2026 Power Breakfast #3

Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026 | 9-9:30 a.m. – Networking | 9:30-11 a.m. – Breakfast and Panel Power Breakfast #3 The AI Question: Executive decisions that come before the technology Location: Krause Gateway Center, 1459 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50309 Metered parking available on Grand Ave, and visitor parking on 14th St. Time: 9 a.m.-11 a.m. | Networking: 9-9:30 a.m. Event Description: Artificial intelligence is creating urgent questions across every part of business, but the most consequential decisions begin well before choosing a model, tool or platform. The Business Record invites executives, business owners and other senior leaders and decision-makers to hear an executive-level conversation led by Mike Stitt of Austin, Texas-based Lateral Group. The discussion will use a “first principles” approach to AI: identifying the problems worth solving, defining the business outcomes that matter and determining whether an organization has the people, data and systems needed to support the work. Stitt will explore why AI could widen gaps between organizations and ask leaders to consider a larger question: What does our organization need to excel at now to benefit from AI over the next several years? Programming note: After registering for the event, please take a few minutes to answer an anonymous five-question survey about how your organization views AI. Results will be shared in aggregate at the event and select written responses may be shared at the event or in our products with permission. If you have questions, reach out to Events Coordinator Andrea Rodriguez at [email protected] and Business Record Editor Sarah Diehn at [email protected]. Speaker: Mike Stitt, partner, Lateral Group Mike Stitt is a partner at Lateral Group, a global technology design and engineering firm. He works with companies on business strategy, technology and artificial intelligence. An entrepreneur, founder and business operator with deep ties to Iowa, Mike has spent his career building and leading companies, launching ventures and working with leadership teams during periods of growth and change. He grew up around job sites and family businesses, where he learned that a strong idea matters only if it can work within the practical limits of time, budget and available resources. Today, Mike works alongside architects, engineers and designers to help companies determine where new technology can solve real problems and produce results. Connect with Mike As a media company, we believe our products should mirror our community both in the ways we celebrate diversity and in the way we facilitate meaningful conversations about equity. We understand this is essential to supporting a strong and growing community. In registering for this event, you agree to the Privacy Policy of Business Publications Corporation (BPC) as disclosed on our website, and as it might be amended from time to time, and to sharing and disclosure of registration data and information to the event sponsors for their use.