Operators, not theorists — teaching AI the way it actually gets used.
Hampton Roads' practitioner-led AI education chapter.
The AI Collective Hampton Roads is the region's leading AI education and workforce development organization. We deliver customized, practitioner-led training to businesses, universities, and government agencies across Hampton Roads and beyond.
Our facilitators bring 25+ years of technology leadership experience — including roles at Amazon and NASA, multiple startup exits, and thousands of hours of hands-on AI instruction. In 2025 alone, we delivered 49 events to over 1,000 attendees, with 70+ events planned for 2026.
The operators behind the sessions.
Our core facilitators bring decades of combined experience building, shipping, and teaching AI across enterprise, government, and startup environments.
Andrew Stafford
Keynote speaker and workshop facilitator focused on practical AI adoption for small and mid-sized businesses. Lead architect behind the chapter's workshop curriculum.
andrewstafford@aicollective.com →
Ted Patterson
Mid-Atlantic regional director and author. Delivers keynotes, leads 1-on-1 mentorship sessions at Assembly, and runs executive workshops on AI-first business strategy.
Book a 1-on-1 Mentorship Session →
Erin
Workshop facilitator specializing in Vibecoding, web creation, and hands-on AI tooling sessions. Built and maintains the chapter's community platforms.
Four things that make our training different.
Practitioner-Led
Our facilitators are operators, not academics. Every session is taught by people who build and deploy AI solutions in production environments.
Customized Delivery
Every engagement begins with a discovery process. We learn your industry, your tools, and your goals — then build the session around them. No off-the-shelf decks.
Actionable Outcomes
Attendees leave with tools, frameworks, and workflows they can put to work immediately. Theory stays in the classroom — our sessions are built for the real world.
Global Network, Local Roots
Backed by The AI Collective's 210,000+ member global community with chapters in major tech hubs worldwide, while remaining deeply embedded in Hampton Roads.
"Great insight into Claude, integrations, and the orchestration of tasks you can set up. Awesome."
Backed by The AI Collective.
The AI Collective is a 210,000+ member global nonprofit dedicated to making AI education accessible and actionable. With chapters in major technology hubs worldwide, the organization connects practitioners, researchers, and business leaders to advance responsible AI adoption. AI Collective Hampton Roads is the local chapter serving the greater Hampton Roads region.
Visit The AI Collective →From executives to emerging talent.
| Audience | Examples |
|---|---|
| Executive Leadership | CEO, CTO, CPO, CFO, Directors, Business Owners |
| Technical & Product | Engineers, AI Researchers, Product Managers |
| Creative & Marketing | UX/UI Designers, Content Creators, Writers, Social Media Teams |
| Operations & Strategy | Project Managers, AI Consultants, Policy Specialists |
| Emerging Talent | University students from ODU, NSU, CNU, ECPI |