NEW Digital Leaders Conference OLD
Kickstart Your Digital Transformation Plans
Join us for this exclusive investor only Northeast Wisconsin Digital Leaders Conference! Coordinated by NEW Digital Alliance and Women in Technology Wisconsin and hosted at Kimberly-Clark’s Neenah Conference Center, this conference will bring together top IT professionals and industry leaders to explore cutting-edge strategies and trends driving the digital landscape.
Key Topics:
- Digital Enablers: Explore the technologies and tools empowering organizations to drive efficiency and innovation.
- Building Talent: Gain insights on attracting, retaining, and upskilling talent in today’s competitive market.
- Leadership in the Digital Era: Learn how to lead transformational initiatives and build high-performance teams.
- Modern & Emerging Technology: Delve into the latest tech trends reshaping industries—from AI and IoT to cloud computing and beyond.
- Digital Platforms: Understand how to leverage digital ecosystems to scale operations and enhance customer experiences.
- Data Center Industry Growth: Discover how the demand for data centers is evolving and impacting the future of IT infrastructure.
Don’t miss this opportunity to network with fellow leaders and stay ahead of the curve in the ever-evolving world of digital technology!
2025 Conference
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Thursday, May 29, 2025
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8:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
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Kimberly-Clark Neenah Conference Center
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This conference is complimentary and FREE TO ATTEND for NEW Digital Alliance and Women in Technology (WIT) members ONLY.
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Conference Schedule
| 8:00 – 8:30 a.m. |
Check-In & Networking |
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| 8:30 – 8:45 a.m. |
Welcome & Announcements |
| 8:45 – 9:00 a.m. |
Break/Transition |
| 9:00 – 9:30 a.m. |
Breakout Session 1 |
| 9:30 – 9:45 a.m. |
Break/Transition |
| 9:45 – 10:15 a.m. |
Breakout Session 2 |
| 10:15 – 10:30 a.m. |
Break/Transition |
| 10:30 – 11:00 a.m. |
Breakout Session 3 |
| 11:00 – 11:15 a.m. |
Break/Transition |
| 11:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. |
Industry Speaker |
| 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. |
Networking/Lunch/Closing |
2025 Breakout Session Descriptions
Breakout Session 1
Empathy in Action: Leveraging Human-Centered Design for B2C App Innovation
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What happens when a customer-centric mindset meets a technology-driven initiative? In this session, discover how one professional transitioned from sales and customer engagement to become a vital bridge between users and developers in a B2C app transformation. Learn how applying a human-centered design approach not only improved the app’s UI/UX, but also strengthened customer relationships and drove meaningful product innovation. Walk away with practical insights on how empathy, collaboration, and continuous feedback can turn users into advocates and ideas into impact. |
| Room # |
TBD |
Bridging the Digital Divide: A Broadband Revolution Through Partnerships & Innovation
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| Presenters |
Jessica Hatch – Community Broadband Coordinator, County of Door & Michelle Lawrie; Executive Director, Door County Economic Development Corporation
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| Description |
Discover how Door County is transforming connectivity through strategic collaboration and forward-thinking solutions. This session will explore how local leaders, ISPs, and government agencies came together to streamline municipal processes, implement GIS broadband mapping, and secure over $8.2 million in grant funding. Learn how this innovative approach has expanded fiber infrastructure, improved year-round reliability, and driven down costs—ensuring affordable broadband access for underserved towns and eligible households. Recognized as a model for best practices, Door County’s broadband initiative offers a roadmap for communities seeking to close the digital divide and fuel long-term economic growth. |
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TBD |
Leading IT Teams Through Change: Strategies and Essential Tools for Success
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Suha Alhabaj – Software Development Manager II, Leggett & Platt
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In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, IT leaders must navigate constant change while maintaining productivity and fostering innovation. This session will provide a strategic framework, complete with real-world examples, for leading digital transformation and leveraging technology to drive organizational success. Attendees will gain actionable insights into overcoming challenges during periods of change, upskilling diverse teams—including remote employees—and utilizing essential tools to enhance resilience, collaboration, and sustainable growth in modern IT environments. |
| Room # |
TBD |
Neurodiversity in Tech & Leadership: Empowering Women with Unique Perspectives
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Neurodivergent women in tech and leadership bring bold ideas, creative problem-solving, and invaluable insights—but they often face unique challenges in navigating today’s professional environments. In this session, hear a personal and powerful account of one woman’s journey as a neurodivergent leader, highlighting the realities of working in tech while managing conditions like ADHD, autism, and dyslexia. Learn how neurodiversity can drive innovation, how remote work environments can present both hurdles and opportunities, and what we can all do to better support and uplift neurodivergent voices. Walk away with greater awareness, practical strategies, and a renewed commitment to inclusive leadership. |
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TBD |
From Hype to Trust: Scaling AI Adoption in 2025 and Beyond
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Javad Ahmad – Former President/COO, Smart IS International
