GenAI Day

Zaki Medina

AI CONSULTANT

Zaki Medina is a passionate technologist and AI strategist with 17+ years of experience helping businesses harness the power of AI, cloud, and data to drive real-world impact. He’s worked with Fortune 100 companies, startups, and industrial giants, shaping AI-driven strategies that have generated $1B in value. Zaki has a knack for making complex AI concepts accessible and actionable, whether he's advising executives, training sales teams, or speaking at global events. As a former Microsoft AI Business School Instructor, he’s helped healthcare, energy, and manufacturing leaders integrate AI into their operations. Zaki is always at the forefront of Generative AI, AI-driven automation, and intelligent systems. He’s not just about theory—he’s about making AI work for people, businesses, and industries in a way that delivers results. 

Brian Sykes

AI CONSULTANT | AI CATALYST

With nearly 30 years of experience in branding and marketing, Brian Sykes empowers creative professionals to leverage Generative AI for innovation and transformation. As an AI business strategist, he provides tailored AI integration solutions for creative teams ready to advance. Brian is dedicated to partnering with forward-thinking organizations to unlock new opportunities with AI.

George Churchwell

DIRECTOR GENERATIVE AI SOLUTIONS | MT. TAM INNOVATIONS LLC

As a visionary in AI LLMs, Prompt Engineering, and AI for Excellence, George has used AI to create new and innovative solutions, including purpose-built GPTs. His creation of AI applications, from sales intelligence scripts targeting a $1 billion market to AI-assisted eLearning content for Cisco, underscores a unique blend of technical prowess and strategic insight. His journey from launching startups to guiding them to successful exits is a testament to his unwavering passion for strategic innovation and steadfast commitment to team building.

CINDY M. LEWIS

Microsoft Certified Trainer, MVP, PMP

Cindy brings over thirty years of leadership experience, specializing in Microsoft Project, Project Online, Planner, Copilot, and comprehensive project management. She spends her days collaborating with clients to ensure they maximize the value of their tools and processes.

Cindy is the esteemed author of "Microsoft Project Step by Step" and shares her extensive knowledge as a college-level instructor. As the visionary founder of 4 Pillars of Success®, a training philosophy through which she offers custom project management solutions to individuals and corporations.

Alex Townsend

AI AUTOMATION STRATEGIST | CO-FOUND OF PRAIRIE

Strategic and solutions-focused automation consultant blending AI technologies, martech systems, and process refinement to help businesses streamline operations and scale intelligently. Co-founder of PrAIrie, a consultancy that designs custom AI-powered workflows for small and mid-sized service businesses, transforming manual tasks into efficient, automated systems.

Chris Knotts

PRINCIPAL CONSULTANT | TECHNOLOGY TRANSFORMATION STRATEGIES

Chris is an experienced leader in enterprise technology with over two decades in training, coaching, and emergent technology enablement, particularly in project management. He excels in creating transformative technology training programs focused on software development, data environments, and agile methodologies. His expertise encompasses enterprise software engineering, advanced analytics, data engineering, and the application of AI and machine learning in business. Chris combines design thinking and lean technology management to innovate in product development and operational strategies, impacting various sectors such as government, education, and multinational corporations.

Marc Balcer

KNOWLEDGE ENGINEER

Marc is a recognized expert in information technology and software development, with notable contributions including the creation of TAME, a platform for software test specification and generation. He's also co-authored seminal books on software design and architecture. Marc's agile journey began in 1998, leading a groundbreaking project for a major financial services firm that emphasized adaptability and customer-centricity. Believing in the agile philosophy of experimentation and continuous learning, he remains hands-on in putting theory into practice.

Jessica Katz

FOUNDER | LIBERATED ELEPHANT

A highly experienced and passionate Agile coach and trainer, currently working as a Senior Agile Coach at SoftEd in the United States. With over 20 years of experience in the IT industry, Jessica has a proven track record of delivering successful Agile transformations for numerous Fortune 500 companies across various sectors. She has trained and coached thousands of individuals, teams, and organizations on Agile principles and practices.

Jordan Plawner

EMBEDDED AI EXECUTIVE | FOUNDER PACIFIC AI ADVISORY

Driven by the belief that AI should amplify what makes us most human, Jordan Plawner helps leaders shape AI to power their business strategy and unlock organizational potential. As founder of Pacific AI Advisory and formerly an AI strategy executive at Intel, Jordan acts as an embedded AI partner, guiding non-technical organizations to cut through hype, build literacy, and adopt AI that is responsible, practical, and measurable. His work is rooted in the philosophy that AI’s highest value comes from freeing people to focus on creativity, collaboration, and solving their most complex challenges.

Through hands-on advisory, interactive workshops, and inspiring keynotes, I empower leaders and teams to develop a vision, strategy, and culture where AI enhances, rather than replaces, human ingenuity. My mission: Help organizations approach AI with confidence and clarity, build trust, and drive lasting results by embedding learning and adaptability from the start.

Lara Hill

VP Marketing

Lara has spent 15 years leading marketing strategy for various ecommerce and tech startups, emphasizing adaptability and value delivery. Her focus extends to advocating for AI literacy and ethical AI practices, ensuring a balanced integration of technology with a human touch in marketing strategies. She consults with organizations to assist leaders in strategically enhancing their digital presence through personal branding and content creation.

David Mantica

MANAGING DIRECTOR

Fueled by his passion for developing empowered knowledge workers, David helps companies develop their teams through training and coaching, equipping them with the critical skills needed to work effectively in a volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous (VUCA) world. 

Drawing from his experience in successfully building a B2B training firm (growing it to $13M in seven years), David speaks on the impact of technology on leadership and management, helping organizations cope with the ever-changing demands and complexities of modern business. 

With over 30 years of experience and more than 700 speaking engagements, he has inspired better work practices in marketing, product management, project management, software development, executive management, and other key areas of technology and business operations.