Speakers
Our Leadership Conference brings together respected voices from across the surface finishing industry to share insight, experience, and forward-looking strategies. The speakers below represent a diverse mix of leaders who are shaping the future of our workforce, technology, and advocacy.
Aaron Proietti, Today’s Innovator
Keynote Topic: Leading in the Age of Generative AI
Aaron Proietti is the founder of Today’s Innovator and a former Chief Innovation Officer and Chief Customer Advocate at Transamerica. He works at the intersection of artificial intelligence and systems thinking, helping leaders make better decisions in complex environments.
Aaron blends strategic frameworks with live AI demonstrations, revealing how generative AI can deepen analysis, sharpen synthesis, and expand perspective when human judgment remains central. In addition to keynote talks, he frequently leads executive sessions, leadership retreats, and focused strategic conversations where ideas must translate into real choices.
Alex Chausovsky, The Bundy Group
Keynote Topic: Economic Update for Business Owners
Alex is a highly experienced market researcher and analyst with more than two decades of expertise across subjects including economics, manufacturing, automation, advanced technology trends and business cycle analysis. He has consulted and advised companies throughout the US and Canada, Europe, South America, and Asia.
Alex has delivered over a thousand presentations, webinars, and workshops to small businesses, trade associations, and Fortune 500 companies across a spectrum of industries, and is the go-to source of industry data and insights for business owners and leaders. Alex’s analysis has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, on the BBC, and on NPR, and he is a Top Voice on LinkedIn.
Christian Richter, The Policy Group
Keynote Topic: Regulatory Update
Christian Richter is Principal of The Policy Group, where he has served the NASF in key leadership roles to advance the surface finishing industry’s strategic priorities at the federal, state, and international levels. He currently leads the association’s Government and Industry Affairs program. He has over three decades of experience in legislative, regulatory, and policy matters. After working at two Washington-based consulting firms, he formed The Policy Group in 1999 and works on behalf of the finishing industry on a wide range of topics, including the environment, health and safety, chemical management, science and technology, as well as defense, supply chain, trade, and energy policy.
