Andrea Bierer
Marketing Director | DBC Remodeling & Construction
Andrea Bierer is a dynamic educator, speaker, and tech enthusiast with a talent for making complex topics easy to understand. As an experienced trainer and speaker, Andrea specializes in turning big ideas into clear, practical takeaways. A natural communicator and early adopter of emerging technology, Andrea is passionate about helping business owners cut through the noise and see how innovative ideas can work for them. Kicking off the day’s discussions, she will set the stage with an engaging, down-to-earth introduction that makes AI feel less intimidating and more like an opportunity.
Erin Kerner
Founder & CEO | Eventio
Erin Kerner is an Erie native, who has recently relocated back to Erie after spending 13 years in New York City as she launches her startup, Eventio, an AI powered SaaS platform helping consumers plan and execute social events. She attended Mercyhurst Prep for high school where she won 2 state championships for basketball and then went on to Division I Quinnipiac University in Connecticut on a full basketball scholarship where she earned a B.S. in International Business and a Master of Business Administration. While in college she earned numerous athletic honors including Rookie of the Year for the NEC, 2x All-Conference Second Team honor and 2x All-Conference First Team honors as well as Female Athlete of the Year for Quinnipiac in 2009. She was recently inducted into the Erie Sports Hall of Fame in the Class of 2020 and in 2018 she was inducted into the MAAC Honor Roll Hall of Fame (as the NEC transitioned into the MAAC conference) which has a display at the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts.
Her career background is in the luxury retail industry having most recently been the Director of Client Events & Strategic Partnerships for Louis Vuitton, overseeing North & South America. Her love of high fashion also led her to various Finance and Strategy roles at international houses like Versace, Valentino and MCM Worldwide. Since Erin has been back in Erie, she has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the Erie Regional Airport Authority and is a Board Member for the Erie County Community College Foundation.
Tom Laird
CEO | Expivia Interaction Marketing / OttoQa
Tom Laird brings over 25 years of expertise to the customer experience industry, where he serves as CEO of Expivia Interaction Marketing Group. His passion for innovating contact center operations led him to found OttoQA, a company pioneering AI-powered quality assurance solutions. Throughout his career, Tom has been at the forefront of implementing AI automation strategies that optimize contact center performance and elevate customer engagement. He shares his industry knowledge through his “Advice from a Call Center Geek” podcast and book series, establishing himself as a thought leader in the evolving landscape of AI-enhanced customer experience.
Dr. Pulin Agrawal
AI Researcher & Engineer | Penn State Behrend
Dr. Pulin Agrawal is an AI researcher and engineer focused on creating human-like intelligence in machines. His expertise spans computer vision, predictive analytics, and custom large language models (LLMs), making AI-driven solutions more effective in real-world applications.
At nFlux, Dr. Agrawal lead a NASA-funded project developing a computer vision-based cognitive agent to assist astronauts in deep space missions. The same technology applies to industrial automation, manufacturing, and quality control, where AI-driven vision systems can detect, predict, and optimize human workflows. This technology enables real-time monitoring for enhanced operational safety and efficiency.
Dr. Agrawal also specializes in LLM-based development, designing custom AI agents tailored to specific industry needs based on his years of research on agent systems. Custom AI agents ensure that businesses can leverage large-scale language models for automated process development, predictive insights, and adaptive learning—transforming sectors like finance, logistics, and process automation. He previously developed a brain-inspired predictive analytics model for Intelletic Inc., which led to a profitable futures trading strategy currently operating live.
With a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Memphis, Dr. Agrawal combines academic depth with industry-focused AI innovation through his experience at various companies. His work in human-like AI systems, cognitive architectures, and machine learning provides a foundation for the next generation of intelligent automation, autonomous systems, and AI-powered decision-supporting tools for businesses seeking to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving landscape.
Kyle Chalupczynski
Professor of Management Information Systems | Penn State Behrend
Kyle Chalupczynski is a Professor of Management Information Systems at Penn State Behrend who bridges the gap between academic theory and business application in the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence. With a strong foundation in business process improvement, including nearly a decade as a business analyst at GE Transportation and ERIE Insurance, he brings a pragmatic, results-oriented approach to AI implementation.
As an early adopter of generative AI technologies since November 2022, Kyle has pioneered multiple initiatives that demonstrate AI’s transformative potential in both educational and operational contexts:
AI Innovation in Education
- Personalized AI Learning Simulations (PALS): Created an innovative system designed for MIS courses that is now being expanded across multiple disciplines, including a suite of 14 specialized chatbots preparing students for Certified Scrum Master certification.
- Student-Centered AI Applications: Developed advising chatbots that guide students through career planning and academic decisions, creating personalized learning experiences that prepare graduates for an AI-integrated workforce.
- Faculty Development: Built customized chatbots to assist faculty in effectively implementing AI within their courses, ensuring Penn State remains at the forefront of educational innovation.
