About us
Welcome to Arizona's premier AI meetup, the Artificial Intelligence Trailblazers! We're a bi-weekly gathering of business owners, entrepreneurs, and employees passionate about the transformative potential of AI.
Our mission as a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit is to educate and collaborate on the latest AI tools and techniques, and we're dedicated to ensuring equitable access to these powerful new capabilities.
Join us for presentations, discussions, workshops, and guest speakers as we explore the cutting edge of AI and tackle the social issues it presents. Whether you're an AI novice or an experienced pro, there's something for everyone at our meetup. And the best part? It's free to attend!
Join our email-based AI community
***** Pioneer Constitution *****
Inclusivity OVER Exclusivity: We are committed to being accessible to everyone, offering beginner-friendly content, diverse speakers, and multiple language options.
Education OVER Commercialization: Our primary focus is on educating our members and fostering collaboration. Commercial interests take a backseat to learning and sharing knowledge.
Collaboration OVER Individualism: Our sessions are interactive and designed to foster both individual learning and collective problem-solving.
Dialogue OVER Silence: We make time to respectfully discuss the social and ethical implications of AI, ensuring that these important topics are not sidelined.
Transparency OVER Hidden Agendas: Any sponsorships or partnerships will be transparent, and sponsors must adhere to our member constitution. Donations are welcome and much appreciated it!
📷 Photography & Video Notice To help us share the impact of our educational mission, AI Trailblazers will be taking photos and videos today. By registering and attending, you kindly consent to being included in these community memories. -=However, we deeply respect your privacy—if you prefer to stay off-camera, simply notify our staff upon entering, and we will gladly ensure your space is respected.
¡Bienvenidos al principal meetup de IA en Arizona, los Pioneros de la Inteligencia Artificial!
Nuestro grupo de encuentro esta conformado de propietarios de negocios, emprendedores, empleados y personas comunes apasionados por el potencial de transformación en que esta evolucionando la IA (inteligencia artificial).
Nuestra misión como organización de No-lucro 501(c)(3) es educar y colaborar con la enseñanza de las herramientas y técnicas de IA mas actualizadas, y estamos dedicados a garantizar un acceso equitativo a estas poderosas nuevas capacidades.
Únete a nosotros en presentaciones, discusiones, mesas de trabajo, talleres y a conferencistas invitados mientras exploramos la vanguardia de la IA y abordamos los problemas sociales presentes. Ya seas un novato en IA o un profesional experimentado, hay algo para todos en nuestro meetup. ¿Y lo mejor de todo? ¡Es gratuito, solo tienes que asistir a nuestros encuentros!
*****Valores y Constitución de Pioneros *****
- Inclusividad sobre Exclusividad: Estamos comprometidos a ser accesibles para todos, ofreciendo contenido amigable para principiantes, oradores diversos y múltiples opciones de idioma.
- Educación sobre Comercialización: Nuestro enfoque principal es educar a nuestros miembros y fomentar la colaboración. Los intereses comerciales quedan en segundo plano frente al aprendizaje y al intercambio de conocimientos.
- Colaboración sobre Individualismo: Nuestras sesiones son interactivas y están diseñadas para fomentar tanto el aprendizaje individual como la resolución colectiva de problemas.
- Diálogo sobre Silencio: Nos tomamos el tiempo para discutir respetuosamente las implicaciones sociales y éticas de la IA, asegurando que estos temas importantes no queden relegados.
- Transparencia sobre Agendas Ocultas: Cualquier patrocinio o asociación será transparente, y los patrocinadores deberán adherirse a nuestra constitución de miembros.
Upcoming events
11
- $30.00
No Hype: AI Business Transformation
Kiln Biltmore, 1801 E. Camelback Road Suite 201, Phoenix, AZ, USJoin us for a half-day event for owners, partners, and senior operators of Arizona small and mid-size businesses who want practical ways to apply and lead AI transformation.
Who this is for
- Leaders of SMBs with approximately 5–100 employees
- Especially leaders in architecture, engineering, manufacturing, legal services, biotech, charter schools, and other small and mid-size businesses
- No technical background required
What you will leave with
- One business problem or workflow worth testing with AI
- One practical next step you can apply immediately
- A clearer understanding of useful AI, workflow automation, agentic systems, and the boundaries that still require human judgment
- A full belly
Program Agenda
Welcome from On Top of I.T.
