- Thursday, Feb. 12
- 8:30 am - 3:30 pm
- Peosta Campus
- $229
(Early Bird, ends Jan. 12)
Is your company still treating Artificial Intelligence (AI) like a choice?
Join industry-leading experts for a one-day conference designed to provide you with actionable frameworks, not theory, for navigating the challenges of AI. Discover how to use this powerful technology to reduce employee burnout, increase creativity and free your workforce for more meaningful, strategic work.
ESTABLISH
clear, compliant AI governance and ethical guardrails.
clear, compliant AI governance and ethical guardrails.
IMPLEMENT
strategies to augment your workforce, not replace it, maximizing your human capital ROI.
strategies to augment your workforce, not replace it, maximizing your human capital ROI.
DEVELOP
a strategic plan for integrating AI into HR, marketing and operations.
a strategic plan for integrating AI into HR, marketing and operations.
Celina Peerman
Ph.D., SHRM-SCP, CSP
is an organizational psychologist with over 30 years of experience helping leaders and teams thrive. She has worked across industries, from frontline operations to senior leadership, bringing a deep understanding of workplace behavior and organizational health. Celina is a two-time TEDx presenter, podcast host and author of three books. Known for her humor, insight, and practical approach, she challenges leaders to rethink how they communicate, adapt, and lead for lasting impact.
Ph.D., SHRM-SCP, CSP
is an organizational psychologist with over 30 years of experience helping leaders and teams thrive. She has worked across industries, from frontline operations to senior leadership, bringing a deep understanding of workplace behavior and organizational health. Celina is a two-time TEDx presenter, podcast host and author of three books. Known for her humor, insight, and practical approach, she challenges leaders to rethink how they communicate, adapt, and lead for lasting impact.
Skye Mercer
SPHR, SHRM-SCP
is an Eastern Iowa-based certified HR consultant with over 20 years of professional HR experience. Skye’s diverse HR experience, from managing national HR services for more than 3,000 employees in a Fortune 500 company to working as an HR department-of-one for a 100-employee organization, helps her understand and provide solutions to your unique HR challenges. Skye consults with organizations nationwide to build people-centered, inclusive, compliant, and sustainable HR practices to create organizational cultures where employees want to stay and do their best work.
SPHR, SHRM-SCP
is an Eastern Iowa-based certified HR consultant with over 20 years of professional HR experience. Skye’s diverse HR experience, from managing national HR services for more than 3,000 employees in a Fortune 500 company to working as an HR department-of-one for a 100-employee organization, helps her understand and provide solutions to your unique HR challenges. Skye consults with organizations nationwide to build people-centered, inclusive, compliant, and sustainable HR practices to create organizational cultures where employees want to stay and do their best work.
Destery Hildenbrand
is an innovative learning technology consultant specializing in immersive learning solutions—augmented reality, virtual reality, mixed reality and artificial intelligence. A recognized industry thought leader, his expertise in AI-driven learning experiences, no-code/low-code XR development, soft skills training and blended learning strategies ensures practical, effective solutions for organizations embracing the future of learning technology.
is an innovative learning technology consultant specializing in immersive learning solutions—augmented reality, virtual reality, mixed reality and artificial intelligence. A recognized industry thought leader, his expertise in AI-driven learning experiences, no-code/low-code XR development, soft skills training and blended learning strategies ensures practical, effective solutions for organizations embracing the future of learning technology.
Agenda
Registration 8:30 - 9 AM
Welcome 9 - 9:15 AM
AI 101: What It Is, How It Works, and Why It Matters
Destery Hildenbrand
This foundational session breaks down the basics of artificial intelligence for business professionals. We’ll explore what AI is (and isn’t), how it works behind the scenes, and why it’s becoming an essential part of today’s business strategy. No tech background required—just curiosity.
Destery Hildenbrand
This foundational session breaks down the basics of artificial intelligence for business professionals. We’ll explore what AI is (and isn’t), how it works behind the scenes, and why it’s becoming an essential part of today’s business strategy. No tech background required—just curiosity.
