Sean Harry
WATG
Sean Harry leads enterprise technology, data, and AI strategy at WATG, transforming how the global design firm operates and delivers value. He has led a multi-year enterprise transformation, modernized technology investments, established AI and data governance, and directed firmwide ERP and CRM initiatives. Sean serves on WATG's Board of Directors and as Chair of the Board of Trustees, shaping the future of designing world-class hotels, resorts, destinations, and guest experiences through the thoughtful application of data, AI, and digital innovation.
Qualifications
A registered architect with more than 25 years of experience, Sean leads enterprise AI, data, and digital transformation for a global design firm renowned for hotels, resorts, and destinations. His work connects executive leadership, technology strategy, and experience-driven design.
Diverse Perspective
His perspective combines architecture, executive leadership, technology, and governance. As a registered architect, board director, and Global Managing Principal of Digital, Data and AI, he bridges experience-driven design with enterprise transformation — a unique view of how AI and data enhance creativity, business performance, and the human experiences built environments create.
Prior Speaking Experience
- 2025 — PSMJ AEC Innovate Conference: Panelist, "Are We There Yet? Overcoming Practical Challenges in Digital/Data Transformation."
- 2026 — ALIS Design+ Conference (Americas Lodging Investment Summit): Panelist, "Optimize AI for Your Firm."
- 2026 — Google NEXT Conference: Google Case Study, "WATG & Woolpert | Google Cloud SMB Customer Story."
Dan Stine, AIA
LAKE FLATO
Dan Stine leads Lake Flato's AI program, design technology, and internal research — guiding the firm's shift from ad hoc experimentation to governed, firmwide AI implementation backed by training, policy, and governance. Nationally, Dan serves on the AIA AI Task Force, helped create the AIA AI Toolkit, and will chair the AIA Technology in Architectural Practice (TAP) Leadership Group in 2028. He is a graduate professor at North Dakota State University and author of 20 textbooks, including the most widely adopted Revit book in North America.
Qualifications
A registered architect, WELL AP, graduate professor at NDSU, and a national voice on AI in architecture, Dan pairs firmwide AI implementation with 30+ years bridging practice, teaching, and building performance. He serves on the AIA AI Task Force, helped build the AIA AI Toolkit, and will chair the AIA TAP Leadership Group in 2028.
Diverse Perspective
His perspective sits where practice, education, and policy meet. As a firm design-technology leader, a graduate professor, and author of the most widely adopted Revit book in North America, he teaches AI and design technology to students, colleagues, and the profession at once — and helps shape national standards for responsible AI. A builder-and-teacher's view of how AI strengthens creativity, delivery, and trust without sacrificing craft.
Prior Speaking Experience
- 2026 — AIA National Conference: TAP Symposium & TAP Open Forum.
Nicholas Kramer
LPA
Director, LPA Inspire Design
Nicholas Kramer leads LPA Inspire Design, driving the firm's data-informed operations across three pillars — cost management, people focus, and operational insights. His work spans the LPA data lakehouse and enterprise data pipeline, the SPARK staff-feedback loop, automated Revit project-health monitoring, and the "innovation flywheel" that converts operational savings into investment in design, data, and AI — shifting the firm from reactive firefighting to proactive intelligence.
Focus Areas
- Save to innovate — software-portfolio and purchasing intelligence that funds R&D, tooling, and AI experimentation.
- Understand our people — utilization, workload, work-life balance, and career-trajectory insight to improve careers and culture.
- Reactive → proactive — predictive project analytics and early-warning systems on project risk.
Keith Hempel
LPA
In his dual role as President and Chief Design Officer (CDO), Keith guides the firm's integrated design process, which connects building performance and design excellence on every project, regardless of scale or budget. A passionate advocate for the benefits of a research-based, multi-discipline approach, he is helping to lead the national industry's effort to develop best practices for higher performing buildings that better serve people. At LPA, Keith continues the tradition of having a designer lead the evolution of the firm — serving as a resource for designers across the organization and bringing consistency to every aspect of the design process.
Qualifications
Keith is a frequent speaker on the importance of data-driven research and the path to a more sustainable built environment. He serves on the American Institute of Architects (AIA) 2030 Commitment Working Group, where he helps other firms meet their sustainability targets, and is a member of the AIA Large Firm Roundtable Sustainability Working Group, focused on sharing knowledge and developing resources for firms across the U.S.
Diverse Perspective
He sees the coming technological transformation as an opportunity to inform the design process and drive better outcomes for clients, communities, and the planet. His belief in an integrated design process emphasizes using advanced technology to enhance collaboration across all disciplines — new tools like AI should augment human judgment, helping design teams deliver more sustainable, evidence-based, and higher performing buildings at scale.
Prior Speaking Experience
- 2026 — AIA National Convention A'26: Speaker, "Gamifying Project Goal Setting: It's All in the Cards."
- 2025 — AIA National Convention A'25: Speaker, "Surviving and Thriving in the Design Data Desert."
- 2025 — Design Your Life Podcast: Guest Speaker, "Designing Sustainable Architecture."
- 2025 — Design Colloquium: Keynote Speaker, "LPA Design Studios: 2025 AIA Architecture Firm Award."
- 2024 — AIA National Convention A'24: Speaker, "Culture Eats Strategy for Breakfast."
