The Team
Academy Instructors
Dr. Michael Housman
Dr. Michael Housman is the founder and CEO of AI-ccelerator where he helps organizations decipher and leverage advances in artificial intelligence. He's spent his career leading technology teams at early-stage companies, having architected platforms to hire job applicants, communicate more effectively with customers, catch fraudsters, and transact real estate. His research has been published in a variety of peer-reviewed journals, presented at dozens of academic and practitioner-oriented conferences, and profiled by such media outlets as The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, The Economist, and The Atlantic. Dr. Housman received his A.M. and Ph.D. in Applied Economics and Managerial Science from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and his A.B. from Harvard University
Matt Fornito
Matt Fornito is the founder and CAIO at the AI Advisory Group. Formerly a CDO, Head of AI, and Data Scientist, Matt has spent two decades as a catalyst for transformative change, combining his fervor for the confluence of psychology, technology, and AI to empower and educate. At the heart of his work is a relentless drive to unlock the AI potential within organizations and individuals alike. As a consultant for over a decade, he not only built two firms' AI practices from scratch - one winning NVIDIA's Partner of the Year Award (and act ed as NVIDIA Partner Chair), he has served some of the leading Fortune 500 companies helping them accelerate their AI journey through strategic roadmaps leading to tangible, business outcomes. He has been entrusted with billions in spend and produced $100s of millions in revenue. As an actor for nearly three decades and keynote speaker for 10 years, Matt combines theory, practicality, and storytelling to engage tens of thousands of people and inspire them about the future potential of AI. His evangelism and thought leadership have been seen at CIO/CDO Roundtables, Evanta events, various podcasts, and news outlets including CIO and CDO Magazine.
Thompson Plyler
A rare mixture of high tech and traditional art. He graduated with a degree in film production from NYU after working as a network engineer in the United States Marine Corps. Since film school, Thompson has worked as a visual effects artist for feature films, TV shows, and commercials for large brands such as BMW, Subway, Verizon, and Mercedes. His work in motion graphics and visual effects found him naturally learning software development, largely as an adjunct to his artist's toolkit. Thompson followed the rise of AI-generated art from the days when OpenAI's original Dall-E was just a whisper in white papers, and since the release of Midjourney and Stable Diffusion Thompson has been a passionate advocate for the technology as both an artist and technician.
Patricia Cornet
The VP of Marketing at Accelevents, a global event management software company based in Boston, MA. With a strong commitment to incorporating cutting-edge technologies into marketing strategies, Patricia has a proven track record of building high-performing teams and driving integrated campaigns for SaaS companies worldwide. Her experience spans North America, APAC, LATAM, and EMEA. At Accelevents, she spearheaded a comprehensive overhaul of marketing workflows, leveraging AI tools across advertising, PR, events, and content marketing to optimize the customer journey. Beyond her professional endeavors, Patricia finds joy in artistic pursuits, including painting, graphic design, and exploring the potential of AI-generated images using the Midjourney platform. Patricia holds an MBA and BBA in International Management from ESADE, Barcelona, Spain, and a Master CEMS from the University of Cologne, Germany.
Solution Builders
Hanzhi Guo
Hanzhi Guo is a distinguished Machine Learning Scientist with a proven track record of success in leading cutting-edge projects in the fin-tech, E-commerce, and insure-tech sectors, where his expertise in machine learning and data science has been instrumental in driving operational improvements and technological advancements in data-driven industries. One of Guo's most recent achievements includes increasing an insure-tech startup's data handling speed by an impressive 86%, while at Doma, he played a critical role in a siloed machine learning project, driving it from ideation to minimum viable product (MVP) in just five months, setting new standards for efficiency and innovation within the project's scope. Guo's machine learning expertise was also instrumental in implementing a state-of-the-art content management system (CMS) for a leading E-commerce company with a nine-figure valuation, taking the CMS system from proof of concept (POC) to handling over 100,000 requests per minute in production in just three months. Guo's academic achievements are equally impressive, having won the prestigious ViaSat Wifi Hotspot Award while pursuing his undergraduate studies at Texas A&M University, outcompeting PhD students in the engineering design competition, further cementing his reputation as a leader and innovator in the field. With his unparalleled expertise, commitment to excellence, and proven track record of success, Guo is a true trailblazer in the fields of machine learning and data science.
Kevin Roberts
A seasoned Cloud Technology Specialist with expertise in CI/CD pipelines, Security, and automated Infrastructure as Code (IaC) management. Holding an MBA with a focus in Entrepreneurship from DePaul University in Chicago, Kevin is passionate about effective communication and problem-solving. Throughout his consulting career, he has successfully assisted numerous clients with developing IaC solutions utilizing CI/CD frameworks for automated, secure, and scalable Cloud deployments. Kevin's commitment to delivering cutting-edge technology solutions aligns with a client-centric approach, ensuring seamless integration of innovative technologies to address everyday challenges. With a strong foundation in cloud technologies and a collaborative mindset, he excels in driving efficiency and fostering successful client relationships.
Jorge Gomez
Jorge L Gomez is a seasoned cybersecurity professional with over 15 years of hands-on expertise spanning the energy, financial, cloud infrastructure, and technology sectors. Throughout his career, he has spearheaded the development and enhancement of multiple cybersecurity initiatives, encompassing critical areas such as identity and access management, incident response, threat intelligence, security architecture and engineering, application and product security, and cloud security. He has given several conference talks on these subjects and is a contributing author to the EC-Council's Body of Knowledge for the prestigious C|CISO certification. Jorge studied at the University of Miami and holds degrees in Electrical and Computer Engineering and several certifications for Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Google Cloud. In recent years, Jorge has honed his focus on cloud and product security, leveraging a pragmatic approach and prioritizing developer-centric security practices.
