Day 1: Innovation Fueling Today’s Economy
The first day of the summit will focus on the immediate and practical applications of innovation that are already transforming industries and driving economic growth in Wisconsin.
Sessions will feature leaders who are leveraging technologies such as AI, automation, and clean energy to enhance productivity, streamline processes, and create new business opportunities.
This day emphasizes how companies are currently harnessing innovation to address challenges, optimize performance, and fuel today’s economic engine.
Attendees will learn from real-world examples of how these innovations are reshaping business practices and offering competitive advantages in the present.
10 a.m. – Welcome and opening remarks
10:25 a.m. – Speaker: Fueling Strategy with Purpose, Innovation, and People: American Family Insurance's Transformational Journey
10:45 a.m. – Speaker: Forward Together: Driving Innovation to Advance Precision Care and Improve Patient Outcomes in Wisconsin and Beyond
11:00 a.m. – Panel: Innovating in Wisconsin: Biohealth and Personalized Medicine at the Forefront
- Moderator:
- Wendy Harris, Regional Innovation Officer, Wisconsin BioHealth Tech Hub/BioForward
- Panelists:
- Lindsay Blumer, President and CEO, WRTP | BIG STEP
- Mara Lord, Sr. VP, University Engagement and Strategic Planning, Medical College of Wisconsin
- Katie Boyce, Senior Director of Corporate Affairs, Exact Sciences Corp.
- Kurt Zimmerman, Senior Director of Biohealth Industry Partnerships, UW-Madison
12:50 p.m. – Speaker: Innovation and the City of La Crosse
1:25 p.m. – Speaker: Economic Trends in Wisconsin and the Nation
1:50 p.m. – Speaker: Leveraging Innovation to Navigate Change: The Clean Energy Transition and Wisconsin’s Economy
2:15 p.m. – Panel: Powering the Future: Innovation in Clean Energy Technologies
- Moderator:
- Francisco Sayu, Vice President of Productivity and Sustainability, WEDC
- Panelists:
- Dominick Bindl, Vice President of Technical Development, Realta Fusion
- Jorge Elizondo, Founder and President, Helia Technologies, Kohler Energy
- Nadeem Afghan, CEO, BIOFerm Energy Systems
- Mike Bremel, Director of Engineering and Customer Solutions, Alliant Energy
3:20 p.m. – Fireside Chat: Innovating Solutions to Seemingly Intractable Community Challenges
3:50 p.m. – Panel: Community Catalysts: How Chambers, Business Improvement Districts, and Visitors Bureaus Are Innovating Today
- Moderator
- Sam Rikkers, Deputy Secretary and Chief Operating Officer, WEDC
- Panelists
- Becky Bartoszek, President and CEO, Fox Cities Chamber
- Chris Clemens, Business Owner, Former Executive Director, Viroqua Chamber of Commerce
- Jacqui Sharpe, Three Lakes Area Visitors Bureau
- Raynetta “Ray” Hill, Executive Director, Historic King Drive BID No. 8
Day 2: Innovation Driving Tomorrow’s Economy
The second day shifts the focus to the future, examining how emerging innovations, particularly in artificial intelligence (AI), are set to shape and drive tomorrow’s economy.
The discussions will dive deeper into how AI and other cutting-edge technologies will revolutionize sectors like health care, manufacturing, and clean energy and create new industries and job opportunities.
Sessions will explore the long-term potential of AI in driving economic growth, fostering new business models, and addressing societal challenges, giving attendees a forward-looking perspective on how they can position themselves and their organizations to thrive in the future economy.
8:25 a.m. – Breakfast speaker: Innovating in the Driftless Region to Protect the Future of Food
8:50 a.m. – Speaker: The State of Artificial Intelligence in Wisconsin
9:25 a.m. – Panel: Thriving with AI: How Wisconsin Businesses Are Leading the Future
- Moderator
- Matt Kirchner, President of ATS/LAB Midwest and Host of the TechEd Podcast
- Panelists
- Ajay Sahajpal, Medical Director, Abdominal Transplant & Hepatobiliary Program, Advocate Aurora St. Luke’s Medical Center
- Craig Andersen, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Performance Engineering Senior Manager, Hewlett Packard
- Jane Stull, Marketing Leader, Smart Buildings and Services, Trane Technologies
- Kyle Crum, Director, Advanced Technology, Rockwell Automation
10:05 a.m. – Speaker: Artificial Intelligence in Action: Department of Workforce Development
10:20 a.m. – Panel: Next-Gen Entrepreneurship: Leveraging AI for Business Growth
11:15 a.m. – Panel: Beyond Boundaries: Creatives as Economic Change Agents
Noon – Speaker: Taking BOLD to the Next Level
Featured Speakers
Kiah Calmese Walker (Emcee) Owner/principal, Joyistry, LLC
Missy Hughes Secretary and CEO, WEDC
Jack Salzwedel Retired Chair and CEO, American Family Insurance
Jyoti Gupta President & CEO Women's Health and X-Ray at GE HealthCare
Mitch Reynolds Mayor of La Crosse
Michael Knetter CEO of the Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association
Summer Strand Commissioner, Public Service Commission of Wisconsin
Rebecca Ryan Futurist, founder of NEXT Generation Consulting
Jeff Frank CEO, Organic Valley
Matt Kirchner President of ATS/LAB Midwest; Host of The TechEd Podcast
Amy Pechacek Secretary, WI Department of Workforce Development
Pete Dulcamara Founder, Pete Dulcamara & Associates
Moderators & Panelists
Wendy Harris Regional Innovation Officer, Wisconsin Biohealth Tech Hub
Lindsay Blumer CEO and President, WRTP/BIG STEP
Mara Lord Sr. VP, University Engagement & Strategic Planning, Medical College of Wisconsin
Katie Boyce Senior Director of Corporate Affairs, Exact Sciences Corporation
Kurt J. Zimmerman Senior Director, Biohealth Industry Partnerships, UW - Madison
Francisco Sayu Vice President, Productivity and Sustainability , WEDC
Dominick Bindl VP of Technical Development, Realta Fusion
Dr. Jorge Elizondo President, Heila Technologies
Nadeem Afghan CEO, BIOFerm Energy Systems
Mike Bremel Director of Engineering & Customer Solutions, Alliant Energy
Shayna Hetzel Vice President, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, WEDC
Kate Merton Executive Director, HEI Partners
Tim Mahone Board Chair, Kenosha Innovation Neighborhood
Sam Rikkers Deputy Secretary and COO, WEDC
Becky Bartoszek President and CEO, Fox Cities Chamber
Jacqui Sharpe Director, Three Lakes Area Visitors Bureau
Raynetta “Ray” Hill Executive Director, Historic King Drive BID No. 8
Chris Clemens Former Executive Director, Viroqua Chamber
Dr. Ajay Sahajpal Medical Director, Abdominal Transplant & Hepatobiliary Program
Craig Andersen Engineering Senior Manager, Hewlett Packard
Jane Stull Leader, Smart Buildings and Services, Trane Technologies
Kyle Crum Director, Advanced Technology, Rockwell Automation
Craig Dickman Managing Partner, Titletown Tech
Corey Jaskolski Founder and CEO of RAIC Labs
Lonni Kieffer Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer, Aramid Technologies
Joe Kirgues Co-Founder, gener8tor
Marcela Garcia Executive Director, Walker's Point Center For The Arts
John Riepenhoff Executive Director, Sculpture Milwaukee
Donna Neuwirth Executive Director, Wormfarm Institute
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