Pre-Dinner Presentation: AI’m Here to Help: Turning Tedious Tasks into Victories

Petar Vlasic has not exactly had a straight path to where they are today. A graduate of Marshall University, Petar earned an undergraduate degree in International Economics and an MBA, ready to take on the world of supply and demand, standard deviations, and game theory. But that life was not meant to be. Upon graduating, instead of crunching numbers, Petar spent three years at Louisiana State University (LSU) managing on-campus apartments, where he learned the ins and outs of operations, logistics, community engagement, and human resources.

From there, Petar took another leap into the land management services industry - zero to do with Econ or student affairs - to review right-of-way agreements and oil & gas leases. It wasn’t long before he discovered a passion for process improvement, diving headfirst into streamlining operations and making things work better, faster, and smarter, earning him the title of PMO Director.

Long story longer, Petar eventually left Percheron for TRC where he has spent the last 5.5 years as a Continuous Improvement Manager leading various digital transformation initiatives. For the past 2.5 years, Petar has been focused on AI programs, exploring how this cutting-edge technology can revolutionize workflows and unlock new possibilities.

When not thinking about AI or ways to improve processes, Petar loves spending time with his family—wife, daughter, bloodhound, and two guinea pigs—and staying active with hiking, biking, swimming, running, and tennis. On a more creative side, Petar also enjoys playing keyboard and mixing music whenever inspiration strikes.

Topic Synopsis:

About a year ago, my wife and I were driving home when we realized we needed to write a birthday card. Not feeling at all creative and not really wanting to think past the driving, I semi-jokingly said, “Let’s just ChatGPT this bad boy.” We typed in a quick prompt with a few key sentiments, hit enter, and—BOOM—a perfectly crafted birthday message appeared, ready for us to transcribe. The joy we felt of not having to sit 20 minutes working through what we want to say was amazing and it brought home a point many people still miss: AI, especially generative AI, really can make life that easy.

In this talk, we’ll explore how tools like ChatGPT and other AI technologies can transform the way we work, create, and solve problems. From automating tedious tasks to unlocking new levels of creativity, you’ll discover how AI can be your ultimate productivity partner. We’ll dive into real-world examples, share practical tips for getting the most out of AI, and cover the essential considerations for using these tools responsibly. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting to explore AI, this session will leave you inspired, informed, and ready to embrace the future of work.

Learning Objectives:

PDU Triangle:

0.5 Ways of Working and 0.5 Business Acumen PDU

    

Dinner Presentation: Redefining accountability in Project Leadership

Agnes Giele, a Program and Project Management professional, specializes in leading complex, cross-functional initiatives in diverse, global environments. She contributes to the Project Management Institute Houston Chapter and is the Founder of Goals Alliance, where she focuses on intentional goal setting, accountability, and aligning strategy with execution. Agnes also serves as a University Interscholastic League proctor and judge, and gymnastics coach, reinforcing her commitment to discipline, performance, and continuous development.

PDU Triangle:

1.0 Power Skills PDU