Upcoming Events
November 5 | 12 – 1 p.m. | Zoom Webinar
Employees are routinely asked to use brainstorming sessions to develop solutions to improve products or processes. However, a typical brainstorming session produces only a few valuable ideas during a small window of active idea generation, while the remaining time is spent squeezing out invaluable ideas. This session is designed to change the brainstorming game with a series of tools and techniques known as the Theory of Inventive Problem-Solving.
This methodology is based on the theory that the root of all inventive problems is a contradiction—either in the form of technical parameters or physical opposing forces. What Would Inventive Problem Solving Do will propose that solving the underlying contradictions allows differentiated, inventive solutions to be created with a higher yield of viable solutions.
This session will feature case studies and insights on overcoming the challenges of traditional brainstorming methods that contribute to more waste and less innovation.
By attending this webinar, you will:
- Understand how to recognize an inventive problem
- Learn how to apply inventive principles
- Be inspired to try inventive problem solving in your daily work and with your team!
Holly Stein is director of the Operational Excellence Center of Excellence at Cardinal Health.
November 10 | 3-4:30 p.m. | Hybrid Event
Explore the future of supply chain excellence at this year’s Supply Chain Forum, hosted by the Center for Operational Excellence and the Supply Chain Association graduate student organization. This dynamic gathering will bring together industry leaders and academic experts for a thought-provoking panel discussion on supply chain problem solving and process improvement.
Hear insights from:
- Wexner Medical Center’s Chief Supply Chain Officer Hal Mueller on industry convergence, inventory management, and capacity utilization
- Bath & Body Works’ Senior VP, Global Sourcing & Supply Chain Operations Susanna Zhu on vertical integration
- Dean’s Distinguished Professor of Operations John Gray
Together, they’ll unpack current challenges and emerging trends shaping the supply chain landscape from healthcare to retail manufacturing.
Whether you’re a student exploring a supply chain career or a professional seeking fresh perspectives, this forum will offer a unique opportunity to learn and connect. In-person attendees will be invited to keep the conversation going at a networking reception following the panel discussion.
Event Agenda
3 – 4:30 p.m. | Panel Presentation and Q&A Session
4:30 – 5 p.m. | Networking and Refreshments (in-person attendees only)
This is a hybrid event. Please select whether you wish to attend in-person or via livestream at the time of registration. The in-person event will be held on the Ohio State campus in the Mason Hall Rotunda (250 W Woodruff Ave, Columbus, OH 43210) and will include a networking reception from 4:30-5 p.m. The virtual event will be held via Zoom—the link to join will be included in the livestream registration confirmation email.
December 4 | 10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. | Hybrid Event
The rapid advancement of generative AI is radically transforming how we solve real-world business problems. Without a clear understanding of this shift, many organizations risk falling behind in developing talent, conducting insight-driven research, and deploying efficient, AI-enabled solutions.
Join the Center for Operational Excellence for our third annual AI Insights from Academia to Industry seminar, where thought leaders from the university and business community converge to explore the transformative power of AI.
This year’s morning keynote features Dr. Jeffrey Dotson, who will speak on Ohio State’s AI Fluency initiative and share groundbreaking research on AI’s impacts on instructional design and business measurement. He’ll explore case studies that illustrate how AI is transforming decision-making and productivity for marketing, healthcare, and operations.
In the afternoon, COE Executive Director Kelly Reo will moderate a conversation on AI and continuous improvement with a dynamic panel of industry leaders from Worthington Steel, Nationwide, and Centric Consulting. They’ll discuss organizational AI readiness, leadership models, and how to avoid common pitfalls that lead to confusion, mistrust, wasted resources, and bad processes.
Attendees will leave with:
- A deeper understanding of how AI is disrupting and enhancing education, research, and business
- Concrete illustrations of how AI is being deployed in real-world business settings
- A toolkit of ideas and resources to experiment with generative AI in your own organizations
Event Agenda
10 – 10:30 a.m. | Check-In (in-person attendees only)
10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. | Research Insights from Dr. Jeffrey Dotson, Associate Professor of Marketing at the Fisher College of Business
12 – 1 p.m. | Lunch & Networking (in-person attendees only)
1 – 2:30 p.m. | Industry Insights Panel featuring Steve Bartos, Mimi Chizever, and Betsy Stokes
Speakers
Dr. Jeffrey Dotson is an Associate Professor of Marketing in the Fisher College of Business at The Ohio State University where he teaches courses in Marketing Research and Product Marketing. His research focuses on the development and application of Bayesian statistical methods to a variety of theoretical and applied marketing and management problems. His research has been published in leading academic journals including Marketing Science, Journal of Marketing Research, Journal of Marketing, Quantitative Marketing and Economics, Strategic Management Journal, Journal of Interactive Marketing, and Journal of Retailing.
