Buffalo, NY native who started in tech writing basic programs on an old TI-994a computer. This branched into a technology career doing tech support for Informix then moving into batch processing, Unix admin, Linux engineer, devops, and eventually landing in the cloud architecture space. While not working on technology, Dennis is an avid cook, photographer, and amateur astronomer.
From Concept to Platform: Building Hivemindd with AI at the Core
What if AI could not only support development but actually help bring an entire platform from concept to delivery? In this session, we’ll explore the journey of building Hivemindd, a resourcing platform connecting startups and SMBs with fractional experts. From day one, AI wasn’t just a feature, it was a team member. We’ll walk through how we used AI to: Translate early ideas into functional requirements and user stories. Accelerate technical design, architecture, and decision-making. Support engineering teams with code scaffolding, testing, and documentation. Drive go-to-market content, investor storytelling, and community engagement. Along the way, we’ll share what worked, what didn’t, and how AI shifted the way we think about product development. Whether you’re curious about using AI in your own projects or leading teams through the uncertainty of new product creation, you’ll leave with practical strategies and a real-world case study of AI helping a startup move at startup speed.
A conference for Tech Leaders on the present and future of Artificial Intelligence
Includes a pass for the Devnexus Tech Leadership Track
8 practical sessions • Lunch Included • Networking Reception
We are past the point of asking if AI will change your business. The question is now how fast and how effectively you can wield it.
ADVANTAGE is the premier gathering for the technology leaders charged with navigating the AI revolution. Designed exclusively for CTOs, CIOs, VPs of Engineering, and Technical Leads, this isn't a conference about theoretical research—it’s a summit on practical implementation, governance, and scale.
In an era of overwhelming noise, ADVANTAGE provides the signal. We dissect the difference between flashy demos and production-ready architecture. We explore how to upskill your workforce, govern your data, and integrate LLMs into legacy systems without breaking them.
Join your peers to define the future of your stack, your product, and your organization.
Schedule
All times are listed in EST.
Remember your tickets includes access to the Devnexus conference session on Thursday and Friday also, including the Tech Leadership teack! You can see the schedule for that here: Devnexus scheduleWednesday, March 4
| Time | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:10 PM | Lunch | ||||
| 1:00 PM | A Leader’s Playbook for AIFrank Greco | ||||
| 1:35 PM | AI Architecture for Tech Leaders: Building Blocks for AI ApplicationsPratik Patel | ||||
| 2:10 PM | Language Stacks and Gen AIRod Johnson | ||||
| 2:50 PM | Shift to Agentic Software EngineeringDavid Parry | ||||
| 3:25 PM | From Concept to Platform: Building Hivemindd with AI at the CoreDennis Ruzeski | ||||
| 4:00 PM | AI Enablement in the SDLC: A Strategy SamplerTravis Gosselin | ||||
| 4:35 PM | The Journey Awaits: Accelerating AI Tool Adoption a case study using GitHub CopilotLaurie Lay | ||||
| 5:10 PM | Managing Your AI-Driven ManagerKenneth Kousen | ||||
| 5:40 PM | Leveraging Your Existing API Ecosystem to Power Safe Enterprise AIAdib Saikali | ||||
| 6:15 PM | Networking Happy Hour | ||||
All Sessions
AI For Tech Leaders Summit
Gold
Community
