Kishi is a community builder, strategist, and ecosystem operator focused on helping people and organizations build communities that are intentional, sustainable, and commercially viable.

She is the Founder of The CM Guide, a community and resource hub created to support community managers across different career stages with tools, education, and real-world frameworks for building and managing communities effectively.

With hands-on experience across community operations, programming, engagement strategy, and career development, Kishi has worked closely with early-career professionals, founders, and community teams navigating growth, structure, and long-term sustainability. Her work includes helping communities move from ad-hoc engagement to systems-driven strategy aligned with business and ecosystem goals.

Kishi is particularly passionate about career development for early graduates and career switchers, especially those building from non-traditional backgrounds. Through her newsletter, speaking engagements, and community programs, she provides practical guidance on entering the community profession, building transferable skills, and positioning for global opportunities.
Her influence extends beyond digital spaces into in-person community experiences, workshops, and events, where she facilitates conversations around leadership, resilience, and the realities of managing communities while building a career and personal life. She is recognized for her grounded perspective on community work—balancing empathy, structure, and measurable impact.
Kishi continues to contribute to the global community ecosystem through thought leadership, mentorship, and participation in professional community initiatives, while actively building platforms that support the next generation of community leaders.
Speaker Topics / Areas of Expertise
Topics I Speak On
Community & Ecosystem Building
Building and scaling communities from zero to impact

Community strategy beyond engagement: structure, systems, and sustainability

Community-led growth for non-product and service-based organizations

Designing inclusive and high-trust communities

Community operations, governance, and metrics that actually matter
Career Development & Early-Career Growth
Starting and growing a career in community management

Career strategy for early graduates and career switchers

Navigating tech careers without traditional access or privilege

Positioning yourself for global opportunities (programs, fellowships, roles)

Turning skills, projects, and communities into career leverage
Personal Development & Leadership
Building confidence, clarity, and professional identity early in your career

Leadership without titles: influence, ownership, and initiative

Managing burnout, boundaries, and growth in community-facing roles
Project & Program Management
Running large-scale community programs and initiatives

Project management fundamentals for community and non-technical roles

Cross-functional collaboration between community, product, and engineering

Planning, execution, and stakeholder management for community programs

Currently serving as the Chapter Director for CMX Ogun, Nigeria, Kishi is dedicated to advancing the community management profession by creating opportunities for growth and collaboration among professionals.

Kishi is a community builder, strategist, and ecosystem operator focused on helping people and organizations build communities that are intentional, sustainable, and commercially viable. She is the Founder of The CM Guide, a community and resourc... Show more

Víctor Aguayo, Technology Architect en BCP con +20 años en tecnología y miembro de Rust Perú. Diseña plataformas cloud-native en Kubernetes (AKS/ACA) y estandariza microservicios con Dapr (invocación, pub/sub, estado, secretos, observabilidad). Orquesta flujos event-driven con Kafka y Flink e integra agentes de IA (MCP). En BCP lidera POCs, define guías/baselines y optimiza costos. Ex Principal Architect en Cervecería y Maltería Quilmes (AWS). Speaker en Peru Global Azure (PUCP), DevFest 2025 (UPC), miembro de la comunidad Rust Peru.

Víctor Aguayo, Technology Architect en BCP con +20 años en tecnología y miembro de Rust Perú. Diseña plataformas cloud-native en Kubernetes (AKS/ACA) y estandariza microservicios con Dapr (invocación, pub/sub, estado, secretos, observabilidad). Orque... Show more

Heather Cook is Principal PM Manager for the Microsoft 365 Customer Advocacy Group within Microsoft’s Collaborative Applications and Platform Group. She leads engagement, evangelism, and growth strategies, building programs and connections between Microsoft and its global community. A former Microsoft MVP for Microsoft 365 Apps and Services, Heather brings over two decades of experience as a marketing executive for leading tech companies and as Founder of Creative Maven, her impact consultancy. As a consultant, executive event producer, and fractional Chief Marketing Officer, she has delivered thousands of events, campaigns, and experiences across high‑tech and entertainment. Heather is a seasoned keynote speaker, moderator, and host, and an avid writer who publishes Maven Musings on LinkedIn and her cultural Substack, Heddas Mix Tape. Her Microsoft origin story is featured in The Women of Microsoft. Based in Marina del Rey, California, she travels globally to speak on healthy workplaces, power skills, community, and inclusion.

