< Keynote >
Nancy Lyons : Founder/CEO, Everdare Advisors
Nancy Lyons has spent 30 years in tech — 25 of them building one of the country's most respected digital consultancies — then left to say the quiet parts out loud. A bestselling author, tech founder, Emmy winner, and culture provocateur, she brings humor, raw candor, and hard-won insight to every stage.
Her talks don't traffic in inspiration. They deliver tools, reframes, and a mandate to lead from wherever you stand. As the founder of Everdare Advisors, she helps organizations navigate AI, disruption, and change without losing the human edge.
< AI Spotlight Talks >
Dr. Galin Jones : Vice President for AI, University of Minnesota
Galin Jones is the Lynn Y. S. Lin Professor of Statistics and the inaugural Vice Provost for Artificial Intelligence at the University of Minnesota, where he leads the university's AI Hub. He earned his PhD in Statistics from the University of Florida. His research focuses on Markov chain Monte Carlo methodology and mathematical statistics, as well as interdisciplinary applications in neuroimaging, astrophysics, and environmental sciences. Dr. Jones is an elected Fellow of both the American Statistical Association and the Institute of Mathematical Statistics. His editorial roles include serving as Past Editor of the Journal of Computational and Graphical Statistics and Co-Editor of ASA Discoveries.
Luis Lopez Garay : Partner, AI Transformation, Crowe
Luis Lopez Garay, CPA, is a partner at Crowe leading the firm's Forward Deployed Engineering practice. He helps clients build roadmaps for AI adoption and leads the development of AI enabled enterprise applications, with a focus on change management and enterprise value creation. He previously worked as an ERP systems consultant and as a product manager for a lease accounting solution later acquired by Microsoft, and he led financial statement audits for publicly traded organizations. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Goshen College and is a Certified Public Accountant.
Caroline Swift Holden : AI Workforce Strategist & Speaker
Caroline's bio is to come! For now, here's her website.
Dr. Pradeep Jacob : Faculty, University of Minnesota Duluth Labovitz School of Business and Economics
Pradeep's bio is to come!
< Panel Conversation Experts >
John Soderberg : Senior Executive Vice President, Fastenal, Inc.
John Soderberg serves as Senior Executive Vice President of Information Technology at Fastenal. He leads the company's global IT organization, overseeing technology strategy, digital transformation, cybersecurity, data, and artificial intelligence initiatives that support business growth and operational excellence.
Dr. Melanie Talaga : Faculty, University of Minnesota Duluth Swenson College of Science and Engineering
Dr. Melanie Talaga, General Chemistry Director and Associate Teaching Professor at the University of Minnesota Duluth, holds a PhD in Chemistry from Michigan Technological University and an MEd with a focus in Educational Technology from the College of Saint Scholastica. Before joining UMD as an Associate Teaching Professor in 2025, she was an Associate Professor at the College of Saint Scholastica from 2016 to 2025. Her research interests include glycobiology, protein purification, and STEM Education. Outside of the classroom and lab, Dr. Talaga enjoys running, baking, hiking, and spending time with her family.
Mike Miller : GTM, OpenAI
Mike's bio is to come!
Janie Moore : Founder, Brico Works
Janie Moore is the founder of Brico Works, where she helps social impact leaders build stronger strategies, systems, and ways of working. Drawing on over 20 years of nonprofit experience, she brings a people-centered, bricolage approach to problem-solving by creatively using the tools and resources at hand, including AI and automation when they are the right fit. Janie holds degrees in Public Policy and Communication and also serves as executive director of Brico Collective, a nonprofit strengthening connection among changemakers in the Duluth community.