Todd James

Founder & CEO

Todd James is the founder of Aurora Insights and has spent the past 20 years developing and scaling advanced data and AI strategies for leading companies like Kroger and Fidelity Investments. With a deep understanding of what works—and what doesn't—Todd specializes in turning AI-driven solutions into real customer value and measurable business impact.

Chris Thomas

CEO

Tushar Kulkarni

CEO

Christopher Slee

Principal Technologist

Hi I’m Chris, the Principal Technologist at Transform Labs (formerly AWH) and the CTO of IncludeHealth, a healthcare start-up changing the face of Virtual Physical Therapy. When I speak about technology, I like to keep it accurate and relatable. I share stories and insights that matter to tech enthusiasts and anyone interested in how technology intersects with our daily lives and work. It’s about making sense of tech and making it understandable.

Zack Huhn

Jon Salisbury

CEO

Payal Thakur

CDAIO / Managing Director of Data, Analytics and AI

Payal Thakur is a seasoned strategic executive with over 20 years of diverse experience in Business Intelligence (BI), data analytics, finance and artificial intelligence. Payal has numerous certifications in data analytics and management. She has her MBA, MCA, COFP, and studied Organizational Leadership at Harvard University. Currently serving as the Senior Director of Enterprise Analytics at JobsOhio, Payal plays a pivotal role in harnessing data analytics and AI to support Ohio's economic development. Her work focuses on driving growth across multiple industries, aiming to enhance job creation, increase payrolls, and boost community investment. In her role, Payal leads a high-performance team that delivers impactful results and aligns with JobsOhio's vision. Her expertise spans advanced data insights, data strategy, data engineering, data science, data management, enterprise data modeling, risk management, digital transformation, data analytics, data visualization, relationship with business area executives, multi stakeholder collaborations, innovative Artificial Intelligence (AI) solutions, AI ML projects, data governance, and technology architecture, complemented by her strong background in public speaking and senior management. We welcome you to take in this pivotal moment in Ohio's Economic Success as Ohio climb the charts from #41 to #7 and how our data strategy amplifies competitive intelligence. Success is made possible with a well thought out plan, trusted relationships, empowerment, proper guardrails and inspirational leadership.

Joshua Tang

Founder & CEO

Josh Tang Founder & CEO Twelve years building ML and data systems in healthcare, banking, and defense. Principal Engineer at KeyBank, ML engineer on DoD contracts, and data engineer at IBM Watson Health and Explorys. Has the senior engineer's habit of asking "but what happens when this breaks?" before anything ships.

Summer Crenshaw

CEO

Maddie Bell

CEO

Maddie Bell is the CEO and Co-Founder of Synapsa, where she’s spent the past three years building patented AI agents that have generated millions in GTM pipeline value. A former Procter & Gamble brand leader, Maddie brings strategic rigor from managing billion-dollar brands to transforming how B2B teams engage and book leads. She’s tested thousands of conversational AI workflows to help teams move faster, personalize better, and boost pipeline efficiency. Outside of work, she’s raising three daughters with her husband and co-founder, Mike.

Tom Bush

Michael Fulton

Enterprise Architect