October 28 AAT Community – Architecting the Future: Lightning Round Conversations on AI-Ready Data, Teams, and Technologies

Join the AAT Community on Tuesday, October 28, 2025 at 3:00 PM CT for lightning round discussions on, “Architecting the Future: Lightning Round Conversations on AI-Ready Data, Teams, and Technologies” led by the following speakers:

Host/Moderator:

Beth Massey, PhD, Director, Data Dynamics and Strategic Innovations – The Energy Authority

Table Facilitators:

Damian Baum, Director of Technology and Metering, CIO – Owatonna Public Utilities

Mark Enderle, Sr. Data & Analytics Architect – MISO

Will Nation, Senior Data Analyst – MISO

Session Description:

Join the Analytics Architecture & Technology (AAT) Community for a fast-paced, highly interactive Lightning Round session designed to surface real-world insights, emerging best practices, and practical solutions from across the utility analytics landscape.

In this engaging format, you’ll rotate through four expert-led table discussions, spending 15 minutes on each critical topic related to analytics architecture and technology. Facilitators will remain at each table to guide discussion, answer questions, and share case-based perspectives.

Table Topics Include:

1. Modern Data Architecture for Generative AI (Govind)

What does your data architecture need to look like to support enterprise-scale GenAI initiatives? Explore strategies for building scalable, flexible, and future-ready platforms.

2. Insource, Outsource, or Hybrid? (Damian Baum)

Debate the pros and cons of different resourcing models for analytics functions—and how to align them with your organization’s goals, constraints, and capabilities.

3. Data Engineers vs. Data Scientists: Lines and Leverage (Mark Enderle)

Where do these roles overlap? What’s the ideal team configuration for productivity, collaboration, and innovation? Share your org chart wins and lessons learned.

4. Designing AI-Ready Data Lakes and Empowering Users (Will Nation)

Learn how utilities are building scalable data lakes that support both technical and business users. Discuss automation tools, ingestion governance, and bridging the data divide.

Whether you’re planning your next platform shift or solving today’s data access challenges, this session delivers rich dialogue and actionable ideas to bring back to your team.