Innovation

As we step into 2026, we’re reminded of what makes the Center for Operational Excellence so special—our members. This consortium is built on the belief that we are stronger when we learn from one another, and over the years, we’ve had the privilege of hearing countless member stories through webinars, Summit breakouts, and site tours. These stories reflect the authenticity and openness of our community with its willingness to share both successes and challenges. These stories also reveal the depth of expertise and brilliance that exists across our network.

People often talk about AI in extremes, either as a magical idea machine or a looming replacement for human creativity. I see it differently. AI is a thinking partner: fast, clever, and occasionally brilliant. That said, I also wouldn’t let it drive me, or anyone I care about, around in my car without supervision.

In a world of change and technological innovations, it can be difficult to keep up with the consistent shifts in the corporate world. One of the most discussed changes is the emergence of Artificial Intelligence. The AI revolution has left businesses struggling to find how to implement this into their systems successfully and ethically.

We start with a large number of ideas, agree to build on each other's ideas, and work together to build ideas until we have the best ideas possible.