CincyAIweek25: Full Schedule

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12:15pm EDT

Panel: AI-Ready Teams: Upskilling the Workforce for What’s Next

Wednesday June 11, 2025 12:15pm - 1:00pm EDT

To unlock the full potential of AI, organizations must focus on more than just tools—they must prepare their people. This panel brings together leaders who are building AI-ready teams through intentional upskilling, training programs, and culture change.

Panelists will explore how to assess workforce readiness, develop targeted learning paths, create cross-functional AI literacy, and embed continuous learning across the organization. Whether you're leading a team, building a curriculum, or shaping strategy, this conversation will offer real-world insight into how to align talent with technology.

Speakers

Dawn Parks

Director, Northern Kentucky University

Sanjay Krishnegowda

Data Engineer, Alliance Berstein

I am a Data and AI Engineer with 15 years of experience in software development, data engineering and AI, with a focus on generative AI. For the past nine years, I have been working at Alliance Bernstein, building data-driven solutions and optimizing AI applications. My expertise... Read More →

Benjamin McCall

Strategic HR | Org Development | Talent Development, FOCUS Consulting

Benjamin McCall, FOCUS Consulting a Consultant, Speaker and practitioner in HR, Business Strategy and Organizational Performance serving organizations in the US and globally. FOCUS Consulting partners with Fortune 500's from Financial Services, Education, Healthcare, Startup, Military... Read More →

Glenn Platt

Professor & Co-Founder, Miami University & Lyceum AI

Sid Thatham

University of Cincinnati

Sponsors

Nexigen

Nexigen is one of the Cincinnati area's largest IT service and cybersecurity firms specializing in providing enterprise IT resources for small and medium businesses. No other IT services firm in the Cincinnati area can touch our experience, customer service, or ability to deliver... Read More →

Wednesday June 11, 2025 12:15pm - 1:00pm EDT
Union Hall- 4th Floor- Homeroom

Panel

12:15pm EDT

Panel: Exploring Enterprise AI Use Cases

Wednesday June 11, 2025 12:15pm - 1:00pm EDT

Somerhaus Events Venue

Speakers

Patrick Verdugo

Claro

Morgan Koth

Dev, Big Kitty Labs

Morgan Koth, Big Kitty Labs, is a visionary leader and entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience driving startups and technology ventures from inception to growth. Currently serving as the Business Development and Relationship Manager at Big Kitty Labs, Morgan is instrumental... Read More →

Jarrod Anderson

Chief AI Officer, Syrv

As the Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer at SYRV, Jarrod Anderson is a visionary and transformative leader in AI. With over three decades of experience, he has led AI teams at multiple Fortune 50 companies. Now dedicated to cutting-edge AI Agents and Agentic systems, Jarrod pushes... Read More →

Srinivas Chippagiri

Sr. Member of Technical Staff, Salesforce

Srinivas Chippagiri is a highly skilled software engineering leader with several of experience in cloud computing, distributed systems, virtualization, and AI/ML-applications across multiple industries, including telecommunications, healthcare, energy, and CRM software. He is currently... Read More →

Kayla Wolf

Merkle

Sponsors

Claro

Claro Enterprise Solutions, a subsidiary of América Móvil, is a global integrator with over 20 years of experience and your partner for managing secure-by-design cybersecurity and information technology solutions adapted to your business requirements. Choose Claro and scale your... Read More →

Wednesday June 11, 2025 12:15pm - 1:00pm EDT
Somerhaus Events Venue 1415 Republic St, Cincinnati, OH 45202, USA

Panel

12:15pm EDT

Panel: Smarter, Faster, Cheaper: Driving ROI with AI Marketing Tools

Wednesday June 11, 2025 12:15pm - 1:00pm EDT

Alcove - The Loft Room

AI is revolutionizing marketing—from content creation and customer insights to ad targeting and performance tracking. In this panel, marketing leaders and growth strategists will share how they’re using AI to reduce costs, improve speed, and generate measurable ROI across channels.

Panelists will explore what tools they’re using, how they’re integrating them into existing workflows, and how they’re measuring success. This session is packed with real use cases, tactical advice, and lessons learned for marketers who want to do more with less—and do it smarter.

