Industry SPEAKERS:
Daniel Englebretson
Founder & CEO – ELYNOX
Daniel Englebretson is a technical founder and AI advocate focused on empowering individuals, teams, and organizations through human-AI collaboration. He recently launched Elynox, a neuro-symbolic AI company, and teaches AI at Wake Forest University, Elon University, and on LinkedIn Learning. With over a decade of experience leading digital transformation and change management initiatives, Daniel has received numerous awards, including ‘2023 AI Strategist of the Year.’ He is also involved in various advisory roles, promoting equal opportunity and AI literacy. Daniel holds an MBA from Elon University, where he developed a passion for AI’s transformative potential.
David Dang
VP – Automated Solutions, Zenergy Technologies
David Dang, VP of Automated Solutions at Zenergy Technologies, has over 20 years of experience in software automation. He specializes in DevOps and automation, helping companies streamline software delivery with innovative strategies. Recognized for his expertise, David is a sought-after DevOps strategist, automation architect, and frequent speaker at major software industry conferences.
Fred Sessoms
Enterprise Architect, CDW
Fred Sessoms is an accomplished Enterprise Architect with an impressive career spanning over two decades. He brings a wealth of experience and expertise in pre-sales and delivery data center engineering. Fred has a remarkable background in designing and delivering comprehensive solutions for private, hybrid, and public cloud infrastructures. He willingly shares his extensive knowledge and skills with anyone interested in listening and collaborating.
kyle FREDERICK
Head – North America Manufacturing, Volvo Group Digital & IT
During his twenty-six years at Volvo Group, Kyle has worked at the intersection of manufacturing operations and digital transformation. Throughout his career, he has helped guide mergers, acquisitions, and global initiatives, recognizing that successful digital transformation depends on both executive sponsorship and frontline engagement. His current focus is on artificial intelligence in manufacturing, where he draws from real-world case studies to illustrate effective pathways from problem identification to competitive advantage in the digital age.
Robert Smith
Director – Corporate Transformation Office, The Fresh Market
Robert Smith is a seasoned transformation leader with more than 20 years of experience spearheading complex, cross-functional programs across diverse industries. Currently, he serves as the Transformation Leader at The Fresh Market, a national specialty grocery retailer, where he leverages AI to align portfolios with strategic objectives and drive significant value. Robert is widely recognized for his role as Chair of the ISSCM Department’s Advisory Board and for being a valued member of UNCG’s professional faculty for over a decade.
Seán McManus
AVP – Data Analytics, Arch Capital Services
Seán McManus is an Assistant Vice President of Data Analytics at Arch Capital Services LLC in Greensboro, where he leads initiatives to drive analytically informed decisions using Machine Learning, AI, and automation. Seán has 7 years of experience in modeling and data solutions and holds a PhD from Norwich Medical School, UK. His academic research included Neural Network classification models for protein folding problem and clinical studies on the interactions between diet, genetics, and health outcomes.
Stuart Brougher
Director – US Presales, DRUID AI
Stuart Brougher is the Director of US Presales at Druid AI, where he collaborates with large organizations in higher education, financial services, and healthcare to implement agent based AI solutions. With over a decade of experience in both large enterprises and startups, Stuart has a proven track record of helping customers transform their business operations. In the era of large language models (LLMs), he is now focused on enhancing the experiences of students, employees, and customers through innovative AI applications.
Vishwa KARTHIK
Founder & CEO, MAYAMAYA
Vishwa Karthik is a visionary entrepreneur dedicated to unlocking human potential through talent management and education innovation. With over 19 years of experience and as the founder of Fusion Consulting, a leader in healthcare analytics, and Catenate, an AI-powered firm tackling life’s critical decisions, Karthik has revolutionized how businesses leverage insights. His passion for education led to creating MayaMaya and MiraMira, groundbreaking platforms that help students discover their strengths and personalize their learning journeys using AI. Through his work, Karthik is redefining career planning and education, equipping individuals with the tools to confidently navigate their futures.
More Speaker and details Coming Soon…
UNC Greensboro SPEAKERS:
Casey J. Forrest
Dr. Casey J. Forrest is Associate Vice Chancellor for Enterprise Technology Infrastructure and Chief Technology Officer at the University of North Carolina Greensboro. Casey has more than 23 years of technology experience within the UNC System, which have included management roles in Client Support Services, Enterprise Systems, Enterprise Resource Planning, and Information Security & Compliance. Prior to his current role at UNC Greensboro, he served as Chief Information Security Officer. And prior to joining UNC Greensboro, he served in various IT management roles at UNC School of the Arts and Winston-Salem State University. Casey has held membership in several UNC System working groups and community organizations, such as UNC Shared Enterprise Application Services Committee, UNC Information Security Council, UNC Financial Systems Conference Board, and NCSECU Advisory Board.