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| Description |
Since the explosion of generative AI, organizations have rapidly shifted from experimentation to full-scale AI adoption. But in 2025, the challenge is no longer just about deploying AI – it’s about scaling it sustainably by fostering cognitive and emotional trust. In this presentation, we will explore how AI adoption became mainstream, where we stand today, and the key trends shaping the future, focusing primarily on trust-building strategies and the rise of AI agents. Finally, we’ll look ahead at Agentic AI – AI systems that don’t just assist but autonomously drive business decisions and operations. |
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TBD |
Engineering the Experience: A Product-Led Transformation Story
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Tammy Talo – Sr. Product Manager-Advice & Planning Product, Thrivent
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| Description |
Join us for an insightful session on delivering an exceptional experience while transforming the ways of working in a 120+ year old company. This session will delve into the journey of building an award-winning financial planning system during a significant transformation from a project-focused to a product and experience-oriented model while maintaining with the company’s core values. We’ll explore how strategic changes and a focus on customer experience led to the creation of a dedicated team that built a valuable user experience. Key topics include:
- New Ways of Working: Establishing team and funding structures that empower teams to prioritize user experience and deliver value effectively.
- Owning the Experience: How we took control of the user experience to ensure it aligned with our values and goals.
- Engineering Mindset: How the team led with software development expertise, strong business acumen, and owning the solution.
- Test and Learn: Embracing a test-and-learn approach to drive continuous improvement.
- Delivering Value: Present the impact to users, revenue, perception, and productivity.
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| Room # |
TBD |
Breakout Session 2
Labor Market Insights from Carex
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Laura Strickland – Partner Success Manager-Northeast Wisconsin & Matt Duffy – President, Carex Consulting Group |
| Description |
Join us for a breakdown of current labor market trends and the evolving workforce landscape. We’ll explore how upskilling, reskilling, and broad skilling can be integrated into your talent strategies—especially as technology continues to drive change. Gain insights on how to stay competitive, retain top talent, and future-proof your workforce in an ever-shifting market. |
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TBD |
Driving Innovation with Platform Engineering: A Journey to Automation and Developer Excellence
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Kelly Decker – Senior Director Platform Engineering, Schneider
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| Description |
What happens when a customer-centric mindset meets a technology-driven initiative? In this session, discover how one professional transitioned from sales and customer engagement to become a vital bridge between users and developers in a B2C app transformation. Learn how applying a human-centered design approach not only improved the app’s UI/UX, but also strengthened customer relationships and drove meaningful product innovation. Walk away with practical insights on how empathy, collaboration, and continuous feedback can turn users into advocates and ideas into impact. |
| Room # |
TBD |
Reigniting Passion and Purpose in Your Career
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Passion isn’t just about the job title—it’s about what truly drives you. I started my career as a hairdresser, then transitioned into software development, facing the challenge of proving myself in a new industry with seemingly unrelated experience. That journey led me to uncover what really fuels my passion: problem-solving, creativity, and helping people. In this session, we’ll explore how to reconnect with your own passion, align it with your career, and bring renewed energy to your work—no matter where you are in your journey. |
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TBD |
Bridging the Gap: Uniting IT and Business for Digital Transformation
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Digital transformation isn’t just about technology—it’s about breaking down silos and building a culture of collaboration. In this session, we’ll explore how organizations can align IT and business units by establishing common language, shared goals, and minimum standards that foster mutual understanding. Learn how to shift the mindset from “IT vs. Business” to “IT and Business together,” creating a unified approach that accelerates innovation and technology adoption. With a focus on people, process, and technology, this session offers practical strategies to drive meaningful change and long-term success. |
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TBD |
DevOps in Action: Streamlining IT Project Management for Success
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Suha Alhabaj – Software Development Manager II, Leggett & Platt
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| Description |
Managing projects efficiently while ensuring transparency and collaboration is critical. This session explores how DevOps principles can transform IT project management by standardizing processes, improving efficiency, and fostering seamless communication across teams. Attendees will gain insights into implementing DevOps methodologies to enhance coordination, automate workflows, and drive project success. Through real-world examples, this session will provide actionable strategies for IT leaders looking to optimize project delivery and cross-functional collaboration. |
| Room # |
TBD |
From Generative to Agentic AI: The Next Evolution
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This session is an informational session on Agentic AI, the next big buzzword to fill your google feeds and inboxes. This session will explain the differences and use cases between Agentic AI and Generative AI. We will define Agentic AI, provide its capabilities, applications and benefits. We will also talk about the challenges and risks. |
