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Wondering what to make of artificial intelligence? Want to learn how AI might help make your business grow?

Join 760 WJR and StartupNation Tuesday, April 30 for a free, fast, and stimulating seminar: “Leveraging Artificial Intelligence to Scale Your Business: Strategies for Growth.”

Held at StartupNation headquarters in Birmingham, the seminar will feature experts from across industries who will share their insights on the applications of AI, and the potential impact that it can have on businesses of all sizes.

Learn how to leverage AI to improve decision-making, expedite marketing and communication, and understand the critical importance of cybersecurity in protecting your data and operations as you integrate AI technologies.

Join your hosts and moderators, 760 WJR Host Guy Gordon and StartupNation Founder and CEO Jeff Sloan, for this insightful and informative event!

HOSTS AND MODERATORS:

Guy Gordon, 760 WJR Host, and Jeff Sloan, StartupNation Founder and CEO

PRESENTERS AND AGENDA:

Coffee and Networking | 7:45 - 8:45 a.m.

Join us early to be a part of "'JR Morning with Guy Gordon, Lloyd Jackson, and Jamie Edmonds" LIVE on 760 WJR.

Introductions | 9 - 9:10 a.m.

Verizon Small Business Digital Ready:

Brianna Fritz
Director, Government and Community Affairs
Verizon Small Business Digital Ready
Free Resources to Grow your Business from Verizon Small Business Digital Ready | 9:10 - 9:30 a.m.

Hilary Doe, Michagan Economic Development Corporation Chief Growth and Marketing Officer
Brian Calley, Small Business Association of Michigan President and CEO
Monica Wheat, Techstars Detroit Powered by JP Morgan Managing Director
Panel Presentation | 9:40 - 10:45 a.m.

Jayson Cavendish, State of Michigan Chief Security Officer and Information Technology Deputy Director for the Michigan Department of Technology, Management, and Budget, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection Division
Keynote Presentation | 10:55 - 11:45 a.m.

ABOUT THE MODERATORS AND PRESENTERS:

Guy Gordon
Host, "'JR Morning with Guy, Lloyd, and Jamie"
760 WJR

A seasoned broadcast journalist, Guy Gordon is celebrating more than 40 years as a reporter, anchor, and talk show host. He was recognized with two Emmy Awards for Best Anchor and six Emmy Awards for Best Writing, Reporting, and Documentary.

His work has also garnered numerous Michigan Association of Broadcasters awards for breaking news and investigative reporting.

Previously, Gordon was news anchor for WDIV Local 4 News in Detroit for nine years, following 13 years as anchor of Channel 7 Action News in Detroit.

He is an active community servant, raising more than $1.5 million for Oakland Family Services through his annual charity golf outing, the “Guy Gordon Classic for Kids.” In 2019, Guy became the host of the ITC Golf Classic for the March of Dimes. This event at Oak Pointe Country Club in Brighton raises nearly $200,000 per year.

Jeff Sloan
Founder and CEO
StartupNation

Jeff Sloan Jeff is founder and CEO of StartupNation, LLC, a multimedia company that provides educational and inspirational resources to aspiring entrepreneurs and established small business owners. In his leading role with StartupNation, Jeff hosted the award-winning "StartupNation Radio" show on 760 WJR in Detroit, which aired 2004-2021 in more than 85 markets nationally. Jeff pivoted to the revitalized "Business Biographies," where he took up the distinguished mantel of the WJR show featuring conversations with legendary Michigan business people. Jeff also hosts the daily "WJR Business Beat” segment live on air during the morning drive prime-time programming, in which he spotlights news of interest to the entrepreneurial, startup, and tech communities.

Jeff is also founder and CEO of StartupNation Ventures, LLC, an incubator/accelerator that develops business concepts into viable businesses. Jeff was instrumental in guiding the development, launch, growth, and successful exits of these startups in his portfolio: Clarity Technologies, LLC, GeneGo, LLC, and Rubicon Genomics, LLC. In addition, Jeff founded and leads the startup known as FanLabel, a music gamification platform.