Cayden McMillian
Cayden McMillian, a junior at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG), is pursuing a marketing degree with a minor in Information Technology at the Bryan School of Business. Since 2022, she has gained hands-on experience as a Marketing/Sales Intern at CDW, collaborating with campus IT leadership and managing relationships with clients to deliver customized technology solutions. In 2023, she and her fellow interns conducted a summer-long research project on artificial intelligence in higher education, including an AI survey to gauge student perceptions. Their findings were presented at industry events hosted by Dell, CDW, and Apple and were featured in an EdTech article, highlighting the impact of student-driven AI research. Cayden has also played an active role in organizing and hosting campus events, presenting at EDUCAUSE, and contributing to AI initiatives in education.
Lakshmi s. IYER
Dr. Lakshmi S. Iyer is Professor and Head of the Information Systems and Supply Chain Management department in the Bryan School of Business and Economics at University of North Carolina Greensboro. She recently served as Interim Associate Dean of Graduate Programs & Research and Director of the Master of Science in Applied Data Analytics in the Walker College of Business at Appalachian State University. Her research interests are in the area of emerging technologies & its impact on organizations and users, and social inclusion in IS. Her research work has been published in the Journal of the AIS, Communications of the AIS, European Journal of Information Systems, Communications of the ACM, Decision Support Systems, Information Systems Frontier, Information Technology & People, Journal of Computer Information Systems, Science of the Total Environment and others. She is Board Chair for the Association of Information System’s (AIS) Special Interest Group Decision Support and Analytics (SIGDSA)
Marketa RICKLEY
Marketa Rickley is an Assistant Professor of Management at UNC Greensboro. Professor Rickley’s research explores the antecedents and consequences of leadership selection and dismissal, and top management team composition. Her current work in progress uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to predict leader emergence in teams. Professor Rickley teaches strategic management in the undergraduate and MBA programs, and she is a recipient of the UNC Greensboro Bryan School of Business and Economics Teaching Excellence Award. Professor Rickley previously worked for two global financial firms, as the Finance Officer for Central Europe in asset management and as an equity analyst. She holds a PhD in Management from Boston University and an MBA in Finance from the University of Iowa.
Rahul Singh
Rahul Singh is an Associate Professor in the Information Systems and Supply Chain Management Department at the Joseph M. Bryan School of Business and Economics at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG). He holds a Ph.D. in Business Administration from Virginia Commonwealth University. His research interests include Health Analytics, Analytics and Visualization, Health IT Value, EHR impact on clinical and operational efficacy, Social Media Strategy, Accessibility and Usability of Systems for Blind and Visually Impaired Users, Information Systems Security, Secure Business Process Design. His research has been published in leading journals including the Journal of Management Information Systems, Journal of AIS (JAIS), European Journal of Information Systems, IEEE Transactions on Systems, Man and Cybernetics (IEEE SMC-A), and Communications of the ACM. He regularly teaches graduate courses and doctoral seminars on a range of Analytics, Systems Design and related Information Systems topics.
Sherine Obare
Dr. Sherine Obare became UNCG’s Vice Chancellor for Research and Engagement in 2024 after serving as dean of the UNCG NC A&T Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering. A distinguished nano scientist and fellow of the American Chemical Society, she has received numerous accolades, including the NC Biotechnology Center’s Academic Development Excellence Award and recognition as a Triad Business Journal Triad Power Player. Under her leadership, UNCG established ICONS, a defense-focused nanotechnology research lab, and Joint School’s Institute for Research Technologies, an award-winning institute fostering university-industry partnerships. Her research spans environmental contaminant detection, nanoscale materials for healthcare and energy, and the study of nanomaterial toxicity. Obare previously held leadership roles at Western Michigan University and earned her Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of South Carolina.
Student competition Mentors:
JONAH SCHIESTLE
Director – Engineering, Cymantix
Jonah Schiestle is the Director of Engineering at Cymantix, a dual-use information retrieval and knowledge management company. He has worked in various technical capacities on projects with the National Institutes of Health and components of the Department of Defense and Intelligence Community as well as companies and non-profit organizations in energy, finance, cybersecurity, and climate. Jonah is also currently a student in the Security Studies Program at Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service focusing on the intersection of artificial intelligence and national security. He also holds an M.S. in analytics from the Institute for Advanced Analytics at North Carolina State University and B.S. degrees in mathematics and physics from the University of Minnesota.
MOTAHAREH POURBEHZADI
Motahareh (Bahar) Pourbehzadi, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Information Systems and Supply Chain Management at the Bryan School of Business and Economics, University of North Carolina Greensboro. She earned her Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Shiraz University of Technology in 2021 and a second Ph.D. in Big Data Analytics from the University of South Florida in 2024. Her recent projects include developing agent based AI systems for diabetes self-management and automating vulnerability assessments through interpretable principal component analysis. She teaches undergraduate and graduate cybersecurity courses, such as Design of Secure Computer & IoT Networks for Business.
Sponsors
The AI for Business 2025 is made possible thanks to the generous support of these sponsors.
For information about sponsorship packages and benefits for the upcoming AI for Business event, contact us at AI4Biz@uncg.edu.
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