Speakers

Matt McKeown

Founding Partner | Head of AI & Data Sciences, Orchard + Viridity Technologies

I’m the co-founder of Orchard Digital Marketing and Viridity Technologies, where I focus on building AI-powered ecosystems and digital solutions that help businesses grow smarter. My work sits at the intersection of strategy, technology, and creativity—helping organizations unlock... Read More →

Greg Goshorn

Founder, AI Strategist & Consultant, Mapping Your Marketing & AI

Greg Goshorn teaches business owners and teams how to integrate AI into daily operations to save time, boost productivity, and unlock smarter decision-making. Known for his real-world, jargon-free approach, Greg specializes in private AI training, secure GPT customization, and strategic... 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 →

Tom Nolan

COO, Forge Film Studios

Experienced Television Manager with a demonstrated history of working in the broadcast media industry. Skilled in Broadcasting, Advertising, Video, and Event Management. Strong operations professional with a Master of Science (MS) focused in Television Management from Drexel Univ... Read More →

Betty Rodriguez-Hakes

MarTech / AITech Consultant | Business Owner | Content Creator

I have a diverse background fueled by passion for both healthy lifestyle and innovative technologies. With over three decades of experience, I’ve concentrated on staying ahead of the curve in marketing, advertising and AI technologies. I pride myself on understanding, translating... Read More →

Wednesday June 11, 2025 12:15pm - 1:00pm EDT
Alcove - The Loft Room 1410 Vine St, Cincinnati, OH 45202, USA

Panel

12:45pm EDT

Panel: Exploring AI Readiness - From Data and Systems to People and Security

Wednesday June 11, 2025 12:45pm - 1:30pm EDT

Union Hall- Beer Hall (2nd floor)

AI success isn’t just about algorithms—it’s about organizational readiness. In this cross-functional panel, leaders from technology, operations, workforce development, and security will explore what it really takes to prepare an enterprise for AI adoption at scale.

From modernizing data and IT systems to training teams, aligning stakeholders, and managing risk, this session will spotlight practical steps to move from experimentation to sustainable implementation. Expect honest takes on what’s working, where organizations get stuck, and how to build an AI-ready culture that lasts.

Speakers

Shannon Smith

Director of Business and Technical Operations, Tyrannosaurus Tech

I am the Director of Business and Technical Operations at Tyrannosaurus Tech, where I lead AI strategy for both internal operations and client offerings.As an entrepreneur and business strategist, I have 10+ years of experience leading technical teams and building SaaS products for... Read More →

Brian Henn

Vaco

Mo Abuali

Tech Mahindra

Sahil Sampat

Director, Data Science, 84.51

I'm the Director of Data Science at 84.51°, where I lead efforts to turn Kroger’s rich first-party data into AI-driven strategies for personalized marketing and real-time optimization. My focus is on connecting advanced data science with business needs to drive precise targeting... Read More →

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 →

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 →

Wednesday June 11, 2025 12:45pm - 1:30pm EDT
Union Hall- Beer Hall (2nd floor)

Panel

1:00pm EDT

Panel: AI for Sales and Revenue Generation

Wednesday June 11, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm EDT

Alcove - The Loft Room

AI is transforming how sales teams find leads, close deals, and generate revenue. From predictive insights and lead scoring to automated outreach and customer intelligence, this panel explores the tools and strategies that are helping organizations accelerate growth with AI.

Panelists will share how they’re applying AI across the sales funnel, what results they’ve seen, and how they’re empowering human teams—not replacing them—with smart tools. Expect a candid conversation on how to boost revenue with AI, avoid common pitfalls, and measure what matters most.

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 →

Jennifer Panepinto

Owner and Senior Marketing Consultant, Painted Bread Marketing

Rachel Jones

Sales & Business Strategy Consultant, The Bold B

I help growing businesses stop flying blind and start scaling smart—with AI tools that work in the trenches. As a sales and business strategy consultant, I partner with teams that are too big to wing it but not big enough for a full C-suite. From building metrics that drive accountability... Read More →

Steve Hennegan

Partner/Chief Growth Officer, Seven Hills Technology

Helping Companies Tackle Complex Technology Challenges & Build Outstanding Software Products

Ellen Craven

Owner, Brandnovus.com

Ellen Craven: Brand Strategy, Design and Innovation Leader. I believe brands aren’t accidental, they’re engineered. I’ve spent 30 years in strategy, insights, design, and innovation, helping brands like Intel, P&G, Lockhead Martin, Kraft Foods, Illinois Health Alliance, Philips... Read More →

Sponsors

Seven Hills Technology

Seven Hills Technology is a software product agency based in Cincinnati, Ohio. We help companies design, build, and launch digital products that solve real problems and create measurable impact. Our team blends strategy, design, and engineering in a collaborative, hands-on way, working... Read More →

Wednesday June 11, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm EDT
Alcove - The Loft Room 1410 Vine St, Cincinnati, OH 45202, USA

Panel

1:00pm EDT

PANEL: AI in Banking, Insurance, and Finance: What's Now? What's Next?

Wednesday June 11, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm EDT

Somerhaus Events Venue

The financial sector has emerged as both a pioneer and a proving ground for AI innovation. In this session, leaders across banking, insurance, and financial services will explore how AI is currently being deployed—and where the next wave of transformation is headed.

