GREENEVILLE – Individuals who are ready to embrace practical artificial intelligence will gain a greater understanding of this field and the ability to effectively and appropriately use it at the Appalachian AI Summit in March at Tusculum University.
David Hite reviews a presentation on artificial intelligence.
The summit will be held Wednesday, March 11, from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. with time for networking 30 minutes before the start, in the Meen Center. The event will bring together business leaders, educators, workforce partners, nonprofit organizations and students to examine how AI is being applied today and what it means for leadership, workforce development and economic growth across Appalachia.
A number of experts and AI leaders will be present to deliver keynote addresses and participate in breakout sessions.
‘AI is one of the more transformative and innovative change agents that has been introduced to support business and education,” said David Hite, associate professor of business at Tusculum, who is organizing the event. “Its uses are extensive and growing daily, touching virtually every sector of the economy and the classroom. The summit will emphasize practical, ethical and accessible approaches to AI adoption, with a strong focus on real-world use cases and regional collaboration. This event will greatly benefit attendees.”
Keynote speakers will be:
- Raul Gomez, chief revenue officer at IntiCo, which is a leader in customer experience technology solutions for a variety of industries
- Hite, who is also director of Tusculum’s Center for Free Enterprise and New Venture Creation
- Luke Thompson, a technologist and entrepreneur from East Tennessee
Gomez is an AI strategist with a global AI firm and offers a business-first, real-world perspective on how AI is being applied today across industries – from automating customer interactions and optimizing call centers to improving forecasting, analytics and workforce productivity. He brings more than 15 years of experience to the summit in Tech Software as a Service, financial technology, marketing technology, health care, hospitality and manufacturing. He has led revenue and sales organizations that have exceeded targets by 20-25% year over year, while achieving a 90% account renewal rate.
Hite, who has served at Tusculum for more than a year, has more than 20 years of experience in higher education and workforce development and has studied business and leadership in more than 35 countries. He has worked on technology-based learning initiatives with organizations such as the Tennessee Valley Authority, Eastman Chemical Co., Volkswagen and Samsung. In his entrepreneurial role at Tusculum, he is guiding students and community members as they develop, establish and pitch their own businesses.
Thompson is the co-founder and chief operating officer of The Operations Guide, a business automation agency that helps companies streamline processes with technology and artificial intelligence. He is recognized for work at the intersection of business strategy and innovative technology. His mission is to use cutting-edge AI so a small team can achieve the output of a 100-person organization. His goal is to remove busywork, create clarity and help teams accomplish their best work.
Tusculum students, staff and faculty members participate in an AI training session.
The event will also feature two breakout sessions. One will discuss AI and education, and the other will delve into AI in everyday business. Thompson and Gomez will lead the breakout on AI in everyday business, and the one about AI and education will feature Walter Wimberly and Joe McKenna.
Wimberly is an assistant professor of computer science at Tusculum, who has been part of the integration of AI into Tusculum’s curriculum. McKenna manages CrushingIt.ai, a nonprofit organization focused on long-term economic resilience in the Tri-Cities area of Tennessee, and Cloudwise Academy, which helps people and businesses in Northeast Tennessee develop practical digital skills that lead to real work, outcomes and economic opportunity.
Attendees will also see demonstrations and learn about Tusculum’s Applied AI for Business minor and workforce-focused AI certificate programs.
The summit’s origins come from Hite’s initial conversations with McKenna, who also serves as an adjunct faculty member in Tusculum’s academic Business Division and has provided AI training for Tusculum students, faculty and staff. Hite learned from McKenna about the massive impact AI would have on business.
“We started teaching some workshops for faculty, students and the community,” Hite said. “That gave us momentum, and Joe and I were then invited to participate on a panel at the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center to discuss AI. Tusculum has since incorporated AI into more courses. Hosting the summit at our university is the next logical step in helping companies and individuals use AI in a way that strengthens business and education.”
Dr. John Alpers, assistant dean of the Business Division, welcomes the summit.
“We are excited to bring stakeholders to campus for a meaningful discussion about AI by people who have developed extensive knowledge and practical usage,” he said. “Tusculum fosters a pioneering spirit, and being at the forefront of AI application is a logical way to demonstrate that. We encourage people to join us for this highly informative summit as we explore how AI can be a positive force for economic and educational development in the region.”
The summit is free for nonprofit organizations, students and educators and costs $49 for everyone else. To register and learn more about the summit, please visit https://www.tusculumbusinesslab.com/events/appalachian-ai-summit. Anyone with additional questions can email Hite at dhite@tusculum.edu.