DETAILS

DATE: November 14-15, 2023

LOCATION: One Ocean Resort & Spa

AGENDA: Below

**Registration is now open!

*Full Conference details are in the works; check back periodically for updated information.

ABOUT

AI COLLABORATE

We introduced AI Collaborate in 2020 as a conference to discuss Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, and Machine Learning in a collaborative environment.

This event is open to a select group of invited guests working in industries who have incorporated AI/ML into their business processes.

Room registration

Click here to reserve your room at One Ocean or call 904.249.7402 and request a room in the NLP Logix room block.

Guest Speaker Highlights

Mike Vitti, Senior Vice President – Data & Decision Science, PGA Tour

As SVP, Data & Decision Science for the PGA TOUR, Mike leads the areas of Data, Analytics, Data Science, Business Intelligence, ML/AI, Cybersecurity, and Business Technology Solutions. Mike has 25+ years of experience in the strategic application of data, technology, statistical modeling, machine learning, and analytics across multiple industries including speech recognition software development, Medicare safeguarding and fraud detection, sports performance and sponsorship analytics, market research, consumer/fan engagement, brand marketing, advertising, automotive manufacturing, and pharmaceutical research. He has built and led data and technology practices for organizations including the PGA TOUR, Repucom, Carat Media, Copernicus Marketing, WWE, and TriCenturion. In addition to his position at the TOUR, Mike is an Executive in Residence for the University of North Florida Sports Data Lab and an Adjunct Professor in the Sports Management program.

Jeff Kammerer, Solutions Architect, Amazon Web Services

Jeff is a 20+ year veteran in the field of information Systems Architecture and Management; his experience spans across several industry verticals that have a focus on IT Infrastructure and Communication Services. Some of Jeff’s prior roles include Network Architect and Director of Network and Communications. He is dedicated, has a results-driven work ethic, and is committed to customer service.

Tim Ottersburg, Vice President – Engineering & Delivery Options, NRC Health

Tim Ottersburg is a product and technology executive with over 20 years of experience in healthcare and market research, currently serving as Vice President of Engineering & Delivery Operations at NRC Health. With a track record of scaling teams and organizations to significant growth, he oversees a team of 200 professionals across various disciplines, from product and engineering to IT and support. Tim has been instrumental in establishing ROI-based prioritization processes, unifying platform delivery approaches, and significantly improving operational efficiencies. He holds a BSBA in Business & Marketing from Washington University in St. Louis and is Six Sigma Green Belt Certified.

Mike Brooks, Data & Analytics Strategy Leader, Trace3

Mike leads Trace3’s national data strategy practice. He has over 25 years’ experience advising organizations on how to optimize their data capabilities to achieve enterprise priorities, transform their business, and deliver a great customer experience. His past clients include leading organizations in healthcare, life sciences, financial services, manufacturing, and the public sector. His expertise includes data and analytics strategy development, data governance, modern analytics architecture, data science, cloud computing, analytics organization design, and business case development. Mike has published many articles and has been a frequent speaker at industry events and other organizations. Mike has an MBA and undergraduate degree in Accounting from Appalachian State University. He also has numerous certifications in analytics, data management, AI/ML, and other areas. Mike is also avid fly-fisherman and outdoorsman.

Alan Schwartz, President, iVenture Solutions

Alan Schwartz has been with iVenture for more than 16 years, and before that worked in several large support organizations and became a member of Vistage. He says working in a place that cares so deeply about its people over the years has become part of his DNA and management style, and today he focuses mainly on service excellence and long-term organizational growth. Alan’s role includes examining and expanding iVenture’s service catalog and maintaining sustainable financial growth. Having worked with almost every industry, including manufacturing, professional services, and education, Alan understands the unique needs of iVenture’s clients. With that understanding, Alan works with businesses to identify a holistic plan of success. He always uncovers the root cause of frustrations. This deep dive into each business’s goals and roadblocks is where Alan shines.

