Who’s in Control? Ethics and Governance in the Age of AI

Anees Pretorius is the Cofounder and CEO of Bean AI (Bean), an AI-driven workflow platform built to transform the way finance teams operate. With a background as a Chartered Accountant (South Africa) and CPA (inactive), Anees started his career at Deloitte and EY, where he advised global clients and saw firsthand the challenges and inefficiencies finance teams face. Drawing on this Big 4 experience, he launched Bean to modernize manual workflows, consolidate accounting processes, and unlock real-time strategic insights. Under his leadership, Bean is helping both Enterprises and Accounting Firms incorporate AI to reimagine the work of Finance teams - not as cost centers, but as profit drivers, freeing teams to focus on strategic decisions that shape the future of their business.

Background
25 year’s experience in industry and consulting with a focus on technology,  process optimization, and materials management

Professional Experience
Developed predictive technology for forecasting margin improvement  opportunities for fortune 50 retail organization
Developed machine learning platform used to predict and identify fraud and risk exposure at a fortune 200 retail organization
Designed, developed and implemented predictive modeling used in identification supply chain risks
Designed, developed and implemented proprietary analytics software to identify manufacturing defects. 

Education
Michigan State University, MS in Management, Strategy and Leadership
Thunderbird School of Global Management, International Business
Cal State Fullerton, BS in Business Administration
 

Kendra Corman is a strategic marketing consultant, AI and communications specialist, and the Chair of the Department of Management and Marketing at Rochester Christian University. She is also the founder of H2H Consulting, a full-service marketing agency she launched in 2014. With more than 20 years of experience managing brands and campaigns, Kendra helps businesses and nonprofits streamline their messaging, save time, and stand out using practical, AI-powered strategies. She is also a podcast host and author of Mastering AI in Communications, known for making complex topics simple and actionable.

SCOTT CIESLAK is a seasoned business leader with over 28 years of manufacturing experience, specializing in strategic planning, operational excellence, financial leadership, and talent development. Currently serving as the Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) for Detroit Manufacturing Systems (DMS), a $1.3 billion Minority Business Enterprise (MBE), Scott is responsible for driving financial growth and strategic initiatives.  In addition, Scott is the President of Kinetyc – a start-up division of DMS specializing in lower volume adaptive manufacturing.

Before his current role at DMS, Scott advanced through various leadership positions at Forvia, ultimately serving as Vice President of Finance for the North American Seating Division and Chief Financial Officer of North America. His expertise in analyzing business situations and crafting effective plans has consistently contributed to the success of the organizations he's been a part of.

Scott holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from Oakland University and an MBA from the University of Michigan, reflecting his deep expertise in financial strategy and business leadership. He also serves as an Executive in Residence at the Oakland University School of Business, where he mentors the next generation of business leaders, sharing his wealth of experience and knowledge in strategic management and financial oversight.

In addition to his professional achievements, Scott is committed to leadership development, serving on the board of the nonprofit organization Fleece and Thank You. His involvement with the Detroit Athletic Club further showcases his dedication to personal development and professional networking. Scott lives in Shelby Township with his wife, Jody, and their three children, Connor (24), Kaleigh (22), and Catherine (19). An avid golfer and bowler, Scott successfully integrates his passion for sports with a fulfilling family life and a robust professional career.