Heather Cook is Principal PM Manager for the Microsoft 365 Customer Advocacy Group within Microsoft’s Collaborative Applications and Platform Group. She leads engagement, evangelism, and growth strategies, building programs and connections between Mi... Show more

Power Platform and Microsoft 365 Copilot Consultant specialized in Change Management.
I help organizations adopt AI, automation, and no‑code/low‑code solutions in a practical, value‑driven way, focusing on real user adoption. I work at the intersection of business and technology, guiding teams on what to build, how to build it, and when it truly makes sense—avoiding oversized solutions that no one ends up using.

Power Platform and Microsoft 365 Copilot Consultant specialized in Change Management. I help organizations adopt AI, automation, and no‑code/low‑code solutions in a practical, value‑driven way, focusing on real user adoption. I work at the intersect... Show more

Angie has been architecting and scaling developer communities for over 20 years, first cat herding thousands of Drupal contributors, then at MongoDB, and these days at Temporal.

Angie got their start in open source back in 2005 as a Google Summer of Code student, and since then has gone on to become a published author, and an empowerer of others who are on on their own open source contribution journeys.

Angie has been architecting and scaling developer communities for over 20 years, first cat herding thousands of Drupal contributors, then at MongoDB, and these days at Temporal. Angie got their start in open source back in 2005 as a Google Summer ... Show more

Développeuse consultante front-end, enthousiaste de partager découvertes et expériences avec des personnes passionnées et passionnantes.

Développeuse consultante front-end, enthousiaste de partager découvertes et expériences avec des personnes passionnées et passionnantes. Show more

I'm a UX researcher and designer specializing in e-commerce optimization and neuroscience-driven user experience. As the founder of Intuera, I combine UX, CRO, and behavioral science to uncover how people actually think, decide, and trust online.
My work explores how design decisions shape user behavior, influence purchase confidence, and reduce friction across the customer journey. By optimizing cognitive load, clarity, and interaction patterns, I helps brands increase conversions while building long-term trust.

I'm a UX researcher and designer specializing in e-commerce optimization and neuroscience-driven user experience. As the founder of Intuera, I combine UX, CRO, and behavioral science to uncover how people actually think, decide, and trust online. M... Show more

Dan Moriarty is a digital strategist and founder of Electric Citizen, a civic-focused web agency serving government, higher education, and mission-driven organizations. A Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies (CPACC) through the International Association of Accessibility Professionals and a certified UX professional through Nielsen Norman Group, Dan brings more than 25 years of experience guiding complex public-sector web initiatives.

His background spans digital strategy, information architecture, UX/UI design, and creative direction for high-visibility websites used by broad and diverse audiences. Dan regularly speaks at regional and national conferences, including DrupalCon and DrupalGovCon. He is based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and is a proud Timberwolves fan.

Dan Moriarty is a digital strategist and founder of Electric Citizen, a civic-focused web agency serving government, higher education, and mission-driven organizations. A Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies (CPACC) through the I... Show more

Ynte Jan Kuindersma is a Senior Technology Advisor and Developer at BIRD Automation.
He is a longtime freelance developer of database-driven applications in the Microsoft Universe. Since 2015 he uses Power BI and the surrounding Power Platfom tools.
His goal is not just programming, but making people and organizations more efficient in their daily work by means of some clever code and ETL.
And he is very persistent in finding the best way to find a solution for a given problem.
Besides programming he is an enthusiastic teacher and speaker at community developer conferences.
Dived into Fabric from the beginning and earned a DP 600 Microsoft Certified: Fabric Analytics Engineer Associate certificate in Juni 2024.

Ynte Jan Kuindersma is a Senior Technology Advisor and Developer at BIRD Automation. He is a longtime freelance developer of database-driven applications in the Microsoft Universe. Since 2015 he uses Power BI and the surrounding Power Platfom tools.... Show more

Socióloga, con especialización en videojuegos, fenómenos digitales y economías sociales y solidarias
docente en la universidad UNIACC y en la universidad SEK
Miembro de la red de estudios ludocriticos de Chile
Miembro del Observatorio de Innovación Social de la Universidad Central
Asesora en La consultora Hahuun

Socióloga, con especialización en videojuegos, fenómenos digitales y economías sociales y solidarias docente en la universidad UNIACC y en la universidad SEK Miembro de la red de estudios ludocriticos de Chile Miembro del Observatorio de Innovació... Show more

He works as a Support Engineer at Chronosphere, helping both customers and the Fluent community. He's been a developer and support engineer for 20+ years.