Business Operations Transformation
- Innovation Through Collaboration (ITC) Program Enhancement: Significantly improved the project management lifecycle by implementing AI solutions that have transformed client outreach from reactive to proactive, streamlined project documentation, and enabled AI co-piloting of project management roles.
- Business Integration Framework: Developed a comprehensive planning system that helps organizations systematically integrate AI into their operational workflows, identifying high-impact opportunities and implementation pathways.
Leadership in AI Strategy
- Penn State Behrend AI Task Force: Key member focused on developing AI literacy across four key demographics: faculty, staff, students, and workforce participants.
- University Park Strategic AI Initiative: Contributing member helping to shape the university-wide approach to AI adoption and implementation.
- Joint Standing Committee on AI in Instruction
Before embracing AI, Kyle specialized in Agile methodologies, holding Advanced Scrum Master certification and applying these principles to create flexible, adaptive systems—an approach that has proven invaluable when implementing AI solutions in dynamic environments.
Kyle’s approach to AI implementation is grounded in practicality and real-world application. By combining his business analysis background with educational innovation, he has created scalable AI solutions that enhance productivity, improve educational outcomes, and streamline operations. His work demonstrates that with thoughtful implementation, AI can become an accessible and powerful tool for organizations of all sizes, transforming how we work, learn, and innovate.
Jonathan Marsh
CEO | SteelToe Consulting, LLC.
Jonathan Marsh is CEO of SteelToe Consulting LLC, a firm that specializes in helping construction companies integrate and implement modern construction technology and workflows to improve and streamline their businesses. He also works as a construction startup advisor and as a software product manager for construction software. In addition to conducting research and reporting for industry groups through its MEP Innovation Lab, and helps develop hardware and software solutions for the construction space.
Jonathan is the former CTO of Wm. T. Spaeder Company, where he headed up IT, virtual design & construction, and engineering. While there, he championed technology adoption, modular fabrication, BIM, and the advantages of using progressive technological approaches to project and company challenges. He has an extensive background in MEP construction and engineering, with projects ranging from commercial buildings to industrial refineries, and has over two decades of experience in the AEC industry.
Matt Blackburn
Senior Manager, Government Affairs | Aurora
At Aurora, Matt leads efforts to bring the benefits of self-driving technology to the Eastern United States. He works closely with state legislatures, regulatory agencies, governors and various partners to advocate for sensible policies that enhance road safety and foster innovation. Matt also played a key role in drafting and advocating for the passage of Act
130, the Pennsylvania AV Law, in 2022.
Prior to joining Aurora, Matt served for 15 years as a Congressional Staffer, advising two
U.S. Senators and a Member of the House of Representatives on key legislative and policy
issues. For five years, his focus centered on transportation and public policy issues on
Capitol Hill. In 2011, Matt moved to Pittsburgh to assume the role of Western Pennsylvania
Director for U.S. Senator Pat Toomey, a position he held for nearly 11 years. During this time,
he served as a Senior Advisor on a range of critical issues, including economic development,
transportation, and technology policy.
Matt is a frequent speaker on autonomous vehicle policy and workforce development issues,
actively engaging with audiences nationwide and collaborating with the U.S. AV Jobs
Coalition.
Beyond his professional endeavors, Matt is a dedicated community leader. He serves on the
Boards of Directors for the Pittsburgh Robotics Network, the Pittsburgh Chamber of
Commerce, Imani Christian Academy, and leads the Pittsburgh Ukrainian Relief Committee
(PURC).
A native of Erie, Pennsylvania, Matt graduated from Gannon University. He resides in Sarver,
Pennsylvania with his wife and their three children.
Christopher Mansour
Founding Member & Chair, Computing Information Science | Mercyhurst University
Christopher Mansour is the founding member and Chair of the Computing and Information Science Department at Mercyhurst University, where he has been developing and teaching the Cybersecurity program for six years. He holds a Ph.D. in Engineering with a concentration in Cyber Security and a Master of Science in Computer Engineering from Villanova University.
As a recognized thought leader and frequent media contributor, Christopher offers strategic insights to bridge academia, industry, and the public, ensuring that cybersecurity professionals are well-prepared to tackle emerging threats. His mission is to educate and empower the next generation of cybersecurity professionals and leaders.
Christopher’s areas of expertise include computer networks security, software security, embedded systems security, internet of things, ubiquitous computing, software-defined networks, cyber-physical systems security, and trusted computing. He has published multiple articles in international peer-reviewed conferences and journals, as well as been an invited speaker for various cybersecurity talks and workshops.
In addition to his academic work, Christopher served as a technical committee member and reviewer for several international conferences and as an assistant editor for the Cybersecurity Skills Journal. He is also a member of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).
Christopher frequently receives requests for public speaking and guest lectures, leveraging his expertise to help secure the digital future. As a guest lecturer and speaker, he engages with the public through interviews and keynote addresses, making cybersecurity accessible and relevant to a broad audience.