Kay M. Stanney is CEO and Founder of Design Interactive, Inc., a woman-owned small business specializing in human systems integration and developing innovative solutions to accelerate human performance. In 2019, she was inducted into the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) for her contributions to 'human factors engineering through virtual reality technology and strategic leadership.' Dr. Stanney works with the Department of Defense and Fortune 500 companies to harness the power of interactive immersive technology to help people realize their full potential. During her 25+ years of research, she has led numerous efforts involved in furthering adaptive immersive training and operational support techniques. She is known for selecting, developing and mentoring high-potential emerging thought leaders. Her research has influenced the design of current generation virtual reality (VR) headsets, military training solutions, amusement park rides, and Fortune 100 enterprise solutions. Kay's research is also supporting organizations during the Silver Tsunami by providing eXtended Reality (XR) tools for knowledge elicitation. Kay started her career immediately after undergraduate study. She spent three years working as a manufacturing/quality engineer for Intel Corporation. After Purdue, Dr. Stanney spent 15 years as an industrial engineering professor at the University of Central Florida. She was named one of the first UCF Trustee Chairs, a position she held from 2003-2008. Dr. Stanney is a Certified Human Factors Professional (CHFP.) Dr. Stanney received a BS in Industrial Engineering from the State University of New York at Buffalo and her MS & PhD in Industrial Engineering, with a focus on Human Factors Engineering, from Purdue University in 1990 & 1992.