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Event Details

    AI Tsunami

    Date: September 18, 2025, 11:30am – 1:00pm
    Location:
    Southwestern Community College, 1501 W Townline St | Creston IA 50801
    Event Type:
    Meeting
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    The wave of AI adoption is already here — and it’s transforming how work gets done. In this dynamic and interactive session, Paul Gormley uses the “AI Tsunami” metaphor to help HR leaders understand both the urgency and the opportunity AI presents for their role.

    This is not about picking the latest software tool. It’s about recognizing that HR has a unique responsibility — and opportunity — to be the bridge between human employees and the new AI “employees” entering the workplace. While IT understands systems, HR understands people, culture, and how work truly happens. For organizations to thrive, these two functions must work in concert, with HR taking the lead on the human side of AI adoption.

    Attendees will learn:

    • What AI is (and isn’t) in plain English.
    • How AI is already showing up in HR tools and workflows.
    • HR-specific use cases like recruiting, onboarding, engagement, and skills mapping.
    • How to build an HR-led AI cohort to drive safe, effective adoption.

    You’ll leave with a clear sense of urgency, practical ideas for AI in HR, and a challenge to take the first step in your own organization — because if no one is leading the AI conversation in your company, it might as well be you.

    About the Presenter:

    Paul Gormley has been a Project Manager at the Iowa State University Center for Industrial Research and Service (CIRAS) for over 25 years. He holds a BS in Electrical Engineering and an MBA from Iowa State University. Before CIRAS, Paul designed and sold commercial and government building energy management systems and later contributed to product design at Winnebago Industries.

    At CIRAS, Paul has collaborated with hundreds of companies to enhance their innovation capabilities, refine their marketing strategies, and boost their business growth. His current role includes actively supporting Iowa businesses by providing education, consultation, and strategic connections to specialized AI resources, helping clients understand, adopt, and effectively leverage artificial intelligence. Additionally, Paul helps CIRAS staff augment their extensive industry experience by integrating AI into their work.