RISE Basecamp
Meet industry professionals in the RISE Network who are in various stages of their careers, from early-career to seasoned professionals, allowing them to provide an overview of their background and experience. RISE Basecamp is open to ALL students.
Meetings every other week during the semester.
RISE Basecamp Schedule
RISE Basecamp meets every Thursday at 5:30 pm during the spring and fall semesters in Claxton 205. Sessions are open to ALL students at UT.
Dinner is provided.
October 30: Matt Long
Matthew Long is a Knoxville native and the founder and CEO of Air Spark, a company revolutionizing how businesses harness technology. Air Spark specializes in custom software development, AI and machine learning, and data analytics, empowering organizations—from small businesses to Fortune 500 companies and government agencies—to streamline operations, enhance efficiency, and unlock growth through innovative digital tools.
Air Spark’s portfolio includes partnerships with respected names like Denso, Viskase, United Way, and Americana Grills, as well as cutting-edge projects in industrial automation, logistics, and manufacturing. Whether it’s creating bespoke digital solutions, automating complex workflows, or pioneering new approaches to machine monitoring, it delivers tailored results that drive measurable impact.
Entrepreneurship is in Long’s DNA. He launched his first web development company at 16 and secured contracts with the University of Tennessee by 18—all while pursuing a Marketing degree with a focus on Information Management at UTK. Today, he is proud to lead Air Spark alongside his wife, Meghan Long, who serves as the President and Managing Partner. Together, they are shaping the future of digital transformation.
When he is not working, you’ll find him enjoying Knoxville’s vibrant community, cheering for Tennessee football, or exploring the innovation and creativity that fuel both his personal and professional life.
November 6: Randy Inklebarger
Randy Inklebarger is MS Technology’s President & CEO responsible for the diversification and growth of MSTI’s consulting, engineering, and equipment development and fabrication business. He was previously the VP for the engineering projects business unit at MS Technology.
He previously served as CH2M’s Government Facilities & Infrastructure (GF&I) Business Unit VP for Consulting & Design. He was also a member of the CH2M Enterprise Technology Board serving as a Director. He enjoyed a wide array of leadership roles during his 29-year career with CH2M especially Program Manager for the Alcoa Bohai Rolling Mill Expansion in China and Project Engineer for the Boeing Spares Distribution Center in Seattle.
He is proud to have served CH2M as the Committee Chair for the BG Diversity and Inclusion Team responsible for advising BG leadership on aligning BG goals with company goals, benchmarking client and industry best practices, and establishing market leadership through a diverse workforce.
Prior to CH2M, he was a field engineer with Chicago Bridge & Iron. He attended the University of Tennessee, receiving a BS and a MS in Civil Engineering. During his graduate work, he led the hardened concrete research laboratory as a research assistant. He is a Licensed Professional Engineer in Tennessee, Texas and New Mexico; and a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers.
Academic honors include Tau Beta Pi, Chi Epsilon, and Phi Kappa Phi. In 2012 the University of Tennessee Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering selected him as their Outstanding Alumnus and in 2017 inducted me into the Department Hall of Fame.
November 13: Josh McMillan
Josh McMillan currently serves as the senior project manager at Tennessee Valley Authority, were he leads major IT initiatives, including TVA’s SAP S/4HANA implementation.
Previously, as a project manager for TVA, he led software projects in Asset Management and Work Management domains, supporting TVA’s Nuclear, Transmission, and Generation business units.
Before joining TVA, he served as Director of Business Operations at VitalSigns Wellness, were he managed transition from being a subsidiary company to a new, independent LLC. Additionally, he led efforts to develop a new long-term strategic direction and business plan, resulting in higher efficiency of resources and a significant increase in the company’s financial health. As Lead Consultant at PerfectServe, he led implementations for enterprise clients, ensuring the PerfectServe solution was effectively deployed at client sites and met contractual requirements. Earlier in his career, he worked as a Business Analyst at Management Solutions, co-leading project management of a software implementation for a multi-billion-dollar client.
Josh holds an MBA from the Haslam College of Business at the University of Tennessee and a B.S. in Business Administration with concentrations in Business Analytics and Marketing, graduating cum laude.
November 20: Jake Livesay
Jake Livesay is the CTO of IB3 Global Solutions and serves as an adjunct instructor at the University of Tennessee. He has extensive experience in scientific research, with a strong emphasis on nuclear material detection and non-proliferation. He has been involved in accelerator-based nuclear astrophysics experiments, long-term performance measurements of radiation portal monitors, and in-country training seminars for foreign partners. His most recent work includes standards-based testing and analysis of various radiation detection equipment systems.
Jake specializes in quipment testing and reporting, experimental design, training course development, and data analysis.
Before his work at IB3 Global Solutions, he served on the R&D Staff and as a Nuclear Subject Matter Expert at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. He worked on the development of test plans for various detection systems, reported results within context of standards community, and tested various nuclear detection systems for government sponsors.
He earned his Ph.D. in Applied Physics from the Colorado School of Mines, where he was President of the Physics Graduate Student Association for one year. He holds a B.S. in Physics from the University of Texas at Arlington, where he served as Society of Physics Students President, taught entry-level labs, tutored in math for the SOAR program, and conceived and operated a student-staffed Physics Clinic.
Interested in participating in RISE?
The RISE network is diverse, dynamic, and constantly expanding. If you or your organization are interested in being a part of RISE, please submit the form below. Someone from CECS will be in touch shortly.