2026 Innovation Summit Speakers
Meet the Leaders Shaping the Future of Work
The 2026 Innovation Summit, The Talent Catalyst: Innovative Strategies for Culture & Retention, brings together business leaders, innovators, workforce experts, and community changemakers who are helping organizations navigate today's workforce challenges and prepare for tomorrow's opportunities.
This page serves as a resource highlighting the speakers and thought leaders who contribute their expertise and perspectives throughout the Summit. From executive leadership and organizational culture to artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship, and workforce development, these conversations challenged attendees to think differently about how organizations attract, develop, and retain talent.
Explore the speakers below to learn more about the individuals who help shape this year's Innovation Summit.
Opening Keynote Speaker: Kim Greene
Kim Greene
Chairman, President, and CEO
Georgia Power
Kim Greene leads Georgia Power in serving its 2.8 million customers across the state. An admired leader in the energy sector, Green joined Southern Company in 1991 as an engineer and has held positions across operations, finance and external affairs. Most recently, Green served as CEO of Southern Company Gas.
Green's community impact spans across the state and country, serving on various boards including the Georgia Chamber, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Georgia Historical Society, Nuclear Electric Insurance Limited and Valero Energy Corporation.
Greene earned degrees from the University of Tennessee, University of Alabama at Birmingham, and Samford University.
Closing Keynote Speaker: David Kent
David Kent
Chief Executive Officer
Piedmont Henry Hospital
Since joining Piedmont Henry Hospital on January 9, 2023, David Kent has facilitated the hospital's growth, patient quality, safety, and service in many important service lines, including trauma, orthopedics, neurosurgery, colorectal surgery, and many more. He has also overseen Piedmont Healthcare's largest recent facility expansion, including 96 new patient beds and three new operating rooms.
Under David's leadership, Piedmont Henry has made significant improvements in the Emergency Department wait times and patient experience scores, all while continuing to maintain strong partnerships and collaboration with the community.
Prior to serving at Piedmont Henry, David was CEO at Piedmont Newton Hospital, where he had served since April 2020. At Newton, he played an integral role in growing clinical service lines, including oncology, GI, surgery, orthopedics, and several others. Along with Newton's growth, the hospital was simultaneously able to improve its patient satisfaction scores and service metrics as well. He quickly integrated with the community and was named Newton County Chamber of Commerce Board Chairman within his first year as CEO.
Prior to his role at Piedmont, David served for 18 years in a variety of executive roles with Cancer Treatment Centers of America, most recently as their Senior Vice President of Business Development Nationally. Throughout his career at CTCA, David was involved in the opening of three new hospitals for the system, and had significant operational roles in Zion, IL, and Newnan, GA. In 2011, David directed the construction, opening, and operations of CTCA's hospital in Georgia and grew the facility to the largest and best-performing in the system.
The Leadership Exchange: The Hub(SM)
This panel discussion will explore the growing role of solopreneurs and gig workers in Henry County's economy while introducing attendees to The Henry Hub℠ and The Gig Connector℠, an innovative Chamber initiative designed to connect independent professionals with project opportunities from businesses, organizations, and larger industries across the county. The conversation will be led by Joseph B. Henning, President & CEO of the Henry County Chamber of Commerce, and will feature Judy McMurtry, Owner of JM EXCEL Consultant, LLC; Dr. Nancy Lewis, Owner of Progressive Techniques, Inc.; and Tony Carnell, General Manager of the Henry County Water Authority.
Joseph B. Henning, MSEd, IOM, CAE, CCE
President & CEO
Henry County Chamber of Commerce
Joseph B. Henning is a highly accomplished, certified organization executive with a proven track record of driving fiscal health, economic inclusion, and operational excellence across major business associations and not-for-profit organizations. Known as an influential community builder and practiced public spokesperson, he currently serves as the President and CEO of the Henry County Chamber of Commerce in McDonough, Georgia. Under his leadership, the organization was named the 2022 ACCE Chamber of the Year.
Chamber Leadership & Strategic Impact: Since stepping into his role at the Henry County Chamber in 2019, Joe has transformed the organization's financial and operational footprint. He increased total Chamber revenue by 60%, boosted cash on hand by 50%, doubled reserve accounts within five years, and expanded membership accounts and income by 7% and 30%, respectively. Notably, under his leadership, the organization reached over $1 million in bed tax revenue for the first time in its history.
