Beyond the Pilot: How Leaders Are Operationalizing AI at Enterprise Scale
Most organizations have run the pilots. Few are running the business on AI.
The gap between AI ambition and operational reality is where most programs stall: scattered experiments, unclear ownership, governance treated as a brake instead of an enabler, and workflows that still depend on the same manual handoffs they always did.
Join us for an evening with AI and business leaders who are closing that gap. Over a moderated panel and open Q&A, we'll get into what's actually working:
Ownership in practice. Who owns AI inside the enterprise, and what that role looks like when it's real.
From pilots to production. Moving past proofs of concept to governed systems that run critical workflows end to end.
Safe speed. Why responsible AI is becoming a competitive advantage, not a compliance tax.
Culture and fluency. Building the trust and capability that let AI scale across the org.
You'll leave with a clearer picture of what separates the organizations operationalizing AI from the ones still stuck in pilot mode, and practical perspective from leaders doing the work.
Featured Panelists:
Stephan Fitzpatrick – Founder & CTO, Orange County AI
Stephan is a software engineer, consultant, and entrepreneur with over a decade of experience driving technology solutions for both large enterprises and small startups. His journey in software began during his service at the National Security Agency as an active-duty Mandarin Chinese linguist, where he developed custom tools to streamline operational workflows. Building on that foundation, Stephan spent the next few years working in the Silicon Valley startup ecosystem before launching KNOWSUCHAGENCY in 2019.
Through his agency, he's helped organizations big and small modernize their tech stacks, increase efficiency, and navigate digital transformation.
With a strong belief in the power of collaboration, Stephan founded Orange County AI (OC AI) to create a robust local ecosystem for AI innovation. By organizing events, workshops, and community initiatives, he aims to foster the growth of talented professionals and forward-thinking businesses committed to advancing artificial intelligence throughout Orange County.
Stephanie Cheney – SVP, Strategy and AI, Dualboot Partners
Stephanie Cheney is a versatile technology leader with experience in full-stack software development, product management, and business strategy across startups and enterprise environments.
She studied at the McCombs School of Business at UT Austin after teaching herself to code in high school, and went on to become the first employee at an e-commerce startup, helping build its foundation and culture. She later moved into management roles supporting mid-size companies and enterprise clients, and most recently led a venture studio focused on helping founders secure funding and launch MVPs.
Stephanie specializes in translating complex business challenges into scalable technical solutions, with a strong interest in applying AI to improve productivity and decision-making. At Dualboot Partners, she guides development teams on complex projects while aligning product execution with long-term client goals.
Matt Kortering – Partner and UX Strategist, EKKO Studio
Matt Kortering is a UX strategist, design leader, and partner at EKKO Studio with more than 12 years of experience helping companies curate digital experiences and products that people actually enjoy using.
At the core of Matt’s work is a strong belief that great products start with knowing the user. Through research, testing, and observation, he works to deeply understand how people think, behave, and interact with technology before jumping into solutions. That approach allows him to turn complex business requirements and user needs into intuitive, thoughtful experiences. His expertise in UX architecture and prototyping helps teams move quickly from ideas to tangible solutions that are grounded in real user behavior.
Over the years, Matt has worked across a wide range of industries and product types, helping teams navigate everything from early-stage product strategy to enterprise-scale digital transformation. He has also contributed to the broader UX community by helping develop UX training materials for SAFe programs, supporting the integration of user experience into Agile product development practices.