Smarter Work, Safer Boundaries: Leading Ethical AI in the Workplace
Celina Peerman
As AI tools rapidly transform the workplace, leaders are on the front lines—navigating how to embrace innovation while protecting people, data and trust. This session offers a practical, ethics-based perspective on how organizations can encourage responsible, effective AI use across teams—without getting lost in the legal or technical weeds.
Celina Peerman
As AI tools rapidly transform the workplace, leaders are on the front lines—navigating how to embrace innovation while protecting people, data and trust. This session offers a practical, ethics-based perspective on how organizations can encourage responsible, effective AI use across teams—without getting lost in the legal or technical weeds.
Panel Discussion led by Destry Hildenbrand with local business leaders sharing their experience with AI in their work and businesses.
Choose ONE
Using AI Creatively: Best Practices for Turning AI Into Your Marketing Partner
Destery Hildenbrand
This session is for marketers, business owners and creatives who want to unlock AI as a content co-creator, brainstorming partner and time-saver. Learn how to craft better prompts, avoid AI “fluff” and build repeatable workflows for blogs, emails, social media and more.
Inclusive Hiring in the Age of AI
Skye Mercer
As AI transforms how organizations attract and select talent, inclusive hiring practices must evolve. This interactive workshop is tailored for business leaders and HR professionals seeking to build equitable, future-ready hiring practices. From practical tools to mitigate bias to ethical AI adoption, we’ll unpack what it means to hire inclusively, whether your processes are high-tech, human-centered or a thoughtful blend of both.
Ready or Not: Adapting to AI and the Future of Organizations
Celina Peerman
AI is transforming how we work—but the greatest challenge isn’t the technology itself. It’s how people adjust to it. From shifting tasks to evolving job expectations, leaders are being called to guide their teams through one of the most significant workplace changes of our time. This session focuses on how to support people through the real, human impact of AI adoption—with empathy, clarity, and a future-focused mindset.
Using AI Creatively: Best Practices for Turning AI Into Your Marketing Partner
Destery Hildenbrand
This session is for marketers, business owners and creatives who want to unlock AI as a content co-creator, brainstorming partner and time-saver. Learn how to craft better prompts, avoid AI “fluff” and build repeatable workflows for blogs, emails, social media and more.
Inclusive Hiring in the Age of AI
Skye Mercer
As AI transforms how organizations attract and select talent, inclusive hiring practices must evolve. This interactive workshop is tailored for business leaders and HR professionals seeking to build equitable, future-ready hiring practices. From practical tools to mitigate bias to ethical AI adoption, we’ll unpack what it means to hire inclusively, whether your processes are high-tech, human-centered or a thoughtful blend of both.
Ready or Not: Adapting to AI and the Future of Organizations
Celina Peerman
AI is transforming how we work—but the greatest challenge isn’t the technology itself. It’s how people adjust to it. From shifting tasks to evolving job expectations, leaders are being called to guide their teams through one of the most significant workplace changes of our time. This session focuses on how to support people through the real, human impact of AI adoption—with empathy, clarity, and a future-focused mindset.
Reimagining Workplace Well-being With AI
Skye Mercer
Imagine a workplace where employees feel energized, focused and supported—where time-consuming tasks are streamlined, overthinking is minimized and productivity feels uplifting. In this presentation, you'll discover how AI can revolutionize employee well-being by serving as a powerful resource for saving time, navigating tough conversations and supporting career development. You'll walk away with practical, actionable strategies to transform workplace interactions into smoother, more productive experiences—all while fostering a culture of feel-good productivity.
Skye Mercer
Imagine a workplace where employees feel energized, focused and supported—where time-consuming tasks are streamlined, overthinking is minimized and productivity feels uplifting. In this presentation, you'll discover how AI can revolutionize employee well-being by serving as a powerful resource for saving time, navigating tough conversations and supporting career development. You'll walk away with practical, actionable strategies to transform workplace interactions into smoother, more productive experiences—all while fostering a culture of feel-good productivity.
Wrap Up 3:15 - 3:30 PM