Upcoming Events

December 6 | 10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. | Hybrid Event

This year has seen Generative AI (GenAI) flash across daily newsfeeds, and no doubt it is already living up to its promises of bringing transformational benefits in operational scale, product development and how we communicate across almost every single industry and business. While some businesses have experimented with GenAI, less have truly begun to unlock its full potential in large due to the impact it may have on its business and operational friction it could have. The challenge remains: How do we usher in emerging technologies while keeping a focus on the uniquely human skills, experiences, and needs at our organizations? 

This event is a continuation of the conversation that began during COE’s AI ethics event in December 2023. This year’s two-part event will feature updated research with a new focus on AI and its impacts on culture, people, and the future of the work. 

In the morning session, Prof. Nate Craig will deliver research insights on deploying artificial intelligence. His session will provide an overview of current AI and machine learning technology, offer ethical and human-focused principles for working with GenAI, and explore opportunities for prediction technologies and system-level AI deployment. 

In the afternoon session, Shannon Skaggs, Quantum Health’s President and head of its innovation team, will address the process the company has undergone as it’s begun to deploy GenAI, the learnings, and the unique opportunities as the company continues to evolve this transition of its technology platform. For 25 years, Quantum Health has been the leader in the healthcare navigation industry, serving over 3 million members and over 500 employer clients. This session will feature industry insights from Quantum Health’s journey to use GenAI to better address problems and support thousands of employees. 

Event Agenda

10 – 10:30 a.m. | Check-In (in-person attendees only)

10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. | Research Insights from Dr. Nate Craig, Associate Professor of Operations and Business Analytics at the Fisher College of Business

12 – 1 p.m. | Lunch & Networking (in-person attendees only)

1 – 2:30 p.m. | Industry Insights from Shannon Skaggs, President of Quantum Health

Shannon Skaggs is president of Quantum Health. An imaginative leader who is passionate about improving the healthcare experience, Skaggs has expertly guided and grown Quantum Health’s technology-enabled, empathy-powered solutions that serve more than 400 clients and over 2 million members nationwide. His unparalleled commitment to creating a thriving work environment has resulted in an award-winning culture, as proven by Quantum Health being named a Best Place to Work for 15 years by Columbus Business First.

Prior to his role as president, Skaggs served as chief operating officer, vice president of product development, director of customer engagement, director of account services and vice president of client development. This comprehensive enterprise expertise enables Skaggs to successfully integrate and solution for the unique and complex needs of all of Quantum Health’s key stakeholders: Members, clients and providers.

Nate Craig is an associate professor in the Department of Operations and Business Analytics at the Fisher College of Business. He researches the application of data science and artificial intelligence to managerial decision-making, focusing on the financial services and retail industries. Leading outlets have published his research, including Harvard Business Review, the Journal of Operations Management, and Manufacturing and Service Operations Management. At the Fisher College of Business, Nate is academic director of the Executive MBA program and coordinator of the Ph.D. program in Operations and Business Analytics.

Nate earned a doctorate in Technology and Operations Management from Harvard Business School and master's and bachelor’s degrees in systems engineering from The Ohio State University. He is the recipient of research awards, including the Wyss Award and the Ralph Gomory Industry Studies Award. Nate serves on the Center of Science and Industry (COSI) Community Board and the Ohio Union Council.

This is a hybrid event. Please select whether you wish to attend in-person or via livestream at the time of registration. The in-person event will be held on the Ohio State campus at the Blackwell Ballroom (2110 Tuttle Park Pl, Columbus, OH 43210) and will include a networking lunch. The virtual event will be held via Zoom—the link to join will be included in the livestream registration confirmation email.  

Register Here

January 8 | 9 – 11:30 a.m. | Hybrid Event

Women’s Leadership Forum 

What does it look like to build your brand with intention, gratitude, and authenticity? This year’s highly anticipated Women’s Leadership Forum will offer a powerful exploration into self-awareness, values, and intentionality, providing insights on how to build and live out your personal brand with purpose. 

At this event, esteemed nonprofit leader Nichole Dunn will challenge attendees to assess the ways our personal brand shapes relationships, to strengthen our influence, and to align with our core values. When we approach our personal brand in this way, we’re empowered to lead lives filled with purpose and clarity. 

Through this process, each attendee will build a personal “Book of Lists” to deepen connections and foster meaningful networks, inspiring each other to live with intention and authenticity.