Joe is recognized for designing innovative, high-impact community programs. He secured funding to launch a dedicated Business Resource Center for local entrepreneurs, established a mobile Visitor Information Center utilizing a mix of paid staff and volunteers, and founded the Emerging Business Leaders program to engage Gen Y and Gen Z professionals. A staunch advocate for regional growth, he administered a $1.4 million Stockbridge CARES grant for small businesses and successfully championed the passage of five SPLOST referenda supporting critical public safety, transportation, and infrastructure improvements.
Prior to his tenure in Georgia, Joe served as the President and CEO of the Aurora Regional Chamber of Commerce in Illinois from 2005 to 2019, where he achieved a Five-Star Accreditation for the association, raised over $275,000 for workforce development, and elevated member retention rates to an impressive 89%. His multi-decade career also includes significant leadership roles in healthcare marketing, strategic planning, and education development, including writing the foundational business plan for an autism program at Summit Schools, Inc.
Industry Advocacy, Awards, and Board Service: Joe's leadership extends across state and national chamber networks. In recognition of his regional impact, he was named Executive of the Year by the Georgia Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (GACCE) in 2025 and was named one of Georgia's 500 Most Influential Leaders by Georgia Trend magazine in both 2023 and 2024.
He holds a seat on the Board of Directors for the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) (2026-present) and the GACCE Board of Directors (2024-present). He previously served as the National Board of Trustees Chair for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation's Institute for Organization Management (IOM), where he continues to serve as a designated facility instructor.
Education & Professional Credentials: Joe is among an elite tier of Chamber professionals who hold top industry credentials, including the Certified Chamber Executive (CCE), Certified Association Executive (CAE), and the Institute for Organization Management (IOM) designation.
He holds multiple advanced certificates in organizational development, mentoring management, and diversity, equity, and inclusion from institutions like the University of South Florida and the University of Oklahoma. He earned both his M.S.Ed. in Instructional Technology and his Bachelor's in Public Relations/Journalism from Northern Illinois University.
Judy McMurtry
Chief Executive Office & Business Operation Consultant
JM EXCEL Consultant, LLC
Judy McMurtry is a leadership expert, consultant, and certified speaker dedicated to helping businesses build strong, inclusive teams. With over 25 years in corporate leadership—primarily in aviation—she specializes in strategic leadership, team development, and cultural transformation.
As the CEO of JM Excel Consultant LLC, Judy offers personalized coaching, DISC personality assessments, and leadership training to improve communication, decision-making, and collaboration. She is certified by the Maxwell Leadership Team. She has successfully led mentorship initiatives for small businesses, including chairing the Henry County Chamber of Commerce Engagement and Inclusion Committee and co-chairing the Business Resource Center.
Before launching her consultancy, Judy worked as the Station Manager at Philadelphia International Airport for Delta Air Lines, where she enhanced operations, boosted employee engagement, and increased customer satisfaction. She also served as the Chair of the Philadelphia Airline Managers Council (PAMC), achieving a 15% improvement in performance over three years for the Philadelphia Airport.
Judy holds two MBAs (International Business & Project Management) and has been featured on NBC’s "Inspiring Women of Philadelphia" and Netflix’s "Queer Eye" for her impactful leadership.
Judy enjoys golfing and exploring cultures worldwide when she's not empowering organizations. She has traveled to over 25 countries and 42 states.
Nancy J. Lewis, MS, SHRM-CP, PHR, RCC
Owner
Progressive Techniques, Inc.
Nancy J. Lewis is an executive coach, leadership strategist, transformational trainer, inspirational speaker, and CEO of Progressive Techniques, Inc., a leadership development and consulting firm celebrating more than 30 years of helping individuals, teams, and organizations achieve greater effectiveness and success. Through executive coaching, leadership development programs, and organizational consulting, she equips leaders with the tools needed to lead with greater clarity, strengthen accountability, and create lasting impact.
A nationally recognized leadership expert, Lewis has worked with organizations ranging from Fortune 500 companies and government agencies to municipalities, nonprofits, and educational institutions. Her expertise spans leadership development, emotional intelligence, workplace culture, communication, generational effectiveness, professional growth, and organizational transformation.
Known for her engaging presentation style and practical approach, Lewis inspires audiences to move beyond ideas and into intentional action. Beyond her professional work, she is an ordained minister, mentor, and author who is passionate about helping people discover their purpose and maximize their potential. Whether serving in the marketplace or ministry, her mission remains the same: empowering leaders to lead with confidence, communicate with purpose, and create environments where people and organizations can thrive.
