AI in Practice Workshop
Thursday, August 13, 2026 (1:00 PM - 5:00 PM) (CDT)
Description
AI is no longer a future consideration. It’s a present-day business capability. Yet many organizations remain stuck between understanding AI and successfully applying it.
The AI in Practice Workshop bridges that gap.
Through guided learning, hands-on exercises, industry examples and collaborative problem-solving, attendees will move from awareness to action. Attendees will deepen their understanding of AI tools, discover opportunities within their organizations, build workflows and develop governance and risk frameworks necessary for responsible adoption.
Expand Your Experience
The AI in Practice Workshop builds on the energy and ideas of the Midwest Technology Summit. Attend the Summit for thought leadership and emerging technology insights, then join the AI in Practice Workshop to turn learning into action through hands-on application, practical tools and implementation planning.
Agenda
Keynote
What does the rise of AI mean for businesses, employees, and leaders? Based on Microsoft's latest Work Trend Index research, Grant Mjelstad and Will Brandt will share practical insights into how organizations are adopting AI, where the biggest opportunities exist, and why leadership and culture have become critical drivers of success. Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of how to harness AI to increase productivity, unlock innovation, and create lasting competitive advantage.
Will Brandt, Director of Digital Specialists, Microsoft
Grant Mjelstad, Senior Partner Solution Sales Manager, Microsoft
Breakout Sessions
Networking From Interest to Implementation: Preparing for AI in Your Workplace
Leading AI Adoption. Session Audience: Anyone interested in learning about AI (no prior experience needed)
As AI adoption accelerates across every industry, many organizations face uncertainty around security, governance, employee adoption, and business value. This topic is especially relevant because AI is already being used in most workplaces, whether organizations have a formal strategy or not. David will demonstrate how ABM's adoption methodology helps organizations reduce risk, increase clarity, drive measurable value, and create a scalable foundation for AI adoption that aligns with business goals while protecting critical data and systems.
Participants will leave with a clear understanding of the AI implementation journey, a framework for evaluating future initiatives, and actionable ideas they can use to begin building an AI strategy within their workplace.
David Groth, Director of Engineering, ABM
From Hype to Habit: How AI and Microsoft Copilot Are Changing the Way We Work
Creating Capacity. Session Audience:
Generative AI has moved beyond experimentation and is rapidly becoming part of the everyday workplace. But how do organizations move from excitement about AI to meaningful business impact? In this interactive session, Microsoft Solution Engineer Jon Horner will demonstrate how Microsoft Copilot is transforming productivity, collaboration, communication, and decision-making across the modern workplace. Through live demonstrations and real-world examples, attendees will see how AI can help employees spend less time searching, summarizing, and coordinating so they can spend more time creating, solving problems, and delivering value.
Whether you're a business leader, IT professional, developer, or everyday knowledge worker, you'll leave with practical ideas for using AI today and a roadmap for introducing AI responsibly within your organization.
Jon Horner, Solution Engineer, Microsoft
Shadow AI Is Already In Your Building. Let's Go Find It.
AI Governance, Security and Risk. Session Audience: Beginners who have experimented with AI tools (no technical background required)
Somebody on your team pasted company information into a free AI tool this week. You probably do not know who, which tool, or where that data lives now. That is not a discipline problem. It is a governance gap, and it is fixable in about the time it takes to eat lunch.
The premise of this session is simple. Governance is not the Department of No. Clear guardrails are what let a leader finally say yes, and the organizations that have them are adopting AI faster, not slower.
This is a working session, not a lecture. Bring a laptop. You will leave with four documents your organization does not currently have.
Ken Satkunam, CEO, NorthStar Technology Group
Implementation Lab and Open Networking *(optional)
Continue building on the day's themes of trAIned and certAInty by moving into sustAIned by turning plans into measurable outcomes. Attendees can refine ideas, strengthen implementation plans, identify next steps and continue conversations with speakers, experts and peers as they prepare to support AI adoption within their organizations.
$45 for AI Workshop
$45 Midwest Tech Summit registration
$75 if you register for both (register through Midwest Tech Summit page)
4550 42nd St S
Fargo, 58104
Please have a photo ID ready upon arrival for this event
Chamber Events
Midwest Summit