CincyAIweek25: Full Schedule

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9:00am EDT

Welcome to Cincy AI Week's Smart Cincy Summit presented by Enterprise Technology Association: The Smart Cincy Vision, Building an Intelligent Region

Tuesday June 10, 2025 9:00am - 9:10am EDT

Union Hall- Beer Hall (2nd floor)

Speakers

summer crenshaw

CEO, Enterprise Technology Association, Cincy AI Week

Zack Huhn

Co-Founder, Enterprise Technology Association

Tuesday June 10, 2025 9:00am - 9:10am EDT
Union Hall- Beer Hall (2nd floor)

9:10am EDT

Local Leaders Welcome

Tuesday June 10, 2025 9:10am - 9:20am EDT

Union Hall- Beer Hall (2nd floor)

Welcome to the Smart Cincy Summit at Cincy AI Week!

Speakers

Dr Kelly Cohen

Director, AI Bio Lab, Digital Futures, University of Cincinnati

The Brian H. Rowe Endowed Chair in Aerospace Engineering. Director of AI Bio Labs, Digital Futures, University of Cincinnati and President, North American Fuzzy Information Processing Society (NAFIPS). Also serves as Chief Scientific Advisor, brandrank.ai, and Chairman of the Board... Read More →

Helen Todd

Pavan Parikh

Tuesday June 10, 2025 9:10am - 9:20am EDT
Union Hall- Beer Hall (2nd floor)

9:20am EDT

Featured Speaker: Inventing the Future; AI, IP, and American Ingenuity

Tuesday June 10, 2025 9:20am - 9:30am EDT

Union Hall- Beer Hall (2nd floor)

As AI accelerates innovation across every industry, questions around intellectual property, invention, and the future of American competitiveness are more important than ever. In this featured talk, Bob Cassity of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) will explore how the U.S. is responding to the challenges and opportunities posed by artificial intelligence in the realm of IP protection, invention rights, and public trust.

Cassity will touch on the evolving role of IP in the AI era, the USPTO’s latest initiatives, and how innovators, technologists, and entrepreneurs can safeguard their breakthroughs while contributing to America’s long-standing culture of ingenuity and leadership.

Speakers

Bob Cassity

Patent Attorney, USPTO

Bob is a Patent Attorney who serves as a TQAS at the USPTO and supports patent examiners who examine AI applications. Bob is experienced in special challenges Applicants face when trying to obtain IP protection for AI concepts.

Tuesday June 10, 2025 9:20am - 9:30am EDT
Union Hall- Beer Hall (2nd floor)

Featured Speaker

9:30am EDT

Keynote Speaker: The Answer Economy: How AI Is Rewiring Trust, Commerce, and Culture - And Why Cincinnati Has A Front Row Seat

Tuesday June 10, 2025 9:30am - 10:00am EDT

Union Hall- Beer Hall (2nd floor)

In a world awash with data, content, and noise, AI is emerging not just as a tool—but as the engine of a new economy: the Answer Economy. In this thought-provoking keynote, Pete Blackshaw explores how AI is reshaping how we build trust, conduct commerce, and shape culture—and how Cincinnati is uniquely positioned to lead.
From intelligent search to generative commerce, Pete will share insights from the frontlines of digital transformation, brand trust, and consumer behavior. He’ll also unpack what it means for cities, companies, and communities to be “AI-ready” in an era of accelerated expectations.

This keynote will set the tone for Cincy AI Week by connecting big ideas to local impact, and by making the case for responsible, inclusive, and competitive AI leadership—starting right here in the Queen City.