Sean Paley, Chief Technology Officer, Ezra

As the Chief Technology Officer at EZRA, a digital coaching company, Sean leads the Product and Engineering teams that build EZRA from concept to market leader in the last five years. Sean has over 25 years experience in innovation, product management and application development, including previous roles at LHH, Adecco and Beeline. Not only passionate about leveraging technology to deliver business value, Sean is also a devoted husband, father of four and a drummer.

Sergio Passalaqua, Vice President of Technology, ITEL

Sergio Passalacqua is an accomplished VP of Information Technology with over two decades of experience in the insurance industry. Currently serving as the VP of Technology at ITEL Laboratories in Jacksonville, Florida, he has a proven track record in IT Strategy, Solution Architecture, Information Security, Vendor Management, and Mobile and Web Applications development. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated leadership in driving technology strategy, overseeing security measures, managing acquisitions, and fostering organizational growth. Sergio has successfully managed large teams, set development standards, and executed software architecture projects, contributing significantly to the success of his organizations. He holds a Master’s in Information Technology from Rochester Institute of Technology and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems from Buffalo State College.

Panel – Establishing ROI

Matt Berseth (Moderator), CIO/Co-Founder, NLP Logix

Matt Berseth is the co-founder and CIO of NLP Logix, a leading AI services company. Matt is an AI and data science subject matter expert, who is a member of the Forbes Technology Council; he also led a TEDx talk in 2022, by the title of “Why Artificial Intelligence is More Human Than You Think.” Matt holds both a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in Computer Science, from North Dakota State University. Matt holds adjunct faculty positions at both the University of North Florida and Jacksonville University, where he teaches data science. He serves on the advisory board for the Florida Data Science for Social Good non-profit and is also on the computing advisory board for the University of North Florida. He and his wife Katie have been married for over 15 years, have three children, and reside in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.

Katie Johnson (Panelist), Senior Director of Research & Analytics, NRC Health

Dr. Katie Johnson is the Senior Director of Research and Analytics at NRC Health. In her current role, she leads teams of researchers dedicated to understanding and explaining patient experience and consumer behavior in the area of healthcare. With two decades of experience in the research field, Dr. Johnson has cultivated a talent for blending scientific rigor with real-world business needs, and strives to make research actionable and accessible to all.

Ryan Lifferth (Panelist), CTO/CIO, MetaSource

Ryan Lifferth is the CIO/CTO at MetaSource, LLC, a digital transformation solutions provider who is dedicated to helping organizations eliminate error-prone tasks and data silos, optimize processes, and achieve breakthrough growth. Ryan has been in the software development industry dating back to the late 90s. He spent the first half of his career in the airline reservation industry, helping to build and deploy high transaction software to airlines around the world. The second half of his career has been dedicated to the mortgage industry, directing the building of tools to help automate the mortgage process through the use of technology.

Asher Lohman (Panelist), Vice President – Data and Analytics, Trace3

For over 20 years, Asher Lohman has been a noteworthy leader in a variety of technology areas. As a seasoned innovator, Asher has held cross-functional responsibilities in many different industries such as transportation, healthcare, financial services, and consumer services. His jack-of-all-trades expertise in areas such as Enterprise Data & Analytics, Data Science, innovation and emerging technology, product development, infrastructure operations, DevOps, Site Reliability Engineering, and Robotics for companies ranging from Fortune 250, to medium-sized private equity, to start-ups, including leading a large national data and analytics practices. Asher holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Florida, an MBA from Jacksonville University, and a Master of Science in Information Technology from the Florida Institute of Technology.

Panel – AI Trends

Gwen Griggs (Moderator), Lawyer | Co-Founder of ADVOS Pro + ADVOS legal

Gwen Griggs, co-founder of ADVOS legal and ADVOS Pro, has a background in Big Law and C-suite roles. In ADVOS legal, she and her partner built a new model, that – instead of hours – measures what matters to the client, team, and owner. With ADVOS Pro’s training and tech, they help other firms break through the pain points of the outdated model.