He works as a Support Engineer at Chronosphere, helping both customers and the Fluent community. He's been a developer and support engineer for 20+ years. Show more

Deepti Bahel is a seasoned Senior Business Intelligence Engineer with over 12 years of experience transforming complex data into meaningful, actionable insights. With a Master’s in Business Analytics from Purdue University and a strong background in BI tools like Power BI, Tableau, and Looker, Deepti has led analytics transformations at companies like Intuit, Google, Wayfair, and Hanna Andersson.

As a kidney transplant recipient and health coach, Deepti brings a unique perspective to healthcare analytics—combining deep technical knowledge with a mission-driven approach to improving patient outcomes through data.

She specializes in building self-service BI platforms, streamlining data pipelines using tools like Superglue, Databricks, and Snowflake, and bridging the gap between technical teams and non-technical decision-makers. Her recent work focuses on embedding analytics into operational workflows through interactive apps powered by Streamlit and AI-driven assistants.

Deepti is also an active mentor, speaker, and advocate for data equity in healthcare, featured by media outlets like India Currents and KnowFix News, and regularly invited to speak at data and health tech panels.

Deepti Bahel is a seasoned Senior Business Intelligence Engineer with over 12 years of experience transforming complex data into meaningful, actionable insights. With a Master’s in Business Analytics from Purdue University and a strong background in ... Show more

Hi, I’m SK - CTO of InzpireU, Technology Innovator, and a lifelong believer in the power of mentorship to humanize learning.

With over two decades of experience at the intersection of engineering, AI, and digital transformation, my journey has always been guided by one core principle: Technology should amplify human potential, not replace it.

Why InzpireU?

InzpireU was born out of a bold vision - to make learning deeply personal, purposeful, and human again. In a world overwhelmed with content and chaos, we’re building a new kind of learning platform: AI-powered, but mentor-driven. One that champions accountability, guided growth, and impact.

Our mission?
To help people, especially those from underrepresented communities, not just learn more, but learn meaningfully - through mentorship, community, and personalized accountability.

My Tech Origin Story

Back in 2003, when AI was still a distant buzzword, I developed a neural network model for early cancer detection. It was personal. It was ahead of its time. And it gave me my first taste of how AI could change lives - not just systems. That experience became my blueprint for building tech with a soul.

From Engineer to Ecosystem Builder

Today, as a fractional technology leader, I help startups and purpose-driven organizations craft AI and data strategies that are scalable, ethical, and aligned with business impact. My sweet spot? Turning bold ideas into executables, and vision into value - all while staying rooted in the human experience.

Recognitions & Milestones:

🏛 Recognized by the DC Capitol for pioneering a mentorship-based learning model
🧠 Patent pending for our AI-powered goal accountability framework
📰 Featured as an AI Champion by Daily News Network
🎙 Interviewed on multiple tech and innovation podcasts for my work on AI with purpose

Beyond the Title

At heart, I’m an engineer. But my true calling is impact. Whether it’s mentoring non-tech women entrepreneurs through LaunchWise, or building community-based learning models with InzpireU, I believe in building technology that cares - and shares.

Let’s build a world where growth is human-first, learning is goal-driven, and mentorship is a way of life.
#HelpingBeyondTech

Hi, I’m SK - CTO of InzpireU, Technology Innovator, and a lifelong believer in the power of mentorship to humanize learning. With over two decades of experience at the intersection of engineering, AI, and digital transformation, my journey has alw... Show more

Meet Shantha Kumar, the visionary CTO at SharePoint Designs, driven by a passion for exploring cutting-edge technologies across diverse platforms. With over a decade of experience in OnPremise development, Cloud, Microsoft 365, and Power Platform, he continuously pushes the boundaries of innovation. Now, Shantha is empowering clients with low code solutions, shaping the future of application development. Based in India, he balances his professional pursuits with cherished family moments and active involvement in technical communities. Join Shantha on his journey of innovation and collaboration! #CTO #Innovation #SharePoint #TechCommunity 🚀🌐

Meet Shantha Kumar, the visionary CTO at SharePoint Designs, driven by a passion for exploring cutting-edge technologies across diverse platforms. With over a decade of experience in OnPremise development, Cloud, Microsoft 365, and Power Platform, he... Show more

Padre de los tres mosqueteros, esposo, y espíritu errante. Azure, Servicios de Infraestructura, Seguridad, Office 365. Atrévete a saber, huye de la ignorancia e hipocresia.

