Ryan Bergman (keynote) 
Principal Engineer, John Deere

Ryan Bergman is a Principal Engineer at John Deere's Intelligent Solutions Group, where he oversees API standards and architecture for the systems farmers rely on to connect with agronomists, dealers, and other experts. Based in the Des Moines, Iowa area, Ryan brings years of experience spanning scrappy startups to large-scale enterprise software, giving him a unique perspective on what it takes to build resilient, high-quality systems at any scale. A passionate advocate for Extreme Programming, test-driven development, and open source, Ryan is known for his practical, experience-driven approach to software craft. He speaks frequently at conferences and on podcasts about topics ranging from DevOps and testing strategies to the fascinating challenges of building software for modern agriculture — including the systems behind autonomous vehicles and precision farming. When he's not shaping architecture at one of the world's most iconic companies, Ryan can be found contributing to open source projects and sharing hard-won lessons about building great software with great teams.

Tim Fu (keynote)
Founder & Director, Studio Tim Fu

Tim Fu is the founder and director of Studio Tim Fu, an architectural practice dedicated to bridging human and machine creativity. At the heart of his work lies a mission to champion the role of human artistry and originality in an era increasingly impacted by AI innovation. His team at STF collaborates with clients and partners worldwide to deliver visionary projects that celebrate architectural artistry while embracing transformative possibilities of AI. With a deep appreciation for form and structure, Tim’s designs explore bold, fluid geometries that inspire and elevate the experience of the built environment. As a leader in the architectural field, Tim is seeking to discover how an architectural practice can be structured and run differently in the AI era. He advocates for a future where technology amplifies human creativity, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and human design excellence.

Alex Pollock
Associate Principal, Senior Director of CORE studio, Thornton Tomasetti

Alexandra is the Senior Director of CORE studio, Thornton Tomasetti’s technology and R&D group, where she provides strategic leadership to develop and implement strategies that drive innovation and accelerate impact. A registered architect and technologist with 20 years of experience in the AEC industry, she currently serves on the Virginia Tech School of Architecture Advisory Board and is a member of the national AIA Technology in Architecture Practice (TAP) knowledge community.

Amber Lombardo
Executive Director, AIA Memphis & Founder, CiV the Center for Architecture + Design

Amber Lombardo is the Executive Director of AIA Memphis and founder of CiV, the Center for Architecture + Design in West Tennessee. She serves on the 2024 AIA National Board of Directors and Government Advocacy Committee (as liaison to the Strategic Council's AI working group). Lombardo has a Bachelor of Science degree in Interdisciplinary Studies in Architecture, Civil Engineering and Marketing from Mississippi State University. Upon graduation, she worked as a web developer for a variety of organizations in the then-emerging tech industry. In 1999 she began her own web shop and sold it 17 years later after it evolved into an advertising agency, community magazine, art gallery and digital print shop, garnering over 70 industry awards ranging up to international recognition. In 2016 she returned to architecture through grassroots advocacy efforts for the Mississippi Historic Tax Credit and later, in coordination with the National Trust, the Federal Historic Tax Credit. Recent awards include the 2021 AIA Memphis President's Award, the 2022 Memphis Business Journal's Women Who Lead in Architecture, and 2023 Louise Blanchard Bethune Fellow. 

Andrew Zukoski
CEO, Join

Andrew Zukoski is a co-founder and the CEO of Join (www.join.build), a preconstruction and design phase management platform trusted by the construction industry’s leading owners, designers, and contractors. Today, more than 50% of the ENR Top Contractors use Join to bring clarity and confidence to early project decisions. Andrew earned his BA in electrical engineering and visual art from Rice University.

Brok Howard
Senior Product Manager, dRofus

Brok Howard is a senior product manager at dRofus, a Nemetschek company that provides BIM-centric project information management software for the AEC industry. He is based in the San Francisco Bay Area and works at the intersection of design, data, and construction technology, helping project teams turn complex building information into reliable decisions across the project lifecycle. Brok began his career in architecture, where he led BIM and digital practice initiatives before moving into product management. As a licensed architect in Georgia and Missouri, he brings a practitioner’s perspective on how tools are used in practice and applies it to shaping the dRofus roadmap, BIM integrations, and data workflows for large, multi-stakeholder teams. He is particularly focused on reducing project risk by improving information quality, traceability, and handover between design, construction, and operations. Brok frequently speaks on technology, collaboration, and project delivery at industry events. Recent engagements include serving as a Thought Leader speaker at CONSTRUCT, a panelist at the Bluebeam eXtreme Conference, and a contributor to BuiltWorlds programs on project management and delivery trends. He also appears on podcasts and webinars discussing non-traditional career paths in architecture and BIM, as well as the evolving role of data in practice.

