⚡ Tech Series Finale: The Future of AI & Business in 2026 (3 of 3)

📍 Life Time Work Sandy Springs5600 Roswell Rd Building C, Sandy Springs, GA 30342

📅 Thursday, February 19, 2026 ⏱ 4:00–7:30 PM

Overview

The Tech Series at Life Time Work Sandy Springs brings together Atlanta’s founders, executives, and technology leaders shaping the future of business.

This final session of the three-part Tech Series focuses on how artificial intelligence is transitioning from experimentation into execution — and what leaders must prepare for as AI becomes core business infrastructure in 2026 and beyond.

This event is designed for decision-makers seeking clarity around:

• real adoption
• real ROI
• real organizational impact

Not hype.Not theory.Execution.

🧠 What This Session Covers

• How AI is moving from tools into integrated business systems
• Why most organizations stall at pilot stage — and how leaders scale successfully
• The rise of agentic AI and autonomous workflows
• Data readiness, infrastructure, and cost realities
• Governance, risk, and trust at enterprise scale
• How leadership teams evolve in an AI-powered organization

🗓 Event Experience

4:00 – 5:15 PM | Arrival, Registration & Networking + Vendor Showcase

• Guest check-in and registration
• Background music
• Bar and light refreshments open
• Curated Vendor Showcase featuring select technology, AI, and community partners
• Informal networking with founders, operators, and executives
• Screens looping:
  • Event branding and Tech Series visuals
  • Speaker highlights and session agenda
  • Sponsor recognition and partner features

🎤 PROGRAM

5:25 – 5:30 PM | Welcome & Framing

Host & MC:Ethan Cortazzo

Founder, Networked AI & Cortazzo Consulting Company

Purpose:

• Welcome attendees
• Brief Tech Series recap (Sessions 1 and 2)
• Frame the evening around one central question:

What decisions must leaders make now to be ready for AI in 2026?

5:30 – 5:40 PM | Strategic Opening Address

Kwanza Hall

Chairman, Development Authority of Fulton County

Topic:

The Infrastructure Powering AI’s Next Decade

Key Focus Areas:

• Data centers, compute density, and energy scale
• Why Georgia is attracting hyperscale AI investment
• What business leaders misunderstand about AI infrastructure
• How infrastructure decisions shape long-term AI outcomes

5:40 – 6:10 PM | Featured Panel Discussion

The Future of AI & Business in 2026

Strategy • Systems • Execution Reality

Moderator: Ethan Cortazzo

Panelists:

• Erich Starrett Founder, OrchestrateRevenueGTM Systems & Revenue AI
• Dr. Beverly Wright Executive in Residence, Georgia State UniversityEnterprise Data Science, Governance & Responsible AI
• Mark Michelson Founder, Threads Marketing Research & StrategyCustomer Insight, UX & Human Adoption
• Aylin Orial Chief Innovation Officer, Think TechmodeEnterprise AI, Platform Modernization & Agentic Systems

Discussion Themes:

• What’s real vs hype in 2026
• Why AI pilots stall
• Data readiness and workflow breakdowns
• Leadership blind spots
• What actually breaks when AI hits daily operations

(30 minutes total)

6:10 – 6:30 PM | Featured Keynote

Aby Varma

Founder & CEO, Spark Novus

Topic:

From Experimentation to Advantage: Scaling AI That Works

Focus:

• Moving beyond pilots
• AI operating models that scale
• Building AI-ready teams
• Responsible AI with measurable ROI

6:30 – 6:40 PM | Micro Keynote

Stephanie Richards

Founder & Director, SowGrow PR

Topic:

Visibility in the Age of AI Search

Focus:

• SEO → GEO evolution
• How brands surface inside LLM-powered search
• Authority, clarity, and trust signals
• One immediate action leaders should take

(8–10 minutes • one slide max)

6:40 – 7:00 PM | Builder Spotlight Session

Sree Pradhip & Ameet Shedge

Topic:

From AI Ideas to Real Execution

Focus:

• Shipping AI products in real-world environments
• UX friction and adoption failures
• Systems thinking vs feature thinking
• Lessons learned building AI in-market

7:00 – 7:30 PM | Networking Reception & Social

• Intentional networking
• Speaker engagement
• Sponsor conversations
• Community building inside Life Time Work

👥 Who Should Attend

• Founders and entrepreneurs building AI-enabled businesses
• Executives and operators responsible for growth and efficiency
• Product, marketing, and revenue leaders
• Enterprise innovation and transformation teams
• AI practitioners focused on measurable outcomes

🌟 Why Attend

✅ Strategic ClarityUnderstand what AI will realistically impact by 2026 and where leaders should focus next.

✅ Real-World Insight Hear directly from practitioners deploying AI in production environments.

✅ High-Value Networking Connect with 80–120+ founders, executives, and decision-makers.

✅ Immersive Environment Experience one of Atlanta’s most dynamic professional communities.

✅ Post-Event Access Professional photo and video recap plus curated community follow-up.

🔑 Key Discussion Questions

• What will AI fundamentally change in business by 2026?
• Why do most organizations struggle to scale AI adoption?
• How should leaders approach agentic and autonomous AI?
• What data and infrastructure investments matter most now?
• How can companies balance speed, governance, and trust?
• What actions should leaders take in the next 90–180 days?

Hosted by

Networked AI in partnership with Life Time Work Sandy Springs

🎟 RSVP & Registration

🎟 $20 admission per event (includes coworking access, lite bites, and networking reception).

👉 Register now: https://net-worked.ai

📌 Upcoming Tech Series Events

• To Be Announced - April 30, 2026
• To Be Announced - June 18, 2026
• To Be Announced - August 20, 2026
• To Be Announced - October 22, 2026
• To Be Announced - December 17, 2026