Padre de los tres mosqueteros, esposo, y espíritu errante. Azure, Servicios de Infraestructura, Seguridad, Office 365. Atrévete a saber, huye de la ignorancia e hipocresia. Show more

Ulf is founder of mindful-leaders.net, serial entrepreneur, and full Professor for Educational Management and Lifelong Learning at the Baden-Wurttemberg Cooperative State University. In 2011 the Ministry of Higher Education called him to spearhead the launch of Germany’s first Cooperative University as Vice-President, a large scale initiative, with today 35 thousand students. In 2017, he launched NextEducation, an international boutique-research group focussing on Future Skills, Microcredentials & digital transformation in higher education. Just recently he was appointed as Scientific Director at the Future Learning Laboratory at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT).

Ulf is founder of mindful-leaders.net, serial entrepreneur, and full Professor for Educational Management and Lifelong Learning at the Baden-Wurttemberg Cooperative State University. In 2011 the Ministry of Higher Education called him to spearhead th... Show more

Equipping leaders to regulate pressure, repair trust, and lead in the age of uncertainty.

Shawntà Hooks is an award-winning global keynote speaker, author, and Leadership & Clarity Strategist known for unlocking clarity in high-pressure cultures. With a background as a former Fortune 100 Vice President of Automation Transformation and Certified Public Accountant, she brings rare executive credibility to the human side of leadership.

Through neuroscience-backed, multisensory experiences — integrating music, movement, mindfulness, and storytelling — Shawntà teaches leaders the bio hacks of presence, regulation, and influence. Her work reveals what’s felt but rarely named in modern organizations: how overstimulation, unregulated pressure, and emotional misalignment quietly erode performance, trust, and decision-making.

She is the founder of The Clarity Lab™ and creator of the Catch → Convert → Create™ system of nervous system regulation.

Equipping leaders to regulate pressure, repair trust, and lead in the age of uncertainty. Shawntà Hooks is an award-winning global keynote speaker, author, and Leadership & Clarity Strategist known for unlocking clarity in high-pressure cultures. ... Show more

Arushi Garg is a platform engineer and researcher working at the intersection of AI systems and cloud-native infrastructure. She has industry experience at Adobe, building and scaling backend platforms in production. Alongside engineering, she contributes to AI research with peer-reviewed publications in deep learning and focuses on bridging AI research with secure, scalable Kubernetes-based systems.

Arushi Garg is a platform engineer and researcher working at the intersection of AI systems and cloud-native infrastructure. She has industry experience at Adobe, building and scaling backend platforms in production. Alongside engineering, she contri... Show more

Ronith Sharmila is a Marketing Projects Specialist at Southwestern Oklahoma State University, where he manages campus-wide digital and brand initiatives. With experience spanning higher ed and industry, he combines project management, analytics, and AI-informed experimentation to improve email and web performance for Gen Z audiences. Ronith previously managed marketing projects at NC State and Compass Group and holds an MBA.

Ronith Sharmila is a Marketing Projects Specialist at Southwestern Oklahoma State University, where he manages campus-wide digital and brand initiatives. With experience spanning higher ed and industry, he combines project management, analytics, and ... Show more

Formadora y consultora especializada en implantación de sistemas de control de gestión con Power BI.
LinkedIn learning Instructor en finanzas y gestión de proyectos y docente en programas posgrados y seminarios especializados en escuelas de negocio, empresas y asociaciones
Autora de los libros: “Inteligencia emocional en las finanzas” “Control de gestión con Excel y Power Query”
Divulgadora de contenidos en RRSS con emisiones en directo de los programas: “Finanzas comienza con F” y “Finanzas y Excel” (Vía YouTube y LinkedIn Live).

Formadora y consultora especializada en implantación de sistemas de control de gestión con Power BI. LinkedIn learning Instructor en finanzas y gestión de proyectos y docente en programas posgrados y seminarios especializados en escuelas de negoci... Show more

With nearly 25 years in the digital industry, including a decade dedicated to promoting agile values, I have been at the heart of the revolutions of our time. I have witnessed the transformative power that comes from aligning individuals around a common purpose, a vision. At the heart of every transformation is the human element.

