Conference Track Sponsor
OPERATIONS & INNOVATION TRACK
Day 1, Tuesday, February 24th
1:30 – 2:30PM
Connected Intelligence: Building the Nerve System Your AI Needs to Think
AI is often described as the brain of modern manufacturing, but without a connected nervous system, the brain never receives a signal. This session reframes AI, not as a silver bullet, but as the end result of a deliberate effort to connect data, people, and processes across every layer of production.
Thomas Douglas | CEO, JMARK
Tom's journey with JMARK began in 1997, following his commendable service in the Navy, where he was recognized for his technological ingenuity and leadership. Starting as a level-1 engineer, his strategic vision led him to acquire the company in 2001. Faced with tough choices, Tom streamlined JMARK to a core team of six, setting the stage for its remarkable transformation. Today, with over 130 talented professionals, JMARK stands as a testament to Tom's people-first approach and his commitment to empowering talent. Under Tom's guidance, JMARK has not only grown exponentially but also cultivated a workplace culture that has consistently earned accolades, including the first-place award for Best Places to Work™. The company's sustained presence on Inc. magazine’s list of the top 5,000 Fastest Growing Private Companies in America, for nine consecutive times, mirrors Tom's skill in fostering both business growth and a nurturing work environment. Nationally recognized as a trusted technology adviser, Tom's insights on leadership, operational efficiencies, and cybersecurity have made him a sought-after speaker. His ability to solve complex 'people puzzles' and drive technology trends forward is reflected in his inclusion in the annual MSP Mentor 250 leadership list and the prestigious Legacy Adviser award from Springfield Business Journal. Tom's latest mission is a deep focus on AI strategy, specifically on using a people-first approach when integrating AI into organizations to maximize employee performance. He’s committed to helping businesses prepare for the economic changes over the next 5 years and what companies can do now to create their competitive advantage.
3:30 – 4:30PM
Leveraging the Tools You Already Have – Connecting the Digital Dots
Modernizing your operations doesn't always require massive investments – just smarter use of what's already on your desktop. This session will explore the capabilities of Office 365, CoPilot, and other familiar platforms and how they can be used to level up your operations without overwhelming your team. Small, consistent actions using a platform environment you and your Team are already comfortable in can have strong impact on production planning, business financials, product quality, customer service and internal communication.
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Jason Rincker | Chief Revenue Officer, Stronghold Data
Jason Rincker is the Chief Revenue Officer at Stronghold Data and has over 32 years of professional development experience. His natural chemistry with others makes him excel at building successful business relationships. Jason has helped grow Stronghold Data since 2014, and was a key factor in Stronghold earning several prestigious industry awards. The awards include being named ChannelFutures 2021 MSP of the Year, a Channel E2E Top 100 MSP in the Manufacturing Vertical, CRN MSP 500 Company, and a ChannelFutures MSP 500 Company. He has worked closely with Department of Homeland Security, Secret Service, University of Missouri, FBI and others. He has spoken to county and municipal governments, financial institutions, manufacturing associations, civic organizations, and non-profit organizations. From elected officials to top executives and every employee in between, Jason provides trainings and presentations on the importance of data security, and digital transformation. Highly proactive and positive, Jason spends his free time volunteering and networking in the community. He loves spending time with his family, playing baseball, running, and cycling.
Day 2, Wednesday, February 25th
9:30 – 10:30AM
The Journey Towards Excellence: A Decade of Continuous Improvement at a Midwest MFG
Take a look "under the hood" at how at Midwest manufacturer built operational excellence through disciplined internal and external processes. This session breaks down the core systems that fuel St. Louis-based Cambridge Air Solutions' culture, leadership, performance, and growth. The Cambridge team has been on their lean journey for the better part of a decade, and they're eager to share what they've learned along the way.
You’ll learn how Cambridge uses 2-Second Lean, EOS, Gemba Walks, daily Morning Meetings, leadership development, Sharp Safety, recruitment systems, and engagement tools like the Gallup survey to create a high-trust, high-performance workplace.
We’ll also explore their external processes—Sales Management Process (SMP), lead generation strategies, SMART deck marketing, SMART quoting, and the “Cost of Doing Nothing”—showing how the company aligns operations, marketing, and sales into one unified engine.
