authenticator flaw let rogue Android apps steal work account access.