TOPIC: The Government Accountability Office SPEAKER: Davis Judson, Senior Analyst, GAO GAO has been called the congressional watchdog and the defender of the public interest. Learn about GAO's unique role in the federal government and how it supports Congress with objective, reliable, and nonpartisan information. BIOGRAPHY Davis Judson is a project manager in GAO's financial…
TOPIC: The Pearl, Charlotte's Innovation District SPEAKER: Hillary Crittendon The Pearl, anchored by Wake Forest School of Medicine, is a 30-acre mixed-use development that includes education, retail, apartments, a hotel, open community space, and health science research facilities. Located next to uptown and Atrium Health's flagship hospital, it aims to drive economic growth and job…
TOPIC: The Future of Human-AI Relations SPEAKER: Mark Peres, Author/Professor/Founder In this provocative and accessible talk, ethicist and novelist Mark Peres invites audiences to explore one of the most profound questions of the 21st century: What does it mean to share the future with intelligent machines? Drawing on the ideas at the heart of his…
TOPIC: Energy Transition to Carbon Free Electricity SPEAKER: Neva Espinoza, Senior Vice President – Energy Supply and Low-Carbon Resources & Chief Generation Officer Neva Espinoza will discuss how nuclear power and other advanced technologies can enable a transition to affordable, reliable, and carbon-free electricity BIOGRAPHY Neva Espinoza is Senior Vice President, Energy Supply and Low-Carbon…
TOPIC: The American Fire Service - Proud History & Innovative Future SPEAKER: Heather Burford From Benjamin Franklin co-founding the Country’s first volunteer fire company in 1736, through today’s migration to electric fire engines, the American Fire Service has evolved tremendously throughout history. Ever evolving, the fire service has undergone remarkable transformation, adapting to changing environments,…
TOPIC: Ancient Rome's Last God SPEAKER: E. Michael Whittington, Retired Art Museum Director The Roman Empire with its larger-than-life emperors, mighty legions, extravagant gladiatorial games, and extraordinary art and architecture fires our imagination and influences popular culture. The ancient Roman supernatural was populated by a dizzying panoply of gods, goddesses, deified rulers, heroes, and fantastical…
TOPIC: Talking Turkey to Keep the Wolves Away - Eradicating Elder Financial Fraud SPEAKER: Ann Larkin and Samuel Kunjukunju Seniors lose billions of dollars every year due to criminals absconding with much-needed retirement assets. Learn about current scams, the financial industry's responses, and the need for more help. BIOGRAPHY ANNE WILSON LARKIN works as a…
TOPIC: AI in Your Hands: A Practical Guide to Capabilities, Prompting, and Pitfalls SPEAKER: Cori Faklaris, Asst Professor, UNC Charlotte AI is everywhere, but it doesn't come with a user manual. Tools such as ChatGPT can be powerful assistants for brainstorming, writing, and learning. At the same time, they are used to create scams, "deepfakes,"…