**Elkhart**: The IT Sector Partnership is hosting an AI Innovation Network event at Ivy Tech Community College, encouraging local businesses to explore AI applications, featuring discussions from industry leaders on leveraging data and fostering curiosity among employees regarding rapidly evolving technology.
A satellite event aimed at fostering artificial intelligence (AI) adoption among businesses in northern Indiana is being hosted by the IT Sector Partnership in collaboration with TechPoint. This event is scheduled to take place on Wednesday at the Ivy Tech Community College’s Elkhart campus from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.
The AI Innovation Network event will feature a case study discussion led by Data317, a data science company based in Indianapolis. This discussion is intended to extract insights into how businesses can effectively leverage data to uncover innovative opportunities. Panelists at the satellite event will include representatives from MapleTronics, a managed IT services and security firm located in Goshen, as well as a software engineer from Regional Innovation and Startup Education (RISE).
Adam Herschberger, Chief Revenue Officer of MapleTronics, highlighted the value of cross-industry dialogue, stating, “Anytime we can get a group of people from different industries with different points of view, it helps us learn more about how we can provide solutions to our clients.” He expressed a particular interest in understanding how sectors like healthcare and manufacturing are integrating AI into their operations.
Herschberger noted the challenges businesses face in keeping up with the rapidly evolving AI landscape, explaining, “The challenge there is that it’s such a fast and revolving world right now. There’s new tools and new progress being made almost every week.” This constant change complicates the development of lasting policies and compliance standards within organisations.
He expressed a desire to assist clients in navigating these changes, stating, “I’m really just looking for helpful ways that I can advise the people who rely on us to be thought leaders on this.” He also emphasised the importance of fostering curiosity among employees about AI technologies.
The IT Sector Partnership was established with support from the Garatoni Family Foundation, aiming to connect IT students with professionals in mentorship roles. Since its inception in November 2024, the partnership has launched one-hour virtual mentoring sessions, currently involving about 30 mentors and reaching approximately 40 students. The objective is to complete 250 mentorship sessions by the end of 2025. Program Manager Gabi Cole explained the flexibility of the mentoring format, allowing sessions to last between 30 to 45 minutes to accommodate busy schedules.
This initiative is a shift from a previous one-year tech certification programme that the IT Sector Partnership had offered in conjunction with Ivy Tech, which is now being discontinued. Cole remarked on the benefits of networking with industry leaders and collaborating with professionals in implementing AI solutions that enhance productivity.
Panelist Omodara Ogijo, a software engineer at RISE, will discuss the various AI tools he has employed to automate internal processes, as well as data security matters. Ogijo highlighted the accessibility of generative AI, noting that “you don’t really need to learn software engineering to jump on” these technologies, thanks to the emergence of no-code tools. He pointed out the rising demand for prompt engineering roles in the job market, stating that while coding experience is not mandatory, some familiarity with coding languages could enhance the effective use of these AI resources.
Overall, the event aims to promote knowledge-sharing and collaborative exploration of AI applications within various businesses, reflecting an ongoing interest in advancing technological competencies in the region.
Source: Noah Wire Services
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