Agenda
Thursday, May 8th • Columbus
8:00 am
Doors open, registration, + coffee networking
Fuel up with coffee, connect with fellow attendees, and meet vendor/expo companies across Ohio’s tech ecosystem.
9:15 am
Welcome to the Ohio Tech Summit
Get oriented for the day ahead with a warm welcome and an overview of the program. Emcee Tonjia Coverdale will set the tone for the summit and spotlight why this year’s theme—building Ohio’s tech hub—matters more than ever.
SUMMIT EMCEE:
• Tonjia Coverdale - Former SVP, Chief Strategy Officer for Operations + Technology at Associated Bank
9:35 am
Keynote: Building Ohio’s Tech Hub
Kick off the summit with a big-picture look at Ohio’s tech trajectory. From AI to the latest innovations, Chris Berry’s keynote explores the momentum shaping our future—and where exactly Ohio’s tech opportunity lies.
SPEAKER:
• Chris Berry - President + CEO at OhioX
10:00 am
Fireside Chat: Building the world’s strongest community of tech innovators in Ohio.
Our keynote Fireside Chat will explore the convergence of talent, research, capital, and infrastructure that’s creating an unprecedented opportunity for Ohio to lead in innovation. Hear how education, enterprise, and emerging companies are aligning to make Ohio’s tech opportunity real.
MODERATOR:
• Tonjia Coverdale - Former SVP, Chief Strategy Officer for Operations + Technology at Associated Bank
KEYNOTE GUESTS:
• Ratmir Timashev - Co-Founder of Object First
• Walter “Ted” Carter Jr. - President at The Ohio State University
10:45 am
Networking Break No. 1
11:00 am
BigCo Innovation – How Ohio Enterprises Are Leading in Tech
Learn how Ohio’s largest companies are harnessing innovation to stay competitive and build the future. This session explores how enterprise tech teams are applying AI, data science, and R&D to transform customer experiences and product development. Simply put, these companies put Ohio on the map.
MODERATOR:
• Todd James - Chief Data + Technology Officer at Kroger / 84.51
SPEAKERS:
• Erin Spring - Senior Director, Material Science at Goodyear
• Anagha Vyas - Director, Data Science, AI, Commercial Technologies + Enterprise Digital at Cardinal Health
• Catherine Allshouse - Executive Vice President at Veeva
11:45 am
Lunch Break
12:15 pm
Startup Innovation – Cultures That Scale Fast (lunch session)
What does it take to move fast and build truly great tech companies in Ohio? In our lunch session, hear from startup founders who are creating cultures of speed, experimentation, and resilience.
MODERATOR:
• Dan Manges - Co-Founder + CEO at rwx
SPEAKERS:
• Oskar Bruening - CTO + Co-Founder of Peek
• Yonatan Raz-Fridman - CEO at Supersocial, Inc.
1:00 pm
Networking Break No. 2
1:15 pm
AI in Action – Real Use Cases and ROI (Breakout #1A)
Discover how organizations in Ohio are successfully deploying AI across sectors—from healthcare to financial services. This session will highlight practical implementations, measured outcomes, and lessons learned along the way (the good and bad).
MODERATOR:
• Lynn Sautter Beal - VP, Implementation & Success at Upstart
SPEAKERS:
• Robert Krause - VP, Global Content Innovation Sales at Hyland
• Brad Reynolds - Co-Founder, Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) + SVP, Artificial Intelligence at Expedient
• Sam Porras - Senior Director at Slalom
• Doug Vargo - VP, Consulting Services at CGI
1:15 pm
Cybersecurity – An Age of Constant Threats (Breakout #1B)
As digital threats rise, Ohio companies are innovating in cybersecurity. This session dives into real-world risks, best practices, and how to build cyber-resilient organizations across industries.
MODERATOR:
• Michelle Pittsenbarger - Chief Technology Officer at KM2 Solutions
SPEAKERS:
• Wes Withrow - Sr. Client Partner at Verizon
• Tony Pietrocola - President at AgileBlue
• Nick Enger - President and Chief Technology Officer at ATC
1:15 pm
Venture Capital + Entrepreneurship in Ohio (Breakout #1C)
In this candid session, founders and investors discuss raising funds in the Midwest, lessons learned, and what’s next for entrepreneurship in Ohio.
MODERATOR:
• Jeffrey Stern - Principal at O.H.I.O Fund
SPEAKERS:
• Kristy Campbell - President & COO at Rev1 Ventures
• Ryan Schreiber - Co-Founder & CEO of Streamline
• Laura Bennett - Principal at Gosling’s Leap
2:00 pm
Networking Break No. 3
2:15 pm
The Power of Data – Turning Insights Into Action (Breakout #2A)
Data is more than dashboards, it’s a competitive advantage. This session explores how Ohio companies are using data to shape decision-making, drive outcomes, and power innovation.
MODERATOR:
• Ketaki Sodhi - Sr. Analyst & Program Lead, Employee Listening & Change Management at Microsoft
SPEAKERS:
• Joe Waina - Senior Innovation Principal at Verizon
• Payal Thakur - Sr. Director of Enterprise Analytics/CDO at JobsOhio
• Standish Stewart - VP + CIO at Cuyahoga Community College
• Colleen Saunders-Chukwu - AVP, Data Science and Analytics at Nationwide
2:15 pm
DeepTech + Defense – Ohio’s Innovation Edge (Breakout #2B)
Ohio is becoming a hub for DeepTech and dual-use technologies. Join leaders from research, defense, and emerging startups to explore how the state is accelerating breakthroughs in quantum, aerospace, autonomy, and more.
MODERATOR:
• LJ Eads - Director of Research Intelligence at Parallax Research Institute
SPEAKERS:
• Paul Parazzoli - Program Development Lead, Government Science Programs at IBM Quantum
• Bob Dirgo - Senior Program Manager at Ohio Aerospace Institute/Parallax Research Institute
• Mark S. Haberbusch - President and CEO at NEOEx Systems, Inc.
• Michael Brown - Principal Scientist, High Speed Systems Division at Air Force Research Laboratory
2:15 pm
Building Great Teams – People, Culture, and the Talent Advantage (Breakout #2C)
Behind every tech breakthrough is a high-performing team. This session highlights how leaders are building strong cultures, hiring top talent, and creating environments where teams thrive and scale.
MODERATOR:
• TBA
SPEAKERS:
• Alexandra Scheiman - VP, People at Path Robotics
• Christopher Ritchie - Managing Partner, Executive and Go-To-Market/Operations Practices at Integrity Power Search
• Catherine Reynolds - Sr. Technical Recruiter at Grammarly
3:00 pm
Networking Break No. 4
3:15 pm
Startup Pitch Competition – Ohio’s Newest Ventures
Get a front-row seat as four rising Ohio startups pitch live on stage. Watch real-time innovation, meet emerging founders, and cheer on the entrepreneurs shaping the future of Ohio tech.
STARTUPS PITCHES:
• TBA
• TBA
• TBA
• TBA
4:00 pm
Happy Hour – Celebrate Ohio’s Tech Momentum
Wrap up the day with drinks, music, and great conversation. Whether you're new to Ohio’s tech scene or a longtime contributor, celebrate what we’re building, together.
