RHYTHM & ALGORITHM

A two day conference of AI, culture, and a solution design workshop making New Orleans better

April 8,9th, 2026 • New Orleans, LA

Participate in the solutions workshop - April 8th and 9th Attend the All Day conference - April 9th

Shaping New Orleans’ future through AI and innovation
From culture and the economy to civic life, people and organizations across the city are coming together to explore how AI and digital tools can help build communities that are stronger, more inclusive, and sustainable.

RHYTHM: Inspiration Exchange

A conference experience of panels, keynotes, live demos, and cultural showcases, exploring how AI supports inclusive growth, creativity, and strong communities across Louisiana.

Humanities & Culture
ethics, identity, creativity, and cultural expression in the age of AI.
City & Society
civic services, engagement, and smart city strategies.
Technology & Infrastructure
the workflows, architecture, and systems behind AI.

Click here to attend →

Friday April 9th

ALGORITHM: Innovation Sprint

A solutions workshop where cross-sector teams prototype AI-powered solutions to real-world challenges in safety, education, health, tourism, and workforce development. New to solutions workshops? Here’s what happens in two days:

1. Learn, Align & Collaborate

Work with peers and mentors, share perspectives, learn design thinking, gain insights into civic challenges, and spark impactful innovation.

2. Ideate, Prototype & Build

Brainstorm creative solutions, transform ideas into action, design prototypes, and develop practical tools that address real-world needs.

3. Pitch & Compete

Showcase your prototype to a jury of leaders, compete for prizes, and secure support to bring your solution to life and make our city even better.

Learn more and join the action here →

A two-day summit hosted by the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center and powered by a coalition of leading organizations across New Orleans committed to innovation and community impact.

Two Days, Two Tracks, One Goal

Thursday (Solutions Workshop Only)

Hackathon Kickoff Session (Main Room 287) (9:00–11:00 AM)

Andrew Dalton – Workshop Lead & Mentor Introduction
Andy Quick – AI Systems & Enterprise Applications
Diego Llaneza – Product Development & Design Thinking
Dr. Djuana Stoakley – Human-Centered Research & Commercial Design
Col. Toga Trew – Team Dynamics & Innovation Mindset
Kendall Gow – Civic Systems & Government Engagement

Friday (Solutions Workshop + Conferences)

9:00–9:30 - Opening Ceremony – Jim Cook (MCCNO CEO), Tim Tumminello, Diego Llaneza
9:30–10:10 - Josh Fleig – Economic Development & AI
11:50–12:00 - Transition: Everyone heads to the Wall of Us
12:00–1:00 - Lunch (Buffet – Main Room 287)
2:20–2:30 - Transition to Main Room (10 minutes)
2:30–3:00 - Col. Jason Trew – AI & Human Creativity, Keynote and Workshop
3:00–4:15 - Pitch Competition + Closing – Andrew Dalton, Mindgrub, Alita Caparotta, CFO, MCCNO

Learn more about our speakers

Join the Rhythm & Algorithm community!

Sign up now to receive details on how you can take part—whether as an audience member in the conference, a hacker in the challenge, or a volunteer powering the event.

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Parking Map

Download Parking Map (PDF)

About the Advisory Council

The Rhythm & Algorithm Advisory Council brings together Louisiana’s leaders to shape an event where stories inspire and technology drives change. By guiding design and amplifying voices across the state, the Council ensures the gathering is bold, inclusive, and transformative.

Evie Poitevent Sanders

Vice President of Entrepreneurship & Innovation, Greater New Orleans, Inc. (GNO, Inc.)

Evie strengthens Southeast Louisiana’s entrepreneurial ecosystem by building connections across startups, talent pipelines, and workforce programs. She guides initiatives like Startup NOLA and ecosystem meetups, helping new ventures access resources and scale in impactful, community-driven ways.

Andy Quick

Vice President & Retired Chief AI Officer, Entergy

Andy brings AI into real-world utility operations, developing strategies that use predictive analytics, automation, and advanced solutions to improve performance. His work ensures innovation in energy remains cutting-edge, responsibly applied, and grounded in practical results for businesses and communities.

Tim Tumminello

Sr. Director of People Services and Innovation, New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center

Tim empowers workforce development, business process optimization, and innovation practices. With deep experience in HR and culture building, he helps teams thrive by fostering environments where people perform at their best while embracing new approaches to work.

Josh Fleig

Chief Innovation Officer, Louisiana Economic Development

Josh accelerates technology-driven growth across Louisiana by designing and leading statewide innovation initiatives. His work connects startups to capital, strengthens the entrepreneurial ecosystem through programs like LA.IO and the Louisiana Institute for Artificial Intelligence, and drives long-term economic impact.

Dr. Djuana Stoakley

Senior Staff Ethnographic Researcher, Entergy

Djuana translates deep research into strategies that drive inclusion, innovation, and measurable impact. She applies systems thinking, journey mapping, and design methods to ensure that human insights and lived experiences are built into new solutions from the start. Her work bridges corporate and community settings with a strong focus on human-centered innovation.

Kendall Gow

Deputy Director of Human Resources, City of Altamonte Springs, Florida

Kendall modernizes public sector HR by integrating AI-powered tools that improve access to information and services. She leads workforce transformation by blending technology with people-centered leadership, helping government organizations adopt more responsible and effective practices. Her focus is on training leaders and teams to deliver better outcomes for communities.

Elizabeth Maxwell

Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives, The Idea Village

Elizabeth designs and leads accelerator programs that connect founders, investors, and communities at the intersection of culture, climate, and technology. She fosters collaboration that helps startups grow while tackling complex social and environmental challenges. Her work ensures that entrepreneurial energy translates into real-world impact and long-term opportunity.

Diego Llaneza

Innovation Manager, New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center

Diego drives innovation where public service, emerging technologies, and human-centered design meet. He builds and leads cross-functional teams applying design thinking, agile methods, and AI to solve civic and organizational challenges. His focus is on embedding inclusive, practical, and scalable innovative solutions into institutional culture and processes.

Are you a speaker? Download our Speaker Guide here.