The data and AI experience for business leaders, technical users and SAS Partners

8:30 - 9:30 AM

Registration Open: Grab Your Badge & a Brew
Kick off your day with a warm welcome, a fresh cup of coffee, and your event badge in hand. Stop by early to check in, fuel up, and start connecting with fellow attendees before the sessions begin.

9:30 - 11:30 AM

Host: Jack Thompson, SAS Head of US Commercial Sales

Keynote: Outcomes that Outperform
Bryan Harris, SAS Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer
Discover how SAS is shaping the future of data and AI through innovations like Agentic AI, Digital Twins, and Quantum AI to deliver outcomes that matter.

More Productive Data & AI: The SAS® Viya® Portfolio
Shadi Shahin, SAS Vice President, Product Strategy
Rob Blanchard, SAS Principal Data Scientist
Satish Kumaraswami, Scotiabank Vice President, Global Model Risk Management
Learn how the SAS Viya platform empowers teams to accelerate productivity and scale value with tools like SAS Viya Workbench, SAS Data Maker, and SAS Viya Copilot in Model Studio. 

Responsible AI Driven Decisions
Jenn Chase, SAS Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer
Dive into how organizations across a range of industries are building AI they can trust — from explainability and governance to real-world results.

AI for Everyone, Everywhere
John Carey, SAS Vice President of Global Channels
See how SAS Managed Cloud and our global partner ecosystem are making AI more accessible, scalable, and impactful. 

11:30 - 12:30 PM

Pitchside Power Lunch & Small Group Conversations
Take a break from the sessions and fuel up with a networking lunch overlooking the iconic LAFC pitch. Join “birds of a feather” sessions—casual, topic-driven conversations where you’ll connect with peers who share your interests over lunch. Enjoy delicious bites, great company, and unbeatable views of BMO Stadium as you connect with fellow attendees where the energy of the game meets the power of conversation

Table Topics

1. Agentic AI: Exploring Possibilities, Pitfalls and the Trust Imperative
2. Decisioning: Turning AI into ROI
3. Future-Proofing Leadership: Cultivating Soft Skills for the Age of AI
4. Getting the Most Out of SAS: How Do You Get Users and Stakeholders Excited About SAS?
5. How Do Public Sector Organizations Define and Measure 'Value' From IT Investments to Justify Future Funding?
6. Preventing Fraud with Synthetic Image Detection
7. Talk Model Risk Management with Scotiabank
8. Using AI to Improve Your Productivity at Work

12:40 - 1:40 PM

AI Expert Panel - The Trust Dilemma: Data & AI in 2025
Nicholas Thompson, CEO at The Atlantic
Kathy Lange, AI Research Director, IDC
Preeti Shivpuri, AI and Data Lead over Ethics, Deloitte Canada
Bryan Harris, Chief Technology Officer, SAS
Get ready for a high-energy panel exploring the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence. This session will feature diverse perspectives on the trends, challenges, and opportunities shaping the future of AI—from innovation and ethics to real-world impact. Expect bold opinions, fresh insights, highlights from new and emerging research, and maybe even a few surprises.

1:45 - 2:15 PM

Game Changers: Tilting the Pitch with Data & AI
Ryan Bishara, Los Angeles Football Club Executive Vice President, Revenue & Strategy
Mike Manella, Los Angeles Football Club Vice President, Business & Data Strategy
Jenn Chase, SAS Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Office
Learn more about how LAFC is using SAS Viya and SAS Customer Intelligence 360 to optimize fan outreach, operations, and game day experience at BMO Stadium. Specifically, LAFC has partnered with SAS to create a fan journey of one – an orchestrated communications plan leveraging SAS Viya for modeling engagement data, and SAS CI360 to deliver the right message, in the right place, at the right time. The work doesn’t stop there. LAFC is using SAS to accelerate optimization by automating the process from results to insights-fueled marketing campaigns, improving both LAFC’s productivity and fan experience.

2:15 - 3:15 PM

3:15 - 3:30 PM

Networking Break

3:30 - 4:30 PM

4:30 - 5:30 PM

Social on the Sunset Deck
Wrap up your day with a golden-hour gathering on the iconic Sunset Deck! Sip on refreshing drinks, savor delicious bites, and soak in panoramic views of BMO Stadium, downtown LA, and beyond. Whether you're reconnecting with colleagues or making new connections, this is your chance to unwind, mingle, and celebrate the energy of the day—LA-style.