2027 Agenda
Applied AI for Distributors
Join distribution leaders June 22-24, 2027, to discover how AI is already creating market leaders and leaving others behind.
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Pre Workshop 1: Is Your Data Ready for AI?
Stop guessing. Find out if your systems clear the bar.
Before the conference starts, get a clear definition of “AI-ready data” for a distributor: what has to be true in ERP, PIM, pricing, and transaction history before agents and copilots produce reliable work. You’ll map your current stack against a practical readiness scorecard, spot the gaps that kill pilots, and leave with a short list of fixes that unlock the highest-ROI use cases.
Speaker TBA
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You leave with:
- A distributor-specific AI data readiness scorecard you can run with your IT and ops leads
- A ranked gap list (systems, fields, ownership, quality) tied to real use cases
- A 30–90 day fix plan you can take to leadership without another round of vendor demos
Best suited for: CIO/CTO, VP Ops, data/analytics leads, finance leaders who own master data and reporting
Format: Pre-show | Cap 50 | Unsponsored | Laptop optional
*Separate Registration Required
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Pre Workshop 2: Cybersecurity in the Age of AI
AI expands what you can do. It also expands what attackers can do to you.
This practical cybersecurity workshop equips distribution-industry leaders to make informed decisions about today’s most consequential digital risks. Participants will explore how evolving threats can affect operations, supply chains, customer trust, and business continuity—and leave with clear priorities for reducing exposure.
Jeff Crume
Independent Contractor Distinguished Engineer and Master Inventor
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You leave with:
- Cybersecurity implications of AI
- Ransomware prevention and response
- Phishing and social-engineering risks
- Preparing for the cybersecurity impact of quantum computing
Best suited for: IT and information security leaders, CIOs, ops executives accountable for customer and supplier trust
Format: Pre-show | Cap 50 | Unsponsored | No coding required
*Separate Registration Required
12:15 – 12:25 PM
Opening Remarks from conference Hosts
About Jonathan
Jonathan Bein Ph.D. has worked with over 100 distributors to apply advanced analytics and AI to improve customer experience, define value proposition, estimate sales potential and create digital strategy.
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Before Distribution Strategy Group, Bein has successfully led and been part of executive management for software product and services companies in information technology, healthcare and communications. Bein has been CEO of several companies including:
- SkyeTek — grew revenues and valuation four-fold of RFID manufacturer in seven months.
- IGS, Inc. — delivered software solutions for companies such as AT&T, Comcast, Verizon, and Lucent.
- Bolder Heuristics, Inc. — achieved Inc 500 ranking with software services for telecommunications, healthcare, and IT.
As CTO at Informed Access, a provider of phone-based healthcare triage, he drove development of core products and services and the company was subsequently sold for $300 million. At Martin Marietta, he applied artificial intelligence to perform automatic real-time fault handling of spacecraft hardware.
Bein earned his Ph.D. in Computer Science at the University of Colorado with a focus in Artificial Intelligence and a BA in Computer Science at Indiana University.
About Ian
Ian Heller has more than 30 years of experience executing marketing and e-business strategy in the wholesale distribution industry. He has written and spoken extensively on the impact of digital disruption on distributors.
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12:25 – 1:25 PM
Welcome Event Sponsors
A brief introduction round for event sponsors where each sponsor is given 1 minute to introduce themselves, share their core offerings, and explain how they align with the event’s mission.
1:25 – 2:10 PM
Opening Keynote
2:10 – 2:55 AM
Official Exhibit Hall Opening
Connect with your peers and Sponsors in the Exhibit Hall for a networking break. Enjoy complimentary beverages and snacks as you mingle, exchange ideas, and explore opportunities. Don’t miss this chance to make meaningful connections.
2:55 – 3:25 PM
AI Solution Sessions: Series A
Session Details Coming Soon!
Speaker: Ilia Papas, CEO, Band
Ilia is the CEO of Band, a rebate & SPA management platform for distributors. Band works with distributors across all industries, including electrical, industrial, and building materials.
Before starting Band, Ilia co-founded Blue Apron and grew it to a $2B IPO serving 1 million customers.
Session Details Coming Soon!
Speaker: Justin Johnson, Founder & CEO, Motivate
Justin Johnson is the founder and CEO of Motivate, an AI-driven sales process automation platform for B2B distributors. Motivate empowers inside sales teams to reduce quote and order times by more than 50%, while its patent-pending eCommerce module has been shown to boost distributor online sales by more than 300%. A seasoned tech entrepreneur, Justin has a proven track record in B2B distribution and manufacturing solutions, having successfully built and sold multiple high-growth software companies, including LeadMethod (acquired by Revalize, backed by TA Associates) and MightyRep (acquired by Blue Agave). Justin is a regular contributor to technology and sales process automation thought leadership for B2B manufacturers and distributors
Session Details Coming Soon!
