Kate McAfoose, PE, serves as President of Chang Robotics, an engineering firm specializing in advanced manufacturing, collaborative robotics, and automation. With 15 years of engineering experience, she oversees the company's operations, including sales, client engagement, engineering, and financial performance, while leading projects focused on improving workforce productivity through human-centered automation.Robotics for Healthcare
One of McAfoose's primary initiatives is Curabotics, a healthcare division of Chang Robotics that she co-founded to help address labor shortages through robotics and automation. The division develops autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) that perform logistical tasks such as transporting supplies, linens, pharmacy items, and waste throughout hospitals, allowing nurses to spend more time providing direct patient care.Working with a leading hospital network, McAfoose and her team developed the Nurse-Assist Bot system after collaborating with nurses to better understand their day-to-day challenges. The resulting solution reduced the distance nurses walked during a 12-hour shift by approximately 15%, thereby lessening physical demands and improving operational efficiency. Following the initial pilot, the hospital requested deployment across all patient floors, representing a 150% expansion of the program.The technology has also demonstrated measurable operational benefits. Curabotics reports a 96% adoption rate within 90 days of deployment, while the combination of reduced staff turnover and more efficient patient discharge processes has the potential to generate over a million dollars in savings for participating hospitals.
Automation in Manufacturing
In manufacturing, McAfoose has overseen large-scale automation projects designed to improve workplace safety and productivity. In 2021, Chang Robotics partnered with a global food and beverage company to implement what the company describes as the world's largest autonomous robotic system within a one-million-square-foot facility. The project achieved a tenfold improvement in ergonomics, a threefold increase in task safety, and contributed to a near-zero Total Recordable Incident Rate. The company also retained 90% of its workforce by transitioning employees into technician roles while continuing to improve system performance.
Supporting Innovation and Community Engagement
Beyond engineering projects, McAfoose has helped establish a broader innovation strategy at Chang Robotics. The company donates 10% of its profits to charities and mission-aligned startups and has invested in several robotics, artificial intelligence, and medical technology companies. Employees also dedicate a portion of their billable hours each year to volunteer work supporting local nonprofits and community organizations.Since submitting her nomination, McAfoose and the Curabotics team have continued expanding the healthcare initiative by hosting demonstrations of the Nurse-Assist Bot system for hospital executives and healthcare leaders at Jacksonville University.Those demonstrations have led to commitments for additional pilot programs, while Curabotics also secured investment to support continued product development and commercialization.
Kate McAfoose won two Gold Stevie® Awards for Achievement in Technology Innovation and Most Innovative Woman of the Year – Technology in the 2025 Stevie Awards for Women in Business.
Interested in entering for 2026?
