AI in Action
Day 1 panel at Raton Regional Economic Development Summit · Tuesday, September 29, 2026
Date
Tuesday, September 29, 2026
Time
10:15 AM – 11:15 AM
Location
Raton Convention and Events Center — 901 S 3rd St, Raton, NM 87740
Cost
Free — registration required
Artificial Intelligence is no longer a concept for the future—it's already transforming and impacting how communities build, grow, and thrive. AI-supported thinking, techniques, and toolkits can radically enhance the well-being, productivity, and competitiveness of rural communities.
In this forward-looking session, panelists will explore how municipalities, chambers of commerce, and state agencies are already using artificial intelligence to remove bottlenecks, accelerate planning, and drive innovation across sectors.
Attendees will hear real-world examples of how AI is being used in a variety of enterprises to support, streamline, research, and multiply work. From generative AI to predictive modeling, the panel will provide practical insights, lessons learned, and a roadmap for how rural economic developers can begin to incorporate these transformative tools—or risk falling behind.
Panel
Session host: Synthia Laura Molina, Acting Director of Organizational, Community, and Economic Development, City of Raton
- ▪Andrew Woltje, Director of Strategic Growth, Magnum Companies
- ▪Matthew Ashby, Vice President of Development Services, Ayres Associates
- ▪Jason Strickland, Head of Technology, The Center for Rural AI
- ▪Joze Petrich, Executive Director, Emergent Campus-Trinidad
About Jason Strickland
Jason Strickland works on systems governance at the Center for Rural AI, helping the team turn big ideas into clear maps, practical workflows, and durable foundations.
Jason brings experience leading complex systems, data, governance, and technology transformation work. He has helped build business intelligence functions, guide ERP governance, support direct-to-consumer system integrations, and reduce infrastructure costs through practical vendor and systems strategy. More recently, his work has focused on digital transformation, product data governance, and agentic AI operating systems — multi-agent workflows, knowledge bases, planning gates, and safety protocols that turn AI from a tool into a repeatable operating layer.
Registration is handled by Humanitix for the Raton Regional Economic Development Summit. Attendees can register for either day or both.