Devin Wieker
Devin is a seasoned Machine Learning Engineer with a rich background in data science and software engineering, cultivated through experience at some of the tech industry's leading companies. Devin embarked on his professional journey after earning a Bachelor's in Physics from California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo, complemented by a minor in mathematics and computer science. Throughout his career, Devin has demonstrated his expertise in machine learning and software engineering across diverse roles. At Meta, he played a significant role in developing models to detect viral misinformation on Facebook News Feed. Transitioning to Twitter, he led a team in building new services to flag sensitive content, harnessing advanced deep learning techniques to bolster platform safety. His contributions extend to Cruise, where he served as a Senior Machine Learning Engineer contributing to the development of models for fully autonomous vehicles. Armed with a solid academic foundation and a proven track record of delivering impactful solutions, Devin is a masterful practitioner of applied machine learning.
John Wessel
John Wessel is an expert Data Engineer who has partnered with dozens of companies to architect unified data platforms powering data-driven growth. With over 15 years of experience in data analytics, engineering, and data science, John has a proven track record of delivering measurable business impact. Previously, as CTO at FreshWater Systems, he spearheaded a company turnaround, growing revenue from $28M to over $50M while implementing a modern data stack that also made double-digit improvements to fill rate and gross margins. Passionate about bringing order to data chaos, John helps companies harness the power of trusted data to gain a competitive edge. He also mentors aspiring data professionals and entrepreneurs through GrowthMentor.
Andrew Kim
Andrew Kim is an accomplished technology professional with over a decade of experience in machine learning and product management. He began his career as a data scientist where he developed predictive models used by companies to assess the potential of applicants before hiring. Andrew transitioned into product management where he continued to build technical data science products. He has a proven track record of guiding products from concept-to-market at various company stages - from startups he's founded to post-acquisition companies serving millions of users. With a strong foundation in machine learning and entrepreneurship, Andrew stands out as a technical leader adept at introducing new products in complex markets.
Abishek Anbarasan
Abishek Anbarasan is a seasoned Artificial Intelligence Engineer with a specialization in Machine Learning and Deep Learning. He holds a Master’s degree from Purdue University, West Lafayette, where he also focused on Computer Vision and Algorithm Design. Abishek combines his passion for coding with competitive prowess, both in programming contests and as a distinguished chess master during his leisure. With four years of professional experience, he has adeptly built and deployed sophisticated models including attribution models, forecasting systems, and recommendation engines. Beyond his professional endeavors, Abishek is dedicated to leveraging his technical skills for the betterment of humanity, often volunteering to integrate innovative solutions that enhance both societal and business outcomes.
Abdul Rehman
Abdul Rehman is a seasoned web developer specializing in React and Next.js, with over seven years of experience in the field. His expertise is complemented by strong backend development skills using Node.js. During his tenure at Petlabco, Abdul achieved a remarkable 180% improvement in mobile performance scores, leading to a 6% increase in conversion rates. This was accomplished by optimizing builds and implementing build caching for heavy GraphQL queries to Strapi CMS. Abdul's strategic migration and foundational work on the cart and home pages significantly improved site functionality and user experience. By developing custom resolvers and validation on Strapi CMS, he enhanced backend operations, ensuring robust and efficient data management. His troubleshooting expertise with Strapi and AWS load balancers resulted in increased system reliability and reduced downtime. Abdul’s work on server-side logic for overrides enabled the experimentation team to rapidly develop and deploy page variants, facilitating faster iteration and innovation. His contributions are pivotal in driving web performance and scalability for large-scale projects.
Gedas Tamutis
Gedas Tamutis is a seasoned Project Manager with over a decade of expertise in leveraging advanced technologies to boost efficiency and outcomes in projects. Currently, as Project Director and PM Innovation Lead at Ipsos UK since April 2019, he excels in managing pivotal projects across healthcare and consumer sectors with a focus on innovation and AI applications. His previous roles include Senior Project Engager at Hall & Partners and Project Manager at M3 (EU) Ltd. Gedas holds an AgilePM certification and an Associate’s degree in International Business from Middlesex University. Fluent in English and Lithuanian, he continues to lead with a passion for technological advancements in project management.
Administration
Steph Tanhueco
Steph plays a vital role in ensuring seamless operations and managing day-to-day executive tasks. Drawing on her extensive experience in handling complex schedules, coordinating high-level meetings, and managing communications, she supports both leadership and clients, fostering strong relationships. Her attention to detail and proactive approach help streamline operations and support AI-ccelerator's mission of integrating AI into the corporate world. For inquiries or to explore collaboration opportunities, reach out to Stephanie at stephanie@ai-ccelerator.com.
Alexis "Lexie" Curiel
Alexis "Lexie" Curiel is a digital marketing maven with a rich background in educational leadership and social media strategy. With a Master of Education from Texas State University, her role at St. Mary’s University honed her skills in community building and creative content creation. Lexie adeptly merges storytelling with digital engagement, utilizing tools like Canva and data analysis to enhance brand visibility and audience connection at AI-ccelerator Academy. Her experience in residential education programming and event planning, combined with recognitions such as the Nancy Murphy-Chadwick New Professional of Distinction Award, showcases her ability to drive impactful digital marketing strategies with a nuanced understanding of audience engagement.