As an agile coach, facilitator and trainer, I have been on a never-ending quest to understand team dynamics and the mechanisms that enable each individual to thrive in an ever-changing environment. My career is made up of stories of encounters where I have guided clients and teams to achieve their goals.

My core belief is that communication and collaboration within organisations are the catalysts for innovation and value creation. With this in mind, I turned to agility and organisational design, where every project is a human adventure before it is a technological challenge.

I'm deeply invested in the agile community, sharing knowledge and contributing to an ecosystem where experience is valued and shared. I've been passionately exploring the first word of the first value of the Manifesto, "Individuals", for almost 10 years.

With nearly 25 years in the digital industry, including a decade dedicated to promoting agile values, I have been at the heart of the revolutions of our time. I have witnessed the transformative power that comes from aligning individuals around a com... Show more

Ken is a Staff DevOps Architect on the FastTrack team at GitHub. He is a 4-time Microsoft Azure MVP and a Microsoft Certified Trainer, and he was both an ALM | DevOps Ranger and a member of the Microsoft Azure Advisors. Ken is a frequent community speaker and has appeared at GitHub Universe, VSLive!, DevOps World, SQLSaturday, All Day DevOps, Global Azure, and TAG DevOps panels. When not speaking or coding, Ken enjoys playing multiple instruments and composing.

Ken is a Staff DevOps Architect on the FastTrack team at GitHub. He is a 4-time Microsoft Azure MVP and a Microsoft Certified Trainer, and he was both an ALM | DevOps Ranger and a member of the Microsoft Azure Advisors. Ken is a frequent community sp... Show more

I'm Francesco Fullone, a business designer, consultant, and mentor and investor in technology companies focusing on sustainability or social impact.

I help companies (in any stage) to better define their business propositions to create options to validate them, and I advise them to organize themselves better to reach their goals.

I founded, and I contribute to Apropos, a company that helps communities, companies, and local groups organize events and workshops. If you attended an international conference about web technologies in Italy, you met me as a speaker, organizer, or attendee.

I founded companies such as Digitiamo to create NLP and AI-related products, Carma, to work on the next food technologies. In the past, Ideato, where I contributed to its growth for more than ten years, creating an innovative and quality reference for the development agencies in Italy.

I'm the president of the GrUSP, a no-profit association that encourages best practices in web development since 2002.

I'm Francesco Fullone, a business designer, consultant, and mentor and investor in technology companies focusing on sustainability or social impact. I help companies (in any stage) to better define their business propositions to create options to ... Show more

Domagoj Marić graduated from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing in Zagreb, where he initially specialized in the field of information security, while towards the end of his studies, he shifted more deeply into the field of data science with a focus on web content extraction (web scraping/crawling). He began his business career at Megatrend poslovna rješenja, where he worked on the development of Python applications and data solutions with a focus on creating virtual assistants and later as the head of the data science department. That role continued through his career at Comping. Today, he works at Pontis Technology as the AI customer delivery manager, leading the delivery of projects in the area of natural language processing, computer vision, predictive analytics and generative AI. In addition to responsibilities in the data science domain, he also has experience and works as a lecturer in the field of programming.

Domagoj Marić graduated from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing in Zagreb, where he initially specialized in the field of information security, while towards the end of his studies, he shifted more deeply into the field of data scien... Show more

Ingo Kleiber studied English, political science, and economics at Heidelberg University, pursuing a teaching degree. After working at the Heidelberg School of Education, he is now a Senior Expert for Digital Education and Educational Technology at the Vice-Rectorate for Teaching and Studies of the University of Cologne.

Ingo Kleiber studied English, political science, and economics at Heidelberg University, pursuing a teaching degree. After working at the Heidelberg School of Education, he is now a Senior Expert for Digital Education and Educational Technology at th... Show more

Joy Hopkins (she/they) has more than 15 years of experience in education. After an extensive career in the nonprofit sector, they transitioned to tech about 9 years ago. Joy has a deep background in the performing arts which is the foundation for both their communication and project management skills. Their data science expertise and passion lie primarily in data literacy, visualization, and storytelling. Joy has a Bachelor’s degree from James Madison University and a Master’s degree from American University.

