AI at Work: Voices from the St. Croix Region

Description

AI is changing how we work and the St. Croix Valley is no exception. Join local leaders from healthcare, education, and business as they share what’s happening in their worlds: what they’ve implemented, what’s working, and what’s next. This offering is open to anyone and there is no fee to attend. Come ready to listen and ask questions!

7:45 – 8:00 | Check-In & Networking Arrive, grab a coffee, and connect with fellow attendees before the program begins.

8:00 – 8:15 | Welcome & Framing Holly Bloom of Bloom Wealth & Insurance Solutions opens the morning and sets the stage for the conversation ahead, including a live audience poll to capture where our region stands on AI adoption today.

8:15 – 9:15 | Sector Spotlights Hear directly from regional leaders on how AI is showing up in their industries right now:

• DWD, Scott Hodek — Economic & Labor Market Shifts: What do the numbers say? Scott breaks down how AI is influencing employment trends, workforce demand, and the regional economy.
• Eckberg Lammers, Lida Bannink — AI & the Legal Landscape: The legal profession is feeling the impact of AI in real time — from contract review and legal research to how clients are arriving at attorney meetings with AI-generated advice in hand. Hear how Eckberg Lammers is thinking about the opportunities, the risks, and what it all means for businesses in the region.
• HealthPartners, Maggie Helms — AI in Clinical & Operational Settings: From patient care to back-office efficiency, hear how one of the region's leading health systems is putting AI to work in meaningful ways.
• Security Financial Bank, Randy Yeast — AI in Banking & Financial Services: AI is transforming how financial institutions serve customers — from fraud detection and personalized financial guidance to faster loan decisions and smarter back-office operations. Hear how Security Financial Bank is navigating this shift while keeping the local, relationship-driven experience their customers expect.

9:15 – 9:35 | Local Businesses on the Ground - AGS Prime: AGS will give an overview of how they use AI in every aspect of its business, and how it is building AI into software products for advanced data management, data analysis, and training. They will also discuss basic, practical steps for integrating AI into the day-to-day workflow for small and medium businesses.

9:35 – 9:50 | Break & Networking Stretch, refill your coffee, and jot down your questions for the panel.

9:50-10:10 | Local Business on the Ground - Nolato Contour: Nolato Contour is leveraging AI in daily work to help team members quickly access internal knowledge, manuals, process guides, and work instructions, while also supporting writing, communication, and everyday problem-solving across the business. 

10:10 – 11:00 | Open Discussion Panel All speakers join Holly on stage for a lively cross-sector conversation — and your chance to ask the questions that matter most to your business.

11:00-11:05 | Wrap-Up Key takeaways from the morning, a look at next steps for the region, and one actionable idea from each panelist to take back to your workplace.