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TBD |
Breakout Session 3
The Edge of Innovation: Trends, Growth, and Sustainability in Data Centers
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Nick Hyland – Enterprise Account Executive, ark data centers |
| Description |
As digital demand continues to surge, edge data centers are playing a critical role in enabling faster, more efficient connectivity across regions. This session offers an inside look at the evolving data center industry, with a focus on edge computing and its growing presence in Northeast Wisconsin. Explore the key drivers behind this growth, the rising demand for localized data solutions, and how sustainability is shaping the future of infrastructure—highlighting alternative cooling methods and ARK’s recent expansion efforts. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the trends transforming the industry and the innovations powering our increasingly connected world. |
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TBD |
Set It, DON’T Forget It: Driving Ongoing SaaS Improvement
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This discussion will focus on the value of continuous improvement after a SaaS product’s go live. Too many companies in the area set it, forget it, and realize a small fraction of the value of an overall solution. This session will show the successes and value seen, how to get it done, and how to get continuous improvement funded. |
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TBD |
EQ and the 5-Levels of Leadership
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Sarah Robertson – Founder, Principal, Leadership Development Specialist, and Executive Coach, Stable Ascent
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Emotional intelligence (EQ) is the foundation of impactful leadership—and when combined with the 5 Levels of Leadership framework, it becomes a powerful tool for building influence, trust, and long-term success. In this session, explore how True 2% Leaders go beyond managing teams to inspiring transformation and leaving a lasting legacy. We’ll dive into how self-awareness, empathy, and connection can elevate you through each level of leadership, helping you unlock your full potential and empower others to do the same. Whether you’re just starting your leadership journey or striving to lead at the highest level, this session will challenge and equip you to lead with purpose and heart. |
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TBD |
From Circuit Boards to Code: Leveraging a Non-Traditional Career Path to Lead, Build, and Upskill High-Impact Teams
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Dan Koehler – Director of Digital Applications, Faith Technologies Incorporated (FTI)
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Not every leadership journey follows a straight line—and sometimes the most valuable insights come from taking the road less traveled. In this session, follow the path of a leader who started in electrical engineering, transitioned into software development, project engineering, and ultimately rose to Director through a series of diverse, hands-on roles. Along the way, they gained a deep understanding of technical talent, the power of cross-functional experience, and the critical role of culture in building high-performing teams. Learn how these experiences shaped a people-first leadership philosophy focused on empathy, adaptability, and continuous upskilling—helping teams not only deliver results, but thrive. |
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TBD |
M365 Copilot: Tips, Tricks, and Shiny New Toys!
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In this session, attendees will learn valuable tips and tricks for using Copilot effectively, including how to create clear and concise prompts, integrate Copilot with Outlook and Teams, and leverage the Biz Chat experience. You will also learn how to prepare existing SharePoint content for Copilot, ensuring users can easily find what they need. By the end of the session, participants will have a comprehensive understanding of how to utilize Copilot to enhance productivity. |
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TBD |
Navigating the Evolving Cyber Threat Landscape: Insights into Risk, Coverage, and the Future of Cyber Insurance
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David Collier – Senior Vice President, Aon Cyber Solutions, Stroz Friedberg, an Aon company & Lee Carsten – Vice President, Client Executive, Aon
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| Description |
Cyber threats are constantly evolving, and insurance providers are tracking key trends to assess risk and shape coverage. Industry experts will share insights into the latest tactics used by bad actors, common patterns among organizations filing claims, and challenges impacting cyber insurance. Attendees will explore the key controls that are meaningful for insurability, the claims process, and emerging trends shaping the future of cyber insurance. |
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TBD |
Industry Speaker
The Impact of Meaningful Leadership: Inspiring Growth and Influence Across All Levels
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Presenter |
Amy Jaeckel – Executive Director of Technology & Information, Green Bay Area Public School District
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Influence on a person’s career comes in many different forms. From students to staff, to coworkers, everyone has opportunities to motivate future leaders. In this session, participants will learn how organizations have the ability to inspire and grow their own leadership. Engage in this session to hear how a former teacher was inspired to grow into a Director of Technology. Leadership is a gift. How will you choose to use your gift to inspire others to follow in your footsteps? |
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TBD |
Event Sponsors
| Morning Refreshments |
Lunch |
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