At the Leadership Summit, leaders from across the region came together to share AI and cybersecurity leadership insights and explore how these forces are reshaping business and what it takes to stay ahead
AI: Practical, Focused, and Built to Work
Insights from speakers including Vidhi Kothari, Jonah Sargent, Kevin DiGilio, Michael Reynolds, Andrew Jack Bond, and Cadence Rand made one thing clear. AI only works when it is built around your business, not layered on top of it.
The focus was not hype, it was application:
- Start with your current workflow before jumping into automation
- Treat AI as a tool or “agent” with clear roles and rules
- Push back on outputs and do not accept the first answer
- Prioritize context and verifiable results over speed
A consistent message throughout the sessions was simple. AI should simplify work, not create more of it. Without clear internal policies, even well-intentioned use can create real risk.
The AI panel, featuring Sara Hanks, James Buchanan, and others from the day’s sessions, reinforced the importance of turning ideas into real operational improvements.
Cybersecurity: Where Strategy Meets Reality
On the cybersecurity side, speakers including Tom Tredway, Jonathan Meyn, David Leng, and Joe Bloomstine focused on one core idea. Having a plan is not enough. You need to know it works.
With threats evolving quickly, especially with AI in the mix, the fundamentals matter more than ever:
- Adopt a zero trust mindset and always verify
- Train employees to recognize phishing and social engineering
- Test systems and response plans regularly
- Be prepared and know what happens in the first moments of a breach
A key takeaway was that while technology is critical, people remain both the most common entry point and the strongest line of defense.
The Bottom Line
Across every session, the message was consistent. The advantage does not come from experimenting; it comes from executing.
The organizations that move forward will be the ones that take these insights and build them into how they operate every day.
Thank you to Premier Sponsor Velocity Network, and key sponsors Duncan Financial Group, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield / AHN Saint Vincent, and Ford Office Technologies for helping us put on a great event.