Lessons in Leadership and Innovation from a "Guardian of the Galaxy"

ST. LOUIS - Jan. 19, 2022 - PRLog -- Gateway to Innovation (G2I) welcomes Dr. Moogega "Moo" Cooper, the award-winning engineer who helped make history during the successful landing of the Perseverance Rover on Mars, as the opening keynote for the 2022 conference.

G2I, the region's premier single-day event for technology professionals in the greater St. Louis area, will take place Wednesday, May 4, 2022, at America's Center Convention Complex in downtown St. Louis. Registration is now available at  https://www.g2iconference.com.

Dr. Cooper is a trail-blazing member of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory team, serving as the planetary protection lead for keeping Mars safe from Earth's contaminants when Perseverance landed on the Red Planet last February. She'll share her inspirational  story, which includes earning a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering at age 24 and her journey to the top of the male-dominated field of space exploration.

"We look forward to hearing Dr. Cooper's message that perseverance pays off and that diversity makes teams even greater. She is an ideal start for the 2022 G2I conference," said 2022 Gateway to Innovation Conference Co-chair Kristin Tucker, Managing Principal at TDK Technologies.

"It's an honor to welcome someone who is correctly described as a 'Guardian of the Galaxy' to this year's G2I," said 2022 G2I Conference Co-chair David Kocs, Principal at TDK Technologies. "Dr. Cooper is a role model for women in science and technology."

At each G2I conference, members of the St. Louis area's IT community experience world-class keynote presentations, attend dozens of breakout sessions on innovative technology topics, and connect with colleagues to discuss best practices.

Proceeds from each G2I conference are directed to individuals and organizations with technology-related needs in the St. Louis area. Since the conference began, G2I has contributed more than $2 million to support technology needs at non-profit organizations, individual scholarships, endowed scholarship funds at area universities, STEM education initiatives, and financial support for the region's technology ecosystem.

About Gateway to Innovation: Gateway to Innovation is the premier annual collaboration and networking event for IT Professionals in the St. Louis region. Gateway to Innovation inspires innovation through premier educational opportunities led by the industry's top leaders, provides an opportunity to share best practices and fosters collaboration with colleagues who face challenges and opportunities in our fast-paced industry. Since the first event in 2006, Gateway to Innovation has donated $2,009,967 for IT scholarships and for technology-related grants to St. Louis area educational and non-profit organizations. More information can be found at www.g2iconference.com or by contacting Kristin Tucker at 314-276-7600.