We Enable Breakthrough Innovations

Hull Xu

Hull Xu serves as Velo3D’s Chief Financial Officer. In his role, Mr. Xu oversees financial reporting and planning, accounting, Capital Markets, investor relations, and corporate development activities at Velo3D. An experienced public company CFO and a seasoned investment banker with an engineering background, he was most recently CFO of Cepton, Inc., and advised many public and private companies on finance and strategic topics during his tenure at the Royal Bank of Canada and Barclays Capital.

Mr. Xu holds an MBA from the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley and a MS in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University.

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Michelle Sidwell

Michelle Sidwell serves as Velo3D’s Chief Commercial Officer. With over two decades in technology and sales, she has held pivotal leadership roles, aiding businesses in introducing transformative technologies to market.

Prior to joining Velo3D, Michelle was the SVP of Global Enterprise Business at Salesloft, where she emphasized revenue growth and sales excellence. At Yext, she played a significant role in boosting revenue from $60 million to $300 million as the company transitioned to being publicly traded. Michelle’s impressive track record also includes key positions at Adobe, Persado, and Walswoth.

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Alexander Varlahanov

Alex Varlahanov leads Velo3D’s Engineering Team, designing hardware and software for the Sapphire family of printers. Alex joined the company in 2017 at the early research and development stage of the first Sapphire model. Alex’s focus is on expanding the breadth and depth of Velo3D’s additive manufacturing solution capability by delivering the next generation printer systems, as well as a full-stack software ecosystem supporting those printers. Alex holds a Master of Science in Applied Mathematics and Computer Science, with most of his career specializing in robotics, precision mechanics, control systems, digital data processing, and high-volume manufacturing.

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Jessie Lockhart Ph.D

Jessie Lockhart is Velo3D’s Chief People Officer, overseeing all aspects of the company’s people operations including global talent management, leadership and organizational development, talent acquisition, total rewards, engagement, and culture. She strives to ensure that the employees are thriving while the company is growing and scaling.

Jessie has over 20 years of global experience in Human Resources, most recently as an executive at Lam Research, a Fortune 300 semiconductor company, where she led talent management and learning and development. She holds a Ph.D. in Global Leadership and Change from Pepperdine University, as well as an MBA and a bachelor’s degree in communication studies from San Jose State University.

Jessie enjoys speaking at business and academic conferences and holds the following certifications: Executive Leadership from Cornell University, DEI in the Workplace from the University of South Florida Muma, a PHR from HRCI, Change Management from Prosci, and MBTI^®, FIRO^®, CPI 260^®, and DiSC^® instruments.

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Aaron Katske

Aaron Katske is Velo3D’s Senior Vice President of Operations responsible for overseeing the company’s entire operations sector, which includes strategy, operations, information technology, cybersecurity, and compliance. His focus is on enhancing operational efficiencies and using advanced technology solutions to accelerate and scale Velo3D’s capabilities across all aspects of the business.

With over 20 years of leadership experience, Aaron has a proven track record of driving significant transformative changes across various industries, including manufacturing, supply chain, and software as a service (SaaS). He is highly skilled in technology strategy, enterprise architecture, and program management, making him a pivotal leader in integrating and optimizing operational processes to support Velo3D’s growth and innovation initiatives.

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Zachary Detweiler Ph.D

Zachary Detweiler is the Vice President of Technology at Velo3D. His desire to solve manufacturing challenges impacting the global community has led him to a career at startups that aim to change how things are made. In his role, Zach leads a team of talented scientists and technicians to develop Velo3D’s fundamental capabilities and provide manufacturers with novel and reliable production solutions. Zach has a proven track record of developing multiple technologies and taking them to commercial scale, and he appreciates the need to address both technical feasibility and market necessity when doing so. He holds a B.S. in chemistry from University of Mary Washington, and a Ph.D. in chemistry of materials from Princeton University.

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Chris Trout

Chris Trout joined Velo3D in 2017 to develop the company’s service infrastructure while participating hands-on in the first product launch. He continues to lead a team of dedicated professionals who focus on meeting our users’ unique operational requirements, developing their capabilities, and fostering strong partner relationships. Earlier in his career, Chris held both operational and service roles within Applied Materials, a semiconductor company, Solyndra, Inc., and Cogenra Solar Inc, both energy companies. He holds a BSEET from DeVry University and an MBA from the Keller Graduate School of Management.

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Robert Okunski

Robert Okunski has served as Velo3D’s Vice President of Investor Relations since August 2021. He has more than 25 years of experience in managing global Investor Relations programs across several technology industries in Silicon Valley. From March 2008 to August 2021, he was Vice President of Investor Relations for SunPower, a leading US residential and commercial solar energy company. From March 2005 to March 2008, he served as Senior Director of Investor Relations for Spansion, a semiconductor flash memory manufacturer. Prior to Spansion, he was Vice President of Investor Relations at PeopleSoft, a leading enterprise software company. Robert holds a B.A. in political science and economics from Colgate University as well as an M.B.A. from Moravian College.

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Nancy K. Krystal

With over 16 dynamic years in corporate law, Nancy has navigated the legal landscape with finesse, spearheading pivotal deals and ensuring compliance at every turn. Her expertise spans regulatory compliance, M&A, corporate governance, and more, making her a versatile legal powerhouse. As General Counsel of Jelly Belly Candy Company, she orchestrated the historic sale of the company, showcasing her strategic acumen and leadership. Previously, at Big Heart Pet Brands and AXA Advisors, she played integral roles in multi-billion-dollar transactions and compliance program development, cementing her reputation as a trusted advisor and driving force in the legal arena.

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Zach Walton

Zach serves as the Vice President of Global Sales and Business Development at Velo3D, where he spearheads the company’s sales strategies and business expansion efforts. Prior to his current role, he was the Senior Director of North American Sales, focusing on Technology Sales and Energy/Turbomachinery sectors. Zach’s extensive background in the industry includes various positions at Halliburton Energy Services, where he advanced from R&D Engineer to Product Manager. He earned both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Texas A&M University. An accomplished innovator, Zach holds over 70 granted patents in his field.

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