Event Agenda

9 – 10 a.m. | Check-In, Light Breakfast, and Networking (in-person attendees only)

10 – 11:30 a.m. | Nichole Dunn Presentation and Q&A Session 

Nichole E. Dunn has served as President & CEO of Flying Horse Farms since January 2018, leading Ohio's nonprofit that provides life-changing experiences for children with serious illnesses and their families. Nichole brings a unique blend of early childhood development, trauma-informed care, and community and workforce development to her work at Flying Horse Farms. With a rich background in community leadership, Nichole was previously President & CEO of The Women’s Fund of Central Ohio, advancing gender equality and policies for women's economic security. She has also served at the United Way of Central Ohio and the YWCA of Columbus. Prior to moving to Columbus in 2001, she focused her career on applying her licensures in Alcohol and Drug Treatment and Prevention with the founding of a high school for youth in recovery in Minnesota. 

She is a frequent speaker on topics such as women’s leadership, values-aligned decision-making, and non-profit best practices. 

Her honors include the Business First Forty Under 40 Award, Columbus CEO Magazine’s Most Admired Executives, Smart 50, and Medical Mutual’s Nonprofit Executive of the Year. 

She is committed to strengthening her community as a proactive leader of change. 

Nichole resides in New Albany, Ohio with her husband Michael of more than 20 years, daughter Abigail (19) and son, Henry (16), and Wheaten Terrier, Mojo.

This is a hybrid event. Please select whether you wish to attend in-person or via livestream at the time of registration. The in-person event will be held at the Fawcett Center (2400 Olentangy River Rd., Columbus, OH 43210) and will include a networking breakfast from 9-10 a.m. The virtual event will be held via Zoom—the link to join will be included in the livestream registration confirmation email.  

Registration coming soon!

January 22 | 1 – 4 p.m. | In-Person Workshop

In today’s dynamic business environment, cultural misalignment can be a major barrier to success. Organizations often invest heavily in implementations and transformations, only to find that cultural resistance, poor employee engagement, and a lack of workforce adaptability prevent them from realizing their goals. Misaligned cultures can stifle innovation, slow down decision-making, and lead to high employee turnover - ultimately impacting customer satisfaction, competitiveness, and long-term growth.

The Sterling Advisory Services Culture Playbook Workshop will empower leaders to tackle these challenges head-on. Participants will identify their organization’s culture profile, map out cultural strengths and gaps, and explore targeted strategies to better align culture with strategic objectives. Through hands-on exercises, leaders will develop practical, actionable plans to foster adaptability, enhance employee engagement, and build a customer-focused, results-driven culture—unlocking the full potential of their organization’s transformational investments.

At the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

1. Identify and Analyze Organizational Culture. Recognize their organization’s culture profile, assess alignment with strategic goals, and uncover cultural strengths and gaps.
2. Develop Practical Strategies for Culture Change. Explore actionable solutions to bridge cultural gaps and prioritize changes that enhance workforce adaptability, innovation, and engagement.
3. Develop a Culture Action Plan. Build a tailored plan to address cultural challenges, set measurable goals, and drive impactful changes within their organization.

Dion S. Charles is a seasoned Organizational Change Management professional with 18 years of experience driving organizational transformation. A 2006 graduate of Ohio State University Fisher College of Business, Mr. Charles specializes in guiding companies through successful transitions and fostering adaptability and resilience.

Throughout his career, Mr. Charles has collaborated with executives to implement strategic initiatives that enhance growth and operational efficiency. With a deep understanding of change management best practices, he excels in developing and executing strategies that address business transformation's people, process, and technology aspects.

As the founder of Sterling Advisory Services and author of Learning to Manage Organizational Change: A Practical Guide for Project Leaders and Change Professionals, Mr. Charles is committed to helping organizations navigate the complexities of change and thrive in an ever-evolving business landscape.

This is a limited-capacity, in-person only workshop on The Ohio State University campus. Participants will be selected using the interest form below in coordination with COE board representatives from each member company. If you have been selected, you’ll receive an email by January 8 with additional information.

Submit Interest Here

Save the Date

February 5, 12 - 1 p.m. | Reversing the Mental Health Crisis in the Workplace Webinar with Dr. Andrea Mata (Virtual)

April 8 -10 | COE Summit 2025

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