As AI becomes embedded across the enterprise, organizations are under increasing pressure to deliver data faster without sacrificing quality, context, or trust. To explore how businesses can turn real-time information into reliable action, CDO Magazine welcomed senior data, analytics, and AI leaders to an Executive Boardroom Dinner on July 29, at The Marble Room in Cleveland.

The event featured a discussion titled “From Real-Time Data to Trusted Action in the Age of AI,” led by Adam Tybor, Confluent Field Chief Technology Officer, and Paula Buerkle, IBM Data Platform Market Leader and Director of Midwest Sales.

The discussion examined where real-time data creates the greatest business value, the barriers to creating trusted data products, and how AI is reshaping expectations for latency and quality. Leaders also explored governance for data in motion, integration sprawl, hybrid architecture trade-offs, scaling real-time systems, and the metrics that best demonstrate business value.

Michael Gonzalez, Ohio Lottery Chief Data Officer, describes the gathering as an “incredibly rare and magical occurrence.”

“Data executives of the most consequential regional organizations were in one room, sharing honest viewpoints on data transformation, pain-points, and solutions,” Gonzalez says.

Beyond the technical discussion, the dinner created space for leaders to build relationships and exchange ideas with peers navigating similar data and AI transformations.

“In an ever-growing digital and AI-native world, nothing beats a night to connect in-person at a great event with peers in the field to chat about data!” notes John Rodriguez, Cleveland Cavaliers Director, Business Intelligence.

Craig Schwabl, University Hospitals VP, IT Digital Solutions & Enterprise Analytics, adds, “Another great event hosted by CDO Magazine bringing Data & Analytics leaders together across the Cleveland areas to discuss and debate the latest trends and challenges with deploying AI across industries. Always an engaging dialog.”

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Gerri Caveness, CDO Magazine Community Director, reflects, “Our goal was simple: fill a room with tech rockstars and get out of the way! Cleveland took care of the rest. The conversations lingered long after dinner ended, and honestly… I was already looking forward to our next visit before I even walked back into my hotel!”

*Shravan Kotha is a member of the CDO Magazine Global Board.
Special thanks to IBM for making this event a success.
Executives attending the CDO Magazine Cleveland Executive Boardroom Dinner included: Jane Alexander, Cleveland Museum of Art Chief Digital Information Officer; Gary Cao, Chief Analytics Officer Advisory, LLC Principal Advisor; Emily Crooks, Sherwin-Williams Director, Digital Data & Analytics; Vishu Dakappagari, PNC Bank Technology Director; Youran (Bryan) Fan, Key Bank SVP, Business Analytics Sr. Manager, Enterprise Marketing; Justin Fink, Cleveland Clinic Sr. Director, Finance Analytics Solutions; Michael (Mike) Gonzalez, Ohio Lottery Commission Chief Data Officer; Bob Gross, Cleveland Clinic Executive Director, Financial Decision Support & Analysis; Richard Hudgins, CrossCountry Mortgage SVP, Information Technology; J.C. Jones, Progressive Insurance IT Business Leader; Aud Jucaitis, First Mutual Holding SVP, Director, Data & Digital Banking; Shravan Kotha, Ohio Attorney General’s Office Chief Data & Analytics Officer; Josh Kraker, Andromas Chief Technology Officer; Brian Kubit, LPL Financial Holdings VP, Data Analytics; Geoff McCormack, Progressive Insurance Enterprise Architect, Data & AI; Raymond Prins, Avient Corporation Director, Data, Analytics & AI; John Rodriguez, Cleveland Cavaliers Director, Business Intelligence; Sanket Shah, Flynn Group Director, Application, Data & Reporting; Craig Schwabl, University Hospitals VP, Digital Solutions & Enterprise Analytics; Kurt Tighe, Novum Underwriting Partners, LLC Chief Data Officer; Julia Barnett, IBM Field Marketing Manager; Paula Buerkle, IBM Data Platform Market Leader & Director, Midwest Sales; Jon Fligner, IBM Enterprise Data & AI Platform Advisor / Strategic Sales SME – US Midwest; Adam Tybor, Confluent Field Chief Technology Officer; Gerri Caveness, CDO Magazine Community Director; and Anthony Losanno, CDO Magazine Managing Director.