AI and Analytics in Action
Friday, September 26, 2025
Registration Fee: $75
Enjoy lunch and later hors d’oeuvres with complimentary wine and beer.
FREE registration for University of Akron students, faculty, and staff.
Current University of Akron students who register in advance will be able to enter a raffle at the Summit to win valuable prizes!
Venue: Quaker Station, 135 South Broadway St, Akron, OH 44325, In-person only
Parking (Free): 124-162 E Mill St and 123-161 E Mill St with entrances at Quaker Square and on S Summit St
Because of the dramatic, historic, and almost unbelievable gains in the capabilities of GenAI systems like CoPilot and ChatGPT, major firms have already created numerous use cases, pilots, and deployed systems that incorporate “intelligence.” On top of well-understood use cases and ROI for business intelligence/dashboards, robotic process automation, and predictive analytics, major shifts in how we do business are inevitable.
At BAIS 2025, we bring together the NE Ohio community to enhance our vision of what we can do with these tools, to understand how to get to an acceptable ROI, and to see how to avoid their pitfalls.
The Summit includes ample networking opportunities with your peers, leading data analytics professionals, University of Akron faculty, and students from the Business Analytics and Information Systems programs. All net proceeds from this event will go to support student scholarships to attend the Summit and to study in relevant University of Akron programs.
Program
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Lunch
12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Decoding the AI Deluge: From Buzzwords to Business Strategy to Bottom-Line Impact
Brian Dryja, Scaled Sense
1:30 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.
Break
1:45 p.m. - 2:15 p.m.
Practical Means to Fight Bias in AI: An Insurance Example
Bobby Hancock, Westfield
2:15 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Networking Break
3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Exploring Insights from Real World Implementations
Matt Gibson, Comet Consulting Group
John Paganini, Co-chair for the Northern Ohio HIMSS AI Center of Excellence
Drew Koechley, Managing Director of Marketing Effectiveness and Intelligence at VML
David Kennedy, Founder, CEO, Chief Hacking Officer TrustedSec, Binary Defense
Moderators: Anthony Jakab, 8X8 and Susan Lowry, Square-One Consulting
4:30 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.
Raffles & Prizes
4:45 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Hors d’oeuvres, Wine & Beer Provided, Cash Bar, & Networking
Keynote
Decoding the AI Deluge: From Buzzwords to Business Strategy to Bottom-Line Impact
Brian Dryja, Scaled Sense
In today's rapidly evolving technological landscape, business leaders are inundated by a constant 'deluge' of AI buzzwords, from Generative AI and RAG to Agentic Workflows and beyond. While the potential is immense, this information overload often obscures the path to tangible business value, leading to confusion, reactive decision-making, or strategic paralysis. This presentation offers a practical and experience-driven framework for leaders to cut through the hype. We will first demystify these complex technical concepts, translating them into understandable business capabilities and illustrating how they can be genuinely leveraged.
The core of our journey will focus on strategically aligning these powerful new capabilities with fundamental business objectives to forge true competitive advantage, moving beyond merely chasing trends. Drawing from real-world observations gathered across diverse industries, including healthcare, retail, insurance, legal, and within organizations ranging from dynamic mid-market firms to Fortune 50 enterprises, both in my past enterprise consulting roles and now leading Scaled Sense, we will critically examine a common, pressing challenge: how to move beyond impressive demos and proofs-of-concept. Many organizations struggle to apply these promising AI starts to their unique operational realities, especially when accounting for complex compliance requirements, stringent security concerns, and the practicalities of existing data cleanliness and organization. This is the heart of the 'execution chasm' where many well-intentioned AI projects falter. Attendees will gain insight into the foundational principles of building a reliable 'engine' for execution, encompassing integrated data, intelligent automation, and agile platforms. Ultimately, this session aims to equip attendees with the clarity and strategic tools needed to consistently deliver measurable, bottom-line impact from their AI initiatives, turning technological potential into business reality.
Presentation
Practical Means to Fight Bias in AI: An Insurance Example
Bobby Hancock, Westfield
As organizations adopt Artificial Intelligence, ensuring these systems are accountable, transparent, and free from bias has become a shared challenge. While sectors like insurance face formal regulatory expectations, the broader need to evaluate and manage bias applies across industries. The need is clear; the way to get there is not.
This session presents a real-world, actionable approach to measuring and mitigating bias in AI. The methodology applies to a wide range of use cases—including predictive modeling, decision support, standard Large Language Models, and more.
By sharing an example grounded in practical experience—not just theory—this session offers a realistic framework that other teams can use to meet both internal and external expectations.
Panel
Exploring Insights from Real World Implementations
Participants are encouraged to join the moderated discussion with our expert panel around topics including: business case development, overcoming barriers, implementation cycles, lessons learned, and success stories.
Matt Gibson, Managing Partner, Comet Consulting
With over 15 years of experience automating business processes, Matt brings a rare blend of technical depth and real-world pragmatism to the conversation on enterprise AI. As the founder of an IT consultancy focused on Microsoft technologies, he and his team specialize not just in deploying solutions—but in driving meaningful adoption. Their work centers on helping organizations get full value from their AI investments by aligning tools with business outcomes, training end-users, and fostering sustained engagement.
Matt leverages field-tested frameworks to guide companies through every phase of AI adoption—from identifying high-impact automation opportunities in everyday workflows to avoiding the common pitfall of overengineering. His approach focuses on practical implementation, strategic communication, and support—turning AI from a buzzword into a business asset.