Joy Hopkins (she/they) has more than 15 years of experience in education. After an extensive career in the nonprofit sector, they transitioned to tech about 9 years ago. Joy has a deep background in the performing arts which is the foundation for bot... Show more

Joshua Johnson is an American technology executive who serves as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of TREE Industries, a company founded in September 2017 and headquartered in Washington, Missouri, specializing in sustainable AI innovation to address environmental challenges through ethical, eco-friendly artificial intelligence solutions focused on accessibility, privacy, and open-source technologies. As CTO since the company's inception, Johnson architects next-generation emerging technologies and AI solutions, leading TREE Industries' efforts to integrate sustainability first principles into AI development for global problem-solving, including advancements in voice-powered tools, 3D avatars with open-source AI assistants, and collaborative virtual beings. His notable public contributions, documented since 2017, include spearheading the release of TREE's first video game, Ultimate Disc Golf, in December 2019; developing a voice-powered virtual production tool using Unreal Engine and open-source AI in February 2020; creating the first 3D avatars integrated with the Mycroft AI assistant in March 2021; launching a desktop control skill for Mycroft AI in June 2021; and developing BlenderGPT, an AI tool for generative 3D modeling, which was featured in NVIDIA's 2023 SIGGRAPH keynote, all emphasizing ethical and environmentally conscious tech innovation. Johnson is further distinguished in the field by his role in collaborations, such as TREE Industries' partnership with Fable on AI-driven projects, and his co-founding of Geppetto AI to advance real-time AI applications.

Joshua Johnson's early career in the technology sector began with roles focused on web development and software engineering, laying the foundation for his later work in AI and sustainable technologies. Alongside his role at TREE Industries, he founded and continues to lead eClarity Web Solutions, where he serves as CEO, assisting businesses and individuals in developing modern content management system (CMS)-powered websites. In this position, Johnson specialized in technologies such as Joomla!, CSS, HTML, JavaScript, PHP, Flash AS3, and HTML5, gaining expertise in web design and development over several years.These early experiences honed his skills in programming and digital solutions, enabling him to tackle more complex technical challenges in subsequent roles. Although specific timelines for his initial positions are not widely documented, his work at eClarity represented a key period of skill development in software engineering and client-facing tech services before transitioning to executive leadership in AI innovation.

Leadership at TREE Industries

Joshua Johnson was appointed as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of TREE Industries upon its founding in September 2017, where he has led the technical direction since inception. In this executive role, Johnson has focused on initial team-building efforts and aligning the company's technological vision with sustainable AI goals aimed at addressing environmental challenges through ethical and eco-friendly solutions. Key leadership milestones under Johnson's tenure include overseeing the expansion of research and development (R&D) activities from 2018 onward, such as the company's joining of the Greater North County Chamber of Commerce in February 2018 to foster industry collaborations and the development of innovative AI tools, including a voice-powered virtual production tool using Unreal Engine and open-source AI in February 2020. By 2021, his strategic guidance contributed to further R&D growth, exemplified by the creation of 3D avatars integrated with Mycroft AI in March 2021, the release of a desktop control skill for Mycroft AI in June 2021, and the prototyping of an AI virtual being capable of real-time 3D art generation in August 2021 as part of TREE Industries' entry into The Culture DAO. These efforts highlight Johnson's role in hiring key engineers and forming partnerships with environmental and tech organizations to scale sustainable AI initiatives. Johnson's strategic initiatives have emphasized eco-friendly practices, including the implementation of sustainable operations in data centers and AI development processes, though specific budgets remain undisclosed in public records. His leadership has driven organizational growth, positioning TREE Industries as a leader in green AI technologies headquartered in Washington, Missouri.

Innovations in AI Sustainability

As CTO of TREE Industries, Joshua Johnson leads efforts to integrate sustainability principles into AI development, focusing on ethical and eco-friendly artificial intelligence solutions.

Key Projects and Initiatives:

