About the Session:

Preparing Your Data for AI: From Raw Material to AI-Ready Asset

Every organization wants to put AI to work. Few have the data foundation to support it and most underestimate the unglamorous reality: AI is only as good as the context feeding it. Pilots stall. Answers hallucinate. ROI fails to materialize. The cause is rarely the model. It is almost always the data underneath.

This panel brings together data and IT leaders from across industries to share practical guidance for making data “AI-ready”. This session will focus on what it takes to shift from basic data hygiene to engineering for intelligence.

Topics will include:

• Governance and PII handling before data reaches an LLM
• Converging structured and unstructured data for AI
• Hidden data issues that derail AI projects
• Skills your teams will need over the next 12 months

This session is for leaders who want to translate AI ambition into AI reality and anyone trying to figure out where to start with their data.

Bring a Guest! Members are encouraged to invite colleagues and business contacts to expand our network and showcase the value of SIM WI membership.

Agenda:

5:00-6:00 – Happy Hour and Networking

6:00-7:30 – Preparing Your Data for AI

7:30-8:00 – Networking and Event Close 

Speakers Bios:

Jason Dobbs, Chief Technology Officer, PKWARE (Moderator)

Jason Dobbs, Chief Technology Officer for PKWARE, has more than 20 years’ experience in software and product development. He is responsible for driving the product roadmap execution, overseeing software development, and leading lifecycle management for PKWARE’s entire software catalog. Prior to joining PKWARE, Dobbs held multiple leadership roles with SafeNet Consulting, most recently as a Managing Partner focused on corporate strategy and revenue generation.

Mohit Agarwal, Director of Insights Engineering | IGEN (Panelist)

Mo Agarwal is a hands-on senior data engineering leader who delivers analytic solutions and practical data architecture. As Director of Insights Engineering at IGEN, he takes an outcome-driven approach. He focuses on clear business rules and problem decomposition before solutioning or picking tools. With deep experience in data systems, Mo bridges the gap between engineering and business results.

Matt Bryant, Director – Data and Analytics | Trissential (Panelist)

Matt is an accomplished data and technology leader with over 30 years of leading and managing strategic and foundational programs, technology platforms and teams.  He has broad knowledge and expertise driving data strategy, building and delivering data management capabilities (e.g., enterprise data flows, metadata mgmt., master data mgmt.) along with the appropriate organizational change management and data governance capabilities needed to organizationally sustain them (e.g., policies, procedures, and data stewardship organizational structures).  Matt is currently the practice director for data and analytics at Trissential.

Travis Lehn, Director, Data, Analytics & AI | Sargento Foods Inc. (Panelist)

Travis Lehn is the Director of Data, Analytics & AI at Sargento Foods, where he leads enterprise data strategy, analytics, AI enablement, data governance, and data security. With over 11 years at Sargento, Travis focuses on transforming data into trusted, actionable insights that drive business value. He is passionate about building strong data foundations, empowering organizations through modern technology, and preparing businesses to responsibly adopt and scale AI. His approach emphasizes connecting people, processes, and technology to turn AI opportunities into meaningful business outcomes.