Cesar Escalante, AIA
Senior Technical Marketing Manager, Autodesk

Cesar Escalante, AIA, LEED AP, CM-BIM, Sr Technical Marketing Manager - Autodesk. As Autodesk's architecture innovation evangelist, Cesar leverages his two-decade career at industry leaders like Gensler, HOK, and Flad Architects to champion cutting-edge technologies. A deep passion for computational design and digital prototyping complements his expertise in delivering multi-billion-dollar projects. A recognized thought leader, Cesar shares his knowledge through speaking engagements and education while actively shaping the industry through leadership roles in the American Institute of Architects. Cesar is the 2025 Chair of the AIA National Technology in Architectural Practice Knowledge Community and Board Director of the AIA San Francisco.

Daniel Stine, AIA
Director of Design Technology, Lake|Flato Architects

Dan Stine is a Wisconsin-registered architect, the Director of Design Technology, and leads the internal research program at Lake|Flato in San Antonio, Texas. He serves on the national AIA AI Task Force, AIA TAP LG, and previously on the AIA Committee on the Environment (COTE^®>) leadership. Dan has taught graduate architecture students at NDSU for ten years and has written 20 textbooks, including the #1 Revit book in North America. He was on a six-person team commissioned by the AIA to write the AIA Climate Action Business Playbook.

Erik Narhi
Computational Design Lead, Buro Happold

Erik Narhi is an Architect working at the intersection of computation, design, and engineering. He is the Global Specialists Development and Game Engine Adoption Lead at Buro Happold, where he leads a multidisciplinary team of computationally inclined individuals. His team’s work focuses on leveraging emerging technologies in computer science, architecture, engineering and game development to transform the way buildings are designed, analyzed and delivered.

Gayathri Venkataraman

Gayatri Desai

Jennifer Suerth
Senior Director of Construction Strategy, Autodesk

As Senior Director of Construction Strategy at Autodesk, Jen Suerth helps shape the future of the built environment by aligning market insights, product direction, and industry trends to accelerate innovation and growth across Autodesk’s construction portfolio. With nearly 20 years of experience spanning architecture, engineering, and construction, she brings a holistic, cross-disciplinary perspective that uniquely connects technology strategy with real-world execution across the entire AEC lifecycle. Prior to joining Autodesk, Jen was Senior Vice President at Pepper Construction Group, where she led the Virtual Construction, MEP, and Operations Technology teams. She was instrumental in developing cross-functional digital workflows that bridged design and construction, empowered teams, and delivered measurable value across projects and operations. A highly sought-after speaker and thought leader in construction technology, Jen has earned multiple national accolades. Jen holds a Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies and a Master of Architecture with a structural concentration, both from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Kimon Onuma, FAIA
President, Onuma, Inc.

Kimon Onuma, FAIA, builds architecturally informed environments for the digital and physical world. In 1994 he demonstrated BIM benefits on large scale U.S. government projects. Kimon authored the 2006 American Institute of Architects (AIA) Report on Integrated Practice titled "The 21st Century Practitioner.” Recent projects include the Department of Defense Military Health System and Department of Veterans Affairs for their healthcare strategic planning, programming and facility management.

Laura Wake-Ramos, AIA
Design Manager, Hensel Phelps

Laura Wake-Ramos, AIA, NCARB, DBIA is a Design Manager with Hensel Phelps in the Mid-Atlantic Region, bringing over 11 years of experience across design and construction. She is a licensed architect in the District of Columbia and a certified Design-Build Professional. Laura currently serves on the AIA Strategic Council, where she participates in the Neuroarchitecture Study Group, advancing research and dialogue at the intersection of neuroscience and the built environment. She previously served as Chair of the AIA Project Delivery Knowledge Community. In addition, Laura serves as 2026 Secretary of the DBIA Mid-Atlantic Region. An experienced speaker, Laura has presented at numerous AIA and DBIA events on topics including project delivery, high-performing teams, and the role of technology in advancing design and construction. In addition, she is an active mentor with organizations such as DBIA, Arquitina, and the ACE Mentoring Program of America. Laura holds a Bachelor of Architecture and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Arts & Sciences from the Pennsylvania State University, as well as a Master’s in Real Estate Development from Georgetown University. 