Speaker: Dylon Chafin, Sales, Canals AI
Dylon Chafin is a sales professional currently driving growth at Canals AI, where he focuses on building client relationships and delivering strategic solutions in the tech space. He holds a degree from the University of Colorado Boulder’s Leeds School of Business, grounding his work in strong business fundamentals. With experience at firms like Fictiv Manufacturing and a knack for connecting with customers, Dylon combines analytical insight with a people‑first approach to sales. Based in San Francisco, he is passionate about leveraging AI‑driven tools to solve real‑world challenges and help teams succeed.
Session Details Coming Soon!
Speaker: Div Makkar, Co-Founder and CEO, WizCommerce
Div Makkar is the Co-Founder and CEO of WizCommerce, the AI Operating System transforming wholesale distribution across North America. Under his leadership, WizCommerce has become the leading platform powering hundreds of customers including Atlas Lighting, Innovations Lighting, Ganz, Sagebrook Home, and Loloi Rugs.
An alumnus of UC Berkeley and a former EY-Parthenon consultant, Div spent his early career advising Fortune 500 CEOs across 20+ countries on digital transformation and growth strategy. He later joined Bessemer Venture Partners—a leading Silicon Valley venture capital firm and early investor in companies like Shopify and Toast—where he focused on SaaS and AI investments, shaping his perspective on how technology transforms traditional industries.
At WizCommerce, Div leads a fast-growing team reimagining how manufacturers and distributors sell, service, and operate through AI. The company is rapidly expanding across the U.S., helping B2B businesses modernize their sales, eCommerce, and operations through intelligent automation.
Div is a frequent speaker on AI adoption, digital transformation, and the future of B2B commerce, and believes that AI’s purpose isn’t to replace people—it’s to amplify human intelligence, creativity, and connection in every business.
3:40 – 4:10 PM
AI Solution Sessions: Series B
Session Details Coming Soon!
Speaker: Benj Cohen, Founder and CEO, Proton.ai
Benj Cohen is the founder and CEO of Proton.ai, the leading AI-powered sales platform for distributors. His mission is to help distributors sell smarter and grow faster. Benj’s journey started at Benco Dental, his family’s distribution business founded in 1930. With a deep understanding of distributors’ needs, he founded Proton.ai while studying data science at Harvard.
A recognized voice on AI and modern sales in distribution, Benj has been featured in MDM, DSG, and Industrial Supply Magazine. In 2022, his company secured a $20 million Series A led by Felicis Ventures. The following year, he became the first leader in distribution to earn a spot on Forbes 30 Under 30.
Session Details Coming Soon!
Speaker: Conor Leen, Co-Founder & President, Lantern
Conor Leen is the Co-Founder and President of Lantern, which helps wholesale distributors use machine learning to guide what, when, and how much they buy so they never stock out and never overbuy. Raised in the Irish midlands, Conor grew up in a close-knit community that valued hard work, respect, and integrity, values he sees reflected in the distribution industry. He spent over seven years at Google and Stripe, working closely with their machine learning teams, before pursuing his MBA at Stanford. There, he co-authored a thesis on distribution, interviewing over 200 industry executives and identifying forecasting as a shared challenge. He co-founded Lantern to help distributors solve this problem and now works with over 30 distributors to reduce stockouts, free up cash tied up in excess inventory, and save buyers hours of manual work.
Session Details Coming Soon!
Speaker: Dan Kaminstein, Senior Principal Product Manager, Epicor
Dan Kaminstein is a Senior Principal Product Manager at Epicor, where he leads the strategic direction of Prophet 21, Epicor’s flagship cloud ERP solution for the wholesale distribution industry. With over 25 years of experience in enterprise software and product leadership, Dan brings a deep understanding of customer needs, agile methodologies, and digital transformation to his role.
Session Details Coming Soon!
4:25 – 5:10 PM
Day 1 Closing Keynote: Andrew Jacobs / Chief AI & Process Excellence Officer / Imperial Brady
Session details coming soon
Andrew Jacobs
Chief AI & Process Excellence Officer
Imperial Brady
5:10 – 5:55 PM
Technology Leader Panel
Session Details Coming Soon!