Jeff has keynoted entrepreneurial and business conferences, including the Microsoft Small Business Conference and the Small Business Administration of America annual conference. He has been named one of the 500 most powerful business leaders in DBusiness Magazine’s “Detroit 500” and honored as a Small Business Journalist of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Brianna Fritz
Director, Government and Community Affairs
Verizon Small Business Digital Ready

Brianna Fritz leads Verizon's philanthropy and community engagement efforts in Michigan. Before joining Verizon, she worked in higher education and the public sector, serving on the staff of Governor Jennifer M. Granholm and later in community engagement and legislative advocacy roles across academia.

During her time at Wayne State University, Brianna became a recognized leader in external affairs and community relations. She was recognized by the WSU Student Senate with the 2020 Ally of the Students Award.

Brianna is a founding member of Michigan Women Forward’s Power of 100 Women 2.0, active member of the Junior League of Detroit, and enthusiastic Winning Futures mentor at Cass Tech High School.

She received her undergraduate degree in Political Science and Sociology from the University of Michigan and her master’s in Public Administration from Wayne State University.

Hilary Doe, Michagan
Chief Growth and Marketing Officer
Michigan Economic Development Corporation

Hilary Doe is the Chief Growth Officer for the State of Michigan, charged with expanding the state’s population, economy, and reputation. She spearheads the Growing Michigan Together Council's initiative to position Michigan as an ideal location for living and business. With a background in citizen engagement and organizational development, Hilary has served as President of NationBuilder and Founder of Scout, a Detroit policy group. Her career includes key roles at the Roosevelt Institute, and she's been featured in major media outlets. A University of Michigan alumna with further studies at Princeton, Hilary has returned to Detroit after a stint in New York.

Brian Calley
President and CEO
Small Business Association of Michigan

Brian Calley as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Small Business Association of Michigan, Calley puts his passion for Michigan’s small businesses to work. He serves as a director of a publicly-traded community bank and a Trustee of Oakland University. Additionally, he sits on various boards, including Special Olympics Michigan, Sparrow Health System, Disability Rights Michigan, and the Autism Alliance of Michigan.

Calley served as Michigan’s 63rd Lieutenant Governor from 2011 to 2018. Prior to that, Calley served two terms in the Michigan House of Representatives, two terms as an Ionia County Commissioner, and worked for over a decade in community banking. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University, an MBA from Grand Valley State University, and an MPA from Harvard University.

Monica Wheat
Managing Director
Techstars Detroit Powered by JP Morgan

Monica Wheat is the Executive Director, Venture Catalysts, Managing Director, Detroit, Backstage Capital.

Wheat is a strategist, educator, and venture developer. She is Founder and Executive Director of Venture Catalysts, a nonprofit venture and ecosystem development group focused on investor and founder education as well as innovation hub, seed fund, and large-scale entrepreneurial initiatives for more than 30,000 attendees.

Wheat is also managing director of Backstage Capital’s Detroit startup accelerator, a four-city, global tech accelerator in investing three months and $100,000 in scaling startups for underrepresented founders. She is additionally the Techstars Startup Programs lead, heading programs in Detroit and globally. Her work is featured in Crain’s Detroit Business, Huffington Post, Black Enterprise, and Forbes.

Jayson Cavendish
Chief Security Officer
State of Michigan

Jayson Cavendish is the Chief Security Officer (CSO) and Information Technology (IT) Deputy Director for the Michigan Department of Technology, Management, and Budget’s (DTMB) Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection (CIP) division.

Jayson is dedicated to serving the State of Michigan and brings an enthusiasm to his role as CSO, as well as a valuable blend of strengths, including leadership, vision, and strategic planning. He excels in collaboration at all levels to support critical, high-level statewide projects to successful completion. He has several years of experience in state government and has steadily built his in-depth IT/security architecture knowledge while serving in various leadership positions during his extensive career, which includes roles in information security management, data warehouse management/architecture, and as director of technical services.

Jayson is a graduate of Campbell University and Northwood University and holds an associate degree in accounting and a bachelor's degree in business administration and management. Additionally, he has numerous certifications, including CISSP, CISA, PMP, and is a licensed Professional Investigator in Michigan.