Day 3: January 9

8:30 am

Registration Opens | Coffee and Refreshments

9:00 am

Summit Opening | Linda Finley, Founder & President, TCBAF

9:15 am

Keynote

The People Problem & The Importance of Being Human

The People Problem & The Importance of Being Human

“The People Problem” author Chris Lockhart is joined by Consultants Saying Things castmate Oliver Cronk

A dive into the meat of consulting... not slides or financial models... not even dollars saved or costs avoided. This talk is about connection. The connection that being a good human, asking good questions, and having passable EQ, can establish between consultant and client. This is core to what we do as consultants and critical to not only getting that next SOW signed, but to helping our clients actually get done what they want to get done. Spend a part of an hour with the cast of the show Consultants Saying Things as they discuss what it means to be a good consultant in the age of AI.

10:15 am - 12:00 pm

SUMMIT TRACKS (2 SESSIONS)

Business Transformation and Architecture with SAP

Day 3
Minnetonka

10:15 am

The Human Relationship Has Become an Architectural Component

Brian Kirchhoff, Senior Director of Technology, Target and Michal Harezlak, Head of Business Transformation and Architecture, SAP
Despite decades of SaaS innovation, the divide between software makers and enterprise consumers remains. In this session, a leader from a top software vendor and a leader from a large enterprise consumer share their perspectives on transforming this boundary into real architectural advantage.

Why Do They Call Them Soft Skills When They’re So Hard

Day 3
Bde Maka Ska

10:15 am

Breaking the Practitioner Paradox: Why Business Architecture Needs You to Evolve

Scott Erlanson, Founder, Arr-Ee
We live in the midst of a paradox: Business Architecture is positioned as a discipline that can help organizations thrive amid relentless change – yet it largely remains stuck on the margins. Why? Too many practitioners are operating within yesterday’s boundaries, following frameworks instead of shaping futures.

This session is about breaking that cycle. We’ll challenge the comfort zone, expose why “business-as-usual” thinking is holding the discipline back, and share practical strategies to evolve from practitioner to influencer.

If Business Architecture is ever to go mainstream, it starts with us. Let’s lead the change.

On the Horizon

Day 3
Nokomis

10:15 am

Blueprint for Humanity

Linda Finley, Founder & President, TCBAF and J. Bryan Lail, Humanity Architect Retired
Most of Humanity has some shared values, but lacks a guiding blueprint to build those values into better solutions across our nations and cultures; this book is the start of that journey. Many of us wonder why we can’t do better across nations and cultures at focusing on our shared values instead of our differences, but part of the difficulty lies in the absence of a guiding map that can shape policies and solutions to support those values, without precluding specific solutions that work within the sovereignty of each nation.

There is an existing, mature discipline with a proven body of knowledge and many guides, which teaches us how to develop a guiding blueprint to shape implemented solutions, without predicating specific roles, process, data or technologies (i.e. allowing individual governments and agencies the freedom to implement within those guidelines). This discipline is Business Architecture, and Developing a Blueprint for Humanity is the initial guide to put that method into action to benefit Humanity in general. Please join us on this multi-stage journey to build and apply this blueprint and shape a better future!

Thinking AI: Blueprint to Breakthrough

Day 3
Harriet

10:15 am

Case Study: Real World Business Enterprise Integration Patterns

Terry Gamradt, Enterprise Architect, Campbell’s
This presentation explores the practical application of business architecture and enterprise integration patterns to accelerate business outcomes, with a special focus on leveraging AI. The journey begins by outlining typical business challenges and frames how business architecture can systematically address them through capability modeling, value stream mapping, and maturity assessments.

Business architecture provides a common language for stakeholders, ensuring that AI initiatives remain value-focused and aligned with business outcomes. Successful AI adoption requires a combination of integration patterns, robust data foundations, and continuous feedback mechanisms. The presentation emphasizes that business architecture is essential for identifying, prioritizing, and enabling AI opportunities that drive measurable value across the organization.

