What does it take for an organization to begin using artificial intelligence responsibly and effectively? Marketing and Katz Endowed Professor Tom Miaskiewicz and Manager of AI and Analytics Nicole Guthrie of the AI Institute at Fort Lewis College will tackle that question in their presentation,“Strategic Integration of AI for Your Organization​”, at the 2025 Alliance Summit in Ignacio on September 11.

AI and business strategy for regional organizations

The Alliance Summit theme, Rooted in Community, underscores the role of partnerships in building a thriving La Plata County. Miaskiewicz and Guthrie’s session reflects that purpose, offering leaders from local businesses and organizations a clear framework to approach artificial intelligence with confidence and care.

“AI presents tremendous opportunities, but it must be approached with a strong foundation in ethics, governance, and community values,” Miaskiewicz said. “Participants will leave our session with a solid understanding of the AI landscape, ready to envision a future state, and begin building an AI roadmap tailored to their organization.”

A roadmap for AI readiness

Attendees will walk through a step-by-step process for evaluating AI readiness, explore governance and policy tools, and gain insights into how FLC itself is approaching responsible adoption. The session also connects directly to the AI Institute’s hands-on work through its Elevate AI incubator program and regional collaborations.

“This is not about mastering a single tool,” Miaskiewicz added. “It’s about strengthening the strategic thinking and leadership capacity that effective AI integration requires. We want participants to leave with practical steps they can apply the very next day.”

Building community capacity

The summit presentation builds on Miaskiewicz and Guthrie’s ongoing capacity-building work across the region. As part of his Katz Endowed Professorship, Miaskiewicz has hosted a series of free community workshops on artificial intelligence, while Guthrie lead regular AI community meet ups as well as industry focused workshops to foster conversation and build capacity across La Plata County. The workshops will resume this fall.

“Community conversations around AI are essential,” Guthrie said. “Through our meetups and workshops, we’ve seen how much individuals and organizations want to learn from one another.”

Summit details

The 2025 Alliance Summit takes place Thursday, September 11, from 8 am – 5 pm in Ignacio. Registration is $95. More information, including a full schedule of sessions, is available at yeslpc.com/2025-summit.

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