Speakers

Pete Blackshaw

CEO, Brandrank.ai

A lifelong student of consumer feedback, brand promise, and technology, Pete is uniquely positioned to help companies navigate this change now underway. Most recently, Pete served as CEO of Cintrifuse, a Cincinnati-based startup catalyst and venture fund supported by major corporations... Read More →

Tuesday June 10, 2025 9:30am - 10:00am EDT
Union Hall- Beer Hall (2nd floor)

Keynote

10:00am EDT

Featured Fireside: Work Smarter: How AI Is Rewiring the Modern Business Workflow

Tuesday June 10, 2025 10:00am - 10:30am EDT

Union Hall- Beer Hall (2nd floor)

Kick off Cincy AI Week’s Leadership Conference with a dynamic fireside chat featuring startup founders who are building AI-powered solutions that solve real-world business workflow challenges. From automating repetitive processes to unlocking new efficiencies across teams, these innovators will share how they’re helping businesses work smarter — not harder — and what it takes to turn AI potential into practical results. Get a front-row view into what’s working, what’s next, and how AI-driven tools are transforming operations across industries.

Speakers

Maddie Bell

CEO, Scheduler AI

Maddie Bell is the CEO and Co-Founder of SchedulerAI, where she’s spent the past three years building patented AI agents that have generated millions in GTM pipeline value. A former Procter & Gamble brand leader, Maddie brings strategic rigor from managing billion-dollar brands... Read More →

Zack Huhn

Co-Founder, Enterprise Technology Association

David Howerton

Founder, VendoIQ

C-Suite Leader (CEO/COO/CCO) with 6+ years as the CEO of an ambulatory surgery center (SaaS) software company acquired by a Bain Capital portfolio company. Previous senior leadership roles (strategy, business development, finance) at a mid-market video content production and software... Read More →

Tuesday June 10, 2025 10:00am - 10:30am EDT
Union Hall- Beer Hall (2nd floor)

Keynote

10:30am EDT

Featured Discussion: The Future of Work - AI Workforce 2030

Tuesday June 10, 2025 10:30am - 11:00am EDT

Union Hall- Beer Hall (2nd floor)

As artificial intelligence reshapes industries, it’s also redefining the very nature of work. This featured discussion brings together workforce and technology leaders to explore what the labor market could look like by 2030—and how we can prepare today’s workers for tomorrow’s opportunities.

From upskilling strategies and talent pipeline innovation to rethinking education, hiring, and the employer-employee relationship, this session will focus on real-world solutions and forward-looking insights. How do we align human potential with machine potential? And what will it take to ensure that the AI-driven economy is inclusive, equitable, and ready to thrive?

Speakers

Troy Woolery

Vaco

Josette Riep

AVP, Digital Technology Solutions, University of Cincinnati

Josette Riep is the Assistant Vice President of Integrated Data, Engineering & Application Services (IDEAS) in Digital Technology Solutions (DTS) and is currently pursuing a PhD in IT. Josette’s areas of responsibility span Development, DevOps and Data & Analytics and include leadership... Read More →

Nicole Armstrong

Ellequate

Sponsors

Vaco

This page is no longer active. Follow us at @vaco-by-highspring to see how we combine forward-thinking strategies with exceptional talent to help organizations seize opportunities and drive meaningful results.

Tuesday June 10, 2025 10:30am - 11:00am EDT
Union Hall- Beer Hall (2nd floor)

11:15am EDT

Featured Fireside and Presentation: The State of Cincy AI & The AI Blueprint for the Cincinnati Region

Tuesday June 10, 2025 11:15am - 12:00pm EDT

Union Hall- Beer Hall (2nd floor)

Cincinnati is making bold moves to shape its future as a top-tier AI hub—and it’s doing so with data, vision, and community momentum. This featured session brings together key leaders behind the regional AI movement to share progress, insights, and a collaborative call to action.

Carl Fraik will present an update on the AI Blueprint for the Cincinnati Region, a community-driven strategy designed to position Cincinnati as a national leader in responsible and inclusive AI adoption. Kendra Ramirez will follow with findings from the State of AI in Cincinnati survey, conducted in partnership with the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber—highlighting what local leaders are thinking, building, and needing when it comes to AI.

The session will close with a candid fireside discussion moderated by Zack Huhn, tying the two efforts together and opening the door for how the broader ecosystem—startups, enterprises, institutions, and government—can plug in and help shape what’s next.

Speakers

Kendra Ramirez

CEO, Cincy AI for Humans

We are a digital and AI agency serving B2B clients.