Lewis holds a Master of Science degree from Georgia State University and received an Honorary Doctorate degree from Mainseed Christian University. She holds multiple professional certifications in human resources, executive coaching, emotional intelligence, leadership assessments, and organizational development. Through every coaching session, training program, and keynote presentation, Dr. Lewis helps leaders and organizations achieve what matters most: Clarity. Accountability. Impact.
Tony Carnell
General Manager
Henry County Water Authority
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Level Up Your Employees with AI: Practical Tools for Efficiency, Growth, and Retention
This interactive AI session brings together three dynamic leaders with distinct but highly complementary perspectives on the future of work. Apryl Beverly, an award-winning AI software founder and marketing strategist, brings expertise in using AI to drive business growth, revenue strategy, and smarter customer engagement. A. D. Slaton contributes a high-level operational and leadership perspective shaped by years of experience scaling major digital platforms and helping organizations adopt AI in practical, sustainable ways. Britney Hull adds the hands-on implementation lens, helping businesses and entrepreneurs use AI and automation to streamline workflows, improve efficiency, and build systems that support both people and performance. Together, they deliver a balanced conversation that moves beyond hype and focuses on real-world application, leadership, and results.
A. D. Slaton
Founder
Stillriver Solutions
A. D. Slaton is the founder of Stillriver Solutions, where he helps CTOs and engineering leaders adopt AI without breaking production. With 17+ years at Warner Bros. Discovery, Turner, and CNN, scaling systems to 10M+ concurrent users for March Madness, Bleacher Report, and CNN Digital, he brings practitioner expertise grounded in the same principle he teaches: spec-driven thinking.
He's not a vendor or a theorist. He's someone who debugged production at 3 AM, designed architecture that survived the Super Bowl, and discovered that the same patterns work at every scale: in systems, in leadership, in family. That insight shapes everything at Stillriver. AI adoption that works, platform design that scales, and enablement that builds internal capability.
A Lehigh University graduate and varsity football player, he brings discipline and teamwork to technical leadership. He shares practical engineering insights on his YouTube channel and through workshops and serves on the Lehigh University Alumni Association board.
Apryl Beverly
Founder & CEO
BAAB Writing and Marketing Services
Apryl Beverly is the founder and CEO of PRO, the culturally smart AI-powered sales and marketing platform that helps entrepreneurs and businesses generate revenue-driving copy and content at the speed of AI with the intelligence of human strategists. A nationally recognized AI sales and marketing consultant and recipient of the 2024 AI Innovator Award, Beverly has helped clients generate more than $3 billion in results through her hybrid AI-human approach to copywriting, conversion strategy, and brand storytelling. She is also the creator of a persuasive writing course offered at more than 1,000 accredited colleges and universities across the country.
Beverly's community impact spans the country, including serving as a business mentor for the Goldman Sachs Black in Business program, where she supports thousands of women launching and scaling companies. She is a sought-after keynote speaker on AI ethics, cultural AI intelligence, marketing, entrepreneurship, and the future of women in the workforce, with recent stages including the Forbes Summit and Queens of AI Online Summit.
Beverly earned a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from The Ohio State University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix.
Britney Hull
AI Consultant, Digital Strategist, & Co-Founder
Airoz Digital
Britney Hull is a certified AI Consultant and a proud member of the International Association of AI Consultants (IAIAC). With more than 15 years in technology, she brings extensive experience designing and managing complex global IT systems. In her current role as a Senior Product Owner, she leads cloud infrastructure and AI platforms that support mission-critical systems in the global aviation industry.
She is the co-founder of Airoz Digital, a family-owned consulting firm that helps entrepreneurs, small businesses, and nonprofits leverage practical AI and automation to streamline operations, save time, and achieve sustainable growth. Her approach combines enterprise-level systems thinking with human-centered design. Through her consulting work, Britney helps entrepreneurs use AI to streamline operations, generate marketing and social media content, and build sustainable digital systems.
A proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Britney is a passionate advocate for women in STEAM and mentors young girls interested in technology. She is committed to making AI accessible and practical for everyday businesses and entrepreneurs, and often shares her journey from Computer Science graduate to leader in technology and AI.
Britney holds a Master's degree in Information Systems Engineering from Johns Hopkins University and a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science from Fort Valley State University. She lives in the Atlanta metro area with her husband and three children and enjoys spending time with family, traveling, and gardening.