AI for the C-Suite
Register for AI for the C-Suite
Tuesday, April 14, 2026, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Berkshire Innovation Center
Fee: $75
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AI for the C-Suite summit overview
AI Mini Summit for CEOs and Senior Leaders
Artificial intelligence is no longer a future concept, it's a competitive reality. This AI Mini Summit brings together CEOs and senior leaders for a conversation on what AI means for strategy, operations, and the future of work. You'll gain practical insight into where AI creates value and where leaders need to proceed with intention. Walk away with a clearer understanding of where AI can deliver value in your organization, what leaders should be asking today, and how to prepare your teams for what's next.
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Pat Larkin
Director, Innovation Institute at MassTech
Pat Larkin is a veteran economic development practitioner with over 40 years of experience shaping the Commonwealth's innovation economy. As a Director and Program Executive at the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MassTech), Pat leads the Innovation Institute, where he oversees strategic investments and cross-sector partnerships in emerging technology. A key architect of the state's tech strategy, Pat served on Governor Healey's 2024 Strategic Task Force on Artificial Intelligence and currently oversees the operations of the Massachusetts AI Hub.
Throughout his career, Pat has been instrumental in launching landmark initiatives like the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center and the Mass Fintech Hub. A proud alumnus of Berkshire Community College, he is dedicated to fostering regional ecosystems — from robotics and cybersecurity to AI — ensuring that every corner of Massachusetts remains a global leader in innovation. Connect with Pat on LinkedIn .
Giovanna Fessenden-Fairbank
Digital IP Counsel, Hamilton Brook Smith Reynolds
Giovanna is a computer scientist, intellectual property attorney, and blockchain and AI/ML strategist with 20+ years of experience advising high-tech companies and startups in software patents strategy and management, software product development, licensing, open source and AI audits, SBOM management, trademark branding, post-grant patent challenges, litigation, and intellectual property strategy. Connect with Giovanna on LinkedIn .
Dave Nadi
President and Director of Research at ETF.com
An ETF Expert with over 30 years in the investment management and ETF business, Dave has served as Financial Futurist for VettaFi, CEO of ETF.com, Director of Research at ETFTrends.com, Director of Exchange Traded Funds at FactSet Research Systems, and Managing Director and Chief Strategy Officer of Barclays Global Investors. You can subscribe to Dave's regular ETF analysis at ETF.com, his personal writing at Nadig.com, or see him regularly on the the ExcessReturns Podcast network. He is the author of "A Comprehensive Guide To Exchange Traded Funds" which was published by the CFA Institute, and is broadly on social media as @DaveNadig. Connect with Dave on LinkedIn .
Tyler Fairbank
CEO, The Fairbank Group
Tyler Fairbank is part of The Fairbank Group, which manages and oversees a collection of businesses that includes Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort, Cranmore Mountain Resort, and Bromley Mountain, as well as EOS Ventures, Bullwheel Productions, and other ventures. While Tyler often jokes that he's "just a skibum," he is an executive deeply committed to the future of the mountain resort industry and the businesses that support it. He believes strongly in innovation and is an active proponent of artificial intelligence, having seen firsthand how thoughtfully applied AI can transform operations, improve efficiency, and help teams focus more on delivering value to customers. Connect with Tyler on LinkedIn .
Ray Boudreau
Accounting and Finance Manager at Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort
Connect with Ray on LinkedIn .
Adam Graney
Co-Founder at Gold Flamingo AI Solutions
At Gold Flamingo AI Solutions, Adam brings over 15 years of expertise in digital marketing, content strategy, and AI integration. A graduate of the University of Central Florida with a bachelor's in Communication and a minor in Marketing, Adam also completed a 6-month full stack coding bootcamp at UCF. With a passion for empowering businesses to grow through cutting-edge technology, Adam has mastered the use of AI tools like GPT-4, Perplexity, Midjourney, Elleven Labs, Gemini, and DALL·E 3 (to name a few) to transform how businesses create and innovate. Adam’s approach is hands-on, helping companies streamline their processes, reduce costs, and develop unique, AI-enhanced content across multiple formats—from written articles to dynamic visuals and videos. His mission is to simplify AI for clients, providing practical, tailor-made solutions that make AI accessible and effective for every business.
Connect with Adam on LinkedIn .