Nicholas Kramer, Assoc. AIA

Nora Swanson, PE
Principal, Innovation and Knowledge Management, JB&B

Nora Swanson is responsible for leading the strategy and execution of firmwide learning platforms, knowledge infrastructure, and technology-driven innovation. She has impressively carved out a 20+ year career in the AEC industry, where she has become known for challenging the status quo and navigating the intersection of technology and the human experience. Since joining JB&B in 2023, Nora has played a foundational role in shaping the firm’s innovation and knowledge management efforts. She has built and led a team of innovators focused on operational excellence, technological transformation, and knowledge sharing, while launching a learning management system and intranet and leading the in-house development of AI solutions. As a licensed Professional Engineer with a background in mechanical engineering, project management, and design technologies, Nora brings deep industry knowledge and a passion for creative problem-solving, emerging tech, and knowledge sharing. Nora earned her Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering at Villanova University and is a LEED Accredited Professional as well as a SmartScore and WiredScore Accredited Professional.

Peter Johann

Phillip Fernberg, Ph.D, ASLA
Assistant Research Professor, Utah State University, & Co-founder/advisor, Bloomlogic 

Phillip Fernberg, Ph.D., ASLA, is a researcher, educator, and innovation strategist working at the nexus of emerging technology, environmental policy, and organizational management in the design professions. As Assistant Research Professor at Utah State University, he utilizes advanced tools and methods to work on problems ranging from AI-Human partnering and digital culture in the design professions to complex land and water modeling problems facing Utah’s Great Salt Lake basin. Phil is also co-founder and advisor for Bloomlogic, a technology startup focused on integrating landscape design, inventory management, and logistics for the plant nursery industry in a common marketplace.

Sam Omans
Head of AI Growth Strategy, Autodesk

Sam Omans, PhD is Head of AI Growth Strategy at Autodesk, where he leads strategy for the company’s foundation model initiatives, focusing on how new AI capabilities are deployed across products and workflows. Trained as an architect and historian, his work centers on how AI systems reshape professional reasoning and decision-making in industrial contexts. He serves on the faculty at Yale University. His research has been supported by fellowships from the Fulbright Program and the Getty Research Institute.

Sharare Norouzi
Emerging Technologies Specialist, Little

As an Emerging Technologies Specialist at Little, Sharare is dedicated to modernizing architectural workflows through agile methodologies and applied AI. A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, she works at the intersection of software engineering and design, translating complex technologies into practical tools that empower teams and embed innovation into everyday practice.

Stephanie Tabb
Founding Product Lead, SketchPro AI

Stephanie Tabb is a licensed architect with 12+ years of experience and the Founding Product Lead at SketchPro AI, building an AI-driven enterprise platform for the AEC industry. At SketchPro, Stephanie owns product strategy, roadmap, discovery, and delivery for an AI platform embedded in Revit and supported by a web-based enterprise knowledge layer, partnering closely with engineers and AEC firms to ship AI-powered workflows that unlock design time and improve project delivery. Previously, she spent over seven years at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) as a Senior Computational Design Architect and internal product development lead. She drove firmwide product initiatives, published research on machine learning in practice, and mentored teams to scale computational workflows across 10+ global studios. Earlier, she worked at Woods Bagot, contributing to the firm's data-driven computational design practice across its global studios, and at ELS Architecture and Urban Design where she cofounded the firm's first dedicated digital practice.

Thesla Collier, Intl. Assoc. AIA
Design Technology Manager/Project Manager, HNTB

Thesla has her Bachelor’s in architecture from the University of Honduras and has worked in the AEC Industry for over 25 years. She actively works with users to elevate their knowledge baseline to improve their skills on multiple software platforms. She is always seeking new avenues of technology to improve design workflows, making it possible to conceive, visualize, and adapt to a project’s specific needs.