Business Transformation and Architecture with SAP

Day 3
Minnetonka

11:15 am

The Architecture Behind Transformation: How Business Architecture Accelerates SAP S/4HANA Programs

Girish Ogirala, NorthStar - SAP Platform Architect, International; William Spickerman, Principal Enterprise Architect - RISE, SAP; and Chaitanya Kovvuri, Architecture Advisor, SAP
Many transformation programs struggle because teams are not fully aligned on how business strategy translates into system design, data decisions, and day-to-day operating model impacts. When that alignment is missing, even strong programs lose momentum.

This session highlights a practical way to connect Business Architecture and SAP Platform Architecture so that leaders have a clearer path for decision-making and teams have the structure they need to deliver. The focus is on real situations, real constraints, and solutions that have been tested in complex environments that include legacy systems, cloud services, and fast-moving business needs.

Participants will leave with a clearer understanding of how to create alignment across the program, how to protect long-term value, and how to prepare the organization for a future that relies more heavily on data and AI. The session is designed for architects and leaders who want to move forward with confidence, not complexity.

Why Do They Call Them Soft Skills When They’re So Hard

Day 3
Bde Maka Ska

11:15 am

Lead with Influence, Connect with Purpose

Heidi Dohrmann, CEO & Performance Optimization Expert, Consultant & Coach, Elefortis Performance Group
Lead With Influence, Connect With Purpose is a powerful session designed specifically for Business Architects who want to elevate their enterprise impact. Blending principles of influence with the communication frameworks that drive meaningful connection, this session equips architects to bridge gaps between business and technology, create shared understanding, and mobilize teams around strategic intent.

By the end of this session, Business Architects will leave with actionable approaches to show up with greater presence, communicate with greater impact, and expand their influence across the enterprise. They’ll be equipped not only to architect systems and strategies—but to shape mindsets, shift conversations, and guide meaningful change.

On the Horizon

Day 3
Nokomis

11:15 am

Translating Strategy into Structure: Designing Effective Operating Models

Taiha Wagner, PMO Leader, UCare Minnesota
Organizations rarely struggle with strategy, they struggle with translating it into consistent, scalable execution. Operating models are the often-invisible structures that bridge this gap, shaping how decisions are made, work flows, and accountability is established.

In this session, Taiha Wagner explores how effective operating models emerge from real organizational friction, such as rework, stalled decisions, and unclear ownership, and how leaders can use these signals as entry points for design. Attendees will learn how to design frameworks that people actually adopt by grounding them in user needs, operational rhythm, and organizational culture. The session also examines how to influence change without authority, start small without formal mandates, and balance structure with flexibility to create systems that endure.

Thinking AI: Blueprint to Breakthrough

Day 3
Harriet

11:15 am

The AI Strategy Framework

Chris Lockhart, Author and Strategy & Advisory Consultant, Further Advisory
A practical look at helping clients realize value from AI initiatives. This approach begins with basic questions such as "Why are you doing this?" and uses a framework developed with client input to help provide clarity around AI efforts. This model is deployed as part of several service offerings at Tredence to help our clients scale, control, and derive actual value from their AI initiatives.

12:00 pm

Lunch & Networking

1:00 pm

Keynote

Surviving Greatness

Surviving Greatness

Jaime Taets, Chief Vision Officer & Founder, Keystone Group International

As leaders we all have proverbial mountains that we have to climb in our careers and personal lives. But the journey to success and the top of the mountain can be full of obstacles and things that will knock us off course. In this keynote, Jaime shares her personal story of climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, the highest point in Africa, and the lessons learned on the mountain that have impacted her personal and professional success.

2:00 pm

Summit Closing Thank you for joining us! Please be sure to take our survey and let us know what you'd like to hear more about in 2026 and at the next Summit.

After completing the survey, you will have access to Summit presentations.