Joshua Johnson has led several AI-driven projects at TREE Industries since joining as CTO in 2017, aligning with the company's vision for sustainable AI innovation to address environmental challenges through ethical and eco-friendly solutions. One notable initiative is the development of Ultimate Disc Golf, a video game incorporating AI and machine learning elements, launched in December 2019. This project aimed to advance accessible gaming technologies while exploring AI applications in simulation and real-time environments, with Johnson discussing its integration of AI for enhanced user experiences during a 2020 podcast interview. The effort contributed to TREE Industries' broader portfolio in ethical AI for entertainment, though specific environmental impact metrics were not publicly detailed. In 2021, Johnson oversaw the creation of DeepSpeech-based automatic speech systems for games, focusing on open-source AI to enable voice interactions in virtual environments. This initiative sought to promote affordable and privacy-focused AI tools, developed as part of TREE's commitment to socially responsible technology, with outcomes including prototypes for real-time 3D art creation. The project underscored ethical considerations in AI deployment for gaming industries.[More recently, in 2024, Johnson collaborated with Fable on an AI project bringing the Sam Altman saga to life through advanced chatbots, emphasizing innovative storytelling via eco-friendly AI practices. According to a Forbes article, these chatbots represented non-traditional applications, highlighting TREE Industries' role in sustainable AI collaborations that minimize computational waste. The partnership demonstrated measurable advancements in ethical AI for narrative simulations. Additionally, under Johnson's leadership, TREE Industries advanced the Unreal Agent plugin in 2025, an open-source AI copilot for Unreal Engine 5 that automates tasks like level design and content generation to optimize development workflows. This tool aims to reduce energy-intensive manual processes, supporting green AI goals through efficient, real-time integrations, with its GitHub release fostering community-driven sustainable innovations.

Industry Influence:

Joshua Johnson has exerted influence in the sustainable AI sector through his thought leadership and participation in high-profile industry events. As CTO of TREE Industries, he spoke at the AI Film and Games Festival in San Francisco in 2023 and GatherVerse Summit 2025.This engagement underscores his role in promoting ethical AI practices that align with environmental goals, as TREE Industries emphasizes "Sustainability First" in its operations. In advisory capacities, Johnson serves as the Interoperability Committee Lead at The Culture DAO since April 2022, contributing to standards development in emerging technologies, including AI interoperability that supports sustainable applications. Johnson's contributions extend to open-source initiatives that advance sustainable AI tools. Under his technical guidance at TREE Industries, the company developed and released open-source projects such as 3D avatars integrated with Mycroft AI, a voice-powered virtual production tool using Unreal Engine and open-source AI, and a desktop control skill for Mycroft, all launched between 2020 and 2021 to make advanced technologies more accessible and environmentally responsible. These efforts have been adopted in communities focused on conversational AI, promoting energy-efficient offline processing solutions that reduce computational waste. Additionally, TREE's early involvement in open-source speech systems like DeepSpeech has influenced game development and AI applications with lower environmental footprints.Through these activities, Johnson has shaped industry discussions on sustainable AI, as evidenced by his commentary in media outlets like Forbes, where he highlighted innovative AI collaborations that prioritize ethical and eco-friendly advancements. His work has contributed to TREE Industries' promotion of AI adoption among local businesses via chamber of commerce memberships, fostering wider sectoral shifts toward sustainability.

Joshua Johnson is an American technology executive who serves as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of TREE Industries, a company founded in September 2017 and headquartered in Washington, Missouri, specializing in sustainable AI innovation to addr... Show more

Yuan is a Senior Principal Software Engineer at Red Hat AI. Previously, he has led AI infrastructure and platform teams at various companies. He holds leadership positions in open source communities, including Argo, Kubeflow, Kubernetes, and CNCF. He's also a maintainer of many popular open source projects, including Llama Stack and XGBoost. In addition, Yuan authored three technical books and published numerous impactful papers. He's a regular conference speaker, technical advisor, leader, and mentor at various organizations.

Yuan is a Senior Principal Software Engineer at Red Hat AI. Previously, he has led AI infrastructure and platform teams at various companies. He holds leadership positions in open source communities, including Argo, Kubeflow, Kubernetes, and CNCF. He... Show more

Senior Platform Engineer, I design, build, and maintain scalable and reliable cloud platforms. I have over 13 years of experience in DevOps, API development, and RESTful services, as well as a certification in Kubernetes Administration (CKA).

I am also the founder of DCaballero LLC, a software development and consulting company that focuses on science and finance applications. I am passionate about researching new technologies, mentoring young talent, and delivering quality solutions. My mission is to leverage my technical skills and domain expertise to create value and impact for my clients and partners.

Senior Platform Engineer, I design, build, and maintain scalable and reliable cloud platforms. I have over 13 years of experience in DevOps, API development, and RESTful services, as well as a certification in Kubernetes Administration (CKA). I am... Show more

Erik Darling started using SQL Server after a dispute with Excel over a vlookup.

He enjoys public arguments with the optimizer, and wine photography.

Erik Darling started using SQL Server after a dispute with Excel over a vlookup. He enjoys public arguments with the optimizer, and wine photography. Show more