Our Contributors
Jim Hayes
Hayes Technology Consulting, LLC - President and CTO Jim is a seasoned Principal Architect specializing in Technology Strategy and Enterprise Architecture, bringing over 20 years of experience guiding organizations through complex technical and business transformation. He advises executive leadership on long‑term technology roadmaps, capital investments, and enterprise‑wide architectural direction, with deep expertise in product management […]
Chris Feamster
Chris R. Feamster is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Nexus Systems, Inc., where he spearheads the company’s diverse portfolio of technology and governance initiatives, including its flagship brand, Cognify Solutions. With over two decades of experience at the nexus of IT consulting, compliance architecture, and business transformation, Chris has distinguished himself by making responsible […]
Patricia Larkins Hicks, Ph.D. (AIFA Board Member)
Founder & CEO, Outcomes Management Group, LTD Dr. Patricia Larkins Hicks is Founder and CEO of the Outcomes Management Group, LTD (OMG), a consulting firm she has led for over 30 years, partnering with more than 150 organizations across the U.S. and South Africa to achieve measurable, mission-aligned impact. Her career spans Fortune 100 corporations, […]
Todd Henley (AIFA Board Member)
Todd Henley, Founder and Principal, Paperkite.ai Todd is a proven data expert, spending a 30-plus year career in the technology, data, and analytics industry, helping financial services, utilities, and global not-for-profits understand how to adapt and thrive in an increasingly data-driven world. Todd is currently the founder and principal at Paperkite.ai where he shares his […]
Ravi Tenneti (AIFA Board Member)
With a multifaceted background as a technology executive, business thought leader, and leadership/mindset coach, Ravi Tenneti brings a unique blend of strategic vision, high-performance principles, and a relentless drive for excellence to every endeavor. Throughout his career, Ravi has demonstrated a powerful combination of technical expertise and business acumen, leading high-performing teams and driving transformational […]
Ervan Rodgers II (AIFA Board Member)
Chief Information Officer and Board Member · Former Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer at Designer Brands. · Rodgers is a seasoned executive with more than 25 years of experience in IT disciplines as well as supply chain, digital, cybersecurity, business process, program, and operations management. · Rodgers was also the Chief Information Officer for the State […]
Scott Brown (AIFA Board Member)
Scott is a seasoned technology professional with over 30 years of experience designing innovative digital solutions at the intersection of Information Technology (IT) and Operational Technology (OT). With a passion for empowering scientists and researchers through robust analytics and collaborative platforms, Scott is dedicated to ensuring that technology serves as a catalyst for discovery and […]
Mike Alvarez (AIFA Board Member)
Mike Alvarez is the co-founder of NeuPath.ai, where he helps organizations move beyond AI experimentation to real-world implementation. Drawing on decades of experience leading strategy, building data platforms, and leading AI initiatives across finance, healthcare, and supply chain, including at Fortune 20 companies, Mike specializes in the organizational and operational challenges that determine whether AI […]
Grace Farhat (AIFA Board Member)
Grace Farhat is a member of Gen Z and has never seen a world without AI. She is working towards running Loquantur which is a custom phone system business. Grace uses AI in her work to help with the sales and marketing effort. As a young future executive she is very interested in the ways […]
Meredith Conder
Meredith is the Executive Director of Executive Education at The Ohio State University's Max M. Fisher College of Business. With extensive experience in business development, sales and marketing, strategy, and team leadership, Meredith has established herself as a strategic leader and thinker in the field of executive education. She has a proven track record in […]
Cindy Sheets (AIFA Board Member)
Executive IT Leader in Central Ohio for over 35 years, serving as Healthcare Executive, CIO, Chief Administrator Officer and Chief Services Officer. Oversaw numerous large scale HIT implementations. Active in the local IT Community as a long time member of CIO Council and Chairperson of CIO Tomorrow.
