AI Without the Hype: Practical Implementation for Employers

Welcome Breakfast, Conversation and Networking

Welcome by Dr. Proctor, president, Harper College

Keynote Introduction: Dr. Claire Brady

Claire is a seasoned executive with a distinguished track record in driving digital transformation and organizational excellence. A national thought leader in AI adoption, Claire brings a deep understanding of AI’s transformative potential across industries.

Keynote: Why The Fittest Businesses Embrace AI-First Strategies and Digital Labor presented by Dr. Vala Afshar

Vala Afshar is the Chief Digital Evangelist at Salesforce, where he advises organizations on Agentic AI, digital labor, and the future of advanced technologies. He is the author of several books, including the bestseller Boundless: A New Mindset for Unlimited Business Success (Wiley, 2023) and Autonomous: Why the Fittest Businesses Embrace AI-First Strategy and Digital Labor (Wiley, 2025). In 2025, Thinkers50 Radar recognized Afshar as one of the most influential voices in digital transformation and a top social media influencer.

Previously, Afshar held senior executive roles across the technology sector, including Vice President of Engineering, Chief Customer Officer, and Chief Marketing Officer. A globally recognized thought leader, he engages a community of more than one million followers across LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter) and holds multiple U.S. patents. Afshar has contributed to over 1,000 leading media publications, serves as a weekly columnist for ZDNET, and has hosted the enterprise podcast DisrupTV for more than a decade, reaching millions of viewers each year.

Panel 1: Trends and Practical Applications of AI in the Workplace

Join us for an engaging panel discussion with artificial intelligence experts designed to demystify AI in the workplace. We'll explore regional and national trends, examine AI fundamentals, and analyze workforce impacts. Panelists will provide an overview of what AI is, how it works, and its current applications across industries. We'll dive into the implications for labor markets, skill development, and evolving employee roles, and discuss how organizations can adapt and prepare their teams for the future of work. 

Key Takeaways: 

• Identify foundational principles and examples of AI in the workplace 
• Explore how AI is reshaping job functions and required skill sets 
• Recognize strategies for workforce readiness in an AI-driven economy 

Moderator: Ruben Abarca, corporate partnerships lead, Discovery Partner Institute 

Ruben is a higher education leader and Head of Partnerships at Discovery Partners Institute, driving initiatives to connect diverse talent with top employers. Since 2009, he has built corporate partnerships and enrollment strategies for leading universities. Founder of High Impact Tutors, Ruben also serves on multiple boards, championing access, innovation, and workforce development in Chicago’s tech ecosystem.

Gil Traverse, director, technology and innovation, Oracle 

Gilbert has been a thought leader and Emerging Tech evangelist in Oracle’s North America Apps division since 2017 and leads the Office of Technology & Innovation as well the North America Emerging Technology Community of Practice. In addition to Emerging Technology, Gilbert is a cyber security and data privacy expert and earned his CISSP certification in 2018. Gilbert holds a B.S. in Management and Economics from Ashland University and a Master's in Strategic Studies & Cyberwarfare from the University of Texas at El Paso.

Carlos Thomas, executive counselor, Info-Tech 

Carlos is an accomplished IT leader with expertise in digital transformation, IT governance, and business intelligence across higher education, government, and corporate sectors. With over two decades of experience, including CIO and VP roles, Carlos excels in aligning technology with strategic goals. He holds multiple advanced degrees and is passionate about driving enterprise-wide innovation and stakeholder collaboration.

Jeff Lanham, senior business technology executive, DivIHN 

Jeff is a senior business technology executive. Currently serving as Principal of the Cloud Solutions division at DivIHN Integration, Jeff oversees practice delivery, organizational development, and strategic business initiatives, focusing on innovative solutions that drive measurable results for clients. His decades of consulting experience with hundreds of organizations across many types of solutions and technologies has led to a unique breadth and depth of business technology expertise, with a focus on Microsoft platforms and Data + AI. Jeff holds a B.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from UIUC and numerous technical certifications. 

Panel 2: From Insights to Implementation of AI in the Workplace

Discover real-world examples of AI in action across a variety of industries and learn how organizations are leveraging AI to improve efficiency, enhance decision-making, and drive innovation.  Panelists will discuss proven approaches to overcome barriers to AI adoptions, providing examples of best practices for integrating AI successfully to lead to change management and workforce readiness. 

Key Takeaways: 

• Identify practical AI use cases across multiple business functions. 
• Correlate challenges with solutions for AI implementation. 
• Describe strategies to ensure smooth integration and measurable impact 

Moderator: Jessica Talbert, principal, AI/data cloud, Salesforce

Jessica is a compelling storyteller who makes complex Data and AI concepts inspiring and fun. Over a fifteen year career in education, she has presented on AI panels at universities, government sessions, and industry events such as NACAC, AACRAO. Her work is guided by her core values: Trust, Integrity, Equality, and Authenticity. She resides in Madison, WI.

Susan Caesar, director, office of technology and Innovation, International Coaching Federation
Susan is the Director of Artificial Intelligence at the International Coaching Federation (ICF) and Founder of humain.org, a nonprofit advancing life-centered innovation and women in leadership. She also co-founded Lead With Purpose, extending her commitment to ethical, human-centered transformation into Community College education and the future of work. 

Lauren Mowers, senior man., tech and talent acquisition, Addison Group 

Lauren is a Talent Strategy Expert and Senior Business Manager with 15 years of experience helping organizations build high-performing teams and optimize hiring. She blends AI innovation with a people-first approach, designing smarter recruitment frameworks and guiding leaders on leveraging AI for efficiency, empathy, and impact. Lauren champions talent strategies grounded in technology and human connection.

Scott Charter, director of AI strategy, Cloud Apps, Oracle

Scott has spent over 30 years in the IT industry, including business development roles with data service providers, as well as co-founding several IT start-ups that were acquired by larger firms. His current focus includes leading AI enablement sessions with Oracle sales teams and partners. Simplifying complex technical concepts into plain language is a large part of this role. Scott holds a JD from University of Denver’s Sturm College of Law, and a bachelor’s degree from Old Dominion University.

Concluding Remarks and Networking

Tap into the collective learnings and expertise of fellow leaders, build relationships and grow your regional network