ProPulse

From Industry Legacy to Workforce Intelligence

SEPTEMBER 30th 2026, Art institute Chicago

What is ProPulse?

A curated industry event for leaders shaping the future of frontline work.

ProPulse brings together operations leaders and IT decision-makers from Fortune 500 companies.

Alongside leading industry solution providers and innovation pioneers from Y Combinator.

Together, they explore transformation, AI-driven automation, and workforce performance — in a setting designed for meaningful conversations and actionable ideas.

Previously featuring voices from global industry leaders

“One of the few events where conversations actually matter.”

“This is where operational transformation becomes tangible.”

“A rare mix of strategy and real-world execution.”

“This is where operational transformation becomes tangible.”

BMW
Aisci
Mckinsey
Audi
Lufthansa
Ford
Porsche
TeamViewer
dpd
The Config Team
Mercedes
QUAD GmbH
Bosch
BMW
Aisci
Mckinsey
Audi
Lufthansa
Ford
Porsche
TeamViewer
dpd
The Config Team
Mercedes
QUAD GmbH
Bosch

Why attend

Why This
Room Matters

Real
Insights

Hear from leaders transforming frontline operations in practice, not just in theory.

Curated
Network

Meet decision-makers and peers in a room designed for quality over quantity.

Actionable
Ideas

Leave with strategies and perspectives you can bring back to your team.

Premium
Experience

Enjoy a distinctive venue, evening program, industry awards, and memorable hospitality.

Speakers 2026

Mike Baricevich

Mike Baricevich

Sr. Director Operations Engineering & Vendor Compliance | Gap, Inc.

Christine Sigwarth

Christine Sigwarth

Supply Chain & Logistics Innovation Leader
John Deere

Nicholas C. Petikas, Ph.D., ABPP

Nicholas C. Petikas, Ph.D., ABPP

High Performance Psychologist and Consultant

Agenda

One day. High signal.

14:00 – 15:00
Arrival & Networking Walk-In
—
Columbus Court
15:00 – 15:15
Welcome and Opening Remarks
Thomas Kirchner Co-Founder · ProGlove
Konstantin Brunnbauer CEO · ProGlove
The Chicago Stock Exchange Trading Room
15:15 – 15:45
Systems of Success: Leadership, Team Alignment, and Individual Performance
Nicholas Petikas High Performance Psychologist
The Chicago Stock Exchange Trading Room
15:45 – 16:00
Scaling Warehouse Performance: Real-World Robotics Use Cases and the Future of Intelligent Fulfillment
Steve Simmerman Vice President Global Alliances · Locus Robotics
The Chicago Stock Exchange Trading Room
16:00 – 16:25
The ProPulse Trend Radar - Startups Shaping the Future
Humans vs. AI Agents: Who’s Running Procurement in 2026?
+ 4 more startups - to be announced
Vladimir Keil CEO · Lio
The Chicago Stock Exchange Trading Room
16:25 – 16:40
ProGlove Premiere: What’s Next for Wearable Productivity
Marcel Kars CRO · ProGlove
Paul Günther Co-Founder · ProGlove
The Chicago Stock Exchange Trading Room
16:40 – 17:15
Coffee Break and Exploration
—
Columbus Court
17:15 – 18:15
Deep Dives into Applied Innovation
From Legacy Operations to Intelligent Supply Chains: Driving the Future of Logistics at John Deere
From Command to Collaboration to Predicting the Future
+ 2 more - to be announced
Christine Sigwath Supply Chain & Logistics Innovation Leader · John Deere
Mike Baricevich Director of Operations and Vendor Compliance · GAP
The Chicago Stock Exchange Trading Room
18:15 – 19:00
Private Art Gallery Tour Experience
—
Expressionism Galerie
19:00 – 23:00
Evening Experience: ProPulse Connect and Award Ceremony
Thomas Kirchner Co-Founder · ProGlove
Konstantin Brunnbauer CEO · ProGlove
Terzo Piano

Celebrate the Teams
Moving the Industry Forward

The ProGlove Industry Awards recognize bold ideas, measurable transformation, and real impact across frontline operations in two categories:

  • Workforce Intelligence ​Leader of the Year
  • NextGen ​Solution
See award criteria

Join the leaders shaping the future of operations

ProPulse 2026 brings together the people driving real-world transformation across operations, AI, automation, and workforce intelligence.