Zack Huhn

Co-Founder, Enterprise Technology Association

Carl Fraik

Co-Founder and Executive Director, Cincinnati AI Catalyst

AI Blueprint for the Cincinnati Region

Sponsors

Cincy AI Catalyst

Tuesday June 10, 2025 11:15am - 12:00pm EDT
Union Hall- Beer Hall (2nd floor)

Fireside Chat

12:00pm EDT

Cincy AI Community Networking Luncheon- Taco Tuesday!

Tuesday June 10, 2025 12:00pm - 12:45pm EDT

Union Hall- Beer Hall (2nd floor)

Food will be served in the Beer Hall Adjacent Kitchen Area.

Tuesday June 10, 2025 12:00pm - 12:45pm EDT
Union Hall- Beer Hall (2nd floor)

Networking

12:45pm EDT

The Creative Edge: AI, EI, and Alchemy for Brand and Marketing Mastery

Tuesday June 10, 2025 12:45pm - 1:15pm EDT

Union Hall- Beer Hall (2nd floor)

Speakers

Deanna Leonard

Chief Communications Officer/US Director/AI Brand Strategist/Founder, SHE IS AI, The AI Chix

As a LinkedIn Top 100 AI Creative, I bring a unique blend of high-energy storytelling and 20+ years of leadership experience to every stage and boardroom. I empower businesses and executive women to harness AI strategically—transforming toplines, bottom lines, and everything in... Read More →

Mary Gervais

Founder- ElVibe, Mary Helen Gervais

Mary Helen Gervais is a #1 International Best-Selling Author, Global Leader in Frequency, and Visionary Entrepreneur dedicated to helping individuals reclaim their inner wisdom and step into their fullest potential. As the creator of HeartBlaze: Igniting the Flame of Unconditional... Read More →

Katy Keene

Founder and Principal Consultant, Keene Lane Co.

Katy Keene is a marketing operations strategist, Canva Agency Partner, HubSpot Partner and trusted AI Educator who helps businesses streamline marketing systems, integrate AI and automation with intention, and maintain brand consistency across teams. As the founder of Keene Lane Co... Read More →

Tuesday June 10, 2025 12:45pm - 1:15pm EDT
Union Hall- Beer Hall (2nd floor)

Panel

1:15pm EDT

Featured Fireside: Governance, Guts, and Getting Sh*t Done: How to Advance AI in a Big Organization

Tuesday June 10, 2025 1:15pm - 1:45pm EDT

Union Hall- Beer Hall (2nd floor)

Inside a large organization, deploying AI isn’t just a tech problem, it’s a trust problem, a turf problem, and a timing problem. This session is about navigating all three without losing momentum.

Join Nate Sowder (Innovation) and Jonathan Paul (AI Governance) from Fifth Third and Vic Santiago with Summer Crenshaw as they unpack the unexpected alliance between innovation and oversight. What started as assumed tension turned into shared momentum—proving that AI can be adopted in smart, scalable ways without getting stuck in meetings or mythologies.
Topics we’ll cover:

How to avoid the “innovation mirage” and focus on what could actually ship
Why startup collaboration only works when both sides change how they work
How to balance experimentation with enterprise controls—without killing either
Lessons from past hype cycles: what we learned, what we ignored, and what we’re doing differently with AI

This isn’t a panel about potential. It’s a conversation about practice. No slides, no gloss. Just two operators who figured out how to move AI forward inside a 160-year-old institution.

