Manitoba Association of AI Professionals names first executive director
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Manitoba’s burgeoning artificial intelligence association has hired its first executive director.
It comes as the Manitoba Association of AI Professionals, which launched last year, looks to expand its programming.
“There’s real momentum to build on,” said Cheryl Serpanchy, the new hire.
SUPPLIED
Cheryl Serpanchy has been hired as the Manitoba Association of AI Professionals’s first executive director.
She’s worked for the national Information and Communications Technology Council and consults on business technology use and grant applications. Her executive director role is a part-time position.
MAAIP is set to make a formal announcement on Tuesday.
“We … realized that we had to move from an all-volunteer startup phase into the next phase,” said Harry Roy McLaughlin, the association’s founder.
Since launching, MAAIP has enrolled around 700 members. It’s held a handful of sold-out events and has seen demand for more, McLaughlin said. “(Members) really wanted more opportunity to get into rooms together to learn interesting things about AI, and to have interesting conversations.”
He’s aiming to host an event monthly. MAAIP will also seek to partner with other tech-oriented Manitoba organizations on events, McLaughlin said.
The board aims to create education and training on AI.
“A lot of organizations in the province were in the trial phase,” McLaughlin said. “Now they see what value (AI) might have … They need support in making that a reality and scaling up those agentic workflows.”
Sponsors, donors and event revenue have covered the executive director salary, McLaughlin said. He hopes to increase the number of paid MAAIP staff over the long term.
Serpanchy views her job as “listening to the members” and partners, and connecting people through gatherings, networking events and education sessions.
She’s well-connected and driven, McLaughlin said, leading the board to choose her for the role.
Kelly Fournel, chief executive of Tech Manitoba, called the new position “fantastic.”
“It means that they are moving ahead with developing a more mature association,” she said.
MAAIP hosted an AI showcase during Tech Week this year. It was one of the most popular events, Fournel said.
“Looking forward to seeing what they’ll focus on in the near future.”
gabrielle.piche@winnipegfreepress.com
Gabrielle Piché reports on business for the Free Press. She interned at the Free Press and worked for its sister outlet, Canstar Community News, before entering the business beat in 2021. Read more about Gabrielle.
Every piece of reporting Gabrielle produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.
Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.
Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Gabrielle Piché reports on business for the Free Press. She interned at the Free Press and worked for its sister outlet, Canstar Community News, before entering the business beat in 2021. Read more about Gabrielle.
Every piece of reporting Gabrielle produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.
Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.
Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
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