From fraud detection and underwriting to customer experience and risk modeling, panelists will share the most impactful use cases they’re seeing today, the barriers to adoption, and how to future-proof AI strategies in a regulated and competitive environment.

Speakers

Madhavi Najana

Federal Home Loan Bank Of Cincinnati

Madhavi Najana is an award winning, trailblazing leader in AI, currently working at Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati, USA, with over 19 years of experience in Software engineering. She is a Strategic AI Advisory Board member for Ashland University, Ohio State Ambassador for Women... Read More →

Gladson Baby

Srinath Chandramohan

Senior Manager Technology Consulting, EY

With over 17 years of extensive experience in insurance technology, Srinath has adeptly transitioned through various roles — from Technical Lead to Product Manager to Engineering Manager — successfully leading technology teams across multiple regions and time zones. His career... Read More →

Anusha Nerella

State Street Corporation

Ron Rock

Managing Director, Financial Services, JobsOhio

Sponsors

JobsOhio

JobsOhio, the state’s unique private economic development corporation, acts as a catalyst for high-growth business investments and job creation that are helping propel the state’s ingenuity and ambitions forward. Founded 14 years ago, JobsOhio is a first-of-its-kind, state-authorized... Read More →

Wednesday June 11, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm EDT
Somerhaus Events Venue 1415 Republic St, Cincinnati, OH 45202, USA

Panel

1:30pm EDT

Panel: Rewriting the Roadmap: How AI Reshapes Business Strategy in Real Time

Wednesday June 11, 2025 1:30pm - 2:15pm EDT

Union Hall- Beer Hall (2nd floor)

AI is no longer just a tool—it’s a force that’s actively reshaping business models, decision-making processes, and long-term strategy. This panel brings together executive leaders and innovation strategists to share how AI is influencing strategic planning across functions, from product development and operations to workforce planning and customer experience.

Panelists will discuss how they’re adapting to rapidly evolving capabilities, realigning goals, and navigating uncertainty while staying competitive. This is a session for decision-makers who understand that AI isn’t a line item—it’s the lens through which future-ready strategy is being built.

Speakers

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 →

Mark Schnitter

CIO, Nexigen

Mark is the Chief Information Officer at Nexigen, leading the IT security practice. He has vast experience in results-driven environments spanning multiple industries, organizational sizes, and technologies. A key aspect to Mark’s success is bringing people, process, and technology... Read More →

Nicole Armstrong

Ellequate

Prekshya Nepal

Data Scientist III, FedEx

Kristy Wedel

Learning Experience Manager, AlignAI

Kristy Wedel, Learning Experience Manager at AlignAI, has over 15 years of experience in developing and democratizing analytics solutions that drive transparency and efficiency across various industries including healthcare, banking and government. At the forefront of AI adoption... Read More →

Wednesday June 11, 2025 1:30pm - 2:15pm EDT
Union Hall- Beer Hall (2nd floor)

Panel

1:45pm EDT

PANEL: AI in Healthcare and Medicine: Improving Outcomes for People and Systems

Wednesday June 11, 2025 1:45pm - 2:30pm EDT

Somerhaus Events Venue

AI is transforming healthcare from every angle—enhancing diagnostics, streamlining operations, accelerating research, and improving patient experiences. But realizing these benefits requires careful navigation of clinical, ethical, and organizational complexity.

This panel brings together healthcare innovators and practitioners to share how AI is making a real impact in both patient care and health system performance. Panelists will explore current use cases, implementation challenges, and what it will take to build trusted, scalable, and human-centered AI in medicine.

Speakers

Puneet Sodhi

Click Therapeutics, Group Product Manager

Zag ElSayed

Asst Professor, University of Cincinnati

Zag ElSayed (Dr. Zag). He received his B.S. and M.S. with Distinction degree of Honor from Alexandria University in 2005. He got his second M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Computer Engineering from UL at Lafayette in 2016; he worked as a research engineer and IT consultant in Africa, Europe, and... Read More →

Sarah Giolando-Matlin

Founder & CEO, OKTO Strategic Advisors

Senior healthcare leader and advisor to start-up companies and established healthcare organizations working to leverage technology and consumer insights to transform healthcare.

Salwa Arafa, PhD, Rph

Compliance Pharmacist, Cincinnati Children’s

PhD in NeuroScience and Pediatric Pharmacist at Cincinnati Children’s Medical center. Founder and Owner of AEBImportsLLC.