John Paganini, Co-chair for the Northern Ohio HIMSS AI Center of Excellence
John Paganini is Co-chair for the Northern Ohio HIMSS AI Center of Excellence for Healthcare (AI COE) and the President of Paguar Informatics Inc., a healthcare IT consulting firm providing services in AI, consulting, innovation development, system integration, strategic planning, marketing analysis, and product and project management. Additionally, John is the CEO of CrewTracker Software which provides business operations management software solutions for the Snow and Ice Management and Landscaping industries.
Drew Koechley, Managing Director of Marketing Effectiveness and Intelligence at VML
Drew Koechley has over a decade of experience driving data-driven strategies to enhance profitability and operational efficiency across various industries. Currently, Drew is a Managing Director of Marketing Effectiveness and Intelligence at VML, an operating company of the world’s largest advertising agency, WPP.
Drew oversees the customer acquisition and retention analytics at a major automotive client, as well as supporting the agency and client-roll out of the agency’s proprietary AI-tool WPP Open. He is actively involved in various Artificial Intelligence initiatives from launching AI agents, developing back-end data strategy and global AI adoption.
Prior to VML, Drew has worked in various industries including a Machine Learning startup, PwC Consulting and Signet Jewelers. In his prior roles, he has primarily focused on how analytics should inform corporate strategy.
Drew completed his undergraduate at Ohio State (Marketing & Logistics) and his MBA at Carnegie Mellon University (Finance & Economics). He lives in Cleveland with his wife, children and two old dogs.
David Kennedy, Founder, CEO, Chief Hacking Officer TrustedSec, Binary Defense
Cybersecurity visionary crafting a global shield, nurturing future protectors, and cultivating a safer world through humility, service, and relentless dedication.
Boasting over 25 years of experience that spans a diverse landscape, David is deeply immersed in the world of cybersecurity. From serving as Chief Security Officer (CSO) for a Fortune 1000 enterprise to the halls of Congress and television screens nationwide, David's career reflects a passion for safeguarding others.
With an unwavering commitment to propelling the cybersecurity industry forward and fostering a safer world, David has founded two successful global cybersecurity enterprises, TrustedSec and Binary Defense. TrustedSec offers consulting services with the brightest minds in cybersecurity, while Binary Defense stands tall as a leader in Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP), Managed Detection and Response (MDR), and software security, halting invasions at their inception.
In addition to highly recognized achievements like the EY Entrepreneur of The Year® 2023 East Central Award and the SANS Difference Maker Award (DMA) in 2022, David’s heart remains rooted in service and helping others. David co-founded "We Hack Health" in 2021 and cohosts the "Hacking Your Health" podcast, guiding listeners toward holistic optimization of body, mind, and business. David is also a co-owner of Illinois Alternative Medicine (IAM), a cutting-edge science- and doctor-driven telemedicine practice for whole-body health and hormone replacement therapy.
Panel Moderators
Susan Burton Lowry is President Strategic Services, SquareOne Consulting, chair of the CITA Advisory Board, and adjunct faculty member in the College of Business. Susan is a senior strategist with over 20 years of experience spanning internet marketing, enterprise platforms, and digital strategy across industries including CPG, aerospace, automotive, and utilities. She has led digital initiatives for Fortune 500 companies and nonprofits, managed a Top 400 e-commerce site with full P&L responsibility, and currently provides consulting in SEO, content strategy, social media, and analytics.
Anthony Jakab holds the position of Senior Manager - Commercial Sales, 8x8. He is a member of the CITA Advisory Board, member of the College of Business adjunct faculty, and CoB MS graduate. He brings experience from previous roles at GoTo, NICE inContact and Diebold.
Company Sponsorships
Summit Sponsor: $10,000
- Companies recognized as “Summit Sponsor” throughout the event, on event website and in all related media
- 60-seconds video commercial spot to be played throughout event
- Introduce Keynote Speaker
- 3 Corporate Tables of 8 (per table)
- 3 Vendor Display Tables
- Large logo featured prominently throughout event
- Company is verbally recognized throughout the event
Premier Sponsor: $5,000
- Sponsor a Session — prerecorded introduction of speaker and logo featured
- Companies recognized as “Premier Sponsor” throughout the event, on event website and in all related media
- 60-seconds video commercial spot to be played throughout event
- 2 Corporate Tables of 8 (per table)
- 2 Vendor Display Tables
- Medium logo featured prominently throughout event and on social media
- Company is verbally recognized throughout the event
Gold Sponsor: $2,500
- 1 Corporate Table of 8 (per table)
- 1 Vendor Display Table
- Small logo featured throughout the event and social media
- Company is verbally recognized throughout the event
Blue Sponsor: $1,000
- Unlimited Blue sponsorships available
- 1 Corporate Table of 8 (per table)
- Small logo featured throughout the event and social media
- Company is verbally recognized throughout the event
To become a sponsor, please visit the registration page and select your sponsorship level.
Should you have questions, please contact Alan Bedingfield, abedingfield@uakron.edu or 330-972-5879
About CITA
The Center for Information Technologies and Analytics (CITA) is a multi–disciplinary Center within the College of Business. CITA was created in 2000 with the mission to teach students and develop faculty in the principles and practices of the related disciplines of Information Technology. CITA accomplishes its mission by providing scholarships, mentoring, internships & co-op opportunities to students in the information systems and business analytics disciplines, providing resources to conduct research to faculty, and conducting several outreach activities that promote IT and analytics among local companies.
CITA is made up of an advisory board of Information Technology leaders from the Northeast Ohio region and the College of Business faculty, staff and students. For further information, visit the Center for Information Technologies and Analytics (CITA) website.