Great Lakes AI Week | Media Advisory
Great Lakes AI Week to Spotlight Toledo as Gateway to an Intelligent Great Lakes Region
November 3–8
What: Great Lakes AI Week 2025 is a week-long convening centered in Greater Toledo / Northwest Ohio, bringing together regional leaders, technologists, educators, and public sector stakeholders to accelerate the deployment of AI across the Great Lakes basin. The week is anchored by a two-day leadership and learning conference at Bowling Green State University November 5th and 6th.
Conference programming throughout the week will highlight Toledo’s role as a growing AI and innovation hub, anchor new regional collaborations, and provide AI training and certification pathways to upskill professionals from across the region. Interested attendees are able to register to attend and discover ways to get involved at GreatLakesAIWeek.com.
Great Lakes AI Week is powered by Enterprise Technology Association, JobsOhio, Actual Reality Technologies, Bowling Green State University, University of Toledo, and a coalition of community partners. The event will welcome speakers and attendees from dozens of states.
Speaker Highlights:
National Leaders
Matthew Versaggi, White House Policy Innovation Fellow
Bob Cassity, US Patent and Trademark Office
Summer Crenshaw, Enterprise Technology Association
Zack Huhn, Enterprise Technology Association
State Leaders
Payal Thakur, JobsOhio
Phil Greenberg, JobsOhio
Jon Husted, US Senate (virtual remarks)
Nate Sowder, 5/3 Bank
Local and Regional Leaders
Wade Kapszukiewitz, Mayor of Toledo
Dean Monske, CEO of RGP
Tom Bush, CEO of Actual Reality Technologies
Matthew Kirian, CEO of NOIC
BGSU Leaders
President, Rodney Rodgers
Provost, CIO and other Esteemed Faculty
UT Leaders
President, Provost, CIO, Esteemed Faculty:
And more than 100 Business and Technology Leaders
What, When & Where:
Tue, Nov 4 — AI training & certification workshops (virtual & in-person at University of Toledo, RSVP required)
Tue, Nov 4, 5:00 PM — AI Woodstock Community Happy Hour (Maumee Bay Brewing Co., sponsored by RGP, all are welcome!)
Wed–Thu, Nov 5–6 — AI Week Conference and Workshops (Bowling Green State University, ticket required!)
Thu, Nov 6, 8:00 AM — Women in AI Breakfast (RSVP required)
Thu, Nov 6 (evening) — VIP Awards & Regional Recognitions (invite-only reception)
Fri, Nov 7 — AI in Healthcare Summit (University of Toledo, Registration required)
Sat, Nov 8 — AI Community Programming TBA!
Media Access & Opportunities:
Attend the Toledo mayoral announcement or other AI Week events
Attend JobsOhio upskilling and training announcements and interview leaders
Interview with leaders unveiling the Intelligent Regions Initiative
Observe AI workshops, training, demos, and site visits at UT and BGSU all week
Accessible interview access with regional academic, public sector, and business leaders
Photo / video opportunities throughout venues and events
Why Toledo? Why Now?
The Great Lakes region powers more than 50 million jobs and drives multi-trillion-dollar economic output, yet it’s rarely centered in AI narratives.
Toledo is emerging as a strategic node for AI, positioned at the intersection of industrial heritage, logistics, water and energy infrastructure, and rising data capability.
Data center momentum in Ohio suggests new growth trajectories, and Toledo is well placed to benefit from that wave.
Local institutions—University of Toledo and BGSU—are launching advanced AI education, healthcare, and manufacturing programs.
The alignment of public, private, and academic partners in the region to host this event is rare and signals serious ambition.
RSVP / Media Credentials:
Register to attend at greatlakesaiweek.com or contact zack@joineta.org to schedule interviews and get a media pass.