Santosh Kumar

Technical Leader - AI, HCLTech, USA

Santosh Kumar is a seasoned AI/ML Technical Leader with over 15 years of experience driving innovative solutions across healthcare, insurance, and enterprise systems. He currently leads cutting-edge initiatives in Generative AI, with a focus on clinical decision support, smart claims... Read More →

Wednesday June 11, 2025 1:45pm - 2:30pm EDT
Somerhaus Events Venue 1415 Republic St, Cincinnati, OH 45202, USA

Panel

1:45pm EDT

Panel: Building the AI Stack: Data, Models, and Infrastructure That Scale

Wednesday June 11, 2025 1:45pm - 2:30pm EDT

Alcove- The Gathering Room

An AI Stack is the full set of technologies, tools, and systems used to build, train, deploy, and scale artificial intelligence solutions in a real-world environment.
Think of it like layers in a cake—each one has a job, and together they make AI possible. From proof-of-concept to production at scale, building a sustainable AI stack is one of the most complex—and critical—challenges facing modern organizations. This panel brings together experienced practitioners to unpack how real companies are building scalable AI systems from the ground up.

We’ll dive into the practical decisions behind data pipelines, model deployment, and infrastructure orchestration. Learn what tools and frameworks are actually being used, how teams are overcoming blockers like integration and data quality, and which strategies are delivering real business value.
This is not a theoretical conversation—it’s a behind-the-scenes look at how AI is being built, scaled, and delivered in the real world.

Speakers

Chris Hensley

CTO, Nexigen

Chris Hensley is Nexigen's Chief Technology Officer and been with the organization since 2017. As CTO, Chris is responsible for Nexigen's overall technology strategy and to drive new client initiatives. Prior to joining Nexigen, Chris has worked in the Technology Services industry... Read More →

Joe Owens

Owens63

Joe Owens is an experienced Enterprise Architect and Product Management professional with a deep technical foundation in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data analytics. He helps organizations harness data to drive intelligent decision-making and scalable performance... Read More →

Gautam Solaimalai

Vice President, US Bancorp

Gautam Solaimalai is a seasoned technology executive, currently serving as Vice President and Senior Engineering Manager at U.S. Bancorp. With over 15 years of experience spanning enterprise architecture, AI-driven financial platforms, and cloud-native solutions, Gautam has led award-winning... Read More →

Richard Schramm

Principal / CTO, Fairwind Technologies

Hands-on AI & technology consultant and Fractional CTO, helping startups, SMBs, and growth-stage companies bridge the gap between vision and execution.With 25+ years of experience in AI, Healthcare, SaaS, and Enterprise Innovation, I partner with founders and executive teams to... Read More →

Arpit Gupta

Senior Director, Predictive Analytics & Data Science, CareSource

Prateek Shrivastava

Advanced analytics manager, Cummins

I'm a data and AI leader with 12+ years of experience solving real-world problems across supply chain, marketing, and enterprise systems. I currently lead advanced analytics at Cummins and enjoy applying machine learning to improve business outcomes. Outside of work, I mentor aspiring... Read More →

Wednesday June 11, 2025 1:45pm - 2:30pm EDT
Alcove- The Gathering Room 1410 Vine St, Cincinnati, OH 45202, USA

Panel

2:15pm EDT

Panel: AI + ROI: Real Use Cases That Moved the Needle

Wednesday June 11, 2025 2:15pm - 3:00pm EDT

Union Hall- Beer Hall (2nd floor)

AI isn't just about experimentation—it’s about execution. In this panel, leaders share real stories of AI initiatives that delivered measurable return on investment. From reducing costs and improving efficiency to unlocking new revenue and transforming customer experiences, this session will focus on what it takes to move the needle.

Panelists will explore how they identified high-impact use cases, overcame implementation hurdles, measured success, and scaled their wins. Whether you're looking for inspiration or a playbook, this session is full of practical takeaways from teams that made AI work.

Speakers

Steve Brunker

CEO, Brain-CA Technologies

Steve Brunker serves as CEO at Brain-CA Technologies, a firm bringing to market a fundamentally different computer architecture built specifically for AI applications. He has over 30 years of IT leadership experience, having served as CIO at Hillman Solutions and LSI Industries. His... Read More →

Matt Wenning

Director Cloud Solution Architecture - Data & AI, Microsoft

Matt Wenning is Director of Cloud Solution Architecture, Data & AI at Microsoft, where he leads a team of architects focused on designing and deploying enterprise-scale AI and analytics solutions for customers. With a strong foundation in data strategy and cloud architecture, Matt... Read More →

Charlie Apigian

Lead Data and AI Strategist, LBMC

Naveen Ramakrishna

Dell

Margee Moore

CEO, Big Orange Marketing

🍊 You know how you want to get more leads and grow your business, but you're not sure how? We help American businesses do just that with lean, efficient, and 🍊juicy🍊 digital marketing that gets results. 🚀 Ask me about our Lead-Gen Revenue Engine campaign offering... Read More →

Wednesday June 11, 2025 2:15pm - 3:00pm EDT
Union Hall- Beer Hall (2nd floor)

Panel

CincyAIweek25

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