Chris Meador
Chris Meador operates at the intersection of strategy, human development, and emerging tools, including AI for research and project acceleration, helping leaders adapt, build trust, and deliver in uncertain times. He translates complexity into clear paths forward, coaching high-performers, and guiding organizations to rethink how they hire, grow, and lead with intention. From brand leadership to startup founder to executive coach, Chris has lived the transformation he guides others through. That personal shift wasn't just professional; it reshaped how he leads, parents, and shows up in the world.
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Breakout sessions and talk descriptions
Keynote Address from Pat Larkin
Now is the moment for C-Suite leaders to act. AI is not a future trend — it is a present-day competitive advantage. Organizations that embrace AI as a strategic innovation tool will redefine performance, accelerate growth, and shape the future of their industries. There is no time to wait. The leaders who move now will set the pace for everyone else.
Cross Department AI Implementation with Tyler Fairbank and Ray Boudreau
Two C-suite leaders share how their journey with AI began with small, practical uses in their own daily work and grew into a broader shift across their organizations. After seeing early productivity wins, they encouraged experimentation within their marketing teams, which quickly embraced AI for research, content development, and workflow improvements. Success in marketing created momentum, helping other departments adopt AI tools to streamline operations and decision-making. These experiences ultimately reshaped how they evaluated technology vendors, prioritizing software that is AI first. Their session offers a clear, real-world roadmap for executives who want to move from personal curiosity to meaningful organizational change.
AI Governance and Risk Mitigation with Giovanna Fessenden-Fairbank and Dave Nadi
As AI becomes embedded in everyday business operations, organizations must balance innovation with responsibility. This session examines how to establish effective AI governance while proactively managing risk. Attendees will learn practical strategies for setting policies, protecting sensitive data, maintaining transparency, and ensuring AI systems are used ethically and responsibly across the organization.
Helping Teams Embrace AI at Scale with Adam Graney and Chris Meador
In this session, Adam and Chris will walk through how the strategic evolution of AI moves beyond personal productivity to become a cornerstone of organizational growth. They will explore the critical nuances of employee adoption, from foundational education and supporting employee curiosity to addressing individual fears and empowering organization leaders to drive adoption. Adam and Chris will discuss the democratization of software development, illustrating how AI empowers individuals and teams to build their own custom tools. They will also address the impending paradigm shift poised to upend the SaaS industry by replacing rigid, expensive subscriptions with agile, internal AI solutions.
AI for Education
Tuesday, May 12, 2026, 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
BCC Koussevitzky Arts Center, Room K111
Fee: $75
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AI for Education summit overview
The We in AI: Teaching and Learning in the Age of AI
AI is already shaping our classrooms, but how do we shape it together?
Join educators, leaders, researchers, and workforce partners from across Massachusetts for a half-day, hands-on summit exploring how artificial intelligence can enhance teaching, empower learning, and strengthen our shared educational community.
From practical classroom tools and digital literacy frameworks to ethics, policy, and student voice, this summit moves beyond hype to real conversations that matter, rooted in Massachusetts guidance and local experience.
What to expect:
- A keynote on the evolving relationship between teaching, learning and AI
- State-level guidance from MA DESE leaders
- Interactive workshops for K-12, higher ed, CTE and STEM educators
- Research-driven insights and community college perspectives
- A closing panel tackling the good and concerning uses of AI in education—Berkshire-style
Whether you're curious, cautious, or already experimenting, this summit is designed to meet you where you are and help chart where we go next.
AI for Hospitality and Tourism
Register for AI for Hospitality and Tourism
Wednesday, June 3, 2026, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
BCC Koussevitzky Arts Center, Room K111
Fee: $75
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AI for Hospitality and Tourism summit overview
Practical AI Strategies to Elevate Guest Experience, Strengthen Operations and Drive Innovation and Efficiency
This half-day summit exploring how Artificial Intelligence is transforming the hospitality and tourism industry. As the Berkshires continue to thrive as a premier destination, renowned for world-class arts and culture, wellness retreats, outdoor recreation, farm-to-table dining, boutique lodging, and luxury spa experiences, this event will explore how Artificial Intelligence can help local businesses elevate guest service, strengthen operations, and remain competitive in an evolving marketplace.
Contact Us
workforce@berkshirecc.edu
413-236-2115
BCC is committed to providing universal access to our events. Contact workforce@berkshirecc.edu to request disability accommodations.