Virtual UTHealth Houston Fleming Center Case Competition
Judge – 2025
This year’s competition featured 13 teams from 10 universities, representing programs in medicine, public health, and healthcare administration, bringing together teams of future healthcare leaders from across the country to tackle real-world challenges in healthcare innovation, access, and digital transformation.
Tech Frontier- Annual Summit
Panelist – 2025
A gathering of thought leaders and changemakers from across education, workforce development, and innovation incubation. This unique event explores how these three pillars can come together to unlock economic mobility and foster talent in the era of Industry 4.0.
Sun City Ed Tech Conference
Speaker – 2025
This is a collaborative effort between ESC Region 19 and Workforce Solutions Borderplex to explore everything from AI fundamentals to its revolutionary impact on teaching and learning, equipping educators with powerful tools to enhance student engagement and success.
21st Century Southwest Leadership Conference
Speaker – 2020
Talk on Fostering a Culture of Innovation Through Leadership. From choosing the right team, dealing with people who are more skilled than you in their areas of expertise, and sharing the vision and goals through the good and tough times, this interactive session showcased how creative genius is less important in an innovative leader than the ability to form a vision around an idea and a team.
Technology Across Borders: Mexico–U.S. Sister Cities Mayors’ Summit
Panelist – 2020
This session explored innovation in technology across countries and cities. I represented Boost Human alongside representatives from Technology Hub in Juarez, the Medical Center of the Americas Foundation, and The University of Texas at El Paso
El Paso Space Festival
Panelist – 2020
Served as an invited AI expert panelist during a public screening and discussion event, addressing artificial intelligence, ethics, and future human–machine relationships. The panel translated complex AI concepts into accessible insights for a general audience, focusing on how intelligent systems shape culture, creativity, and decision-making.
SXSW – Sounds & Scenes
Panelist – 2019
During his 2019 appearance at the “Sounds & Scenes: Capturing Life in El Paso” event at SXSW, he discussed his journey toward opening a technology startup in El Paso. He participated in an innovation panel as a University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) alumnus.
RESET: Art and Technology in the Creative Industry: Building Interactive Virtual Worlds
Speaker – 2018
Led a hands-on workshop introducing participants to virtual, augmented, and mixed reality technologies. The session combined technical foundations with experiential learning, allowing attendees to explore how immersive systems are designed, built, and evaluated. The workshop emphasized storytelling, interaction design, and human-centered technology development.
Media & Press
TIME
2016
“We Created a Harry Potter ‘Clone’ to Let Humans Talk to Computers”
The Conversation
2016
“Breaking the 4th wall in human-computer interaction.“
20 in their 20s
2016
“UTEP alumni around the world dreaming big.”
GovTech
2022
City Recognized for Website Redesign. The award recognizes the achievements and best practices of states, cities, and counties that are radically improving the experience of government services.”
311
2025
The City of El Paso has launched a new and improved EP311 reporting website where residents can report concerns, request services, and stay connected with their local government.
EID
2025
The City of El Paso has launched a new Economic and International Development website to promote the Borderland as a “prime destination for business, investment, and international trade.
Ivan Gris 