Speakers

Jonathan Paul

VP, Director Data and AI Governance, 5/3 Bank

▸19+ years at Fifth Third Bank with a focus on effective risk management, lean data management, and responsible use of Artificial Intelligence AI.▸ Creating effective and sustainable governance frameworks that deliver value in alignment with smart risk management is my passion... Read More →

Vic Santiago

CIO, Dorman Products

Nate Sowder

Innovation, Fifth Third & Cintrifuse Executive in Residence

Nate Sowder is at Fifth Third Bank, where he's an AI adoption strategist and connects startups, enterprises, and universities to accelerate emerging tech. He also serves as an Executive in Residence at Cintrifuse and an Entrepreneur in Residence at The Entrepreneurs Center in Dayton... Read More →

summer crenshaw

CEO, Enterprise Technology Association, Cincy AI Week

Sponsors

Fifth Third Bank

At Fifth Third Bank, everything we do is rooted in our purpose: to improve the lives of our customers and the well-being of our communities. Since our founding in 1858, we’ve been committed to creating a better financial experience by empowering our customers and clients to achieve... Read More →

Tuesday June 10, 2025 1:15pm - 1:45pm EDT
Union Hall- Beer Hall (2nd floor)

1:45pm EDT

Featured Presentation: The Token Trap

Tuesday June 10, 2025 1:45pm - 2:00pm EDT

Union Hall- Beer Hall (2nd floor)

In this talk, we’ll dig into the practical trade-offs of cloud-based AI — especially when token costs start to spiral. Learn how to recognize when it’s time to take control of your models and your infrastructure.

Speakers

Zach Fischer

HPE

Sponsors

Hewlett Packard

Hewlett Packard Enterprise is the global edge-to-cloud company built to transform your business. How? By helping you connect, protect, analyze, and act on all your data and applications wherever they live, from edge to cloud, so you can turn insights into outcomes at the speed required... Read More →

Tuesday June 10, 2025 1:45pm - 2:00pm EDT
Union Hall- Beer Hall (2nd floor)

Featured Speaker

2:00pm EDT

Featured Presentation: No‑Friction AI: Turn Your Classic Power Apps into Smart Agents in Days, not Months

Tuesday June 10, 2025 2:00pm - 2:15pm EDT

Union Hall- Beer Hall (2nd floor)

Power Platform developers don’t have to “learn Python overnight” to ship agent‑powered apps. By combiningchild‑flow reusability in Power Automate, SharePoint lists & libraries as a lightweight data layer, and the new Azure AI Foundry Agent Service connector, you can graft large‑language‑model intelligence onto the skills you already use every day—no extra DevOps pipeline or pro‑code stack required. This session shows exactly how we’ve done it in production: modular agents for intake, routing, and summarization, snapped together like LEGO® bricks and surfaced in Teams, Power Apps, or even headless agents.

Speakers

Deshon Clark

Chief AI Officer, Allventa LLC

DeShon Clark helps businesses unlock the real power of AI using the skills they already have on the Microsoft Platform. As Chief AI Officer at Allventa, DeShon specializes in building enterprise-ready AI solutions with Azure AI Foundry and the Power Platform—without needing a team... Read More →

Ricardo Govindasamy

CEO, Allventa

Sponsors

Allventa

At Allventa, we specialize in transforming enterprises through cutting-edge AI and automation solutions integrated with Microsoft 365. Founded by experienced industry professionals, our mission is to empower C-level executives in Fortune 5000 companies with innovative, high-impact... Read More →

Tuesday June 10, 2025 2:00pm - 2:15pm EDT
Union Hall- Beer Hall (2nd floor)

Featured Speaker

2:15pm EDT

Panel: Building AI Use Cases in Greater Cincinnati

Tuesday June 10, 2025 2:15pm - 3:00pm EDT

Union Hall- Beer Hall (2nd floor)

AI isn’t just about what’s possible—it’s about what’s working right now. In this panel, local leaders and innovators will share real-world examples of how they’re building and deploying AI use cases across industries in Greater Cincinnati—from healthcare to logistics, legal, finance, manufacturing, and beyond.

Panelists will discuss the challenges and wins of building practical AI solutions, including how to align teams, manage risk, secure data, and measure impact. This is a hands-on conversation for anyone looking to move from AI exploration to meaningful execution.