Joey Cox (AIFA Board Member)
Joey Cox is an experienced IT leader, inventor, and innovator with over two decades of expertise in digital transformation and operational excellence. Currently serving as the Chief Technology Officer at 3SG Plus and the owner of Cox Innovation and Technology, LLC, Joey excels in leveraging advanced technologies to enhance business processes. His leadership significantly boosts […]
Dan Greenleaf (AIFA Treasurer)
Dan Greenleaf is a co-founder of AI Rising and a respected authority in the AI and technology sectors. With a distinguished career as an Agile Coach, Dan has helped numerous businesses successfully adopt and integrate new technologies and methodologies. His leadership and expertise were pivotal in the success of the 2024 inaugural AI Rising Conference, […]
Mike Sullivan
Work with The Union Bank as an SBA Lender. Able to lend up to $5M to “For Profit” small businesses looking to grow or start-up. Mike has been in commercial lending for nearly 3 years and works with a wide variety of borrowers including a start-up distillery, coffee franchise, an indoor soccer/lacrosse complex, among others. […]
Gordon Withrow (Board Member)
Gordon is an independent executive consultant and Principal of Gordon Withrow & Company, providing digital, agile, and organizational transformation leadership at scale. Gordon leads businesses in moving from strategy to action to realize value, with a people-first approach to getting things done. In addition to his consulting business Gordon is Managing Director of Cygnus Publishing, […]
Jon Rodwell
With experience working in the UK and US, John is an accomplished commercial insurance professional who has worked in several specialty insurance areas during his career. As Vice President of Product & Business Development at OIC Lender Services, the largest division of Ohio Indemnity Company, he focuses on providing insurance solutions to banks, credit unions […]
Gianni Dell'Aiuto
Attorney At Law Gianni Dell'Aiuto is a corporate lawyer specialized in web and internet contracts, privacy and personal data protection under European regulations (GDPR 679/2016). Graduating cum laude, University of Siena in 1990, he has been practicing law since 1994 and is qualified to represent clients in higher courts since 2009. He established his own […]
Dan Erb
CEO/Owner I am the CEO/Owner of Jones Metal Products Company in West Lafayette, Ohio. Jones Metal serves the Aerospace, Defense and Space market segments across the US and Europe. Our specialty niche is using Deep Draw Hydroforming, Machining and Heat Treating technologies to complete complex metal shapes using a variety of Aluminum, Stainless, Titanium, Brass, […]
Adrian Farhat (AIFA Board Member)
President and CEO Hi my name is Adrian Farhat. I am an entrepreneur and systems thinker focused on the intersection of the built environment, technology, and community development. Using my background in landscape architecture, I am interested in how architecture, engineering, construction, and cities function as an interconnected "system of systems." My passion is understanding […]
SJ Barakony
SherpasSolutions is the public home for a professional brand - a practitioner's studio, circa 2011, for work that is still taking shape. It is not a staffed firm, not a hobby, and not a nonprofit. I am SJ Barakony. I have been self-employed for almost twelve years, and in the entrepreneurial arena for fifteen-plus if […]
David Jackson
David is an independent consultant and payments subject matter expert through his consultancy -- Marketcy since 2017 after 30 years sales experience at IBM and Oracle. David provides fintech mentoring services with fractional executive services in sales and go-to-market strategy. He has served on numerous industry initiatives with W3C, X9, The Federal Reserve and more. […]
James Lewis
As a brand strategist, copywriter, website developer, and amateur philosopher, James Lewis has been studying and using AI in his work and with clients for a while. His contribution to AIFA is as a webmaster and philosopher, frequently taking a step back to be sure the goals are kept in-mind and that the purpose is pursued.
Chase Elliott
Operations Manager Chase Elliott has served in operations leadership positions for Delta Rhino Capital, Crew Carwash, The Hershey Company, and Chick-fil-A, each time bringing a fresh perspective to operational efficiency and team leadership. In his current role as Operations Manager at Sagamore Institute, he’s excited to be building on that foundation, focusing on enhancing processes, […]
Angelo Mazzocco (AIFA Vice President)
VP of Advisory Services Angelo has been active in the IT industry in Ohio since 1979 and has done work in application development, data base, infrastructure, project management, security, and executive level. Angelo has worked with NCR, Nationwide Insurance, Andersen Consulting, CIO of the Dispatch Companies, CIO of Progressive Medical, CIO and CISO of Central […]
John S. Farhat (AIFA President)
CEO of the Farhat Family Companies John has been active in the IT industry for over three decades and has done work in predictive analytics. Our family companies in the Technology space include CyberSecurity and IT Management, Custom Phone Systems, as well as Advisory / Client Representation services. Outside of his work, he has helped […]
Ryan Keller
VP of Digital Marketing Ryan actively engages with artificial intelligence platforms as a regular part of his professional routine. TriAd is a full-service marketing agency that serves local, national and international clients. Outside of his work, he is aspiring to ensure that these technologies have a positive and ethical influence on the future of SEO […]
Kyle Roth
Founder Kyle is a 6-generation Ag business owner who brings a strong passion for impact investing in emerging industries. He is the founder of Roth Advisory, a firm which provides capital and advisory support to entrepreneurs as well as the founder of an emerging AI company in the Immersive Entertainment sector. He is an optimist […]
Bradley Bank
Bradley performs routine tasks to ensure the safety of clients within the cyberspace. Bradley is also in charge of engineering solutions to help make sure that the daily workflow is operating smoothly. AI is used daily to help with monitoring and managing the security of these technologies.