February 2026 REF Indiana CIO Forum Recap

The landscape is shifting as we move into 2026. Is your data ready for AI? This session will dive into how we can turn our "data sprawl" into a strategic competitive advantage, especially in the future of AI. How is your data governed? Is your data appropriately segregated? How are you managing images and voice to optimize AI searches? These and many more points will be discussed. The REF CIO group gathered at the REF South Bend office on February 5, where speaker Derrick Peterson of Ark Technologies Consultants led a discussion on Data Management Practices and how it’s evolving to power the next generation of business intelligence as the landscape shifts in 2026.

The group discussed the benefits of Data Management, such as:

· Better Decision-Making: Provides a foundation of trusted, up-to-date intelligence for strategic and operational actions.

· Regulatory Compliance: Ensures adherence to strict data privacy laws.

· Operational Efficiency: Minimizes duplicate work, reduces manual errors, and lowers costs by streamlining how information is accessed.

· AI Readiness: Provides the high-quality, structured data required to train accurate artificial intelligence and machine learning models.

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