PITTSBURGH, PA (March 5, 2025) – More than 20 industry experts representing a diverse group of companies – such as BTS, Elements.cloud, Sheetz, Astrobotic, the US Space Force and more – will gather in the heart of Pittsburgh’s Cultural District to explore the future of work at HIKE2’s Innovation Summit 2025, scheduled for March 26-27, at the August Wilson African American Cultural Center (AWAACC).

HIKE2’s marquee annual event, Innovation Summit 2025 will provide business leaders and professionals from across the United States the opportunity to proactively think about their teams’ futures. Collectively, they will examine timely workforce topics such as building an AI-ready workforce, human-centered technology, secure innovation, compliance strategies, business excellence and more.

Among the transformative thought leaders slated to present at the Summit are:

- Peter Mulford | Chief Innovation Officer, BTS

- Chandra Donelson | Author; Board Member; Chief Data Analytics Officer, US Space Force

- Ian Gotts | Chief Executive Officer, Elements.cloud

- Mary Beth Green | Chief Innovation Officer, Sheetz

- Mark Cruth | Principal Modern Work Coach, Atlassian

Additional organizations and companies represented at Innovation Summit 2025 include: Cloud Adoption Solutions, Bump, Clearview Federal Credit Union, TriState Capital Bank, Sweat Bar Fitness, the City of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University.

“The brilliant group of thought leaders gathering at Innovation Summit 2025 all bring unique experiences and ideas to the table,” says Amanda Wodzenski, Principal & Founder of HIKE2. “We eagerly look forward to welcoming them to Pittsburgh, home to an exciting, innovative community that is shaping the world of tomorrow. Together, these thought leaders and Summit attendees will lean in and explore what the future of work looks like in the age of AI.”

Steve Clarke, Vice President of Landers & Spacecraft at Astrobotic, will deliver the keynote session the morning of March 26. Titled “Pittsburgh’s Innovation from Steel City to Space City,” Clark’s presentation will highlight Astrobotic’s pioneering role in the new space economy, the future of space exploration and Pittsburgh’s position as a hub for innovation.

A complete agenda and list of speakers can be found at hike2.com.

In addition to networking with industry leaders, Summit attendees also will dive into upskilling strategies, learn how to stay ahead of industry trends and analyze the latest tactics in workforce transformation.

“Thanks to the rise of AI, new tools and practices are developed at rapid speed,” adds Wodzenski. “At HIKE2, we believe that planning for a future-ready workforce is a necessity, which is why Innovation Summit 2025 is a must-attend event. Now is the time to reimagine what is possible tomorrow.”

Tickets for the two-day Summit are $175 and are available at hike.2.com/events. Tickets also will be available for purchase on March 26-27 at the AWAACC.

To learn more about HIKE2, please visit hike2.com.

About HIKE2

HIKE2, a leading technology advisory and implementation services firm, helps businesses reimagine what's possible in an era of constant technological disruption. We partner with organizations in the legal, financial services, insurance, business services, and high-tech SaaS industries to solve complex challenges with cutting-edge cloud solutions, AI-driven innovations, agentic initiatives, and robust data & analytics governance programs. Our best-in-class advisory services ensure clients stay ahead in an ever-evolving landscape.