TECHNOLOGY STATE OF THE UNION
Help us get the “PULSE” of Knoxville area companies!
Event Program
Event Emcee
John McNeely
The McNeely Group | President & Co-Founder
John is an experienced information security professional and consultant on network security, information security, privacy, and compliance for accounts nationally and abroad. He is co-founder and President of the Knoxville Technology Council. John also founded Sword and Shield, now known as Avertium.
Technology State of the Union Report
Travis Howerton
RegScale | Co-Founder & CEO
Be the first to preview KTech’s Technology State of the Union Report. This comprehensive look at Knoxville’s tech ecosystem highlights a community on the rise—where most respondents see a growing startup scene, accelerating adoption of AI and data-driven tools, and increasing collaboration between established companies and emerging innovators. Discover where our region is thriving, what challenges remain, and how Knoxville is shaping its future as a leading tech hub in the Southeast.
Travis has decades of experience in Knoxville’s tech industry, both as an entrepreneur and in senior leadership roles at Bechtel Corporation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the National Nuclear Security Administration, and the U.S. Department of Energy. He serves on KTech’s Board of Directors, as well as the boards of other non-profit associations and educational institutions in the Knoxville region.
Keynote Speaker
Dr. Travis Humble
ORNL | Director of the Quantum Science Center
Unravelling the Mysteries of Quantum Computing Technology
Dr. Travis Humble will give us an inside look at quantum computing technology —what it can do today, where it’s headed, and why it matters. He’ll share updates on the progress at ORNL in developing and using quantum computing systems, including the recent installation of a diamond-based quantum processor that operates alongside the supercomputer. Learn how he and his team are using hybrid computing systems to pioneer new pathways for scientific discovery.
Travis Humble is director of the Quantum Science Center, a Distinguished Scientist at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and director of the lab’s Quantum Computing Institute. Travis is leading the development of new quantum technologies and infrastructure to impact the DOE mission of scientific discovery through quantum computing.
Innovation Spotlights
Speakers from Knoxville-based organizations will share about projects featuring new and emerging technologies, and the impact they’re making around the world.
Dr. Monica Ihli, Senior Manager of AI Engineering
RegScale
Learn how Generative AI is transforming governance, risk, and compliance through Response Automation—a system that automatically generates accurate, audit-ready answers to security and privacy questionnaires.
Clay Callison, Vice President & Chief Medical Information Officer
University of Tennessee Medical Center
Explore how UTMC uses Oracle’s Clinical AI Agent to improve efficiency, reduce physician documentation time, and boost satisfaction—while navigating compliance, data security, and ethical considerations of AI in healthcare.
AI Tech Panel
A group of business leaders and AI experts will discuss practical use cases of Artificial Intelligence, including:
- How AI is impacting Knoxville-area businesses and tech professionals, especially in the areas of cybersecurity and workforce development
- Lessons learned to improve implementation and integrate AI capabilities into daily operations
- What’s ahead for the future of AI and what businesses should be doing now to stay ahead of the curve
Dr. Vasileios Maroulas
University of Tennessee
Associate Vice Chancellor & Director of AI Tennessee
Marcus Blair
Omega Business Solutions
Founder
Jason Graf
The IT Company
Chief Operating Officer
Patriot Talent Solutions
IT Account Manager
Gold Sponsors
Silver Sponsor
About KTech
The Knoxville Technology Council connects, develops, promotes, and advocates for the technology industry in the Greater Knoxville region. We believe the technology industry is essential for our community to thrive. KTech unites the region’s technology leaders and empowers businesses and entrepreneurs through networks, events, and resources. We are advancing Knoxville as a technology hub and center of innovation.
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