This session is perfect for manufacturers who want practical, actionable ideas to strengthen culture, streamline operations, and drive consistent growth.
Keith DeBold | Business Development, Cambridge Air Solutions
With three decades of experience in industrial process and commercial HVAC equipment sales, Keith DeBold brings deep expertise and a calm, seasoned approach to solving complex facility challenges. For the past 13 years, he has served Cambridge Air Solutions as both a Regional Manager and Business Development leader, helping organizations upgrade their heating, cooling, and ventilation strategies with clarity and confidence. Keith has worked extensively with mechanical contractors, engineers, manufacturers, and building owners across the Midwest, guiding teams through high-stakes HVAC decisions that improve performance, efficiency, and long-term operational reliability. A proud graduate of the University of Missouri–Columbia, Keith pairs technical know-how with a practical, customer-first mindset – earning a reputation as a trusted advisor who understands how facilities really run.
11:00AM – 12:00PM
Practical Implementations of AI in Manufacturing – A Case Study
In this session we will explore how AI can be applied to automate manual, paper-based processes such as purchase orders, order acknowledgments, invoicing, and billing. This session features a real-world case study where NvisionKC implemented AI-driven automation for a manufacturing broker client, with workflow diagrams, before-and-after comparisons, key outcomes, and lessons learned. Attendees will gain actionable insights and practical tips for adopting AI to address common operational challenges in manufacturing.
Grace Ahn | Founder & CEO, NvisionKC
Grace Ahn is the Founder and CEO of NvisionKC, a minority- and woman-owned technology consulting firm dedicated to helping organizations modernize operations and unlock their full potential through practical, data-driven solutions. Since launching NvisionKC in 2020, Grace has led the company to become a recognized leader in workflow modernization and AI-enabled digital transformation, particularly within the manufacturing sector. Under her leadership, NvisionKC was named one of Ingram’s Magazine’s Top 10 Fastest-Growing Companies for 2025, and Grace was recognized as one of the “20 People to Know in Technology” by the Kansas City Business Journal in 2023. With a foundation in computer science and hospitality, she brings a uniquely people-centered, operationally grounded perspective to technology adoption. Grace’s work emphasizes practical, real-world implementation of AI, focusing on solutions that streamline manual, paper-based workflows and improve efficiency, accuracy, and traceability. In this session, she will share insights from a current client project in which NvisionKC deployed AI-driven automation to transform purchase order processing, order acknowledgments, invoicing, and billing. Her approach highlights tangible outcomes, lessons learned, and actionable strategies manufacturers can use to begin—or accelerate—their AI adoption journey. Committed to community impact, innovation, and resilience, Grace continues to champion accessible, human-centered technology that empowers organizations to work smarter and grow sustainably. Grace's greatest strength is her ability to take an idea and see it through to completion by developing long-term technological solutions that meet the needs of her clients. Grace is always people-focused, genuinely caring about everyone she meets. She enjoys hearing people's stories and motivating them to succeed in their personal and professional endeavors. Grace studied Computer Science and Hospital Management at Ewha University in South Korea and Les Roches in Switzerland, respectively. Her career started in the hotel industry in Switzerland before moving on to Kioti Tractor as their Executive Assistant and Systems Analyst. She then worked as a SharePoint consultant and Sales Engineer, assisting over 70 clients in increasing organizational productivity through collaboration, process automation, and data analytics. Grace Ahn founded NvisionKC during the COVID pandemic in 2020 to provide high-quality IT consulting services with a customer-centric mindset and outstanding character. Grace's notable accomplishments include assisting three companies in developing their SharePoint and Collaboration practices from the ground up. - At Hconn, she created project management and training plans, as well as an approach to changing the SharePoint architecture. She also contributed to the company's revenue growth from 0 to over $3 million in the first two years. - She was one of the founding members of DEG's SharePoint and Collaboration practice, and she was instrumental in winning and serving the firm's major accounts. - She led the architecture on AOS's largest enterprise accounts after joining, with her book of business being three times that of the next Design Architect. Grace is driven to help people by using her compassion, knowledge, and life and technology experience. She is a hardworking immigrant with Midwestern values who believes that it is always possible to find a solution that benefits everyone. Grace enjoys growing plants and flowers, visiting museums, and scuba diving in her spare time.