Professor Dotson has taught MBA-level courses in Marketing Research, Marketing Analytics, Pricing Strategies, Customer Relationship Management, Survey Research, Generative Artificial Intelligence, and Advanced Analytics. He received his PhD in Quantitative Marketing from the Fisher College of Business at Ohio State University and holds an MS in Statistics and an MBA from the University of Utah. He received his undergraduate degree in Economics at Southern Utah University. Prior to joining OSU, he was a member of the faculty in the Marriott School of Business at Brigham Young University and in the Owen Graduate School of Management at Vanderbilt University. He has extensive professional experience conducting research and consulting projects with many companies including General Mills, General Motors, Google, Microsoft, Qualtrics, Traeger Grills, Marriott, Nissan, and The Gap.
Stephen Bartos is Vice President of Digital Transformation, Artificial Intelligence, and Data Analytics at The Worthington Steel Company. In this role, he leads the company’s enterprise-wide AI initiative and champions the advancement of analytics across the business. His team’s work focuses on high-impact, transformative projects that foster cross-functional collaboration, while building a culture of enablement and empowerment through data-driven decision-making and the development of data and AI fluency across the workforce. Steve joined Worthington Industries a decade ago as an Advanced Analytics Analyst in the Steel Division, where he was charged with expanding the organization’s use of data and analytics. He later progressed to manage the Steel Analytics Team and ultimately succeeded current CIO Bill Wertz as the second leader of the Corporate Data & Analytics Team at Worthington Steel.
Before his corporate career, Steve spent 13 years as a high school mathematics and physics teacher in Portage, Indiana, after earning his undergraduate degree from Purdue University. He went on to complete a PhD in Science Education at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago and later served on the faculty of Middle Tennessee State University, where he taught in both the undergraduate and doctoral programs.
Mimi Chizever is currently VP, Emerging Technology & Innovation Center, where she leads the rapid adoption of emerging technology at Nationwide. Prior to this role, Mimi was VP, Hosting Solutions in Infrastructure & Operations leading a team of 600+ and an annual budget of $250M. Mimi led Nationwide’s Next Generation Infrastructure initiative, with a focus on an integrated strategy and roadmap for Nationwide’s hybrid cloud and Infrastructure modernization. She also focused on continuous optimization and consolidation of the on-premise infrastructure footprint as Nationwide IT executes on its Cloud First strategy. Mimi holds an MBA with a focus on Organizational Leadership from Franklin University and a bachelor’s degree in Management Information Systems from Kent State University. She also received past certifications for AWS Solution Architect, Project Management Professional and Organizational Change Management.
Betsy Stokes brings 20+ years of diverse expertise in optimizing marketing, sales operations, and technology solutions. Her success lies in shaping strategic roadmaps to enhance commercial performance while minimizing resource expenditures. She has worked on both the technology and business sides, giving her a unique perspective on organizational challenges and drivers.
As Salesforce Practice Lead for Centric Consulting’s Columbus office, Betsy helps clients leverage advanced platforms, including Salesforce and emerging AI capabilities, to drive growth and efficiency. She has guided organizations in adopting AI-powered analytics, automation, and decision-support tools, enabling smarter insights and streamlined operations.
Prior to joining Centric, she worked in several manufacturing and service organizations, where she led commercial technology implementations and large-scale transformations—experience she now brings to helping clients navigate the evolving landscape of AI-driven business solutions.
This is a hybrid event. Please select whether you wish to attend in-person or via livestream at the time of registration. The in-person event will be held on the Ohio State campus at the Fawcett Center Ballroom (2400 Olentangy River Rd, Columbus, OH) and will include a networking lunch. The virtual event will be held via Zoom—the link to join will be included in the livestream registration confirmation email.
Save the Date
January 14, 9 - 11:30 a.m. | The Leadership Forum (Hybrid - In-person at the Fawcett Center or virtual)
April 7-9, 2026 | COE Summit 2026 (In-person at the Fawcett Center)