Evan Schwartz (Panelist), Chief Enterprise Architect, AMCS Group

Evan Schwartz, a Jacksonville, Florida native, is a seasoned professional in the software industry with over 30 years of experience. He serves as the Chief Enterprise Architect at AMCS Group, a global leader providing Enterprise Management and ESG software solutions to the waste, recycling, and environmental industries. Schwartz started his career with his first private enterprise, Locatha Industries, Inc., in 1988, developing productivity and entertainment software for Bulletin Board Systems (BBS). He navigated the technological shift to the Internet in 1995 by founding Quest Interactive, Inc., a successful information interchange management company. Simultaneously, he established a local post-editing graphics company, Digital Graphics, Inc., at the Florida Production Center in Jacksonville, FL.

Wanyoni Kendrick (Panelist), CIO, City of Jacksonville

Wanyoni is a dynamic, innovative executive recognized for implementing complex business strategies, using optimal technology solutions. She has over 15 years’ experience creating services to support stakeholders through a continuous improvement, risk-based approach to performance excellence. She emphasizes a people-first approach to driving high-performing teams. She has diverse industry experience including utilities, telecommunications, retail, manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, financial services, education, and banking.

Billy Steeghs (Panelist), Experienced CISO & COO

For two decades, Billy Steeghs donned various hats in the tech realm, from hands-on technologist to roles like COO, CIO, and CISO. Specializing in AI, software dev, cloud computing, blockchain, and cybersecurity, he realized it’s not just about tech—it’s about people. He is passionate about empowering teams, fostering innovation, and creating environments where everyone feels valued. From reshaping IT ops to cultivating change-centric cultures, his goal is simple: leave things better than he found them. He ensures reliability, data safety, and system security, following standards like NIST, ISO 27001, and PCI DSS. Eager for new challenges, He aims to merge tech with human ingenuity, believing the magic lies at the intersection of people, tech, and passion.

AGENDA

Subject to change

Tuesday, November 14:

Time	Session	Speaker	Location
8:00 a.m.	Breakfast		Verandina
8:45 a.m.	Kickoff + Global Reach	Ted Willich, NLP Logix	Ballroom B/C
9:15 a.m.	Keynote	Michael Vitti, PGA & Jeff Kammerer, AWS	Ballroom B/C
10:00 a.m.	Topic: Natural Language Processing (Audio)	Tim Ottersburg, NRC	Ballroom B/C
10:55 a.m.	Break
11:05 a.m.	Topic: Sentiment Analysis	Sean Paley, Ezra	Ballroom B/C
12:00 p.m.	Lunch		Verandina
1:00 p.m.	Topic: Behavioral Analysis	Michael Brooks, Trace3	Ballroom B/C
1:55 p.m.	Break
2:05 p.m.	Panel Discussion: AI Trends	Evan Schwartz, AMCS; Wanyonyi Kendrick, COJ; Gwen Griggs, ADVOS; Billy Steeghs	Ballroom B/C
3:00 p.m.	Daily Wrap		Ballroom B/C
3:15 p.m.	Expo		Ballroom Adjacent
4:30 p.m.	Cocktail Meet + Greet Reception		Patio

Wednesday, November 15:

Time	Session	Speaker	Location
8:00 a.m.	Breakfast		Verandina
9:00 a.m.	Kickoff – Day 2		Ballroom B/C
9:10 a.m.	Topic: Computer Vision	Sergio Passalacqua, ITEL	Ballroom B/C
10:05 a.m.	Break
10:15 a.m.	Topic: AI Assessment	Alan Schwartz, iVenture	Ballroom B/C
11:10 a.m.	Panel Discussion: Establishing ROI	Katie Johnson, NRC; Ryan Lifferth, MetaSource; Asher Lohman, Trace3; Matt Berseth, NLP Logix	Ballroom B/C
12:00 p.m.	NLP Wrap Up		Ballroom B/C
12:15 p.m.	Lunch (to go)		Verandina

WHAT IS LOGIX EXPO?

See demonstrations and speak one-on-one with our specialists:

Dale Probst, Opptly
Dawn Sollee, Poison Control Centers
Sergio Passalacqua, ITEL
Beeline
Josh McFarlin & Jonathan Brigman, AirPro