From left to right, Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins; John Kolb, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; Michael Romita, WCA; Bridget Gibbons, Westchester County; Margaret Käufer, The STEM Alliance; Susan Parish, president of BԪ and Chris Fisher, Cuddy + Feder. Photo courtesy of WCA
On July 24, 2025, the Westchester County Association (WCA), Westchester County and The STEM Alliance hosted the second annual CONVERGE: Hudson Valley Digital Innovation Conference at BԪ’s Westchester Campus. The conference brought together business, government, nonprofit and education leaders to explore how artificial intelligence, quantum computing and digital inclusion can power the region’s economy and create a more equitable, resilient future. Presented in partnership with BԪ, the event drew hundreds of professionals for a thought-provoking keynote and three expert panels tackling workforce, infrastructure, and innovation opportunities and challenges in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.
“BԪ is proud to host the 2nd Annual CONVERGE Conference alongside Westchester County, the Westchester County Association, and The STEM Alliance,” said Susan L. Parish, PhD, MSW, president of BԪ. “This event reflects our commitment to innovation, inclusion, and preparing the next generation of leaders. At Mercy, we believe education is a bridge to the future—and we are proud to be a strong partner in training the workforce of tomorrow through hands-on learning, forward-thinking programs, and strategic industry partnerships. Together, we’re not just talking about the future—we’re building it.”
Michael Romita, president & CEO of the WCA, said "Westchester is on a roll when it comes to digital innovation. We’re proud to convene this important conversation, connecting stakeholders from across sectors to develop actionable strategies that strengthen our economy and improve lives."
The conference opened with words from Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins. "We are in the midst of a new era, one that promises to redefine how we work, live, and grow. Artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and smart infrastructure are revolutionizing industries across the globe, and here in the Hudson Valley, we are preparing to seize that moment. This conference and our ongoing partnerships demonstrate what’s possible when we work together," said Jenkins
The morning kicked off with a keynote by John Kolb, vice president and head of the Future Computing Institute at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), who outlined the promise and challenges of quantum and AI technologies, and underscored the importance of workforce readiness and equity. A new strategic partnership with RPI, announced earlier this year, will bring top-tier STEM education and accredited undergraduate and graduate programs in engineering, science, and business to Westchester, fulfilling a key initiative to strengthen the region’s talent pipeline.
Panel discussions followed on three themes:
- Workforce readiness and inclusion, with strategies for preparing people for the new economy
- Infrastructure and innovation, exploring how to build a future-ready region
- Policy and protection, addressing the ethical and regulatory implications of AI and broadband
Panel on workforce readiness. From left to right: Frank Forte; moderator and CEO of EnableComp and panelists Margaret Käufer, president of The STEM Alliance; Dr. Drew Parker, AI Systems Engineer at SandboxAQ; Bryan Lozano, director of Tech:NYC Foundation; Joshua Breitbart, senior vice president, ConnectALL at Empire State Development and Camille Shelley, chief information officer for BԪ. Photo Courtesy of WCA
Camille Shelley, chief information officer for BԪ and one of the panelists, discussed how higher education institutions like Mercy are responding to the increasing use of AI. She said, "We’re confronting an AI readiness gap—while technology reshapes every industry, education is racing to catch up.” She believes higher ed must modernize curriculum, empower faculty and embrace ethical AI use to not just teach students about today’s tools, but to develop intellectual agility to adapt to whatever comes next.
“The institutions that succeed will view AI not as a threat to traditional education, but as a catalyst for reimagining how we prepare students for an increasingly complex, technology-integrated world,” Shelley concluded.
John Levy, CEO and co-founder of SEEQC, emphasized the critical role of quantum innovation in the region, stating, “How are we going to scale quantum computing? Put it in a chip. New York is leading the way in quantum computing, from research and development to infrastructure, use and application. As we scale up, we will need people to work in chip manufacturing. We need to fully explore the use of quantum computing in every domain. Connecting quantum to AI further connects this space for use in every department.”
On the infrastructure panel, Drew Peterson, director of technology innovation at Crown Castle, highlighted the economic ripple effects of tech expansion: “This will generate jobs, from installers—fiber, cables—to engineers. Not just technical jobs, this will generate business around tech centers, restaurants, services, etc., producing more jobs and economic development.”
The future of work was also a key topic. Westchester County Legislator Judah Holstein noted that “AI is not going to take away the jobs, it is going to change the jobs. We have to figure out a balance between safety and security for regulating it.”
That sentiment was echoed by Karim Mohammadali, manager of government affairs and public policy for Google, who added, “AI helps with scientific breakthroughs and research. It is changing, transforming how we work.” He cautioned that regulations “should be aligned, should be balanced—not regulated on speculative harm but real harm.”
John Emra, president of the Atlantic Region (for AT&T, expanded on this by noting, “AI is used for cybersecurity threats, to design our networks—there are a lot of uses happening. We need to make sure it is regulated, weigh the risks, not overregulate. We need to regulate the real risks.”
From quantum-enabled chip manufacturing to AI-enhanced research and cybersecurity, CONVERGE showcased how the Hudson Valley is aligning talent, technology and policy to build a digitally inclusive economy that is both innovative and equitable.
Margaret Käufer, president of The STEM Alliance, concluded “Whether it is quantum computing or digital inclusion, we need to collaborate, to educate. This conversation is a start.”
Photo courtesy of WCA