Speakers

Melissa Lacefield

Principal Cloud Solution Architect – Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics, Microsoft

Mason C. Clutter

Partner; Former Chief Privacy Officer U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Frost Brown Todd

I serve as the Privacy Lead at Frost Brown Todd and previously served as Chief Privacy Officer to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. My practice is at the center of privacy, security, and technology. I work with clients to operationalize privacy and security to help them achieve... Read More →

Jerry Felix

Chief Architect, Brain-CA Technologies, Inc.

Started Brain-CA Technologies in November 2023. Secured funding and two patents. We address the huge issue of the tremendous costs of A.I., in time and power consumption.

Kristopher Jones

Assistant Professor, University of Cincinnati

Kris Jones is a passionate advocate for technology’s role in transforming businesses, empowering communities, and fostering growth. As a Professor of Information Systems, Kris bridges the gap between academia and industry, delivering insights that shape the next generation of technology... Read More →

Sponsors

Frost Brown Todd

With more than 600 attorneys strategically located in key markets across the United States, Frost Brown Todd is a national law firm offering a deep, talented roster of legal professionals who advise and protect clients in business transactions and litigation in many industries, including... Read More →

Tuesday June 10, 2025 2:15pm - 3:00pm EDT
Union Hall- Beer Hall (2nd floor)

Panel

3:00pm EDT

Panel: Funding AI Powered Startups

Tuesday June 10, 2025 3:00pm - 3:30pm EDT

Union Hall- Beer Hall (2nd floor)

AI innovation in Cincinnati is on the rise—but access to capital, strategic support, and ecosystem connectivity remain critical to sustaining momentum. This fireside chat brings together regional leaders in venture capital, early-stage innovation, and AI commercialization to discuss what it takes to fund and scale AI startups and initiatives in the Queen City.

Panelists will explore the current state of funding for AI ventures, how investors are evaluating AI opportunities, and what resources are available locally to help founders grow. Expect a candid conversation about where the gaps are—and what the community can do to close them.

Speakers

Max Dworin

Cintrifuse

Paul Powers

CEO, Physna

Brett Renzenbrink

Dinsmore

Tyler Mantel

General Partner, Roll Tack Ventures

Sponsors

Dinsmore

Dinsmore & Shohl LLP has a nationwide team of more than 750 attorneys who are trusted advisers to some of the world's leading businesses—including many in the Fortune 500—as well as institutions, associations, governments, professional firms and individuals. Clients count on Dinsmore... Read More →

Tuesday June 10, 2025 3:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
Union Hall- Beer Hall (2nd floor)

Panel

3:30pm EDT

Cintrifuse AI Demo Day - Regional AI Startup Showcase

Tuesday June 10, 2025 3:30pm - 5:00pm EDT

Union Hall- Beer Hall (2nd floor)

Cincy’s smartest collision: AI Tech Demo Night x Cincy AI Week

Experience the future of AI and startups—live in Cincinnati on June 10th!

AI Tech Demo Night is BACK—but this time, we’re turning up the volume as part of Cincy AI Week on June 10th at 3:00 PM!

Join us for a high-energy evening where Cincinnati’s AI innovators take the stage to demo what they’re building—

Live and unscripted
No pitches and no slides
Real products, real progress, and real answers to your questions

Whether you're a founder, builder, investor, or just curious about what's happening in the Cincinnati tech scene, this event is for you.

See Demos From:

BrandRank.AI — Combining AI-powered insights with expert marketing guidance to help brand leaders understand their visibility and narrative in emerging AI search platforms.
Nichefire — A predictive cultural trends intelligence platform that helps you effortlessly uncover emerging consumer trends and turn them into growth opportunities—without the heavy lifting.
Pieces — On-device AI companion capturing live context across your development workflow, to help you solve complex tasks, manage snippets, and generate code with full control and privacy.
Tembo — Postgres developer platform simplifying the modern data stack by enabling developers to quickly build and deploy specialized data services using pre-built configurations.

Speakers

Max Dworin

Cintrifuse

Nate Sowder

Innovation, Fifth Third & Cintrifuse Executive in Residence

Tuesday June 10, 2025 3:30pm - 5:00pm EDT
Union Hall- Beer Hall (2nd floor)

CincyAIweek25

From $101.87