AssetOps Chicago schedule

Setting the tone for a day of action-oriented discussion on data, automation and operational alpha in the US buy-side.

During this 5-minute networking session, the aim of the game is to go and meet two people you don't already know.   

• AI and automation reshaping investment workflows
• Integrating private markets into traditional portfolios
• Operating model implications for large and mid-sized asset managers

• Preparing operational data for AI workflows
• Breaking down data silos across front, middle, and back office
• Data governance and investment data architecture under pressure

• Where are operations leaders focusing time and budget for the next 6-12 months?
• Upskilling teams for data literacy, automation and AI enablement
• Peer exchange on priorities across public and private market operations

Speakers:

Cassie Hrtanek, Chief Operating Officer, The Inland Real Estate Group

Chris H Kuehne, SVP Global Head of Investment Operations, Northern Trust Asset Management

Russell Newman, Chief Operations Officer, Great Lakes Advisors

• Operational implications of distressed credit cycles
• Risk monitoring across credit portfolios
• Collaboration between risk, investment, and operations teams
• Data and reporting challenges in private credit

Speakers:

• Scaling AI safely across front-to-back operations without introducing operational or regulatory risk
• Establishing guardrails for security, compliance, transparency, and auditability as AI becomes embedded in investment workflows
• Integrating AI, automation, and human oversight to create controlled, end-to-end operational processes that drive efficiency while maintaining control

• Operational implications of multi-asset portfolios
• Data integration across public and private investments
• Portfolio transparency and reporting challenges
• Technology platforms supporting hybrid portfolios

Speakers:

Zane Alajou, Chief Financial Officer, Hawk Ridge Capital Management

• Exploring the rise of digital distribution channels
• Partnerships between asset managers, insurers, and fintechs
• What does data-driven client engagement look like in practice?

• How are firms building strategic partnerships that support global operating models and client service excellence?
• Designing oversight frameworks that satisfy regulatory expectations while enabling operational agility
• Ensuring data integrity, service continuity, and consistent client outcomes across outsourced functions

Speakers:

Jen Burka, Senior Director, Head of Portfolio Analytics & Accounting, Harris Associates

Russell Newman, Chief Operations Officer, Great Lakes Advisors

Chris Johnson, Head of Back Office, Teza Technologies

• Where AI and automation are delivering real returns in US operations (workflow orchestration, reconciliation, reporting)
• Overcoming the execution gap: model governance, training data, and control frameworks in regulated environments
• Rethinking talent and change management for a hybrid human-AI workforce

• How COOs are balancing automation with empathy — managing fear, change fatigue, and reskilling across diverse teams
• Embedding a culture of experimentation, agility, and data literacy across the organization
• What defines an effective operational leader in 2026: communication, adaptability, and psychological safety

Speakers:

Russell Newman, Chief Operations Officer, Great Lakes Advisors

Chandra Halverson, Senior Vice President Operations, Brookstone Capital Management

Stacy Luchin, Managing Director - Information & Business Solutions, Diamond Hill

• Stress-testing geopolitical risk scenarios and their effects on portfolio operations
• How do you maintain operational resilience in volatile markets?
• Building crisis coordination between investment and operations teams

In the highly competitive age of digital transformation financial service organizations are facing accelerated urgency to improve their customer and employee experience while simultaneously reducing operating costs, and managing risk and compliance.

To meet these competing demands on their business, these organizations are racing to deploy deep learning to achieve a new competitive edge by optimizing their back office operations with intelligent document processing, personalizing their customer experience with cutting edge NLP models, and reducing fraud and risk using state-of-the-art deep learning.

AI is here and delivering new capabilities to help businesses solve large and complicated challenges. Join Bob Gaines to learn what that means for your business and how deep learning is helping organizations:

• Achieve higher compliance, faster and with lower costs • Dramatically improve Customer Experience • Reduce time to value from years to weeks

Sergio Rego is a customer engineer at SambaNova Systems where he helps clients deploy purpose-built, deep learning solutions in weeks rather than years. Sergio started his career in financial services, where he worked in strategy; active and index management; and product design and management. Sergio also served as a senior data scientist and team manager for a system integrator where he helped federal government agencies deploy ML and AI solutions.

In the highly competitive age of digital transformation financial service organizations are facing accelerated urgency to improve their customer and employee experience while simultaneously reducing operating costs, and managing risk and compliance.

To meet these competing demands on their business, these organizations are racing to deploy deep learning to achieve a new competitive edge by optimizing their back office operations with intelligent document processing, personalizing their customer experience with cutting edge NLP models, and reducing fraud and risk using state-of-the-art deep learning.

AI is here and delivering new capabilities to help businesses solve large and complicated challenges. Join Bob Gaines to learn what that means for your business and how deep learning is helping organizations:

• Achieve higher compliance, faster and with lower costs • Dramatically improve Customer Experience • Reduce time to value from years to weeks

Sergio Rego is a customer engineer at SambaNova Systems where he helps clients deploy purpose-built, deep learning solutions in weeks rather than years. Sergio started his career in financial services, where he worked in strategy; active and index management; and product design and management. Sergio also served as a senior data scientist and team manager for a system integrator where he helped federal government agencies deploy ML and AI solutions.