A practical opening for business leaders sorting real AI value from noise.AI Trailblazers introduction and audience calibration
We will establish a shared baseline around where participants are today and what they want AI to accomplish.AI foundations: getting useful results safely
Learn how clearer instructions, verification, sensitive-data boundaries, and human review improve AI-assisted work.Agentic AI and practical business workflows
See how a repeatable workflow connects a trigger, source material, AI actions, human checkpoints, and a measurable result.Break and participant connections
Exchange a use case or question with another leader facing similar challenges.Human leadership and advanced AI possibilities
Explore human-AI collaboration and advanced examples without losing sight of governance, judgment, or an achievable starting point.Panel and Q&A
Hear candid operating stories: what practitioners tried, what broke, what changed, and what they would do first.Choose one workflow and make a 30-day action plan
Define the business problem, desired outcome, AI role, human checkpoint, owner, and first step.Lunch and facilitated networking
Continue the conversation with speakers, sponsors, and fellow participants.Speakers
Aaron Eden, Lead facilitator, Co-Founder of Brain Bridge and AI Trailblazers
Aaron Eden has spent thirty years building and leading technology teams and startups. Most recently he was a principal business systems analyst and engineer at Intuit, where his team automated 1.5 million hours of manual work in two years, roughly 18 forty year careers. He now runs Brain Bridge, helping organizations put AI to work in partnership with the human teams, and co-founded AI Trailblazers, a nonprofit running an apprenticeship program for people the technology usually leaves behind. Previously he founded and led Moves the Needle, a lean innovation consultancy built on design thinking and lean methods for Fortune 100 enterprises.Alex Liebeskind, Event partner and welcome, Managing Partner, On Top of I.T.
Alex Liebeskind is the Managing Partner of On Top of I.T., a Tucson company that provides managed IT, cybersecurity, cloud, data security, and consulting services to small and midsize businesses. His work centers on practical technology choices, reliable service, and support that fits each client's business. He is focused on building a leading IT service and support business in Arizona.Maria Del Pilar Mascareno-Eden, Founder and President, AI Trailblazers
Maria Del Pilar Mascareno-Eden is the Founder and President of AI Trailblazers, an Arizona nonprofit that helps communities learn and use AI. She leads events and community partnerships with a focus on practical education, inclusion, collaboration, open dialogue, and responsible access to technology. Based in Tucson, she advocates for using AI to create social good and expand opportunity.Lee Ann Del Carpio, Speaker and panelist, CEO and Founder, Deeply Human
Lee Ann Del Carpio is CEO and Founder of Deeply Human, Inc., and creator of the Deeply Human Leadership approach. For more than 25 years, she has coached and trained leaders across industries and in more than 50 countries, with previous roles at Kaiser Permanente, Sapient, and Avon Products. Her practical, experiential work helps leaders and teams harness the energy of disruption to build the clarity, cohesion, and human judgment needed to lead and generate meaningful impact when intelligence is abundant.Dr. Bryan Bechtoldt, Panelist, President and Principal, SVA Consulting
Bryan Bechtoldt, EdD, is President and Principal of SVA Consulting. He helps clients prepare for business transformation by shaping vision and implementation strategy. His background spans business leadership and academia, with expertise in organizational change, business transformation, program management, relationship management, technology vision, and adult education. Before SVA, he held COO, CIO, CTO, and professional services leadership roles at Core BTS and Inacom Information Systems.Josh Brown, Panelist, CEO, Brain Bridge
Josh Brown is CEO of Brain Bridge, based in Phoenix. He is a multi-discipline operator in AI-driven process design, engineering, and strategic development. He previously founded a robotics company valued at $40M before its acquisition and has closed deals with Fortune 150 clients. At Brain Bridge he leads team development, cultural transformation, and change management.Evan Conroy, Panel facilitator, Principal, SVA Consulting
Event partners
Presented by AI Trailblazers with massive appreciation to event sponsors On Top of I.T., SVA Consulting and Brain Bridge. Sponsor support makes the venue, program, and participant experience possible.
15 attendees
Past events
65
