Practical AI. Measurable outcomes.

We've been inside the AI transformation. Now we help others navigate it.

Every person on this team has real-world experience building, deploying, and teaching AI. Not observers. Not theorists. People who've done the work — and know how to make it stick for your organization.

Backed by experience from

The People Behind the Work

Practitioners. Strategists. Builders. A team that has been inside the AI transformation, not just on the sidelines commenting on it.

Rob Buchwald

Founder & CEO

Rob Buchwald is the founder and CEO of Akron Innovations and the AI Catalyst Institute, where he helps organizations adopt artificial intelligence in practical, responsible, and people-first ways. Through the AI Catalyst Institute, his team delivers people-first AI training designed for all experience levels, from absolute beginners to advanced practitioners. His work spans strategy, innovation, and workforce development, and his team has filed an AI patent-reflecting the depth of hands-on work behind his approach. Rob's perspective is shaped by advisory work with organizations across Ohio and keynote speaking. He is widely recognized for advocating practical AI adoption that serves everyday Ohioans and the businesses and communities where they live and work. Rob's mission is to drive economic growth by creating AI jobs and strengthening AI expertise across the region, translating real-world implementation into workforce education that helps organizations move confidently from curiosity to capability.

Carla Anderson

Director of Operations

Carla Anderson is a builder of systems, relationships, and ideas that make things work better - for people and for communities. As Director of Operations at Akron Innovations, she helps turn big goals into practical, day-to-day action, with a focus on expanding community access to digital skills and creating real economic opportunity. Carla's path has taken her from the classroom to the IT department to the strategy table. With a background in education and legal tech, she's developed a knack for translating complex problems into clear solutions and for bringing the right people together to get things done. Whether she's leading a technology rollout or rethinking an internal process, Carla brings equal parts structure, creativity, and empathy to the work. She's endlessly curious, always looking for smarter ways to connect people with tools, ideas, and each other - and she believes that good operations should feel like momentum, not maintenance.

Miranda Fothergill-Shoup

Business Analyst / Executive Assistant

Miranda Fothergill-Shoup is an executive operations and human resources professional who drives organizational efficiency and execution at the leadership level. As Executive Assistant to the CEO, she acts as a force multiplier, translating strategic priorities into action, streamlining operations, and enabling leadership to focus on high-impact initiatives. She earned an MBA from Kent State University and brings experience across talent acquisition, performance management, policy compliance, internal operations, event planning, and client coordination. Recognized for her precision, adaptability, and operational discipline, Miranda plays a critical role in supporting scalable growth and day-to-day execution. She is a member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) at both the national level and through the Akron Area SHRM chapter.

Mike Woodring

Growth Strategist

Mike Woodring brings over 30 years of experience in technology sales and leadership, including work with organizations at Microsoft and Palo Alto Networks helping leaders navigate AI adoption and do so securely. He specializes in turning complex ideas into clear, practical strategies that drive measurable business results. Mike works with leadership teams to identify high-impact AI opportunities, align stakeholders, and move initiatives from concept to execution. His strength lies in simplifying complexity, uncovering hidden constraints, and helping teams build momentum quickly. He focuses on the intersection of business performance and decision-making. He helps leaders cut through noise, prioritize what matters, and execute with confidence. At Akron Innovations, Mike supports clients in defining AI strategy, prioritizing use cases, and ensuring adoption leads to real outcomes, not just experimentation.

Dawson Buchwald

Community Outreach Specialist

Dawson Buchwald is a relationship-driven Sales Development Representative at Akron Innovations, focused on connecting people, ideas, and opportunities to fuel the organization's growth. Through strategic outreach, social media engagement, and operational support, he plays a key role in expanding reach and deepening community presence. With a background in marketing and sales from Ohio University, Dawson brings a blend of technical curiosity and interpersonal awareness to his work. He's someone teammates can count on—approaching each challenge with an enthusiastic drive to find solutions while investing in the people around him. Dawson is passionate about building meaningful connections and believes that when good people are equipped with the right technology, they can create a lasting, positive impact.

Ready to work with this team?

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