Matthew Holman, 39
Sr. Director of Operations – Industrial Intelligence & Reliability
Actemium Avanceon
Exton, PA, United States
What Makes Matthew an Engineering Leader
Matthew exemplifies the next generation of industrial automation leaders, combining expertise in automation, digital transformation and cybersecurity with a practical approach to helping manufacturers improve performance, reliability and resilience.
As both a technical and business leader, Matthew has developed strategic customer relationships while delivering complex operational solutions. He is equally committed to developing people, investing in the growth of his teams and creating opportunities for future leaders. Beyond his organization, he actively contributes to the industry through the CSIA Best Practices Committee, helping advance standards and excellence across the system integration community.
Leadership & Industry Contributions
One of Matthew’s most significant leadership contributions has been his focus on developing future engineering leaders. Recognizing that modern industrial engineers need expertise beyond traditional automation, he developed role-based career paths, cross-training programs, leadership-development initiatives and technical learning frameworks spanning cybersecurity, MES, data operations, consulting and project delivery.
Matthew established structured development programs that help engineers broaden their skill sets while creating clear opportunities for advancement. He also introduced professional-development initiatives that encourage continuous learning, collaboration and leadership growth. His approach centers on developing well-rounded professionals who can combine technical expertise, business understanding and leadership capabilities.
Through these efforts, Matthew has helped build a stronger, more adaptable engineering organization prepared to meet the evolving needs of modern manufacturing.
Matthew serves on the CSIA Best Practices Committee, contributing to industry guidance on cybersecurity and modern system integration methodologies. He contributed to the development of best practices integrating Agile development principles into system integration organizations.
He is a frequent speaker at CSIA conferences and other industry events. Matthew is also a published author and thought-leadership contributor to Automation World, CSIA and other industry platforms, where he shares expertise on industrial cybersecurity, digital transformation, operational technology and engineering leadership. He has further contributed to the industry by developing engineering career-progression frameworks and cross-disciplinary training programs spanning automation, MES, cybersecurity and data operations.
Why Matthew Chose This Career
Matthew was drawn to engineering because he enjoys solving complex problems and helping people accomplish things they could not accomplish alone. Manufacturing sits at the intersection of technology, people and business, making it one of the most rewarding environments in which to work.
Over time, Matthew’s passion expanded beyond technical solutions to developing teams, mentoring engineers and helping organizations navigate digital transformation. The opportunity to improve operations while investing in people and their growth continues to motivate him every day.
