Leadership Summit, focused on artificial intelligence (AI) and cyber security, from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 29, at the MBA Conference Center, 2171 West 38th Street and Pittsburgh Avenue. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. All media are invited to attend.

“Every leader is looking for an advantage. Right now, that advantage means understanding how AI is reshaping operations, how cyber threats are evolving and what that means for their organizations. Leaders who are staying ahead of these trends are the ones best positioned to move their businesses forward,” says MBA President and CEO Lori Joint. “Our 2026 summit will bring business leaders together to learn how to gain a competitive edge by using AI effectively and securely, and by giving them a valuable cyber security reality check.”

Vidhi Kothari, CEO and co-founder of Apprend, will kick off the event with an engaging presentation, “AI That Pays Office in 30-60 Days.” She will be followed by Kevin DiGilio, CEO and founder of KMD Technology Solutions and AIBI Solutions, who will discuss “Intro to AI & Agentic Workflows.” Next, Michael Reynolds, CEO and co-founder of Lato AI, will share “Implementing AI in Business & Enterprise Architecture.” He will be followed by Andrew Jack Bond and Cadence Rand, co-founders of Bond-Rand Technologies, on “Using AI Safely & Avoiding Business Risks.”

Next, the program will feature a panel discussion with Q&A facilitated by Sara Hanks, president and CEO Northwest Industrial Resource Center (NWIRC). The panel includes Vidhi Kothari, Kevin DiGilio, Mike Reynolds, Cadence Rand and Andrew Jack Bond, as well as special guest Jim Buchanan, founder and president of Synergy Industrial.

As part of the cyber security portion of the program, Tom Tredway, president of Erie Molded Packaging, will share “It Happened to Us – A Real Cyber Incident Story.” His presentation will be followed by Jonathan Meyn, vice president of Managed Services at Insight Service Management, who will discuss “Cyber Security Basics (Cyber Hygiene).”

The program will end with a presentation by David Leng, executive vice president and managing partner at Duncan Financial Group, and Joe Bloomstine, ARM, client executive at HUB International. They will address “The First 60 Minutes After a Cyber Incident.”

The MBA’s 2026 Leadership Summit is sponsored by premier sponsor VNET, as well as Duncan Financial Group, Highmark Blue Cross Shield and Ford Office Technologies.

Cost is $325 for MBA members and $500 for nonmembers; breakfast and lunch are included.

To register, visit mbausa.org or call 814/833-3200 or 800/815-2660.

DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in these presentations reflect the views and opinions of the presenter and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of The MBA or any of its officers and directors.

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The MBA (Manufacturer & Business Association), founded in 1905, represents more than 2,000 member companies in 54 counties across the Commonwealth. The MBA is dedicated to helping employers face challenges by delivering services that lower the cost of doing business, ease the burden of compliance and increase productivity for its members. For more information, visit mbausa.org.