GRIDSMART Technologies, Inc.
GRIDSMART Technologies, Inc. is a trailblazer in traffic management solutions, known for creating the world’s first single-camera system for real-time intersection analysis and traffic data collection.
AUDIENCE: Distributors, contractors, traffic engineers, technicians, and customers (300 national and international attendees)
LOCATION: Knoxville, Tennessee
CHALLENGE: The focus on cutting-edge technologies like computer vision and machine learning for traffic management introduces the complexities of integrating advanced systems into real-world infrastructure
CARA BROOKINS’ SOLUTION:
50-minute keynote: “RISE: How a House Built a Family” + live Q&A
Delivered at GRIDSMART HQ during Intersect 2019
Theme alignment: From the Ground Up is building strong foundations in life and infrastructure
30-minute meet & greet and photo session post-presentation
Community Service project on site, building playhouses for children
Coordinated via Keppler Speakers Bureau and on-site with Lauren Jochum
Audience included technical professionals, ITS industry leaders, and city infrastructure decision-makers
GRIDSMART Technologies, Inc. has long been recognized for pushing the boundaries of traffic management with a single bold idea: what if one camera could do the work of four? From that vision came the industry-defining Bell Camera, now used to empower engineers and city planners with real-time data and unmatched situational awareness.
At their 2019 Intersect Conference in Knoxville, Tennessee, GRIDSMART gathered over 300 attendees, an audience of traffic engineers, international distributors, technicians, and transportation industry leaders. The event theme, From the Ground Up, was designed to explore how smart infrastructure, clear frameworks, and strong leadership lay the foundation for intelligent transportation systems (ITS) across the globe.
After a week filled with technical sessions and TARP-certified product trainings, the GRIDSMART team sought something different for their keynote. They needed a motivational voice, someone who could remind attendees of the human side of innovation and the resilience required to lead change. Because she had also worked as a software developer herself for twenty years, Cara Brookins was the perfect fit.
Cara delivered her keynote “RISE: How a House Built a Family” to a packed auditorium, sharing her personal journey of rebuilding a life with her children, starting with building a house from scratch. Her story deeply resonated with a room full of people whose professional lives revolve around building smarter systems, stronger communities, and safer roads. Drawing parallels between laying physical foundations and constructing emotional or organizational strength, Cara’s message hit home.
Following the keynote, Cara participated in a 30-minute meet & greet and photo session, giving attendees the chance to connect more personally. Her presence created a powerful moment of pause and reflection amid a week of intense technical focus. Cara joined the team for the afternoon’s community service project, building playhouses for children with Habitat for Humanity.
“The major objective of her presentation,” one organizer shared, “was to motivate and inspire, and Cara absolutely delivered.”
For conferences in engineering, infrastructure, or tech-driven sectors looking to balance hard content with heartfelt connection, Cara Brookins brings a tech background combined with clarity, courage, and a message that builds from the ground up.