Patrick Knight President & CEO / Idea
6:00 – 6:20 PM
AI Top 50 in Distribution Awards
The AI Top 50 recognizes the distributors setting the pace. Companies who have shown their mastery of AI and how to leverage it in their distribution businesses will be celebrated during this time. The Top 10 Platinum companies will join us onstage to accept their award and have their team photo taken. Gold, Silver, and Bronze companies will also have an opportunity to receive their awards and have a team photo taken after the awards ceremony.
6:20 – 8:00 PM
Opening Night Reception
Join us for an evening of connection, conversation, and celebration as you mingle with fellow attendees in the Exhibit Hall.
Enjoy a delectable selection of heavy hors d’oeuvres and a variety of drinks while you network and set the stage for an unforgettable event. Don’t miss this perfect opportunity to make new connections and reconnect with colleagues!
Sponsored by:
7:00 – 8:00 AM
Breakfast & Networking – All Attendees
Expo Hall · Adventure Hall
8:00 – 8:10 AM
Welcome | Day 2 Opening Remarks
Schaumburg West-East Ballroom
8:10 – 8:55 AM
Keynote: Audreyanne Snow / Vice President of AI Program Delivery / Parts Town Unlimited
Session Details Coming Soon!
8:55 – 9:40 AM
Technology Leader Panel
9:55 – 10:25 AM
AI Solution Sessions: Series C
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10:40 – 11:10 AM
AI Solution Sessions: Series D
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11:25 – 11:55 AM
AI Solution Sessions: Series E
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11:55 – 12:55 PM
Networking Lunch – All Attendees
12:55 – 1:40 PM
Keynote
Session Details Coming Soon!
1:40 – 2:25 PM
Keynote: Future of AI in Distribution / Jonathan Bein, PhD, Co-Founder and Managing Partner / Distribution Strategy Group
Join Jonathan Bein for an insightful strategy session exploring where AI is delivering real results in distribution today. Discover what leading companies are actually achieving, where AI is making an impact, and what it means for your business. No theory. No hype. Just real-world results and actionable insights.
2:40 – 3:10 PM
AI Solution Sessions: Series F
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3:25 – 3:55 PM
AI Solution Sessions: Series G
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4:10 – 4:40 PM
AI Solution Sessions: Series H
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4:55 – 5:40 PM
Day 2 Closing Keynote
5:40 – 7:10 PM
Networking Reception
7:00 – 8:00 AM
Breakfast & Networking – All Attendees
Expo Hall · Adventure Hall
8:00 – 8:10 AM
Welcome & Last Day Remarks
8:10 – 9:00 AM
Distribution Leader Panel
10:00 – 12:00 PM
Speed Networking
Maximize your conference experience with this fast-paced and fun speed networking session! This interactive event gives you the opportunity to make meaningful connections with solution partners. In a series of quick, one-on-one conversations, you’ll have the chance to exchange ideas, discuss industry trends, and explore potential collaborations.
12:00 – 12:45 PM
Closing Keynote
Session Details Coming Soon!
1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Post Workshop 1: Build Your First AI Agent
No coding background required. Walk out with a working agent.
Hands-on build session. You’ll learn what an agent is (and isn’t), where agents beat simple chat or RPA in distribution, and how to stand up a first agent for a real workflow: intake, lookup, decision, and handoff. Sample distribution scenarios (customer questions, order checks, product lookups) so you practice on work that looks like yours.
Brian Hopkins
Distribution Strategy Group / Chief Operations Officer
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You leave with:
- A working first agent you built in the room
- A simple architecture you can reuse: input, reasoning, tools, output
- A short list of next agents worth building in sales, service, or ops
Best suited for: Ops and technology leaders, IT, sales/service directors ready to build, not only evaluate
Format: Cap 50 | Bring a fully charged laptop | Prerequisites emailed in advance | Unsponsored
*Separate Registration Required
1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Post Workshop 2: Advanced Agent Building — From Agents to Automation
You’ve built basic agents. Now wire them into workflows that run the business.
For people past the first agent. Connect agents into end-to-end distribution processes: multi-step handoffs, tool use against real systems, guardrails, and failure handling. Focus on production patterns, not demos: when to keep a human in the loop, how to measure cycle time and error rate, and how to move from a single agent to a small automation stack.
Speaker TBA
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You leave with:
- A multi-step agent workflow mapped to a real distribution process
- Patterns for tools, handoffs, and human approval gates
- A take-home build plan for your next automation (owner, data, success metric)
Prereq: Comfortable with basic agent concepts (or complete “Build Your First AI Agent”)
Best suited for: CIO/CTO, IT, technical ops, teams already piloting agents
Format: Cap 50 | Laptop required | Unsponsored
*Separate Registration Required
June 22–24, 2027
Renaissance® Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel
Schaumburg, IL